10 Tips on Riding in The Rain
If you’ve done much riding at all this season, it looks like you’ve had an opportunity to ride in the rain. While most riders prefer not to, here are a few tips to make your ride safer and more comfortable.
- Purchase and carry high quality rain gear. Look for clothing that:
- Fits properly over your other gear, without being too loose. Flapping causes premature wear, ineffective protection and it’s not at all cool.
- Packs down easily and takes up minimal room
- Is highly conspicuous
- Is breathable if possible
- Fits tightly around the sleeves and ankles
- Has a high collar that fits under your helmet so water doesn’t seep in.
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Don’t panic if it starts to rain. Allow extra distances for stopping and reacting. Don’t make sudden moves and be more attentive to making one maneuver at a time – i.e. braking, turning, leaning, shifting.
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Pull off if necessary and wait it out, especially if you find yourself hydroplaning or can’t see where you’re going. I know it sounds logical but trust me, it doesn’t always happen. It’s a good idea to wait out the early part of the rain too when roads are their slipperiest.
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Warm and wet is better than cold and wet. Even if the rain gets through your gear, extra layers will help keep you warm and deter the onset of hypothermia.
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Avoid painted lines, metal covers, grates on the road and of course oil or gas spills. All can be slippery.
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Double check your tires to make sure they are in good repair, there is lots of tread and they’re properly inflated.
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Ensure sure your indicator lights and headlights work properly. It’s always important but even more so when visibility may be impaired.
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Wear a full face helmet or at least have a face shield. Make sure your visor is clear, not tinted, and free of scratches.
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Carry extra apparel so you can change into dry clothing if necessary.
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Make sure your luggage is waterproof; if not, have plastic bags on hand to stow clothing and/or fragile items.
Gortex is ideal and will help keep you warm and dry.
If you need to pull off to put on your gear, make sure you’re well out of traffic. It’s a lot easier to do it ahead of time than once the roads and you are wet.
Bonus: Be prepared. The weather can be unpredictable and even a day that starts out sunny might have a few raindrops later on. If we stayed home every time rain was predicted this year, we’d have missed some nice riding opportunities.