I like riding in the rain because.......

[jasonc]

anyone got tips on how to dodge the lightening???

Don't ride ala Comedian with an umbrella

[Summernight]

anyone got tips on how to dodge the lightening???

Stay near buildings and trees larger than you and keep your head down? You are on rubber tyres, which should be insulating so hopefully the lightning won't find a earthing point through you... At least, that's what I hope.

I cycled to work in a thunderstorm once - I was getting a bit concerned as the lightning was getting quite close - lucky for me I had trees and big buildings nearby. I kept cycling. And it was raining too. I survived. XP

If/when you get caught unprepared, stuffing them afterwards with newspaper cuts down the time they're unusable. Some would say that's the only thing you should do with the Herald-Sun.

Thank you. We don't buy or use those real-life newspaper thingys at home -online all the way. However I will probably steal yesterday's Fin Review from work if needed.

[westab]

anyone got tips on how to dodge the lightening???

It's Friday mate - leave early and ride fast REALY FAAAAAST

[gretaboy]

anyone got tips on how to dodge the lightening???

It's Friday mate - leave early and ride fast REALY FAAAAAST

hahaha I have decided to aim up for two strava KOM's actually....wind is going my way so will give it a crack despite feeling knackered

[jimsheedy]

Had a great ride last sun. 150km in the rain, stopped just as I was getting home. Everyone else pulled out but I was keen and once im up at 5 ive gotta go no matter what. Those wet rides are much safer on your own in some respect. Not great to ride with a bunch in the rain. Plus there was absolutely no one out. cars or bikes.

[gretaboy]

anyone got tips on how to dodge the lightening???

You are on rubber tyres, which should be insulating so hopefully the lightning won't find a earthing point through you... At least, that's what I hope.

does carrying a condom in the wallet count as appropriate rubber???

PS: I dont really

[clackers]

anyone got tips on how to dodge the lightening???

Yep, head up, ignoring what's on the road, and when you see the flash, a BMX style kerb hop.

Surely nothing can go wrong!

[Summernight]

anyone got tips on how to dodge the lightening???

You are on rubber tyres, which should be insulating so hopefully the lightning won't find a earthing point through you... At least, that's what I hope.

does carrying a condom in the wallet count as appropriate rubber???

PS: I dont really

At least your wallet will be safe from the lightning... And other stuff... like the rain.

[wombatK]

anyone got tips on how to dodge the lightening???

When you see a flash of lightening, count the seconds before you hear the thunder
(1000, 2000, 3000 etc.,.). If you don't get to 5 seconds, it's less than 2 km away,
and being out in the open or next to trees is not a very good idea. Suspend
Rule 9 and seek shelter, real quick.

While the sound travels slowly, lightning travels at over 50 km per second.
You can't outrun it. A wet bicycle tyre will not insulate you from it's lethal force.

There were quite a few thunderclaps to count on my ride this afternoon - but
all were 10 to 20 km away. Don't chicken out too early, like half my riding
buddies did.

[clackers]

Ok, Gretaboy, WombatK's advice is pretty good.

Following mine, even Danny McAskall would end up as a pile of smoking ashes.

[gretaboy]

well I survived lol...the electrical lightening was good.....and was close. I knew about the counting and how close it is and so forth...I stopped counting as the numbers were getting a bit too low...oh how ignorance is bliss hahahaha

I kept going as I had no other choices....scored a strava KOM in the wet too, actually reclaimed one that I had lost recently

[BoardRider]

... I like gears that change all by themselves due to grit in the cable housing
... I like not being able to see a darn thing because of glasses that fog up whenever I stop at the traffic lights
... I like tools that don't adjust their driving to the conditions
... I especially like the effect of water on line-marking paint and/or smooth concrete

Yes your right it is great fun.

[g-boaf]

I love it because all the pedestrians and other bike riders are hiding inside! I get a clear run.

And a little bit of water doesn't hurt anyone, does it? Heavy cross winds on the other hand, forget it. Those aren't fun with the wheels I've got on my bike.

CEO of multinational company your work gets in the lift, asks how your ride was (expecting a negative answer) and you turn around beaming but dripping wet saying it was good fun. CEO responds with "your crazy" and I respond yes yes I am.

Haha - awesome!

usually when that happens, the CEO has just come off the water after rowing. Our CEO is a world masters rowing champion so he is of similar mind to us crazy early morning all weather cyclists!

Pretty cool that, like minded people. It's fun sharing the stories in the lift and all those other non-sporting people are all rolling their eyes.

[Ozkaban]

I like it cos it's peaceful and you just get to chug along a bit slower than normal and enjoy the fact that you're not going to get any wetter 'cos it's not possible.

Mind you, I don't enjoy bunch rides in the wet so much. The spray from the wheel in front straight into your face and riding in close formation with pretty much totally ineffective brakes takes away from the enjoyment.

[sb944]

Many of the reasons above, especially knowing the bus I should be on would be delayed heavily as you ride past the 8 lanes of carpark that should be an 80km/h zone.

The other one is a bit funny, but I tend to make every ride count for something, either strava segments, good avg speeds, longer rides etc. But in the rain, it's really simple, just pedal until you get home safely, it's actually somewhat refreshing to do that.

[apollocreed]

There's only one reason to enjoy riding in the rain, thats the whipskidzzz

I ride faster / harder in the rain because of this factor

[Saturnstarzz]

Looks like if I get might to play the rain and test the thunderstorm theory on my way home (from Melb CBD). Lucky I'm on my dale and can "pretend" to be Pete Sagan and race the storm.

[Summernight]

Looks like if I get might to play the rain and test the thunderstorm theory on my way home (from Melb CBD). Lucky I'm on my dale and can "pretend" to be Pete Sagan and race the storm.

Darn, is that why the sky is darkening outside my office window? I don't want to put on my wet weather gear.

[Mulger bill]

I was home trying to stop the tide filling me shed, don't think I need a shower before work...

[Lurkin]

- catching the train sucks more
- catching the train when everyone else has chickened out because its raining really sucks
- there's less pedestrian traffic
- it makes me grin
- it earns a hot shower and cup of tea.

[Christina Brinkmann]

I like it when I am wet.

[ColinOldnCranky]

I like riding in the rain because when I am riding in a gale with the sleet belting me and the river being blown over the path with my pancho flapping wildly I get noticed. The rest of the time no-one notices me.

Riding in the rain is all about ego you see.

(Actually I hate that I have to carry a whole lot of extra gear in winter and it takes me longer to leave home. )

[twizzle]

I see lots of posts about "wet weather gear". Apart from mudguards to keep the mud off the derrière and shoes, what else could you have? It's just water, after all, kind of like sweat but doesn't leave the jersey smelling so bad.


Sent from my iThingy...

[twizzle]

I like...

I thought of you yesterday - I saw a guy commuting on a 29'er Unicycle. Looked insane. You also must be crazy.

Sent from my iThingy...

[ColinOldnCranky]

I like...

I thought of you yesterday - I saw a guy commuting on a 29'er Unicycle. Looked insane. You also must be crazy.

Sent from my iThingy...

Hmmm. It worries me that you think of me Twizzle.


(Just joking.)