"RAIN DROPS KEEP FALLING…”
Contributed by Frosty

Safety Tips for Riding in the Rain.

The two things to remember to stay upright in the rain are to stay “straight up” and go SLOW. Most new riders don’t get wet on purpose. They are out riding and it starts to rain, spoiling an otherwise perfect day. Sometimes, these riders will get used to rain slick roads and actually go back on them intentionally, others prefer to stay inside and wait until their favorite weather guesser tells them it is safe. To each his/her own as far as I am concerned, but I did want to put a few things here to watch out for. This article is primarily for new riders, but you never know who might learn something from it, so keep reading.

Here is a partial list of rain hazards to watch for and look for no matter how long you have been riding.

Painted lines and those silly TAPE lines - Crosswalks can be dangerous for motorcyclists, especially if you're turning right or left and crossing the lines at an angle. Slow down more than usual and make the turn straight up, rather than in a lean. The same is true for the lines on the sides of the road, be careful not to slide across them instead of riding across them. Diamonds in the HOV lanes and other lane markers can be very scary when you lean into one, especially on the interstate highways. The diamond is shaped so you just slide across it and continue to slide along it.

REMEMBER: Any painted line is a hazard.

Surface textures - Many commercial and residential parking areas are paved with very slick concrete surfaces. A wet entry surface into the local mall or condo complex can put you on the ground or sideways very fast. Again, ride slow and straight up and don't get bitten by the concrete.

Your equipment - If you thought you might save some money by buying long lasting tires, think again. These tires are usually not as tacky and have less traction when it rains or on wet roads. Since we are talking about rubber. How about that rubber they use around railroad tracks to decrease the sound as cars drive over them? Forget those little circles on the surface, these provide zero traction to you as you
cross. Slow and straight up.

Steel - Manhole covers are enemy number one and railroad tracks rank a close second. Making a turn over the surface of them sets you up for trouble. Avoid such, or keep the bike straight up and cross over it slowly. Grated bridge crossings and metal plates are a nasty encounter in the rain. Look at where you want to ride, take it slow and don't try any fancy dancing, particularly a lane change.

Water - Puddles/potholes - It only takes once to know how this one feels. You cruise through a puddle and after it's too late you realize you just went into a pot hole that wants to suck you into the underworld more painfully than Satan himself beating you down with a stick. Avoid puddles if you can. Use caution and predict the possibility ahead of time. Recovery from this rude awakening is not always easy. Pull over and take a few minutes of rest if you need to gather your wits. In 1997 the Seattle Times reported that the DOT only had enough funds to patch 60% of the potholes created in the State that wet winter.

Oil - It's everywhere and very illusive. Those little red and blue rainbows on the ground mean danger. And be especially vigilant around tollbooths and other areas where cars and trucks go slow. The stuff builds up. Ride slow and straight up.

And remember, if you're caught in the first rain after a long time since the last rain, remember the roads are covered with lots of oil and dirt that will be lifted from the surface in the first 30-60 minutes of a new rain. Take a break if you can and let the cars slip and slide the first 30 minutes.