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Weather 2002
Calculate Wind Chill by your speed and outside temp! |
2001 Monday, August 27 Notes from the Sturgis Run Hi Mama, Very comfortable for walking or riding the streets of Sturgis. Pretty dull and not too much excitement in Sturgis. Lots of cops! We stayed part of the week after the rally and got in some good riding. Rode the Devils Tower one day. Spearfish canyon, Hill City, Keystone and around the hills another day. One tip for the weather in the Black Hills. Come prepared for everything. Cold and warm gear and of course rain gear. We rode around the hills in rain one A.M. and part of another day. We deal with it and keep going. The Black Hills is awesome area to ride. You can find many roads to take and the scenery never ends. I would suggest it for somewhat experienced riders as there are many curves, narrow roads, pigtail turns and traffic. This isn't for someone just learning to ride. I've seen accidents and people go off curves and it ain't pretty. Drive sensibly, if your drinking, stay put and have fun! It's a great event with lot's to see and do. I'd
recommend it to everyone! –
Deb Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Leslie, The National Weather Service offers this new formula: Wind chill temperature = 35.74 + 0.6215T - 35.75V + 0.4275TV In the formula, V is in the wind speed in statute miles per hour, and T is the temperature in degrees Fahrenheit. So if it's 100F and we're going 60mph then: 35.75 + .6215(100) - 35.75(60) + .4275(100)(60) = hmmmmm . . . 518F. Oops, that can't be right@! Scientifically-minded VTwin Mama sisters -- HELP!– Mama Monday, April 29 Input for that nasty 'ol reverse wind chill question! I read the question about the reverse wind chill, and 35.74 + 0.6125T -35.75V^0.16 + 0.4275TV^0.16 2) The correct answer is approximately 105 degrees F. Wind chill is an estimate as to how your body "feels" should you be naked outside in say cold weather. In the summertime, the fact that it is hot outside, and the wind is blowing means that you will "feel" a lot hotter than you really are. That is why "wind chill" is used predominantly in winter rather than summer. Originally this formula was used for battlefield preparation, but who needs to know the background information, anyway !: ) I hope this helps. – Tcool (Note from VTwin Mama -- yah hey it helps -- first I delete the exponents (expletive deleted here!), but given that sometimes riding in 100F feels like a battlefield, well . . . there you have it!) Just a quick input on one of the questions about "Is there a formula for reverse wind chill when riding a motorcycle on a 100+ degree day? If so, what is it called?" From a weather site I found: * The RealFeel Temperature is an index that describes what the temperature really feels like. ©2000 AccuWeather, Inc. All rights reserved. http://www.accuweather.com/iwxpage/paws/realfeelfaq.htm No formula is given. http://abcnews.go.com/sections/scitech/DailyNews/windchill010308.html Aha - here's why: "Accuweather has a patent pending on its method." Boy, the things you learn on the Internet - isn't it great! – April (Note from VTwin Mama -- too cool for feeling cool!) Monday, July 8 Dear VTwin Mama, I have been riding for about three years now and am getting more and more comfortable on my bike (a 2001 Yamaha VStar 1100 Classic). I'm glad to have found this site - I've already read some helpful information on negotiating those nasty little curves! We're planning a trip to South Dakota (after the Sturgis Rally) in August and would love to hear any good traveling tips anyone might have. I'm really nervous about riding in the rain - that will be a whole new experience for me! – Susan Dear Susan, Let's face it, rain is Mother Nature's way of washing herself off and feeding her plants and is part of a rider's reality. So, what to do?! First, wear a helmet with a full face shield because the pointy ends of those raindrops sting! Also, have clear goggles or riding glasses as an alternative to your sunglasses 'cause there is nothing worse than riding under darkened skies with dark lenses! Second, if possible, slow down a bit, especially in driving rain from wind. If it's really bad -- pull over and take shelter -- yes, your ride may be delayed, but those cars don't give a hoot and are a real menace. Keeping body and soul intact is more important! Even a light rain can cause problems because it raises the oil on the road just enough to make it slick -- so again, slow down a bit. Of course rain gear is a must -- you've never been so miserable than being soaked by a rain of any level and the chill that sets in is awful. Been there, done that, learned something! General travel tips include making sure your bike is in top riding condition (tires especially, and lights in good working order), giving someone back home your travel agenda and calling in at scheduled intervals to say hi so they know you're ok, carrying a cell phone for emergencies, know where dealers for your bike are along the route just in case, taking enough breaks and recognizing when you're just too tired to keep going and are no longer alert enough to be safe, no alcohol, plenty of water, agreeing on a few hand signals between the group so that you can signal each other for stuff and finally, planning the ride so you can enjoy it! The VTwin Mama Riding Techniques archives contain some info from the past (check in the December and March timeframes). VTwin Mama sisters -- we've never done tips on riding in the rain, so chime in anytime! – Mama Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Sherry, Hey VTwin Mama, I did slow down to a speed I was comfortable with and I let people behind me pass. My bike is an 883 Sporty without a windshield. Other than slowing down or stopping, what other things can I do, or will time and experience give me the confidence to "ride the wind". – Cindy Dear Cindy, Friday, August 2 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Barbara, Monday, August 5 Dear VTwin Mama, My first week out on my new V-Star 650, we went out on Interstate 40 in New Mexico. This is the only way to a slower road from our house. I was hit by a monster wind along with a draft form an oncoming truck behind me. I was blown to the shoulder at 70mph -- figured I was going to die, right then, but managed to keep things in somewhat of a controlled state and reached a top. I was very shaken and thought I might give up my motorcycle career, but after much reading about counter steering, windshields, and panic, I have overcome this in flying colors. My husband still doesn't understand what I experienced. He rides a large Harley Dresser. I guess the wind goes around him:) Anyway, that day I had not gotten my windshield yet, but since it's on, there is a world of difference. I also hadn't figured out the handling of the bike at high speeds. Practice on