Discussion
If you get hit by lightning when driving a car then you are fairly safe as the car body acts as a Faraday Cage and channels the current round you and down into the ground.
When you are riding a bike you are generally higher than the cars and slightly pointy in shape which sounds like an ideal target for any errant lightning. As there would be no Faraday Cage it would probably be a bit painful if you did get hit.
So does anyone know whether there is a genuine risk of getting struck, and if so what the consequenses would be? (other than sticky up hair)
My colleague is convinced that the rubber tyres would insulate you so you'd be safe. I tried pointing out the fact that the charge is jumping the best part of a kilometre to hit you so shouldn't have too much trouble jumping 10 inches from the frame to the ground but he won't listen.
P.S. Can you tell I'm a bit bored?
When you are riding a bike you are generally higher than the cars and slightly pointy in shape which sounds like an ideal target for any errant lightning. As there would be no Faraday Cage it would probably be a bit painful if you did get hit.
So does anyone know whether there is a genuine risk of getting struck, and if so what the consequenses would be? (other than sticky up hair)
My colleague is convinced that the rubber tyres would insulate you so you'd be safe. I tried pointing out the fact that the charge is jumping the best part of a kilometre to hit you so shouldn't have too much trouble jumping 10 inches from the frame to the ground but he won't listen.
P.S. Can you tell I'm a bit bored?
I rode through a thunder and lightening storm a month back near Heathrow, I was very nervous ..
Just figure your tyres are wet and the bike is ... 1 strike and you will at best look like Ken Dodd pretending to be a Xmas tree, worst case you will be dead before you hit the floor and get run over ... by a passing lorry ... thats a bonus then
Just figure your tyres are wet and the bike is ... 1 strike and you will at best look like Ken Dodd pretending to be a Xmas tree, worst case you will be dead before you hit the floor and get run over ... by a passing lorry ... thats a bonus then
Death apparently
http://www.thinkbike.co.za/talk/phpBB2/viewtopic.p...
I remember a while ago one of the bike mags did a test where they got a bike and a dummy dressed up in leathers and lid etc.They then sent a bolt of electricty to simulate a lighting strike onto the rider.Just can not remember the mag now.
http://www.thinkbike.co.za/talk/phpBB2/viewtopic.p...
I remember a while ago one of the bike mags did a test where they got a bike and a dummy dressed up in leathers and lid etc.They then sent a bolt of electricty to simulate a lighting strike onto the rider.Just can not remember the mag now.
I thought it would be bad if you got hit but didn't realise it was enough of a risk to be advised to get off your bike. I often ride home in bad weather, occassionally thunderstorms and my journey takes me over a high and exposed area which is what got me wondering in the first place.
Where can I get one of Dilbert's helmets?
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