Thunderstorms & Bike Commuting

[eminva]

Hello —

I’m trying to become more of an all weather commuter and so far, I have discovered I do not melt in rain. Huh.

However, the current forecast is testing my resolve to bike in every day during Bike to Work Week. Specifically, thunderstorms, and the Washington region’s propensity for afternoon thunder busters during the late spring-summer months. What do the dedicated bicycle commuters do in the event of thunderstorms? Try to time your ride home to avoid the worst of it? Go out anyway? I realize the right gear and equipment can help, but I’m just wondering how not to worry about those thunderbolts flying around.

Thanks.

Liz

[brendan]

There are days I’ll brave pretty much everything, (though I’m really down about the weather predictions for this week). The two things I don’t mess around with are tornadoes and lightning.

Brendan

[Greenbelt]

Detailed weather radar helps. I like the one from Andrews AFB. Today, I’ll stay late, see if the weather clears by 7pm, and if not, bail on to Metro. But I thinking it’ll be all dry by 7pm, just a hunch.

http://www.wunderground.com/radar/radblast.asp?ID=ADW

[OneEighth]

Honestly, in these temps, I don’t really worry about it much. No special gear needed. Wool socks are almost always a comfortable temperature whether wet or dry. Same tends to be true for the tech shirts from JL Racing—and they dry quickly. Bib shorts never sag, no matter how wet. And, a cycling cap keeps most of the rain out of my eyes.
Just maybe avoid holding onto metal traffic signal poles while waiting for the lights to change…

[acc]

First a confession, I have no intention of purposefully heading out into a rain/thunder/lightning mix. I can find plenty of ways to mix electrical current with water in my own home for fun and amusement. But I won’t be held hostage to “iffy” forecasts either. I had fun on Saturday in the drizzle partly because no one was on the W&O past Reston. I’ve been looking for safe places to bail as I meander around. I see them and take note. I also notice where there aren’t good places to wait out a bad storm, like some areas west of Herndon. And I carry some cash taped to my phone in case I need to wait out a storm in a restaurant (or a shoe store :rolleyes:). I agree with the suggestion to look at radar. Sometimes it is raining in Vienna and dry in Annandale but I can tell that pretty quickly looking at radar as well as how fast bad weather is closing in on my position. Good luck and best wishes for a dry ride.

ann

[Riley Casey]

I biked today and the most I had to wait in the evening was twenty minutes to let the shower fizzle out. Thats pretty much the pattern with thunder storms. Day long rain showers in the winter, now thats another thing.

[adamx]

Ann; with these weather forecasters you could be held hostage into eternity..these weather dudes are awful…i’ve been commuting in the area for about 6 years and by stroke of pure luck and timing i’ve only been caught in rain or storms going home a few times..amazing…i leave the office near sw waterfront between 5 and 6 every day and normally the storms have gone by or i get caught in the last mile of my ride to falls church…agree with 1/8th there’s no need for rain gear when its in the 70s…dont fear the rain and thunder but seek shelter from lightning and RIDE all week!!!

[acc]

As a rule, I would purposely encrust myself with mud only if it involved a spa treatment and a masseur. But the weather reports are not improving and I need the saddle time. So off I go in search of fenders. Ugh.

ann

[CCrew]

acc, If fenders for 28mm down will fit I have a set of SKS’s that I’ll never ever use You’re more than welcome to them. . I’m a mud stripe up the back kinda guy (weight weenie)

And as to the storms… I’m NEVER comfortable on the W&OD with all the giant lightning rods every couple hundred feet. But I do it anyway…

[jrenaut]

@CCrew 3613 wrote:

I’m a mud stripe up the back kinda guy

I like the mud stripe on my backpack, too – it keeps the cat from using it as a pillow when I get home.

[Greenbelt]

acc — I donated a brand new set of finders to Proteus bikes in College Park when I bought my new bike last month. (I prefer the mudstripe of pride to the rattle of fenders.) They’re for this bike: http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/thebikes/road/aurora/11_bosanova.html
Chances are they’d just give them to you if they still have them and they fit your bike.

[baiskeli]

Worry about the thunderbolts, and take cover. They’re dangerous.

As for rain, I rode in the 2005 Seagull Century. It was hit by the remnants of a hurricane. Five inches of rain. Luckily it was warm, tropical rain. I lived. I don’t complain about riding in rain any more.

[Greenbelt]

Lovely this morning, eh? And to top it off, my third flat tire in the last month. And this after going all winter without a flat…

My apologies if I gave a plumber’s butt view to anyone on H street this morning while I fixed it.

[hencio]

I try to wait out the lighting. As for rain, the hardest part seems to be getting the first drops of rain on you. I went to full fenders this winter and now love riding through puddles (no stripe here). The worst part of riding in the rain is when it stops and it gets all jungle outside.

[acc]

My bike is only slightly larger than ones ridden by circus monkeys. And because I believe the hallmarks of civilization are 600 thread count sheets, facilities that flush, water above room temperature, and wine chilled below 50 degrees, I know when the mud starts spraying I will– well squeal like a pig in mud. So when you see a very small woman riding an even smaller bike squealing along the W&O, that would be me. Thank you for your kind offers. And CCrew- you are brave, I know exactly what you mean.

Squee,
ann

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