Forgot the Check the Weather?!?!?!?!?
 

For as long as I can remember it has been in the mid 90's and very high humidity around the house. For the first time that I can recall I did not glance at the weather before leaving for a ride because I assumed it was just going to another one of those days.

I drove up to the NC mountains to do a 75 miler thinking I'd get out of the heat. I get up a 5am and I'm up at my starting point at 6:30 am. Life is good.

The route starts with a pretty tough 6 mile climb with sections as steep as 19% grade. I'm about 2 miles into it and it starts to rain. The further I go the harder it is raining. I don't mind riding in the rain so much but I don't care for the electrical bolts-especially in the area I was going. If something happened they might not ever find the body!!!

After finishing the 6 mile climb I pull out my Blackberry and fortunately I have cell service. I check the weather radar and there is a huge green and yellow blob headed my way and would completely engulf my route. So, I head back down a do a few repeats of this 1500 ft climb. Finally the yellow blobs are over me and it's raining too hard to continue to comfortably negotiate the switchbacks on the descents.

I check the radar and find another mountainous area about 60 miles away that appears to be in the clear. I pack up and head that way. About 20 miles into the ride it starts raining, and raining and raining. But that's okay. It feels SO much better than the heat.

So probably some firsts for me today-not checking the weather map when heading out of town to ride.......and riding for a few hours, then stopping and going elsewhere to ride for several more hours. I used to think Cyclists were nuts........

+1

Most are...

Regardless of the weather, normal people don't do hill repeats up 19% grades. That's just wrong.

We rode 63 miles and it didn't rain until we were finished. Even then it was only a light rain.

Did Brushy from I-40 on Old Mountain thru Hiddenite with the Vashti / Judd Smith loop added and up Lithia Springs on the return trip from 421. We got sprinkled on a bit both times up Brushy, but nothing too bad. Looked a fair bit more nasty west and a bit north of where we were.:D It was a relief not to be melting under the sun and humidity for a change. It's been 2 1/2 months since I can say I was actually a little cool on a ride. Had to zip up the jersey on the descents.

And here I thought your hills did not require uou to drive to them.

Today in the Daks - 67 degrees and low humidity. I went for a long hike.

I guess I'm weird. I check the weather before leaving the house for my regular ride that starts at my front door.

This time of year thunder storms are the normal here. I always check local radar to see what's around.

August is our month for thunder storms and I just hope we get some. Rainfall in June was 5mm- we normally get 50mm. May and July have been the same. The farmers are in trouble with no pasture and Hay cutting has not been on so no winter feed this winter.

So yesterday was going for a ride. Weather forecast was the same as usual- Some showers but not within 50 miles of us. Bike ready and just as I started to change clothing for the ride- we had a drizzle. OK hang on for a bit. 5 hours later and still drizzling. Ride is today instead but no rain firecast- just a wind and overcast.

And jppe- why worry about a bit of lightning? I know it is disconcerting when you are up on top of the hills and you are riding the only bit of metal for miles around to act as a conductor- but I thought you rode C.F. nowadays.

And 7.20 am. Just about to go for a ride and just watched the weather forecast locally. No rain -no showers but plenty of overcast cloud. Better put the bike in the shed as it has just started raining. Might be a late ride today.

It's an hour till daylight here, in beautiful Buena Vista, VA (pronounched BYOONA Vista to those in the know.) I've planned a 110 mile ride mostly on the BRP for a week.

I've been obsessively hitting the 'refresh' button on my browser checking the local weather forecast to see if they've downgraded the chance of rain or upgraded the expected temperatures.

Yeah, I always check the weather :)

My sentiments exactly... I feel kind of ill just hearing about it.... :twitchy:

Since I ride all year round, I have a 5 day weather forecast set up on my lower task bar of my computer, so there's very little chance of forgetting to check the weather on my part.

Brushy is where I was the 2nd time. I met a group on Sulfur Springs Rd as I was headed out-probably around noon? It got pretty wet after getting close to the top. I did Lithia as well.