GETTING WET?
Q Can you help please? I absolutely hate riding in the rain and try to avoid it at all costs to the point of not going out if there is any chance of rain. What can I do to overcome this hatred? I live in the UK so it’s going to rain at some point and it’s having a real impact on the amount of saddle time I can enjoy. A Riding in the rain can be great fun, and some of the best days coaching I have had at the school have been in the rain. What primarily concerns riders in the wet are the issues of grip and the road surface, inducing the fear of a loss of traction. The important thing to remember is that if a slide occurs, because it’s wet then it will happen at a lower speed than in the dry. Although modern bikes have traction control, this is a rider aid and does not mean that the rider won’t crash. If the rider remains relaxed on the handlebars, but grips the fuel tank tightly with his knees, then the rider will get much better feedback from the bike. If it begins to move around the rider will know this immediately, and feel the bike moving around underneath (depending on which level the traction control is set on).
The key to riding in the rain is to be smooth with the controls, especially on the road – anticipate situations that are likely to develop and when you ride be proactive rather than reactive as much as possible. On track, do the same things at the same places on the track to make yourself consistent.
The only way to improve your wet riding skills is to go out and practice them!