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Visionary
Posts: 3006
San Antonio, TX | This morning the list of drivers that should NEVER drive on misty streets was very very long on the radio.
If I count over eight active wrecks at one time I leave the Vision at home and take the Trailblazer.
A lot of people just can not drive on slippery streets. They refuse to adjust their driving to the conditions of the road. I have taken out the Vision in heavy down pours, light rains and even morning mists in relative safety but this morning it stayed at home.
On the way to work I saw a yellow motorcycle that I have seen many times before going the opposite direction. It was laying in the road with three cop cars behind it moving the traffic around the accident. Looks like he rear ended someone. In this area a lot of cars move into the right lane. Either the traffic stopped in front of him or someone cut him off. I think I saw the rider in the front seat of the first police cruiser.
I hope he is OK. If I ever get to talk to him I will give my rules on what is a bad day to ride in San Antonio, TX.
What are your rules to determine if it is a bad day to ride?
Ride Safe |
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Visionary
Posts: 1359
New Bohemia, Va | more than a foot of snow... 
seriously though, a morning of freezing tempatures after a day of precipation. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 785
Mt. Vernon, WASH. | You sound like you've lived here in Western Washington! When I drove commuter transit busses it was common every morning and every evening to run into serious traffic slowdowns in about the same places every day because some knob head in an ACCURA was driving while brain dead and drove into the back of a stopped HONDA/TOYOTA and every other clown had to slow way down to gawk(WHAT! you'ver never seen a shortened SUBARU before?). One thing that I hated was riding the brakes on a 62 foot long articulated bus with 60 people in it who just wanted to get home, for several miles to get to what was the slowing point and discovering absolutely NOTHING there, no Troopers, no wreckers. no dented ACCURAS just the guys 150 feet ahead of me were suddenly going 65 mph!??! If I'm in traffic that long, I'd better see teeth and hair, and eyeballs (but never any brains!) at the scene.
Around here we have to contend with the 3 day brain dead cycle, here's how it goes, we get three rainy days and it takes that long for the idiots to sort of readapt to the wet conditions, then the sun comes out and they go stupid in the other direction for another 3 days-don't ask about when it snows, it seems that most of the clowns here have only seen 'snow' on a mirror @ a party and they drive accordingly that means 70 in a 35 zone 2 feet off your bumper steering with their knee so they can eat breakfast (I love to catch those types looking off to the side and hitting the brakes just enough to bring on the brake lights and watch them try to crap out a burning porcupine trying to stop. And why does everyone think traffic is NASCAR? They'll rush up behind you, switch lanes, cut you off by inches, cross two more lanes, and take the very next exit, going for track position?("two tires this time'
I watch the local TV weather, bounce it off the Weather Channel (when did weather become entertainment?) then check the aviation weather on my computer before I plan on what I'm heading out in/on and taking gear that will be appropriate for the weather. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1436
| RT you bring up a very good question. I don't base shutting the bike don on weather or anything else with the EXCEPTION of my feel. We all have those days when you just don't feel comfy with riding or with the thought of riding. On those days I listen to myself and don't ride. It is tough enough remaining focused on all the stuff that goes on around us when riding without the added complication of not having our own head in the game. Good post........
Edited by Teach 2011-02-16 6:30 PM
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Cruiser
Posts: 192
Republic of Tejas | When the garage door goes up and I can't see the end of the driveway (50 ft.) due to rain or fog the scooter stays home. This morning was fog.....Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!! |
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Tourer
Posts: 447
Cleveland, GA | Only if there's ice on the road. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 825
, WI | This wasn't a great day. It got better. 
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Tourer
Posts: 548
Mount Vernon, WA United States | In general, as long as the road conditions are safe which means no ice. The type of day has a bearing also. If it's the morning, and it's 32 degrees and supposed to be sunny all day... well, I'll probably go out on the bike if I have someplace to go. If it's 40, grey and supposed to rain... there's a good chance I'm not going out in or on any vehicle. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 24
Hanover, Md | It snowed here yesterday. Pretty much melted by the end of the day. It's 19 degrees this morning, and I will take the cage. Gonna check the roads for ice today, and if clear I'll probably ride tomorrow. I don't worry about the temp, as long as it's been dry and the roads have been clear for a day. When freezing temps aren't an issue, then I decide based on situation. For going to work, if it's raining in the morning or 40 percent chance of rain for my return trip, I take the car. If I have a ride scheduled (charity, meet up, or rally), I'm still going to ride. Great question. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 742
North Orange County CA | It does not rain often in Southern Cal, and with extremely rare exceptions it only rains in the winter months.
This presents a couple of weather related safety concerns. The first is slick roads; with millions of cars on the road the layer of oil that gets deposited is pretty serious. Throw a light coating of rain on that and braking becomes a problem. Especially for drivers who don't adapt their speed to the new conditions - as radioteacher noted in his original post.
