"Life is Not About Waiting for the Storms to Pass. It's About Learning to Ride in the Rain." – Unknown
Picture credit: [How-To] Beginners Guide to Safely Riding a Motorcycle in the Rain
Sometimes living in Colorado can require a sixth sense when it comes to weather prediction. Being a rider in Colorado, you need to have a direct line with the weather gods. Colorado weather can be unpredictable, and even the most careful rider can find themselves getting caught in the rain. What then? How does wet road conditions change the way your motorcycle responds? How can you be the most prepared for the weather on a motorcycle?
In this post we will go over the seven things to know about riding in the rain and a bonus tip!
#1 - Ride Prepared!
Most smartphones nowadays come with a built-in weather app for you to check the weather. You can ask Seri, Alexa, Google, or whatever you call your digital assistant. They tend to be pretty basic and give you just enough information to have an idea of what to expect weather wise, but is that enough for a rider? Is that enough for a rider in Colorado especially? Weather in Colorado can vary from city to city, or even block to block. It can be sunshine and roses on the South side of town and pouring cats and dogs on the North, while hailing in a two-block radius in the middle of the city.
As a rider it is essential to know when it’s a good day to ride, and when it is better to take four wheels instead of two/three. Some riders may only have one mode of transportation for whatever reason. For any rider whose ever been caught in a rainstorm, you know it’s not the most pleasant experience…add in hail of any kind and you will likely walk away with bruises if you get to your destination safely. don't forget that it is difficult to predict how the “cagers” will drive in inclement weather, and you have a very serious risk on your hands. So always ride informed.
If you have a specific weather channel that you find gives you the best information, check them out before riding. Look into some of the other weather apps available for your device. Ask a friend that’s been riding for a while what they use. I found that using an app like Weatherbug or Clime that has an interactive radar is the most helpful. Clime even has a future radar which can give you an idea of the likelihood of running into bad weather on your ride. Whatever you choose, it is worth a few extra bucks a month to be prepared.
What do you do when those fail you? Or you forgot to check that morning and find yourself on wet roads…?
#2 - T-CLOCS!!
Check your ride before going out! It's very important to run through your T-CLOCS checklist often, but especially when you might end up riding in slippery conditions.
T - Tires: make sure you have good tread on your tires, you could even spring for some all-weather tires for your bike as well as your car. Check your tire pressure, temperature changes can affect it. Traction is everything and it starts with good tires. While you're there, check your brake pads and discs for wear.
C - Controls: make sure all your controls and buttons work. Brake lever and petal are working properly.
L - Lights: It's hard for cars to see motorcycles in normal conditions, it increases in low visibility. Make sure your headlights, taillights, brake lights, and signals all work! Help them see you!
O - Oils and other fluids: Gas is helpful to not get stuck in the rain. Though a gas station makes good shelter sometimes.
C - Chassis: Loose bolts or fenders can be dangerous anytime.
S - Side-stand: don't drop your bike in the water!
#3 - ATGATT
Photo credit: 10 Do's and Don'ts of Motorcycle Riding in the Rain
I’m sure you’ve heard the adage “All the Gear, All the Time”, this is especially important when riding in inclement weather. It’s hard to concentrate on the road and other highway users if you are distracted with soggy-bottom-syndrome, cold or otherwise uncomfortable, so having the appropriate gear is important. If you’re lucky to have a touring bike with plenty of storage, then you have plenty of room for all year-round gear: winter layers, gloves and jackets, summer mesh gear, rain gear, and so on. If not, then you need to be a little more particular about what gear you can carry with you.
Here is a list of items to consider:
Sturdy waterproof rain suit/gear. You can find a lot of good options at your local gear store, dealerships or even online. It’s important that it be lightweight and easy to store, but also easy to pull on over your clothes/gear. There is single use, or cheap wet weather gear you can use in a pinch but be careful that it doesn’t fall apart or rip easily or restrict your movement. Many name brand rain suits come with boot covers.
NOTE: Military style/issue APECS parka and pants are a good option too! You can buy them as civilians, a bit pricy, but they are sturdy, waterproof and have lots of pockets/storage.
Waterproof/resistant motorcycle jacket. If you have the room, it is always better to go with something that is designed to protect you while riding already and happens to be waterproof or resistant at least. These can be a bit bulkier than a rain suit especially if it’s summertime. There are also “multi-purpose” jackets with waterproof liners that are usually light and easy to store with a sturdy outer layer that can include mesh for breathability when it’s not raining.
Waterproof/resistant pants. Barring the rain gear, you can use leather chaps for some protection, but remember it doesn’t cover everything…There are also riding pants/suits that are waterproof/resistant, but like the jacket, they could be too hot to wear comfortably in summertime and bulkier to pack with you.
Waterproof/resistant gloves. Colorado rainstorms can get chilly, and if your hands are cold and wet, it gets difficult to operate those important controls! These are also great in the colder weather since they tend to be a good wind block. There are even glove covers that can go over your current gloves like the rain suits.
Waterproof/resistant boots or boot covers. If you’re already wearing waterproof/resistant boots, then you’re already covered! If not, there are rain covers that can break down for easy storage.