slower roads first (a lot) if possible. And my last tidbit is wear earplugs when going at high speeds, even if you're wearing a helmet. The wind noise is totally unnerving. I would like to hear any other input on winds, please. Hope I helped some. – Jonni (note from Mama: thanks for sharing your personal insights on how you felt when first handling winds and some things you did to make that better. I personally hate a gusty wind and would shake my fist at Mother Nature if I wasn't so busy hanging on tight and praying like heck!) Monday, August 5 Dear VTwin Mama, I purchased my neck wrap from jcwmotorcycle.com for $3.99, denniskirk.com has Kool rags (head caps) for $12.99 and whitehorsepress.com has a hydro cooling vest for $125. I have purchased items from all these places (above) with no problem. I also found tons of other places on the web -- here are some. barbosacoolproducts.com, stacoolvest.com prices starting at $125 for vests with a liquid coolant type. ridecool.com has the vest for $27.95 with the bead type (like the neck wrap). – Barbara (note from Mama: thanks for further exploring some websites which offer "stay cool" products. It's much appreciated!) Dear
VTwin Mama: Dear
Bryna, My biggest tip is that you have to hydrate during any ride -- not the sugary drinks or gosh forbid, alcohol -- but good old fashioned water! And lots of it! As your body does it normal sweating to help with hotter weather/clothing, it's essential that you replace this with 0 calorie water! I carry a sports bottle with me and stop at least every 100 miles to regroup my body's senses and hydrate. During the worst of the months, I also carry a washcloth in a plastic baggie so that I can quickly clean my neck, face, arms and such. I hate riding gritty, and it feels so good to wipe down and cool down! – Mama Monday, May 17 For Bryna who is trying to stay cool under all the protective gear: I
have found a short-sleeved cotton turtleneck under a well-vented jacket to
be the most comfortable combination. Quick-dry fabrics like coolmax
didn't seem quite as cooling. – Sarah (note
from Mama: simple and easy!) Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Angela, Wednesday, July 13 For Angela who wants fog-free goggles: I read this every day and love it so I hope I am not bothersome. But as a scuba diver, I put just a DAB, and I mean a DAB of Joy dishwashing detergent in my underwater goggles to keep them from fogging up. I never like to spit in them as they tell you. It took another woman diver to let me in on this secret. Now, I tried this with my bike goggles, cause I was so nervous with the jitters that I actually sweated through them when I had all my gear on!!!! Ha!!! I know that sounds funny, but I did and it worked. Same thing just a SMALL dab will do ya. Cheap and inexpensive way to solve the fogging problem. Smells like lemon too! Hope this helps. – Kathy H. (note from Mama: no one is ever "bothersome" . . . remember, we share and care! Thanks for noting a practical idea. I'm wondering if all those "official" anti-fogging products they market are just Joy in disguise! Ok, probably not!) Thursday, September 15 Hi
Petra (that's VTwin Mama's real name!), You mentioned preparing for the storm, and since weather disasters are in the news lately and also since I sometimes think about moving to California, I was wondering what you and other riders do to secure the bike if you know something's coming at you--especially situations of very high winds (tornados, hurricanes) and what about earthquakes?! I try to imagine what I would do and I think of using tie-downs attached to the garage walls or just laying the bike out on the ground ahead of time if possible. I'd love to hear what others do. Thanks, – Laura Dear
Laura, In my case, knowing it was Category One hurricane, the bike simply went into the garage. I know I would still stay home during a Category Two, but would pad the bike with all my old comforters and blankets and duct tape them around the bike, but leave the bike standing on its kickstand with the wheel all the way to the left. In a Category Three or higher, I'd pad the bike and get the heck out of there! I'd have to take the car because I have two doggies! Certainly bolts sunk into the garage floor would help and I could see that a tie down to a garage wall might help (and helps slow down bike theft to boot!). As my bike only has a side kickstand, I don't have the option of going to a centerstand position, but I'm guessing that that wouldn't help anything. I'd be leery of laying the bike down (gas drained and on padding) unless it really seemed to be the only option, like the bike is out in the open with no protecting walls. Ok, readers, what are your thoughts?!?!?!?! – Mama Monday, September 26 Dear VTwin Mama, About halfway home, I look in my mirrors and see this truck passing a bunch of other cars, flashing its brights. I thought, oh great, here's some jerk who thinks I'm not going fast enough in this downpour. I had to stop at a light and the truck pulls up beside me. It's my husband! He got worried and came out to rescue me. He told me to ride down the road a little further and pull into the VFW post. I was so scared! There was so much water on the road! But I rode into the parking lot at the VFW and at that moment all I could think about was getting the bike out of the rain. So I saw this overhang coming off the building and, like a dummy, I tried to jump the curb with a 550-pound 750cc motorcycle. Well, of course it did not work! The bike tipped over on its left side, engine revving. I automatically hit the kill switch and just laid back on the ground. My husband comes tearing out of the truck and yells "Why are you laying in the water? Are you hurt?" I look over and the water is rushing past him, nearly up to his knees, and I was laying in it. Together we got the bike up and under the overhang. I felt so stupid! Really freaked us both out! Later we went back and he rode the bike home. I bent the shifter so it has to be either replaced or welded again. Kind of apprehensive about riding right now, but I know that I have to do it. No more curbs for me! By the way, I'm the rider who was having trouble with the shifter sticking in 2nd gear on 9/21. And now I'm thinking this bike has been dropped on that side before, like you suggested, but now I've done it as well. – Kathy Dear Kathy, Heavy downpours are to be feared for good reason and that's not just for newer riders. Your visibility is awful (not only for you, but those driving around you who may not see you as easily), water collecting on a road is dangerous and your tires can only channel so much water away from the treads, and depending on the temperature, oil on the road rises to the surface causing horrible slick spots that will down a rider faster than you can say "ouch." You now know that the prudent thing to do is to immediately pull off somewhere and wait it out if possible. When gusty winds accompany such a storm, the warning is even more dire! Ok, so now you're more apprehensive, but that's really only because you came into a situation you weren't prepared to handle. So, back to Basic 101 riding . . . go get some riding time in again in good weather conditions, light traffic (or a practice lot with no traffic) and keep working on everything (once the shifter issue is resolved). Becoming one with the bike is NOT an automatic thing. If you find that your husband is exhibiting signs of being more concerned or nervous, take the time to map out a training plan that the two of you can agree on to minimize both your apprehensions. – Mama Hi
