Commuting - Thunder, Lightening, and Commuting

I was going to commute by bicycle today, but the weather forecast said thunder and lightening by mid-afternoon. Sure I've biked in the rain before, but never during a thunder/lightening storm. Anybody get caught in one of these? What do you do? Stop somewhere, or pedal on and pray you don't get hit by bolt?

Unless you are pedaling alone in a large open field, I imagine it quite unlikely you would be hit. In most urban or suburban areas there are much larger, more lightning attractive targets than you and you bike. I'm sure it could happen, but I bet it would an unusual situation. I could be wrong of course...

According to my wife, I'm not allowed to ride during lightning storms. That's ok, because I really don't want to anyway.

See http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=200159 for a current, similar thread.

I have ridden in thunderstorms before and they're forcast for this afternoon. Because my departure times are flexible, I keep an eye on weather.com and try to beat or wait out passing thunderstorms.

As for how dangerous it is, while I wouldn't want to be riding through an open plain during an electrical storm, isn't this sort of a funny question coming from a group of idiots who risk life and limb just so we can ride our bikes to and from work?

This also begs the question: while bike commuting, are you more likely to be hit by a car or hit by lightning?

When I started commuting by bike fulltime, my wife and I worked out exactly when I wouldn't ride. Lightning within a mile was one of the reasons. Sometimes I just stop and wait in a transit station or store for the storm to pass, other times I'll call and let her come get me. The few times it happens makes her happier than me just out riding in a thunderstorm.

Good link:
http://science.nasa.gov/newhome/headlines/essd18jun99_1.htm

This also begs the question: while bike commuting, are you more likely to be hit by a car or hit by lightning?

Oh, definitely a car. By a huge margin.

This also begs the question: while bike commuting, are you more likely to be hit by a car or hit by lightning?
Quick, someone get on this one. Finding this out would be an interesting factoid to throw at people. :D

Oh, definitely a car. By a huge margin.
Ok, but what about getting struck by lightning in general to getting hit by a car?

What about hit by a car that was hit by lightning?

Would strapping a lightning pole to your back and riding the wrong way in traffic increase your chances of being hurt?

What are the chances of being hit by a car and by lightning at the same time?

Jumpin' Jiggawatts!?

Now lets see, your on a metal bike in water with lightning comming down. I don't think the lightning pole is needed at all. Wait you do have rubber tires so if you just drag a chain then you would not need the lightning pole.

Your chances of getting hit by a car far outweigh the chance of being struck my lightning, even when it's raining. By a factor of thousands, I would say...

Happy first day of huricane season everyone!

I've often ridden out storms at a local pub.

Getting hit by lightning is right up there with winning the lotto - 1:10,000,000 lifetime. Getting hit by a car is more like 1:100. I've been hit 4 times, so three of you are off the hook. You can thank me later...

Worst case scenario - getting hit by a car and lightning at the same time. Yeah, that would really suck.

Happy first day of huricane season everyone!
yay ;)
But back on topic, ive ridden in bad thunderstorms, by accident. When your riding a bike thats fenderless, and your riding with your eyes closed because you dont have glasses on, you pretty much forget about the lighting :D

Getting hit by lightning is right up there with winning the lotto - 1:10,000,000 lifetime.
But this is for average lifetime exposure of an average person. For folks who put themselves at greater exposure (i.e. like golfers or cyclist who stay outside when there is lightning) the odds increase significantly.

Al

Personally, I don't consider a lightening storm to be a significant enough risk to prevent me from riding. On the other hand, I've often wondered what it would be like to get caught halfway between work and home in a hail storm. Now that would really suck. I've rode in some pretty bad storms, where I thought that it just might hail, but I've never personaly been direclty hit by hail, but I can't imagine that it is pleasant. Big hail could seriously injure you. I've often wondered this because most of my commute is away from buildings or any sort of convenient cover in which I could duck into.

Big hail could seriously injure you. .
Thats what the helmet is for. ;)

But this is for average lifetime exposure of an average person. For folks who put themselves at greater exposure (i.e. like golfers or cyclist who stay outside when there is lightning) the odds increase significantly. Still not anywhere near as high as getting hit by a car. Especially for cyclists riding through urban areas (you're 5 times less likely to be struck by lightning in a built-up area than in an open field). I dunno: there are about 100 lightning-related deaths in the U.S. per year (most of which happen in open areas) and about 1000 non-trivial injuries. Compare this with 1000 bike deaths and many many more serious injuries. And being caught cycling and being caught in a rainstorm seems about equally unlikely to happen to the average American. :D

I've kind of been hoping for a thunderstorm to ride home in, but they keep being over before I'm done with work. So far just drizzle. I love thunderstorms.

Left early to beat thunderstorms home. Murphy granted me a nice flat on the way but I still made it. I suspect that high cross winds would be more dangerous than lightning.

