Craziest weather you've ever been through?
- Thread starter pashnit
- Start date
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Ya' see, this is one of the great aspects of sport touring, the bench touring! :laughing
Well, here's my wind story -- it's not really sport touring, per se, since I was on my Road Star when it happened. BUT, when I was living in Missouri, I decided to ride to Sturgis one year with a buddy of mine who also rode a Roadie. The ride was great as we headed north along the Missouri River until we hit over by South Dakota. That's when we cut West to head toward the Black Hills and Sturgis.
I never got a report on the actual wind speeds, but all the way across the state, the winds were blowing constantly, causing me and my 700 lb. hung of Japanese steel to lean hard left just to maintain a straight Westward line on the Interstate. Top that off with constant 105 degree heat, by the time we got to Sturgis proper, the centers of my tires had been flattened in a slant to the left. It was brutal! (But makes for great bench touring fodder
)
Well, here's my wind story -- it's not really sport touring, per se, since I was on my Road Star when it happened. BUT, when I was living in Missouri, I decided to ride to Sturgis one year with a buddy of mine who also rode a Roadie. The ride was great as we headed north along the Missouri River until we hit over by South Dakota. That's when we cut West to head toward the Black Hills and Sturgis.
I never got a report on the actual wind speeds, but all the way across the state, the winds were blowing constantly, causing me and my 700 lb. hung of Japanese steel to lean hard left just to maintain a straight Westward line on the Interstate. Top that off with constant 105 degree heat, by the time we got to Sturgis proper, the centers of my tires had been flattened in a slant to the left. It was brutal! (But makes for great bench touring fodder
)
Beauregard
Aut Agere Aut Mori
Coming home from a date in Oakland at 0145, right as I hit Highway 17 it starts to rain and through the torrent I can see the AMBER ALERT sign flashing "DENSE FOG AHEAD." Sure enough as soon as I hit the summit the fog was so thick I couldn't go more than 15 mph. Being that I was the only one on the road I was for-sure that if I ditched no one would find what's left of me until morning. The fog lasted all the way to Scotts Vally and all I could think was "was this date worth it?" - she was.
deaconblues
Roads Scholar
Re: One More
Eisenhower tunnel - and yah, the damn thing is around 9000 feet altitude or better so it's damned cold. Never rode thru it but driven thru countless times (I'm from that part of the country originally).
The bad thing about that tunnel is, it crosses the Continental Divide, so you can be in clear weather on the lee (eastern) side, and a mile or so later, you come out in a snowstorm that is DUMPING on the western side, so you go from dry road to snowpack and ice in the space of a hundred feet. So read the helpful signage in the tunnel - they do want you to not get into a wreck as soon as you come out from Underhill....
As for myself, when we did this little group ride day trip (600 miles or so, reall y not much) up Hwy 4 over the Sierras, we get up clsoe to the summit and we see signs of recent rain all over - puddles and such. We ask around yah, it was raining HARD just a few minutes ago... but we press on anyway. We got into pretty heavy rain a mile later, in the 'one lane' section going over the summit and down the eastern side.
Let me tell you, Hwy 4 coming down to Markleeville is TWISTY. And when it's wet, you REALLY don't want to press your luck. Well, one rider did... seems he's also a dirt rider, and treats lack of traction as an excuse to powerslide his TLR around corners. Ooo-kay. I'm starting to get a bit skittish, but w get down to the bottom, the road dries out a bit, and we had a pretty clear shot to the junction with 89. Ran into a bit of a sprinkle going over Monitor... but stayed clear of the heavy stuff all the way into Walker.
We're eating lunch there at Walker Burger, doing some bench stories, when we hear thunder. Seems we skirted the edge of the storm, and the main portion is bearing right down on us. Lightning, heavy rain, hail... we boogied south on 395 to try and stay ahead of it but the damned storm is headed EAST... and right at the 108 junction it starts raining so quick it looked like a curtain travelling down the road towards us. We all get drenched instantly, I'm following someone in a 4Runner and I can see (through the torrent of rain across my visor) that his tires are making wakes as they plow a half-inch of water off the road. Then our TLR guy goes blitzing by me at 70+... I'm thinking, screw that, I can't even SEE, the only way I can tell asphalt from sagebrush and chapparal is that the blurriness changes colors off to the sides, and those SUV taillights are mighty useful to navigate by... my buddy says he was using MY tail and brake light to tell which way to go, and if I'd have run off the road, he'd have followed me.