Petra, Dear
Penney, Tuesday, December 6 For Penney who has put her bike away, but how will she fare in spring with riding skills: Here in SA we do not have that particular problem of having to put away one's bike for the winter. I guess we are much like Florida (we just don't have hurricanes to contend with though!). We are able to ride pretty much year round. The winters here on what we call the 'Highveld' can, and do get pretty cold (maybe minus 7 Celsius (that's 20F) in the early morning) but, by lunch time it is up to 12 or 14 Celsius (that's 54-57F). The bikers are out on their breakfast run every Sunday, throughout the winter - we hear them on the freeway from where we live. We live in a summer rainfall area, but it rains in the afternoon from about 4, sometimes through the night, and by the next morning everything is clean and fresh and dry again. – Megan in Henley on Klip, south of Johannesburg, South Africa (note from Mama: thanks for a snapshot of riding in South Africa! Yes, riding year-round is a real bonus, especially for newer riders, but the world would get pretty lopsided if every rider moved south!) Dear
VTwin Mama, I'm turning 50 on April 13 (born on Friday the 13th and my handle is Lucky Lady as my dad called me lucky) and have to boys 25 and 23. After I lost my Dad I had what I can only refer to as an "awakening". At my age I had decided life was too short, my parents had the time and the money to do what they wanted but never did, they sat at home in case one of us kids needed them. I found myself doing the same thing. So my husband and I paid off what bills we could, bought our dream RV and a new truck and started to live a little. In the campground we would see all these little electric scooters flying around and decided we needed a couple of our own. Well being a plus size gal, let me tell you, don't believe it when those things say they will pull 300lbs, not that I weigh any where near that, but it wouldn't pull me up the driveway. So the story sort of explodes very quickly from there. My precious husband, an experienced rider from the 70's but hasn't been on one since felt so bad that the next day he went to the Honda dealership and bought me a 50cc Metropolitan scooter and him the 50cc Ruckus. That was my first experience on a motorized scooter. I learned fairly quickly, he outfitted us with all the equip. and out on the road we went. I did fairly well with no knowledge and with him as my teacher but was so nervous on turns and curves. I don't know about other states, but in Tennessee you don't have to have a license to drive less than a 250cc on the road, but after a while I felt we were holding up traffic and my husband was just itching to get on something bigger, so next thing I know he sold his Ruckus and bough me a Suzuki GZ250 and him the S50 Suzuki. Now my husband decided I was ready and needed a bigger bike so he gave me his 800cc Suzuki S50 and he bought a new S83 1400cc. I have logged quite a few miles, mostly on major curvy and twisty highways but a bit of traffic also. I am pretty well rounded in all the maneuvers, and when I feel uncomfortable, I go and practice at the church parking lot. There is no shame in owning this S50, it is perfect for a woman 5'4" and can be flat footed no problem, very easy to handle and lots of v-twin power to keep up with anything out there. But I do have a phobia that could present a problem in my riding future. I'm terrified of getting caught in the rain!!!!! For some reason I am certain that as soon as I do, and I'm sure if I ride as much as I want this season, I'm going to get caught in it, that I'm going down as soon as that first rain drop falls. I have yet to get caught, and only recently rode a fairly curvy road after a recent shower where the pavement was very wet and I was absolutely terrified. My husband kept asking me why was I going soooooo slow (we have the Collett helmet communicators, love love). I just can't imagine being able to corner and take curves on wet pavement. Yes, I read and learned all about the oil track in the middle and where and how to ride during and after a shower. It just does not apply to my mind. It's very frustrating to my husband when on a cloudy day to where it looks like it might rain, I won't go riding. He always tells me, Deb, no rider likes getting caught in the rain. Most will find the nearest shelter and pull over and wait it out. Ok cool, I could handle that I think, but how bout those wet roads afterwards?????? Help, I'm being a wuss about this. I want to overcome this fear, I'm a very strong lady and I'm the caretaker of only daughter and middle child, so I have an enormous can do attitude, so any advice would be appreciated. I really am appreciative of this site for information and reading about other women who share the same problems and concerns as I. I just wish there was a ladies riding club near me so I didn't have to do group rides with my husbands buddies, talk about intimidating! But alas I can find none close to me. I would even consider opening some type myself, chapter or otherwise if I knew how to go about it. I know there are several ladies in surrounding counties that would love to be a part of something like that. Thanks again! – Lucky Lady Dear