Still not anywhere near as high as getting hit by a car. Especially for cyclists riding through urban areas (you're 5 times less likely to be struck by lightning in a built-up area than in an open field). I dunno: there are about 100 lightning-related deaths in the U.S. per year (most of which happen in open areas) and about 1000 non-trivial injuries. Compare this with 1000 bike deaths and many many more serious injuries. And being caught cycling and being caught in a rainstorm seems about equally unlikely to happen to the average American. :D
Eggzactly. I tend not to ride in thunderstorms, nor do I play golf, but I'm playing in traffic about 10 times a week, 48 weeks/year. The odds of getting hit by a car are thousands, if not millions of times more likely than getting hit by lightning.

dam the weather reports, get out and ride! the more extreme the weather, the better. it's a total ball to ride through a rain & thunderstorm, splashing, getting soaked, the sweet taste of used Michelin and Pirelli in the mouth :)
i do wonder: has anyone ever been hit by lightning while on a bike?? anyone care to do some googling?

We don't get much rain, thunder, lightening, or hail around here lately. But I like riding in whatever bad weather we do get, the worse, the better. My wife once made a face when I rode home in a thunderstorm, and forbid me to ride on a morning when we had 3 inches of snow (it was gone by 9:30) but that was about it as far as spouse restrictions go. My bike is carbon, so I think I'm at less risk than someone on a metal bike...something to think about...(I do want a Titanium bike though...as my bike is "vintage" carbon fiber :-)) hrmmm....

Google is my friend...

http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/outdoors.htm about 3/4ths of the way down...no mention of bicycle riders actually being hurt or killed...

and perhaps better... http://www.educ.uvic.ca/Faculty/mroth/438/LIGHTENING/Web Page/myths.html fourth paragraph down...

I left and it was dry but threatening. Two blocks later I could barely see in front of me. There was someone next to me and we were just laughing - the rain felt soooo good and the lightening was a thrill. Figured it would have hit any of the skyscrapers way before me - though I took it easy and was constantly watching for cars.

I rode my 'new' vintage folding bike - the water helped clean off a lot of dirt that was on it :) 20" wheels - the only slightly scary part was a big puddle that was more than halfway up the tires! Had lights on the valves for more visibility and they were still blinking when I got home. Not used to riding with slicks. They felt, well, slick.

Left early to beat thunderstorms home. Murphy granted me a nice flat on the way but I still made it. I suspect that high cross winds would be more dangerous than lightning.

Creepy. With this thread going on, it being hot and humid as stink, and thunderstorms passing through the area, I gave myself a better-than-average chance of getting hit. Was hoping to miss the lightning, but to get rained on because it is so hot.

Anyway, about 1/2 mile away from home, and old car passes me and I hear this recurring "Hisss...hisss...hisss" sound. Is it the car? Is it something from my panniers or rack rubbing on the back wheel? Nuts!! It's my rear tire deflating. Time for the quarterly flat. Walked the rest of the way.

I had run over and picked up one of those industrial strength staples in my tire/tube. Damn thing left 2 holes in my tube and I needed needle nose pliers to get it out of my tire.

i do wonder: has anyone ever been hit by lightning while on a bike?? Actually - yes.

In fact, I was rather surprised to read about how many people are struck by lightning annually - I thought it was a rarer occurence. Still the risk doesn't seem great enough to prevent me from riding in urban areas during thunderstorms. I actually happen to like thunderstorms...

Freaky - just listening to the news and someone in Staten Island got hit by lightening in a car.

Freaky - just listening to the news and someone in Staten Island got hit by lightening in a car.

lol. maybe they had their sunroof open . . . .

it's been on my mind a bit too. overall i don't think it bothers me much, but a while ago it occurred to me to wonder whether it would be sensible/responsible to take a bus over the bridge during a storm.

My wife had me agree to one condition about bike commuting, no riding in thunderstorms. Started commuting in October '05 and they always happen on my days off. Glad she doesn't know what the real risks are;)

My bike is carbon, so I think I'm at less risk than someone on a metal bike...something to think about...(I do want a Titanium bike though...as my bike is "vintage" carbon fiber :-)) hrmmm....

both carbon and titanium conduct electricity. But I think you could be riding a rubber bike and it wouldn't make that much difference in your chances of getting hit. The water and dirt on the bike are going to provide a certain amount of conductivity. If you're the tallest thing around, and there's a buildup, you're a target. However, moving quickly MIGHT deter the lightning a bit. Before a strike, tendrils of ionization come from both the ground and the clouds. If you're moving fast, you may get out of range of the ionized air before a strike happens. It'll still probably knock you down if there's a strike 50 feet behind you, or at least you'll need clean shorts...