The second problem is that a huge percentage of drivers in our area fail to maintain their windshield wipers. I cant begin to tell you the number of people I see who are driving blind because their wipers are dried out/ cracked and wont clear the water/dust slurry that develops as soon as the first light rain hits.
Blind and overdriving their braking ability - its a deadly combination. It takes a week of real rain before most of these idiots will go to the auto parts store and replace their wipers.
I don't go out in the rain until after the really first hard rain / multi day system has moved through the area cleaning the worst of the surface contamination off the roads and forcing the idiots who are willing to drive peering though a coating of muck to fix their wipers.
After the rains begin, I also stay out of the mountains ( which eliminates a lot of the best riding areas). Mud or ice in corners are not my idea of a fun time.
Then there are the Santa Ana Winds.
I have ridden on days when there are high winds, and have learned to keep a light touch on the handle bars, but I stay out of areas that I know to be really dangerous and wont ride on the freeway if I can avoid it.
Some of the highways in southern California are notorious for sustained 30 mph cross winds and gusts in the 40-60 mph range. When I smell that unique mix of dust and dairy farm blowing in from the east I keep to the coastal areas, because I don't feel like dodging palm fronds and tumble weeds and high profile vehicles. Nor am I interested in having my bike sandblasted.
BTW: If you think the Vision is a sail, watch a tractor trailer change lanes momentarily/involuntarily due to a wind gust and you'll never feel safe driving, or riding next to one again.
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Visionary
Posts: 1359
New Bohemia, Va | 70 and cloudy on monday, in the 30s and some snow on Tuesday, both great days to ride. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 785
Mt. Vernon, WASH. | As I type this, I'm looking out my front room window @ 07:45 @ about 4 inches of snow, freezing again tonight, and rain the next 10 or so days |
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Visionary
Posts: 1229
Rancho Cucamonga, CA | I used to live in Palm Springs (you know, where they put all those wind driven power generators) and watched a trailer flip right in front of me while riding. That was a day I wish I could have stayed home.
I do find the Vision is a lot more stable in wind the my Ultra Classic was. Maybe because I run without a trunk. Maybe just cuz it's so low. The higher the center of gravity, the more the wind takes it out of you. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 160
Camas Washington | SYNSTR, totally agree, I grew up in Spokane were snow is common, Went to WWU up in your neck of woods and have lived in Vancouver / Camas WA for the last 20+ years. Drivers on the westside of Washington State are nuts although I would say wether its rain, snow or sun they drive the same, fast and the hell with others around you. I wonder were we rank in road rage issues compared to other states. I keep my head on a swivel when riding |
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Tourer
Posts: 482
Beer Collins, Colorado (there is no fort) | As my dad told me: "When I was a kid we had a 24 hour weather channel too....it's called a window." |
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Cruiser
Posts: 75
McHenry, IL | if my back deck (north elevation) has ice or snow, I hop in the cage. If not, I walk past the cage and into the garage and go for the Vision. Yes, my cage sleeps outside! |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 742
North Orange County CA | Nuts? LOL! Really?
When I travel to the Pacific Northwest I'm always shocked by how freaking SLOW and civilized everybody drives. Down here in the "southland" (as the natives call it) people drive 90 in the slow lane and think that weaving in and out of traffic without using a signal is far superior to letting the guy behind you know what you are doing ('cause he might get the same idea).
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Iron Butt
Posts: 785
Mt. Vernon, WASH. | Riverdawg,
You got it right! I think it's all the Californication of Western Washington. (Boise and Billings, your wave is just starting!) Ten years ago the second former and I were coming West bound over Snoqualmie Pass from Montana on the VENTURE and I hear in the comm 'well,.............we're home' "how do you know?" 'Because every a$$hole around us is drinking coffee and yakking on their cell phone and driving ACCURAS'.
I've learned to be very careful while driving my '63 Thunderbird because 4600 pounds and 4 drum brakes + the stopping distance would sure mess up some Yuppie Puppies LEXUS when they cut me off and then dynamite the brakes because they don't look beyond the edge of their hood so don't know why I'm slowing down until their windshield is full of pickup truck tailgate.
Tarpits99,
Want to be among the real road freaks and crazies? Drive in the New Orleans area! There if you leave ANY space between you and the guy in front (while going 85 on the I-10) there's some dumb coona$$ in either lane to your side both trying to fill that space without looking or signaling.
You better be doing 90 coming down the on ramp and don't flinch or look, just barge your way into traffic.(and coona$$ is what cajuns call themselves so no one is offended by the term).
Edited by SYNSTR 2011-02-23 2:20 PM
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How do you determine if it is a bad day to ride?