Are you comfortable riding in the rain?
I don’t worry (much) about getting caught in a sudden shower when the air is warm and home isn’t too far off. I knew there would be a slight chance that a storm front would pass through when I left home but I was willing to take the chance I would get wet. Riding in the rain and staying dry can be a critical issue when it’s not warm outside. For me, anything under 80F can turn chilly when you’re soaked and moving along over 40mph. I have a Rev’It rainsuit in my topcase that I’ve still never used but it’s there for those times when being wet and cold can become a problem.
The bigger issue for me today was the road surface. It was slippery as the rain just seemed to spread the oil and road film around making handling dicey in places. It never really rained hard enough or long enough to clean off the road. This is where an ABS braking system would be a nice tool to have.
The ride home was uneventful in terms of safety and handling. Aesthetically, it was fantastic to be out in the rain — really makes you feel alive sometimes.
In town an hour before the rain started everything was quiet — unusually so for a Sunday afternoon in State College, Pennsylvania. Made this picture as I left the scooter in one of the five motorcycle parking areas available in town. Normally I park a few blocks away but the Last Cruise, an annual car show and through town cruising ritual closed off the roads in that part of town.
I was reminded once again of how the years are passing by. I remember when the Last Cruise started. Seems like a couple years ago. Turns out this year was the 30th anniversary.
What the hell happened?
I often tell folks that–for riding, and for the most part–summer rain is an animal unlike rain of spring or fall. I prefer not to ride long distances in spring or fall rain because, due to the accompanying coldness, it can quickly become uncomfortable and dangerous. But summer rain?… I usually don’t mind riding in that, even for long distances. In fact, I usually find it mighty refreshing.
I’m with you — summer rain is generally refreshing as long as the temperature doesn’t drop into the danger zone. I neglected to add that last night there was lightning associated with the passing storm. I was counting between flash and sound to gauge distance but that’s not a perfect or necessarily reliable way to assess risk of being smacked with a lightning bolt from the heavens. I kept thinking it would melt my helmet…
Living in the Pacific Northwest a good six months of the year is rainy. I don’t really mind riding in it too much, as long as I am prepared and dressed for it. My gear reflects where I live & ride & the season we are in. We have been going through a very dry spell and over the last 3 days have had rain off/on with today being the worst. The roads were foamy as if detergent had been sloshed on them and were slippery from all the oil & gunk coming up to the surface. It was good to have the rain though, its been a good 3 months. Usually here when it rains the temperature drops considerably so even riding in summer rain can be cold. We have been having record heat, so it was nice to see the rain give the plants a good drink and freshen things up.
We’re certainly in a different place here — often by now lawns are brown and the creeks are low or dry. This year we’ve had lots of rain, everything is lush and jungle like and the streams are swollen. Everyone and everything is getting a drink.
I’ve seen our roads all foamy when it starts to rain but when I think about it that was usually when it was dry for a long spell — something we’ve not had.
Suppose the lesson is — be prepared in terms of gear for what should come your way and assume the road is slicker and people won’t see you as well in the rain. I guess that’s why my riding suit is neon yellow!
I like riding in the rain. Living in So. Ca. especially the last few years it has been rare. A couple of weeks ago we had a summer sprinkle it was nice to ride in. The main thing that keeps me from riding in the rain is my wife, it makes her worry, so I try to avoid it to keep her happy.
Taking into account the fear and anxiety of significant others is an important part of a relationship. Hard to know where the lines and rules are though. Some worry is justified and others just fear. I suppose you don’t have to worry a lot about riding in the rain where you are, especially lately.
I don’t mind riding in rain. Gentle rain is not a problem at all. Just there is this temperature zone when it’s not warm enough to ride soaked (as you say) and it’s not cool enough to ride in full rain gear. I don’t like this in-between. I remember once riding in a very hard downpour, though it didn’t last too long. Of course, the speed was slower; otherwise it was just fine. I did get soaked. Having the heavy kevlar riding jeans soaked with water feels worse (or as bad) as eating white bread.
Don’t be dissing white bread!
You’re right about that temperature zone that makes riding uncomfortable with our without raingear. I generally only change my gear choice for rain when I expect it to be an extended period of time.
Hi, Steve,
What is this stuff you’re calling “rain?”
It’s been so long since I’ve seen “rain”…it used to be just normal to ride in the “rain” in Michigan where we migrated from. Have never worn the Frogg Toggs rain suit I bought right after moving out here. I sometimes really miss it… almost always, in fact.
Karlu,
Las Cruces, NM
Rain is the liquid form of snow. That explain things?
New Mexico has other things going for it instead of rain. Nice place to ride I would think.
