Rain

[chrism156]

Anyone else getting bored with this weather? Just recently passed my mod 2 and only had about 4 trips out but the rest of the time has been ****ing it down so haven't bothered!

[Pricey12]

I know the feeling.

My bike has spent much more time sat in the garage than being used recently. Was going to use her for work tomorrow but the forecast is pants. I don't mind riding in the rain if I have too, but it's not fun.

[rictus01]

and just how do you expect to gain valuable experience in other conditions if you avoid them ?

[granty92]

hate the rain, i still feel like i just passed my test yesterday and want to ride all day everyday, but this poo weather keeps stopping me, got a decent morning today though so rode to work :) fingers crossed it doesn't rain on my way home

[Pricey12]

and just how do you expect to gain valuable experience in other conditions if you avoid them ?

I have plenty of experience in the rain, hence the reason I avoid it now :p (If i can)

[rictus01]

I know the feeling.

My bike has spent much more time sat in the garage than being used recently. Was going to use her for work tomorrow but the forecast is pants. I don't mind riding in the rain if I have too, but it's not fun.

Perspective I suppose, with the right kit, ridding in the rain can be great fun, give wonderful practice of smooth control, and once you're confident, ideal opportunity to slid the bike about a bit at far lower road speeds than in the dry.

[granty92]

i also have experience in riding in the rain as my bike is used for work all year as the car is boring, i just dont like riding in it because its just yuk

[rictus01]

I have plenty of experience in the rain, hence the reason I avoid it now :p (If i can)

I can only presume your idea of plenty is different to mine, 35 yrs and I still practice to maintain the skills I have, however; once again I'll presume you have the right kit to stay dry, if you're not getting wet, and as you say have plenty of experience (which should make it no more difficult than the dry), why not use the bike :smt102

[yorkie_chris]

I quite like a good ride out in some wet and wild conditions. Hitting a wheelie bin that blew onto the M6 was maybe taking it a bit far though :mrgreen:

[Pricey12]

Perspective I suppose, with the right kit, ridding in the rain can be great fun, give wonderful practice of smooth control, and once you're confident, ideal opportunity to slid the bike about a bit at far lower road speeds than in the dry.

Fair point.

I did a fair amount of commuting up and down the A12 in all weathers a few years ago which has probably made me a bit adverse to riding in rain these days if i can avoid it. Still, if I had no option I would do it again as it's still quicker than sitting in traffic in a car.

[timwilky]

I have 3 cars and a van. Why would I want to clear the drive when it is cats and dogs to get a bike out of the garage.

Work is only 9 miles of mostly dual carriageway. I am there in the time it would take me to to get a bike out and put on gear.

When the sun shine I do of course go the long twisty way.

[Pricey12]

I can only presume your idea of plenty is different to mine, 35 yrs and I still practice to maintain the skills I have, however; once again I'll presume you have the right kit to stay dry, if you're not getting wet, and as you say have plenty of experience (which should make it no more difficult than the dry), why not use the bike :smt102

You certainly top trump me on experience ;)

I admit I am a fair weather rider by choice, but only because I have access to a car. If I didn't I would certainly use the bike in all weathers (apart from maybe snow).

[Pete7]

Patience, summer is just coming if the jet stream would just move norf and send the low pressure systems were they are supposed to be - over Scotland.

Pete

[rictus01]

i also have experience in riding in the rain as my bike is used for work all year as the car is boring, i just dont like riding in it because its just yuk

it's a bit like snow and ice, you can powerslid a bike at 8mph around a corner....

very few conditions put me off riding, most of those require my left hand to be swiping my visor clear every couple of second, so that's heavy snow fall, drizzle and mist/fog, and if I had some way of keeping it clear they wouldn't be a problem either.

[rictus01]

Patience, summer is just coming if the jet stream would just move norf and send the low pressure systems were they are supposed to be - over Scotland.

Pete

Pete, I have a lovely lady friend doing her first big run up to scotland Friday, I'm more than happy to keep the rain down this end of the country so she has a wonderful time....goes away to find his rain dance manual.....:cool:

[Specialone]

I detest riding in the rain tbh, not so much the riding itself but the lack of visibility due to the visor covered in rain.

For the record I ride for pleasure all through the winter barring snow and ice.

[rictus01]

heavy rain clears itself, hence the drizzle/mist comment above.

[pie eater]

Its just around the corner i can feel it in my bones lol I hate riding in the rain ive a week of work next week hope it picks up off to lakes for 3 nights my first long ride out. on sv x

[Owenski]

I wouldn't say I enjoy riding in the rain (although I've certainly had enjoyable rides which involved it), when forced to commute in it I can understand those who then choose to avoid riding in it socially.

To be fair though we have had quite a few good weekends weather wise, I now live closer to the main road so I'm very aware of the bikes constantly buzzing past rubbing in the fact they're out playing whilst I'm not.

[chrism156]

and just how do you expect to gain valuable experience in other conditions if you avoid them ?

