*booooom*

[Dirt]

I love riding in the rain. Lightning storms? Not so much. You can’t really tell if things are getting better or worse. Err on the side of safety. I had a lot to get done this morning… all of it on the bike. I turned back from my morning ride because things were starting to get bad and sounding like they were likely to get worse.

Be safe out there!

Dirt

Topic

[TwoWheelsDC]

I skipped my ride this morning due to the thunderstorm that was rolling through just as I was getting out of bed. Didn’t really mind though, as it has been a long week and I’m feeling pretty fatigued.

[americancyclo]

I remember speed wobble on skateboards as a kid, but this morning as I was riding to metro in the rain, coming around a corner, my front wheel started to wobble enough that I had to slow down and pull off the road. Granted this is my beater bike, the frame is too small, it’s a rusty old single speed, and i haven’t really checked it out since i fell in the snow a few months ago, but it’s been fine in the dry conditions going around that same curve.

Was it the water? Was it me being nervous and trying to over correct? Either way, it freaked me out enough to slow down and end up on a crappy paved path that it supposed to resemble a sidewalk, and then i dropped my chain. but no crashes, so that’s good.

[Terpfan]

I really wanted to ride, but I heard thunder, it was pouring, and I didn’t feel like lugging wet sneakers to the Nats game tonight with me (or leaving them to stink up my office). Hopefully I can get in a nice ride tomorrow morning when it’s a little chillier and the fair weather path herds aren’t out yet….probably a pipe dream.

[Subby]

My wife is pretty cool about me biking in any conditions but she does draw the line on lightning. Which is good because I’m the idiot that says “lightning? pshaw…I have a better chance of winning the lottery than getting hit!”

[eminva]

Dear All Concerned:

I hereby give you permission to take the day off and not get struck by lightening.

Signed,
The Rule 9 Fairy

[jrenaut]

I got a little nervous when I saw on Twitter that Dirt wasn’t riding this morning, but aside from one flash of lightning and some thunder as I was getting out of the shower (make of that what you may), I just saw rain, so I got wet. It’s not too bad out there downtown.

[vvill]

Heard a couple booms towards the end of the morning ride, but I left early and was shooting for the gap between the storms. The rain caught up to me with <15 mins to go, but the lightning was far enough away it didn't concern me.

I did have a chain drop on a bump but that’s unfortunately common for my 1×9 setup (there are no chain catchers that fit around my folding bike’s seat tube – I’ve been meaning to figure out a homemade solution one day).

[Dickie]

Typical that I am reading this thread after I my ride to work and FCCII, but I actually lucked out. The lightening and thunder passed through Rosslyn around 7:20 and gave me just enough time to get to Java before the last monsoon hit. From there it was drizzle most of the way to Fairfax, in fact by the time I got to Gallows I could see sun in the distance… it was actually quite serene. I have to thank consularrider for loaning me his spare high-vis gloves as I totally forgot mine today…. game changer!

[dasgeh]

After a couple really loud claps this morning, I got to explain thunder to my toddler (who woke up at 6am. Ugh). Then I accidentally fell asleep putting my infant (who woke up at 5am. UGH UGH) down for a nap. So I hitched a ride to work and missed all the coffee. Whoops.

[Drewdane]

@vvill 49099 wrote:

I did have a chain drop on a bump but that’s unfortunately common for my 1×9 setup (there are no chain catchers that fit around my folding bike’s seat tube – I’ve been meaning to figure out a homemade solution one day).

Front derailleur with cable and shifter removed.

[vvill]

@Drewdane 49119 wrote:

Front derailleur with cable and shifter removed.

Thanks for the suggestion – but front derailleur clamps for this bike are custom made for it, and cost $30-40. I really think I should be able to find another solution that’s cheaper and cleaner. Or at least cheaper. And not a FD.

Actually, upwards of $60, just checked. One of the few parts of the bike that’s not within standard sizes.

[birddog]

My wife said – don’t ride the lightning. So I drove. From Shirlington to NoMA, Biking takes 35 minutes, driving in traffic takes 45. Even with the shower I take before I go into work it’s dead even.

[Vicegrip]

Woke up real early and said to myself. “Go now and you will miss the rain.” Rather than doing what my mind said was smart I spent 30 min doing some house stuff and missed my window to not Rule 9 the ride. SO called an audible when she saw me gearing up and I took the car ride of shame to work.

[americancyclo]

@Vicegrip 49134 wrote:

car ride of shame.

That’s TOTALLY how it feels. Even if it’s just to the metro.

[Subby]

@Vicegrip 49134 wrote:

SO called an audible when she saw me gearing up and I took the car ride of shame to work.

I just feel like a total sucker sitting in traffic on the Roosevelt Bridge or K Street (depending on my car route).

[Author]

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