OK, on second thought, title for this post might be a little overboard, but this is still a good motorcycle riding tip. When I read it, I had one of those Duh! Why didn’t I think of that! moments. :-)
I read this over at MotorcycleMentor:
Emergency Shelter -- The Car Wash
You're cruising into a small town as storm clouds are building fast. The invigorating smell of summer rain is rushing toward you and you're invigorated to get under cover right now.
You'll either wait out the first 15 minutes until the pavement is washed clear of oil, or just scramble into your raingear (you've not left home without it, right?) and ride on as the streets seem tractable. It sure would be nice to find a dry cave for shelter while you're planning your next move.
Somehow, the tall roof (barely) covering the busy gas pumps at the local convenient store is inconvenient; a little privacy would be nice. Bingo!... the ubiquitous 50-cent car wash. Since it's about to rain, the bays are empty; no one will care if you make that your temporary shelter.
If it's a real frog-strangler, give the heavy downpour a few minutes to let up. Visibility, traction, and your attitude will all improve. And your safety...
It probably never occurred to me because I haven’t been caught in the rain near one of those car washes. But I’ll make it one of the first things I scan for from now on.
Ride Safe