How safe are we on a bike in a storm?
05-26-11, 06:38 PM
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How safe are we on a bike in a storm?
I've always heard a car is a very safe place to be in a storm with lightening, but what about a bike? I've been caught out in the open miles from anywhere twice this week and had to be rescued because of the lightening. So, I started wondering if the same theory applies to bikes. I would doubt it, but with rubber tires we would be grounded somewhat, right?
05-26-11, 06:43 PM
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the safety of being in a car in a storm has less to do with the tires and more to do with being surrounded by a metal cage, which creates a sort of faraday cage and keeps the charge mostly on the surface of the car.
which is not the case with a bike obv.
which is not the case with a bike obv.
05-26-11, 06:49 PM
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Hmmm, this isn't serious, right?
05-26-11, 06:55 PM
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Actually, the rubber in the car tires doesn't conduct the lighting down. Mainly the large metal body of the car does that.
In reality, it would probably depend on what you're surrounded by. I do rides next to huge trees, where you might be more protected than say, a big open field.
You should probably get indoors if you're caught in a lighting storm though. Or a ditch.
In reality, it would probably depend on what you're surrounded by. I do rides next to huge trees, where you might be more protected than say, a big open field.
You should probably get indoors if you're caught in a lighting storm though. Or a ditch.
05-26-11, 06:59 PM
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Surely you jest.
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05-26-11, 07:11 PM
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Only time I have been truly scared on a bike was in a sudden summer thunderstorm. Lightning struck in the middle of an open field that I was riding by.
05-26-11, 07:19 PM
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A bolt of lightning may jump several miles through the air to strike the ground, how much does it take for it to jump 1 inch between a metal or carbon bike rim and the ground?
That said, lightning doesn't have to be a direct hit to kill you. Electricity traveling through the ground accompanying a lightning strike is at least as dangerous as the strike itself. You should be relatively safe from that on a bike.
That said, lightning doesn't have to be a direct hit to kill you. Electricity traveling through the ground accompanying a lightning strike is at least as dangerous as the strike itself. You should be relatively safe from that on a bike.
05-26-11, 07:22 PM
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Absolutely. If I can ride through insane Hudson Valley electrical storms in hammering rain over the highest ridges in the area, then so can you. HTFU already.
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05-26-11, 07:30 PM
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05-26-11, 08:21 PM
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I think they are. The absolutely worst electrical storms I have ever been in were in the Northwest part of CT and the Adirondack mountains. Crazy cloud ground bursts of energy. I always wondered if it had something to do with levels of ore.
05-26-11, 08:27 PM
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Have been caught in a few bad storms cycling and persisted. Not very wise. You are not protected by your tires. At all. Quite exposed. Probably a good way to die.
05-26-11, 08:33 PM
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No, I didn't think there was any protection at all. Yeah, getting caught in a severe thunderstorm warning and Tornado watch is scary as hell.
05-26-11, 08:35 PM
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Depends on if you have your gun, dog, high end carbon fiber bike, and if you waved at the last cyclist you passed.
05-26-11, 08:35 PM
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.... and I don't have the blessing and protection of the velo gods like pcad.
05-26-11, 08:45 PM
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The electrical conductivity of an aluminum frame > electrical conductivity of a steel frame > electrical conductivity of a Ti frame > > electrical conductivity of carbon frames. This is why they have never made copper frames.
This is also why I dumped my CAAD9 frame and bought a Cervelo carbon frame.
This is also why I dumped my CAAD9 frame and bought a Cervelo carbon frame.
05-26-11, 08:48 PM
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The electrical conductivity of an aluminum frame > electrical conductivity of a steel frame > electrical conductivity of a Ti frame > > electrical conductivity of carbon frames. This is why they have never made copper frames.
This is also why I dumped my CAAD9 frame and bought a Cervelo carbon frame.
This is also why I dumped my CAAD9 frame and bought a Cervelo carbon frame.
The "protection" provided by cars rests entirely on electrical current tending to stay on the outside of the vehicle in case of a strike. Many storm chasers can tell you exactly how much cars are protected from being stuck in the first place - not at all.
05-26-11, 08:57 PM
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If you're out riding in a heavy thunderstorm, you're more likely to get hit by a car that can't see you because of poor visibility. Neither option is good.
05-26-11, 09:00 PM
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If I'm going to die from a lighting strike while cycling, I can't think of another I'd rather be doing. Well, maybe one other thing.......
And I've been way too close to some lightening strikes in some of our nasty FL storms that pop up out of nowhere.
And I've been way too close to some lightening strikes in some of our nasty FL storms that pop up out of nowhere.
05-26-11, 09:15 PM
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that lightning bolt just came from / is about to go through several miles of air, and you think a few inches of rubber is going to make a difference one way or another?
Edit: yeah, so someone already pointed this out...
Edit: yeah, so someone already pointed this out...
05-26-11, 09:22 PM
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05-26-11, 09:55 PM
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It's not safe. It's safer than sheltering under a tree.
Seen what lightening can do. I try not to ride in electrical storms.
Seen what lightening can do. I try not to ride in electrical storms.
05-26-11, 09:56 PM
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I heard that you should keep your valve caps on to reduce your bicycle's conductivity.
05-26-11, 10:07 PM
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A Faraday cage...on a bike...that would be awesome!