Author Topic: Its raining, its pouring, I'm riding home from working.  (Read 11024 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Ofcalipka

  • Just enjoying the ride.
  • Bulleteer
  • ***
  • Posts: 145
  • Karma: 0
  • Thumping through the Aloha State
I rode Matilda in to work last night, which is about a 25 mile ride if I stay off the freeway, which I did.  Clear sky's nice cool evening, just a beautiful relaxing ride into work.  Well around midnight I go check outside and the rain is coming down so hard that it's bouncing when it hits the ground.  I ran out to get Matilda, all of about 50 yards and push her under the overhang at work to get her out of the rain ending up soaked all the way through to my under clothes. 

The lightning was flashing so frequent that there was just one long unending rumble from the thunder.  We even lost power for a few seconds until the generator kicked on.

By about 2 am they started broadcasting flash flood warnings for the whole island.  Well I got off work finally at about 7 am and it still hadn't let up.  Well I zipped up my leather jacket and fortunately had brought my full face helmet and gloves.  Unfortunately as I checked my pannier box's and found my rain trousers missing.    Oh well its just a little water no big deal I thought. 

Well about 5 minutes into the ride my bottom half was soaked through to the point that I could feel the rain hitting my legs like I wasn't wearing trousers, even though I was, and visibility was only good up to about 50 yards ahead of me because the rain was coming down so hard.  Matilda didn't seem to mind the rain at all thankfully and kept on trudging right along. 

At about the half way point home there were several people in their cars pulled over as they didn't want to cross a small patch of flooding in the roadway, about 30 feet long covering both lanes.  I wasn't about to sit here all day in the rain so I gave it a quick once over and said sure why not.  With my feet firmly planted on my footpegs I was just a little over ankle deep in water as I rode through this road pond, I think its going to take about a week to dry out my boots. 

Again Matilda didn't fail me she kept trudging right along.  As I got about half way up the hill for home Matilda reminded me that I was supposed to fill her with fuel prior to heading home.  Fortunately I was able to switch to the reserve without pulling over as the shoulder here was a rushing stream of water, mud, and other assorted debris which I did not want to take the chance of riding through.

I finally got into Wahiawa and stopped at the gas station to top Matilda off.  At this point my leather jacket had soaked through and I was now starting to be soaked on my top half too and my legs were starting to feel numb from the cold wind blowing on my wet trouser legs.  The only pump open was of course not under the roof and as soon as I finished refueling one of the onlookers fueling up their car under the roof decided to do the usual 20 questions about the Royal Enfield which I politely answered as I couldn't see myself getting any wetter at this point.  Rain or shine people love to look at a Royal Enfield.

Upon reaching home I was finally met by my wife who asked me if I had gone swimming on the way home as I was completely soaked through.  Given the choice I would prefer the riding to work over the ride back today but it's nice to know that my Royal can handle adverse weather conditions with no apparent difficulty.

Also here is an interesting tid bit for you all.  If you hit a large puddle of water straight on at about 30 mph the front fender on the Military model will direct two nice strong streams of water onto the exact spot where your feet are promptly filling your shoes with as much water as they could possibly hold.

Matilda and I will be drying off now and will be looking forward to our next adventure together as every ride on a Royal Enfield seems to be some sort of an adventure even when your doing something as mundane as riding home from work.

Keep on Thumping and splashing along,
Aloha.

"There's a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore like an idiot." - Steven Wright

2005 Royal Enfeild Bullet 500 Military,
2006 HD Springer softail 1450,
1980 Puch Maxi,
1995 Ural 650
1978 Peugeot 103 SP
2000 BMW R 1150 RT P

Wahiawa,  HI


eae0164

  • Scooter
  • **
  • Posts: 35
  • Karma: 0
Reply #1 on: November 05, 2007, 02:50:44 am
  Sorry to hear you had such a miserably wet ride home, but I guess it couldn't have been too bad, as your story was peppered with a lot of humor. Even while I was feeling bad for you getting soaked, I couldn't help but laugh at your info about the front end soaking your boots. It's always something with these wonderful bikes, isn't it ! Thanks for the story, and good luck with your next adventure... Ed  :D
2000 RE Military model


Ofcalipka

  • Just enjoying the ride.
  • Bulleteer
  • ***
  • Posts: 145
  • Karma: 0
  • Thumping through the Aloha State
Reply #2 on: November 05, 2007, 03:00:28 am
The ride wasn't miserable.  It was an adventure.  Even though I was getting soaked all the way through I was having fun with Matilda the whole way which is why I posted the story.
"There's a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore like an idiot." - Steven Wright

2005 Royal Enfeild Bullet 500 Military,
2006 HD Springer softail 1450,
1980 Puch Maxi,
1995 Ural 650
1978 Peugeot 103 SP
2000 BMW R 1150 RT P

Wahiawa,  HI


RagMan

  • Bulleteer, Uralist &
  • Grand Gearhead
  • *****
  • Posts: 819
  • Karma: 0
Reply #3 on: November 05, 2007, 10:10:51 am
I don't think I have ever been miserable on a bike. I have ridden through rain, snow, heavy traffic, crazy traffic, running water, mudslide damage and freezing weather, and never have I been miserable about it - the day that happens, is the day I sell all my bikes.
aka Indiana Bulleteer.
''99 Classic Bullet. '05 Ural Tourist sidecar rig, converted to 2wd. '05 Harley Davidson Sportster.
Jefferson County, WA


krodaddy

  • Scooter
  • **
  • Posts: 36
  • Karma: 0
Reply #4 on: November 05, 2007, 01:58:10 pm
I love a good adventure story!!   :D
Krodaddy


cyrusb

  • Kept man
  • Grand Gearhead
  • *****
  • Posts: 3,616
  • Karma: 2
  • There's a last time for everything
Reply #5 on: January 14, 2008, 01:56:36 am
Are you running the stock plastic timer cover? If you are I'm amazed!! I have not done any rain riding but I've allways wondered about that cover. It's not all that well sealed.
2005E Fixed and or Replaced: ignition, fenders,chainguard,wires,carb,headlight,seat,tailight,sprockets,chain,shock springs,fork springs, exhaust system, horn,shifter,clutch arm, trafficators,crankcase vent.


Ofcalipka

  • Just enjoying the ride.
  • Bulleteer
  • ***
  • Posts: 145
  • Karma: 0
  • Thumping through the Aloha State
Reply #6 on: January 15, 2008, 12:13:40 am
Yeah, its the stock one.  The chrome has even started pulling off the plastic.  Haven't had any problems with the points at all.
"There's a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore like an idiot." - Steven Wright

2005 Royal Enfeild Bullet 500 Military,
2006 HD Springer softail 1450,
1980 Puch Maxi,
1995 Ural 650
1978 Peugeot 103 SP
2000 BMW R 1150 RT P

Wahiawa,  HI


dewjantim

  • Grease Monkey
  • ****
  • Posts: 430
  • Karma: 0
Reply #7 on: January 29, 2008, 03:22:22 am
Isn't it funny that some adverse weather will turn an otherwise ordinary trip into something that you will remember forever........Dew.
If it hurts, you're not dead yet!!!!!