|
|||
|
|||
Rain is by far the most common for most of us and there are a few things that can be done to help make your ride safer. We try not to ride in lightning storms. They seem to be pretty fierce here on the east coast and so when lightning starts flashing we head for home. If you are out on the road the best place can be a highway overpass. They stay relatively dry and allow you a nice place to rest. Just pay attention to possible water flows and flash floods. You might be high and dry but your bike may be parked in a potential river.
When you must ride in the rain there are several things that you can do to make things safer. First is rain gear, hopeful you have packed that along and you have it close at hand. Waterproof boots are a must too. If your feet get wet and cold, you can become miserable if not worse. Gloves are another thing. Leather gloves can be a pain to ride in and can get water logged real easy. I spray mine with water proofing designed for tents to help. The other obvious things to do in bad riding weather are to slow down, ride with your four way flashers on and never ride faster than the distance you can see. If you can't stop in time you're going too fast.
Ice and snow? I just flat out don't recommend it. If there is any snow or ice on the roads it just makes no sense at all to be out on the bikes. If you should happen to get caught in a snow storm traveling over a pass etc, I would recommend getting to a lower altitude quickly and finding another way around. Who knows, some of the greatest places we've found by going in a direction other then what we've planned.
The heat can be nasty in a few ways, from the dry heat that roasts you in the deserts and prairie areas to the "so humid you feel like you're riding through a wall of water" type heat of the east and south east. There are three main things to remember here water, water, water. Dehydration can knock you down quick while on a bike. Moisture is wicked away by the wind and further dehydrates you without you even knowing it. The hot dry areas can back you with the wind and dry heat. Opening vents to blow air on you when it's over 100 degrees can create a blast furnace effect, so close up and cover up to keep the sun off as well. Take breaks more often in hot riding weather and drink, drink, drink.
Cross winds can be difficult to handle, spending hours leaning into them as you ride. It can become physically exhausting. Most motorists don't even understand what wind does to a bike, from simple head on winds that just knock down your mileage to winds that blow off the semi trucks and buffet you around in the lane like a Mexican jumping bean. Best thing to do is to back down a bit so you gain control of your bike and give any fellow motorcyclists some additional room.
Altitude is something that can cause all sorts of interesting situations. If you are cruising through
the Rockies the elevation change is not too drastic. Most of the parks like Yellowstone are at about
5,000 feet or so. Going up to the mountain peaks from there are not a big change. However if you are
on Hawaii and go from sea level to 10,000 feet that is a big change and you need to be aware of altitude
sickness. Take your time when you ride. Taking breaks often as you climb will help reduce those effects.
Also consider temperature changes and storms that can come up quickly.
By being prepared for the types of riding weather in the different areas you ride in, you can avoid hazards and still enjoy the ride. Oh and my own personal tip, make sure to book a place to stay that has a hot tub, pool and a fireplace. Nothing like a glass of your favorite and something to warm or cool you after a long ride in the weather.
Are you a webmaster or are you interested in how I made my site?
Check out this page to see how you can create a similar website.about this page
(Please be patient while your email application opens)
