Caught With My Pants Down
OK, “caught with my pants down” is simply a figure of speech, but I did get caught in an afternoon thunder storm. After work I decided to take a little ride before meeting a few people for dinner. I jumped on I-70 heading West, riding into an ever darkening sky. Within minutes, a few drops began, then a deluge.
Springfield’s weather had been hot and humid today and quite honestly, the rain felt refreshing. I always carry my rain-suit, but decided to leave it the bag, and simply enjoy the ride.
I spent all day Sunday taking an Experienced Rider’s Course. Naturally the rain held off while we were in the classroom, and about 1/2 way into the range exercises, the skies opened up. We huddled in a trailer as lightning lit the sky, then after realizing it wasn’t going to stop, and they weren’t going to call the class a day, we headed back out. I had rain gear, but my gloves and boots got soaked.
The ride home was hell. By the time I got home, my fingers were numb and I had to take a boiling hot shower. I wear a half-shell helmet and I felt like I was getting my face tattooed. For some reason, I can’t just get caught in “rain.” I have to get caught in torrential downpours. Doing 50 mph in pouring rain with no windshield (I leave it off when I know I’m not doing highway riding) and a half-shell helmet SUCKS!!!
I’ve decided on a few things:
1. Time to break down and get another helmet. As much as I hate the idea, I may even get a “full face.” As much as I’m going to feel like an idiot wearing one aboard a Harley, I’ll suck it up. It’s one thing to be local and miserable for just a little while, but I don’t want to go through that in the middle of nowhere on my way to Milwaukee next month.
2. I need some sort of water-proof riding gauntlets. Any suggestions/hyperlinks would be appreciated.
3. I need “gaiters” to extend my raingear protection to my boots.
I think with these 3 things, dealing with unexpected bad weather on the road may not be so bad. I think if I’m going to be “touring,” they are a must.
Hey Joker, congrats on the class, but sorry about the downpour. Riding in the rain w/o a windshield, or a helmet, must hurt like a mother. bikerwebworld, (www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-gloves/gauntlet/) has a pretty good article on gauntlets, as well as some links that may aid in your search. I hope it helps. Have a great ride to Milwaukee!
We lucked out on Sunday. The weatherman put out a “severe weather watch” just before our afternoon ride down to Rock Hall for an early dinner at Waterman’s Restaurant. It was hazy, hot, & humid when we left, but by the time we got to the other pick-up spot the sky was looking ominous. About 15 miles out from our destination we pulled over to put on rain gear although it was only a light drizzle. We had some road spray and it was obvious that some rain had recently passed through. Shortly before we entered town the lightning started flashing something fierce! We arrived just in time to park bikes, arrange gear, and get inside the tent (the restaurant is a covered deck on the docks) before the deluge started. Wind was crazy, tent flaps flew wildly, rain poured like buckets all around us, the surf was nuts! By the time we finished our Chesapeake Bay steamed crab feast, the sun was out again.
Riding in the rain sucks! But someone was on our side that day.
Steamed crab! Sounds so good!
Hell yeah!!! Steamed crabs and Yeungling lager, it doesn’t get any better than that! (do I say that too much?)
Not at all! I can’t wait to try it!