So I am on my way into my night class this evening, enjoying my usual commute, and guess what...it starts raining. "Sweet", I thought, it has been crazy hot here, and I was looking forward to a little cooling off. My commuter has fenders, I had my plastic bag for my brooks, so all was good right?

Yeaaaaaa, no!

It starting dumping buckets! I mean big buckets, and lightning, and hail! Seriously! I took respite in the entry way of a local chuch (I am in the south, there are more churches than businesses down here) thinking that I would just let it clear up and I would just be a few minutes late....well, a hour and a half later the lightning had just stopped and the water was 3 feet deep in front of the entry way where I was held up

I saw 4 cars flood out just in front of the chuch and the fire department was there towing people out.

I finally pushed my bike into the top tube high water, waded to higher ground 50 feet away, and rode home in the rain (crossing several places that the cars were "crawling through")

Here is the deal...I did not make it to class, and my brother who lives in the same general area and drove to class, did make it. Now I really do not care about missing the class, but it bothers me that I did not make it!

What should I have done? It was raining so hard that I could not see with my glasses on, and I could not ride with my eyes open with my glasses off...

How do you "full timers" deal with days like this? Are there times when one just flat cannot commute by bike? There were no real consequences attached to missing class, but I could imagine work situations that would not be as flexible...

FWIW - this is the first time in my 2 years of part-time bike commuting that I have not made it to my intended destination due to my choice to travel by bike...I do not like the feeling!

LP (looking forward to "beating" the forecasted rain on tomorrow's commute)

It starting dumping buckets! I mean big buckets, and lightning, and hail! Seriously!

...I saw 4 cars flood out just in front of the chuch and the fire department was there towing people out.

...How do you "full timers" deal with days like this? Are there times when one just flat cannot commute by bike?

...FWIW - this is the first time in my 2 years of part-time bike commuting that I have not made it to my intended destination
First off, congrats for sticking it out, and 2 years is a commendable record.

Secondly, I'm pretty dedicated. I've ridden to work in rain, snowstorms, and 8 degree weather. But severe lightning and hail (and especially high water) are things even I draw the line at.

My commute's not all that long, so I bear in mind the fact that if I can survive 60 minutes of soul-crushing agony in a Pro/Elite women's crit, then I can surely survive 20 minutes of whatever species of suffering Ma Nature has in store for me that day.

I would encourage you to above all, be safe. Venturing into floodwaters is nothing I'd recommend with any vehicle, including shanks' mare. And, your bro could simply have been lucky. Look at it from this angle: you got home, and the only drawback was missing a class. Had you taken your vehicle, it could have ended up one of the flooded ones, then you'd have had a considerably more costly set of problems than soggy socks and a chain to lube at the end of your adventure.

If you work for any employer that would penalise you for being late / missing work one day out of 2 years for these sorts of extreme weather conditions, then you really need to reconsider your employment situation. Hell I've colleagues that miss work every time one of their kids develops a hangnail. And cars can and do break down and need service. If I had a buck for every time one of my colleagues has called in the AM saying 'I've got to drop the car off at the dealer for bla, bla, bla..." (or cut out early, or take a 2.5 hour lunch, or whatever), I'd be a rich woman.

It starting dumping buckets! ... 3 feet deep in front of the entry way where I was held up ... I saw 4 cars flood out.... top tube high water, waded to higher ground 50 feet away

Just to echo LFR's comments, this sounds like exigent circumstances... 3 feet?!? That's called flash flood man and if they are holding classes during that, your school must be pretty darn dedicated.

I commute year 'round in the Pacific NW so I see my share of rain and just plan to have a dry set of clothes to change into and somewhere to stow my rain gear (wonderful gore-tex) while it drys. I too wear glasses and use this anti fogging product I found at a marine supply store to coat an older set of glasses I wear while commuting. That keeps the water rolling off if you're riding quick enough. It's never really been bad enough that I've taken the bus but there are days I think about it. I say make sure you have a bail out plan if you need it, know bus schedule/routes, etc.

