General Cycling Discussion - hurricane biking

A cyclist navigates floodwaters as the National Guard transports residents to the Superdome after their neighborhoods were flooded by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. Although officials called for a mandatory evacuation of the city, many remained. AP Photo/Eric Gay
http://www.nola.com/cgi-bin/prxy/photogalleries/nph-cache.cgi/cache=3000;/nola/images/3683/2074993.jpg

i'm amazed he can pedal in that deep water

i'm amazed he can pedal in that deep water

2 feet of water is probably a lot safer than any helmet. I propose mandatory deep water in Sioux City for head protection for the safety of all cyclists.

A cyclist navigates floodwaters as the National Guard transports residents to the Superdome after their neighborhoods were flooded by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. Although officials called for a mandatory evacuation of the city, many remained. AP Photo/Eric Gay
http://www.nola.com/cgi-bin/prxy/photogalleries/nph-cache.cgi/cache=3000;/nola/images/3683/2074993.jpg

I wonder if he has any idea how bad that is for his hubs? :mad:

When I was a kid, we used to go down to the local marina and ride our bikes along the launching dock, off the end, and see who could go the furthest out into the lake. One guy went in over his head and kept going, then lost his bike at the bottom of the lake.

Riding in deep water when you're 10 and you don't care about things like hubs and bottom brackets and frames and such is fun!

I have a friend who lives in New Orleans. She said that when the water backs up, the manhole covers lift off and are displaced. She said the water is always muddy, so when the natives have to walk in it, they do the 'New Orleans shuffle" - they push their feet slowly in front of them so they can feel any holes that aren't covered.

This guy might be taking more of a chance than he realizes.

Just imagine the tailwind...

I wonder if he has any idea how bad that is for his hubs?

I was gonna write that he can just get a replacement from Wal-Mart (http://www.nbc10.com/news/4917570/detail.html) but that looks like a pretty sweet bike. I wonder if the bike shops are getting looted also.

As a New Orleans native, I'd worry less about my hubs but more about the crap soaking into my skin from the water. That is some nasty, poluted water down there. :eek:

That's the extreme commuting I was referring to before... :D

Amazingly not that hard to ride in deep water. Even easier uphill.

When you're on the downstroke your foot enters the water, if the water is rushing past you it actually pushes the pedals, on the upstroke the foot leaves the water and there's less resistance. Up to your knees it gets a bit tougher.
And really really bad for the hubs.
But hurricane season... i'd be riding too.

As a New Orleans native, I'd worry less about my hubs but more about the crap soaking into my skin from the water. That is some nasty, poluted water down there. :eek:

I take that is why you are living upstream now?