Over the weekend we were riding through some areas of NJ that still show downed trees and storm damage from nearly 2 months ago. I got to wondering whether anyone has stories about being caught out in that mess on a bike? Yes, there were storm warnings... but they couldn't predict how bad it'd be and let's face it, it's summer so a lot of riders are good with goin' out regardless of forecast and "just riding home in the rain."

In case you don't live 'round here and for some reason want to know what a 'derecho' is, here ya go: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_20...erican_derecho

Rain, I'm okay with. 91 mph gusting thunderstorm, ah not so much.

 

There is a guy I work with who was caught in that storm (Lynchburg Va.) on a sport bike. A tree fell directly in front of him and there was no time to stop. He went down and spent a few days in the hospital. I was out of power for six days, real mess down here.

Shakey

 

Out 6 days in south NJ as well.

But I didn't hit a tree! He's lucky it fell in front of him.

 

A woman in DC was paralized by a tree falling on her.

I was at Spankys in Leesburg at the outside shack when the bartender said to a couple of us that we should get going. After kidding about being tossed out at 8pm she showed her phone and the weather ap had a solid red and yellow wall moving fast at us. I literally pulled in my garage as a wall of wind and rain started beating down and it was crazy. Thats hiding not riding weather.

 

On the way home from Sturgis last year i got caught in Vermont durring the heveisest part of Irene... All I had were dark sunglasses so i went without... I tried to stop but no hotels would open for me, nothing until I got to Concord NH and by that time i was almost home... The weirdest part was when id get hit by a gust of wind head on it would slow me down to almost 10 MPH from 45 to 50 Mph average It took me almost 10 hours to go 200 miles