wet weather biking
- topgun
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wet weather biking
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 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
cheers topgun
- Dave
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Re: wet weather biking
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
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
- MrT
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Re: wet weather biking
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.
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.
- al
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Re: wet weather biking
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).
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).
- coullstar
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Re: wet weather biking
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.
- Ratz
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Re: wet weather biking
if this isnt too obvious a thing
keep off any road lines and cats eyes!!! damn slippy when wet
keep off any road lines and cats eyes!!! damn slippy when wet
- zx6r
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Re: wet weather biking
Is your ride prone to tramlining?Ratz wrote:if this isnt too obvious a thing
keep off any road lines and cats eyes!!! damn slippy when wet
- Ratz
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Re: wet weather biking
man with only 40 posts thinks a comedian he iszx6r wrote:Is your ride prone to tramlining?Ratz wrote:if this isnt too obvious a thing
keep off any road lines and cats eyes!!! damn slippy when wet
- zx6r
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Re: wet weather biking
Quantity is no substitute for quality!
- Dave
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Re: wet weather biking
And the rabbit eyes...and the bambi eyesRatz wrote: keep off any road lines and cats eyes!!!
Not kidding, flattened wildlife is slippery (and a but bumpy) when dry...but a real nightmare when wet
- Ratz
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Re: wet weather biking
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 afraidzx6r wrote:Quantity is no substitute for quality!
better luck and if you have anything relevant to the actual post then feel free to post it, otherwise sit the fook down
- Dave
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Re: wet weather biking
Ratz wrote:ah but been done by the best so a lesser attempt really doesnt cut the mustard with me im afraidzx6r wrote:Quantity is no substitute for quality!
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
- BIGSTEVE
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Re: wet weather biking
Tell me about it, I hit a dead pheasant at about 80 and it threw me off my seat, now that takes some doingDave wrote:And the rabbit eyes...and the bambi eyesRatz wrote: keep off any road lines and cats eyes!!!
Not kidding, flattened wildlife is slippery (and a but bumpy) when dry...but a real nightmare when wet
- Ratz
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Re: wet weather biking
speaking of wet, how are your waterproof gloves?Dave wrote:Ratz wrote:ah but been done by the best so a lesser attempt really doesnt cut the mustard with me im afraidzx6r wrote:Quantity is no substitute for quality!
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
- Dave
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Re: wet weather biking
Ratz wrote:speaking of wet, how are your waterproof gloves?Dave wrote:
Calm down, calm down...you are both acting a bit wet
wet but warm
I like warm wet things
- Ratz
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Re: wet weather biking
dont we allDave wrote:Ratz wrote:speaking of wet, how are your waterproof gloves?Dave wrote:
Calm down, calm down...you are both acting a bit wet
wet but warm
I like warm wet things
- Zathos
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Re: wet weather biking
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.
...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.
- Coddy
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Re: wet weather biking
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 ) .
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.
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 ) .
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.
- BIGSTEVE
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Re: wet weather biking
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
- Dave
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Re: wet weather biking
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
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
- al
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Re: wet weather biking
Unless your car happens to be a Freebender!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.
- al
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Re: wet weather biking
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?"
- Dave
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Re: wet weather biking
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?"
or that deep stuff
- al
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Re: wet weather biking
Hurrah for knobbies!
- Dave
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Re: wet weather biking
Big Kneed Al (master of the emergency stop & "stand up" comedian) wrote:Hurrah for knobbies!
or some bike snow chains
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