Left early to beat thunderstorms home. Murphy granted me a nice flat on the way but I still made it. I suspect that high cross winds would be more dangerous than lightning.
****. I hate crosswinds. They suck so hard. Or is it They blow so hard? ;)

The real question is. has anybody been hit by lighting while on a bike.

Now lets see, your on a metal bike in water with lightening comming down. I don't think the lightning pole is needed at all. Wait you do have rubber tires so if you just drag a chain then you would not need the lightning pole.
I don't think the rubber on the tires would help at all in a very near lightening strike. I've seen a video of a lightening strike in a soccer field with players with rubber soles. Everyone across the whole field dropped. I don't think it was fatal for the whole group, but if one were to be knocked out by a close lightening strike while riding a bike... God have mercy. I do think in the real world that it is usually not dangerous to ride in a storm but also in the real world my fear keeps me from riding when the storm is very close. The common wisdom I've heard is that every second difference between the strike and the thunder is one mile from the storm center.

Interesting stats. Caution if you live in Florida, Texas or CO.
http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/stats/95-04_Deaths_by_state.pdf

interactive chart
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/hazstats.shtml

Here's a pinpoint map which shows frequency of lightning strikes in US for last 5 years
http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/lightning_map.htm

Check out NOAA, lightning side to side can easily reach 5 miles from cloud origin.

Biking near lightning is about as safe as huddling under a tall tree with a 7 iron in your hand.

from:
http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_13308137

Well-known Englewood race driver Richard Burton is in critical condition at Swedish Medical Center after being struck by lightning on Wednesday afternoon.

Burton was on his bicycle in the 3100 block of South Acoma Street when he was hit.

According to Julie Lonborg, spokesperson for Swedish, Burton's family said he had decided to hop on his bike and check out an emergency incident near his home.

Lonborg said that as Burton neared the scene, he was struck by lightning.

Paramedics at the first incident saw Burton get hit and go into cardiac arrest, and they immediately went to his aid.

Burton was taken to Swedish Medical Center, where he is currently receiving treatment known as post-arrest hypothermia, which cools the body for 24 hours. It is used to reduce damage from cardiac arrest, stroke, brain injury, fever and other critical conditions.

After the cooling, the patient is slowly rewarmed.

Through the hospital, the family thanked the community — especially the racing community at Colorado National Speedway in Dacono — for their thoughts and prayers.

Because Burton is in critical condition, visitation is limited, and flowers are not allowed.

Over the years, Burton has been described as one of the most popular racers at Colorado National Speedway. His popularity among fans at the speedway is described as similar to that enjoyed by Dale Jarrett and the late Dale Earnhardt at tradition-rich, stock-car cities such as Daytona, Fla.; Richmond, Va.; and Bristol, Tenn.

Burton is known as "The Rock" in racing circles. RacingWest website reports that he won the Snap-On Tools Pro Truck Main Event in May at Colorado National Speedway.

This is one of the reasons I've been afraid to get out and commute in bad weather. My other one, is the warning I was given about lubing the chain *immediately after a ride in rainy weather*.
If anyone can point me to a thread about post-wet-weather-ride maintenance (or just encouragement!), maybe i can squelch some of my anxiety about bad weather commuting.

This is one of the reasons I've been afraid to get out and commute in bad weather. My other one, is the warning I was given about lubing the chain *immediately after a ride in rainy weather*.
If anyone can point me to a thread about post-wet-weather-ride maintenance (or just encouragement!), maybe i can squelch some of my anxiety about bad weather commuting.

Riding in rainy weather doesn't cause your chain to explode. It's just that typically, when you ride in the wet, you'll pick up more grit than usual. A mountain biker who gets their bike all covered with mud really should clean and lube very shortly after they ride (because the cleaning will remove the lube), but an ordinary ride on paved roads in wet weather isn't anywhere near that extreme. I'd say that a more frequent schedule of cleaning and lubing is in order...you do clean and lube your chain, right? But "immediately" is not a "do this or your bike is destroyed" necessity. What you don't want to do is just gunk on more lube -- this will just attract and hold more junk and make the problem worse. Clean first, then apply lube sparingly. I use T9 which was recommended to me for rainy conditions, and so far so good -- others no doubt have their own preferred brands.

It was a dark, gloomy day. The kind of day that really just makes you think about all the tough decisions you've ever made in your life. I was riding home when a bolt hit me . The electrical flood circumnavigated my body until it found the ground and I was left withering on the pavement in the cold, hard rain.

I awoke with a sputtering cough to discover I was alive. No.. not just alive. I was absolutely WIRED. Life was too good to be true. Over the next few days, I relished every moment and laughed at every joke. I consoled all who needed consolation and made furious love to my girlfriend many times.