About a mile or so later, the rain eased up and the sun started thinking about making an appearance so some of the guys stopped to take pictures.
I pulled over in a turnout a littleways up the road, then I realize, I'm in two inches of soaking wet pea gravel, the grade is easily in the 20% range or better, and I'm on a sportbike. oh hell. Tried to get it rolling, ended up doing a 180 with the back wheel and laying the bike down. oh hell squared, cubed even. Got it up and running (damned flooded carbs!) and we all got rolling up and over to Dardanelles where several cups of coffee all got us semi-warm and cheerful again.
BTW, our TLR rider warns everyone that the type of riding he was doing was definitely the "professional loony on an almost deserted road, don't try this trick at home" variety. Not recommended, even if you're insane AND gifted.
DMcTriumph said:
Eisenhower tunnel - and yah, the damn thing is around 9000 feet altitude or better so it's damned cold. Never rode thru it but driven thru countless times (I'm from that part of the country originally).
The bad thing about that tunnel is, it crosses the Continental Divide, so you can be in clear weather on the lee (eastern) side, and a mile or so later, you come out in a snowstorm that is DUMPING on the western side, so you go from dry road to snowpack and ice in the space of a hundred feet. So read the helpful signage in the tunnel - they do want you to not get into a wreck as soon as you come out from Underhill....
As for myself, when we did this little group ride day trip (600 miles or so, reall y not much) up Hwy 4 over the Sierras, we get up clsoe to the summit and we see signs of recent rain all over - puddles and such. We ask around yah, it was raining HARD just a few minutes ago... but we press on anyway. We got into pretty heavy rain a mile later, in the 'one lane' section going over the summit and down the eastern side.
Let me tell you, Hwy 4 coming down to Markleeville is TWISTY. And when it's wet, you REALLY don't want to press your luck. Well, one rider did... seems he's also a dirt rider, and treats lack of traction as an excuse to powerslide his TLR around corners. Ooo-kay. I'm starting to get a bit skittish, but w get down to the bottom, the road dries out a bit, and we had a pretty clear shot to the junction with 89. Ran into a bit of a sprinkle going over Monitor... but stayed clear of the heavy stuff all the way into Walker.
We're eating lunch there at Walker Burger, doing some bench stories, when we hear thunder. Seems we skirted the edge of the storm, and the main portion is bearing right down on us. Lightning, heavy rain, hail... we boogied south on 395 to try and stay ahead of it but the damned storm is headed EAST... and right at the 108 junction it starts raining so quick it looked like a curtain travelling down the road towards us. We all get drenched instantly, I'm following someone in a 4Runner and I can see (through the torrent of rain across my visor) that his tires are making wakes as they plow a half-inch of water off the road. Then our TLR guy goes blitzing by me at 70+... I'm thinking, screw that, I can't even SEE, the only way I can tell asphalt from sagebrush and chapparal is that the blurriness changes colors off to the sides, and those SUV taillights are mighty useful to navigate by... my buddy says he was using MY tail and brake light to tell which way to go, and if I'd have run off the road, he'd have followed me.
About a mile or so later, the rain eased up and the sun started thinking about making an appearance so some of the guys stopped to take pictures.
I pulled over in a turnout a littleways up the road, then I realize, I'm in two inches of soaking wet pea gravel, the grade is easily in the 20% range or better, and I'm on a sportbike. oh hell. Tried to get it rolling, ended up doing a 180 with the back wheel and laying the bike down. oh hell squared, cubed even. Got it up and running (damned flooded carbs!) and we all got rolling up and over to Dardanelles where several cups of coffee all got us semi-warm and cheerful again.
BTW, our TLR rider warns everyone that the type of riding he was doing was definitely the "professional loony on an almost deserted road, don't try this trick at home" variety. Not recommended, even if you're insane AND gifted.
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Whodat
200k mile club
Went for a ride up Berryessa way on a cloudy day. Made it to Middleton when the sky turned dark and the heavens opened up, quickly found out that Joe Rocket is waterproof for all of about one minute. One hundred miles to home and it poured the whole way, I was leaving a wake on Butts Canyon Rd. The only time it quit raining was when I was crossing the Benicia bridge in heavy traffic, when it freakin hailed. I finally made it home, took hours to stop shivering, sat in the shower under hot water until it ran out then crawled under the electric blanket and still could not get warm. I'm getting cold now just thinking about it. :laughing
ro-monster
Well-known member
This wasn't really crazy weather, it was normal for Denver, where I lived at the time (1980). But it's probably the dumbest thing I've ever done on a bike.