Lucky Lady, Thank you for sharing your adventure in riding so far! What a journey you've been on! Your husband is right about rain . . . there isn't a single rider I know that purposefully goes out in rain . . . we are usually caught in it, or on a longer trip, have to realize we may encounter it (and need to keep going to meet our destination schedules). If it's raining torrents, it's always best to pull over. As to your overall phobia on wet roads, that's tricky. How are you driving a car on wet roads? If you don't slow down, what is it instinctively that allows you to maintain speed despite the added hazard? Is it that you trust the wheels to channel the water correctly, that you have four tires on the road, that the middle of the car straddles the center of the lane, that windshield wipers keep your view of the road relatively clear, all of these, or something else more? Now apply that thinking to your motorcycle riding. Which exact components are terrifying you? Do you trust the two wheels to channel water? Do you trust the bike at all? Do you trust your overall riding skills to handle the extra challenge? I think it's this last part that may be fueling your fear . . . that if something goes wrong . . . and of course, it's rain soaked roads that add the "something might go wrong" factor for you. Would you feel more in control if you took an advanced rider course where you take your own bike and work on handling the bike in more severe situations (quick stops, cornering, swerving, etc.) under the watchful eye of an accredited instructor? If your riding skills have never been challenged under duress, you may be laboring under a more general "what if" set of worries (and rain just makes that worse). Consider the MSF's Experienced RiderCourse as one possibility. Ask in advance if they will address your rain riding questions and techniques. Honing skills is a life-long pursuit! Ok, it's time to dig deep, write down your exact fear statements, look at them individually and as a grouping, and then decide your battle plan. Now, as to riding groups/chapters. The main national level organizations can be found on Women's Sites page. If you have checked and contacted the closest one, and they still don't have members in your area, then yes , you may wish to start a local chapter. I know for a fact that the Sisters in Spirit Motorcycle Association for Women is actively looking for ladies who wish to form chapters wherever they are, and Linda Blankenship, the Director, will talk with you (call her in OK at 918-809-1434) about specific details on how to do this! I just spoke with her the other day about "stuff" and she's just great to noodle out ideas with! Give her a ring and call or email the other organizations so you can compare what's involved, etc. You'll be glad you did! – Mama Thursday, March 30 For Lucky Lady who is trying to overcome fears of riding in the rain: I was fearful of getting caught in the rain too, but of course, it eventually happens. Getting caught in the rain is part of riding. Unfortunately. And anytime you ride, you could ride through an area where it has just rained. The first time we got caught in the rain, thankfully I was wearing a helmet with a face shield so my face did not bear the brunt of it. (I always wear waterproof mascara when I'm riding anyway.) It wasn't the hardest rain and once I realized that nothing out of the ordinary was happening, I relaxed a little. It wasn't so bad. When I saw the rain spitting out of my husband's back tire, it was then that I realized I was really riding in the rain! Since then, we've been caught a few times. Sometimes we get to pull over and get our rain suits on just in case and sometimes we just get wet. We always make sure we get down to the speed limit (no five mile cushion) and don't make any sudden moves if possible. Take it easy and you should be okay. Remember, motorcycle tires are made of a softer compound of rubber and are made to grip the road, even in the rain. Watch (or avoid!) metal plates and painted arrows and such because these are slippery for tires and boots. The only thing I really worry about now is getting caught in a downpour where you can't see anything. All of this applies to smooth asphalt roads. We live in Ohio but occasionally ride in Alabama on vacation. The road surface in that particular area has a high pebble content. The road surface is curved more, so as to be convex (a bit higher in the center) to facilitate better water run off, making it extremely slippery when wet. I'm wondering if this is also true in Tennessee and may be fueling Lucky Lady's fears. – Linda C. (note from Mama: good point that our imagined fears can be worse than the actual event, but as you noted, you have to face it to realize this. While it's a hard step, there is is no shortcut, other than to try to choose the first rides on low sprinkle days and build up to rain soaked roads, etc.) Monday, April 3 Dear VTwin Mama, On Sunday I helped my parents with a lot of stuff and then it was about 5:30ish or so when I had started down. I didn't realize it, but a 30 foot stretch of snow that didn't bother me too much yesterday had melted, then refroze and was now a 30 foot sheet of ice with ruts all over it. I slowed way down to around 5-7 mph and started across thinking it was thin and would break apart. Instead it held together and the bike had no traction. It went down and I rolled off and way. Thankfully, ice is one of the few cases where steel stops the bike faster than rubber. It stopped in short order and then the engine died. First I was thankful that the bike hadn't slid off the mountain. Of course, I was happy I was ok as well. I righted the bike without too much effort, but was terrified that the shifter had been destroyed or something major like that was gone, as I never put the old engine guard back on. It wasn't touched. Instead, my windshield had broken 3 of the 4 brackets attaching it to the bike. (FYI, its a National Cycle Plexistar 2, and though I'd recommend it for most street applications, I find the brackets don't hold up to well when its used as a bumper). I saw nothing else amiss, and shoved the windshield away from the controls and restarted it. I didn't really feel scared or anything. Mostly, "Well, that sucks." Well, 10 feet of ice down, 20 to go. This time, I kept my feet down and used just the front brake. Basically, the front wheel was locked the whole time but my feet made fine outrigger wheels and I stayed up through the ice. Once off the dirt road and back onto the bike's native element about 15 minutes later, I stopped and check the bike for any missed problems or damage. The left front signal lens was busted, and packed with snow and ice. I figured something was amiss, as the indicator was going crazy. The bulb wasn't broken but had popped out of the base. I put it back in emptied the snow out and replaced the lens. The signal worked properly. I secured the windshield with zip ties enough to get to Wal-Mart to get some duck tape. It was about 8 miles away and on my route anyway. The windshield has some awful scratches on it, but they are actually on the part that protects your hands and you can't see them when riding the bike. I checked over the bike again at Wal-Mart, finished securing the windshield and found nothing else wrong. I headed home and was amazed that the windshield was still in the proper position to offer wind protection. I made the remaining 90 miles without any further problems. All in all, I figure I was pretty lucky. Plus, since I went down on the dirt, it really doesn't count. – Ben Dear Ben, Friday, April 7 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Sandra, Wednesday, April 19 Hi Petra, Well this is where Murphy's Law comes into play. On my very first day of riding to work, Mother Nature decides to douse