Intentionally Ride in the Rain?

[jsoque]

Hi Members:

I have a business trip I have to take.... Tomorrow!

I don't have to look 'pretty', ie; no business suit, and tie, and I'm not
just trying to be

*** so sorry, I must have deleted the entire message during an edit.***

Hi Members:
I have a business trip I have to take.... Tomorrow!
I don't have to look 'pretty', ie; no business suit, and tie,
I just have to make it to Penn State, Hershey, PA for a lecture.
Living on Long Island and intending to make the 230 mile
journey along the Appalachian Mountian range over to Harrisburg
and Hershey, I thought
this would be quite adventerous for my first 2009 ride of
the season. Average sounds like 4 hrs, each way.
The weather beginning this friday, 3-27-09 is supposed to
be gorgeous! 62 degrees all day.
Saturday and Sunday are the dilema; scheduled for moderate showers, despite
balmy 56 and 58 degrees, for both Saturday and Sunday.
WOULD YOU STILL PLAN TO TAKE THIS TRIP ON YOUR BMW BIKE?
My route is simple. Make my way to the GW bridge, Rte 95 South,
to Rte 78 West for 130 miles, Rte 81 for another 30 mins.
I know there are a lot of NJ and PA riders in this corridor of the N.E.
and thought I'ld get some useful feedback.
But, would you intentionally face the weather for bottom 2/3rd's of this trip?
Feedback appreciated!!!
The ride; R1150R, Saddle bags, Maxia E52, Top Bag, Highway W.S.,
Firstgear Kiliminjaro Jacket, Northface Extreme Gortex Pants,
Roadgear Highway boots, Roadgear Leather Gloves, Shoei FF Helmet,
Garmin GPS.
Thanks,
Jim

[tessler]

But, would you intentionally face the weather for bottom 2/3rd's of this trip? Jim, I presume you're more concerned with the physical act of riding in the rain than with the water-repellent or -resistant properties and expectations of your gear and equipment, correct? If that is so, use the same caution and common sense approach as you would in any riding situation. Primarily, ensure that you are warm and dry, watch your speed and maintain safe riding and braking distances. Be vigilant about visibility factors (hard downpours, fog, foggy visor) and road conditions (density of traffic, road surface, etc.) and make the appropriate choices to either stop and wait or keep moving. Err on the side of caution of course.

As for your equipment and gear, what tires are you running? Are your gloves waterproof or water resistant?

[tessler]

Hey Jim, where'd the other 90% of your post go? :dunno

[DarrylRi]

I lived in the Emerald City (aka, Seattle) for 8 years, and if you didn't ride in the rain, you didn't ride much. Most Januarys I would ride down to the IBMWR Death Valley Daze rally in California. It was common for it to rain hard all the way through the Siskiyous and into California's Central Valley, and then do the same again on the way back. I remember one year it was so wet and cold that the oil temp gauge on my R1100RS never got above 2 bars -- normal was 5-6 bars.

When I first moved north from LA, it was October, and I bought myself a brand new rainsuit. I promised myself that I wouldn't let the rain keep me from riding. By the middle of December, I had duct-taped every seam on that suit. One dark and stormy night I stopped at REI, walked in and threw away my leaking rainsuit. I bought a set of the heavy yellow rubberized boating bib overalls and a nylon windbreaker. Even though it took a lot of space to pack and didn't breath at all, it worked great for a couple years. Then I bought an Aerostich Darien.

If you have good gear for warmth and dryness, and you ride carefully, you should do ok. Give yourself more room to maneuver with traffic.

[SIBUD]

I don't intentionally, but I do ride in the rain.

Here is the drill:

Starts raining.

Think about stopping to put on rain gear.

No, it will quit soon.

Doesn't quit.

Pull over, put on rain suit.

Rain immediately stops.

Stop again to take off suit.

Repeat. :dance

[cheesewhiz]

I don't intentionally, but I do ride in the rain.

Here is the drill:

Starts raining.

Think about stopping to put on rain gear.

No, it will quit soon.

Doesn't quit.

Pull over, put on rain suit.

Rain immediately stops.

Stop again to take off suit.

Repeat. :dance

Been There / Done that (several times) :brad

[kgadley01]

I've learned over the years, that the best way to make it stop raining is to put raingear on...:thumb

[AKBeemer]

Right now I'd ride naked through downtown Kabul. Be thankful you have the option to ride and take advantage of it.

[jsoque]

Thanks Tessler...

I deleted, by mistake, my intentions of this ride.

Please scroll UP, and read NY to Harrisburg, PA

Thank you,

Jim

[OfficerImpersonator]

I'm a year-round Seattle-area commuter. Like Darryl when he lived here, If I didn't ride in the rain, I'd never ride.

Keep your hands and feet warm and dry and you'll be fine. It looks like you have perfectly adequate gear. My only additional suggestion is to add handlebar covers. Nothing saps your ability to ride faster than cold hands, and even with heated grips, wet gloves aren't much fun. Get a pair (or, ideally a couple pair) of polypro glove liners. Have a couple spare pairs of riding gloves if possible. Cold hands are the pits! If any part of you does get cold, take a break and warm up.

