went to the track yesterday...

[porsche4786]

So I went to the track yesterday to watch motorcycle races, no big deal. Then....right afer one of the races, it started raining, so my friend and I thought they were going to call off the other races so we started to leave. Then, as we were driving back around the track to the exit, they started going around the track. I didn't know they actually raced in the rain...seems kinda like a dumb thing to do. This race was classic bikes, like old ducati's, hondas and stuff. They had the SUPER skinny tires on them. I swear my mountain bike tires are bigger. They were just about putting a knee down on those bikes, in the rain. I thought that was insane. Then, after that race, the 600cc superbikes came out. I thought the guys on the classic bikes were going fast, these guys (well, not all of them. some of them realize it's wet, so they weren't going full throttle like some.) were going way faster than I could even do on my gs in the dry. I can't believe nobody locked up their front wheel going down the straight into the first corner, they were actually putting a knee down, and leaning a lot.....after watching that, I don't see what's so bad about riding in the rain. It can't be THAT slick.

[pantablo]

it can unless you have rain race tires that are nice and warm (from the tire warmers). those are "professionals", dont try that at home.

rain or shine-racing is like that. I used to race my bicycle and we had lots of rain races...

[porsche4786]

I still can't believe how much they were leaning on those classic motorcycles with those skinny little tires on a wet track! And I know on those classics they didn't have time to put on rain tires or anything. Because it was nice and dry, then about 30 seconds before they started it started raining pretty good.

it can unless you have rain race tires that are nice and warm (from the tire warmers). those are "professionals", dont try that at home.

rain or shine-racing is like that. I used to race my bicycle and we had lots of rain races...

[RVertigo]

I used to race my bicycle and we had lots of rain races...

It rains in LA? 

[pantablo]

the one in particular I am thinking about that rains hard EVERY YEAR is the Mclane Pacific Road Race in Merced... I also raced in Oregon (Tour of Willamette) in pouring rain. Then there were those races in Killington VT...oh, yeah there are a couple days of wet racing in socal too....

[12thmonkey]

It rains in LA? 

Yeah, that was my thinking...until i moved here. i had a thoroughly wet ride in to work this morning.   

[Onlypastrana199]

Then there were those races in Killington VT...

Were you in Killington? That's so close to me. I live maybe 20 minutes from Bennington

[pantablo]

It rains in LA? 

Yeah, that was my thinking...until i moved here. i had a thoroughly wet ride in to work this morning.

no kidding! where the hell did that thunderstorm come from? must have lost its way going to seattle...

Then there were those races in Killington VT...

Were you in Killington? That's so close to me. I live maybe 20 minutes from Bennington

last time they ran the race was in 2001 or 2002 I think. that was the last time I was there. Do you know the Killington Stage Race? it was an awesome race. originally 5 days but last time they ran it it was down to 3 days of racing...I think one day's race went through Bennington or started/ended there...cant remember-it was a hard race....LOL...

[Onlypastrana199]

Umm barely, In 2000 I was only 15 and absorbed with being immature and annoying. I see alot of people cycling up there though, I ride my bikes in VT alot. No traffic and alot of nice mountain roads.

[Queso]

It rains in LA? 

Yeah, that was my thinking...until i moved here. i had a thoroughly wet ride in to work this morning.   

The only thing that matters to me is that it doesn't snow. A lil rain don't bother me

[TragicImage]

uhm, the mountains got a dusting of snow last night, and Mt. High is just outside of LA...


so you can't say it doesn't snow here.

[Kasumi]

There was an article a while back in MCN over here in England where they did a test using a gsxr1000k5 to find out how much lean you can get on a dry and on a wet circuit. Also they talked about handling and braking. When they measured the angles there was only a few degrees in it. Braking could be done as hard in the wet as it could be in the dry but the brakes just needed to be applied very smoothly, and as for the handling the lines into the corners changed so cornering took a smoother line. But basically they found that in the wet, so long as the track didn't get greasy it could be done almost as well as in the dry but required much smoother actions. Acceleration, braking and leaning it in. This was all done on stock tires. So i imagine when they get tire warmers on total wets you'd get enough grip to race almost as fast as you would in the dry so long as you get over the mental aspect.

I don't ride as fast in the rain on normal roads round by where i live though. You never know what the road surface is really like in the rain. Overhaning trees can make the road greasy and much more slippy than if it was just wet, plus you've got patches which collect water.

[pantablo]

I read that article too. the lean angles were less for rain riding but by 5d-10d or so...I think the biggest difference was between 60d dry to 45d wet (measured from vertical)

[Kasumi]

It was a good article and really showed that its possible to get the insane lean they get on the track, on the track theyve got top tires for the rain and tire warmers and perfect setup. If a stock gsxr can lean that much in the wet im sure pro bikes can do it pretty easily. When you watch the Moto GP they lean just as much in the wet as they do in the dry.

[RVertigo]

where the hell did that thunderstorm come from? must have lost its way going to seattle...

It was raining up here this morning too...  I was going to test out my new Sidi 100% Waterproof boots...  Then I remembered that I have all the band gear in the truck and had to drive.    Stupid 15 MPG...     Gonna cost me $6 to go to practice and back. 

[scratch]

Ooo, a rain thread!

We used to race in the rain at Sear's Point (when it was called Sear's Point); on DOT race compound tires (so they still had tread, er, grooves/sipes); they don't anymore.