baldilocks

I've rode to work all week so far. Tomorrow there is suppose to be a 15% chance of rain on the way there. 25% chance on the way back and thunder storms while i'm at work. Have any of you rode in a thunderstorm? I'll probably decide tomorrow morning, but what would you do?

wphamilton

Honestly 15-25% chance of rain wouldn't phase me. But frankly it's better to not ride in thunder storms - watch the radar and go when it has passed, even if it means half an hour or an hour more at work. I've done it before, quite a bit in some years, and although you'd probably be fine it's still a foolish risk.

AusTexMurf

I can only wish that we might have a 25% chance of rain in the forecast.
Weeks of 100F+ in south central texas.
Ride On !

Moe Zhoost

Doppler radar is your friend. If I decided not to ride every time the forecast was 25% or more, I would get in maybe 4 rides a year. I ride regardless of the forecast but use radar to time my windows. I have never had to offset my timing by more than 15 minutes, and I get caught in unexpected downpours no more than twice a year.

Wittyname

Also, a cycling cap and waterproof vest can make a world of difference. If there's more than a 25% chance, they get tucked in the bag as a just-in-case

Riding in the rain is wonderful

tsl

What would I do?

Ride to work like every other day. My boss wouldn't be amused if I called in on a chance of thunderstorms.

What's important isn't what I'd do, but why are you even considering not cycling?

Rain? Lightning? Being scolded for being out in the wet?

Rain: Before leaving the house, take a shower. If you melt, then stay out of the rain. And watch out for somebody dropping a house on your sister and stealing her shoes. Seriously though, with your forecast tomorrow, you have a 100% chance of getting wet from sweat. A 25% chance of rain? Hell, a 100% chance of rain would be a welcome relief.

Lightning: I'll never put down anyone for a deep psychological fear of lightning. But if it's the ordinary garden variety fright that the Weather Channel trumps up, eff 'em. Statistically, you’re far more likely to get squished by a dump truck in traffic on an ordinary day than you are to be hit by lightning. Yet you wouldn't post on the forum a question whether you should ride if there was a 25% chance of dump trucks on your way home, would you?

Plus, lightning isn't always lethal, even if that's the only time it's newsworthy. My family was tent camping in a water-access only site in Allegheny National Forest on the July 4th weekend in 1971 when we were hit by lightning in a t-storm at dawn. We all lived to tell. Although our dog didn't. And the tent was never the same.

Being scolded for being out in the wet: Eff 'em.

For the record, I don't even bother with a fendered bike if it's only a 25% chance of rain or t-storms.

10 Wheels

Ridden all day with a 80% chance of rain. Never got wet.

Kedosto

Some of my most satisfying rides have been in the rain. To me there's something primal about it; like staring at a campfire.

My normal commute usually involves a podcast through the Bluetooth in one ear. When it rains I ditch the Bluetooth. Not because I don't want to get it wet, but I'd rather listen to the rain.


-Kedosto

alan s 

75% chance it won't rain. I like those odds.

FBinNY 

First of all the odds favor you, especially if you can delay your exit from work while a squall (if there is one) passes. Secondly, rain on a hot summer day isn't a problem, it's a blessing.

If the AM weather looks OK, ride to work, and roll the dice on getting home wet. Having commuted by bike rain or shine for 7 years, I've gotten to work wet countless times. It's no fun, but since I owned the business wasn't an issue. However, getting home wet shouldn't be a problem for anybody.

jfowler85

Yes. Twice in the last two weeks. Just get on and ride. Ride a ss/fg so there isn't so much cleanup involved.

InTheRain

I'm glad that I don't put that much effort into deciding whether I'm going to ride because it "might" rain. I just plan on riding everyday, sometimes I change my mind at the last minute... but never because of rain - my alternative is to ride my 50cc scooter - which doesn't offer anymore protection from rain than a bicycle.

ThermionicScott 

Not only have I ridden when there was a chance of rain, I've set out when it was already raining. What the hell are you afraid of?

canklecat

I've been caught in t-storms several times, including twice this year. We are in a lightning hot spot but that's not what I worry about. I'm more concerned about drivers around me being blinded by heavy rain, and strong wind gusts.

The last time, back in the spring, I came within a few yards of a dust devil -- a mini tornado -- that pelted me with gravel and shoved me sideways. I had to remove my sunglasses because it was so dark, and didn't have anything else for eye protection. So have pulled over a couple of times for a few minutes until the worst subsided. Usually I'd duck under a business awning or any handy shelter. But both times this year I continued riding despite the rain and thunder, although I prefer to wait until the lightning/thunder interval indicates it's a couple of miles away.