It didn't happen all at once. Little things started to occur. A disturbance is what I call them now. I would hit the snooze on my alarm clock, and it would turn off, apparently dead. As I walked along the street at night, the streetlights would turn off as I passed each one. I've come to understand my powers, the ability to control electricity. I have come to understand them and I have been training for the day when I use them. Will I use them for good or for evil? Well, I suppose you will just have to wait and find out. One thing is certain, however. I am going to change this world.

A combination of Zyprexa and Seroquel should help.......

:deadhorse2:

The common wisdom I've heard is that every second difference between the strike and the thunder is one mile from the storm center.

Sound travels a mile in five seconds or a kilometer in three seconds (roughly).

Biking near lightning is about as safe as huddling under a tall tree with a 7 iron in your hand.

I really, really have a hard time believing this, especially in an urban setting. People drive and use umbrellas in thunderstorms in urban areas quite frequently and don't exactly drop like flies from it. Riding the bicycle in clear weather is more dangerous than just the chance of getting hit by lightning when riding during a storm.

This would probably not apply in the middle of rural Kansas, mind you.

Unless you are pedaling alone in a large open field, I imagine it quite unlikely you would be hit. In most urban or suburban areas there are much larger, more lightning attractive targets than you and you bike. I'm sure it could happen, but I bet it would an unusual situation. I could be wrong of course...

This is the best thread *ever*. Usually when a thread like this starts up I'm the *only* one who's not biking across the open planes of Nebraska or something! :D

This is one of the reasons I've been afraid to get out and commute in bad weather. My other one, is the warning I was given about lubing the chain *immediately after a ride in rainy weather*.
If anyone can point me to a thread about post-wet-weather-ride maintenance (or just encouragement!), maybe i can squelch some of my anxiety about bad weather commuting.

Your chain will be fine. Ignore that advice. Winter is far nastier on chains, and it's still not that bad.

I won't say anything more for fear of starting a religious war over chain maintenance.

I really, really have a hard time believing this, especially in an urban setting. People drive and use umbrellas in thunderstorms in urban areas quite frequently and don't exactly drop like flies from it. Riding the bicycle in clear weather is more dangerous than just the chance of getting hit by lightning when riding during a storm.

This would probably not apply in the middle of rural Kansas, mind you.

Car occupants are actually well protected from a lightning strike by the metal cage.

Walking with an umbrella is probably about like biking. I really doubt the extra metal in the umbrella is significant. In the same way, I don't believe the bike is significant at insulating or attracting.

I try not to ride in lightning. But it's easy for me. When we get thunderstorms they're gone within a half hour. So, you stop, go in, have a cup of something and wait. Usually I can just adjust my leave times to entirely avoid it. Once or twice I've simply picked up the pace a little.

I'm told that lightning does hit through the street in dense urban areas. So, you're not safe just because you're on a street downtown.


My inclination is that the distracted and freaked out drivers are more of a threat than the lightning. But, like I said, I avoid lightning as much as I can.

I rode in thunderstorms a few times. I love watching lightning but riding in it is a little scary since my commute is mostly wide-open fields. Last time, I left work during a short break between storms and some guy stopped me for directions... then he starts being chatty. Geez, I'm on a bike, it's raining buckets and the the lightning was getting reaaaally close, let me go! It's funny how I crouched every time thunder was too close for my taste, as if it made a difference. :D

Just before leaving work:
http://www.borealphoto.com/photos/602984874_aXCR4-M.jpg

Your chain will be fine. Ignore that advice. Winter is far nastier on chains, and it's still not that bad.

I won't say anything more for fear of starting a religious war over chain maintenance.

Well...I'm not going to be that delicate.

Despite the other advice given, most of us ride in the rain then simply add oil to the chain before the next ride (or at the end of that one) so it won't squeak while on the next ride. That's about it.

Some people:
1. Obsess over maintenance and feel that time spent doing bike maintenance is simply free somehow or relaxing
2. And/or are really really worried about their bike being slightly and marginally less efficient somehow
3. Buy really expensive stuff - top end Dura-Ace stuff is rather expensive.

An Ultegra chain costs $50 - granted, it's not cheap. But even if it lasts *half* as long, I'd rather spend that extra $25 on a new chain than have spent 10 minutes after every rain ride cleaning the d!@#@! thing. Plus there's the cost of cleaning materials - don't forget that.

However, if I had a prized bike that I kept in pristine condition I might buy a second "rain bike" just so I didn't have to clean the first bike. As a matter of fact, I own a second bike that's better suited to riding in the rain than my primary bike...though I've still been to lazy to clean the chain on my primary bike this summer since spring...hmm...

Anyways, my point is that riding through the rain will not suddenly destroy your chain. Nor will it dramatically reduce it's lifespan. I rode a chain for 8 years before it broke, and that was through rain and whatnot (though not every day). It's a cost/benefit analysis.