shmily Posted June 19, 2014 #1 Posted June 19, 2014 I'm heading out on an 8 hour ride soon. The weather forecast for various cities along the route is for 20 to 30 percent chance of rain along the entire route. Would you ride or take the cage?
Huggy Posted June 19, 2014 #2 Posted June 19, 2014 RIDE, anything under 40%chance is like no rain is going to happen!!!
Flyinfool Posted June 19, 2014 #3 Posted June 19, 2014 It depends on if you have good rain gear, and/or mind riding in the rain.
GeorgeS Posted June 19, 2014 #4 Posted June 19, 2014 Suit up. and go !!!! you only live once !!! as they say Of course, I'm from Seattle, so thats easy for me to say !! Ha Ha
Stealthblade Posted June 19, 2014 #5 Posted June 19, 2014 20 to 30 means you "might" encounter a "little bit"of rain. I had that 2 weekends ago. Leader on a wing with t-shirt and a vest. Second had a vest only. Third had a helmet and a t-shirt, and I brought up the rear ATGATT. Helmet, kevlar jeans, coat, gloves. We hit 3 different spots of rain and it made no difference to any of us. Nobody got really wet, and if we did, by the end of the ride, we were dry. Go out and ride in it, experience it and come out the other side better for having done it. Course, we were heading back home west to east and we out-ran that storm, for the most part.
Money Venture Posted June 19, 2014 #6 Posted June 19, 2014 I never knew if 20% chance meant that 20% of the area had 100% chance of rain, or 100% of the area had 20% chance of rain.
slowrollwv Posted June 19, 2014 #7 Posted June 19, 2014 We have had a 30 to 40 chance of afternoon and evening thunder storms all week. I have road the bike to work all week and haven't seen a drop of rain yet. They are calling for 60 to 80% chance tomorrow so the bike will stay in the shed.
Stealthblade Posted June 19, 2014 #8 Posted June 19, 2014 Basically, 20% means GO RIDE... and look to the sky every now and then.
Wade 2000 Posted June 19, 2014 #9 Posted June 19, 2014 60% and below I ride without question. Nowadays with weather radar on your phone you can steer around most storms and big rain. Don't be scared, even if you have to wait out a major system just consider it part of the MC experience. As stated though, have rain gear on you just in case:fingers-crossed-emo
Venturous Randy Posted June 19, 2014 #10 Posted June 19, 2014 I never knew if 20% chance meant that 20% of the area had 100% chance of rain, or 100% of the area had 20% chance of rain. It is my understanding that approximately 20% of the time that there is those given weather characteristics, temperature, dew point, winds, etc., there will be rain. This is why that it may be spotty rain, as those known characteristics do not always produce rain in any given area. Around here, with the mountains that we have, it is very common that as the air moves across the mountains, it will change one or more of those characteristics and the probability or chance of rain will go up. RandyA
Rick Haywood Posted June 19, 2014 #11 Posted June 19, 2014 I'm heading out on an 8 hour ride soon. The weather forecast for various cities along the route is for 20 to 30 percent chance of rain along the entire route. Would you ride or take the cage? I'd ride that means a 70-80 percent of no rain:thumbsup2: Plus the weather men are wrong 50 percent if the time
Missionary Rider Posted June 19, 2014 #13 Posted June 19, 2014 If we're talking a day ride, anything below 40% If we're talking a multi-day long ride, pack the rain gear and go. Just be prepared to change plans - sit out a storm etc. Lynn Currently on the Gold Coast of Australia
ricksbike Posted June 19, 2014 #14 Posted June 19, 2014 I always wished I could have a job where I could be wrong everyday and still keep my job and get paid for being wrong.
Ventureless Posted June 19, 2014 #15 Posted June 19, 2014 60% and below I ride without question. +1:depressed:
etcswjoe Posted June 19, 2014 #16 Posted June 19, 2014 I would ride 20-30% you will probably not get too wet if at all, however it depends on your comfort level do not ride if you do not think it is safe for you to do so. Another item you may want to look at is it 20-30% chance of rain or is it for severe weather? Rain is one thing lightning and high winds are another.
