Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Planning, Trip > Travellers' Advisories, Safety and Security on the Road
Travellers' Advisories, Safety and Security on the Road Recent News, political or military events, which may affect trip plans or routes. Personal and vehicle security, tips and questions.
Photo by Daniel Rintz, Himba children, Namibia

The only impossible journey
is the one
you never begin

Photo by Daniel Rintz,
Himba children, Namibia



Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #16  
Old 17 Jan 2008
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Sax, Spain
Posts: 901
what do you expect dodger???

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dodger View Post
Brits seem obsessed with what they are "allowed" or "not allowed" to do !


I've done a lot more dangerous things on a bike than riding in the rain .
[ But for the sake of decency and so as not to frighten the children I won't mention any details]
.
The Brits are living in a Nanny State....... with CCTV everywhere, rent-a-cop everywhere, community patrols with cctv, ASBOs, you name it..they got it...... is it any wonder they are Paranoid about what they can or cant do? ( That should get me flamed I reckon!)

and Dodger, I know you've done a lot more dangerous things than ride in the rain! Living in Canada for starters! what with Bears wanting to come into your bedroom at 3am for a cuddle and then you introducing it to Mr Remington! dear oh Dear.. Most people call theirs Percy, why did you name yours after a Gun? Does it fire Blanks?

(go on Dodger.Ive given you the Ammo now!, go on, you know you want to.........)

Martyn
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 17 Jan 2008
TDMalcolm's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: norfolk uk
Posts: 140
Talking the most dangerous things to do on a bike!

Hi All, Just my two peneth, it seems to me that the most dangerous thing to do for a motorcyclist is not to ride!:confused1:, If you look at the stats that are released yearly on accidents etc, more riders are killed or injured on uk roads in the spring than any other time....I and quite a few others have concluded that this is do to not riding through the "rain / winds /bad weather etc" and keeping up the skills learnt/honed during the summer and building on them, this is why I ride through the winter months when ever i can.... so all I can say is that "just living" is dangerous and risky, but, we all do it, it's down to the individual to make up their own minds about the risks they wish to take....long live bike riding.. where and what ever you do it, but ride safe
TDMalcolm
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 17 Jan 2008
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Sax, Spain
Posts: 901
200% agree with you!

Quote:
Originally Posted by TDMalcolm View Post
Hi All, Just my two peneth, it seems to me that the most dangerous thing to do for a motorcyclist is not to ride!:confused1:, If you look at the stats that are released yearly on accidents etc, more riders are killed or injured on uk roads in the spring than any other time....I and quite a few others have concluded that this is do to not riding through the "rain / winds /bad weather etc" and keeping up the skills learnt/honed during the summer and building on them, this is why I ride through the winter months when ever i can.... so all I can say is that "just living" is dangerous and risky, but, we all do it, it's down to the individual to make up their own minds about the risks they wish to take....long live bike riding.. where and what ever you do it, but ride safe
TDMalcolm
Malcolm, i ride 365 days a year, have done for the last 15 years, dont own a car or any other form of transport.
I agree. riding through Rain, Ice both visible n 'black', Fog, Snow, Gale force Winds and general crap weather makes us smoother riders...... and smoother riders are generally faster riders in the Dry...... and the Guys who ride all year never get 'rusty' they have a heightened sense of 'awareness' if and when they have to drive a car and above all they ENJOY thier riding.

I have more respect for the dude on the 250 honda or the 125 who rides all year and does 4 or 5,000 miles than for the GS1200 rider who Blasts off to Europe or Morroco and does 4 or 5,000 miles in the Summer for his "Jollies".
Occasional riders who only ride on Sundays or in the summer Bitch n Moan like old ladies if they get a bit of rain on the Bike or its cold. What is the saying again? "15 grand and 150 miles does not make you a Biker!"

Martyn
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 17 Jan 2008
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Ripley, Derbyshire
Posts: 373
Have to agree with Martyn, I've ridden in high winds driving rain snow and ice this winter I can't says it's made me a better rider coz I just plain suck but at least I know I can do it and that's why I like to do it just to push that fear factor away.

I'm not proud I will fall off my bike at the drop of a hat if it's wet dry dirty snowing raining or even sometimes just for the hell of it.
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 17 Jan 2008
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Sax, Spain
Posts: 901
there is an easier way!

