My Evening Commute

[consularrider]

Well, the storm is still to our west so you may get home dry. Those of us heading west at 5 probably won’t be so lucky.

The sky just got black! 😮 I’m hoping I can wait out this heavy band and then head home.

[jrenaut]

Anyone not home already might want to review their bail-out points for the ride home.

[Dickie]

It’s 4:35 and we just got hammered here in Merrifield, now the second band is hitting… heavy rain, wind, lost power, and lots of lightening. Carolyn made it from DC to Rosslyn a few minutes ago before it hit. Be careful everyone, this is no joke. I’m sitting this one out for a while before it’s safe. Rain and wind is one thing, lightening is another.

[cvcalhoun]

There are currently LOTS of downed trees on the CCT. Not only are they a nuisance to get around, but they suggest to me that they may recently have been struck by lightning. Rather than risk getting struck by lightning myself—or getting hit by future falling trees—I’m sheltering in the tunnel until this dies down a bit.

[americancyclo]

Lots of water in the roadways out in Falls church and a downed tree near the 66 exit to metro. Be safe!

[ejwillis62]

I made it home safe and sound, it was really windy at the end got poured on but not to bad. Who knew I could ride 18 – 19 mph all the way home. It was amazing how cold the air got as the storm moved in. I probably would have arrived home dry had I not stopped for a picture.

[Vicegrip]

I timed it just right to be in the squall line as I rode home from Tysons to Falls church. Plenty of fireworks, kettle drums, flying tree bits and meat motor cooling rain. The 50mm crabon rims might not have been the wheels of choice today.
Got a long “what the?” look from a soccer mom while at a stop light. While cosseted in her carcoon she looked up from her eye-fone just long enough to see something beyond her range of comprehension. On bike, on road, in rain, smiling and taking a drink while waiting for the light.

[ShawnoftheDread]

I got caught in a squall line that was not on the radar map when I left. Wind, rain, and lightening were so intense on Glebe Road between Military and Chesterbrook that I actually got a bit nervous. Dodged some smaller limbs. Rode on to Bikenetic, where I dried out a bit and repacked my laptop in more plastic bags.

[consularrider]

I timed it well and just got a little light rain during the middle of the ride. 4MR was very high at Ohio St so I assume the Wilson Blvd underpass was deeply flooded around 5:30.

[vern]

I left Crystal City about 4:20 and ran into showers/rain by Shirlington, which persisted until Wilson. The underpasses at Carlin Springs and Wilson were under water when I got to them. At Carlin Springs it was still mellow and only 3-4 inches deep, so I road through it and Wallah! the mysterious creaking from (what I thought was) the bottom bracket went away! The rest of the ride home to Reston was occasional light showers/drizzle, but I missed the drama. There was lots of debris on the trail between the Beltway and Vienna. All in all, it was a pretty nice ride.

[Dickie]

… became an adventure.

I left the shop in Merrifield at 5:15 after the second wave of storms, but still got caught in some showers and wind gusts. As I rolled up onto the WOD at Sandburg St. I noticed a large tree downed by lightening… it had been split in half, crazy. As I approached the Shreve Rd. intersection near Pinecastle street I noticed some commotion. A car was stopped on Shreve just after the WOD crossing with a bicycle in the road. A cyclist was sitting on the curb still wearing his helmet and quite dazed. Besides the folks involved, I was the first on the scene. The cars windshield was shattered indicating the cyclist had been struck hard enough to bounce him onto the vehicle. An ambulance had been called and the involved driver was on the phone with 911 relaying the details and condition of the cyclist. I sat down next to the gentleman and asked his full name, told him mine and began using my “Bike Crash” app to collect info which also gave me the opportunity to evaluate his state of mind. I wrote his wife and explained the situation, got some pics, the drivers info and phone number, etc as the paramedics, police, and fire truck arrived. He was quickly braced and strapped to a board as his frantic wife arrived…. it was very upsetting. I stood with her as the officer (very kind, calm and understanding) helped explain what was going on. The ambulance rushed off, we got the bike taken care of, and I began to set off home when I realized my back pack was missing with my keys, wallet, etc. Turns out the ambulance took it thinking it was the victims. Luckily, the officer was able to talk to the medics and confirmed it was in their possession and would be returned to Firehouse 13 on Gallows once they left the hospital… ughh… backtrack to Gallows in the rain to wait 40 minutes to collect my bag. All good though as I got to hang at the firehouse on leather chairs with super nice and helpful firefolks who gave me water and offered me food… so awesome… best part was spotting a DVD of Backdraft on the TV stand.

By the time I started heading home it was 7:00 but the ride was lovely, cool, dry. I did take extra care crossing at Shreve. I will update as I hear about the cyclist’s condition and any information that comes of this. Be safe out there. Here are some pics from the evening:

[JimK]

Dickie

That was the greatest post ever. Thanks

[Steve O]

@Dickie 89536 wrote:

I sat down next to the gentleman and asked his full name, told him mine and began using my “Bike Crash” app to collect info which also gave me the opportunity to evaluate his state of mind. I wrote his wife and explained the situation, got some pics, the drivers info and phone number, etc

I recommend the book “Surviving the Crash” by Bruce Deming. He had a book party not long ago and a number of us here on the forum obtained copies. One of the tips he gives is to get the bystanders (Dickie in this case) to take lots of photos. Bruce points out that you never know which photo is going to have the information that may help you legally or with insurance.

+1 over and over for Dickie. Yes, please keep us all informed.

[rcannon100]

Somewhere on the forum is a post about what to do if you are in an accident. A copy of it is on my blog Windy Run. One very simple thing you can do is print off WABA’s accident form and stick it into your bag. It used to be here but I am getting a 404. Here is an archived version.

[jrenaut]

I picked the kids up from camp in the car. Jumping from a 7 mile round trip to a 28 mile round trip on the Xtracycle carrying two kids for a good chunk of the ride is not something one should do abruptly, and triple digit heat index days seem like good ones to take it easy. Still managed 20 miles, though i may take tomorrow off (and by take tomorrow off I might mean just drive the kids and ride my commuter).

[Author]

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