CliffordK

When I was in Missouri, I'd periodically get caught in thunder storms. Sometimes I could ride quickly and beat them home. Or, other times delay the departure for 15 minutes and leave after the storm passed.

Rain clothing is good, but often the storms pass, and everything dries out quickly.

The worst was being in the middle of a 50 mile ride when the tornado sirens would go off, and there was nothing to do but keep riding.

Bike Gremlin

When temperature is below 15 degreees C and there's heavy rain, I don't enjoy cycling. Bet even in such conditions, with a change of clothes, commuting up to 15 km one way is not much of a problem - just feels uncomfortable.

Cycling glasses and a baseball cap to keep rain off one's eyes work fine for me. Riding in heavy rain is no problem.

Wrote this article on bad weather cycling clothing:

https://www.bike.bikegremlin.com/2015...inter-cycling/

esmith2039

Lightening is the only worry I'd have. I have rode in some fairly strong storms. Just watch on the high bridges and know when to stop a minute or two. It is exhilarating feeling to ride the wind, rain and lightening!

10 Wheels

What would you do here?

wphamilton

Heavy rain can be dealt with but the problem with squalls is wind. I saw a large branch smash an SUV as I rolled by in a parking lot, and had a near miss from a falling tree during one. On another occasion I was directly under the tornado siren when it went off - which is startling but watching the wind and hail when I got under an overpass was even more disconcerting.

I've come across a hundred yards of forest laid out across the path, two trees deep. I was glad that time that I'd watched the radar before setting out. Just exercise caution in looking at the radar first online, wait for the storm to pass through your path and then it should be fine.

Steely Dan

considering the fact that over 80% of my commute route is along fully tree-canopied side streets, falling tree limbs are my biggest concern about storm riding as well. i don't exactly enjoy getting caught in storms, but it does happen every once in a while when i feel like rolling the dice.

several years ago during an exceptionally windy storm, a giant limb cracked off an old growth oak and smashed down into the intersection about 50 yards in front of me. that definitely spooked me, so i ducked into an open porch of some random house and waited for the worst of the storm to pass.

bmthom.gis

Look for the nearest bar or coffee shop We called that a good day in the Coast Guard

Riding in the rain is fun, unless it is heavy enough you can't see 10 feet in front of you, but those downpours don't last too long. Had that last week on a group ride and we just pulled off under an awning of a business and waited the worst of it out. Bike will be gritty, so clean it well after.

tarwheel 

I deal with this issue almost every day here during summer months. A 15-25% chance of rain would be a clear day around here and I would probably ride unless I had other compelling reasons to drive. I usually draw the line at about 50% but the forecasters around here are notoriously inaccurate at predicting rain. I have gotten caught in storms when forecasts called for a 0% chance of rain and more frequently we get no rain on days when forecasts are calling for 60-80% chance of rain.

I disagree with those who are downplaying the risks of riding in thunderstorms. The chances of getting hit by lightning might be slim, but your chances of getting hit by cars are not. Visibility is often very poor during heavy rain and drivers are much more likely to not see you. Add to that the risk from high winds, hail, falling limbs, slippery pavement, etc.

My most useful iPhone app is called MyRadar and simply shows radar views of storms. I consult this app frequently, particularly during the afternoons when my ride home is nearing. I often will delay my commute to allow time for a storm to pass and sometimes catch a ride home with coworkers. The worst situations are severe thunderstorms that "train" over the area and can produce rain, flash floods and lightning that last for hours. This happens often enough around here that I am very cautious about riding when radar shows approaching storms.

Bike Gremlin

My city is urban, so no risk of lightning - buildings are tall.

No risk of trees falling on my head - they're along the sidewalks, but not above most roads.

The streets are lit, I wear hi-viz vest and bright lights, so if drivers would see me in regular night, they should also see me in a thunderstorm.

Wind blows at my back at least 50% of the time. I'm a lucky bastard!

Pavement is no more slippery than in regular rain.

InTheRain

I ride on an MUP that has a lot of large Douglas fir trees. It's not the rain that scares me... it's wind. In that situation, I'll take the roads. Thunderstorms are kind of rare in this area. If they occur, I just have to wait them out.

pdlamb

I think we've had >=40% chance of rain for the last two weeks. I waited out a nasty thunderstorm before leaving work once last week, but my streak ended today -- I got seriously wet on my way to work. Good thing is, I didn't have to sweat!