What to do in the rain
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,306
Likes: 3
From: Vancouver, BC
I rode from Van to Calgary a few years ago. 2 solid days of torrential rain; never let up once. I just wear a pair of rain pants from the work warehouse (viking brand I think) kept me perfectly dry the whole way. Cant say the same for my leaky boots and my leather jacket though........
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,185
Likes: 1
From: Tooele Utah
I have ridden in more rain than I have sunshine and not nearly as protected as you. I have been in some of the most miserable conditions ever imagined on a bike and I either tried to ride through it or find the nearest bar!
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 268
Likes: 0
From: Wilmington, NC
Try NEOS (www.overshoe.com) overshoes. They work really well, fit over your regular boots or shoes, and can roll up to fit in a bag. They will melt on pipes, but if you were so inclined you could apply heat resistant tape to the appropriate area. We use them at work all the time for those pesky NC thunderstorms.
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 355
Likes: 0
From:
Even the best rain gear will not keep you dry for an extended period. It will keep you from getting soaked!
My big issue has alway been seeing. I rarely wear a full faced helmet so sunglasses have been a problem. Either they fog up (so you can keep your eyes dry) or you get water in your eyes (to get rid of the fog). I just alternate keeping the sunglasses close to my face until they fog and then pulling them away. All just a part of the riding experience!
My big issue has alway been seeing. I rarely wear a full faced helmet so sunglasses have been a problem. Either they fog up (so you can keep your eyes dry) or you get water in your eyes (to get rid of the fog). I just alternate keeping the sunglasses close to my face until they fog and then pulling them away. All just a part of the riding experience!
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,919
Likes: 23
From: Seattle, WA
I have a 3/4 helmet with face shield that I usually try to wear during the off-peak riding season (months during which I assess a higher risk of getting caught in the rain) ... although the face shield sometimes fogs, I find that I can lift it partially to alleviate the fog and then drop in place ... alternating to maximize visibility ....
With a really good set of pants, I could ride for about a couple hours before starting to get a little damp ... with my crappy pants, I'd start getting wet within about a half hour to 45 minutes ....
'Chop
Last time i was in a heavy rain storm my frog togs leaked too. I just pulled over and stood in the rain for about 20 mins then got back on when it lightened up.
Lucky for me there wasn't any melting on the pants and the sun came out then so I dried out.
Lucky for me there wasn't any melting on the pants and the sun came out then so I dried out.
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 211
Likes: 4
From: Florida
Hate the rain also. Wife and I have the HD rain suits that fold up into a very small pouch. About $100 but found on slight sale. They work well and also fill in as cold weather gear if you get caught in cold area also. So far have stayed away from the pipes. In Florida we get a lot of showers and they always seem to find you. Stay safe.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,968
Likes: 34
From: Lockport Township, IL
My wife gets kinda pi$$ed at me sometimes when I see a big storm coming in and I take the bike out. She thinks I am nuts, but I do like to ride in violent weather. It's kinda fun to pull up next to a car at a red light and have them look over at you like they think you are a mental case. Maybe I am a mental case, but that's okay with me. When on cross-country trips with the wife, I have occasionally been able to see fronts coming toward us (in places like Iowa and Nebraska where it's nice and flat). We sometimes can avoid them by taking detour (leave the road you were on and head in a direction away from the storm. It may add a day or two to the trip, but I usually have no particular destination in mind anyway. When I am alone, I just ride it out. A couple years ago, I pulled into my daughter's driveway during a big storm. I had tree branches dragging under the bike from trees that had been blown down and my daughter came out of the house all upset - a tornado had just passed thru her neighborhood and she was pi$$ed that I was out taking a joy ride. When I was a kid, I even rode in sub-zero weather on snowy and icy roads. I don't do that any more though. I like a nice warm summer storm, but I hate the cold!
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Tourer
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 289
Likes: 0
From: GLOBE AZ..
My wife gets kinda pi$$ed at me sometimes when I see a big storm coming in and I take the bike out. She thinks I am nuts, but I do like to ride in violent weather. It's kinda fun to pull up next to a car at a red light and have them look over at you like they think you are a mental case. Maybe I am a mental case, but that's okay with me. When on cross-country trips with the wife, I have occasionally been able to see fronts coming toward us (in places like Iowa and Nebraska where it's nice and flat). We sometimes can avoid them by taking detour (leave the road you were on and head in a direction away from the storm. It may add a day or two to the trip, but I usually have no particular destination in mind anyway. When I am alone, I just ride it out. A couple years ago, I pulled into my daughter's driveway during a big storm. I had tree branches dragging under the bike from trees that had been blown down and my daughter came out of the house all upset - a tornado had just passed thru her neighborhood and she was pi$$ed that I was out taking a joy ride. When I was a kid, I even rode in sub-zero weather on snowy and icy roads. I don't do that any more though. I like a nice warm summer storm, but I hate the cold!
Last edited by Badmonkey; Jun 2, 2010 at 04:14 PM.
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 268
Likes: 0
From: Wilmington, NC
Just got caught in a rain storm. My regular old North Face rain jacket and pants did just fine, though the jacket did blow up behind me in the wind making me look a little marshmellowesqe.. Only problem was that I never intended on riding with this gear, and the pants are a little too short when I sit on the bike, so the bottom 4 inches of my jeans got soaked.