Riding in the Rain

Việt Nam’s climate is monsoonal.  That’s techie talk meaning that everywhere you go in Việt Nam, there is a rainy season.  The time of the rainy season is different in different parts of the country, but sooner or later, it will rain on you when you’re riding.

Count on it!

Besides having to learn how to ride in the rain, you must also learn that you cannot avoid getting wet.  The best you can do is keep most of your body dry - - but you are going to get wet.

Deal with it!

The well-dressed môto rider carries a poncho all the time, folded neatly under the seat, ready for use whenever the skies get dark.  Note that there is a transparent panel in the front of the poncho. That lets you drape the poncho over the handlebars (and therefore keep your hands and arms dry) yet let your headlight shine through.

The well-dressed môto passenger has a poncho too – though it is best she bring her own as there is no room for two ponchos under the seat.  It is not uncommon for a passenger to just slip under the coattails of the driver and try to stay dry that way, but you’ll do better with your own poncho.

Its best to wear some sort of rubber sandals (not flip-flops) in the rain.  Wearing regular leather shoes will just ruin them and keep your feet wet longer.  Boots are too much of a hassle.  Don’t worry if your feet get wet – they get wet whenever you take a shower, so let ‘em get wet when you ride in the rain.

Of course, you could wear a rain suit.  The comment often heard from those who have tried it is that they get almost as wet from the sweat as they would from the rain.  We have suits, though – just in case.

But, as you can imagine, there are dangers to riding in the rain.  Some are obvious – you will have less traction, and you want to be careful of hydroplaning – though that is hard to do at slow môto speeds around town.  Your chief danger comes from having your rear view mirrors being blocked by the poncho (see picture) and the crazy kids who don’t have a poncho.  They seem to think that if they just go faster, they will not get wet.  They will zoom by you, weaving in and out of traffic, and usually scare the hell out of you.  Generally speaking, slow down, and use side streets as much as possible when its raining.

Even more fun happens when you ride in the rain - - and at night.

Cheap thrills.

Comments

[The Hoppy Mailman]

And I thought you were just dressing up for Halloween. That's the reason I never wore a raincoat in Thailand, I would just start sweating so much. You've got the right attitude, there isn't a damn thing you can do about it, deal with it. It is what it is.

[Hoang]

What if you are riding and it is starting to rain hard? You won't have enough time to put poncho on. There are times that the rain would come and go in a flash.

[layered]

It helps that it is usually warm in the rain -- I don't mind being wet so long as I am warm, and you dry off fairly quickly. In San Francisco, the rains are cold and you stay wet for a long time. I am told Hanoi is like that in January and February.

[Michael]

Another poncho variation is what I call the "two-headed monster." There's a second hole and hood in the middle of the back for your passenger. It works once you're on the bike but getting on and off is a delicate manoeuvre.

[linh/k27b/VN]

I am very interested in your idea:Deal with it!Ride bicycle or moto and then get wet,it is very usual for me .You have experienced the rain of hue.What's your feeling?You hate wet or like seeing Hue in rain ?Do you find Hue romantic, peaceful or sad?

[Ram]

Rain? What's that? We don't get none of that in South Texas! Seriously, I saw a newstory a couple of days ago about flooding in Viet Nam. Glad to see you're okey-dokey!!!

[Kumar]

Hey, this post reminds me of two different times - when I was in India riding on my motorcycle in the rain, though I was one of the kids who didnt have a poncho and who tried to go faster :). And the other is when I went to Vnam and rode my friend's motorcycle around Ha Noi (though it didnt rain on me then). The traffic is crazy, but its such a charm to ride in Ha Noi. I miss it.

[Kira]

It is the rainiest November on record in Seattle, Washington. I know this firsthand as I commute by bike to work... Do you have any idea where I might purchase a rain poncho like the one shown that has that clever clear panel for the bike headlight? I've tried on-line but didn't see anything with that special feature. Thanks for any leads!