Riding in the rain?

[Kylie]

Apologies, lame beginner question....

I didn't have any rain during CBT, DAS, test or last weeks riding, so first rain I've rode in was today. I momentarily considered leaving the bike at home, but no, I'm loving Kylie, she is treating me right, I've got waterproofs, rain ain't going to stop her and I riding in to work.

I think I know most of the standard stuff, like watch out for manhole covers (which seem to be on *every* bend round here), road markings, cats eyes, surface water, diesel spills. Plus there is increased braking distance. Rain on me visor wasn't a problem either, nothing that a glove wipe wouldn't clear.

But I was nervous as hell on anything but a straight line, slow round all corners. I suppose it depends on quality of tyres, road surface, how heavy the rain is etc, but assuming I avoid all the hazards listed above will my bike still have nearly as much grip as I have in the dry, can I still carry speed and lean in to corners? And if it does start to slide, do you get time to countersteer and correct, or is that me over?
Cheers,
Mike.

Heh, lucky you.. I didn my test in the pouring rain.

I'm no expert but I seem to remember someone saying tyres are only 10% less sticky in the wet...

I'd say carry the speed you're comfortable with (however slow) until you've got the hang of riding on wet surfaces. Eventually you'll stop feeing excessively nervous so will be able to carry more speed round corners.

One BIG thing to watch is that you try to stay as loose as possible because tensing up will cause the most problems.

This is just from my experience and I'm sure someone with more experience will be along soon.

I think I know most of the standard stuff, like watch out for manhole covers (which seem to be on *every* bend round here), road markings, cats eyes, surface water, diesel spills. Plus there is increased braking distance. Rain on me visor wasn't a problem either, nothing that a glove wipe wouldn't clear.

Fun isn't it? The wonders of design that mean that every apex and every exit and entrance to a corner have a shiny man-hole cover on them. You'd think it would be too much to ask to recess them a bit and put a bit of tarmac on them (leaving the bits to put the lifting spikes in clear).

But I was nervous as hell on anything but a straight line, slow round all corners. I suppose it depends on quality of tyres, road surface, how heavy the rain is etc, but assuming I avoid all the hazards listed above will my bike still have nearly as much grip as I have in the dry, can I still carry speed and lean in to corners? And if it does start to slide, do you get time to countersteer and correct, or is that me over?

Everything comes with practice. Take your time and you will get more confident. You should be fine in a straight line, corners you will have less grip in the rain and obviouslys longer stopping distances, but keep it sensible and you'll be fine. Yes you can lean into corners - there isn't much choice unless you want to crawl around them. If it starts to slide you've probably found the man-hole cover, keep it smooth and don't panic + slam on the brakes.

Have fun!

MT

Slow and smoooooth is the answer. Riding in rain is so much different to riding in the dry. Just relax and take it easy. You're obviously aware of the hazards, outlined in your post above, but if the front slides you're highly unlikely to save it and really it's more or less the same with the rear (though not slamming the throttle shut and gently counter-steering might save you). As for leaning the bike into corners, my advice would be to go a lot slower and lean a lot less.

jonboy's rule #37: ALL tyres are crap in the wet

At the end of the day you simply need to clock up the wet miles to fully appreciate the skills required to ride safely in wet weather. This doesn't mean it can't be fun, just a different style of riding.


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Originally Posted by Kylie

But I was nervous as hell on anything but a straight line, slow round all corners. I suppose it depends on quality of tyres, road surface, how heavy the rain is etc, but assuming I avoid all the hazards listed above will my bike still have nearly as much grip as I have in the dry, can I still carry speed and lean in to corners? And if it does start to slide, do you get time to countersteer and correct, or is that me over?
Cheers,
Mike.

I been riding for two yrs now and I still feel like this when it's wet outside, mainly due to an off I had in my first few months of riding. There is no harm in being careful and that's how I think of it, so what if it takes me an extra millisecond round that bend/corner. As long as you do it sfely for you and other road users is all what matters.

I'd take it easy to begin with and don't be afraid to go fairly slow on roundabouts (I nearly dropped my bike, twice, on one particular once near me). Get used to leaning the bike over/carrying more corner speed by building it up slowly and incrementally. It's probably better that you're slow to begin with and build your confidence/awareness of what you can get away with, rather than charge in and bin it.

Once you've ridden in rain a few times you'll get used to it and get a bit quicker. Tyres also play a large part in the grip in the wet. I found stock D220s were rubbish compared to Metzler Z6s, although it may have partly been the placebo effect of knowing they were so much better in the dry, giving me more confidence.

Aside from the obvious cornering and braking, the other thing to watch out for is when you're actually bringing the bike to a stop (ie ~15->0mph). If you're not careful with the back brake, you'll lock the rear wheel up, especially if there's grit/mud on the road too (as Baldyman about my 'going sidewards' in the wet )

Not neccesarily BASAT compliant, but this is all based on my experiences of learning to ride in the wet.

Originally Posted by Ceri JC

Aside from the obvious cornering and braking, the other thing to watch out for is when you're actually bringing the bike to a stop (ie ~15->0mph). If you're not careful with the back brake, you'll lock the rear wheel up, especially if there's grit/mud on the road too (as Baldyman about my 'going sidewards' in the wet )

Ooh, that reminds me! Watch out for the sv's natural engine braking on wet surfaces... It's caught me out a few times having the back spin out on me...

Originally Posted by jonboy

At the end of the day you simply need to clock up the wet miles to fully appreciate the skills required to ride safely in wet weather. This doesn't mean it can't be fun, just a different style of riding.
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This is definately a valid point and one overlooked by a lot of fair weather riders (not having a crack at them). Riding in the wet makes you smoother (through neccessity), which makes you faster and safer in the dry.

It can certainly be fun too. I've gone for recreational rides in light snow (no ice) and had a good time.

Disclaimer: Riding in snow is generally not seen as safe, wise or fun. I liked it though. Of course, you need to ride even more carefully, brake more gently, larger stopping distances, etc.

Why am I talking about snow in August? Well, it is Blighty, after all

Originally Posted by Ping

I'm no expert but I seem to remember someone saying tyres are only 10% less sticky in the wet...

I think that may have been 10% sticky in the wet .

Anyway it's not quite that simple as there are many factors that determine a tyres adhesion to the road in the wet, not just the water.


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Originally Posted by jonboy

I think that may have been 10% sticky in the wet .

Anyway it's not quite that simple as there are many factors that determine a tyres adhesion to the road in the wet, not just the water.


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No way! I'm pretty sure it was our instructors on our DAS that told us this because I was never that worried about wet riding as a result... Now I'm going to have to do some research...