The most dangerous time during a rainstorm is the first ten minutes this allows a layer of brake fluid, oil, dust, diesel and other crud to build up on the road. When it starts to rain this mixes with the water and forms a deadly mixture just waiting for the unsuspecting biker or motorist. The good news is that after a good few minutes of hard rain this wicked cocktail ends up in the gutters leaving the road surface rather more grippy than you may imagine.

The most dangerous time during a rainstorm is the first ten minutes this allows a layer of brake fluid, oil, dust, diesel and other crud to build up on the road. When it starts to rain this mixes with the water and forms a deadly mixture just waiting for the unsuspecting biker or motorist. The good news is that after a good few minutes of hard rain this wicked cocktail ends up in the gutters leaving the road surface rather more grippy than you may imagine.

In addition to the effects of environmental changes, grip and stopping distance, also think about how the cold will affect your reaction time.  Your visor will fog up making it harder to see around you, preparing your visor or glasses with anti fog is well worth it to be prepared for a downpour.

Here are just some guidelines when riding in the rain.

* You are most likely to dump your bike on the tarmac when braking. Many bikers loose their fear of riding close the vehicles as they get more experienced. During a rainstorm the driver brakes a bit harder than usual - you snap the front brake and down you go!

Check yourself. If you ride a certain road at 80km in the dry, should you not slow down  in the wet? Reduce your speed by 20%. You do not have enough traction to brake hard.

Ride behind one of the vehicles brake lights (not in the middle behind his number plate). If the car should stop suddenly you can slip your bike past him and therefore earn a few more meters to stop your motorcycle.

* Be aware of the white lines and road markings in the wet, they are like ice after some rain, not just crossing them while cornering or braking but when you put your feet down at the lights.  The middle of the lanes, particularly the arrow road markings are often covered with oil as they are below the car engines and particylarly slippery even in the dry - when you pull up in the right hand wheel track you end up putting your left foot right into the slippery stuff - be careful!

* Keep your bike more upright when cornering. This is not the time to countersteer and knee scrape so reduce your speed, enter slow..ease it out.

* Keeping your tyres on good surface. Avoid puddles and places where the tar has risen to the surface and covered the embedded pebbles forming a shiny-smooth surface. Never ride on the painted surface of a road (even in the dry - make this a riding habit!) . Avoid manhole covers and large steel plates near roadwork. Go very slowly when turning through intersections as there is more oil here due to slow moving traffic than anywhere else. Lean forward and keep lots of weight over that front wheel.

* Only stress your tyre traction moderately and then only in one direction at a time e.g.
 - Brake in a straight line and then turn,
 - Complete the sweeping bend and then gradually introduce the power.
 - Release the clutch fully and then lean the motorbike over into the turn (especially true for single and twin cylinder motorcycles).
 - Apply the brakes gradually, allow for weight transfer and changes in tyre grip.

* Do not ride through puddles where nails and other sharp objects can accumulate. A wet nail penetrates a tyre more easily than a dry one!!

* Know your limitations. When the rain, hail, lightening etc becomes a danger, pull off and wait for it to pass.