Triumphrat

Whisperinsmith · 08-15-2005

i'm off for my first long haul this friday and the only thing i'm a little concerned about is what does a biker do in a thunder and lightening storm when on a lonely, empty country road with no shelter other than tall trees? and we know tall trees and lightening don't mix well. (actually, they mix too well!) i'm hoping to do mostly back, country roads to the VT Raid and the weather is fickle here.
it's been a long time since i've ridden for any length in rain and storm. 35 years ago, a four day trip was totally in rain, but my memory has washed it all away.
any suggestions welcomed. (no horsesh?t please)
thanks.

Hal9000 · 08-15-2005

I've wondered the same thing. I have read two reports of a motorcycle rider being struck by lightening... not pretty. Their is a lot of ground lightning around here this time of year. I stay off the bike when thunder storms are predicted.

AllanCook · 08-15-2005

What I seem to remember is to get off the road and off the bike. Someone once told me lightning likes motorcycles. I don't know if it's true, but the better part of wisdom probably would be to sit out the really heavy weatherm, which usually comes with high winds and driving rain. I have waited out storms under bridges where there hasn't been anywhere else to go.

Allan

Whisperinsmith · 08-15-2005

AllanCook,

thanks. i'm worried about the long stretch of country road and the sudden storm hitting me and no bridges or shelter to be found. but then again, faint heart never won fair lady. i guess i'll have to deal with it as best i can when it happens. hey, stories for the grandchildren...

i was thinking of just parking the bike and laying on the ground fairly flat (in my raingear) and waiting it out some distance from the bike. sound stupid??? i'm talking about serious lightning strikes, not just a tough storm. these seem to come up quickly through here on weather fronts on hot august days. they pass as quickly so waiting flat on the ground won't be too inconvenient. better that than zapped. i can't think of anything else to do that would be better. again, suggestions welcome.

[ This message was edited by: Whisperinsmith on 2005-08-15 08:29 ]

AllanCook · 08-15-2005

Getting flat on the ground is certainly the correct Boy Scout answer. I don't know about lying on the ground. I think sitting probably would be OK.

I know how suddenly those summer storms can come up. I very nearly drowned in Vermont once: When I turned west off I-91 at Brattleboro it was sunny and pleasant. Five miles later the sky turned absolutely inky black, lightning, thunder, the whole shebang, and it rained cats and dogs for two hours. Luckily I was able to hide out at a Sunoco station, but I would have been SOL if it hadn't been there. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your perspective) much of the Green Mountain State seems to be uninhabited.

Good luck. The riding is awfully good in Vermont.

Allan

lanwanman · 08-15-2005

Here are some helpful tips for lightning safety: Clicky

Be careful.

Whisperinsmith · 08-15-2005

lanwanman,
thanks for the article. after reading it, i do remember the part about having the smallest footprint. so crouching and feet close together is better than lying down. hope i don't have to stay in that position long!

and Allan, now i have to worry about floods???

as i said, i'm trying to prepare for a worst case senario and hope it never happens. just got to go and hit the road. as we said when i was in sailing, "wait for the weather, wait forever".

thanks again guys for the help. and as the mantra goes, "ride safe!"

ps i'll repeat, this is a great forum. i'd love to have the time to hook up with you all for a ride. so many different personalities.

[ This message was edited by: Whisperinsmith on 2005-08-15 09:35 ]

muss · 08-15-2005

thanks for the tips. i'm taking my first long road trip in a couple of weeks, from DC to tampa, FL. any other road trip tips? weather or otherwise?

i got caught in a thunderstorm in dc in march. i felt like a rolling lightning rod. we pulled up on the sidewalk and parked under an awning at the front door of some office building. it wasn't fun but the storm passed pretty quickly.

markbvt · 08-15-2005

Whisperinsmith -- I wouldn't worry too much. Rt 100 doesn't have too many sections that are devoid of population -- you shouldn't have to ride in the rain for more than ten or fifteen miles before finding a gas station or general store or someplace to stop. And sudden, severe thunderstorms are uncommon -- you'll almost always have some warning that the storm's approaching.

But as it happens, the weather forecast for the end of the week is pretty good. It should be an awesome weekend for the Raid.

--mark

Whisperinsmith · 08-15-2005

markbvt,

thanks for the update and i can't wait. it'll be a long ride to and from, but that's one reason i got the bike. i wish i had the replacement rear shocks beforehand, but another lesson learned. i'm learning i can't fix everything at once and most of the things i want to fix now are things i'm learning about from you guys here. for example, i wouldn't have had a clue about removing the ai or new pipes, etc. without reading it here.
can't wait to see you guys up at stowe!