Quote:
Originally Posted by juddadredd View Post

I'm not proud I will fall off my bike at the drop of a hat if it's wet dry dirty snowing raining or even sometimes just for the hell of it

.
Just get someone to point a RECORDING Video Camera at you!
Its called " The Lemming Effect".... where normal, sane, healthy people try to kill themselves using motorised transport as soon as a Video Camera is switched onto record and Pointed at them.

martyn
Reply With Quote
  #21  
Old 18 Jan 2008
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: spain
Posts: 72
Riding in the rain is not dangerous at all...its the dangerous rider in the rain who causes problems...as do dangerous car/truck drivers.
I enjoy riding in the rain as long as its not too cold and i am wrapped up and can stay dry.
The wind is a different thing all together.I have just got home from a trip to Morocco and from Tarifa to Alicante it was a nightmare.Spain was on high alert Wednesday with winds gusting up to 120kph.I decided to go for it....because i am stubborn/stupid and i wanted to get back home.The trip back took 9 hours.It was the most difficult gut wrenching journey of my entire life and when i actually arrived home...shaking like a leaf....i burst into tears through sheer relief.I am not ashamed to admit that....as a bike rider it was extremely challenging and i now know i have the balls to do something like that.Maybe i was stupid to set off knowing the conditions were bad but the motorway was generally clear except for on the outskirts of the bigger towns where conditions merited very slow speeds for the considerate riders/drivers...as for the rest you just try your best to steer clear of them and predict their next move.
As for the comment on being 'allowed' to ride in the rain thats stupid and akin to saying you cannot ride in the sun because there are more people out enjoying the weather therefore the roads will be dangerous.Each rider or driver is responsible for his/her own actions and you ride according to the conditions.
Who is going to stop me from riding in the rain or wind or sun?No one mister because i am a BIKER.
Thank you and happy biking y'all
__________________
Dean
Reply With Quote
  #22  
Old 18 Jan 2008
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: france
Posts: 109
Hello Dean

Well, all I can say is good for you, you conquered you're own fear by doing that.
I used to sail a lot in the mediterranean, I was a sailor,7 years, and everyday we printed a satnav weather fax, which would tell where the bad weather was coming from, and which way it was going and how long it was going to last. If you go to the capitainerie's office in any port, they could give you such a printout/copy. You might even be able to head north or south (or east or west for that matter)of such a cold front and go around it, if you've got the time. I'm guessing that on a bike, one should always have time to make a detour to be safer. Try that out one day, I can tell you, I missed many a big storm like that, in the middle of the med.
ta-all-the-way

Last edited by ta-all-the-way; 18 Jan 2008 at 14:16.
Reply With Quote
  #23  
Old 18 Jan 2008
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Sax, Spain
Posts: 901
Glad your home safe Dean

[quote=deandean;169181.Spain was on high alert Wednesday with winds gusting up to 120kph.I decided to go for it....because i am stubborn/stupid and i wanted to get back home.The trip back took 9 hours.It was the most difficult gut wrenching journey of my entire life and when i actually arrived home...shaking like a leaf....i burst into tears through sheer relief.[/quote]

Aye it was windy last Wednesday I will admit that!
I take it it was a Sidewind or at least 45 Degrees to you most of the way home then? I know what you mean about the stress n the tears...... its not fear its just a massive release of tension that has no other way out.
Be glad, be very Glad you werent on a Goldw**g or some other awkward piece of machinery like that!

Glad you made it home safe Dude, you must have passed Sax on the way home? you coulda popped in for a coffee lad!

Martyn
Reply With Quote
  #24  
Old 18 Jan 2008
Stephano's Avatar
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Abu Dhabi
Posts: 887
We had a bit of rain in Sharjah this week; the heaviest January rainfall on record. It didn't stop the hardy bikers out here though. We just avoided the puddles.
Stephan
Attached Thumbnails
Riding in the rain-sharjah-rain001.jpg  

Reply With Quote
  #25  
Old 18 Jan 2008
mattcbf600's Avatar
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: London, England
Posts: 706
what a strange little thread... I shall dive in!

