on a ride have you ever wondered if your Buddy got vaporized ?

[splat]

well That is what Happeneded to night ! toward the end of our ride , a storm was moving in, the sky was flashing and rumbling and getting closer. we were high tailing it out and I was at the top of the last hill with Csharpdev ( just before the decent home ) and Berkshire_rder and Old&slow were coming up the hill and were about 150 feet from us when a Flash and crack that struck Between us ! Csharpdev and My self grabbed our Bike and rode like hell down that Hill! on to the road , then the heavens opened up with rain and Lightining stikes all around us for the 1/3 mile ride of road home . we made it , and a couple minutes later Old&slow and Berkshire_rider came and Joined us! quite an Ending to a Fun ride! Also proving to us that they were not turned into a Pile of ash. But I'll tell you , if I was n't soaking wet as I was , all my hair would have been standing on end after that Lighting stike ! it was that Close !



But lets start from the begging, it was thursday Night ride time , and we had quite a crew tonight !
here isthe crew from left to right

Csharpdev, old&slow, Kevin Montgomery, SloMoJo, Ben-O , with Evil:bota Right behind him, Ocron, CP, MCD, quo_fan and IF_rider . ( not pictured , Splat, Bdee and Berkshire_rider ) .
http://home.comcast.net/~jgoeller/bike/june16/IM007987.jpg

Evil:Bota on the New Iron Horse MK III climbing a rock

http://home.comcast.net/~jgoeller/bike/june16/IM007991.jpg

The gang ridng down some rocks

cp, Kevin Montgomery, Quo_fan, Csharpdev and MCD

http://home.comcast.net/~jgoeller/bike/june16/IM007993.jpg

evil:bota Continues on. Unfortunatly a little later Evil would take a couple of hard crashes and call it a night maybe he was hte smart one , I think he beat the rain!

http://home.comcast.net/~jgoeller/bike/june16/IM007996.jpg



IF_rider

http://home.comcast.net/~jgoeller/bike/june16/IM007997.jpg

quo_fan

http://home.comcast.net/~jgoeller/bike/june16/IM008000.jpg

and for some reason , my camera has suddenly decided at night it doesn't need a flash , but during the day it works great ???????


any way here is my last one for tonight

Ocron navigating a rock garden in the dark .
http://home.comcast.net/~jgoeller/bike/june16/IM008009.jpg

[Quo Fan]

It was great. Got back to the car just as the heavens decided to open up.

Had a fantastic ride with new and old friends. Good to see such a large turnout.

Riding the new trail that was built was a blast. It will only get better as it is ridden in and packed down.

[gnurider1080]

since im not working and ill be out of school maybe i can meet up with you guys for a ride next thursday. that is if i can get some lights somehow.

[Quo Fan]

Splat usually has a set or 2 readily available for loan.

[gnurider1080]

well then, if i can get a ride down ill be there. i hope you guys dont mind riding with someone slow on the downhills and flats since im running a 32:23 ratio on my ss. well that is until i start rebuilding my bike which will be in a few weeks. :D

[EVIL BOTA]

Splat thanks for the kudos,but I'm glad you missed all my crashes..lol
Sorry if I slowed every one down toward the end.Its 3:30 am and just got back for the hospital. Other than the nice case of road rash on my left forearm.I also brused the left side of my rib cage(last good fall when my knee gave out) Last but not least I have a spained knee(mcl) That I will be bringing to the specialist tomorrow..Tip don't ride if.... You haven't slept in a day in a half and haven't ridden much..lol My skillz were poor @ best.. I'm going to have a beer now and pass out... Great ride fellas wish I could have stayed around for a few cold ones.

Oh ya Thanks Mike!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Your the best!

[comtom1]

Looks like another great ride as usual sorry i missed it. Maybe someday i can get the time off and ride a thursday night ride.

[If_Rider]

I finally saw the new trail in its entirety...VERY nice!! That "between the trees" section is great. Don't miss the rock roller at the end.

That lightning was scary :o Luckily I was just getting in to the car when that big boomer hit.

Evil, anytime my friend. Heal up quick.

[Ben-O]

Had it started raining at the end of the ride? I hadn't noticed....


Great ride, nothing like fresh single track!

[splat]

Had it started raining at the end of the ride? I hadn't noticed....


from what i herd that was cause you were to busy trying to figure out how to pedal.

[CsharpDev]

I must say that lightning bolt was waayyy too close for comfort. I was looking around to see what tree was going to fall accross the trail so I'd know which way to move... very scary... and I'm afraid of lightning to begin with...

Thanks splat for getting me out alive...

[Ben-O]

Had it started raining at the end of the ride? I hadn't noticed....


from what i herd that was cause you were to busy trying to figure out how to pedal.


If you're referring to my chain breaking at the end of the ride (right when the lightning was hitting, in fact), what can I say? I have insane peddling strength, enough power to snap an SRAM chain like it was dental floss. ;D

It's not my fault I've got mad skillz. ;)

[splat]

Had it started raining at the end of the ride? I hadn't noticed....


from what i herd that was cause you were to busy trying to figure out how to pedal.


