Riding Out the Storm
Nothing makes a rainy day worse than slipping into a spill. Keep these tips in mind and you’ll stay over the handlebars even when you’re under the weather.
Nothing makes a rainy day worse than slipping into a spill. Keep these tips in mind and you’ll stay over the handlebars even when you’re under the weather.
Bad weather rides are mentally taxing. Work in some extra stops to give yourself a well-deserved break. At the end of the day, losing 15 minutes here and there is a small price to pay for the rest of your life. And we’ll go to the grave with that.
First: we recommend wearing gloves 24/7. But they’re even more important in the rain. A slick grip is a quick trip to the business end of the blacktop. So show your gear some love and guard your grip.
The first 30 minutes of rain are the most dangerous. This is when the water mixes with any oil on the road, making a slippery situation even worse. Wait out the first little bit or ride even more careful and you’ll be a lot better off.
Easier said than done, right? A soggy cruise is tough enough without making it tougher on yourself. When you tense up, activating your animal fight or flight muscles, you absorb all the little moves your bike makes that much more. So breathe deep. Take it easy. Wear high-viz gear, stay smooth and you can ride confident even when the weather goes south.
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