Inclimate weather

[Lise]

beta--in reply to your question on yesterday's thread, yeah, we got hit with the ~ 9:15 storm. I was having dinner on yet another first date--unfortunately the only place to go was into the very noisy bar, so the rain effectively wrapped up the date.

Today's weather is great. I wish I

1) hadn't just donated blood
and
2) weren't starting a 24 hr call shift tonight. It's a perfect day for riding.

But I'm wiped out, and going to nap before playing volleyball. Hope you got a good ride in. L.

[betagirl]

I took shelter at a gas station, where I could hang out with my bike. If I had been further into my route, I'm not sure where I would have stopped. Probably at a church or something where I could hide under an awning.

Chicago gets some doozy storms. Though tornadoes are rare this close into the city. Sometimes we do get water spouts on the lake though.

Lise - sorry about your date....stupid weather.

Deanna - love your signature line.

[Surlygirl]

I had a friend killed by lightning a half hour after the storm had passed on 4th of July 4 years ago. Please, always take shelter and its not safe a half hour before and a half hour after a storm. If you can hear it you are already in danger. You should also know what to do if you are caught in a storm with no shelter available.
http://www.lightningsafety.com/nlsi_pls.html

[DebW]

Thanks for the sobering reminder, Surlygirl. Apparently, awnings and porches and other places where you might get out of the rain with your bike are not really safe. The guideline said "inside a substantial building". So I'd better carry a bike lock on the "chance of thunderstorm" afternoons.

[Lise]

Wow, I did not know. Thanks for the information, and thanks, betagirl for asking the question. I've been cautious about riding in the rain because of the potential for wipe out, but cavalier about the risk of lightning. I'll be much more careful now.

[margo49]

OT but I am over 50 (just) so you young things will have to read on...

When I was touring in France I had camped for the night and gone to sleep. There had been summer thunderstorms for a few nights but I was too tired to put the fly-sheet that night. In the middle of the night I was awakened by lightening and raced outside to put up my fly-sheet and got it staked down before the thunder came

This was in the very old days when you had tent poles, pegs and ropes.