Orlando with the second rain shower in about 3 months! When I went to leave work at 7pm it was just starting to sprinkle a bit, so I didn't think anything of it. Then my partner calls and tells me that it's pouring down rain at the house. In true Florida fashion, it was a tiny little storm directly over the route I needed to travel to go home. So I thought, well maybe it'll stop by the time I get nearer the house (fortunately only 5 miles). Nope, I rode through the storm the entire way! Having no rain gear yet (I'm a new rider, I didn't plan to ride in rain for awhile!), I was soaked through of course, but it wasn't the terrifying experience I had envisioned. The Suzuki handled VERY well, even through puddles, and I actually was having fun . . . it's a bit like being a child playing in the rain. I just kept my high beam on to be more visible and concentrated even more on everything I was doing. Of course I dried MC (the bike's name, stands for Midlife Crisis) off before changing my own wet clothes. I did it though . . . one more hurdle overcome, so while I won't go seeking a rainy day ride, it won't freak me out as much if I do get caught in it again. I believe I'll be pricing raingear now though! And as long as everything dries out by today, I'll be riding to work again. Might as well with the price of gas! Take care, – Kat Dear Kat, I'm glad to hear you passed the riding through rain challenge though and now have more confidence in yourself and the bike! Sometimes the lessons sneak up on us! – Mama Wednesday, May 24 Hi Mama, Dear Diamond Lil, Tires need to be in good shape and properly inflated so that water will channel from the treads. Wet weather riding gear should be comfortable and boots water-proofed. The pointy end of raindrops hurt, so have a helmet handy (if you normally don't wear one) and have a snap-on face shield available. Or have clear goggles or riding glasses handy along with a bandana to cover your face (not as good as a helmet with shield, but better than nothing). Ride with respect. Oil rises from the road, so track is a different part of the lane. Never make any quick moves. Use a lighter application of brakes, so begin your stop sequence sooner. Don't gear down harshly to bleed off speed. Don't take a death grip on the handlebar . . . it doesn't help during normal riding and the same applies for wet-weather riding. If you catch rain on a longer ride, rest more frequently. If the traffic is heavy and impatient behind you, pull off the road and let it go by. If the rain is so hard that in a car you would slow down, that's your clue to get off the road completely. If it's raining and a nasty wind with gusts is added, get off the road. If it's raining and nighttime is coming on, consider your options. If you need to reach a particular destination, tough, that's not as important as your safety. If possible, yes, do a deliberate practice run in rain
on your motorcycle so that the handling characteristics can be tested.
Then, when rain breaks into a regular ride, you're not sitting there
wondering how you and the bike are going to get through it! –
Mama Wednesday, June 28 Dear VTwin Mama, What I'd like to share is that I never realized just how slippery the painted street lines were! My wonderful husband, who is always aware of our surroundings while riding, pulled over to let the row of cars following us on the twisty mountain road, as we were taking our sweet old time. As I put on my brakes and slowly pulled over, I hit that white line and got a good case of the wobbles, which I luckily came out of ok by getting my tires off the white line and gently applying the rear brake. I had never realized how slick those white road lines would get when wet, but I tested my theory of this off of the bike by running my boot gently over the line and WOW! -- they are really slippery! Petra- have a great time at the conference, and if it does rain, beware of the evil white street lines! Actually I would like to wish you a dry, safe trip! – Michele Dear Michele, Thursday, September 21 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Donna, All the best sources advocate the same things: slow down in general, treat slick metal and raised lane markings with great respect (avoid if possible, no sudden moves in bike handling or controls if unavoidable), and ride in the lane portion that has the least amount of accumulated car oil (you can see it beading up). Normal or emergency braking techniques do not change . . . the key here is that you give yourself more time when possible. The reality is that in an emergency you may find that you are going to go down faster than if you had full pavement traction. On that note, this is a Motorcycle
Cruiser
article of interest . . . it starts with a discussion on raingear, but
you'll find an excellent section on understanding the traction difference on
dry and wet pavement, how to test it for yourself, and how to get that
understanding into your overall battle plan. I think it will help you noodle
things out! –
Mama Hi Mama, However, the days are getting shorter and I am finding myself riding at dusk and recently in the dark. It scares the crap out of me. My husband, of course, likes to ride at night. He even changed my headlight to a halogen bulb to give me more light. When riding down a very familiar road, it feels like the back end of the bike wants to slide or skid out from under me. Maybe it is because when I hit a bump unexpectedly, I may be over steering and causing it myself. I just don't know. Also I can't look through the curve since it is dark, so I wind up steering the bike through a turn. Any suggestions would be appreciated. – Beginner Biker Babe Dear Beginner Biker Babe, However, I don't have any feeling that the motorcycle itself is handling any differently, which could simply be a factor that I've been riding for 26 years. Typically, when a bike feels like the rear end is sliding out, that's a function of us using our rear brake incorrectly, i.e. jabbing or pressing too hard instead of easing on it. It's possible that if you are using the front brake in a curve, which has a tendency to pull the rider down to that side, that it could feel like the rear end is kicking out. If you feel like you are adding to the sensations, my guess is that you're riding with a stiffer body that could be translating to a deathgrip on the handlebar (which hampers the bike's natural moves). Given your newness to the sport, my suggestion is that you temporarily limit your rides to make it home at the beginning of dusk. Your oneness with the bike is not yet finely tuned and adding a challenge like this could simply be to much for your senses. Why not treat night riding just like you did when you
first started on your VLX?! At dusk/dark, head to an empty parking lot and
go over the basic riding drills in the semi-dark. Then proceed to