As you stated, riding in the rain is fine as long as you stay reasonably dry. The Roadcrafter has simplified things for me as I no longer wonder whether or not it’s going to rain enough to dig out the rain suit.
I just couldn’t pull the trigger on a Roadcrafter suit — something was in the way though I’m not sure what. But everyone I know that has one swears by it.
You can’t fool us – you bought the Roadcrafter as a fashion item. 😉
My 3-year old Roadcrafter Light (Hi-viz yellow base with gray ballistic panels) and my orange Triple-Digit rain covers are about as waterproof as gear can be – I covered 60 miles in about 45 minutes (I felt safer passing people than being overtaken in the poor visibility) yesterday in a rain storm that dumped about 1½ inches with no leaks. As an aside, the traction of the Pirelli Angel ST tires drops off very little in the wet.
After the rain, I opened the pit and back vents and was reasonably cool in the sunny 90¯/85%RH conditions.
A ‘Stich is entirely worth the $1,300 to $1,600 one will spend (base suit, armor, alterations, and shipping), since it will last 20+ years and is repairable.
Richard always struck me as a style leader. The stich, the URAL, next up will be a Cafe Racer variation of the URAL…
Gentle rain, no problem. Hard torrential rain which limits visibility and makes one wonder about traction on the corners…can be “interesting”.
Warm summer rain, not in Colorado.
On two wheels, I will slow down during my riding. My riding jacket/pants are kevlar mesh so if I don’t don rain gear, I’ll be soaking wet soon after. Then again, if its a short rain, I am dry soon after (mostly).
On three wheels, my rig and I seek where water has collected for some splashing fun.
Traction is my immediate concern with rain, especially in town with all the lines and painted surfaces than turn into greasy ice when it rains. A close second is protection from hypothermia which can occur on a motorcycle or scooter when the temperature in in the 70s if you get wet enough, long enough and the wind chill gets you.
I remember the first time I met Jack Riepe at a BMW rally. It was over 100 degrees under a brutal sun. Before I left I had someone thoroughly hose me down with water. In 5 miles I was bone dry. Brutal.
With the URAL I imagine it’s like having a Jeep or a dirt bike when it comes to playing in water.
The biggest problem on a scooter in the rain for me was when a young impatient car driver edged out from a side street on my right and I had to swerve and jam on my breaks. My wheels went out and I landed on my side sliding down the road with my scooter sliding and spinning on its side like a top. Oh did my ribs hurt!
I have the same fears — the rain diminishes my evasive maneuvering. One of the reasons why I was looking at a Vespa with ABS. Glad your crash wasn’t more serious.
I’m not a fan of riding in the rain. Not because of the condition of the road or any chill. My senses just cringe as I imagine the water creeping into electrical connections, steering head bearings and soaking the oil off the chain if I’m on a motorcycle. Unlike cars, two wheeled conveyances for the road aren’t built to repel water. Maybe Dual Purpose bikes but I’m not so sure there either.
Jim, I hear you but I just lose all concern with the machine when I’m riding. I’ve exposed my Vespa to every horrible weather condition you can imagine and so far I don’t detect any direct issues. But I suppose it could happen…
I used to regularly ride great long distances all over America, and I often said, if I wanted it to rain all I had to do was mount up. I don’t ride those great long distances much anymore, with a long ride now being under 200 miles. I wear all the gear, all the time, and I still don’t care much whether it it rains or not while I’m riding. My gear keeps me warm and dry, so when it’s pouring and I’m riding I’m just more extra-cautious than normal. My biggest complaint with rain riding, is that it made my immaculate machine dirty. But I don’t clean it often any more either, so I don’t care about that either.
Fred, you sound like a free man!
When I got my first bike in 1975, it was pouring rain the day I got my license and then my insurance. After signing the papers, the agent told me the policy wouldn’t go into effect until it stopped raining that day. I looked at him sideways, and he told me, “Hey. Even Evel Kneivel don’t ride in the rain.”
I hope I have insurance coverage in the rain!
Sadly, in 1975, I wasn’t riding. I was piloting a 1970 orange VW beetle…
ps When I am teaching new riders and we talk about rain, some of them are terrified at the thought and the fear is palpable. I actually like teaching in the rain, because it gives students experience in a controlled place and then they usually aren’t so fearful. And yes you are right its about being prepared. Now I am more dialed into weather and check the app on my phone first thing in the morning, crazy how riding changes you in small ways.
You’re right about riding changes you in small ways. What’s crazy though is that a machine can affect such things. For good or ill lots of machines affect us and not always positively.
No rain to deal with today. Just a little fog this morning.