[physcocyclist]

Well today I forgot to check the weather report before leaving for a ride and it kicked my ass. It was looking like a nice day until I saw some really nasty looking clouds rolling in in front of me. My luck held out till right after my turn around point (32 miles in). I went from riding in the nice Florida sun to complete down pour. Now here is the part I want all of your opinions. Do you keep riding, or find some type of shelter to wait out the nastiness? From what I saw on the road about the decision was pretty much 50/50. I personally figured wet is wet and kept going, but was being extra cautions and turned on my rear red strobe.

 

[Tommy Walker]

My vote is for shelter. I worry about the wet rodes and slipping.

 

[Erion929]

As long as I had enough daylight and the skies didn't look like all day rain, I'd wait it out. Maybe a cheeseburger or a few tacos wouldn't hurt

**

 

[MarshallH1987]

ride through it. I rode through hail a couple weeks back, it was small and mixed about 30 (hail)/ 70 (rain) so it wasn't too bad. Usually i only top and hide if lightning gets really close.

 

[TomBrooklyn]

From the title, I was wondering what "it" was.

 

[kdiehl]

From the title, I was wondering what "it" was.

I wondered what he was selling.

 

[dgeesaman]

I would take shelter. In really bad conditions drivers will have a harder time seeing you and be able to make adjustments.

Dave

 

[Marc]

Unless there is active lightning keep riding. You stop, and you're going to get wet and risk slipping due to the soaked roads anyway.

 

[oroy38]

http://www.velominati.com/blog/the-rules/

See Rule 9.

If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.

If I have a scheduled ride, I do it rain or shine at the time that I scheduled. If it's really wet and slippery, I just make sure to take extra care when cornering and descending.

 

[Kerry Irons]

Reading the weather

Well today I forgot to check the weather report before leaving for a ride and it kicked my ass. It was looking like a nice day until I saw some really nasty looking clouds rolling in in front of me. My luck held out till right after my turn around point (32 miles in). I went from riding in the nice Florida sun to complete down pour. Now here is the part I want all of your opinions. Do you keep riding, or find some type of shelter to wait out the nastiness? From what I saw on the road about the decision was pretty much 50/50. I personally figured wet is wet and kept going, but was being extra cautions and turned on my rear red strobe.

Sometimes you can see that the rain is going to be of short duration (small dark cloud, moving fast) and so it might be worth stopping. Other times, it looks like you're in for a wet couple of hours, and there's no point in trying to wait it out. Most times, we just keep going because you'll ride out of it if you keep going and you'll sit under it if you don't.

 

[fabsroman]

Well today I forgot to check the weather report before leaving for a ride and it kicked my ass. It was looking like a nice day until I saw some really nasty looking clouds rolling in in front of me. My luck held out till right after my turn around point (32 miles in). I went from riding in the nice Florida sun to complete down pour. Now here is the part I want all of your opinions. Do you keep riding, or find some type of shelter to wait out the nastiness? From what I saw on the road about the decision was pretty much 50/50. I personally figured wet is wet and kept going, but was being extra cautions and turned on my rear red strobe.

It depends on a lot of variables. If it is a downpour that I think will limit the sight of drivers or cause them to be worried about more on the road than just the cyclist in the right lane, I seek shelter. If the wind is howling or I see lightning, I seek shelter. About the only time I ride in the rain nowadays is when it is just a slight drizzle. Wet is wet, but dead is dead.

As a teenager I used to ride through downpours, lighting, high wind, ice on the road, etc., but that was before I had a wife and kids and before I had much common sense.

 

[Mr. Versatile]

It depends. I've pulled over a stopped for a few minutes when I was driving because the visibility was so bad. This was in daylight. If visibility isn't too bad I'll keep going. Might as well ride because you can only get so wet, then it doesn't matter. If there's lightening I seek immediate shelter. If you stay on your bike you're virtually riding a lightening rod.

 

[waldo425]

I would just keep riding.

 

[asciibaron]

i typically just ride unless there is hail. then i ride faster

 

[DaveG]

depends

Well today I forgot to check the weather report before leaving for a ride and it kicked my ass. It was looking like a nice day until I saw some really nasty looking clouds rolling in in front of me. My luck held out till right after my turn around point (32 miles in). I went from riding in the nice Florida sun to complete down pour. Now here is the part I want all of your opinions. Do you keep riding, or find some type of shelter to wait out the nastiness? From what I saw on the road about the decision was pretty much 50/50. I personally figured wet is wet and kept going, but was being extra cautions and turned on my rear red strobe.

Rain only - keep riding
Rain with lightning nearby - wait it out

 

[BikeRider]

Back in the 80's I was out riding and got caught in a rain shower. Around here in the summer the showers are usually localized over a fairly small area but can be intense. Anyway I went for about a mile in the rain and then decided to turn in at a strip mall where I could get under a roof and wait the rain out. That was my big mistake(instead of just continuing) as I turned right at the corner my bike slipped out under me and I landed bad on my left side breaking my hip.

I usually just keep on riding if I get caught in the rain, however sometimes I'll still take cover if it's convenient.