I rode over to my bf's house in dry clear weather. Next morning I woke up to snow and ice everywhere. They didn't sand or salt the roads in Denver, so they were always covered by a sheet of ice the morning of a snowfall. And I decided to ride home anyhow.
It was 5 miles, ice all the way. Things were fine until I had to make a right turn from a crowned street. I got over toward the curb where the street sloped and my tires zipped out from under me sideways. Oops. Luckily no cars hit me, and I was only going about 15 mph, so there was little damage, although the bike slid for some way.
I was so embarrassed I just picked the bike up, got on, and rode the rest of the way home.
I rode over to my bf's house in dry clear weather. Next morning I woke up to snow and ice everywhere. They didn't sand or salt the roads in Denver, so they were always covered by a sheet of ice the morning of a snowfall. And I decided to ride home anyhow.
It was 5 miles, ice all the way. Things were fine until I had to make a right turn from a crowned street. I got over toward the curb where the street sloped and my tires zipped out from under me sideways. Oops. Luckily no cars hit me, and I was only going about 15 mph, so there was little damage, although the bike slid for some way.
I was so embarrassed I just picked the bike up, got on, and rode the rest of the way home.
deaconblues
Roads Scholar
Colorado - where if you don't like the weather, wait 5 minutes, or walk (drive) a mile or two. Where thunderstorms dump all the rain on one side of the valley, and the lightning all strikes the other side. Where you can get one major storm all winter, but then get to watch the snow from it blow back and forth for three more months. Where rainfall fifteen miles away can turn that dry gulch behind your house into your own whitewater rafting park for an hour or so.
you get the idea.
Great riding country though... just dress for anything.
you get the idea.
Great riding country though... just dress for anything.
pashnit
Hayabusa Immortal
Ok, this one got me beat by a mile!! Makes a good read!
Text excerted off CycleWorld.com
"...Around 4, the snow steadily starts to come down harder. I have rode in snow before, but I don’t go looking for it. It’s still very windy and is getting close to dark. The snow is now collecting on the sides of the road so I slow to 70. The traffic is still grooving so I just stick it in the left lane and ride in the car in front of mine right tire line. Finally the snow starts to really come down, it’s definitely time to get a hotel for the night. No way I’m making it to Louisville. I stop at the next exit, it was a reststop. I checked out the TV and sure enough, a huge patch of snow had moved in and it was only getting worse. Current temp, 26. As I stood in the rest stop entrance to warm up, people kept coming in and as soon as they saw me they would smile, “You the guy on that bike?!” One guy offered a vest from his car but I told him I was warm. Another offered me a ride if I needed to leave the bike, uh…no. I was greeted with a lot of “Man your crazy” and “your insane”. Cagers just don’t understand, do they?
I start looking for a hotel and the next exit doesn’t have one but it does have a nasty 4 car wreck. I start lanes splitting and get to the over pass. Four cars have played bumper-car with the rails and each other. These roads are getting bad quick. I cut through the mess and hear a cop yell to another, “Look at this S.O.B.” I’ll take that as a compliment. Right when he says it my back tire breaks loose coming around to my left. A light hand and staying calm is the only thing that saved that one. Every over pass after that has me sliding the rear. I passed about 4 more exits before a hotel, each exit had police and fire truck cleaning up multiple car wrecks on the overpasses. PLEEEASE let there be a hotel at the next exit. Next one, no. Next one, no. Finally after 20 minutes I see “Lincoln Inn”. I don’t care if they have 2-foot rats, get me off this damn interstate!
I thought the interstate was bad! Now I’m in packed, glazed snow. The sign says 2 miles to the Inn. I have to keep my feet down the whole way..."