Okay - so riding in the wet - frankly I find my riding better in the wet because I'm *forced* to apply everything I've learnt on my advanced riding course with the IAM - I'd go as far as to say I was safer in the wet than the dry.

Cold - well frankly these days there's simple no excuse to be on a bike and to be cold. I remember well my early days, when gore-tex was £4000 per square meter and I froze my nuts off in all weathers heading over two valleys to get to my apprenticeship on a CZ 125. Idiotic.

But as time has passed, and as my training has progressed, and the bikes have got better, not to mention gore-tex is slightly more affordable - it's never been safer, or more comfortable to ride the roads when wet and cold.

m
__________________
------------------
http://thelondonbiker.com/blog

Watch some of my camp cooking videos

AIM: mattcashmore
SKYPE: matthewcashmore
MSN: matthew@matthewcashmore.com
Reply With Quote
  #26  
Old 18 Jan 2008
banned3
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Bernard; this is a site for world travellers, people who enjoy crossing countries with small revolutions, coup d' etats, mountain passes, deserts,salt flats, endless miles in hail storms, crossing rivers somehow when the bridges have been washed away........and you are scared of the rain???
GET A LIFE, or a Mondeo!
you ruined my friday..........
Ch
Reply With Quote
  #27  
Old 18 Jan 2008
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Sax, Spain
Posts: 901
??????????!!!!!!!!!

Quote:
Originally Posted by waterfox View Post
Bernard; this is a site for world travellers, people who enjoy crossing countries with small revolutions, coup d' etats, mountain passes, deserts,salt flats, endless miles in hail storms, crossing rivers somehow when the bridges have been washed away........and you are scared of the rain???
GET A LIFE, or a Mondeo!
you ruined my friday..........
Ch
Waterfox, NO!

If Bernard doesn't like the rain,,, GOOD,! it's "DANGEROUS" Innit?......
so if he dont like it, He will stay in... Meanin WE can play in it safely without some idiot ( I don't believe you used the word M*n*eo on this site..........) in a C*r trying to take out a Biker enjoying the Rain!

And Matt gotta tell you Bloke..... that CZ would be safe in the Rain "HI VIZ" Yellow! Boy I bet you got some stick fer that, mind, i will say this, they have got better... they were orange or Snot green when i were a kid.
with styling that made MZ envious.

Martyn

Last edited by Martynbiker; 18 Jan 2008 at 19:33.
Reply With Quote
  #28  
Old 18 Jan 2008
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Ripley, Derbyshire
Posts: 373
Oo Oo Oo Acid Rain get it, that's double damn dangerous.
Reply With Quote
  #29  
Old 19 Jan 2008
smitty's Avatar
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Bayou Vista, Texas, u.s.a.
Posts: 90
So do what the Doctor says.........

A man goes to the Doctor and says "Doctor, Doctor, it hurts when I do this"..........
So the Doctor says "So don't do that".............
So don't ride in the rain............
Reply With Quote
  #30  
Old 19 Jan 2008
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Ripley, Derbyshire
Posts: 373
Ombrophobia- Fear of rain or of being rained on.

Motorphobia- Fear of automobiles.

Basophobia or Basiphobia- Inability to stand. Fear of walking or falling.


BasiMotorOmbrophobia - So I guess Bernard has a fear of falling off motorcycles when its raining, looks like that might be Bloody rare

About 1 in 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 PROPER BIKERS HAVE IT.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
riding pants? klr650tr Camping Equipment and all Clothing 17 8 Feb 2007 00:56
Seeing in the Rain - Turbo rain visor (it looks silly, but does it work?) Shells Equipment Reviews 16 26 Dec 2006 18:48
Road positioning when riding in group maria41 Travellers' questions that don't fit anywhere else 9 20 Dec 2006 19:31
Riding Jackets - New Design - Need advice Kiwirider Camping Equipment and all Clothing 19 18 Sep 2006 16:39
Pleasure for RIDING freaks!! Red Bull Travellers' questions that don't fit anywhere else 3 9 Dec 2005 10:31

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now
, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

HU Event and other updates on the HUBB Forum "Traveller's Advisories" thread.
ALL Dates subject to change.

2024:

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

HUBBUK: info

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 02:46.