they’re calling for thunderstorms tomorrow afternoon

[maverick]

so, they’re calling for thunderstorms tomorrow afternoon – i’m a bit torn about what to do. my commute home will take me from reston town center to falls church along the w&od.

i rode in the rain on monday – i didn’t like it, but i’d do it again.

thunderstorms are different. indeed, the chances of getting hit by lightning are minuscule, and they’re saying scattered thunderstorms. the storm may not even be over my commute path. but if i do get caught in a thunderstorm, depending on where i am along the w&od, there may not be a convenient place to wait out the storm.

am i being a wimp?

thanks!

Topic

[Jason]

I am surrounded by people with guns right now!

[creadinger]

Thunderstorms not likely today, but I think it deserves mention that the temperature out there as of 10am, was already 96… wow. It was 85 at 9am. So that’s why it felt like a late May afternoon on my ride in this morning.

The forecast high has been increased to 101, and with the increased humidity influencing the heat index they’ve re-issued the Excessive Heat Warning, which is an increase in severity from the Heat Advisory we see much more often.

[ShawnoftheDread]

At least the trails won’t be crowded this afternoon.

[SilverSpring]

“At least the trails won’t be crowded this afternoon. “

Littered with the bodies of parched cyclists, more like it….

[rcannon100]

Just dont run over the heat-exhaustion bodies lying along the path (particularly if its me)

[5555624]

@rcannon100 23930 wrote:

Just dont run over the heat-exhaustion bodies lying along the path (particularly if its me)

Ring your bell first and remember, it’s “running over” and not “on your left.”

[pfunkallstar]

I’m expecting this afternoon to be sorta like a zombie-like apocalypse, only on Jupiter where all the undead would be stuck to the ground because of the immense gravity. It would make for a terrifically bad video game “High Gravity Zombie Hunt 4”

[KelOnWheels]

@pfunkallstar 23951 wrote:

I’m expecting this afternoon to be sorta like a zombie-like apocalypse, only on Jupiter where all the undead would be stuck to the ground because of the immense gravity. It would make for a terrifically bad video game “High Gravity Zombie Hunt 4”

With my ninja-like reflexes, that might actually be a shooter I’d be good at

[rcannon100]

In seriousness, I wonder if at 7 pm WMATA will be deluged with bicyclists who opted out of their afternoon commute. I think I am one of them and I know another guy in the office who is planning the same.

[KLizotte]

@creadinger 23452 wrote:

Did you knock on the door, or just hang out on the porch and they noticed you?

I haven’t had to do that yet and I just wonder what the proper etiquette is. The couple of times I’ve had to take shelter I found a vacant church, an empty school (summer), and a strip mall with everything a cyclist could ever want (grocery store).

I had to take refuge on someone’s porch when I was out riding in a strange town in Wyoming on my own last summer. Big scary thunderstorm came sneaking up behind me over the mountain range so I headed to the only shelter I could find. I knocked on the door and the woman was cool with me hanging out on her porch for an hour plus (it was a really bad storm). Personally I would have invited in a cyclist into the house in that situation but I was happy for a place to sit and watch the fireworks. The porch was plenty big enough to take the bike too and still stay dry. I know most of my relatives would be more than happy to shelter stranded bikers where they live; I reckon most people would be accomodating. It’s hard to be afraid of someone in lycra and clip clop shoes.

[DaveK]

@rcannon100 23955 wrote:

In seriousness, I wonder if at 7 pm WMATA will be deluged with bicyclists who opted out of their afternoon commute. I think I am one of them and I know another guy in the office who is planning the same.

Riding in this hair dryer outside is still better than cramming myself into the crush of humanity and stench that is a Metro rush hour. Slow & well hydrated, I’ll be fine. You will too.

[Author]

Replies