Rain, by nature of being wet (obviously), changes the nature of the road surface and effects tire grip in all types of vehicles. This is why the guys on Top Gear (UK) used to try to get lap times on a dry track for cars they tested.
With a two-wheeler, grip is a big issue. A wet road isn't too bad on its own, but there are factors of which one needs to be aware, these include, but are not limited to:
- hydroplaning - an effect of hitting standing water at a high rate of speed which causes the tires to lose grip on the road surface.
- debris on the road including mud, leaves, gravel, horse droppings, etc.
- painted surfaces which become slick when wet.
- road snakes - those squiggly sealed cracks in the road surface which become slick when wet.
When it gets dark, things get worse in the rain. Not only are there dangers on the road surface, but now you can't see them. Streetlights, oncoming traffic, and even traffic behind the rider all conspire to leave him or her completely blind.
If you have no option and have to ride in the rain at night, there are a few things this writer has found helpful:
- A good windscreen helps minimize the amount of water hitting one's face shield or goggles
- A face shield is, in this writer's most humble opinion, an absolute necessity.
- Waterproof gloves with a built in "wiper" on the thump or index finger(s).
- Good all-weather tires
- A decent rain suit
- Footwear with a non-skid sole
One of the simplest ways to improve safety while riding in the rain, especially at night is to just slow down. As mentioned above, glare from approaching traffic and other light sources can make a rider completely blind. What seems to help for this writer is pre-planning. When another vehicle is coming up, the rider should get a good view of the road ahead and fix it in his or her mind. This can help the rider anticipate where turns and such are in the road for that moment when the oncoming headlights make the road disappear. Again, slowing down even just a bit, makes a huge difference.
Additionally, the rider should avoid any sudden movements of the front wheel since the road surface is not as predictable in the rain. It's not as bad as riding on gravel, which can shift suddenly, but due to the reduced visibility of a rainy night (or a rainy day for that matter), road imperfections can be difficult to see and anticipate, so it falls on the rider to be ready for the unexpected.
For those of us who use a scooter or motorbike as our primary transportation, wet roads are an inevitability, and while they introduce some danger to the commute, a rider who is alert and prepared can minimize the danger and ride safely.
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2 comments:
Thank you for this nice, handy, concise article to remind us of the hazards of riding in the rain and the precautions to take.
I remember an on-line story within the last few years of a scooter rider who was riding at night in the rain. He had a visored helmet on and when the rain set in suddenly he could not get his visor raised up in time to be able to see where he was going. He steered left into on-coming traffic and died instantly.
I have never forgotten this and so would add the potential hazard of riding with your visor down as the rain starts up. Raise it up and keep it up if it's looking like or starting to rain.
By visor, do you mean face-shield? Running with the face shield up is worse than running with it down due to rain stinging the eyes and face.
There are ways to avoid fogging, including inserts, sprays and so on. I don't have an issue with fogging since I keep my visor open about a quarter inch, which is enough to keep the temperature the same inside and out, and still keep the rain out (remember I also have a windscreen); however, Pinlock visor inserts come highly recommended.
As for rain on the face shield, I'm still trying to find if there are treatments like rain-X that will work on plastics.
If it's raining too hard to see, it's best to pull over and wait it out. Last year I spent half-an-hour under the eaves of an Amish man's stable chatting with his horses.
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