Riding in the rain....what I learned....

[offcamber]

Last Friday I rode 5 hours in rain....constant rain....sometimes really heavy rain...Sometimes sideways rain....Not my first time riding in the rain but certainly the longest.

What I learned.

1. Avoid riding in the rain....

2 Waterproof gear isn't really waterproof after an hour of pouring rain.

3. Hydroplaning sucks

4. If you think drivers don't see you when its dry, try riding in the rain.

What worked and what didn't...

Sidi Adventure rain boots....flooded after about an hour.

Aerostich Roadcrafter, made valiant effort to keep me dry but in the end....I was soaked.....even my wallet was wet.

Sena SMH-10 and SR-10....worked flawlessly....I at least had tunes and my GPS directions working.

First Gear Kathmandu gloves.....suppose to be waterproof ::025:: ::025:: not even close.....failed within 20 minutes. The cuffs are shot due to drying to put them back on wet a couple of times...still they kept my hands warm enough so can't complain to much.

Nolan N-104 helmet...worked out great...no fogging (pinlock installed) head was for the most part dry....visor cleared pretty good.

Garmin Montana 650T in Rugged mount....no issues worked as advertised.

MRA X-screen....with the spoiler up it blocked a lot of the rain hitting me directly.


The bike as expected had no issues....


To sum things up...see rule 1.

 

[num]

I ride in the rain very often, my bike is also my daily driver and commute machine. I have a plastic/vinyl/heatproof whatever rain suit that goes over everything and the seams overlap. I've never been wet when I was wearing it. My only issue is gloves, I can't find a decent pair of gloves for the wet stuff. My shoei Qwest rocks, the suit i wear included boot covers.

Riding in the rain sucks, absolutely, but when your choice is sell the bike and get a small car or ride in the wet stuff, I think I made teh right decision.

Only weather I wont ride if given a choice is really cold weather after precipitation (due to ice) and snow.

 

[avc8130]

I'm pretty sure everything that failed is well-documented as such on the internet.

I have had very good luck with Frogg Toggs for extended periods of rain. I bought a setup that has a high viz jacket to try to be seen.

My TCX boots are excellent and waterproof.

Gloves will always suck. I have the Aerostich lobster claw things. They "work", but they don't offer them large enough to really fit right. They are also slicker than snot so accurate inputs to the controls are tough.

ac

 

[creggur]

I actually quite enjoy riding in the rain - I don't know if it's the extra focus and concentration that trips my trigger, or just the pitter-patter of rain on my helmet, but I quite enjoy it. I've ridden through hours of steady-to-heavy rainfall with good result on my current setup:

Klim Latitude jacket and pant - stayed absolutely dry.
TCX X5+ Touring boots - dry, comfy feet.
Shoei Neotec - keep the chin vent closed and all is well (learned that early on).


In the summer I just keep my A-star mesh gloves on and let my hands get wet - no biggie in the Florida summer. For winter I'm still searching for the right glove solution. I too have the Aerostitch claws, but the fit/function is lacking and am open to suggestions for dry/warm hands in winter rain...

 

[~TABASCO~]

I agree offcamber....

I've been there done that.... I've had all types of gear, most of it that over promises and under delivers. I once road from Ft Worth to North Carolina. There was a hurricane coming up from Louisiana and the bands of rain reached out from Texarkana, TX all the way to the east coast. I was in a MOONSOON for two solid days. Ya know, when most cars are off the highway and the rest are parked under the bridges, im on the highway going 20 in the pouring rain. The only way I stayed dry in my old gear was to rig up several layers of other gear.. I'm sure we have all been there, this is like a sweat box, but I was dry from the rain... lol

I finally got some 'good gear' with Gortex pro shell. With the matching gloves. Now I throw on my jacket and gear, and 100% water proof... I just laugh at rain now, no matter the length of time or how hard it rains....

 

[RsZk]

This year, all I ever do it seems is ride in the rain. On my recent ride out to Vancouver island and Hyder Alaska, I encountered over 32 hours of rain while riding. Nothing is waterproof when you go over 2 hours in the stuff. Just have to get used to it and tough it out. Now when I commute to work, I just bring my rain gear because in Alberta the weather changes drastically in a short amount of time. The forecasters basically should stick with the 30% chance of rain, 30% chance of sun, 30% chance of cloud cover LOL.
What I really hate doing is putting on rain gear, then taking it off, then putting it on when on a extended ride. I will probably invest in some gear that has bonded Goretex on the outer shell, so I don't have to do that ritual all the time.

 

[RsZk]

I agree offcamber....



I finally got some 'good gear' with Gortex pro shell. With the matching gloves....

