Big Rain Ride in the Dark!

[Stig / Major Tom]

Took off this morning at 5AM, rain clouds around but not raining.
Hour and a half later when I was farthest from home she started raining in earnest!
Already had placed my billfold, cell phone, etc. in the top trunk in case this happened and put a clean shop towel in my armored jacket pocket for the visor.

I do not mind riding in the rain - but in the dark , with the glare of following and oncoming car lights and disappearing edge lines (and these were very newly painted lines~! still they disappeared) in the curves - and the mist beginning to build up on my glasses and inside my partially opened face shield....it becomes not so much fun in even a medium rain storm.

I wonder how touring riders deal with such conditions (dark/rain) for hours on end? Maybe they don't. Maybe they just park it?!

I had the huge advantage of being on my local, well know roads - otherwise I probably would have parked and waited for daylight.

[CosmoKorny]

LOL I road from Steamboat Springs CO to Las Vegas in 1990, rained the whole 17 hours.  Dammed buddy of mine insisted it was very doable in a day and lodging would be cheap. 

That said I wasn't wearing prescription eyeglasses at the time...

[houndguy]

I am one of those riders.  Sadly my job means I have to commute home after midnight most nights.  Luckily traffic is light.  I slow down a bit in weather like that and try to ride towards the middle of the road as much as possible (at the crest of the road).

I've yet to figure out a way to prevent misting even with the helmet cracked (I wear glasses as well).  My best advice is slow down and stay safe.  Nothing is so important to risk your life for.

[CosmoKorny]

Don't believe I've ever ridden in a blizzard though, Stig, day or night.  Here's hoping you'll be able to tell us all about it.   

[Stig / Major Tom]

I am one of those riders.  Sadly my job means I have to commute home after midnight most nights.  Luckily traffic is light.  I slow down a bit in weather like that and try to ride towards the middle of the road as much as possible (at the crest of the road).

I've yet to figure out a way to prevent misting even with the helmet cracked (I wear glasses as well).  My best advice is slow down and stay safe.  Nothing is so important to risk your life for.

Yep. Same/same. Amen.

[mnpugdog]

Living in the Up North I am now riding to and from work in the dark. I use FogTech on the inside and Raincoat on the outside of my visor. I also have one with the Pinlock system in it that works will.

I am a rider that as long as the roads are free from ice I ride year round.

[Stig / Major Tom]

Living in the Up North I am now riding to and from work in the dark. I use FogTech on the inside and Raincoat on the outside of my visor. I also have one with the Pinlock system in it that works will.

I am a rider that as long as the roads are free from ice I ride year round.

I use exactly the same stuff - but the pinlock.
Handicapped with a HUGE warm nose - fogs up the people behind me in the Chevy!
And, very glad I'm not the only one trying to do winter on a scoot!!!
TALK to me about snow riding....is it possible? To work 3.5 miles on city streets at @ 4 AM, home in the daylight.

[Vivo]

Some call this Hybrid helmet, some call it Dual-Sports...


The visor helps keep the rain away from your face so you can open the face shield...





plus a glove rain wiper....

[ts1]

One important point is a good helmet. With effective ventilation and pinlock visor. Another a windshield high enough to direct the air over your head, and low enough to be overlooked.
If you wear glasses, be careful with opening the (blurred) visor. You might end up with waterdrops on the glasses _and_ on the visor.

TALK to me about snow riding....is it possible? To work 3.5 miles on city streets at @ 4 AM..

To be the first riding/skiing/... through maiden-like snow is fun!

[mnpugdog]

Besides using the chemicals and Pinlock I also have a snowmoblie visor for my helmet, HJC Symax 3. The snowmoblie visor keeps it clear since it's a duel layer but the extra ventilation on the top can make it a little cold.

Tips for riding in the winter:

1. Never ride when there is a lot of ice on the roads. Not worth it. Just snow it not to bad as long as it's not to much. Anything more then 3 inches on the ground makes it harder to get traction.

2. You need to ride a lot slower especially in the corners.

3. Also remember that you can't stop as quick, just like a car, so increase your following distance.

4. Pay attention to the weather, you don't want to get to work and it snows 12 inches while your there.

5. Layer, layer,layer, you don't want to get to cold while your riding. It makes it harder to use the controls if your to cold.

I only live 2 miles away from work so if I can ride the DT I do. I have enough good cold weather gear that temps mean nothing to me. A lot of snow is another story.

[Stig / Major Tom]

Besides using the chemicals and Pinlock I also have a snowmoblie visor for my helmet, HJC Symax 3. The snowmoblie visor keeps it clear since it's a duel layer but the extra ventilation on the top can make it a little cold.

Tips for riding in the winter:

1. Never ride when there is a lot of ice on the roads. Not worth it. Just snow it not to bad as long as it's not to much. Anything more then 3 inches on the ground makes it harder to get traction.

2. You need to ride a lot slower especially in the corners.

3. Also remember that you can't stop as quick, just like a car, so increase your following distance.

4. Pay attention to the weather, you don't want to get to work and it snows 12 inches while your there.

5. Layer, layer,layer, you don't want to get to cold while your riding. It makes it harder to use the controls if your to cold.

I only live 2 miles away from work so if I can ride the DT I do. I have enough good cold weather gear that temps mean nothing to me. A lot of snow is another story.

Thanks !! All this stuff helps! (39 degrees this morning!)