RIDING IN THE RAIN
How many times have you heard "Never start out in the rain, only finish." GOOD ADVICE. But what if you're already somewhere and when you get up in the morning it's raining and you have to be someplace, like home, and you can't sit around waiting for it to stop. That means starting out in the rain, right! So much for the good advice! But with a few simple precautions it can be just as enjoyable as a nice sunny day. You say NO! Well how about a much less hazardous and anxious experience than most look for.
One of our first concerns, just as it should always be, is the condition of the bike. Is it in good running order, do you have good brake pads, are the tires in good shape and at the proper pressure. Do you have the load balanced out. While we may take these for granted in nice weather, they all become very important in wet weather. Along with the condition of the bike, look at your condition. Are you alert, ready for any unexpected hazards. If you are tired, eyes sore and tired, and don't feel at your best, then don't start out. Take a nap and wait till the rain stops. But if you are determined to press on, then read on and prepare yourself. Riding in the rain can be enjoyable.
Our next area of concern is clothing. The temperature will pretty much dictate how much or how little you will wear under the rain gear. That is, unless you are like some of us and buy those types of raingear that often shrink while stored away. Then when we start to put them on over a jacket, they won't zip up. I've found out that it helps to carry a sweat shirt in your saddlebags for those "cool" rains. But then if you follow the advice of the "experts", you'll buy the rain gear that doesn't shrink and is big enough to go over that jacket or extra clothes without becoming too tight and hindering your movements.
Getting wet from poor quality gear or ill fitting gear, being uncomfortable is only one part of it. The real danger is in hypothermia. On a hot day the air blowing over your skin has an evaporative cooling effect of lowering your skin temperature. In a cold rain this same cooling effect is going on, only this time it may lower the temperature of your body too much, bringing on hypothermia. When this happens your thinking and muscle control is affected and your reaction time slows down. This is not good in normal conditions and can be fatal under adverse conditions.
So invest in some quality rain gear and gear that is big. You're not going to a fashion show, you want something that will be comfortable and give you the protection you need. I remember putting on a pair of rain pants that had become a little tight (should of bought pre-shrunk). As I swung my leg over I suddenly felt a cool breeze down my leg. They had split open down the leg seam. Needless to say they didn't keep much dry on the ride home. So look for something that will stand up to a little rough use. The choice of one or two piece suits are a matter of personal preference.
Your next problem may be with fog. Not ground fog, but the fog that builds up on your helmet visor or glasses. This fog is caused by the temperature differential between the inside of the helmet (glasses next to your face) and the cooler air outside. Another factor is that you're more likely to be breathing more heavily because of the extra stress of riding in the rain. To remedy this use one of the many anti-fog products on the market. If you use a full face helmet you may find that cracking the seal at the bottom of the visor helps. Just enough to let a little air circulate inside.
Keeping your feet and hands dry are important also. Rubber boots are a must, especially if the weather is cold. The same for your hands. Nothing is more dangerous than trying to drive with cold wet hands. In the rain I wear a pair of those cheap brown cotton gloves and then put a pair of inexpensive surgical gloves on top. I've also used the rubber gloves that many women use to wash dishes in. I've seen some wear rubber coated work gloves as well as a pair of neoprene foam divers gloves. I carry four or five pairs of cheap surgical gloves (they tear easy) and a pair of "TOTES". Both are inexpensive, take up very little room and do the job.
Your co-rider is also a concern you should always consider. First off, they need even better protection and insulation than you do because of where they sit. They get more rain and wind and have a tendency to become uncomfortable sooner than the driver. As a result they may start to move around trying to get comfortable and keep from getting wetter. My wife has a tendency to duck her head and put the top of her helmet in my back. This can be distracting when you hit a bump and that helmet whacks you in the back like a hammer. This is a time when it's very important that the Co-Rider and the Rider communicate. If you know that your Co-Rider is going to move you can prepare for that sudden little wiggle or change in the feel of the bike. More importantly, you won't overreact thinking the movement was due to road conditions or the bike.
This is also when you want to make sure that anyone behind you can see you. As a rule, most motorcycles slow up in the rain and cars don't, at least around where I ride. So I turn on my flashers and hope this is enough to attract attention of that driver coming up behind me.
A FEW COMMON SENSE DO'S AND DON'TS:
...Slow down. Visibility is less, traction is less and the amount of reaction time you may have is reduced, so slow down. Another reason for slowing down is Hydroplaning. This is where the tire 'floats' on the wet surface and loses all traction. This is critical for touring bikes for their tires have a larger contact patch.
...Ride Staggered, as we normally do, only now you need to spread the formation out a little more. This will compensate for the need of more reaction time, maneuvering time and stopping distance. This extra distance also reduces the amount of spray you will get from the vehicles in front of you.
...Take more breaks. As if we had to tell a Gold Winger to take a food break. But even if it's just in a roadside park, stop and rest. The stress and tensions from riding in the rain can tire you out twice as fast as normal riding. Stop, walk around and stretch. Let yourself go limp for a few minutes.
...When braking, use both front and rear brakes simultaneously. Just don't try to panic stop or grab a handful all at once. You might stop alright, but chances are it won't be where or how you wanted it to be.
...When it first begins to rain, stop and wait a little while. Let some of that oil and grime get washed off. A slightly damp road is much more dangerous than a soaking wet one.
...If at all possible, don't ride in the rain after dark. We've all done it, but it's not the most safest thing to do. No only can't you see as well or as far, those big semi's can't either. I don't know about you but I don't look good sitting on the front grill of some big semi.
...As we have said, don't make any sudden moves. Make all your moves relaxed and easy. Don't over control and try, and I say TRY, to relax. If you do have to ride in the rain, then make it as safe and anxious free as you can. We all want to get home safe and sound.
RIDE SAFE