Author |
Message |
2008xb12scg
| Posted on Wednesday, July 08, 2009 - 12:52 pm: |
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What swordsman said +1 |
Froggy
| Posted on Wednesday, July 08, 2009 - 01:29 pm: |
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Sword, in my car, at around 80mph I don't need wipers at all, the rain barley hits the windshield, and the little bit that does comes off like RainX. |
Ourdee
| Posted on Saturday, July 11, 2009 - 04:10 pm: |
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Lemonchili, I learned to ride in the mud. I liked trials type riding, but never got good enough at it to think of competing. I don't really try to power slide on the street. But if it breaks loose on me I don't chop it either. You know smooth will get you there more often. What was the topic? I got soggy undies wet the next day. |
Skntpig
| Posted on Saturday, July 11, 2009 - 06:36 pm: |
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I run treaded race scrubs. You should see the look you get when you crank it up on one wheel in the rain. ***not recommended*** |
Tom_b
| Posted on Saturday, July 11, 2009 - 10:30 pm: |
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You should hear the comments and see the looks when your riding on snow covered streets!!. The rain is a cakewalk unless it is cold rain |
Fresnobuell
| Posted on Saturday, July 11, 2009 - 11:51 pm: |
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Wow, does anyone not like the rain? I personally think it SUCKS. |
Ezblast
| Posted on Sunday, July 12, 2009 - 12:10 am: |
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Rain sucks - concur! EZ |
Cityxslicker
| Posted on Sunday, July 12, 2009 - 01:21 am: |
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If you get on your bike, and ride that away for an hour, it stops |
Buelltoys
| Posted on Sunday, July 12, 2009 - 09:52 am: |
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Don't mind the rain. Here in alabama it rains pretty much everyday now. But normally when I am in the plant. When I get out if it is raining it is nice a breezy to keep from getting too hot. The only time I get tired of it is on long trips and get caught up in it for 8 hours. (Makes for a long exhausting trip). Done that twice. It also is no good if you just have to go to the store and back with many stops in it. |
Xodot
| Posted on Sunday, July 12, 2009 - 10:57 am: |
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Confession - Wet roads scare me. I stay off them when I can. If I get caught in rain while I'm out, I'm white knuckling it. No fun for me. I respect those with the skill to be confident enough to enjoy the ride. I don't mind getting wet - I'll bicycle in the rain - It's a fear thing. Hmm...Can I outgrow fear? |
Panhead_dan
| Posted on Sunday, July 12, 2009 - 11:32 am: |
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"Hmm...Can I outgrow fear?" Yes. Fear can be outgrown with familiarity. Especially when combined with pleasant experiences.(and good raingear) |
Pkforbes87
| Posted on Sunday, July 12, 2009 - 02:21 pm: |
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Tires help a lot when riding in rain too. I'm riding on Diablo Stradas right now and can't even tell that there's water on the road. Before, I was running Scorpion Syncs - great tires but they didn't feel planted on water. |
Buelltoys
| Posted on Sunday, July 12, 2009 - 03:17 pm: |
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I run with Mich Pilot Roads. They work well in the rain. Have never had a moment when not in control. But I always dress for the spill in rain and good conditions. |
Tom_b
| Posted on Monday, July 13, 2009 - 01:07 am: |
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some of the not so bad rain rides have been with nothing but a helmet, jeans and t shirt in the summer. Once was riding back from a meet in the summer. was running 80 mph in the rain and having the time of my life. another was on a honda cb900f at 2 am in a warm rain in similar gear as above. My most miserable rain ride was riding from orlando flordia to new orleans in heavy rain and light hail in feb. 1986 in full gear. Like cars, be cool with yur bike in the rain and you will be o.k... no tires will make up for stupid, only experience and rider comfort will keep you safe in bad weather |
Mr_grumpy
| Posted on Monday, July 13, 2009 - 07:44 am: |
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Xodot, to paraphrase President Obama (who stole it from Bob the Builder) "Yes you can". Just get your gear on & go do it, as with most things the more you do it the better you get & the easier it becomes. The best tip I can give you is to get good wet weather gear, so that you stay dry & don't get distracted by the discomfort of being wet. My wife will look at me as if I'm a loony (debatable I admit) when I put on my rainsuit over my leathers & go for a ride, just because I feel like it. I once rode the Dragon in the rain on a borrowed bike, an interesting & educational experience. |
