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« on: July 09, 2019, 03:01:42 PM » |
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You're riding on the BRP.
A storm rolls in that you hadn't seen approaching from the other side of the mountain.
You passed the last exit road about 25 miles ago.
The next exit road is about 20 miles ahead.
The cloud is covering the road.
It's raining biblically.
Visibility is so bad you are riding at less than 10 m.ph.
Cars are driving at 20 m.p.h.
You stop in a pull off.
The cloud lifts but the rain is till hammering down.
There's thunder and lightning booming and flashing all around.
The pull off has a few stunted trees growing along it.
The rain water is nearly covering the toes of your boots.
Do you park the bike and shelter under the trees? Possibly they are the highest point apart from the nearby rock face.
Do you just stand like you are waiting for that one bolt of lightning?
Do you just sit on your bike (a BIG lump of metal) waiting for that one bolt of lightning?
Do you try to keep riding ( a big lump of metal)?
OR.............................................................?
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hubcapsc
Member
Posts: 16799
upstate
South Carolina
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« Reply #1 on: July 09, 2019, 03:42:14 PM » |
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Do you just stand like you are waiting for that one bolt of lightning? ^ this ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRnLKqCkTCI-Mike "I mean if you really can't see..."
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« Reply #2 on: July 09, 2019, 03:51:24 PM » |
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That's heavy rain. I really do mean biblical.  |
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old2soon
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« Reply #4 on: July 09, 2019, 05:06:17 PM » |
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Iffin the lightning hits ya you Will NEVER know it anywho providing it's a kill shot. Ridin slow in the rain be askin fer it. Cages smackin ya in da butt askin fer it. Most cage steering wheel holders-all dem years in a big truck has left me way less than understanding-be dumber then dog crap in dry sunshiny weather. Add inclement weather and the dumber than increases by at least a 100 fold. RIDE SAFE.
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Today is the tommorow you worried about yesterday. If at first you don't succeed screw it-save it for nite check. 1964 1968 U S Navy. Two cruises off Nam.
VRCCDS0240 2012 GL1800 Gold Wing Motor Trike conversion
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NewValker
Member
Posts: 1390
VRCC# 36356
Oxford, MA
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« Reply #5 on: July 09, 2019, 06:01:43 PM » |
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Yes sir, I been in that biblical rain & thunder on the BRP.
About 8 years ago, we left Little Switzerland heading to Robbinsville where we were staying.
I was on my 1800 VTX and my buddy on a wing. 50 miles into the storm, his lights shorted out. We stopped and couldn’t get them fixed, so he just stuck close to my 6.
At one point I felt the heat from lightning thru my rain gear must have been close.
We came upon a “river” crossing the road. We stopped and thought about our options...last exit was 15-20 miles back...water looked to be mid-calf deep. F-it, I hit it in 2nd gear, damn near stopped me dead, powered out of it.
Made it to Robbinsville just as the sun came out.
That was the longest, most stressful day I ever spent riding in the rain. Hopefully I’ve smartened up and won’t do it again.
Craig
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Turns out not what or where, but who you ride with really matters  |
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Moonshot_1
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« Reply #6 on: July 09, 2019, 06:20:59 PM » |
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In this particular situation, I'd pull far off the road in as safe an area possible. My guess is that at this point getting hit by a car is far greater by factors of magnitude than getting hit by lightning. Locate nearest shelter, tree, ditch, whatever is available.
If visibility is that bad for you it is bad for the cagers too.
Get off the road and begin to compose the post you will post here about your experience.
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Mike Luken
Cherokee, Ia.
Former Iowa Patriot Guard Ride Captain
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« Reply #7 on: July 09, 2019, 06:23:48 PM » |
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In this particular situation, I'd pull far off the road in as safe an area possible. My guess is that at this point getting hit by a car is far greater by factors of magnitude than getting hit by lightning. Locate nearest shelter, tree, ditch, whatever is available.
If visibility is that bad for you it is bad for the cagers too.
Get off the road and begin to compose the post you will post here about your experience.
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Jess from VA
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« Reply #8 on: July 09, 2019, 06:51:03 PM » |
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I've pulled off the BRP in tremendous rain/storm/lightning/mud rivers and it really gets dark too (and sometimes really soupy fog). It wasn't a turnout either, it was a crummy dirt path. For me, it's not the wet, it's the blind. Part of this is I wear corrective glasses, and when they get badly fouled I just can't see well enough to ride. (I can see well enough to drive with no glasses, but my DMV insists I wear them) After getting stuck on I-81 N, 20 miles from an exit, full stop for hours, in driving rain, I now always carry one of those small collapsible umbrellas. I could not have been more wet than if I fell in a swimming pool; rain gear is great, but at full stop for hours it fills up from the neck. Not one bastard would invite me to sit in their car either (though I'm not sure I'd invite me to sit in my car soaking wet). And in VA you cannot run up the breakdown lane (esp for 20 miles), the State Cops will give you big ticket (maybe reckless). A tractor trailer had overturned, and you knew the Troopers were all over the place up there. I don't care how goofy I might look, sitting on my bike under an umbrella beats the alternative. And off the bike, it's still a great item to have if you need it. And pick the shortest tree to shelter under. The only thing worse, on BRP, would be standing there in the rain, and have a black bear wander up with her cubs. |
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« Last Edit: July 09, 2019, 06:55:14 PM by Jess from VA »
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RudyF6
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« Reply #9 on: July 10, 2019, 06:02:17 AM » |
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Got caught out like that on the BRP myself a few years back. I'd been looking forward to crossing the Linn Cove Viaduct. Visibility was so bad I passed over it and never knew it.
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You can never be lost if you don't care where you're going!
98 "Tourerstate" (Std. with I/S bags/trunk)
98 Tourer solo ride
81 CBX
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Serk
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« Reply #10 on: July 10, 2019, 06:16:49 AM » |
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I'd pick the bike up and wedge it between two trees horizontally to make a shelter, then shelter in place until the storm passed.  |
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Never ask a geek 'Why?',just nod your head and slowly back away...  IBA# 22107 VRCC# 7976 VRCCDS# 226 1998 Valkyrie Standard 2008 Gold Wing Taxation is theft. μολὼν λαβέ |
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baldo
Member
Posts: 6961
Youbetcha
Cape Cod, MA
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« Reply #11 on: July 10, 2019, 08:39:27 AM » |
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I was at work when that line of cells marched across Boston. That boat was just a couple miles away. I've never seen rain like that. Very impressive. |
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MarkT
Member
Posts: 5196
VRCC #437 "Form follows Function"
Colorado Front Range - elevation 2.005 km
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« Reply #12 on: July 10, 2019, 08:48:30 AM » |
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DO NOT GET UNDER A TREE!!!!
Lightning kills are HUGE here. MOST of them are under a tree.
Get in a low point like a ditch and put your feet very close together and squat down. Of course if there's other shelter like an overpass, use it.
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« Last Edit: July 10, 2019, 08:51:30 AM by MarkT »
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« Reply #13 on: July 10, 2019, 08:54:15 AM » |
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Gryphon Rider
Member
Posts: 5232
2000 Tourer
Calgary, Alberta
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« Reply #14 on: July 10, 2019, 09:41:52 AM » |
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Once while in the city on a road running parallel to the main airport runway, so no side roads, I was caught in very heavy rain such that I could barely see, and lightning was striking fast and furious around me. I pulled onto the shoulder, but on my hazard lights, then went and crouched in the ditch until the worst had passed, about five minutes.
That's what I suggest - get off the road, get off the bike, and crouch in the nearest low spot away from trees. Intense storms with lightning tend to pass over fairly quickly.
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