...should ALWAYS be in the sadle bag when the weatherman says it might rain.

I went fishing this morning and took my raingear just in case. Of course the sun came out and I wish I had worn shorts but I didn't. It looked like the cold front that he talked about had already moved through earlier in the morning (I slept in today!). So, after killing a few minnows and working on my tan, I went home and got ready to ride. It rained lightly on the way home. I called my buddy and he is already meeting up with a few others, says the rain already moved through and "it's sunny and clear North of here, come on up". "You sure" I ask? Yea, weather is fine. So I go and change, head up to where we are meeting to eat (!) and damn, those clear skies he talked about sure look mighty dark. No problem, I'll pull over and put on my raingear. Oops, it's still in the car.................

When the sprinkles first started, I ducked into a UDF by the gas pumps under the overhang. It quit after about a minute. Hey, maybe that's all there is, get back on the bike and ride. Dumb! About half a mile further up the road it starts to pour, and once again I find myself at another gas station seeking shelter. Rains for 30 minutes.

Now the roads are soaked and the cars are throwing water everywhere. Well, I want to stay dry, so on go the leathers, they are always in my bags. They do keep me dry with all of the water spray coming off of the road but then the sun comes out. Now I am hot and it's getting really humid. About 15 miles down the road the sky once again turns dark, and about 2 miles from my destination Mother Nature decides that my bike and me really need a good cleaning, so she lets loose! Fun! To top it off the road in front of the resturaunt is closed for some arts festival and I have to find my way through some back alley, uphill, slicker than snot, and I don't even know if I am in the right place.......

All turned out well, everyone else forgot their raingear and were soaked. But we had a good ride home so the trip was dryand uneventful, not much traffic, and a clean smell in the air.

ALWAYS KEEP YOUR RAINGEAR WITH YOU WHEN IT IS SUPPOSE TO RAIN !!!!! (ask me how I know!)

 

The day I brought the bike home, I put the rain gear in the left bag with the tool kit and the air pump. I,ve found if you take the time to fold it really small, it doesnt take up much space. Im thinking about using one of those food savers, that vacuums the air out to save more space!!!

 

I found out a long time ago that if you carry your rain gear it doesn't rain. If you don't carry the gear, it rains buckets. The more money you spend on the stuff, the less it rains when it does.

However, some of the best gear is pretty inexpensive and packs small. It isn't overly attractive to look at, but it works: Frogg Toggs.

 

I hear ya mikey. I keep rainsuits for me and the wife in the saddlebags full time. They never come off the bike unless I hang them to dry.

 

How do you deal with the rain hitting you in the face? I wear a half helment in the summer and the worst part of the rain is the way it feels hitting your facedoing 60 down the hwy.

 

Don't forget the gaitors.

 

Step up to a full-faced helmet when on the road for touring. Yes, it gets a little warm in there sometimes, but the rain and hail doesn't bother you much. I ride with the face shield open much of the time and all the vents wide open. After awhile, one feels naked without it.......and sunburn becomes less of an issue as a bonus.