Friday Storm Stories

Were you on your bike when that crazy storm hit last Friday?  I just wrote mine up for the Gaper's Block discussion section, and am curious about how other cyclists handled the storm. So please share your bike storm story!  Here is mine, filled with rain and Good Samaritanism:

I was biking south on Damen, on my way to KitchenChicago to prep cook for my upcoming Gan Project weekend workshop that included a picnic
lunch. When the storm presented while I was at the Addison intersection,
first I only felt a few sprinkles but then saw the black cloud above,
and knew what was coming.

In the first five minutes, it was fun to ride in the storm, the thunder and lightning were really thrilling. But
after five minutes, I felt it was too dangerous to be out there,
particularly because I didn't have confidence that the cars could see me
with the rain falling horizontally onto their windshields.

That said, before I went to take shelter at a minimart at Damen and Diversey, a car
full of Latino men pulled down their window, one man smiled at me, I
thought he was going to say something about me being out there, but
instead, he handed me an unused garbage bag to fashion into an emergency
poncho. I poked a hole for my head and two for my arms, and thought
that was the nicest thing in the world that anyone could have done to me
on that wet Friday afternoon.

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Permalink Reply by Tank-Ridin' Ryan on June 24, 2010 at 5:02am
Umm..what? People do ride bikes outside, ya know.Bike Bloke said:
Off topic. This is a biking blog. Isn't there a golf blog you can put this on?
Permalink Reply by kayaktjb on June 24, 2010 at 8:20am
Office in Lisle was evacuated to basement of building because of tornado threat. Storm whomped through. I sensed an opening and hightailed the 1.5 miles to Lisle Metra station, where I caught train to Chicago. In the city everything seemed fresh and a bit chastened by the storm. I rode home without incident. It was a guilty pleasure to have dodged the storm.

Last night's blow was a blast. Stranded on Metra in Oak Park so bailed from the train. Biked back to Wicker Park via Augusta with lightening bolts illuminating the sky. Zipped around puddles swollen to near ponds at spots. Again avoided the worst of the storm.
Permalink Reply by Scott Hawley on June 24, 2010 at 10:32am
Last night (Wednesday) after work spent a few hours peoplewatching, talking with tourists and 9-5ers standing undercover. You know they all think we're nuts? I wasn't putting my bike on the el- I had no plans anyways really except to ride home, so didn't mind waiting for the lightning to stop at least.. got soaked on my morning commute. Was treated to this awesome sky around 8:30 before leaving downtown:



Tom Bamonte said:
Office in Lisle was evacuated to basement of building because of tornado threat. Storm whomped through. I sensed an opening and hightailed the 1.5 miles to Lisle Metra station, where I caught train to Chicago. In the city everything seemed fresh and a bit chastened by the storm. I rode home without incident. It was a guilty pleasure to have dodged the storm.

Last night's blow was a blast. Stranded on Metra in Oak Park so bailed from the train. Biked back to Wicker Park via Augusta with lightening bolts illuminating the sky. Zipped around puddles swollen to near ponds at spots. Again avoided the worst of the storm.
Permalink Reply by Tank-Ridin' Ryan on June 24, 2010 at 11:40am
I stole that first picture for my background at work.

Scott Hawley said:
Last night (Wednesday) after work spent a few hours peoplewatching, talking with tourists and 9-5ers standing undercover. You know they all think we're nuts? I wasn't putting my bike on the el- I had no plans anyways really except to ride home, so didn't mind waiting for the lightning to stop at least.. got soaked on my morning commute. Was treated to this awesome sky around 8:30 before leaving downtown:



Tom Bamonte said:
Office in Lisle was evacuated to basement of building because of tornado threat. Storm whomped through. I sensed an opening and hightailed the 1.5 miles to Lisle Metra station, where I caught train to Chicago. In the city everything seemed fresh and a bit chastened by the storm. I rode home without incident. It was a guilty pleasure to have dodged the storm.

