Riding in Thunder and Lightening is it safe?

[DWiggy]

Hi, quite probably a stupid question but is cycling on an Aluminium framed bike in a thunder storm safe?

 

[Dogtrousers]

There was a discussion of this recently, here

I think the answer was: No. It isn't.

@ColinJ posted these links

[...]
Here's some safety advice and some more.
[...]
Don't mess with lightning!

 

[DWiggy]

Thanks, on the "some more" link it quite clearly stated don't cycle! ...how am I gona get home lol

 

[w00hoo_kent]

The Norwegians reckon it'll be over by 4.

 

[ColinJ]

For some reason, I did not get an alert when I was tagged by Dogtrousers, a few posts ago ...

Can you tag yourself, @ColinJ? (Yes!)

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Thanks, on the "some more" link it quite clearly stated don't cycle! ...how am I gona get home lol

If you're getting the monster downpour that we had earlier, it won't last. There just isn't enough hail and water in the sky. There'll be lots of standing water though.

 

[Globalti]

The fact that the bike is metal won't make a bit of difference to your chances of being struck and the rubber tyres certainly won't make any difference to your chances of survival. Just ride faster so the lightning can't catch you.

 

[Dogtrousers]

For some reason, I did not get an alert when I was tagged by Dogtrousers, a few posts ago ...

Can you tag yourself, @ColinJ? (Yes!)

I didn't tag you in the original post. I posted it, then editied it to include you. Which must have sneakily suppressed alerting.

 

[ColinJ]

I didn't tag you in the original post. I posted it, then editied it to include you. Which must have sneakily suppressed alerting.

Ah!

I didn't get an alert when I tagged myself, but I suppose that makes sense. Would you please tag me in a new post now so I can see if I get an alert from that - cheers.

 

[S.Giles]

You'll be ok so long as you remember to wear a helmet to protect your head.

 

[Mr Celine]

Google for something like "cyclist killed by lightening" then compare your results with a search for something like "cyclist killed by car".

If you think cycling on roads shared with cars is an acceptable risk then you don't need to worry about lightening.

But don't blame me if you get wet.

 

[ColinJ]

Google for something like "cyclist killed by lightening" then compare your results with a search for something like "cyclist killed by car".

If you think cycling on roads shared with cars is an acceptable risk then you don't need to worry about lightening.

But don't blame me if you get wet.

That's a false argument because most people have enough sense to avoid being in exposed places in torrential rain and thunderstorms! If you worked out how many people who did stand out in the open on hilltops in thunderstorms got hit, you wouldn't fancy doing it!

I was in Oxenhope village once when a thunderstorm blew over Cock Hill, 2 miles away on the climb that I was supposed to be going up, I stayed down in the village and watched lightning bolts zapping the road and fields either side of it. I am pretty sure that I would have been hit if I had ridden up there because my head would have been among the highest objects for miles around at the summit.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Be careful when taking a comfort break: http://metro.co.uk/2007/09/24/bikers-penis-hit-by-lightning-176741/

 

[ColinJ]

Be careful when taking a comfort break: http://metro.co.uk/2007/09/24/bikers-penis-hit-by-lightning-176741/

That's gotta hurt!

 

[Shut Up Legs]

No, cycling in lightning is very dangerous, as is cycling in anything! Haven't you heard all the dire warnings about how dangerous cycling is? I know I have... let me see, it might have been from one of the motorist lobby groups, or something...