neighborhood night rides, even pre-planning it in the car at night so you
can get a sense of things, then add more distance, curvy roads, etc. As
always, if we are not comfortable, baby steps are the best plan! –
Mama Friday, October 6 For Beginner Biker Babe who is just getting into night riding and has concerns: BBB said something that threw up a red flag reminder to me: leaves. It's so fun to ride down a shaded street, blowing a storm of leaves behind you, but remember, during early morning and evening rides those leaves may be wet, creating a whole new traction problem. – Jojo (note from Mama: a good reminder, not just on leaves, but that road surface conditions do change during the course of the day/night.) Cupped rear tire? This might also be the cause for someone who's starting to lean into the curves a little more and having the sensation of the back end starting to slide. – Kevin (note from Mama: yes, you are right, I should have mentioned a double-check of tire wear/condition and proper inflation. The sensation might be more noticeable to BBB at night because she has extra concerns and is more tuned-in to every nuance of the bike.)Saturday, October 14 For Fair-Weather Rider who will continue to work on skills as winter descends: Hi Fair-Weather Rider . . . I bet that translates to, "I'll ride anytime, but I prefer 70 degrees and up." (me too) Anyway. I ride weather permitting, and mood, throughout the year. In the winter time, when riding gets infrequent, it wouldn't hurt to put a little Fuel Stabilizer in the tank whenever you fill up. Fuel gets stale faster than you think. – Jennifer WV (note from Mama: me three! Good tip . . . think I'll get a bottle for my bike!) Monday, December 4 Hi Petra, Dear Linda, On a Veteran's Day ride I participated in, a person remarked that they recognized my motorcycle, but not me! He said my choice of gear did nothing for my figure. I laughed and recalled that wonderful T-shirt I saw at the AMA Women & Motorcycling Conference . . . "Does My Bike Make My Butt Look Fast?" In this case, I simply said I wasn't concerned about looks, but comfort. If I had wanted to be politically incorrect, I would have showed him my T-shirt which says, "Shut Up and Ride." Ha ha! – Mama Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
trainingwheels, Your best bet is to choose no-to-low wind times for your practice sessions, whether in a safe parking lot or out on the road. I realize this can mean some very early morning rides (or whatever makes most sense in your area), but you need to remove this challenge so that learning the basics is not hampered. There is no doubt that a lighter weight motorcycle will get pushed around on the road easier than a heavier one. I've also noticed that spoked wheels pass air through much nicer than more solid rims, even ones with cutouts. When I get caught in a high wind, I slow down . . . if that speed is too slow for highway travel realities, I get off onto a secondary road. If it's really bad, I get off the road altogether. Safety first, please! So, turn your fear into respect by getting your basic skills polished and when Mother Nature decides to cough up a strong blow, ride your own ride by deciding what your skill level can handle. I'll add that as your skill level improves and you have many more miles on the road, your ability to handle winds does improve. – Mama Wednesday, December 20 For trainingwheels who is a new rider facing the challenge of high winds: I can totally relate to how you feel about the strong winds (especially the gusty ones, as Mama pointed out) -- we've had strong Santa Ana winds for weeks here. One thing I've noticed is that in certain areas, you can learn to predict where the windy spots are. To get to work, I ride on a freeway that runs along the foothills of some mountains, and I pass through about 4 different microclimates (the temp and humidity change dramatically in several spots). There are some spots where I know, even on a day that's just "breezy," I'm going to get walloped when I hit that spot. Here's my suggestion (I'm in the process of mapping my own frequently-used routes too): on a very gusty day, drive your car (easier if it's light or has a high profile) and note where the windy spots are (you can do this on your bike instead, but if you're already leery, it would probably be easier in your car). Of course, you'll need to do this multiple times to get a fix on it, and you'll need to concentrate since you can't feel the wind as easily in your car as on your bike, but you'll probably start to see a pattern to where the wind hits the hardest. You can never predict the strong gusts, but you can be ready when you get to a spot where they normally hit. I've noticed that my confidence is going up even with the unpredictable winds because I'm more comfortable handling the predictable ones. – Erin (note from Mama: how very smart of you! I'll add that a riding gear review is in order as well . . . if you're wearing something baggy, it can catch or flap in the wind, which in my estimation, tends to increase the feeling that not all is in control.) Thursday, December 21 More for trainingwheels who is a new rider facing the challenge of high winds: Hello and greetings! I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season. Just a quick comment on riding in the wind. I found myself tensing up when the wind was blowing and it was causing me to get more nervous. I find that when the wind is high and it feels like I am being whipped all around, I just remind myself to calm down, loosen my death grip, and focus on the road. Being in the desert (El Paso and now Tucson), I can watch for sand blowing across the road as an indicator of the wind strength. I have to use sand because there just are not a lot of trees. I also check the weather and try not to ride in anything stronger than 30 miles per hour. Keep up the good work on building this "knowledge center" for riders. It is great to see common sense advice. This is really one of the best sites that I have found. Thanks for the "men welcome." Even if it wasn't so, I would still stop in every now and then. Merry Christmas Mama!! – John E. Wright (note from Mama: good added notes on riding through higher winds. I think today's chosen reflection from Pablo Casals, "I feel the capacity to care is the thing which gives life its deepest significance," captures the spirit and mission of the VTwin Mama site to a "T." I'm glad you're enjoying your visits and that that has translated to chiming in with comfort . . . we value all thoughtful discourse from both riding sisters and brothers!) Friday, December 22 Even more for trainingwheels who is a new rider facing the challenge of high winds: When I took my first cross country trip on a Honda VLX, 600cc, I rode across the Mojave Desert and the winds were horrendous. It had even torn a sign off its pole at a service station. The whole time, I kept thinking