Alright folks, grab a coffee, let’s talk about getting caught in the rain on two wheels. This ain’t about looking cool; it’s about staying rubber-side down. Happened to me last Tuesday heading back from Cedarville, skies opened up like someone pulled the plug. Let me walk you through what I did, what I messed up, and what I absolutely should NOT have risked.
The Setup Before the Soak
First thing first, I almost messed up right in the garage. My bike? Clean as a whistle after the weekend wash. Big mistake. Shiny fairings look great, but that slick polish? Like ice when wet. I stopped myself just as I was about to ride off without a second thought. Grabbed this old bottle of rubbing alcohol I keep on the bench – wiped down the seat, pegs, and especially the grips. That oily residue? Death trap. Made them grippy again. Checked the tires – good tread, but pressures? Forgot to check last week. Pumped ’em up quick to spec with my little hand pump. Cold tires, wet roads? Underinflation is asking for a slide.
Hitting the Downpour
Thought I could beat it? Nah. Cloud turned black, then BAM, road turned into a river. Instinct? Squeeze the brakes. Bad instinct. Felt the rear tire twitch. Lesson screamed in my head: engine braking first! Eased off the throttle, downshifted smoothly, let the motor slow me down before I even touched the brakes lightly. Visibility dropped to zilch. Flicked the high beams off – useless glare bouncing back. Kept the low beams on, hazard lights blinking? Nope, saved those for crawling speed later. Just focused on being visible without blinding everyone.
Navigating the Wet Minefield
Where things get really dicey. Saw that big, beautiful puddle ahead. Looks harmless, right? My first, stupid thought was “Eh, splash through it.” Shut that down fast. Slowed right up, crawled through the center where it was likely shallowest. Why? You never know if it’s hiding a pothole deep enough to swallow the front wheel. Felt the bike settle oddly near a painted arrow at an intersection – super slick. Avoided jolting the steering and kept it upright through pure smoothness. Manhole covers? Oil slicks? Treated ’em like lava. Widened my turning radius way more than usual – leaned too hard on wet tarmac? Kiss the asphalt goodbye.
The Aftermath & Realizations
Got home soaked but alive. Took a long breath. Things I learned (or re-learned the hard way):
- Clean your contact points. That post-wax gloss isn’t your friend in a downpour.
- Tire pressure isn’t optional. Cold rubber + water needs every bit of help it can get.
- Gradual is everything. Braking, accelerating, turning. Sudden = slide.
- Assume every shiny thing is ice. Paint, metal – cross them like you’re walking on eggshells.
- Don’t be a puddle hero. Slow down, find the path. Depth is deceiving.
- Distance is safety. Double, triple that following gap. Others might slide into your space.
Bottom line? Rain riding demands patience and smoothness way above dry-road skills. Push it, get impatient, or get lazy? The road collects those mistakes. Ride smart, ride smooth, get home.
