Commuting and coping with thunderstorms

[jwfisher3]

OK everyone who commutes in the MD/DC/VA area – tell me how do you cope with the risk of thunderstorms? I don’t consider myself much of a weather wuss, though I don’t like strong wind, or humidity, or our nasty heat, well, maybe a wuss I am, but I will ride in all of those, but what shunts me to Metro is the prospect of thunderstorms. I have a medium-long commute of 17 miles from Chevy Chase MD to SE DC, and take the CCT, RCP across the Mall, on over the Douglass bridge. There’s lots of exposure on this route and I worry a bit about being the lightening rod. From lurking on this Commuter forum, I know that many of you (Dirt, Rhinestone Cowgirl, to single out one or two) ride in whatever weather – what do you do to protect yourself from being electrified? Any and all (esp humorous) counsel on this is welcome

Topic

[Rootchopper]

I don’t like the Brooks saddle on my Bike Friday so I rode that today. If it gets soaked, I have an excuse to replace it.

I have been commuting and touring for longer than I want to admit. Here’s what I do: check radar before leaving. Keep an eye out for shelter (I also did the entrance to a church thing once.) If it’s just raining, ride. Once you are wet stopping will only make you cold and wet. Stay visible. If possible use a trail not the road (I commute on the MVT so no problem for me.)

If windy, beware of widow makers. (Big limbs dropping from above.) If really windy, remember these words from Ron White: It’s not that the wind is blowing, it’s what the wind is blowing.

I hate lightning and hail hurts. I take shelter. Reluctantly.

Wear an old cycle cap under your helmet. The visor will keep the rain out of your eyes.

The only other issue is when water gets in my eyes it stings. So I have to pull over because I can’t see.

Good luck to all tonight.

[Mikey]

Sounds like a bike on Metrobus kind of afternoon. Stay safe and watch for high water from below, hailstones from above and houses falling on witches!

[Dirt]

Be careful out there. There are some things you can do to limit your risk when you’re riding in questionable conditions, but ultimately the only way to seriously increase your safety when there’s lightning strikes and tornadoes out is to not be outside in them.

Here’s what I do when I ride in questionable conditions:
1) Before going out, I have my route planned and know where I can get shelter along the way if I need it. Think outside the box on that.. Not just things that you encounter on the trail, but stuff that might be a block off.
b) As I ride, always keep in mind where my next shelter is, and where the last shelter is that I passed.
6) Improvise: I’ve weathered many a cloud burst in some stranger’s carport. Is it the perfect shelter? No. But it beats a lot of other alternatives.

Love,

Pete

[consularrider]

@essigmw 21061 wrote:

Sounds like a bike on Metrobus kind of afternoon. Stay safe and watch for high water from below, hailstones from above and houses falling on witches!

Yeah, after last month’s W&OD flooding, this afternoon may make the trail from Columbia Pike to EFC quite interesting again. Maybe time for a shorter Custis ride? Also, use your lights (just not on the retina searing setting) in the rain, just like the cars.

[vvill]

I did my short commute today and parked in the Woodmont neighbourhood. I figure if I time it right my short commute back will be relatively storm-free.

I love that I can just throw my bike, whole, in the back seat of my car.

@eminva 21034 wrote:

In order to keep my NBC streak alive, I’ll have to think of a lunchtime errand I can run on CaBi. I’m open to suggestions.

free doughnuts @ Krispy Kreme?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/free-doughnuts-to-celebrate-national-donut-day/2012/06/01/gJQAPchU6U_story.html

[pfunkallstar]

@Dirt 21064 wrote:

Be careful out there. There are some things you can do to limit your risk when you’re riding in questionable conditions, but ultimately the only way to seriously increase your safety when there’s lightning strikes and tornadoes out is to not be outside in them.

Here’s what I do when I ride in questionable conditions:
1) Before going out, I have my route planned and know where I can get shelter along the way if I need it. Think outside the box on that.. Not just things that you encounter on the trail, but stuff that might be a block off.
b) As I ride, always keep in mind where my next shelter is, and where the last shelter is that I passed.
6) Improvise: I’ve weathered many a cloud burst in some stranger’s carport. Is it the perfect shelter? No. But it beats a lot of other alternatives.

Love,

Pete

Carports always seem to be full of moldy cardboard boxes full of Atari games – if anyone has that godawful ET game let me know.

I’m going to play radar tag from about 3pm on to try to squeeze in my ride between a gap in the storms. Capital Weather Gang seems to think that it will be spotty storms at least during the first part of this afternoon, turning into a solid soaking later on in the evening.

As long as you are on the trail and it is JUST rain, there really isn’t much to worry about – besides the flooding but if you can’t see a gigantic torrent of water coming your way, you probably shouldn’t be out on a bike. On-street riding, hail, thunder, high winds, all equal “Call to wife.”

[consularrider]

@vvill 21071 wrote:

I did my short commute today and parked in the Woodmont neighbourhood. I figure if I time it right my short commute back will be relatively storm-free.

I love that I can just throw my bike, whole, in the back seat of my car.

free doughnuts @ Krispy Kreme?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/free-doughnuts-to-celebrate-national-donut-day/2012/06/01/gJQAPchU6U_story.html

There is the DD on Lee Highway at Lincoln on the way home if I take the Custis, I just have to buy a beverage to get the “free” donut! Wish I had thought of it this morning, but I rode via Shirlington and stopped at Best Buns for a croissant and cinnamon raisin danish instead.

[5555624]

@Rootchopper 21059 wrote:

Wear an old cycle cap under your helmet. The visor will keep the rain out of your eyes.

A helmet with a visor works, too.

@Rootchopper 21059 wrote:

The only other issue is when water gets in my eyes it stings. So I have to pull over because I can’t see.

Visor, helmet cover, and glasses usually work unless it’s a torrential downpour, but I’ve thought of trying goggles a few times.

[brendan]

@creadinger 21022 wrote:

Be careful out there today. There could be some serious storms out there…. even the SPC thinks so.

Original plan was to do a long loop ride, but that would have had me, even with an early start, riding the crest of the wave(s) of t-storms back into the DC area (based on hourly t-storm prediction along the Leesburg->Arlington segment). So, today is a treadmill day instead.

Brendan

[DCLiz]

@KelOnWheels 21056 wrote:

I need to keep an extra helmet at work for CaBi days

And maybe some pants. I hear pants are good.

We have a few extra helmets in the office for just such occasions (although not at the moment; I’ve stolen them so company can use them this weekend).

Also, it’s perfectly cromulent to ride CaBi in a skirt (step-through, internal gearing). I sometimes commute on CaBi instead of my own bike because I’m wearing a skirt and don’t feel like changing.

At least I assume you meant you were wearing a skirt in the office and not going around in your bloomies.

[Mikey]

I was really lucky yesterday!

I watched the radar, made a run for it between storm cells. I have a 25 minute ride between the navy yard and the Pentagon Bus Depot. I arrived about 5 minutes before the skies opened up, and the Metrobus I was on drove through 2 or 3 good waves, but when I got home it appeared that a pretty violent wave had just blown through. Within 5 minutes of getting home a second wave hit. I’m very glad I got my miles in during the morning commute.

[Author]

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