Text excerted off CycleWorld.com
"...Around 4, the snow steadily starts to come down harder. I have rode in snow before, but I don’t go looking for it. It’s still very windy and is getting close to dark. The snow is now collecting on the sides of the road so I slow to 70. The traffic is still grooving so I just stick it in the left lane and ride in the car in front of mine right tire line. Finally the snow starts to really come down, it’s definitely time to get a hotel for the night. No way I’m making it to Louisville. I stop at the next exit, it was a reststop. I checked out the TV and sure enough, a huge patch of snow had moved in and it was only getting worse. Current temp, 26. As I stood in the rest stop entrance to warm up, people kept coming in and as soon as they saw me they would smile, “You the guy on that bike?!” One guy offered a vest from his car but I told him I was warm. Another offered me a ride if I needed to leave the bike, uh…no. I was greeted with a lot of “Man your crazy” and “your insane”. Cagers just don’t understand, do they?
I start looking for a hotel and the next exit doesn’t have one but it does have a nasty 4 car wreck. I start lanes splitting and get to the over pass. Four cars have played bumper-car with the rails and each other. These roads are getting bad quick. I cut through the mess and hear a cop yell to another, “Look at this S.O.B.” I’ll take that as a compliment. Right when he says it my back tire breaks loose coming around to my left. A light hand and staying calm is the only thing that saved that one. Every over pass after that has me sliding the rear. I passed about 4 more exits before a hotel, each exit had police and fire truck cleaning up multiple car wrecks on the overpasses. PLEEEASE let there be a hotel at the next exit. Next one, no. Next one, no. Finally after 20 minutes I see “Lincoln Inn”. I don’t care if they have 2-foot rats, get me off this damn interstate!
I thought the interstate was bad! Now I’m in packed, glazed snow. The sign says 2 miles to the Inn. I have to keep my feet down the whole way..."
soniq
Well-known member
I grew up in the Philippines. I was 15 years old and it was monsoon season. One fine morning it was raining cats and dogs outside, and the humidity indoors was just about 100% and 90 degrees, so I thought now might be a great time to go for a cooling off fun ride.
So I donned my riding gear, t-shirt, shorts, and flip-flops, fired up the CB125, and took off to cruise around the barrio. After about 15 minutes of being bombarded by raindrops that felt like big ball bearings, not to mention being without eye protection, fun quickly turned to pain. I decided that I'd had enough of this, so I turn around and head back.
I was riding on a road along the river, and what was just a few inches of splash earlier had swelled to over a foot of red-colored muddy floodwater and I found myself axle-deep in it. No problem, I can handle it, just keep the revs up so the water doesn't kill the engine, I though. Pretty soon though the water was half way up my legs and getting deeper.
Just a few blocks from home the engine stalls. Oh great! Water had gotten into the airbox. So as I sat there feeling stupid, I hear the sound of a diesel engine coming up behind me at a high rate of speed. I turn around and see a smoke-belching fully loaded lumber truck. I wasn't worried about the truck...it was what was right behind it...a tsunami wake, and just as the truck passes me I get broadsided by the wave and it knocks me over.
Man I was pissed! All I could do was get up, spit out some of the filthy water I had ingested, give him both middle fingers with full emotion, pick up the bike, and start pushing. Of course I lost my rubber slippers that had floated away, so I had to make it the rest of the way barefoot.
Lesson learned. Wear boots next time.
So I donned my riding gear, t-shirt, shorts, and flip-flops, fired up the CB125, and took off to cruise around the barrio. After about 15 minutes of being bombarded by raindrops that felt like big ball bearings, not to mention being without eye protection, fun quickly turned to pain. I decided that I'd had enough of this, so I turn around and head back.
I was riding on a road along the river, and what was just a few inches of splash earlier had swelled to over a foot of red-colored muddy floodwater and I found myself axle-deep in it. No problem, I can handle it, just keep the revs up so the water doesn't kill the engine, I though. Pretty soon though the water was half way up my legs and getting deeper.
Just a few blocks from home the engine stalls. Oh great! Water had gotten into the airbox. So as I sat there feeling stupid, I hear the sound of a diesel engine coming up behind me at a high rate of speed. I turn around and see a smoke-belching fully loaded lumber truck. I wasn't worried about the truck...it was what was right behind it...a tsunami wake, and just as the truck passes me I get broadsided by the wave and it knocks me over.
Man I was pissed! All I could do was get up, spit out some of the filthy water I had ingested, give him both middle fingers with full emotion, pick up the bike, and start pushing. Of course I lost my rubber slippers that had floated away, so I had to make it the rest of the way barefoot.
Lesson learned. Wear boots next time
.