If you're referring to my chain breaking at the end of the ride (right when the lightning was hitting, in fact), what can I say? I have insane peddling strength, enough power to snap an SRAM chain like it was dental floss. ;D

It's not my fault I've got mad skillz. ;)


I guess now we know why you were shifting like crap.

[SloMoJo]

That was indeed a lot of fun.
Good bunch of guys.

Real sorry to hear about the knee Evil.
That's tough.

Splat had himself a hillbilly scene as we hungout drinking on his porch afta.

Good times. ;)

[Ben-O]

I guess now we know why you were shifting like crap.


Yeah, my entire drive train is dying--I'm missing a few teeth on an already worn chainring too. I'm feeling lucky a new chain, chain rings, and cassette are arriving Monday.

[Slider]

Nice group for a Thursday night, and lots of drama to keep it interesting.

Sorry to hear about the ER trip, Evil.

I bet you got one end of the same storm that passed my house, maybe 40 miles south of you. I was looking out my back door, always worried about my tinder-box barn in that kind of weather. One bolt connected not 30 feet from my house, and even closer to the barn. I think the tall trees behind it drew it away, so there was no obvious damage. I'll check the woods after work to see what damage shows there. I would NOT have wanted to be exposed, on a bike, in that short but very intense squall.

Slider

[CsharpDev]

I would NOT have wanted to be exposed, on a bike, in that short but very intense squall.


I can't speak for everybody but... I know I didn't want to be in exposed, on a bike in that lightning fest...

[Luckybikes]

Hey looks like a fun ride i'd have to say. whens the next time u guys are going? Maybe i could tag along.

[hammerhead]

I would NOT have wanted to be exposed, on a bike...


I can't speak for everybody but... I know I didn't want to be in exposed, ...


Weren't a couple guys just busted up north (and in London and Paris etc) for riding exposed?!

[Slider]

As in "I see London, I see France..." ? :)

Slider

[Quo Fan]

Sorry to hear about you knee, Evil. Get well soon, and do what the doctors tell you, that way you will heal faster.

Hope to see you again on the trails.

[Jisch]

I went on a hike with the family yesterday and saw a tree that got hit by lightning from that storm. Nothing says power like a 20" oak tree blasted into toothpicks. You could see a strip of missing bark from the top of the tree down to where it hit a junction, then toothpicks.

I should have taken a picture of that. Amazing.

John

[TrailBate]

What timing! Pay attention to tip #4, people!!! ;D


... National lightning safety preparedness week...
... Part one - lightning safety outdoors...

Each year... about 400 children and adults in the United States are
struck by lightning while working outside... at sports events... on
the Beach... Mountain climbing... mowing the lawn... or during other
outdoor activities. About 80 people are killed and several hundred
more are left to Cope with permanent disabilities. Many of these
tragedies can be avoided. Finishing the game... getting a tan... or
completing a work shift are not Worth death or crippling injury.

Lightning often strikes as much as 20 miles away from any rainfall.
There has even been a documented case of lightning striking 34 miles
away from the rain in the thunderstorm. At least 10 percent of
lightning occurs without any visible clouds in the sky... just Blue
Sky. Many of lightning fatalities occur ahead of the storm because
people try and wait until the last minute before seeking shelter.
You are in danger if you can hear thunder. That means lightning is
close enough that it could strike your location at any moment.

On average... 20 percent of lightning strike victims die... 80 percent
survive but 70 percent of them suffer serious long-term effects.

Here are some lightning safety rules.

1. Postpone activities promptly and do not wait for the rain. Go
quickly inside a completely enclosed building... not a carport... open
garage... or covered patio. If no enclosed building is available...
get inside a hard-topped metal vehicle. The steel frame of the
vehicle provides protection if you are not touching metal.

2. Be the lowest point. Lightning likes to strike the tallest
objects. If hiking in the mountains and above the tree line... you
are the tallest object. Quickly get below tree line and get into a
Grove of small trees. Aside from this situation however... you
should avoid trees. If you are in an open field... like a farm or a
baseball or soccer field... you are the tallest object. Dugouts or
gazebos afford little protection. If you cannot get to an enclosed
building or vehicle... Crouch down on the balls of your feet.

3. Keep an eye to the sky for darkening clouds and listen for
thunder. If you can hear it... go to a safe shelter immediately.

4. Get off of bicycles and motorcycles. Do not lean on vehicles.

5. Water is a great conductor of electricity. Get out of the water
if boating or swimming. Get off the beach. Do not stand in
puddles... even if wearing rubber boots.

6. Avoid metal. Do not hold Golf clubs... fishing rods... tennis
racquets... or tools. Large metal objects can conduct lightning.
Small metal objects... such as belt buckles... can cause Burns.

7. Stay several yards away from other people. Do not share a
bleacher or bench or huddle in a group.

8. Listen to NOAA Weather Radio. First to find out if thunderstorms
are in the forecast. Next... listen to hear any short term forecasts
about thunderstorm activity. Also... listen to hear if the warning
alarm tone has been activated for severe thunderstorms in your
area... which produce damaging winds and large hail in addition to
lightning strikes

[CsharpDev]

So we were pretty much at high risk of never biking again... I knew I was scared for a reason...