Quote:
Mr. Planalp Sir,
You have balls. Interested in mentoring the youth of America?
Snakeboy66
Eh, more like I have stupidity. I wouldn't recommend anyone do that by choice: it's probably not the smartest move, but I didn't really have much choice in the matter. Some moderate-sized hail or 60mph+ winds would have been really bad. I have a new respect for hail after our house was hit a couple of years ago by hailstones bigger than baseballs and resulted in us getting a new roof, new shed and new car port. That stuff is wicked and easily capable of killing somebody when they're just standing in the yard, much less riding down the road.
How would you like to get hit with one of these?
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I actually usually avoid riding to work when thunderstorms are likely. The forecast yesterday called for them to remain South of this area so I decided to take the risk.
I also keep a mental list of "shelter" I can get to along the route, like a car wash, a gas station with a canopy, etc. where I can either seek refuge or stop and gear up if conditions change along the way. Unfortunately, there aren't that many of them. Last night I could see the lightning to the Northwest so put all my stuff on before I even left work.
Still, quite an experience and the most extreme weather I've ever ridden in.
It was an exceptional test of my hillbilly rain gear, though. I just wear one of those yellow PVC two-piece rain suits. I bought a pair of those black rubber farmer's type overshoes and was concerned they would be too bulky on the shift and brake levers, but no problems whatsoever. They worked great.
The only "biker-specific" piece of rain gear I have is my lobster-claw type Rain-Off gloves and they're a good product.
http://www.rain-off.com/Buy_Products.php
I was dry as a bone when I got home and I was impressed with the foul-weather test of my new Bell Revolver helmet: no leaks, no fogging.
I did rip the crotch out of my rain pants while fumbling around trying to get my overshoes on so will have to replace them. It's hard to find rain gear that will fit over the top of already-bulky 3x jackets and pants.
Me mentor the youth of America? Thanks, but probably not a good idea.