I can't really complain about the weather out here in Hawaii, but there is a 2-3 month period when it rains alot. On the days of heavy rain, I ride my MTB instead of my normal commuter. Even though I ride the same route everyday, I don't have the potholes memorized. A rainy covered road looks the same and you have no idea what is under the puddle. On the rough section, I unlock the suspension and death grip the handlebars in case I hit a big hole. This is all in the dark. My alternative is to take the water taxi that runs from a dock 5 miles from my house to the pier across the street from my office. However, my biggest fear about riding in the rain is the ability of the drivers to see me. On a crystal clear morning, I have drivers say they didn't see me even though I have two tail lights with a total of 9 LEDs, a blinky on my helmet, reflective tape on the frame, anklebiters, reflective camelback, and a HID headlight.

If you work for any employer that would penalise you for being late / missing work one day out of 2 years for these sorts of extreme weather conditions, then you really need to reconsider your employment situation. Hell I've colleagues that miss work every time one of their kids develops a hangnail. And cars can and do break down and need service. If I had a buck for every time one of my colleagues has called in the AM saying 'I've got to drop the car off at the dealer for bla, bla, bla..." (or cut out early, or take a 2.5 hour lunch, or whatever), I'd be a rich woman.

I started thinking about that last night. I mean, I am usually EARLY to most places I go by bike because I plan ahead and usually leave early just in case of a flat (none in "05 - fingers crossed) but it seems that people, at least in my area of the country, are less...ummm...understanding of circumstances when they are brought on by my choice to ride a bike as opposed to drive.

More than that, I just really HATE to use the bike as an excuse for my absence/tardiness...I had almost rather lie!

Thanks for the reply

LP

BTW - On my commute today I rode by the "flooded" area from last night and I could still see the debris line in people's front yards on that particular street...CRAZY!

Just to echo LFR's comments, this sounds like exigent circumstances... 3 feet?!? That's called flash flood man and if they are holding classes during that, your school must be pretty darn dedicated.

I commute year 'round in the Pacific NW so I see my share of rain and just plan to have a dry set of clothes to change into and somewhere to stow my rain gear (wonderful gore-tex) while it drys. I too wear glasses and use this anti fogging product I found at a marine supply store to coat an older set of glasses I wear while commuting. That keeps the water rolling off if you're riding quick enough. It's never really been bad enough that I've taken the bus but there are days I think about it. I say make sure you have a bail out plan if you need it, know bus schedule/routes, etc.

This sounds like good advice, and I do always carry in a change of clothes as the heat this time of year requires it.

I have never really used our public transportation system. My commute is only about 26 miles round trip, so I have never had a problem from a distance standpoint. I can usually handle just about any weather for the 13 miles in, but today I did look into the bus routes just to know my closest options. I actually do own a dependable car, but I do not like to drive it. Maybe I should be less fierce in my convictions and a little more practical. I just hate feeling dependent on that thing, and I would really like to get to the point that I can do without it long term.

I also put a pair of clear saftey glasses in my saddlebag today for these rainy days. The problem was that my riding glasses were too dark and it just plain hurt without them on yesterday with the rain actually hitting my eyes. I think the clear glasses may do the trick.

FWIW on my commute home today, the sky was the most unbelievable shade of red/pink that I have seen all year...made me remember why I love to ride!

LP

On a crystal clear morning, I have drivers say they didn't see me even though I have two tail lights with a total of 9 LEDs, a blinky on my helmet, reflective tape on the frame, anklebiters, reflective camelback, and a HID headlight.

I often wonder how drivers miss seeing us sometimes. My 5 LED rear blinky has a random mode and I swear it is the most annoying thing I have ever laid eyes on. If you can not see that (or my reflective sidewall tires)...you should not be allowed to drive!

LP

...was not invented by the bicycle industry. In circumstances you describe, whip out that cell phone and call for help. How many of those driver's you saw were calling AAA. You can too. Your brother made it to class, then surely he could of swung by and grabbed you and the bike. It's commendable to be a consistent bike commuter and eliminate one more car, but it's also not a failure to ask for help when you need it.

Good job sticking it out.

Scot