Helmet with anti-fogging tech. There are some anti-fogging coatings you can add to your visor or if you have a Pinlock system in your visor, you can add a Pinlock Visor Insert. They can be tinted or not, there are even transition inserts that will tint in the direct sunlight. Helmets not only protect your head from impacts with the ground or other vehicles, but they also protect it from impacts with hail too! If you have a full-face helmet for maximum safety, then you’re covered (literally). If you have a half helmet or 3/4 helmet, you may have a lot of skin left unprotected for those large raindrops (yup they hurt too) and hail.
#4 - No Sudden Movements!
Everything we do as a rider requires traction: acceleration, deceleration, and turning. In the best of conditions you already have a limited amount of traction to work with while riding, add in Colorado road conditions (pot holes are the state bird) and then some moisture from the rain and your traction has been reduced significantly. We must use the available traction wisely, especially in inclement weather conditions. Prioritization is key.
When the roadways are wet sudden acceleration, deceleration, or turning can result in you over extending your traction limits and losing control. You may have heard the old adage used by the U.S. Navy Seals and adopted by motorcycle enthusiasts, "slow is smooth, smooth is fast." Slow and smooth is never more important for a rider than when traction is limited, take your time, prioritize your traction for the things that are important like forward momentum and emergency procedures. Exaggerate your technique, "slow...look...press...roll" through turns, emphasis on the slowing and rolling smoothly.
Photo credit: Slow is Smooth, Smooth is Fast
#5 - Slow Down!
Like we talked about earlier, when you’re riding on wet roads, you have less traction to work with to keep your motorcycle upright and heading in the right direction. Slowing down just 5-10 miles per hour can make a huge difference in your traction and other safety margins. Not only are you riding with less traction due to the slick surfaces, but your perception and reaction time just increased too. So, slowing down and giving yourself more time and space to react to hazards and traps can give you that edge you need to stop or swerve in time without losing traction.
Engine braking is your friend when you need to slow down with limited traction. Using your brakes too suddenly could result in hydroplaning and bad things happening(remember #4, no sudden movements!). Engine braking allows you to maintain your traction while also slowing down gradually. Just keep in mind, this does not activate your brake lights, so cars may not know you’re slowing down. Some bikes can slow very quickly with engine breaking and the car behind you may not be prepared for that. So, flash your brakes first to warn anyone behind you or use them lightly in tandem with engine braking.
#6 - Reduce Lean
Traction! Traction! Traction! Again your traction is compromised when the roads are wet. If you don’t lean as much through curves and tight turns, you are less likely to bust that traction limit and go down. There are several ways to reduce your lean while riding in a low traction environments.
Slow down. Slower speeds require less lean angle for maneuvers. (I think we already mentioned slow down too…).
Body positions. A more forward-and-in body position can allow you to keep your motorcycle more upright while negotiating curves at a higher speed, while more counter weighting (think back to your U-turn strategies in your Basic RiderCourse) can help with lower speed maneuvers. (For more information on body positions and other fun techniques, check out the Advanced RiderCourse!!)
#7 - Watch Those Slippery Surfaces
While the slick road surface can be bad enough, there are other surfaces you should try to avoid when possible or be cautious when going over them.
Metal grates or plates. Metal surfaces can be especially slick when wet and should be handled with care. Avoid leaning while going over them and slow down. Pulling in your clutch slightly while going over can also reduce the likelihood of your rear tire spinning out from too much power.
Crosswalk/solid lines. Many of the painted lines out there on the roads are layer after layer of paint on top of each other and can be slippery, especially the thick crosswalk lines. Just like the metal grates, take extra caution and reduce your leaning when crossing the lines.
Leaves and other debris. Leaves, pine needles, grass clippings, etc. can all be very slick when wet too. Most of the time there are only a few here and there, but sometimes especially around the fall season or shortly after a hailstorm, you might find the road carpeted with them. Again, slow down and reduce your lean. If your rear tire starts to get a little squirrely (technical term) then pull in your clutch a little and reduce power to that wheel.
BONUS - Danger! Flooding Ahead
Photo credit: Colorado Springs is under a Flash Flood Warning
Many roads get flooded due to poor storm drainage systems or near flood zones. Not only are you putting yourself in the splash zone here, but you have a greater risk of hydroplaning or being washed away if it’s running water. If you see water covering the whole road, turn around, find another way if possible. You might be able to make it, you might not. Some flooded areas are so bad that they start washing cars away, what do you think it will do to you and your bike that weigh significantly less? Not worth the chance in my opinion. Otherwise, if you can find a shallow or safe route around, then take that slowly.
Also flood zones can wash dirt and other debris on to the road adding additional hazards that you might not be able to see. These hazards tend to stay on the road long after the water has dried up. It’s also difficult to see if there are potholes or if it's deeper than you think.
Colorado = Unpredictable Weather
This year we have been seeing a lot more moisture, while that is good for the fire danger and occasional draught conditions, it can make it tricky or uncomfortable when riding. So remember to be prepared, check the weather in advance as much as possible, ATGATT, no sudden movements, slow down, lean less, and when in doubt, clutch it out! Always remember to ride your own ride, especially in bad weather.
Want to learn more? Come and join us for some additional tools for your riding toolbox in our Advanced and Ultimate Bike Bonding RiderCourses. These courses help you work on some techniques that will give you more room on the road and help make those basic skills automated so you can focus on what is important on the road.
Photo credit: Hail Streaks Colorado Sky in Stunning Display
Post by: GARRETT LARSON, MTA RiderCoach
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