T-storms and excuses

recycled-one wrote:
:: In the past week of the 5 days I did go for a ride under threatening
:: skies and Weather Channel warnings only once did I even get caught
:: in a light sprinkle of rain. Although I wasn't fleeing the weather
:: it just so happened that the shower did not begin until minutes
:: after I returned home.

I think we all have varied experiences with threats of rain and riding. I've
been on the "I'm not going out because it might rain - and then having it
not rain" to the "I got soaked so bad that my eyes started burning before I
got home" roads. Neither one is fun. Nowadays, if it's raining before I
leave, I don't go. If the sky is not menacing, I go. Sometimes there is a
shower along the way that's refreshing, other times I find some shelter to
hide in for a while. I hate those times. Such is life for the
weekend/evening cycling warrior!

On Fri, 28 Jul 2006 14:15:15 -0400, Roger Zoul <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

recycled-one wrote:
:: In the past week of the 5 days I did go for a ride under threatening
:: skies and Weather Channel warnings only once did I even get caught
:: in a light sprinkle of rain. Although I wasn't fleeing the weather
:: it just so happened that the shower did not begin until minutes
:: after I returned home.

I think we all have varied experiences with threats of rain and riding.
I've
been on the "I'm not going out because it might rain - and then having it
not rain" to the "I got soaked so bad that my eyes started burning
before I
got home" roads. Neither one is fun. Nowadays, if it's raining before I
leave, I don't go. If the sky is not menacing, I go. Sometimes there is
a
shower along the way that's refreshing, other times I find some shelter
to
hide in for a while. I hate those times. Such is life for the
weekend/evening cycling warrior!

What I do is ride in the morning, as thunderstorms are typically in the
afternoon here in CT. I don't ride with thunderstorm warnings, though, as
I can't see being caught in a lightning storm.

--
Bob in CT

recycled-one said:

I have that little Weather Channel icon on my taskbar that shows the
current temp. It flashes a red & white Severe Thunderstorm Watch/Warning
[I'm not sure what the distinction is]

It seems like for the past week its been flashing. The sky has been
threatening for the most part and there has been the odd shower and sprinkle
but not one honest to gawd thunder boomer. I'm a little disappointed. If
it's going to rain I like a good T-Storm with lots of light and sound to
scare the cat silly.

Anyways it puts me in mind of how easy it would be to find excuses to not
ride.

"Oh I can't ride. It's going to rain!"

I like to look at the glass as half full:

"I should go for a ride before it rains. And even if it does, I wont melt."

In the past week of the 5 days I did go for a ride under threatening skies
and Weather Channel warnings only once did I even get caught in a light
sprinkle of rain. Although I wasn't fleeing the weather it just so happened
that the shower did not begin until minutes after I returned home.

One adjustment though is that I've been riding more in the evening to beat
the humidity which although not as bad as some years is something I like to
avoid.

I really don't ride in thunderstorms. Just when it's a commute to or
from work. And here in south Florida we have thunderstorms just about
every afternoon.

Ken
--
Messengers and mountain bikers share a common chromosome. ~James Bethea

"Bob in CT" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Fri, 28 Jul 2006 14:15:15 -0400, Roger Zoul <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

recycled-one wrote:
:: In the past week of the 5 days I did go for a ride under threatening
:: skies and Weather Channel warnings only once did I even get caught
:: in a light sprinkle of rain. Although I wasn't fleeing the weather
:: it just so happened that the shower did not begin until minutes
:: after I returned home.

I think we all have varied experiences with threats of rain and riding.
I've
been on the "I'm not going out because it might rain - and then having it
not rain" to the "I got soaked so bad that my eyes started burning
before I
got home" roads. Neither one is fun. Nowadays, if it's raining before I
leave, I don't go. If the sky is not menacing, I go. Sometimes there is
a
shower along the way that's refreshing, other times I find some shelter
to
hide in for a while. I hate those times. Such is life for the
weekend/evening cycling warrior!

What I do is ride in the morning, as thunderstorms are typically in the
afternoon here in CT. I don't ride with thunderstorm warnings, though, as
I can't see being caught in a lightning storm.

--
Bob in CT

Does the weather channel tell you when the city is covered with smoke and
you should not be out then either. Happened several times in Vancouver that
I can remember and even our building was full of tainted air from the fire.
Lasts all day.

"Ken C. M." <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

recycled-one said:

I have that little Weather Channel icon on my taskbar that shows the
current temp. It flashes a red & white Severe Thunderstorm Watch/Warning
[I'm not sure what the distinction is]

It seems like for the past week its been flashing. The sky has been
threatening for the most part and there has been the odd shower and
sprinkle but not one honest to gawd thunder boomer. I'm a little
disappointed. If it's going to rain I like a good T-Storm with lots of
light and sound to scare the cat silly.

Anyways it puts me in mind of how easy it would be to find excuses to
not ride.

"Oh I can't ride. It's going to rain!"

I like to look at the glass as half full:

"I should go for a ride before it rains. And even if it does, I wont
melt."

