Riding In Fog

[Bob_Roller]

It was foggy this morning (35 F. and 100 % humidity) when I left for work (5:15 am), had about 1/2 mile visibility when I left the house, but as I got closer to work (Phoenix Skyharbor Airport) the visibility dropped to about 50 ft (15 m). My visor was so covered in water ( inside and out!) that I couldn't see. Opened the visor, and my glasses fogged up in about 5 seconds, slowed down to about 15 mph got my glasses off, and proceeded to work with my glasses off and the visor open. I'm just glad it was a Saturday morning with light traffic, or it may have gotten more interesting than I would have wanted it! It's my first experience with riding in heavy fog, my suggestion: don't ride in dense fog!

[Justin B.]

Yeah, I know what your mean.  It was super foggy here several days back and I was pretty "damp" by the time I got to work.  Just like riding through a cloud...

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

And I'll bet you had your 4-way flashers going, eh Bob?


"Adventure is discomfort in retrospect"

[Bob_Roller]

The 4 way hazard lights came in handy, as well as turning off the PIAA 40 driving lights. Seems like minimal lighting is best for foggy riding, as I said first time experience with dense fog. Didn't take long (about 2 seconds) to realize that I had gotten myself into a serious situation without any options to get myself out of it.

[Ed Miller]

The 4 way hazard lights came in handy, as well as turning off the PIAA 40 driving lights. Seems like minimal lighting is best for foggy riding, as I said first time experience with dense fog. Didn't take long (about 2 seconds) to realize that I had gotten myself into a serious situation without any options to get myself out of it.

From Aerostitch, I have a Fog City which fits inside the helmet visor.  No more fogging on the inside.  For the fog on the outside I have (HAD!  I lost it!) a little squeegee that fitted over the index finger of my left glove, and was useful as a windshield wiper.

For people behind me who outrun their sight, I have prayer.  Yeah, running lights and stuff, but really, I don't know what else to do.  I watch the rear view mirrors a lot when I'm paranoid about that, ready to accelerate quickly if necessary, but I don't have much faith that it would work.  I've seen lots of people driving around fairly fast in fog who don't even have their headlights on.  Good luck.

[Justin B.]

I have a pair of Marsee (sp?) gloves that has a squeege built into the back of the left thumb.  But, being a wuss that hates riding in the rain, I have never had occasion to try it out.

So, Ed, is this Fog City gizmo some sort of shield heater?  I have seen such electric visors meant for snowmobile use...

[Ed Miller]

http://www.aerostich.com/catalog/US/Fog-City-Pro-Shield-p-16691.html

 

[Justin B.]

So, it glues to the inside of your existing visor?  Creates an airspace between it and the stock shield for insulation?"  They are a bit short on the theory and "how" of the thing.

[MrRiden]

Bob,
I ride in the same neck of the woods as you but in a previous life my territory was frequently fog covered. I was stuck at home when we had the recent fog and I can tell you I was itching to get out and ride in it. A quick roadside trick is to spit on the inside of your shield, rub it around a bit and your good for a while. Works in an emergency or for those of us here in the desert who usually aren't prepared for weather of this sort. Rain-X or the aviation equivalent also works quite well, with the aircraft version being very expensive as I recall. Lets figure out a ride to Tortilla Flats some time!
Rich

[Bob_Roller]

Justin B, a co-worker has this on his face shield, and as best as I can tell, it looks like a 'tear-off' that dirt riders use, only installed on the inside of the shield. Rich, I'd like to get together for a ride, but my work schedule usually prevents me from any biking activities, my days off are : Tue-Wed-Thu, the only holidays I get off are the ones that fall on my days off. It's the price I have to pay for working in the airline industry!

[Ed Miller]

So, it glues to the inside of your existing visor?  Creates an airspace between it and the stock shield for insulation?"  They are a bit short on the theory and "how" of the thing.

Yes.  The glue is a rubbery sort of silicone.  You can take the shield off without scratching the helmet's shield, but the silicone gets messed up and you may not get it back together right.  The shield seems to scratch pretty easily; I clean it by hand in warm water and let it air dry, no towels or anything.  

I forgot to mention that, when riding into the sun, the two plastics seem to optically interfere somehow.  On my BMW it doesnt matter, because if it's sunny I almost always ride with the face shield up and sun glasses for eye protection, but I was on my Triumph one day, which has no Windjammer, and that wasn't working well, but I couldn't see anything with the shield down so I had to go really slowly with the shield up.  Miserable.  I have spare face shields for my helmet so if I forsee any chance of that happening on a ride I'll bring along a spare.

Having said that though, the Fog City has been working great this Western Oregon winter.  I like being able to ride in cold rainy weather with my face shield competely closed, not needing to leave it cracked open.