This may have been a dare, a challenge, but I can say from experience that riding in floodwaters is really dangerous because you can’t see the road. Readers, not stopped by most conditions even snow, are you riding in floodwaters? Are we expecting locusts and frogs to fall from the sky next?
Photo credit: Dan DeLong/Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Not too bad so far this year on my route. In 2006 I had to ride through water over both hubs a couple of times, but at least it was in spots where I was extremely familiar with the road. My wonderful discoveries: Sturmey Archer generator hubs are pretty darn waterproof, and those lovely little flashing LED valve caps really do work under water (they look extra cool getting submerged, too). This morning the Cedar River looked ready to eat a few houses and bridges, but it missed me.
Oh, yeah, I forgot to mention - bring on the locusts!
The water hasn’t been too bad on East Marginal in Seattle, but left over SDOT sand and the little crumbs of asphalt from all the new pot holes are making things just a bit more treacherous than usual.
Hey Val, do you stock locust-proof tire liners down there?
I rode the Bettie today and the gravel was very sketch. Gravel also means, you’re not riding the shoulder.
One thing to keep in mind if you are walking or biking in floodwaters that keep you from seeing the road surface: heavy water flow will blow out manhole covers and you may find yourself disappearing into a sewer system.
This I think I would say need to try someday. This is some serious dedication to get home to your wife with that perfect meal on the table.
Haven’t tested the tire liners, but I’ll bet that Halt! dog repellent works on locusts.