the gurus tell me to lean into the wind but how can I when it is coming at me in all directions? Also, it has been recommended that you get your speed up above the speed of the wind, but I have found that over the course of years that I have been riding it is better for me at least to slow down some and ride with my body lower. Especially over big bridges. Also, if you have windshield, duck down behind it when a big truck is coming toward you and passes you. Ducking down behind the windshield helps with the big draft of winds that almost blow you off the bike. Another tip I have learned is when you are passing the big trucks that the driver of the truck knows you are there then get as far away from them as you can before passing and when I get beside the cab of the truck and get ready to pass them I lean into the draft. Then please make sure you can see the truck in your rear view mirror before getting back in front of them and do a head check first. – Bobbye, Riding Sister (note from Mama: thanks for sharing the lessons you have learned over time!) Monday, January 1 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Jen, Tuesday, July 17 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear
Mary, My last motorcycle was a '76 Superglide and I had the same sensation whenever I was up in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, where winds could whip from any direction, but never figured out what it was. So, I called upon Mark Zimmerman, author of The Essential Guide to Motorcycle Maintenance, to discover if he had any mechanical insights that might be at work. His response: "Petra, I'm surprised your FX had a problem, did it have a windshield or luggage? Lot's of times a big gust of wind working against a lot of surface area will cause a bike to feel like it "stalled" before it gathers itself up and starts making forward progress. At the risk of sounding like a smart ass, I suggest your reader buy a bigger bike. As a former Suzuki dealer I can tell you that the power output of the GS 125 is anemic at best. I good gust of wind is likely to push one backwards if you're not careful." So, it appears that the sensation of hesitation is an actual push against the weight of the bike rather anything mechanical happening. I'll add that I think mine, while a heavier motorcycle, which didn't have a windshield or luggage storage, was a balance issue as I never felt that that bike was the best balanced one I ever rode. That GS500 clocks in at just under 400 lbs. while the 125 is only about 225 lbs. Therein could be the difference you are experiencing. – Mama Dear VTwin Mama, Dear
Dana, My main concern is that if I have to compensate for the wind by leaning the bike into it, if Mother Nature decides to throw up a gust or change directions, I may be caught in a lean I no longer want. It's doable, but also nerve-racking, and when a ride isn't joyous, then I'm really not interested (unless I have to make a Point A to Point B run for some reason). For many areas, the number of riding days is starting to dwindle, so we really do want to catch every one that we can! I'd stick with the comfort of speed limit rule ... no ride is worth it if we perceive a danger level that is outside of our risk strategy. – Mama 8Dear VTwin Mama, I have been a rider, on and off, since the age of 12 (I'm 47 now). I've had a couple nice little bikes, and 2 years ago my husband and I purchased new Suzuki Boulevards - his, a C50T and mine, the awesome, lean, mean M50. I love this bike, save for one thing. It seems to get really squirrelly on windy days. I don't know if this a "center of gravity" thing, or if it's a characteristic of this particular bike. I was not able to find any info online about it. Have any of your readers ever experienced anything like this? It has severely cut in to my riding time, and I feel like a wimp when I decline a ride because the wind is over 20 mph on a given day. – Lisa Dear Lisa, Hmmm ... at 549 lbs dry weight and an 800cc engine, I'm slightly surprised to hear a comment like yours, as I usually attribute that to the 350 lb motorcycles! But let's think this through. When I got my BMW (same weight type) I noticed that I too had more wind-related issues. In doing some research I found that the type of wheel rim had a lot to do with it. The more solid construction with cutouts reacts to the wind pushing on it (vs. for instance a spoked rim). This could be the difference that you're feeling as I took a look at a picture of the M50 and see a similar rim type. On truly windy days I find that if I'm traveling 75mph or so, I've got to back off my speed to a bit to get to a comfort zone. What also can happen, in response to a higher wind push is that we tend to tighten up our grip on the handlebar (the thinking is to hold on tighter). The minute we do that, we no longer are allowing our front end to naturally travel and handle road variations and so we actually add to the squirrelly nature you describe. This same reaction has been reported by newer riders who are doing their first road rides at higher speeds ... they tighten up because they aren't use to the speed, but it sets up the same problem. Now I would like to turn your attention to your helmet if you wear one. A helmet that doesn't fit properly can easily add to the feeling in higher winds. Even it if fits properly, slight variations can be more readily felt in higher winds. How do we know? If you are feeling more of a tug at the neck by the helmet strap, or if tension becomes apparent in your neck and/or shoulder blades, you've got some air entering the helmet between your forehead and the helmet. Try this ... add a bandana to seal off the forehead and see if that isn't part of the equation. It's amazing that a helmet can set up the same squirrelly feeling ... but I attribute it to the overall nature of feeling the wind where our personal balance is detected ... through our inner ears (vestibular component). One can begin to theorize why this is important to take another look at! In all of this I have not lost sight of the fact that the specific handling characteristics of any one make/model will exhibit things one won't find on another bike for comparison. Let's see if we get input from other M50 riders ... you may want to look for a message board that caters to the Boulevard riders, some of which can be found on my Motorcycle Help by Mfg and Model page. – Mama Dear VTwin Mama, This year, unfortunately, I had an accident, which is why I am writing. The first day on the island we left the ferry enroute to Grand Falls. The weather was damp with intermittent rain. We were at an intersection, trying to cross to the entrance to our hotel. There was traffic and the road was damp. In short, there was gravel at the intersection that neither of us saw. I hit it on my turn. The rear of the bike went out and she slid sideways on her peg for about 