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Rain
Riding in the rain presents several problems. The road is slippery, you
cannot see or be seen as well, and your brakes may be less effective.
If you’re caught in the rain and don’t have a rainsuit, you should get off
the road if you have a long way to go to your destination.
When riding in the rain, you must slow down and ride very
smoothly. Try to avoid shiny spots on the road. They are polished
and slippery. A puddle could hide a large pothole and traction is
worse in deeper water. Test your brakes periodically. A very light
application of the brakes will dry them out if necessary.
You may also have difficulty seeing out of your helmet’s visor and
you may have to raise it slightly, just enough to allow some air to
circulate behind it. Some gloves designed for motorcyclists have
a chamois surface on the back which you can use to wipe water
off the face shield.
Do not ride during thunderstorms to avoid the risk of being struck
by lightning.
Fog
Fog reduces your ability to see road conditions and other drivers,
and to be seen yourself. An expert rider will watch for fog in low
lying areas and by lakes or rivers close to the road. Fog may be
present at sunrise, sunset or other times when the air tempera-
ture is rapidly changing. As in rain, you will have to wipe your
face shield or raise it to be able to see out.
In really heavy fog you will be able to see only a few metres. Any
time you cannot see farther than your stopping distance, you are
riding blind. If there is something stopped on the road, you will hit
it. If you slow down enough to be able to stop in heavy fog
conditions, you may very well be hit from behind, so either way
you lose. The only smart thing to do is find a safe place to stop
and wait for conditions to improve.
Winter riding
In the section on perception and prediction, the importance of
predicting what other drivers may do was emphasized. In winter
or in cold weather, even if the road conditions are good, other
drivers will not be expecting to see motorcyclists. Expert
motorcyclists must be even more careful of what other drivers
may do and should assume that other drivers have not seen
them.
The motorcyclist must also anticipate sudden changes in the
road surface. Icy or snow-covered patches may be found at:
1) Shady parts of the roadway
2) Bridges
3) Open, wind-swept areas
4) Side roads not completely cleared
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Riding in Bad Weather