In the past week of the 5 days I did go for a ride under threatening
skies and Weather Channel warnings only once did I even get caught in a
light sprinkle of rain. Although I wasn't fleeing the weather it just so
happened that the shower did not begin until minutes after I returned
home.

One adjustment though is that I've been riding more in the evening to
beat the humidity which although not as bad as some years is something I
like to avoid.

I really don't ride in thunderstorms. Just when it's a commute to or from
work. And here in south Florida we have thunderstorms just about every
afternoon.

Florida thunderstorms are pretty scary. I've been caught in them, and it
definitely picks up one's cadence. Lightning strikes are not good.

I don't mind steady rain up to a point, as long as I'm on a bike trail
or out in the country. Rain makes it slippery and dangerous in town.
I won't ride in thunderstorms, but I have done rides where I avoided
isolated T-storms. Every now and then I'd stop to see where the storm
was headed, and either ride away from it or ride toward the area it had
just left. Actually it's kind of fun to stay completely dry and ride
through country that's just been doused.

Earlier this season I had an awesome out/back ride where I got just far
enough north to avoid a storm as it passed through behind me. When I
returned, I got back just a little while after the storm had passed
through. When I got to my house, my sweetie was sure must've been
soaked, since the rain started shortly after I left and ended just
before I got back.

-JR

Gooserider said:

"Ken C. M." <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

recycled-one said:

I have that little Weather Channel icon on my taskbar that shows the
current temp. It flashes a red & white Severe Thunderstorm Watch/Warning
[I'm not sure what the distinction is]

It seems like for the past week its been flashing. The sky has been
threatening for the most part and there has been the odd shower and
sprinkle but not one honest to gawd thunder boomer. I'm a little
disappointed. If it's going to rain I like a good T-Storm with lots of
light and sound to scare the cat silly.

Anyways it puts me in mind of how easy it would be to find excuses to
not ride.

"Oh I can't ride. It's going to rain!"

I like to look at the glass as half full:

"I should go for a ride before it rains. And even if it does, I wont
melt."

In the past week of the 5 days I did go for a ride under threatening
skies and Weather Channel warnings only once did I even get caught in a
light sprinkle of rain. Although I wasn't fleeing the weather it just so
happened that the shower did not begin until minutes after I returned
home.

One adjustment though is that I've been riding more in the evening to
beat the humidity which although not as bad as some years is something I
like to avoid.

I really don't ride in thunderstorms. Just when it's a commute to or from
work. And here in south Florida we have thunderstorms just about every
afternoon.

Florida thunderstorms are pretty scary. I've been caught in them, and it
definitely picks up one's cadence. Lightning strikes are not good.

THEY are scary. Especially when you see the flash directly ahead and
hear the thunder at the same time. Because at that point you KNOW that
you are VERY close to the center of the storm. Lightning may not kill
you, but it would a BAD day for you.

Ken
--
Messengers and mountain bikers share a common chromosome. ~James Bethea

Ken C. M. said:

Gooserider said:

"Ken C. M." <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

recycled-one wrote:

> I have that little Weather Channel icon on my taskbar that shows the
> current temp. It flashes a red & white Severe Thunderstorm
> Watch/Warning [I'm not sure what the distinction is]
>
> It seems like for the past week its been flashing. The sky has been
> threatening for the most part and there has been the odd shower and
> sprinkle but not one honest to gawd thunder boomer. I'm a little
> disappointed. If it's going to rain I like a good T-Storm with lots
> of light and sound to scare the cat silly.
>
> Anyways it puts me in mind of how easy it would be to find excuses
> to not ride.
>
> "Oh I can't ride. It's going to rain!"
>
> I like to look at the glass as half full:
>
> "I should go for a ride before it rains. And even if it does, I wont
> melt."
>
> In the past week of the 5 days I did go for a ride under threatening
> skies and Weather Channel warnings only once did I even get caught
> in a light sprinkle of rain. Although I wasn't fleeing the weather
> it just so happened that the shower did not begin until minutes
> after I returned home.
>
> One adjustment though is that I've been riding more in the evening
> to beat the humidity which although not as bad as some years is
> something I like to avoid.
>
>
>
>
>

I really don't ride in thunderstorms. Just when it's a commute to or
from work. And here in south Florida we have thunderstorms just about
every afternoon.

Florida thunderstorms are pretty scary. I've been caught in them, and
it definitely picks up one's cadence. Lightning strikes are not good.

THEY are scary. Especially when you see the flash directly ahead and
hear the thunder at the same time. Because at that point you KNOW that
you are VERY close to the center of the storm. Lightning may not kill
you, but it would a BAD day for you.

