Riding in the Rain

To increase your riding efficiency in the rain, you need to adjust your style.  This includes finding the best possible lane position & wearing clothing to be seen, reduce your speed and lean angles and most of all increase your attention. 

1.Since rain hampers motorist vision and attention, your clothing and lane position is very important. 

2.Slow down to give yourself more time and space to react.  This is especially true when riding in a group.  Another way of not becoming lost in the wet, dark crowd is to get off the main roads & onto side roads whenever possible.  Pay special attention to avoid the grease strip in the middle of the road, painted lines & markings, metal surfaces like RR crossing, manhole covers & those metal construction plates.  Watch out under bridges since debris can collect there and it can stay slick longer since the rain doesn’t wash it away as quickly.

3.With water on your windshield, on your visor or glasses, the hissing of the water soaked payment, restricted movement from raingear and an increase in humidity in your helmet, you can get distracted so you need to “Increase your attention” to your riding.

These are some of the things you need to do and be aware of to be prepared mentally and physically to ride in the rain.

By:  Linda Owens
Safety Officer.  January 2006

The content of this information was gathered from the book “RIDE HARD RIDE SMART” by Pat Hahn