20ft, struck a fissure in the road and went over. My foot got caught under the bike and my ankle broke. I slid about 10 ft. Thankfully almost no road rash, just a small amount on my left hand. Anyhow ... I've gone over the incident many times in my mind. I didn't panic ... applied no brake and the only action I took was to apply a small amount of throttle in a last ditch effort hoping for a clean bit of pavement. I have no idea if this would have worked, but the fissure in the road sorta made this a moot point anyhow! I was going slow when I hit the gravel and am amazed that the bike slid so far! My husband thinks I may have been better off if I had attempted to jump clear of the bike once she pegged out in the slide. I don't know and I'm looking for any tips for recovering from this type of slide. I am still on vacation, but no biking of course. My ankle is broken in 3 places so it will be 5 or 6 weeks before I can walk without crutches. Obviously I'm devastated, but I am trying to make the best of the situation ... part of which is trying to prevent this from ever happening again! I know avoiding gravel is the best option, but in the case when you miss it and end up in the situation that I did ... what can a rider do to recover from the slide? Any advice anyone can offer would be appreciated. We are not sure why we didn't see the gravel, but think it was a combination of the fact it was less visible due to the rain and that we were both concentrating on the traffic. – Bev V. Dear Bev, As we all know, rainy conditions add an extra component to our overall safe riding handling procedures. I don't think it's possible to always see everything, regardless of the weather ... some stuff comes up so fast that we can only react to it, despite our best efforts to always be proactive. And it doesn't take much speed, especially on rain soaked grounds, to slide far ... you've got a lot of bike weight in motion in which ground friction takes a while to bring to a full stop. In the same thought, not all skids can be recovered from. If the rear tire had reached a section of no gravel pavement, the abrupt power reconnected to the rear tire could have high-sided you, meaning the bike rights itself but with such immediate force that it throws the rider off the opposite side. That's not pretty either. In looking at a picture of your bike, which you submitted for the Fit Chart section, I see you have an engine guard ... of sorts ... it's pretty narrow and holds your highway pegs on the outside edge, but doesn't really extend out past the bike at all. A wider engine guard would mean that when the bike started it's slide, it would have rested on that protruding guard, giving you more leg/foot clearance and more time to pull up your leg from the foot peg and consider ditching the bike. Even a number of seconds, as I'm sure you can recount, is important. A quick Internet search didn't cough one up for your year/make/model ('86 Honda VT750 Shadow) but I'd start going on the hunt for one. Or check with a local independent shop to see if one can be fabricated. Now the highway pegs would mount on the inside of the guard curve so you would still having another leg position for cruising, but extra protection for a slide. – Mama Thursday, September 4 From Bev, who slid out in rain/gravel and busted her ankle: Thanks so much for your supporting comments! I am doing much better at the present time and am out of my cast and into a "boot" ... its much more convenient. I still cannot walk without crutches but I am able to bear a small amount of weight on the leg. While I was in St. John's I picked up a 2000 Honda Sabre 1100 ... I figured I would treat myself since my holiday was a write off, in the biking sense. I'm really pleased with her. I haven't driven her yet, obviously but I'm hoping to get a ride or two in before the cold weather sets in. I'm happy to be back in my own house, that's for sure and looking forward to riding in a big way. Thanks again!! – Bev (note from Mama: I'm glad to hear your ankle is on the mend and love your thoughts on a pick-me-up consolation prize! Thoughts on weather-related oopsies, that are often then meshed with road hazards, both big and small, are important issues to cover and I'm hoping that it's giving others food for thought. May gravel part before you on the road miles ahead in your adventure in riding!) Thursday, September 25 For Lisa who reported that winds over 20mph were hampering her experience on the M50: Hi, I just rode my first windy day. Whew. I live in the mountains. We have a narrow highway (no passing lanes) that is also the main artery from Sacramento to the coast. So semi's figure in. We are also the largest county in CA for DUI's, not a wonderful endorsement. EEK. Accidents by running into stopped traffic is not unusual as the visibility is low and many go too fast for it because the road are newly repaved. Well, in the microclimates here, the wind can be going 30mph one way, you go around a corner out of a canyon then hit 35mph winds going the other way! Or no wind, or a headwind, or back wind. At our house 75mph wind gusts occur since we live on the inside of a canyon coming from a lake and a mountain. I saw a motorcyclist get hit by a wind funnel that rocked our car ... they managed to stay up (on another day). Today it was a bit scary (this time I was on a motorcycle) and a couple of times my heart hit my throat as I realized I was going into a blind turn, leaning and still heading for the yellow line!!! Once it was the cliff I seemed to be shooting for -- even though I was "looking through the turn." I found I needed to slow a little and learn to compensate for winds and lean more, as turning the wheel at 50-55 mph isn't an option, and neither is going over the line. Many 'cages' cut over the line anyway so the line is BAD. I've started checking the trees and bushes as they blow to see, if possible which way the wind is trending to. Since it can vary from corner to corner, I am trying to get a more sensitive feel for the wind. I felt so much better when my husband commented on how scared he got from the buffeting he had. He's ridden off and on for about 30-35 years, so I realized it wasn't just me. TTFN, – Trish (note from Mama: thank you for noting that in some regions wind plays a much greater role in riding. I especially liked how you talk about checking elements in nature to clue you in and that developing a sensitivity for wind detection is going to make a difference. I realized that I do the same thing ... whenever I'm feeling a stronger air force, I immediately am checking lower bushes and trees, as well as the tree crowns, to determine if I've got steady wind or gusty stuff to work with. Then I adjust my speed and increase my awareness checks, like how much traffic am I in, how much room do I have for an out, etc.)
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