Fahren
| Posted on Monday, July 13, 2009 - 10:30 am: |
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But you do have to be careful of all the oil slicks pushed up from the road surface at the start of the rain, especially at intersections where cars sit and drool. Back in college, my Kawasaki kz440 slid right out from under me and dumped me in the middle of a suburban DC intersection at rush hour. Rain riding is safer once it has been raining long enough to rinse all the crud off the road. |
Froggy
| Posted on Monday, July 13, 2009 - 10:42 am: |
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Also watch out for things painted on the road like lane arrows, they are ice when wet. |
Xl1200r
| Posted on Monday, July 13, 2009 - 10:44 am: |
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Hmm...Can I outgrow fear? I wouldn't say I was "white knuckled", but I used to take it REAL easy on wet roads. Then I went to Suches (where it rained NON-STOP) and I followed Damnut into town and back on all the twisty, rain-soaked roads. He was in front. He was riding at a pace I would have never done on my own in the rain, but I figured if he could do it, I surely could. Nothing about ability or anything like that - just strictly what the tires could handle. We weren't blasting through, but it was a 'fun' pace for sure. After that, I had a lot more confidence in the amount of grip the tires can provide, even on a wet surface. Just watch out for painted lines, lol. |
Xodot
| Posted on Monday, July 13, 2009 - 11:55 am: |
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It's the oil on the surface during the first moments of rain and slippy paint that freaks me out! Sounds like I need my own "Damnut" experience. Thanks for the encouragement to "just get out and do it" gents. Confidence comes in the doing. Are all tires good in the rain? I've got Michelin road 2 (dual compound) which Michelin rates as "excellent" wet road traction. Are they really? I don't have anything to compare to. |
Fast1075
| Posted on Monday, July 13, 2009 - 12:59 pm: |
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Back in my teenage days when my bike was my only transportation, I would ride rain or shine...hot or cold. In the modern day of my old fartness, I say a POX on rain...I ride for pleasure and I ride fast...rain is conducive to neither...but here in Florida, the good news is...it usually can rain, and an hour later be all dried out and ready to rip. If it sets in..I drive my trusty pickup truck (Message edited by fast1075 on July 13, 2009) |
Sayitaintso
| Posted on Monday, July 13, 2009 - 01:18 pm: |
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Once was riding back from a meet in the summer. was running 80 mph in the rain and having the time of my life. It must have been a real light rain, cause a heavy rain at 80 hurts like a swarm of bees. I have been caught out in my 3/4 helmet in heavy rain a couple times and it sucks. I watch the weather report and radar real close to help pick which helmet to wear when leaving for work. If everything is covered, it aint so bad. Once its been raining for a while, like others have said. I had my plant foot go out from under me at a stop light b/c of the oil. It happened so quick, it was like I had tried to step on ball bearings..... Very embarrassing. Now, in the rain, I try to always use which ever foot is to the outside of the lane (away from the grease strip) when I stop. |
Aeholton
| Posted on Monday, July 13, 2009 - 03:14 pm: |
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No, the worst thing about rain are all the douche canoes in their cages that like to pretend water actually increases traction and reduces braking distance, thus demanding they drive faster. Not the problem in this area. Actually just the opposite. Too many driving at 1/2 the speed limit in left, center and right lanes. It's like a rolling road block. (Message edited by aeholton on July 13, 2009) |
Pkforbes87
| Posted on Monday, July 13, 2009 - 08:12 pm: |
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even on days without rain, I've noticed that omw home from work in the early mornings, the fog hanging in the air and the quickly rising daytime temps combine for some slippery road conditions that at times feel a lot worse than water on the roads. I think the high humidity brings oils to the top of road surfaces just as bad as a light rain. |
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