Having only passed my test Feb this year, I have little wet weather experience, as I only bought my bike on April 1st.
I commute a round trip of 20 miles a day and still love it when I get on it. Obviously I have ridden in the rain on and off but I don't know if I am being too cautious, as all the talk of keeping away from man hole covers and white lines etc scares me to death, especially as all the big white arrows seem to be slap bang in the centre of the lane!
If I am turning right at say, a four exit roundabout, I seem to spend more time worrying about the car behind than my own progress. I know its all about confidence, which will grow as time goes by, which I understand completely but does this sound fairly normal for a novice rider? Last thing I wanna do is try and go just that little bit faster next time cos it will only end in tears and I would hate to drop the bike!
Had a slight scare few weeks back in the damp, exited a roundabout onto a dual carriageway, coming off onto the right hand lane, as I was in the filtered lane for that lane, 80 metres away was my exit junction, left filter, so obviously needed to change lanes, pretty much alongside a taxi as we both exited roundabout, so I gave it a little bit of the beans to pull clear...... once well clear, about 4 car lengths, I did the full observation, indication routine and moved to change lanes.....at which point I was in 2nd gear I think, a little way up the revs.....and whoaaaaa, the back end was suddenly snaking like on ice.....made the hairs stand up I can tell you. Looking back its obviously gonna happen; akin to booting your car off in the wet in 1st gear. I was told that my bike, an er6f, is quite torquey for what it is, dunno myself as i have no comparisons. After that little moment, I take extra care changing lanes etc.
So bottom line guys, how much should I try to avoid white markings when wet and does the grip level change dramatically dependant on your speed....I would imagine so, or is it a constant, cos afterall, wet paint is still wet paint.
I commute a round trip of 20 miles a day and still love it when I get on it. Obviously I have ridden in the rain on and off but I don't know if I am being too cautious, as all the talk of keeping away from man hole covers and white lines etc scares me to death, especially as all the big white arrows seem to be slap bang in the centre of the lane!
If I am turning right at say, a four exit roundabout, I seem to spend more time worrying about the car behind than my own progress. I know its all about confidence, which will grow as time goes by, which I understand completely but does this sound fairly normal for a novice rider? Last thing I wanna do is try and go just that little bit faster next time cos it will only end in tears and I would hate to drop the bike!
Had a slight scare few weeks back in the damp, exited a roundabout onto a dual carriageway, coming off onto the right hand lane, as I was in the filtered lane for that lane, 80 metres away was my exit junction, left filter, so obviously needed to change lanes, pretty much alongside a taxi as we both exited roundabout, so I gave it a little bit of the beans to pull clear...... once well clear, about 4 car lengths, I did the full observation, indication routine and moved to change lanes.....at which point I was in 2nd gear I think, a little way up the revs.....and whoaaaaa, the back end was suddenly snaking like on ice.....made the hairs stand up I can tell you. Looking back its obviously gonna happen; akin to booting your car off in the wet in 1st gear. I was told that my bike, an er6f, is quite torquey for what it is, dunno myself as i have no comparisons. After that little moment, I take extra care changing lanes etc.
So bottom line guys, how much should I try to avoid white markings when wet and does the grip level change dramatically dependant on your speed....I would imagine so, or is it a constant, cos afterall, wet paint is still wet paint.
