Rain Riding
I'll Take Mine Straight Up and Slow Please
Most riders get used to riding in the rain by
accident. They takeoff on an all day ride when the sun is shinning and by
afternoon they realize they're going to get their first taste of wet asphalt,
like it or not. Those who accept it soon find themselves venturing back
into the rain, sometimes at their own will.
Riding in the Northwest has a cycle with some. Many
never ride in the rain the first year they're up on two wheels. They're
timid about it the second year, feeling more confident by the third and by the
forth year they're asking the question - "What Rain?"
So suppose you're thinking about getting on a wet road for
the first time, or perhaps you've done it a few times, or perhaps you do it so
much you're not thinking about what the hazards are.
Here's a list of critical rain hazards I like to watch for
and look for even after 31 years of riding.
Painted Lines -
Crosswalks can be unsafe for motorcyclists, particularly if you're
turning right or left and crossing the lines at an angle. Slow down more
than usual and make the turn straight up, rather than in a lean.
Ditto for diamonds in the HOV lanes. Very
nasty when you lean into one, especially on the freeway. The diamond is
shaped so you just slide across it and continue to slide along it.
Any painted line is a hazard. Until the DOT
addresses the issue and comes up with a tackier texture you're the one in
control of your destiny.
Surface Textures
- Many commercial and residential parking areas are paved with very slick
concrete surfaces. Your wet entry into the local mall or condo complex
can put you on the ground in a second. Again, ride slow and straight up
and don't let the concrete bite you.
Rubber - If you
thought you might save some money by buying long lasting tires, think
again. Such tires are typically not as tacky and have less traction when
the rain comes out. Next time you change tires look for the tackiest one
that will take care of you better during your northwest riding adventures.
How about that rubber they use around railroad tracks
to decrease the sound as cars drive over them? Forget those little circles
on the surface, these provide zero traction to you as you cross. Slow and
straight up.
Steel - Manhole
covers are enemy number one and railroad tracks rank a close second. Making a turn over the surface of them sets you up for
trouble. Avoid such, or keep the bike straight up and cross over it
slowly.
Railroad tracks have a way of popping up on you just after
a turn and you may still be into a lean when you reach them. Look for the
crossing signs ahead of time, slow down and stay straight up when
crossing.
Grated bridge crossings and metal plates are a nasty encounter in
the rain. Look at where you want to ride, take it slow and don't try any
fancy dancing, particularly a lane change.
Water - Puddles/Pot
Holes - It only takes once to know how this one feels. You cruise
through a puddle and after it's too late you realize you just went into a pot
hole that wants to suck you into the underworld more painfully than Satan
himself beating you down with a stick. Avoid puddles if you can. Use
caution and predict the possibility ahead of time. Recovery from this rude
awakening is not always easy. Pull over and take a few minutes of rest if
you need to gather your wits. In 1997 the Seattle Times reported that the
DOT only had enough funds to patch 60% of the potholes created in the state that
wet winter.
Oil - It's
everywhere and very illusive. Those little red and blue rainbows on the
ground mean danger. Ride slow and straight up. As per the DOL's
motorcycle safety manual, if you're caught in the first rain following a few dry
days remember the roads are covered with lots of oil and dirt that will be
lifted from the surface in the first 30-60 minutes of a new rain. Take a
coffee break if you can.
Ride Safe,
Patrick Thomas - Winter/01
|
