Tips for Riding in the Rain
Riding tips
By Lawton Outlaw
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It rains in Houston, that’s not news, but these tips may be. The basics of riding well in the wet are the same as riding in the dry, you just need to think a little harder…
Some people actually like riding in the rain. Really, they do. And there’s a reason for it. The challenge of wet weather machine control can be as appealing as riding in the dry, perhaps more so. But for others, riding in the rain is such a fearful prospect that they simply don’t bother.
That’s the wrong approach. If you ride a bike in the UK you’re going to get caught out more than once in a while, so developing wet riding skills should be high on your agenda.
LOOSEN UP
The first thing to sort out is you: to ride smoothly, wet or dry, you need to be relaxed and supple on the bike, not rigid or tense.
BRAKING
The best way to brake hard in the wet is the same as in the dry: squeeze, don’t grab. Any sudden shock of force will break traction.
TURNING
The mistake many people make in the wet is by riding too gingerly. By tip-toeing round corners on a closed throttle and as good as upright, generating virtually no cornering forces, your tyres will barely grip the road at all.
ACCELERATING
Throttle control is the most important skill to master. Sorry if we’re repeating ourselves here, but once again smoothness is the key.
SLIPPERY WHEN WET
No surprises here. White lines, cat’s eyes, manhole covers, overbanding and metal marker studs are all best avoided in the wet.
The three keys to riding well in the wet, if you hadn’t got the drift by now; relax, be smooth, and look well ahead. And enjoy it. You’re riding your bike, aren’t you?
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