Riding on wet roads

[Candyman]

I am very interested how others ride on wet roads. How well does a tyre stick to a wet road when cornering. I know alot depends on road condition and type of tyre.

I am an all weather rider but when riding on wet roads I always take leaning into corners very cautiously. I am I being a bit of a girl?

 

[Candyman]

Kool, 50 posts

 

[BlackBetty]

Being a 'sefrican tosser myself, I take my hat off to you that you ride in this weather at all. As for myself I am the biggest pussy of them all when the weather is sub optimal. That comes from learning the hard way about this black ice phenomena, and wet leaves in the twisties. I ride my bike for fun, getting hurt isn't.

 

[Steve Chip]

I am I being a bit of a girl?

Yup!

 

[richie]

Wether you are a girlie or not I don't know. As far as cornering ability is concerned the tyres today hold the road very well in the wet and apart from tight slow corners I don't slow down that much.

As far as breaking is concerned however I try and give myself a lot more space and time.

 

[Paul Wakefield]

I don't slow down that much.

That used to be my approach. Took it a bit, but not a lot, slower. Ever since the rear of the 1200 let go without warning on a mildly damp road, I've slowed down a lot in the wet. Gradually recovering my nerve, this latest lot of Tourances seem to have much better grip wet and dry.

Paul

 

[Ogmios]

get a copy of the book; "Roadcraft"....

and look up in the glossary at the back -
tyre grip trade off.
acceleration sense.
limit point analysis.

eM
not being a smartass - this info HELPS..a lot! - and ya did ask

 

[Mzokk]

In the wet be smooth and be relaxed. Try not to grab at the brakes. If you feel yourself getting tense slow down and try to be smooth up the pace as your feel and confidence grows. Read the road surface. Shiny tarmac is not good, recently topdressed road or the surface that they put on many Scottish roads can be tackled almost like a dry road. Ride plenty of miles in wet conditions...........move to Ireland (north or south)

 

[mpriestley]

riding in the rain doesn't wear your tyres as quickly as riding in the dry.....think about it

 

[Ming]

as with any riding smooth is the key .

and after riding in the wet lots you can go faster in the dry than you did before which is nice

 

[Commuter]

as with any riding smooth is the key .

and after riding in the wet lots you can go faster in the dry than you did before which is nice

Agreed, always love dry roads after a few days of rain, just so easy to chuck the bike around.

In answer to wet road, London is a great training ground, not only do you have the C signs on the road, the buses chuck diesel everywhere and general there is very little natural road grip, so you do have those oh shit moments.

N

 

[cookie]

do bear in mind that roads are always worse when it rains after a dry spell (how often's that then ? ). it brings all the shit to the surface.

 

[schnauzer]

you are also more likely to get a puncture in the wet, coz the water acts as a lubricant for the penetrating object ( and also it washes crap onto the road too!)

 

[MikeP]

At this time of year wet leaves are the biggest danger.

Agree with the others, smooth is the answer. The more you plan ahead the more time you have to be smooth.

Modern tyres are so good. That bum clenching moment crossing white lines, studs and overbanding waiting for the tyre to regain grip is a distant memory!

P.S. Don't forget that the tyres take longer to warm up though!

 

[Fanum]

At this time of year wet leaves are the biggest danger.

true.....but last year I got a shower of conkers and their cases cascading on me up a small road near Eynsford in a strong gust of wind........actually bloody scary for a second 'cos I really doidn't know what was going on

Would have been trhe oddest accident ever

 

[cookie]

no wonder they want to ban 'em in schools