mrdoright0405
06-07-04, 09:25 PM
Here in the South we have alot of afternoon thunder showers. What do you guys and gals do when a storm pops up with no shelter nearby?
View Full Version : Storms and Biking?
yak
06-07-04, 09:42 PM
Ride like hell...
Chris L
06-07-04, 09:50 PM
I ride as if I would normally -- that is, assuming that I'm out riding when the storm breaks. If I'm not already out riding and I see a storm rolling in, I've been known to stop whatever it is I'm doing just so I can seek out the storm.
N_C
06-07-04, 09:58 PM
Ride through it until I find shelter. Other then that there really are no other options. I think a moving target is less likely to get hit by lightening. Then again maybe I have a false sense of security about that fact. One thing that does hurt, no matter if you are moving or not is hail, especially nickel size & larger. I've been pelted so hard there were large welts on my arms & legs. The vent of my helmet were so full of hail when I took it off my head it just fell off into a large pile at my feet.
As a rule if there are storms predicted or happening or I look at the recent radar map on the local news station's web site & it shows storms moving in & they are close by I forgoe a ride. Even if the current conditions are beautiful outside.
As a rule if there are storms predicted or happening or I look at the recent radar map on the local news station's web site & it shows storms moving in & they are close by I forgoe a ride. Even if the current conditions are beautiful outside.
Trek Rider
06-07-04, 10:09 PM
Ride like hell...
What he said.....to the nearest shelter, which where I live could take awhile.
What he said.....to the nearest shelter, which where I live could take awhile.
RonH
06-08-04, 06:02 AM
If I'm commuting I put on my rain jacket (always in my panniers), turn on my blinkie and headlight, and keep riding.
If I'm on a training/fitness/recreational ride I just say, "aw $h!t", and keep riding.
If I'm on a training/fitness/recreational ride I just say, "aw $h!t", and keep riding.
slvoid
06-08-04, 06:45 AM
Question: Fast moving thunderstorm with huge anvil heads and lots of lightning and you're on the plains. The only thing taller than 2ft within 30 miles is you. Would you:
a) Prop your bike up, duck and cover and hope the bike becomes the lightning rod instead of you.
b) Ride like hell and stay with the bike till the very end.
a) Prop your bike up, duck and cover and hope the bike becomes the lightning rod instead of you.
b) Ride like hell and stay with the bike till the very end.
JohnnyTheFox
06-08-04, 06:58 AM
Question: Fast moving thunderstorm with huge anvil heads and lots of lightning and you're on the plains. The only thing taller than 2ft within 30 miles is you. Would you:
a) Prop your bike up, duck and cover and hope the bike becomes the lightning rod instead of you.
b) Ride like hell and stay with the bike till the very end.
Id guess if a lightweight aluminium frame got hit by lightning it would probably melt.... but if your riding holding onto the rubber handles and on (I presume) rubber tyres you might be ok if the lightning cant reach earth. As for as being a moving target, electricity travels pretty much instantaniously so it wont make any difference.
a) Prop your bike up, duck and cover and hope the bike becomes the lightning rod instead of you.
b) Ride like hell and stay with the bike till the very end.
Id guess if a lightweight aluminium frame got hit by lightning it would probably melt.... but if your riding holding onto the rubber handles and on (I presume) rubber tyres you might be ok if the lightning cant reach earth. As for as being a moving target, electricity travels pretty much instantaniously so it wont make any difference.
bg4533
06-08-04, 07:09 AM
Id guess if a lightweight aluminium frame got hit by lightning it would probably melt.... but if your riding holding onto the rubber handles and on (I presume) rubber tyres you might be ok if the lightning cant reach earth. As for as being a moving target, electricity travels pretty much instantaniously so it wont make any difference.
Even on a dry surface with the rims as close to the ground as they are the electricity would likely just arc to the ground. In wet conditions, you would just be screwed.
We have been getting a lot of bad storms lately and I have been expecting to come out and see my bike melted to the bike rack or something. When heading to and from class I tend to keep riding through storms. Rain has damaged a few of my text books and ruined a $150 calculator I had in my bag though. I enjoy riding in rain as well, as long as I am expecting it and it is otherwise nice (somewhat warm and not a lot of wind).
Even on a dry surface with the rims as close to the ground as they are the electricity would likely just arc to the ground. In wet conditions, you would just be screwed.
We have been getting a lot of bad storms lately and I have been expecting to come out and see my bike melted to the bike rack or something. When heading to and from class I tend to keep riding through storms. Rain has damaged a few of my text books and ruined a $150 calculator I had in my bag though. I enjoy riding in rain as well, as long as I am expecting it and it is otherwise nice (somewhat warm and not a lot of wind).
HalfHearted
06-08-04, 07:48 AM
Id guess if a lightweight aluminium frame got hit by lightning it would probably melt.... but if your riding holding onto the rubber handles and on (I presume) rubber tyres you might be ok if the lightning cant reach earth. As for as being a moving target, electricity travels pretty much instantaniously so it wont make any difference.
You're fairly safe in a car because there is quite a bit of rubber/air between the wheels and the ground. I've had lightning strike very close to my car twice - once so close that I heard a sizzle instead of a boom and the whole world went white for a moment - found out the next day from a coworker who happened to be a couple of cars behind me in traffic that the lightning had hit a small bush in somebody's yard just as I passed it. The lightning had avoided my taller metal car but had also avoided a much taller nearby tree - the bottom line is that lightning is pretty unpredictable.
I don't think I'd rely on the 1/2" of rubber/air between the wheels and ground to provide protection in the scenario you describe, though.
Lastly, the lightning doesn't have to strike you to kill you. If it just comes close it can take you out. That's why it's so dangerous to shelter under a tree or what have you during a thunderstorm.
John
You're fairly safe in a car because there is quite a bit of rubber/air between the wheels and the ground. I've had lightning strike very close to my car twice - once so close that I heard a sizzle instead of a boom and the whole world went white for a moment - found out the next day from a coworker who happened to be a couple of cars behind me in traffic that the lightning had hit a small bush in somebody's yard just as I passed it. The lightning had avoided my taller metal car but had also avoided a much taller nearby tree - the bottom line is that lightning is pretty unpredictable.
I don't think I'd rely on the 1/2" of rubber/air between the wheels and ground to provide protection in the scenario you describe, though.
Lastly, the lightning doesn't have to strike you to kill you. If it just comes close it can take you out. That's why it's so dangerous to shelter under a tree or what have you during a thunderstorm.
John
N_C
06-08-04, 08:41 AM
Question: Fast moving thunderstorm with huge anvil heads and lots of lightning and you're on the plains. The only thing taller than 2ft within 30 miles is you. Would you:
a) Prop your bike up, duck and cover and hope the bike becomes the lightning rod instead of you.
b) Ride like hell and stay with the bike till the very end.
Hate to burst your bubble in thinking that if something else is taller then you, you will not be hit by lightening. But that is a typical myth. It doesn't matter how tall you are when it comes to lightening you can be hit by it anyway. The tallest object is not always the thing hit by lightening. Modern science has proven that time & again & there are accounts from people who survived lightening strikes that were not the tallest object & yet they were hit anyway. If it were true that the tallest object was always the thing hit during a lightening strike then we would be told to hide under a tree. We are all told that is the last thing you want to do during a storm.
You are probably safer as a moving object then as the tallest object during a storm that produces lightening. So it is probably best that you stay on your bike & keep moving rather then try to hid under hit with the bike being the tallest object and stationary.
a) Prop your bike up, duck and cover and hope the bike becomes the lightning rod instead of you.
b) Ride like hell and stay with the bike till the very end.
Hate to burst your bubble in thinking that if something else is taller then you, you will not be hit by lightening. But that is a typical myth. It doesn't matter how tall you are when it comes to lightening you can be hit by it anyway. The tallest object is not always the thing hit by lightening. Modern science has proven that time & again & there are accounts from people who survived lightening strikes that were not the tallest object & yet they were hit anyway. If it were true that the tallest object was always the thing hit during a lightening strike then we would be told to hide under a tree. We are all told that is the last thing you want to do during a storm.
You are probably safer as a moving object then as the tallest object during a storm that produces lightening. So it is probably best that you stay on your bike & keep moving rather then try to hid under hit with the bike being the tallest object and stationary.
madpogue
06-08-04, 09:41 AM
I get very wet, usually.
slvoid
06-08-04, 09:50 AM
If it were true that the tallest object was always the thing hit during a lightening strike then we would be told to hide under a tree. We are all told that is the last thing you want to do during a storm..
Well when lightning forms, it's usually one huge ionized shaft then it branches out, no pun intended. I'd think these branches are what decides who gets hit at the last minute and if there's something that conducts better closer to you, say a bike, it'll head there instead of say, a lightning rod that might actually be significantly farther away.
I'm not sure why you think we should all hide under a tree if it's supposedly true that it will always get hit by lightning. I'd think once the lightning path branches out and engulfs the whole tree, you become part of the path too. Might as well end it quickly by placing one hand on the tree and the other hand in the dirt.
Well when lightning forms, it's usually one huge ionized shaft then it branches out, no pun intended. I'd think these branches are what decides who gets hit at the last minute and if there's something that conducts better closer to you, say a bike, it'll head there instead of say, a lightning rod that might actually be significantly farther away.
I'm not sure why you think we should all hide under a tree if it's supposedly true that it will always get hit by lightning. I'd think once the lightning path branches out and engulfs the whole tree, you become part of the path too. Might as well end it quickly by placing one hand on the tree and the other hand in the dirt.
slvoid
06-08-04, 09:52 AM
Id guess if a lightweight aluminium frame got hit by lightning it would probably melt.... but if your riding holding onto the rubber handles and on (I presume) rubber tyres you might be ok if the lightning cant reach earth. As for as being a moving target, electricity travels pretty much instantaniously so it wont make any difference.
Well if electricity could bridge 2 miles of air, I don't think an inch of rubber stands a chance. Plus if it's wet, all that carbon running off the brake residue would sure make for some hairy riding.
While in a car, the charge might actually flow around the metal cage instead of through it, keeping you relatively scared but safe.
Anyway, the question was a joke people. Lightning up people! :)
Haw haw.
Well if electricity could bridge 2 miles of air, I don't think an inch of rubber stands a chance. Plus if it's wet, all that carbon running off the brake residue would sure make for some hairy riding.
While in a car, the charge might actually flow around the metal cage instead of through it, keeping you relatively scared but safe.
Anyway, the question was a joke people. Lightning up people! :)
Haw haw.
DieselDan
06-08-04, 08:18 PM
Learn to look for storm clouds and study the direction of travel. You'll then have dry rides.
N_C
06-08-04, 08:53 PM
Learn to look for storm clouds and study the direction of travel. You'll then have dry rides.
That very well may work. But sometimes the storm system is so large or moving to fast to out run it, even if you ride in the opposite direction.
That very well may work. But sometimes the storm system is so large or moving to fast to out run it, even if you ride in the opposite direction.
Chris L
06-08-04, 09:12 PM
Question: Fast moving thunderstorm with huge anvil heads and lots of lightning and you're on the plains. The only thing taller than 2ft within 30 miles is you. Would you:
a) Prop your bike up, duck and cover and hope the bike becomes the lightning rod instead of you.
b) Ride like hell and stay with the bike till the very end.
I'd keep riding as if there was nothing at all happening. The fact of the matter is that relative to other risks, your chances of being struck by lightening are extremely small.
a) Prop your bike up, duck and cover and hope the bike becomes the lightning rod instead of you.
b) Ride like hell and stay with the bike till the very end.
I'd keep riding as if there was nothing at all happening. The fact of the matter is that relative to other risks, your chances of being struck by lightening are extremely small.
bg4533
06-08-04, 09:18 PM
you need a chrome messnger bag. they make a large backpack as well. but it is 600 cubic inches smaller than the messenger bag. your back will get used to the one strap thing. also there are the cobbworks.com
bucket paniers. what calculator was it?
oh. and ride like hell. might as well have fun if yer gonna die. also i like riding in the rain as well. i did it for the first time this morning. it was more of a drizzle really. my kremlin kept everything dry!
I have been looking into getting a messenger bag, probably a Chrome. Not sure which model, but probably one of the smaller ones. Normally, I use an LLBean bookbag heavily covered in some sort of waterproofer. It does a good job at keeping most rain out. I had the LLBean bag in the car when I went mountain biking once and it ended up getting completely covered in mud. When my calculator got ruined I was using a crappy Jansport bookbag since the LLBean bag was so dirty.
The calculator was a TI-89. I will probably just replace it with a lower model since I don't really use the symbolic features of the 89 much anymore.
I think I might start seeking out the rain like Chris L. It is getting warm here and rain rides are refreshing. I should probably put some Framesaver in my steel road bike before I do though.
bucket paniers. what calculator was it?
oh. and ride like hell. might as well have fun if yer gonna die. also i like riding in the rain as well. i did it for the first time this morning. it was more of a drizzle really. my kremlin kept everything dry!
I have been looking into getting a messenger bag, probably a Chrome. Not sure which model, but probably one of the smaller ones. Normally, I use an LLBean bookbag heavily covered in some sort of waterproofer. It does a good job at keeping most rain out. I had the LLBean bag in the car when I went mountain biking once and it ended up getting completely covered in mud. When my calculator got ruined I was using a crappy Jansport bookbag since the LLBean bag was so dirty.
The calculator was a TI-89. I will probably just replace it with a lower model since I don't really use the symbolic features of the 89 much anymore.
I think I might start seeking out the rain like Chris L. It is getting warm here and rain rides are refreshing. I should probably put some Framesaver in my steel road bike before I do though.
slvoid
06-08-04, 09:26 PM
I have been looking into getting a messenger bag, probably a Chrome. Not sure which model, but probably one of the smaller ones. Normally, I use an LLBean bookbag heavily covered in some sort of waterproofer. It does a good job at keeping most rain out. I had the LLBean bag in the car when I went mountain biking once and it ended up getting completely covered in mud. When my calculator got ruined I was using a crappy Jansport bookbag since the LLBean bag was so dirty.
The calculator was a TI-89. I will probably just replace it with a lower model since I don't really use the symbolic features of the 89 much anymore.
I think I might start seeking out the rain like Chris L. It is getting warm here and rain rides are refreshing. I should probably put some Framesaver in my steel road bike before I do though.
Just get a grocery bag and stash your stuff in there. That's what I do when I go hiking, put all my stuff in large garbage bags in my internal frame pack.
The calculator was a TI-89. I will probably just replace it with a lower model since I don't really use the symbolic features of the 89 much anymore.
I think I might start seeking out the rain like Chris L. It is getting warm here and rain rides are refreshing. I should probably put some Framesaver in my steel road bike before I do though.
Just get a grocery bag and stash your stuff in there. That's what I do when I go hiking, put all my stuff in large garbage bags in my internal frame pack.
catatonic
06-09-04, 12:53 AM
Guys...i have to state this again...the tires wont save you...all grippy rubber has a compound called carbon black. Carbon black has carbon, which is used as a static dissipative material...which means it is electrically conductive. Given carbon is a very poor conductor, but still it is conductive.
bikerarcher
06-10-04, 10:51 AM
Here in the South we have alot of afternoon thunder showers. What do you guys and gals do when a storm pops up with no shelter nearby?
Besides lightning, watch out for falling tree branches and debris from nearby homes if it's really windy. I once rode on a beautiful avenue flanked by century-old trees near the sea when a storm hit. Suddenly it rained tree bark and branches of various sizes--I couldn't shelter under the trees, and those stately homes on that avenue had closed gates, high fences. There was also no beach access path within 300 yards or more (not that I wanted to be on the beach when the storm hit with full force). So I had the incentive to sprint out of that long avenue as though I was trying to win the Tour de France. Scary thing, being rained upon with odd bits from trees, because I couldn't sprint in a straight line either--had to dodge branches on the ground too. I was in my late teens then and didn't bother to check the weather forecast before the ride.
Besides lightning, watch out for falling tree branches and debris from nearby homes if it's really windy. I once rode on a beautiful avenue flanked by century-old trees near the sea when a storm hit. Suddenly it rained tree bark and branches of various sizes--I couldn't shelter under the trees, and those stately homes on that avenue had closed gates, high fences. There was also no beach access path within 300 yards or more (not that I wanted to be on the beach when the storm hit with full force). So I had the incentive to sprint out of that long avenue as though I was trying to win the Tour de France. Scary thing, being rained upon with odd bits from trees, because I couldn't sprint in a straight line either--had to dodge branches on the ground too. I was in my late teens then and didn't bother to check the weather forecast before the ride.
mrdoright0405
06-10-04, 12:19 PM
:eek: :eek: :eek:
jeff williams
06-10-04, 12:33 PM
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=52043
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