Tractortom

Here in South Florida it's normal in June and July to see thunderstorms in the afternoon/evening many days. Well, I don't know what has happened, but they have just 'synced up' with my departure time from work this week.

It's like clockwork! 3pm, storms on the coast, not moving too much, 4pm, a little rumble of thunder way off, 4:30pm, check the local weather radar, and the thunderheads are rolling into Okeechobee. 5pm, I get on my bike and ride off into it.

By the looks of things this afternoon, I'll just stick around for a little while and see it they will blow on past in the next hour or so before I got out to get on my bike and ride home...

Tractor Tom in Okeechobee, FL

Artkansas 

Yeah, as a teen in Tampa, I would ride west in the late morning/early afternoon and turn around and head back east chased by the thunderheads.

It has a lot to do with the difference on how the sea is heated by the sun versus how the land is heated by the sun. L.A. has a similar cycle, though it pushes smog instead of thundershowers.

milkbaby

I'm further north in Florida, but we have the dependable afternoon/evening storms too. Luckily with daylight savings time and the longer day, I can just hang out a little later before heading home. And it's still so hot that the water doesn't stick around on the roads too long either. I'm not a fan of when the lighting hangs around for a long time tho...

Battosaii

its been the same here all week in Miami

Tractortom

I was feeling really 'sporty' on Friday when I could ride home without getting rained on. Big wind out of the east was causing some trouble on part of the commute, but I didn't get rained on. You can really enjoy a ride on a hot day when you have been rained on the two days before!!!

Tractor Tom in Okeechobee, FL

-=(8)=-

I lived in West VietPalm for a few years, and if there is one thing I got from that horrific experience,
it was exorcising my discomfort with riding in the rain. It got to the point where some rain was pleasant.
Because there was no escape from it, I learned to embrace it, and all was good !

That mindset is useful because now it gives me the right to go all smug and sanctimonious on people when
extolling the virtues of alternative transportation and they reply with "Dont ask me for a ride to work on rainy days"

ThermionicScott 

This! ^^^ Riding in the rain isn't that bad -- you get used to it.

Ira B

We are getting thunderstorms here, which is unusual.
Yesterday a strike narrowly missed our home and I decided I would reeeeealy not like to be out biking on high ground in that.

bkrownd

I LOVE riding in the rain. It's like being part of the weather experience, closer to nature, and it's always nice and cool compared to riding in the hot sun. (I'll admit I have less traffic to worry about dealing with in the rain than most people) hate riding in t-storms tho

Artkansas 

There's warm rain and cold rain. Warm rain is fun. Cold rain is misery.

unterhausen

we had that here for a couple of weeks in May. Really a pain. I was thinking it was typical for places further south

BadBoy10

Im in TriCounty Miami area--got caught yesterday going to work AND coming home at 9:30 last night--the lightening was scary.

There is a shortcut but sometimes it is kinda dark--one of those warehouse like roads--was very lucky to see another rider--I followed him we parted ways at the bridge I said thank you--he said you are welcome!

Wish I had taken a picture of the lightening and of course my bike is lit up like a Christmas tree (two sets of Monkey lights).

The rain was painful-wasn't hail but those big drops that sting.

One commute is 8 miles one way another 24 miles (one way). Now I want a steel folder.
The Florida weather is unpredictable.

I must invest in some rain gear--arriving at work soaked is not fun and the building is cold.
I am desperate to find some rain gear that wont slow me down. I am also on the lookout for a nice all weather shoulder bag. I dont like pannies and racks or crates on the back.

Don't know what I am going to do but arriving soaking wet is not good.

roashru

i carry a rain poncho in my tool bag, but when i know im going to get really wet i take a packed boating dry bag with a rain suit inside.

PaleoFloridian

It came time to pick up my toddler from preschool (she just goes in the morning) and it was pouring. I'm in Plant City, near Tampa. Sometimes I borrow my MIL's van if the weather is bad, but she wasn't home so off I went! I've got no rain gear at all. I put a hoodie in a plastic bag for the lil'un, which she wore on the ride home and didn't get wet too badly. I need a poncho, heh.

Doohickie

I saw the thread title and knew it would have to do with South or Central Florida.