Dragonslayer Posted June 19, 2014 #17 Posted June 19, 2014 My go No go rules. Ice and/or snow............................No way Tornado warning ...........................Maybe (The last thing on my bucket list is to ride the bike into a tornado to see what the ride would be like.) more than 70 % chance of rain......... Probably not Less than 70 % chance of rain......... Pack the rain gear Less than 20% chance of rain.......... I left 12 hours ago Hotter than 100 degrees................. suit up with the frozen bandanas Colder than 30 degrees .................. Suit up with layers topped off with leathers, Don't forget the gloves. I've had many a memorable moment huddled under a bridge somewhere, BSing with other bikers while waiting for the storm to pass. But, That's just my rule:7_6_3[1]:
djh3 Posted June 19, 2014 #18 Posted June 19, 2014 My rain gear is always packed on the bike. Living in Central Fla thats just the way it is. 30% chance is 70% you miss. The way the weather man has described it here lately is that 30% of viewing area may get wet. Here lately ther can not be a cloud in the sky and I take bike down to Wally World for something and I'll get rained on before I get home. And its a 5 min drive. A trip around town here if it looks bad I probably wont ride. If its a big trip say vacation I would prefer not to ride in rain, but OH well. Just be safe, if its a down pour and you cant see the road or your ridding on a road you should have a canoe instead, stop awhile.
beltfed50 Posted June 19, 2014 #19 Posted June 19, 2014 My go No go rules. Ice and/or snow............................No way Tornado warning ...........................Maybe (The last thing on my bucket list is to ride the bike into a tornado to see what the ride would be like.) more than 70 % chance of rain......... Probably not Less than 70 % chance of rain......... Pack the rain gear Less than 20% chance of rain.......... I left 12 hours ago Hotter than 100 degrees................. suit up with the frozen bandanas Colder than 30 degrees .................. Suit up with layers topped off with leathers, Don't forget the gloves. I've had many a memorable moment huddled under a bridge somewhere, BSing with other bikers while waiting for the storm to pass. But, That's just my rule:7_6_3[1]: Except for the tornado...yeah, that. I've BEEN too close to a tornado when I worked at a grain elevator in my misspent youth, and that's not an intentional option. 12-15 miles to work depending on how I go...for the most part if it's not raining when I leave, I'm riding. On a trip, might as well just plan on wearing the rain gear some time.
Stache Posted June 19, 2014 #20 Posted June 19, 2014 I'm a simple man. Therefore simple rules. 1. Temp: 3C (38F) or more during the entire period of my ride. A lot of the bridges in my riding area have a sign "CAUTION, BRIDGE FREEZES BEFORE ROAD". If the temp stays above 3C bridge shouldn't freeze - therefore no ice. 2. Precipitation: Don't care. That's what appropriate clothing is for. 3. Wind: >100kmh (62 mph) I stay off the highway. Lower, don't care. 4. Traffic: 138db air horn to warn the inattentive. If I have to kick a dent in your door, you obviously didn't hear the horn... 5. Fuel, Tim Horton's tea, washroom: Every 250km (155mi) or less.
midnightrider1300 Posted June 19, 2014 #21 Posted June 19, 2014 In Alabama if I didn't ride when there was 20-30% chance of rain I wouldn't ever get to ride in the summer...
stanG Posted June 19, 2014 #22 Posted June 19, 2014 Dragonslayer... I'd say riding the bike into the tornado would likely be the LAST thing on your bucket list 99% of the time! "Have fun out there" stanG
Brake Pad Posted June 19, 2014 #23 Posted June 19, 2014 On the ride to Galena last year, I rode through fourteen hours of rain to leave florida. The second day better then three miles was heavy rain and one storm warning near Columbus Georgia packing winds of 70 mph and hail coming in from the northwest , so we beat feet straight north to get away from the storms. Got very wet. Better weather in Alabama But yes will ride in pouring rain. It's those darn lighting strikes that scare the s*** out of me
BRandx51 Posted June 19, 2014 #24 Posted June 19, 2014 If I want to ride that day, or I have somewhere to go I'll suit up with my rain gear (I keep it in the trunk) and just go, I have a Bell M8 helmet with a flip down clear shield for rainy days in the trunk too. I live in Michigan and if I waited for that perfect sunny warm day, I'd get to ride 5 times a year
Bodaggit23 Posted June 20, 2014 #25 Posted June 20, 2014 RIDE, anything under 40%chance is like no rain is going to happen!!! That is my standard as well.
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