[NBR] Interesting Study on Riding in the Rain

runtotorun121 · Post by **runtotorun121** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 7:36 pm

Interesting post from a vintage Honda board:

Being caught in the rain, during a ride,
is dangerous in more than one way.

University of Tennessee - Knoxville - Medical Research Team - 8/2/08

Those who are exposed to the road film mix that is sprayed into the air, after or during a typical summer downpour, need to understand that they must protect themselves from exposure to this bacteria, chemical, disease laden bath.

Teams studied samples taken during May 2008 rain storms, that were collected from I-65 south of Brentwood. The specimens collected of the highway film, found that the water sprayed into the air by traffic had heavy concentrations of Staphylococcus, along with over 30 types of other air and liquid born diseases and contaminants.

Most surprising was the high level of virus and bacteria examples that are found typically in human and animal expectorations and feces.

The teams determination is that the improper and illegal dumping of Motor home waste tanks and debris from animal transportation vehicles, on the highway surface, may explain the high concentration of these types of liquefied waste products.

Any exposure to this liquid can cause dozens of serious diseases of the skin, eyes and other organs. Other exposed bodily surfaces, including parts that become wet through soaked clothing, are at risk. Skin, eye and throat diseases are most common. But contamination is not limited to those areas.

After being exposed to road waste water, victims can develop severe red, swollen and painful pimples, or boils on any expose surface. The lesions can turn into impetigo, which turns into a crust on the skin, or cellulites, a swollen, red area of skin that feels hot to the touch. These types of staph bacteria are very resistant to certain antibiotics, making infections extremely harder to treat.

Caution is suggested to insure that there is no bodily contact with this liquefied road waste.

docutech · Post by **docutech** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 8:15 pm

Another reason to wear your gear all the time.

Post by **ericalm** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 8:27 pm

k1dude · Post by **k1dude** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 9:06 pm

I've always had a rule to not ride in the rain. Now I have yet another reason to avoid riding in rain. Yech.

MikieTaps · Post by **MikieTaps** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 9:11 pm

i think it rains enough here that its not as much of an issue...

at least that is what i am now telling myself.

k1dude · Post by **k1dude** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 9:13 pm

MikieTaps wrote:i think it rains enough here that its not as much of an issue...

at least that is what i am now telling myself.

Hey, what's that brown thing on your faceshield?

madtolive · Post by **madtolive** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 9:46 pm

thanks for the info, run.

Quo Vadimus · Post by **Quo Vadimus** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 1:43 am

All the MORE reason to ride in the rain. Our immune systems need practice for when Scootists take over the world.

coffeekittie · Post by **coffeekittie** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 1:44 am

ericalm wrote:ew.

Totally. Good thing it rains so much here - there's no time for buildup of all that crud!

Ronin · Post by **Ronin** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 2:10 am

Is anyone else thirsty?

Schwiering · Post by **Schwiering** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 4:03 am

I-65 south of Brentwood

I sure am glad that I don't live anywhere near this place!

Oh, wait, bad news for me.

Post by **jmazza** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 4:24 am

Schwiering wrote:
I-65 south of Brentwood
I sure am glad that I don't live anywhere near this place! Oh, wait, bad news for me.

And all those people who moved from the 'ville to Franklin think they are hot sh...

wait... they kind of are!

runtotorun121 · Post by **runtotorun121** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 4:47 am

madtolive wrote:

thanks for the info, run.

When my husband told me that he had read this I said I had to post a copy on our board because I was certain it would initiate. . .instigate?

. . .the interesting discussions that occur here.

Doesn't deter me a bit, but I figured my husband would carry a plastic tarp with a couple of arm and eye holes to cover himself if it started raining.

But, no, my theory was tested today and he rode off in the face of feces. . .or is that feces in face?

GAG!

MikieT, I wondered the same thing you guys mentioned about the NW. I thought that maybe the rain frequency might clean things up a little for you guys, but then I realized that it wasn't exactly like oil since there seems to be a continual supply of saliva and urine and poo hitting the ground. . .

Okay, off to see what else I can find to entertain myself at one week of no-scooter-riding and counting. . .

skullmechanic · Post by **skullmechanic** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 5:11 am

You think that "the crap" might be more prevalent on the Interstate than on all the side streets that scooters frequent. I don't see motor homes cruising around my town. I think people might be less likely to "dump their load" on city streets.

Like I was planning on riding on the Interstate in the rain! Holy crap! I think feces in the face would be the least of my problems!

runtotorun121 · Post by **runtotorun121** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 5:22 am

well it did say "human and 'animal' expectorations and feces".

