Bad Weather
Boost your poor-weather riding confidence
Riding in the wet or high winds can be nerve-wracking – but it doesn’t have to be.
Not many feel completely at ease in the wet, but there are techniques you can use to feel safer and more confident. Riding in the rain means that you must adopt a completely different style than usual: putting yourself into ‘Safe Mode’ and engineering your ride to keep as smooth and upright as possible. Ensuring you are using your vision to the maximum is critical, while road-reading well ahead - especially on faster country roads will allow you to plan for what you’re about to be faced with and will reduce stress and sudden inputs. With a plan in place, you will find your confidence gets an immediate boost.
It might feel a little counter-intuitive, but when riding in high winds, gyroscopic effect is your friend. This means that – while you need to remain legal and safe – you shouldn’t necessarily ride slower than you normally would. The faster your wheels are turning, the more they want to remain upright and straight, and the more they will help combat the effects of a side wind or gusts.
QUICK TIPS
Switch your vision on
Making sure you’re aware what’s ahead is doubly important in the wet. Keep your eyes up and looking forward to give yourself time to assess the approaching corner. Vision is knowledge - and knowledge is confidence.
Compromise your position
Keep assessing the turn ahead: are there any hazards like manhole covers or big puddles? You may have to reposition to avoid them. Smoothly reduce speed by rolling off power and gently applying both brakes, if necessary.
Square it off for the optimal corner line
When conditions are slippery the ideal solution is to ‘engineer’ your line around any given corner to allow you to successfully get around it with the smallest amount of lean angle possible. You should also be using your body position to keep the bike as upright as possible for the best traction available.
Don’t shut off - the throttle can help you
In poor weather conditions it might be tempting to stay off the gas completely through corners for fear of the rear spinning - but if you can keep a small-but-constant amount of throttle on it will boost feedback and feel from the bike and make you feel more secure through the corner.
Mind the gap
In high winds, be wary of gaps in hedgerows (where a field entrance is, for example), crossing open spaces (like a bridge), or emerging past a lorry when overtaking on a dual carriageway or motorway. These are just three of the most common scenarios in which you might suddenly feel a dramatic gust that could force you off-line. Anticipating these sudden challenges will help you to brace against them and maintain your line.