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wet weather biking

Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 6:14 am
by topgun
hi folks, looking for peoples opinions on whats the safest road position when roads ar wet :( . 1st time on my bike on wet roads since i came off :angryfire and was absoloutly bricking myself. i just didnt feel confident on the roads last night and this morning, as i seem to be tense, waiting for another fall. cant decide if the middle is best or nearest the white centre lines.

cheers topgun

Re: wet weather biking

Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 6:55 am
by Dave
My position on the road changes all the time
Even on the same road, same corner, but different day my line could be different, for many reasons...position of other road users, stuff on the road, or just made a mess of the corner.

In the wet...plan a head even more than usual

To be honest, I like riding in the rain. It makes me slow down and the corners are so much easier at 55 mph than at 58mph


So many things to look out for, but in doing one thing you can create another hazard...like
I avoid standing water, puddles etc when ever I can...but you don’t want to swerve either.


Wear the best kit you can afford.

If you are comfortable and dry, that you will concentrate more on the road than on being wet and miserable.

Heated grips as well...warm fingers work better than cold ones.



Get some additional training

Things make much more sense when you are on a bike at the time of being told, or being with the instructor and them doing sketches of the road layout etc

Re: wet weather biking

Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 8:14 am
by MrT
As Dave says.

I like riding in the wet and as the IAM say (something along the lines of) "sacrafice speed for safety". Often find the best position is in the middle of the lane I'm in, its the dryest part of the road - gets heated by car engines and the water naturally goes away from it.

I did my IAM this year and that really helped, not just wet weather riding, although I think nearly all of my observed runs were in the pishing rain as well as my test.

Re: wet weather biking

Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 9:23 am
by al
Put more weight through your pegs, keep your arms loose. Accelerate and decelerate progressively. Keep a good distance from the vehicle in front.

Watch out for rainbow colours on the road (diesel). Take your time & keep warm.

Big Kneed Al (master of the emergency stop & "stand up" comedian).

Re: wet weather biking

Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 10:54 am
by coullstar
Relax and do everything you noramlly do but at a slower pace, no sudden changes. You would be surprised the amount of grip you get.

Re: wet weather biking

Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 11:03 am
by Ratz
if this isnt too obvious a thing

keep off any road lines and cats eyes!!! damn slippy when wet

Re: wet weather biking

Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 11:30 am
by zx6r
Ratz wrote:if this isnt too obvious a thing

keep off any road lines and cats eyes!!! damn slippy when wet
Is your ride prone to tramlining?

Re: wet weather biking

Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 11:51 am
by Ratz
zx6r wrote:
Ratz wrote:if this isnt too obvious a thing

keep off any road lines and cats eyes!!! damn slippy when wet
Is your ride prone to tramlining?
man with only 40 posts thinks a comedian he is
:biggrin2

Re: wet weather biking

Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 12:00 pm
by zx6r
Quantity is no substitute for quality! :log

Re: wet weather biking

Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 12:04 pm
by Dave
Ratz wrote: keep off any road lines and cats eyes!!!
And the rabbit eyes...and the bambi eyes :log :log :log


Not kidding, flattened wildlife is slippery (and a but bumpy) when dry...but a real nightmare when wet

Re: wet weather biking

Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 12:05 pm
by Ratz
zx6r wrote:Quantity is no substitute for quality! :log
ah but been done by the best piss take merchant on the board so a lesser attempt really doesnt cut the mustard with me im afraid :nono

better luck and if you have anything relevant to the actual post then feel free to post it, otherwise sit the fook down

Re: wet weather biking

Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 12:07 pm
by Dave
Ratz wrote:
zx6r wrote:Quantity is no substitute for quality! :log
ah but been done by the best so a lesser attempt really doesnt cut the mustard with me im afraid :nono

better luck and if you have anything relevant to the actual post then feel free to post it, otherwise sit the fook down

Calm down, calm down...you are both acting a bit wet

:biggrin2

Re: wet weather biking

Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 12:07 pm
by BIGSTEVE
Dave wrote:
Ratz wrote: keep off any road lines and cats eyes!!!
And the rabbit eyes...and the bambi eyes :log :log :log