Can you say lugies and dog, rat, hippo poo?

coffeekittie · Post by **coffeekittie** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 6:15 am

MikieT, I wondered the same thing you guys mentioned about the NW. I thought that maybe the rain frequency might clean things up a little for you guys, but then I realized that it wasn't exactly like oil since there seems to be a continual supply of saliva and urine and poo hitting the ground. . .

But you see, it's more dilute here than in places where it rains less often! Right? Right?

runtotorun121 · Post by **runtotorun121** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 6:38 am

coffeekittie wrote: But you see, it's more dilute here than in places where it rains less often! Right? Right?

ummm. . .yes. ?

EP_scoot · Post by **EP_scoot** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 11:55 am

Oh Man, Not the post to read while I am eating my breakfast

Next time I get caught in the rain I am going to freak out a bit . . . then again, it builds up your immune system, right !

Apiarist · Post by **Apiarist** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 12:01 pm

however yicky it may be, i am sure the good folks in atlanta would love some of it to fall into lake lanier

Post by **jmazza** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 12:14 pm

There's not a lot of detail but this study was one month on one stretch of highway.

Depending on just HOW far South of Brentwood they were, it starts to get rural pretty fast.

Motor home waste dumping and animal transport waste.

I don't see a lot of that kind of traffic around I95 in South Florida. I just wonder how representative a study this is.

Tysonviolin · Post by **Tysonviolin** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 12:31 pm

My excitement for riding in the rain for the first time just vanished... thanks

BigColdMartini · Post by **BigColdMartini** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 1:01 pm

You're probably getting some of the same 'crap' when you're riding in the safety of your cage. I doubt if the ventilation systems can keep everything on the outside from getting inside. You may not be getting splashed or wet but you're probably breathing in all kinds of stuff. If you don't think so just drive past a dead skunk with your windows rolled up and tell me where the smell is coming from. Those are very small particles that just got into your car.

I seriously agree with one poster that said it just helps to build our immunity.

Drumwoulf · Post by **Drumwoulf** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 2:41 pm

Geez, yet another reason to be afraid to ride! Don't you boo birds ever get tired of scaring yourselves?

Been riding for 30 years. And when you go interstate, you have to accept the weather. IMO that's what riding is all about! I suspect many of you boo birds must just peek your scooter out of the garage on cloudy days, then put it right back in again!

Someone asked me years ago about my motorcycle: "What do you do when it rains?"
"I get wet", I told them...

Stop looking for all these terrible things that might happen to you; life's too short to be so terribly neurotic and frightened!

Sheeeesh!!

coffeekittie · Post by **coffeekittie** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 2:47 pm

Drumwoulf wrote:Geez, yet another reason to be afraid to ride! Don't you boo birds ever get tired of scaring yourselves?

Been riding for 30 years. And when you go interstate, you have to accept the weather. IMO that's what riding is all about! I suspect many of you boo birds must just peek your scooter out of the garage on cloudy days, then put it right back in again!

Someone asked me years ago about my motorcycle: "What do you do when it rains?"
"I get wet", I told them...

Stop looking for all these terrible things that might happen to you; life's too short to be so terribly neurotic and frightened!

Sheeeesh!!

I've been just joking myself... you are absolutely right!

Leeroy Jenkins · Post by **Leeroy Jenkins** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 3:11 pm

I have always said tn has the crappiest roads.

MikieTaps · Post by **MikieTaps** » Thu Aug 28, 2008 7:42 pm

Leeroy Jenkins wrote:I have always said tn has the crappiest roads.

lemontootsie · Post by **lemontootsie** » Thu Aug 28, 2008 7:52 pm

eww gross!!

UrbanBuddy82 · Post by **UrbanBuddy82** » Thu Aug 28, 2008 8:05 pm

So when riding my scooter gives me a big, sh** eating grin.... it is literal?

Jrman · Post by **Jrman** » Thu Aug 28, 2008 8:16 pm

So just don't open your mouth to try to catch the road spray for fun..

Cheshire · Post by **Cheshire** » Fri Aug 29, 2008 3:07 am

Don't eat yellow snow, don't drink brown water...even if it's being sprayed at you.

creampuff · Post by **creampuff** » Fri Aug 29, 2008 3:45 am

That particular stretch of road on I65 south of Brentwood is near the Williamson County Fairgrounds/Agricultural Center. The county fair, numerous dog shows, etc., right next to the highway. Motor homes are a staple of events there. There is also cattle land next to that. Who picked that stretch of road to study?