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Rough Ride To Work
Blog Date - 17 October 2012
I knew the weather was going to be bad this morning, the weatherman had said as much. So last night I made sure I'd got all my waterproofs together and this morning I made sure I was wrapped up well. Sure enough the rain fell hard and the temperature was low. I managed to stay warm and dry over the 25 mile ride.
This has been the first ride to work this forthcoming winter where it's been both wet and dark. It's a challenging combination. Darkness brings poorly aligned and ridiculously bright modern headlamps shining directly into my eyes. On a dry day that's no fun, but mix that with rain and it's even more entertaining. There are times when all I can see is a million spangling stars across my visor and the important things like the road or the other traffic are simply invisible.
Car drivers are used to motorcyclists whizzing by them. So when the weather's bad and visibility's poor and I can't see the road and I can't work out if there's diesel on the road and I can't see that manhole cover and when I'm being dazzled by a Xenon bulbs and trying to see cyclists with flat batteries in their lights and peering through raindrops and I can't make out the paint on the road and I can't make out the street signs.........I end up with car's up my backside because I've slowed down to try and keep it all under control.
I often wonder whether it's just me. Am I really bad at riding in the rain and in the dark? The cars seem to be able to make good progress so why can't I? Am I not trying hard enough? Is there something wrong with my eyesight? It's difficult to get a comparison because those times when the rain is falling and the darkness is all-encompassing and it's cold...all the other biker's have left their bikes at home.
I've been riding in this sort of stuff for a good while now. The more I do it the more I realise there's only one solution when it's as bad as it was this morning. I have to slow down. The cars hold me up when it's dry, warm and sunny, I don't see why they can't wait for me when it's cold wet and dark.
Reader's Comments
John Almond said :-
Its a good talking point Ren. I think it might be an age thing. Last winter on a cold wet dark morning I was out on the bike and I was taking my time for the very same reasons you have stated and low and behold, a young kid on a rip and rev zipped past me. So maybe its just a case of "with age" you become more mortal and when you are 17 or there abouts you have no judgment of what could happen. Thinking back to when I got my first Lambretta, I cringe at the riding I did and wonder how I ever made it to my age . lol.
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
Tom McQ said :-
I agree with John - age is a factor - and let's face it Ren, you're really quite old now :-)
I just HATE driving or ridng at night. I reckon my eyesight has deteriorated to the point that not only do I need to use my glasses to drive, but also, I suffer from a lack of contrast. Dark things all merge into one shade and so too do bright lights. I don't feel that I can pick out detail, so I slow down.
As usual, in a car you feel less vulnerable, but on the bike you're only too aware of the dangers (unless you're a young, invincible whipper-snapper).
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
OLD!!! I'm 41...dammit...you're right Tom AND John.
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
John Almond said :-
Night driving/riding.
Interestingly, Diane as always suffered from night driving syndrome, but in the past she has found that night driving glasses work. How that would work for riding the bike im not sure. Suppose if you didn't wear glasses you could try a pair of night time specs on , but like me if you wear glasses, the visor would have to be tinted yellow. Thats the colour of the night driving glasses as far as I know.
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
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