Not kidding, flattened wildlife is slippery (and a but bumpy) when dry...but a real nightmare when wet
Tell me about it, I hit a dead pheasant at about 80 and it threw me off my seat, now that takes some doing :oops

Re: wet weather biking

Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 12:08 pm
by Ratz
Dave wrote:
Ratz wrote:
zx6r wrote:Quantity is no substitute for quality! :log
ah but been done by the best so a lesser attempt really doesnt cut the mustard with me im afraid :nono

better luck and if you have anything relevant to the actual post then feel free to post it, otherwise sit the fook down

Calm down, calm down...you are both acting a bit wet

:biggrin2
speaking of wet, how are your waterproof gloves? :biggrin2

Re: wet weather biking

Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 12:13 pm
by Dave
Ratz wrote:
Dave wrote:
Calm down, calm down...you are both acting a bit wet

:biggrin2
speaking of wet, how are your waterproof gloves? :biggrin2

wet :( but warm :P


I like warm wet things :log :log

Re: wet weather biking

Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 12:14 pm
by Ratz
Dave wrote:
Ratz wrote:
Dave wrote:
Calm down, calm down...you are both acting a bit wet

:biggrin2
speaking of wet, how are your waterproof gloves? :biggrin2

wet :( but warm :P


I like warm wet things :log :log
dont we all :arse :arse :arse

Re: wet weather biking

Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 12:16 pm
by Zathos
Wet weather riding should be the opposite of this thread...

...a clear head, good observation and avoid distractions ;)


Personally I run one gear further up the box and make the usable road width about 10% less than dry roads, just to avoid centre / edge slippy junk.

Re: wet weather biking

Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 12:24 pm
by Coddy
Make sure you have some decent tyres for a start.
Most sportiest tyres that are available have no tread on the outer edges of the tyre, and are pish in the wet. (Good in the dry though :P) .
Progressive braking, use more rear brake.

Take the car. Safer, dry, warm, music. Who gives a poop if you get called a fair weather biker, at least yer not like a droont rat.

Re: wet weather biking

Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 12:32 pm
by BIGSTEVE
Wet weather biking is much like making love to a beautiful woman. Take it slow, twist gently, find a good position but whatever you do, don't ride fast beacuase one slip of the rubber and you'll be in the sh!t :log :2up

Re: wet weather biking

Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 12:38 pm
by Dave
Zathos has a point about the middle filling up with junk

Yes but no...on country roads the stones in the tar in the middle might not be flattened as much as on the car/truck tyre line.

No but yes...the centre still can fill up with more loose stones, sand, mud and bits of leaves

Yes but yes...the edge is always full of unpleasant stuff



Get some more training

Every road situation every day is different, and need to have that instant assessment

Everyone experiences posted are worth noting, apart from the "tram lining on carpet stitching", but that aside, keep reading about our experiences


Remember: riding in the wet is like making love to a beautiful woman
Keep it smooth
Keep it steady
Ride with confidence
Wear your waterproofs

Re: wet weather biking

Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 12:54 pm
by al
Coddy wrote:Take the car. Safer, dry, warm, music. Who gives a poop if you get called a fair weather biker, at least yer not like a droont rat.
Unless your car happens to be a Freebender! :log

Re: wet weather biking

Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 12:56 pm
by al
Riding in snow and ice is even more fun. You get to make choices like "I wonder if there is more grip on that shiny stuff or the sandy stuff?" :2up

Re: wet weather biking

Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 12:58 pm
by Dave
Big Kneed Al (master of the emergency stop & "stand up" comedian) wrote:Riding in snow and ice is even more fun. You get to make choices like "I wonder if there is more grip on that shiny stuff or the sandy stuff?" :2up

or that deep stuff

Re: wet weather biking

Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 1:00 pm
by al
Hurrah for knobbies!

Re: wet weather biking

Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 1:12 pm
by Dave
Big Kneed Al (master of the emergency stop & "stand up" comedian) wrote:Hurrah for knobbies!

or some bike snow chains

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