Ken

I was 'driving' in one in Arkansas with the windows down with my wife
just to enjoy a good thunderstorm once. Then just as I looked at my wife
and past her about 30 feet a gigantic strike blew apart a tree with at
least a 2 foot thick trunk and the resulting 'BOOM' had my wife almost
jump across the car into my lap. We went promptly back into a well
grounded building.
Ride a bike in that? Hell no.
I may be crazy sometimes but I am not suicidal.
Bill Baka

On Sat, 05 Aug 2006 03:19:37 GMT, Bill Baka <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Ken C. M. said:

Gooserider said:

"Ken C. M." <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

> recycled-one wrote:
>
>> I have that little Weather Channel icon on my taskbar that shows the
>> current temp. It flashes a red & white Severe Thunderstorm
>> Watch/Warning [I'm not sure what the distinction is]
>>
>> It seems like for the past week its been flashing. The sky has been
>> threatening for the most part and there has been the odd shower and
>> sprinkle but not one honest to gawd thunder boomer. I'm a little
>> disappointed. If it's going to rain I like a good T-Storm with lots
>> of light and sound to scare the cat silly.
>>
>> Anyways it puts me in mind of how easy it would be to find excuses
>> to not ride.
>>
>> "Oh I can't ride. It's going to rain!"
>>
>> I like to look at the glass as half full:
>>
>> "I should go for a ride before it rains. And even if it does, I wont
>> melt."
>>
>> In the past week of the 5 days I did go for a ride under threatening
>> skies and Weather Channel warnings only once did I even get caught
>> in a light sprinkle of rain. Although I wasn't fleeing the weather
>> it just so happened that the shower did not begin until minutes
>> after I returned home.
>>
>> One adjustment though is that I've been riding more in the evening
>> to beat the humidity which although not as bad as some years is
>> something I like to avoid.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
> I really don't ride in thunderstorms. Just when it's a commute to or
> from work. And here in south Florida we have thunderstorms just about
> every afternoon.

Florida thunderstorms are pretty scary. I've been caught in them, and
it definitely picks up one's cadence. Lightning strikes are not good.

THEY are scary. Especially when you see the flash directly ahead and
hear the thunder at the same time. Because at that point you KNOW that
you are VERY close to the center of the storm. Lightning may not kill
you, but it would a BAD day for you.

Ken

I was 'driving' in one in Arkansas with the windows down with my wife
just to enjoy a good thunderstorm once. Then just as I looked at my wife
and past her about 30 feet a gigantic strike blew apart a tree with at
least a 2 foot thick trunk and the resulting 'BOOM' had my wife almost
jump across the car into my lap. We went promptly back into a well
grounded building.
Ride a bike in that? Hell no.
I may be crazy sometimes but I am not suicidal.
Bill Baka

Storms on Planet Baka?

"Ken C. M." <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Gooserider said:

"Ken C. M." <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I really don't ride in thunderstorms. Just when it's a commute to or from
work. And here in south Florida we have thunderstorms just about every
afternoon.

Florida thunderstorms are pretty scary. I've been caught in them, and it
definitely picks up one's cadence. Lightning strikes are not good.

THEY are scary. Especially when you see the flash directly ahead and hear
the thunder at the same time. Because at that point you KNOW that you are
VERY close to the center of the storm. Lightning may not kill you, but it
would a BAD day for you.

Just to be clear, I wasn't riding _in_ thunderstorms, just during a time
when the skies were threatening and the Weather Channel was warning. My
point was that if you decided to not ride every time the weather forecast
said 'rain' you would miss out on a _lot_ of riding.

Having said that my luck ran out Wednesday night [Aug 2]. It had rained and
rumbled throughout the day. By ~21:00 it had stopped raining and the temp
was a more reasonable low 20's C. I figured the worst was over.

I start out heading north an almost immediately feel a few drops. No
biggie. I haven't melted before. Then I see a few flashes of lightening -
the diffuse 'sky brightener' type, not clearly defined bolts. Using that old
children's chestnut I listen for the thunder to get an idea of how far away
it is. The sound delay wasn't immediate but it wasn't that distant. I push
on.

Being on the high ground south of the river heading north gives me a good
view of the sky. the rain picks up and I see clearly defined bolts hitting
to the north. I am becoming _very_ interested in the sound delay. Still not
immediate but not that distant either.

By the time I reach the river the sky has opened up. It is positively
torrential. In some places the runoff to the storm sewers is deeper than the
rims of my mtb knobbies. I am of course completely drenched.

I decide to head to the center of town, St. Georges Square since there are
lots of covered walkways and such to shelter in. In addition to the
downpour, the thunder, the lightening a buffeting wind picks up. Tornado
wind I think.

I wait for a spell to see if it slackens off. Not really. Eventually I head
home figuring I can't get _wetter_ .

The next day the news reports that the storm did some hefty damage further
north in cottage country, down trees and power lines and such.

A short but eventful ride.

Ken C. M. said:

Gooserider wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Florida thunderstorms are pretty scary. I've been caught in them, and it
definitely picks up one's cadence. Lightning strikes are not good.

THEY are scary. Especially when you see the flash directly ahead and
hear the thunder at the same time. Because at that point you KNOW that
you are VERY close to the center of the storm. Lightning may not kill
you, but it would a BAD day for you.

Then, again, they can kill you. We had some one in the province killed
by lightening last week.

John Kane Kingston ON Canada