heavy rain and traffic situations

[Dragon on Wheels]

I was just returning home from work and as I was driving(in a car), I noticed two motorcyclists sitting under overpasses(they were at different ones). The traffic was quite heavy(rush hour type) and it had just began to rain very hard and actually is still raining.

Well, I've read that waiting under an overpass is a good idea when it's raining and especially if there's a chance for lightning(there was a lot of thunder, but I didn't see any lightning), but it seemed that the rain and traffic would be continuing for quite a while.

How long would most of you wait? or if there's a different action that you would take, what would it be?

[Lion_Lady]

A possible reason those riders were waiting under an overpass is because they have no raingear. And were hoping it would quit soon.

Has it been a week or more since the last good rain in your area? They say that you should REALLY take it easy on a motorcycle during the first 10-15 minutes of rain after a dry spell, because the rain just floats ALL the accumulated goop up off the road surface making it extremely slippery.

P

[flynrider]

I usually don't wait under overpasses. I just get wet and keep on riding. The only time I'll stop is if there is lightning close by. Even that didn't used to stop me from riding, until I got zapped while stuck in a traffic jam on the freeway. I got lucky because the main bolt hit a guardrail about 12 ft. away from me. I got a splinter bolt that hit the top of my helmet and exited through my hands and feet. Fortunately, I was soaking wet, so there wasn't much resistance (i.e. less damage). I escaped with momentary blindness and deafness, and some minor burns on my palms and feet. It took about 6 hrs. for my hearing to go back to normal.

Now when I'm on the bike and I see lightning, I don't screw around. I get under cover and wait until it passes (however long that might be). I can't afford to push my luck again

[shane-o]

I know this is obvious

but


The only way you can become competent in the wet is to ride in the wet.

Back in the bad ol days If I was at home and it started raining, id put on my rain gear and start riding.

My logic was, whats the point in being a few hundred miles from home on that lovely sunny day that just got wet and windy on the about journey home with no rain/wet experiance.

Dont let rain stop you, it actually makes the ride that much more challenging

[iwannadie]

I usually don't wait under overpasses. I just get wet and keep on riding. The only time I'll stop is if there is lightning close by. Even that didn't used to stop me from riding, until I got zapped while stuck in a traffic jam on the freeway. I got lucky because the main bolt hit a guardrail about 12 ft. away from me. I got a splinter bolt that hit the top of my helmet and exited through my hands and feet. Fortunately, I was soaking wet, so there wasn't much resistance (i.e. less damage). I escaped with momentary blindness and deafness, and some minor burns on my palms and feet. It took about 6 hrs. for my hearing to go back to normal.

Now when I'm on the bike and I see lightning, I don't screw around. I get under cover and wait until it passes (however long that might be). I can't afford to push my luck again

i always throught the rubber tires would ground you or something... guess not shesh that sucks.

[Dragon on Wheels]

Lion Lady: Yes, it's been quite a while since it's rained here. The dry spell has actually been going on for too long and it was nice to see some rain. I don't think either of them had rain gear, so that could be a reason. They both had helmet and leathers on, but I couldn't see anything that resembled waterproof material.

Without any raingear(or maybe even with raingear) and with the traffic, they probably would have been soaked in just a few minutes. The traffic really wasn't moving and the rain kept coming. If they waited out the whole thing, I think it might have been 2 - 3 hours before either the rain slowed down or the traffic dissipated. It just sounds like a really long time to be sitting on the side of a highway.

Flynrider: Wow, that's too close for comfort! It's good that you seem to be doing well now though.

Shane-o: That's probably a good idea. When I start riding, I'll remember to try a few rides in the rain.

[Kal]

I try to go easier on my throttle, dont corner so hard and keep in mind that the two second rule becomes the four second rule...

Otherwise, I get wet and keep on going.

[sapaul]

The rain does not bother me at all excpt for that first ten minutes, I also look for cover and wait to see how much rain is falling. If it is heavy, I am happy. I just do not like that first ten minutes when all the goop on the road rises to the surface. I ride with super sticky tyres and they need to be hot to work properly. Cold rain can cool them down very quickly and I need to be extra carefull. What I do not like is this light mist that just coats the road.

[flynrider]

i always throught the rubber tires would ground you or something... guess not shesh that sucks.

That's a myth. While rubber is non-conductive, a little patch of rubber isn't going to slow down the millions of volts present in a lightning bolt. This is especially true if the bike, tires and rider are wet. Cars are good protection from lightning because the bolt will flow through the metal body to the ground (path of least resistance), leaving the occupant safe inside. On a bike, the first thing that lightning will hit is the rider.

[ylobrd]

Hi All,

I'm a new rider, first season on a moto.

On my first-ever long-distance ride, I got stuck in the rain coming back from Laconia, really bucketing down. Had Rain gloves and a Gore-Tex jacket, so I was able to get home with my core and hands dry, tho' I was sitting in a puddle and feet totally soaked.

Took advice of all the experts, kept 4-second zone MINIMUM, gentle inputs to all controls, upright cornering (pretend you are on ice) etc. 3 hours later, I was home soaked and safe.

I waited in a garage for an hour before I headed out, I could see the bubbly goo on the road...wanted to let the rain clean that yuck off...

Since then I've gotten TREDS overbooots and a cheapie rainsuit (bright yellow), so next time I'll be ready...