Last night's blow was a blast. Stranded on Metra in Oak Park so bailed from the train. Biked back to Wicker Park via Augusta with lightening bolts illuminating the sky. Zipped around puddles swollen to near ponds at spots. Again avoided the worst of the storm.
Permalink Reply by CITGO Cycling on June 24, 2010 at 10:55pm
Tour De Storms
Two weekends ago we were in DeKalb for the Bike MS ride "Tour De Farms". A storm rolled in about mid-morning. The MS volunteers did a great job of clearing the route ahead of the storm. But some people decided to stay out and got caught in the fury. Some took refuge in barns (see photo). One couple was literally blown off the road in the 50 mph winds. They had to lie in a ditch for about 15 minutes until a passerby noticed them and offered a ride.
The group I was with took cover in a small school that was at one of the break points. The ride was cancelled after about 2 hours of waiting. Radar showed wave after wave heading our way. A break in the rain and we all rode back to DeKalb. Got about 55 miles in for the day. The goal was to ride a century. We didn't get anymore rain that day.
On Day two we got out early and rode the whole 75 mile route without incident, but about 2 hours later the skies opened again. Most of our team made it in before the rains but one couple in their 50's came rolling in about 10 minutes later soaked to the gills.
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Permalink Reply by Lisa yeah on June 25, 2010 at 6:31am
Is this your blog, Cricket? I love it! Just added it to my favorites.

Cricket said:
Permalink Reply by Lisa yeah on June 25, 2010 at 6:50am
Ricardo, that's kind of how I weathered Wednesday's Storm. I got off the Blue Line and could barely see across the street. So I waited awhile, but it wasn't passing over or letting up. So I ran across to the Logan Bar and watched the Mets game. Tornado warnings are much more enjoyable sitting w/ your neighbors over beers.

Ricardo said:
I decided to chance it as my co-workers told me in passing that I should leave very soon. The second I passed the lasalle bridge, the ominous sky came down on me with such fury that I got knocked of my bike at a red light on kinzie. Luckily there was a bar right up the street as I blindly rode to it. I waited the storm out; however a PBR was $4.00! The ride home consisted of tree branches everywhere and garbage all over milwaukee.
Permalink Reply by John Casey on June 25, 2010 at 3:23pm
I was leading a bike tour minutes before the storm started last Friday. We just got our bikes back into the shop when the rain hit and the wind started blowing trash cans.

My luck ran out later in the day. I went to a movie in Lakeview and when I got out the second storm hit. I waited for about a half hour in the lobby and then decided to just push my way through on my bike and get home.

Not a great choice. Admittedly the second storm was not as bad as the first, but the rain was vertical and felt like bb's hitting my skin, the wind about 25 mph, and there was nearly a foot of standing water on the road. Somehow I got home alive. I think my grandmother was praying for me. She knows I'm a stubborn fool.
Permalink Reply by Rich on July 1, 2010 at 4:00pm
It's a 30 foot Pearson from 1976. An awesome little boat. I saw the exact boat you mentioned once we were reentering the harbor.

Clark said:
Great sailing story Rich. Glad you posted...even if it is on a "biking blog." What kind of sailboat were you out on, and how large was it? Glad you were able to get the sails down and the engine started before the big blow hit. I drove past Monroe Harbor about 5:30 pm last Friday and there was a sizable sailboat moored just inside the breakwater with sails just ripped to ribbons, and still flying in the wind.

Rich said:
I decided not to ride to work that day because I was to sail to St. Joe's....
Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on July 1, 2010 at 4:05pm
John, what bike tours do you lead?

John Casey said:
I was leading a bike tour minutes before the storm started last Friday. We just got our bikes back into the shop when the rain hit and the wind started blowing trash cans.
Permalink Reply by John Casey on July 1, 2010 at 4:18pm
I work for a company called Bobby's Bike Hike. Located on McClurg and Illinois. Right behind the Fox and Obel store. I was bringing back the Lakefront Neighborhoods Tour.

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