Have a safe and fun adventure!
http://dvandkq.net/images/20080328-002.jpg

[dzimbric]

Yep, Sure would, Wouldn't think twice about it. But that's me and I rode from Northern Indiana to Phoenix in two days in February, through the monsoon rains.

Just beware of hypothermia, it will sneak up on you when you are not expecting it and really delay your reactions and thought porcesses.

[aaaaaa]

Hi Members:

I have a business trip I have to take.... Tomorrow!

I don't have to look 'pretty', ie; no business suit, and tie, and I'm not
just trying to be

*** so sorry, I must have deleted the entire message during an edit.***

Hi Members:
I have a business trip I have to take.... Tomorrow!
I don't have to look 'pretty', ie; no business suit, and tie,
I just have to make it to Penn State, Hershey, PA for a lecture.
Living on Long Island and intending to make the 230 mile
journey along the Appalachian Mountian range over to Harrisburg
and Hershey, I thought
this would be quite adventerous for my first 2009 ride of ain
the season. Average sounds like 4 hrs, each way.
The weather beginning this friday, 3-27-09 is supposed to
be gorgeous! 62 degrees all day.
Saturday and Sunday are the dilema; scheduled for moderate showers, despite
balmy 56 and 58 degrees, for both Saturday and Sunday.
WOULD YOU STILL PLAN TO TAKE THIS TRIP ON YOUR BMW BIKE?
My route is simple. Make my way to the GW bridge, Rte 95 South,
to Rte 78 West for 130 miles, Rte 81 for another 30 mins.
I know there are a lot of NJ and PA riders in this corridor of the N.E.
and thought I'ld get some useful feedback.
But, would you intentionally face the weather for bottom 2/3rd's of this trip?
Feedback appreciated!!!
The ride; R1150R, Saddle bags, Maxia E52, Top Bag, Highway W.S.,
Firstgear Kiliminjaro Jacket, Northface Extreme Gortex Pants,
Roadgear Highway boots, Roadgear Leather Gloves, Shoei FF Helmet,
Garmin GPS.
Thanks,
Jim

I glean you're worried about being on a BMW bike in the rain. It probably won't hurt the bike but you might have to wash it. The tires will work great and performance wise you won't know the road is wet. I prefer a road king(off brand with an inaccurate name) in the rain because the Dunlop tires add a much needed pucker factor when they slide.
Put on your rain gear before it starts to rain and you won't care. Car drivers will feel sympathy for you and give you extra space. The trucks on I78 will always try to run you over. Sitting on the GW will suck. I like to keep moving in the rain. But really, what else can you do? Drive a car? There's no ice left anywhere.
:bolt :bolt :bolt :bolt :bolt :bolt :bolt :bolt :bolt :jester :hide :hide :hide :hide :hide :hide :hide :hide :hide :hide
robert

[JanMiller]

Right now I'd ride naked through downtown Kabul. Be thankful you have the option to ride and take advantage of it.

A...aha... a... HAHAHAHAHAHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

me too, gad what a LONG winter.....

[john1691]

I had planned a weekend get away with 3 other couples last fall, the weather forecast was for rain so one couple backed out. The 3 that went ended up with the ladies in a car and us (dumb) guys on bikes. We has a wet 4 hour ride to dinner, then another wet hour to our rental. Saturday it let up and we had some great riding. Sunday it started to rain as soon as we got on the road, and we were wet the whole way home. All that to say, other than my feet (I had boot covers that actually filled with water, making it worse) I stayed dry and warm, and we all had a great time. I had been caught in the rain, but never went out in it on purpose. The long hours of riding in the rain helped my self confidence, and I would do it again.

[308nut]

just go, don't worry about the rain,

I always didn't want to ride in the rain for one reason or another. never bought rain gear cause I didn't ride in it. Well last fall I took a ride to New Orleans and got caught in a tropical storm on the way down.

Hey I may need rain gear I thought to myself, so I bought one of those sets of gear from a gas station in northern Ms. well I rode for 5 hours in a down pour with 60mph winds, needless to say that rain gear lasted about 30 minutes before it was torn to shreads. I now have better gear, the bike however performed wonderfully, biggest problem was the high cross winds,

I was soaked but kept riding, oh and I shorted out my Ipod , when the rain stopped I dried out in about an hour. So I'd go,


Have fun and be safe.


Wade

[gvpurvis]

:usa
I find that I don't need my liners except when its a raining real hard and it's expected to continue for a while.I have a set of frog togs that I keep on the bike just in case.Both work verry well.;)

[jsoque]

Hello my fellow riders!

Thank you for your support and calls, and emails!
OfficerImpersonator~ you’re my new hero man…
I have to thank Lionel B., non-rider, for the 7 phone calls he made over a 3 day period, Alan H, for his weather intell, April for her enthusiasm, and George and Kathy for their fond wishes along my journey.

