By MIKE Phillips |
|||
|
RAIN Bible tells us in
The Matthew 5:45b ( NIV ), β He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good , and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous .β What that means to motorcycle riders is you will ride in the rain sometimes , so get ready for it . We can do things to make riding in the rain less difficult . Three main areas to consider for riding in the rain are rider comfort , motorcycle traction , and visibility . Rider comfort is the area we have the most control over . A good rain suit is essential for comfort . Rain suits should be one or two sizes larger than your normal size because it will be worn over your regular riding gear . Put your rain suit on BEFORE it starts raining . Putting it on after it starts raining will mean putting a rain suit on over wet clothes . You can always take it off if it does not rain . Find a parking area where you will be safe from traffic to get suited up .
A full-face helmet offers the best protection against raindrops on your face . Wear a face covering like a bandana with any other helmet to keep raindrops from stinging your face . A raincoat should have a hood underneath your helmet so water does not run down the inside of your rain suit . The temperature is usually colder when it rains , so you will want to keep your jacket on .
Waterproof or rubber gloves under your regular gloves will help keep your hands dry . Some rain gloves have a ridge built into the thumb or forefinger of the left
|
glove to help wipe raindrops from your face shield . Boots should be waterproof ; if not , put a plastic bag over your socks , then put the boots on . You can also buy rain covers for your boots . Keeping warm and dry keeps us alert and better able to ride the bike .
The area most riders are concerned about in the rain is traction . The beginning of rain is when the road is the most slippery because the oils and dirt on the road are brought up to the surface . These wash away after about 20 minutes . Stop and take a 20-minute break . It will take several minutes to get your rain gear on . Have a soda and relax ; the rain may pass or ease up while waiting . Good tires with the proper air pressure provide very good traction in the rain .
The tread on tires is engineered to channel water away from the tire . Bald or improperly inflated tires cause a serious lack of traction . Some surfaces are slicker than others . Things like manhole covers , bridge decks , painted lines , crosswalks , and tar strips can be very slippery when wet . Construction zones can be covered with dirt , oil , and large metal plates that will be slippery in the rain . To keep good traction : 1 . Slow down . 2 . Cross over things at a 90 degree angle with the bike upright .
3 . Take curves slower to reduce lean angles .
4 . Avoid heavy braking or fast acceleration .
5 . Increase your following distance from other vehicles .
|
A safe following distance in the rain is twice what it is on dry pavement . Stay as far away as you can from vehicles behind and beside you . They may hydroplane and slide into you . Also , passing other vehicles or being passed will spray a lot of water on your bike , making it harder for you to see and be seen by others .
Do not ride through puddles if you can help it . You never know what is below the surface of the puddle . Choose a lane position that has the least amount of water on it . This may be in the tire tracks of other vehicles . Most roads have a slight slope to help water drain . Ride in the highest part of the lane to avoid the most standing water . Look for rainbows on the road or pavement discoloration . This may be caused by oil or other slippery material on the road .
Visibility is reduced in the rain . The rider can β t see the road , and other drivers can β t see you . The harder the rain , the darker the sky gets . Wear bright reflective colors . Ride with your lights on and use your turn signals . Always tap your brake so the brake lights come on even when rolling off the throttle to slow down . Adding extra lights is always a good idea . Car drivers get tunnel vision during rain . They look at the road directly in front of their car to help them stay in their lane . They will not expect to see a motorcycle on the road in the rain . Use a weather APP with radar to predict when and where it will rain .
Change your route to avoid rain if you can . Riding in the rain does not have to be difficult or stressful
|