I was commuting to work this morning in NYC during a strong thunderstorm. Heavy rainfall wasn’t a big problem - just had to walk my bike on few intersections when water reached hubs. Lightning was a bigger concern. I wonder, if anybody knows cases when cyclists were hit by lightning.
I was commuting to work this morning in NYC during a strong thunderstorm. Heavy rainfall wasn’t a big problem - just had to walk my bike on few intersections when water reached hubs. Lightning was a bigger concern. I wonder, if anybody knows cases when cyclists were hit by lightning.
Never heard of a specific case but probably your chances are same as if you weren’t on a bicycle especially if out in the open.
theres nothing about a bike to protect you from lightening. IT is not true your tires will protect you and insulate your from the ground not true… IT’s Not even true for cars… I’ve seen video from inside a car when lightening stuck(storm chaser) blew the tires out…
About the only thing that sort of protects you in a car is the frame and body is like a faraday cage the charge goes around you unles of course you happen to be holding on to something conductive connected to the frame. … So my advice if it’s lightening take shelter…
Don’t know if it’s true or not, but I’ve heard that carbon fiber is highly conductive. I know they used to put warning labels about it on fishing rods.
As has already been said, rubber tires on the road offer you no protection if they’re wet.
I guess that, unbeknownst to you, you were also dodging tornados. In Brooklyn!!! How weird is that?!
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Graphite is a conductor of electricty. So much so that the military has utilizes weapons with carbon fibers to short out powerplants. Here is an interesting article on that: http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/dumb/blu-114.htm
But I would suspect as long as you are not standing in water holding your bike above your head on the ridge of a hill you would be okay. No different that a golfer out on a course during a rainstorm.
My thoughts would be to get cover and keep the bike out of the elements so you dont have to deal with cleaning it when you get home.
I think you’re going to get a hundred different theories on this one. All I know is that I’ll train in the rain anytime, but the first sign of lightning and I’m heading home pronto.
I found a day later that my commute was even more dangerous. It appears, a rare in NYC tornado hit Bay Ridge area in Brooklyn around 6-6:30 AM. I took off my home in Bay Ridge at 6 AM and crossed the Manhattan Bridge around 6:30. It looks like the tornado missed me by 5-10 min. or passed just a block away. It shouldn’t be fun to find myself and my bike hanging on top of a tall tree. As for the lightning goes, I found some useful links in the Internet:
http://sportsmedicine.about.com/...sues/a/lightning.htm
http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/outdoors.htm
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/...cnty_biker_fatal.php
I wish I could head home after first sign of lightning, but I would have to take subway that usually gets flooded and screwed during thunderstorms. Besides, most of my training comes from commute - around 29 miles round trip (usually 4 days biking and 1 day running). Anyway, I tried to stay away from trees and metal poles during my Wednesday’s commute. I also took the Manhattan Bridge (not as opened) instead of the Brooklyn Bridge I usually take and rode in the middle of the bike path. Sure, I’m taking my chances. I don’t think, my titanium commute bike is much safer than carbon fiber or steel one and I definetely more exposed to dangers compare to ‘normal’ people walking around since I stay on streets longer. Well, I’m adding lightning and tornados to my list of dangers for cyclists in NYC. Few other from this list:
- Taxis and school bases
- Grannies in 40 years old cadillacs crossing streets on red lights.
- Huge garbage cans rolling on streets.
- Flying plastic bags
- Rollerbladers listening for music, talking to each other and taking full bike path on the West side.
- Runners with headphones suddenly making U-turns right when you pass them.
- Idiots biking with headphones, without helmets and hands in pockets of their jackets