Is Riding in the rain Really that dangerous?

[Tripped1]

Originally Posted by dddd

PS: the foot test is BS, sorry. you have to be quite experienced, very used to do it, with the same clean sole boots (no mud, no grease, no grass, etc. to feel anythng that you might interpret very approximately anyway. About as good as touching the ground with your gloves....

You aren't looking for absolute brake traction, you just need to know if the road is still greased up or not.

There is a hell of a big difference and I'd question if you couldn't tell, regardless of footwear. I can tell the difference from my work boots, to my street boots, to my track boots etc etc.

Where this comes in REALLY handy is when you come out for work and everything is wet, well OK, did it just sprinkle and everything is slick as snot, or did I sleep through a gully-washer and the roads are fine.

Originally Posted by LuciferMutt

It doesn't rain often in NM but when it does it's usually a torrential downpour that, if you're in a car, the windshield wipers can't go fast enough for you to be able to see, and the roads flood badly near the curb almost immediately.

It doesn't matter what you are driving, that shit is dangerous to be in. Don't forget about the huge lightening all over the place, and the good chance you'll get hailed on too.

During the monsoon/rainy season here, I don't commute on the bike too much.

I used to, 45 miles one way. Really, the spring windy season was actually worse (I had to go over the Organ Mountains to get to work) 70mph "downsloped" winds for 5-6 miles makes for a lively commute. Plus you could usually see a monsoon storm coming in the form of flying dirt...like 20 miles in advance.

Unless they are worse further north?

[duck]

Originally Posted by Craneguy

Just want to third the toll booth advice, and note that they are treacherous in dry weather too. If you're not careful your right foot will slip out in a second. I try to remember to only put my left down when paying.

Oh, and the the oil on the road isn't a film or it would always be an issue. It's down in the cracks and comes up to bite when those cracks and crannies fill with water. Eventually it's carried away.

Are you f'n series?

In this context the term "film" refers to a thin coating and does not imply adhesion nor permanence. e.g. "There's a film of dust on the piano."

Google search "thin film oil road rain" to see how often it's referred to as a "film" by physicists and others.

[SlipChip]

If you ride to work in the rain your coworkers will think you are a bit looney. DAMHIK

[Dismount]

they will also ask you, as water pours off of you in buckets, if you're wet.

[Craneguy]

Originally Posted by duck

Are you f'n series?

In this context the term "film" refers to a thin coating and does not imply adhesion nor permanence. e.g. "There's a film of dust on the piano."

Google search "thin film oil road rain" to see how often it's referred to as a "film" by physicists and others.

I'm completely series (sic)

[Tripped1]

Originally Posted by SlipChip

If you ride to work in the rain your coworkers will think you are a bit looney. DAMHIK

I used to hang a sign on my desk that said "Yes, it was cold this morning" or "Yeah, when it rains I do indeed get wet"

[DAKEZ]

Originally Posted by Craneguy

I'm completely series (sic)

[Twilight Error]

Walking into the shop, with water pouring off my suit, my coworkers used to ask "Did you ride in that rain?!" I'd reply "No, its much too dangerous to ride in the rain. I pushed the bike in."

They don't ask that anymore.

[Mr_Gone]

Originally Posted by Twilight Error

Walking into the shop, with water pouring off my suit, my coworkers used to ask "Did you ride in that rain?!" I'd reply "No, its much too dangerous to ride in the rain. I pushed the bike in."

They don't ask that anymore.

I tell them that the RBR (Ride Between Raindrops) mode isn't functioning, and that's why I'm wet. Otherwise, I'd be dry as a bone. Some of them take a really long time to get it.

[MADurstewitz]

Originally Posted by Twilight Error

Walking into the shop, with water pouring off my suit, my coworkers used to ask "Did you ride in that rain?!" I'd reply "No, its much too dangerous to ride in the rain. I pushed the bike in."

They don't ask that anymore.

When asked the same question I said: "No, I put on all of this gear and drove my truck just to screw with you."

[duck]

FWIW: I've got some Aerostich ropers that have a squeegy built into the left thumb. I thought it was a bit hokey when I bought the gloves but, much to my surprise, it does work pretty well to keep the visor clear in light rain and/or mist getting kicked up on the freeway.

[bess227]

the thumb wipers are actually quite handy, and cheap.

[Vanishing Point]

Watch where you put your foot down at stoplights and stop signs. Paint in the road and tar sealant can be slippery when wet and make it easy to drop your bike.

[ParrotheadJeff]

Originally Posted by SlipChip

If you ride to work in the rain your coworkers will think you are a bit looney. DAMHIK

SO TRUE

Rain is one of my favorite riding conditions - especially on a hot desert day

Pretty darn good advice above. Watch out when the rain first starts, be careful of the painted markings, etc. The biggest thing I can add is to be extra careful when stopping at intersections where cars drop oil and especially be careful in left turn spots in center/left turn dividers and raised medians like this one in Las Vegas:



I wasn't thinking one drizzly evening as I entered the left turn lane to go from the eastbound travel on Cheyenne into the parking lot with the gas station and things got slippery in a hurry No crash, but I learned a lesson

[Mr Vimes]

Originally Posted by SlipChip

If you ride to work in the rain your coworkers will think you are a bit looney. DAMHIK

So will the patients on the psychiatric inpatient ward you work on!

I love riding in the rain. Always do everything smoothly, 50/50 braking, easy throttle, smooth cornering. To be honest we don't get much choice over here, if you waited for a guaranteed dry day you'd never get out.

Just get good gloves (or a spare pair) as riding with wet hands is just miserable. A good one piece waterproof, waterproof boots or socks are a good idea and be on the look out for oil and diesel at junctions. On a warm day you can normally smell the diesel before you see it. White lines in the centre of the road are a bit dicey when wet so I tend to be real careful when passing.