I had received such support for this spring fling, that I felt I needed to provide some closure to my trip, for all of you who chipped into this thread.

Here on Long Island, the day, March 27th, began at 50 degrees and sunny and gorgeous! At 8 am, I began to go over my packing, and lecture notes, and all that gadgetry. Rain gear was tucked into the left system case, computer and clothes bag into my Maxia topcase, and a six-pack of Blue Point Toasted Lager (for my Friday night host Tim B.) into the right system case, along a few do-dads like binoculars, extra socks, and extra gloves.

I hit the highway, Long Island Expressway Westbound, at 1030 am, Cross Island North, over to 295 N, then 95 S to NJ turnpike. By the time I hit mid NJ, I had to lose a layer, especially around my neck. It was damn near HOT, about 68 degrees now, and high wispy clouds.

Onto Rte 78 West I went. After an hour or two, I pulled onto the Cabellas Exit, (23A?) and visited them for a burger and a Coke. Took a few calls, and then fueled up.
Still no rain… My destination was to be Penn State Univ., Hershey PA. My directions and GPS said 246 miles, 4 hrs 10 mins ~ that means, with NO stops….Yuh, Right…

So after I left Cabellas, I thought, "Why race to P.S.Univ Hospital just so that Tim has only 30 mins to spend with me, and then we back travel 30 miles… No way!"

I turned off Rte 78 West, at the next exit…

This is just what the doctor ordered…

I found myself turning, south, a little west, along these gorgeous country roads, with farms, grain silos, horses, cows, chicken farms all along my route… the kind of winding road stuff that you dream of when you are writing your review article for the MOA. I stumbled onto a river, followed it, crossed it…. Then, crossed it again… watched about 6-8 boatsman lower their single engine crafts into a flowing tidal pool, and onto open fishing territory. Took off another layer, and rode right into a “bug hatch”! Most fly fisherman… oh, sorry, most ‘Anglers’ will know what a bug hatch is like in the spring time. Wiped off my face shield and WS twice… 1 ½ hrs later, I ended up in gorgeous Lancaster, PA.

No Rain this entire half!
After dinner etc, at 9 pm, I was off to Harrisburg, PA, and a Sheraton Hotel.
Still, no rain.
It rained a lot overnight..

But, on Saturday morning, on the way to P.S.U., Hershey at 11 am… no rain then either.
During my course at the med school, and my test, still no rain, so, the bike stayed dry all day…

Then, my friend Alan sent me a text message.
I had to get the h*ll outa’ Dodge…. And quickly. My next destination was Westfield, NJ.
There was a storm lining coming up from the Ohio Valley, thru D.C., and heading N-NE like a squeegee…
After my course ended at 6:15 pm, with the help of my friend Sandor, I hit the highway, and into the darkness of the night… eastbound onto Rte 78E.

I had 125 miles to ride; close to 3 hours later, after two stops for food, then fuel… I made it to Alan’s, and secured my steed inside his garage, (9:45 pm)…… Phew ~ cuz some of those Jersey roads are awfully curvy and unpredictable in the dark. What made me laugh the most is what Alan said to his wife, “I’ll give him 5% at best, he beats this storm”… I exclaimed, “All I get is a lousy five percent!” We laughed over cold beer, and hot beef stew, made from scratch.

Saturday night, ... It rained, and hard!

Sunday morning… calm and cloudy, and wet from the night before, but it didn't matter, as we were indoors.
Sunday afternoon, was spent at a bowling party with Twenty 6 y/o children in Madison, NJ… oh, how much fun was THAT! Actually, it was quite a blast, Thank you Genevieve!
Then, at 4 pm, continue to ride home, back to Long Island…

Still No Rain, however, there was a 3 care pile up with Police, tow trucks, and THICK, THICK, THICK, fog on the G.W. bridge, 4 pm on a Sunday afternoon, that held me up for almost 45 mins. Lots of clutching, during that period of the trip, it basically sucked.

Hit the Bridges and the Cross Island Pkwy by 6 pm and almost home…then,… just, 10 exits before getting off the highway, drizzle… just a little,… but, it was steady.

I pulled into home, and my face shield was wet, and WS wet, but my GPS was tucked in behind my WS, and it deflected any moister from drizzle. My coat and pants were just a little damp, and hands stayed warm and dry the entire 3 days of riding.

All in all… No Rain every time I had to get onto the highway for particular parts of my journey.
God, how lucky am I?

585 miles, 14 stops, 3 days…and, this all started because I was worried about doing the bottom half of this ride in the darn rain!

Glad to have all of your input and your support… and thank you all, so very much.

I especially want to thank Matt from TwistedThrottle.com for the selection of my Givi Maxia topcase and Bags-Connection Quick-Lock Tank bag, Ben at Max's BMW for assistance with my System Cases, Chris Capobianco, my mechanic and friend, and Vince Winkel, our MOA editor and friend.

Ride Safe!