Riding When Its "Raining Cats and Dogs"

Day after Xmas, it was warmest it has been a long time, with a high of low 60s.  But, over 10+ mph and heavy rain and some thunder storms.  What do you do on a day like that?

Well, here's what I did.  I watched the forecast for when the thunderstorm would be past, looked at the radar to see what else is coming.  I didn't want to be out in the lightning, but I figured rain and wind would be good practice.

After the thunderstorms moved through, I went out.  Initially I was thinking I'll go out for a short trip.  I've mainly been driving around in town, giving the cold, so that I could get back home quickly.  But a little bit down the road, the rain starts and the wind blows strong.  That helps me decide - around town some more.


I was out for almost two hours.  The rain and wind picked up heavily sometimes and others receded.  I kept watching the horizon.  I just couldn't pass up the warm weather.  It was the first time in a long time I've not gotten cold at all on the bike.

My rain gear held up pretty well.  My gloves have gore-tex and my hands stayed dry the entire time.  My jacket is water proof, but I put on a bright blue rain jacket over it.  That way my jacket doesn't take the weather and adds some visibility and some warmth too.  I put on some rain over paints as well.  I stayed dry.  The only time I got wet was when I'd occasionally try cracking the visor for better ventilation.

I was taking a loop of a few roads.  One of them has railroad tracks with metal grates near them.  In the dry, I've never had an issue with them.  But this time, I felt the rear end slide.  I stayed steady on the throttle.  I crossed them at 10 MPH slower next time, from 40 to 30, and if anything felt worse.  I didn't want to go any slower given that.  That in its own self was good to get used too and practice.

There was a bridge that went up high over an intersection.  The wind always seemed the worst at the top of that.  At a few points, I ducked down into the tank to decrease the wind blowing on me.  That seems to help.

Every time the clouds got lighter, I was like maybe it'll clear up, but they were replaced by dark clouds.  Back and forth this went.  I had a lot of fun that day, but my bike is pretty dirty now, from the mud.

Finally I saw very dark clouds on the horizon, darker than any so far, and it had been bad so far.  I had been out quite a while by that point and felt that a good sign to call it quits.  I took that as my queue to head home.  But I got some solid skills practice on serious rain riding today.