SLIPPERY GRIP
With the wet weather well and truly set in, I wanted
to know just how a rider is supposed to judge grip
levels. We all know grip levels are reduced on wet
roads, but by how much? A er all, you don’t want
to learn where the limits are by sliding down the
road. Is there some sort of science behind judging
wet weather grip and, if so, can you publish it, or is
it just down to gut feel and experience?
Peter Thomas
email
Greg: What a great question, Peter. There is indeed
science behind judging wet weather grip levels. Of
course, it can’t be entirely accurate for all situations,
simply based around the variables that make every
case unique.
As a very general rule, grip is reduced by around
30 per cent. At speed in the wet, aquaplaning
becomes a factor — where the tyre is moving too fast
for all the surface water to be pumped out of the way,
a layer is squeezed between tyre and road.
Interestingly, possible lean angles are
not greatly reduced in the wet but smooth
applications of rider input and transitions are the
order of the day. This also presupposes there are
no foreign objects or liquids on the road and the
surface is reasonably good.
The simple fact is, there is lessened grip in the wet,
but it may well be far less pronounced than a lot of
riders think.RALLY TALLY
What has happened to the good old
bike rally? In the 80s, I was away every
weekend, riding to some godforsaken
paddock, si ing around a massive fi re
until I was so drunk I fell into it, sleeping
in a tiny li le tent that leaked and ge ing
up the next morning to ride 1000km
home with a hangover you could take a
picture of. Those were the days. I reckon
this generation are just bloody so. What
great times we had. Are there still rallies?
I can’t seem to fi nd much info. I have a
bo le of Stone’s le over from those days
that I’ll take along to the next one — if I
can fi nd one — to celebrate!
Rally O’Malley
Penrith, NSW
Greg: Well, Rally — nice touch there —
you make it all sound so inviting. I have
a ended my share of rallies and I can
concur, they are a barrel of fun (although,
I’m older and wiser now). Rallies still exist,
but they might not be as you remember
them, old mate. Take a look here: http://www.
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