Riding in the rain

[Darth]

Went out to work this morning and there was not a cloud in the sky. Biked into town at lunchtime to meet up with my girlfriend for a sandwich - sun was beating down, sat in the sun in my T-shirt feeling all summery

Half way back to work on the 15 minute ride, there was the most obvious line in the weather i have ever seen. Was bizzarre. Dry road, sun out looking down the road and could see everything looking shiny when all of a sudden i was getting drowned and had hailstones the size of golfballs were pinging off my helmet and stinging my knees (only had jeans on as weather was so fine in the morning)

Anyways, weather continued to be crap on and off the rest of the day, got cold and wet on the way home but despite that i found i was actually enjoying riding in the rain even though i was soaked through my jeans and summer gloves and struggling to see where i was going in a tinted non pinlocked visor.

Actually enjoyed it so much that after i had gotten home and dry and warm from a nice shower i decided to kit up properly and get back out there in the now even heavier rain!

Only saw 1 other biker though the spray on my last outing of the day. We gave each other a respectful nod which i have to say felt much more meaningful than the million other nods you exchange on a sunny sunday afternoon

Is this type of behaviour normal?
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Harold_Shand wrote: I suppose it's like anything, you get your fingers burned when you start out, you learn from it and eventually become a complete arsehole about the whole thing.

[Rhys]

I was out the other day and 1min down the road from leaving house, it started. But it was weird, although it was raining it wasn't to the point of having to wipe the visor constantly and I didn't really mind it.

On the way home though it really did pelt it down and I couldn't see far infront of me, constantly wiping visor (thinking about this, are them finger visorwipes any good?) and had to really slow down, sitting in a puddle and generally not good but as it brightened up and I dried off, it was still quite a good ride! Got some good confidence with these Qualifiers in the wet. It did feel quite good seeing other bikers out in the rain though, as it had been on and off all day so knew good possibility, knowing all the weekend dry weather weekend warriors would be all moaning and me and other bikers were out so yes see what you mean about the nods thing.

This time it was ok as it was a short period but back in December out on the motorway in the evening with it really hammering it down, wasn't so pleasant.

Its more the spray and wiping visor that I don't like as not having very good visibility, I dont so much mind the actual rain, once your soaked your soaked so can get to tolerate that.

Don't think I would purposely go out again though
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Current Bike: '94 RVF 400R
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[Darth]

My winter gloves have a wiper blade thing on one finger, is a pretty handy feature except for when it is only slightly damp and you try to wipe and just end up smearing it. Could be doing with a washer jet in the other finger really!
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Harold_Shand wrote: I suppose it's like anything, you get your fingers burned when you start out, you learn from it and eventually become a complete arsehole about the whole thing.

[truslack]

[garth]

Now I have a supermoto style bike, I actually really enjoy riding in the rain.

Shit Maxxis tyres + Rain = Slides.
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You ain't a has been if you never was

[The Disapproving Brit]

I like riding in the wet. It stops you getting too complacent - you have to plan ahead a lot more, since oversights that force you to hit the brakes are going to be a lot less forgiving on wet ground.

Weather the other day was odd, but great. One minute, absolutely pissing down. As suddenly as it started, it stopped and the sun was out. Half an hour later, you could see the road literally steaming as the sun dried it out. Sadly I wasn't out in it, but my lunch break coincided nicely with the steaming roads. It was a really rather odd, but very pleasant, sight to behold.
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Current Bikes: 1983 Honda VF400FD / 2003 Honda VT750 Shadow
Bike Test Passed 18/03/09, Car Test Passed 14/05/13

[Clanger]

Actually I don't mind riding in the rain, if it's a totally wet road.

My most hated/feared weather is high wind...mainly because I'm so light, I worry about being blown off the road.
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss