Cycling in Thunderstorms
 

Do you do it? If so, how?

:)

I usually wait them out, day long thunderstorms are rare in the deep south where I ride most. They usually come in cells that come and go fairly rapidly. We just had a huge thread on this not to long back...

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ight=Lightning and http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ight=Lightning

Aaron :)

Thunderstorms are the one type of weather I will go far out of my way to avoid riding in. Rain? No problem. Sleet? I can deal. Snow? You can't ride a Rochester winter without riding through snow. Wind speeds higher than the temperature? Been there, done that.

Thunderstorms? I'll wait. The amount of electricity in my body right now is just where I like it, thank you.

Yeah, read the other threads.

If I see lightning or hear thunder i'll find somewhere to wait it out. Usually doesn't delay me too long.

Never a good idea. Absolutely stay away from trees if you insist on riding.

If I'm in a dry spot, I'll wait if I know one if rolling through. However, I have been caught out in sudden storms...

Today there was a thunderstorm. Traffic was backed up, the freeway was closed at several exits, there was massive flooding at the overpasses, and people's cars got dinged up from the hail that fell on them.

I took the bus home and stayed dry.

Good day to be car-free.

:)

You didn't mention hail the first time around...that is when a helmet comes in handy to get you to a quick shelter and even if driving I will seek shelter. I was in a hail storm in the Dakotas years ago that was shattering car windows, when it first started we pulled over and were glad we did. Saw some vehicles that looked like they had been gone over with a sledge hammer of base ball bat.

Aaron :)

Every now and then, though it's usually not intentional ;-) Sometimes you lose the bet and bad weather just catches you out on the road, or on the trail. In a lot of cases it's like riding in the rain, and you take the same precautions. Wind and lightning, though, make a big difference. In that case I'll find some sort of shelter -- a coffee shop, convenience store, in some cases, a park pavilion, parking deck, or even a tractor shed to wait the storm out before hitting the road again.

Visibility is key... remember that motorists can't see as well as you can in those conditions, and it's an excellent idea not to be in their way, to have lights and reflectors all over to mprove your visibility. Bon't blend into the background.

We have incredibly intense lightning here in Arizona during Monsoon. I don't mind, in fact love getting drenched during a summer downpour, but riding an antenna during a lightning storm is not something I want to do. I wait it out under an overpass, or pull over anywhere there's shelter. Our storm cells move through so fast, it doesn't take long for it to pass.

Hey Sundance-

I'm in the Phoenix area as well.

:)

I won't ride in a thunderstorm if I can help it. Luckily, I've only been caught once when I was on my bike. I was able to wait it out hunkered down beneath an underpass. It was a short and nasty storm that turned the sky green. The news said a little twister was seen outside of the city. Eep.

it's not something I seek out, but we get thunderstorms regularly in the summer. Therefore, I ride in thunderstorms... I don't really think there is much to be done about it.

most annoying thing is chance of thunderstorm is forecast every other day in the summer

Don't worry it will be out of you pretty quick...

There's been times when I've ridden in thunderstorms, however I usually don't head out when they're starting to come around. If I'm already out riding, I'll continue to my destination or if I think I need to stop, do so.

I try, when possible to avoid storms. But sometimes I have no choice and have to keep riding. I simply rely on the fact I ride in urban areas and lightning will likely not hit me, but rather a nearby building or street lamp.

Easy. Find shelter and wait it out then finish your ride.

If I can I avoid going out in the storm. Sometimes that's not an option so I avoid large open areas(pretty easy living in the city). A lot of times if a thunderstorm catches me I'll suddenly remember I wanted to stop and grab something to eat.

If its raining and I dont have to go out, I stay in. If I get caught in it I do not mind =)

foldable Faraday cage.

Stay away from metal fences when it is lightening or you will end up like these cows.

http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/...ows_Fence1.jpg

Really??

Well none of those cows can now be used for Beef Tartar, real rare maybe but not Tartar. You cannot eat more natural than that. :eek:

I call alien mutilation... where are the crop circles?