Every lesson I took whilst learning to ride was in the wet so I am used to it! Just saying it would be nice to get a decent couple of weeks of weather

[pie eater]

Every lesson I took whilst learning to ride was in the wet so I am used to it! Just saying it would be nice to get a decent couple of weeks of weather
Me too have 4 tests cancelled due to bad weather it unsettles me when cars drive way too close in the rain x

[Fallout]

I can enjoy wet road conditions, and I have no problems with getting rained on when I have my waterproof over suit on and I've bothered to correctly secure the cuffs around my gloves. What I will always hate is the visibility in moderate to heavy though. Although you can see everything fairly well, the reduced visibility through the visor just ruins the fun.

Perhaps there's a really good visor solution I don't know about which completely solves that issue. If so, I'd like to try it out, because as Rictus said, there's a certain amount of fun to be had trying to promote little tail slides etc. in predictable wet surfaces. I'd like to do more of that, but the poor visibility just has be riding boringly for the most part.

[chrism156]

On my mod 1 the rain and wind was so bad that they cancelled it! Mod 2 was wet but luckily it wasn't at a point where I had any issues apart from as someone else said a couple of idiots driving too close to me!

[Littlepeahead]

I did all of my training for my test in freezing January so ice was an issue. I will ride in the rain but for some reason my Shoei lid leaks regardless of which visor I have on it and both my Shoei and the Caberg make my glasses steam up in the rain. As I mostly ride for fun I'd rather do something else if it's raining - or go out in the car where I can still just wear one layer of clothes instead of 3.

[carelesschucca]

I used to ride in the rain all the time and used to love it if the rain was heavy enough it can be quite enjoyable, but I do tend to try and avoid riding in the wet now*

I will also really avoid it if I've got more runs to do in the next couple of days, damp biking gear is never fun the next day...

Fingers crossed the weather is ok for this weekend cause if its raining the GM mob will all be going up through the cloud on the Bealach Na Ba. Which really isn't fun.

Shhh don't say that to them though, I want them to turn up...



*fat chance living in Scotland

[veenee]

It was seriously pi$$ing down for most of the day when I was doing my CBT.
Since then I don't mind the rain - when I was commuting every day I stopped noticing it.

Nowadays, I drive the cage when it is raining (I must be getting old!)

[Sir Trev]

As I mostly ride for fun I'd rather do something else if it's raining - or go out in the car where I can still just wear one layer of clothes instead of 3.

This.

Over the course of many years without a car I rode many a mile in the rain, so I have nothing to prove. I also ride just for pleasure and as far as I'm concerned riding in the rain is no pleasure. Sure I can put the right kit on (it lives in the top box as you never know when you're out and about) and I'm happy in the knowledge that I can cope without any dramas, but other cars frighten the life out of me in the rain when I'm in the car, never mind on the bike.

[Blueperson]

I originally bought my SV650 as a winter/wet weather hack to keep my other bikes in good nick. It is great for this and works well in the rain (once you've got the necessary front fender extender). Being light and not too powerful helps in poor conditions.

[punkyp]

I get rain on the inside of my visor, which makes it difficult to clear, even if I close it fully. Crappy Caberg Konda.
Goretex is your friend in the wet. I'm replacing my textile kit with Goretex as I an afford it. Only golves, boots and trousers to go.

[Specialone]

heavy rain clears itself, hence the drizzle/mist comment above.

Unfortunately not enough on my visor for me to suddenly enjoy the ride, each to their own I guess.

Give me a nice dry day anytime :)

[phatwheels]

Rain doesn't bother me so much now, it's the fluctuating temperatures that **** me off!
One day it's 9c next it's 22c!?

[orose]

Perhaps there's a really good visor solution I don't know about which completely solves that issue. If so, I'd like to try it out, because as Rictus said, there's a certain amount of fun to be had trying to promote little tail slides etc. in predictable wet surfaces. I'd like to do more of that, but the poor visibility just has be riding boringly for the most part.

Nikwax Visor Proof works for me - turns that drizzly rain that sticks to the visor into something that clumps together more readily, so a quick shoulder-check blows it off the visor. Really heavy rain washes it off, so it isn't perfect, but it's a long way in the right direction for me.

[Red Herring]

+1 on the Nikwax, that and a V wipe for when it's only that annoying mist and/or road spray. I quite enjoy riding in the rain providing it's a proper ride for fun, not so great when it's just to go to work etc as the aggro of getting kitted and then finding somewhere to put all your wet gear is just to much. Having the right tyres for the occasion also helps.....

[Fallout]

I have some external visor stuff I used once. Wasn't impressed with it, but can't remember the brand off the top of my head. May try it again. Will look out for Nikwax too.

[rictus01]

additionally try a yellow filter, I have a set of clipon's for my glasses in polarized yellow, but visor inserts work just as well, they brighten as well as cut light flare.

Cheers Mark.

[LewSpeight]

I quite like a good ride out in some wet and wild conditions. Hitting a wheelie bin that blew onto the M6 was maybe taking it a bit far though :mrgreen:

Only you.


Sent from that magical device in my pocket.

[rictus01]

Well as if to prove a point, it's ****ing down just now, bike riding day, so a few hundred mile in the wet it is then.