Riding in the rain

[Arlingtonrider]

Just got home. No problems on FMR west to Shirlington. As Dirt points out below, though, things may be significantly different west OF Shirlington.

[Dirt]

When I went past, Bluemont Underpass (at Wilson Blvd) was between 4 and 5′ deep and the Carlin Springs underpass was 2.5-3′ deep with serious current at the west side of the underpass.

[vvill]

I had this afternoon free (from home duties) so I decided to do some exploring/”errands”. Ended up being a bit of an impromptu outdoor adventure – I also took the overland route to cross Wilson.

Was there hail? Maybe it was just heavy rain but it felt a bit harder than that.

I wasn’t sure what to think when I rode by the clusters of trail users huddled below a good number of the W&OD underpasses.

Don’t have to wash the bike now but wondering if there’s anything special maintenance-wise I should do. I’m pretty sure the whole rear derailleur cage and a good portion of the 20″ wheels were submerged in points.

[RESTONTODC]

Around 6:30, the water at both Wilson blvd and Carlin Springs underpass were very deep so I didn’t even try it. I took the detours. The water was smelling really bad, like sewer water.

[vvill]

Yeah I smelled that too. Pee-uw!

[GuyContinental]

@vvill 20412 wrote:

I had this afternoon free (from home duties) so I decided to do some exploring/”errands”. Ended up being a bit of an impromptu outdoor adventure – I also took the overland route to cross Wilson.

Was there hail? Maybe it was just heavy rain but it felt a bit harder than that.

I wasn’t sure what to think when I rode by the clusters of trail users huddled below a good number of the W&OD underpasses.

Don’t have to wash the bike now but wondering if there’s anything special maintenance-wise I should do. I’m pretty sure the whole rear derailleur cage and a good portion of the 20″ wheels were submerged in points.

I got nailed Sterling to Herndon and then stopped at EFC.

You might have passed me as one of the “huddled.” Just East of EFC the hail got me and then two massive lightening strikes (within 100′) made me decide to sit it out under one of the larger bridges. I kept thinking about the t-storm post and “your body is a circuit…” Honestly and truly, DO NOT RIDE IN LIGHTNING.

As for the bike- if you were hit with what I was hit by, every bit of your light lube is gone you need to lubricate (this is what I did last night after letting the bike dry):

-Chain (probably 2x and again today)
-Every derailleur pivot and spring (use a straw or a screwdriver to track the lube into the hard to reach places)
-RD pulleys
-Cables
-Pedal cleats
-Brake pivots

Also clean the AL residue off of your wheels- the rain turns it into an abrasive paste that will kill them.

Next time you have time you’ll want to grease your pedals (if they spin without a little resistance they need grease); pull and grease your bottom bracket and clean any pivots (if you are on a FS bike)

It sounds like a lot but it’s well worth it for component longevity and only takes about 10 minutes

[GuyContinental]

I saw Dirt this morning on the fat bike- I think he’s aiming to float home in the inevitable storm this afternoon.

[Dirt]

Be careful. The bridges are slippery.

[vvill]

@GuyContinental 20418 wrote:

I got nailed Sterling to Herndon and then stopped at EFC.

You might have passed me as one of the “huddled.” Just East of EFC the hail got me and then two massive lightening strikes (within 100′) made me decide to sit it out under one of the larger bridges. I kept thinking about the t-storm post and “your body is a circuit…” Honestly and truly, DO NOT RIDE IN LIGHTNING.

It sounds like a lot but it’s well worth it for component longevity and only takes about 10 minutes

Thanks. Yeah I regret not at least doing the chain this morning. Definitely sounds dry

I was out on my bike from 3pm to 7:30pm in some way or another… I did make the odd stop so I wasn’t always in the thick of it, but I definitely got some of the worst parts.

[brendan]

@Dirt 20404 wrote:

When I went past, Bluemont Underpass (at Wilson Blvd) was between 4 and 5′ deep and the Carlin Springs underpass was 2.5-3′ deep with serious current at the west side of the underpass.

Yikes.

[consularrider]

@Dirt 20423 wrote:

Be careful. The bridges are slippery.

That’s assuming you can even find the “bridge” here. It was still underwater this morning, probably three to six inches, so I went back up to the W&OD crossing.

[Dirt]

@consularrider 20431 wrote:

That’s assuming you can even find the “bridge” here. It was still underwater this morning, probably three to six inches, so I went back up to the W&OD crossing.

Yarp. It was about 6″ this morning and moving slowly. I played in it for a few minutes, but then went on.

[pfunkallstar]

@Dirt 20432 wrote:

Yarp. It was about 6″ this morning and moving slowly. I played in it for a few minutes, but then went on.

They are building some sort of drainage basin up on Van Buren – or at least that is what it looks like. When we had Rainmageddon last year I tried to ford the fjord but just gave up and went up Columbia – must have been about 4′ of water at least 20-30′ in circumference. My tomatoes are growing like DYNOMITE.

[Author]

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