Hey Tabasco, what gloves did you get that had the Gortex pro shell on them?

 

[~TABASCO~]

Hey Tabasco, what gloves did you get that had the Gortex pro shell on them?

RUKKA.... so far, 100% water proof for hours... no issues at all. The tend to run one size large.

 

[Gee-Tee]

Recently I found myself riding in heavy rain while in heavy traffic. Traction control 1 in Touring mode - Very sweet. The Tourance EXP's were superb as well.

 

[Checkswrecks]

I'm another rain commuter and we just came back from Norway - Northern Europe means being ready for rain every day.
(We lucked out & it wasn't every day, with only 2 days of steady all-day rain.)


I had Aerostitch forever and switched 2-3 years ago. Technology just seemed to pass them.
The Klim jackets are guaranteed to be waterproof, and my Latitude has been.


In between Aerostitch and Klim, I had a FirstGear TPG Rainier jacket and overpants that were great, but getting old. Then I lost weight and just couldn't get the FirstGear snap collar tight enough, so when I got the Klim Latitude (velcro collar and adjuster), I tried Sidi Tech Touring over pants and this combo stays dry. It's also a lot more comfortable and easier to layer under. ymmv


Frogg Toggs do work great for rain and I keep them on board if I'm riding in mesh gear. But in DC heat & humidity the Froggies are more efficient as sauna suits.


Sidi Way Rain boots need an occasional waterproofing, but have stayed dry for me till they wear out, with the stitching and sole beginning to separate.


Gloves are a hassle and I either put up with wet hands in the summer, use plastic over gloves (look like a heavy duty version of the disposables that your deli person wears), or a pair of insulated winter gloves. I soak all my riding gloves in waterproofing regularly.


As for the hydroplaning and technique . . .

 

[thfraser]

It's funny how some gear works for others and doesn't for others.

Frogg Toggs - I rode them in about 400 miles of constant rain. I didn't have a dry inch of flesh anywhere on my body, except for my head which was covered by a helmet.

Boots, I had some Triumph boots, one leaked the other stayed firm.

Gloves - I pretty much accept they will eventually get wet. So I just keep an extra pair around for when I need them.

Rain suits - They have worked pretty well for me. I did buy a pair of the latex/rubberish work pants. They type used by construction workers. They've worked for me so far.

Kenya First Gear Jacket - This, until about a year ago, 10 years of riding. Has worked very well for me. It has kept me dry. I've done a few 300 mile heavy rain trips with this jacket, and it worked very well for me, so did the hypertext pants (the original ones, so they were lined and were definitly intended for cool or cold weather riding). They started leaking after about 10 years of use.

Extended riding in rain is tough. I've done it a number of times. I keep thinking about eventually getting something goretex, like Klim.

I have champagne taste in riding gear, but I deal with a beer budget. So I make do.

 

[tpak]

For true monsoon conditions I use a pair of rubber kitchen/industrial gloves.

My Kilm gear has kicked ass in the rain.

My Sidi Advernture rain boots ... OK for about 2 hours.

Does anyone use anything like RainX on the outside of their visor?

 

[creggur]

Does anyone use anything like RainX on the outside of their visor?

I've cleaned/polished my visors with Plexus exclusively for years...works a treat, and helps water bead and run off as good as can be expected.

 

[thfraser]

Does anyone use anything like RainX on the outside of their visor?

Like creggur, I used to use Plexxus, but it got pretty pricey and IMO the Honda Spray Cleaner or Biker Spirits works just as well. Water beads up and rolls off. Same effect as RainX on my car window.

 

[spasm]

i have the sidi adventure gortex boots, rode round ireland for 4 days in the rain, nice dry warm feet, richa spirit, c-change suit, bone dry.
cheers

 

[Roge]

Boots under trousers and glooves inside jacket cuffs stops water flowing of clothes into boots/gloves

 

[GrahamD]

If you want water proof you have to spend the money. Simple as that.

 

[tpak]

Like creggur, I used to use Plexxus, but it got pretty pricey and IMO the Honda Spray Cleaner or Biker Spirits works just as well. Water beads up and rolls off. Same effect as RainX on my car window.

Thanks guys. I'll give one of these a try - it's been monsoon season here in Colorado the last few weeks.

 

[creggur]

I've used the Bike spirits cleaner as well (use it to polish the bike), but to me, nothing beats Plexus on a visor. As far as the cost goes, and I clean bug guts off my visor constantly in the summer, a small can will last for months and months if all I'm using it for is my visor... I keep a small travel can in my tank bag...

 

[offcamber]

I have had good luck with Lemon Pledge....no really it works...