Ok, I know that you shouldn't ride in a thunderstorm. What happens if you get caught in a thunderstorm? Are we protected ....you know like since we are on tires? I know I am a dumbass. But, I was just thinking about this as I was riding home and the sky got dark.
It is not the tires that protect you from lightning, it's the body of the car ( It's easier for the lightning to travel through metal and in to the ground, than traveling through you and in to the ground ).
I'm not sure, but I guess that riding a bike is not as safe as riding a car in lightning ( due to the fact that you are not surrounded by a metal body ).
Yup, thats like some uneduacated person saying their protected from lighting cause their wearing rubber shoes.
Yes, I heard someone say this before.
The car's body distributes the charge to the ground. Being on a bike probably wouldn't help since the lighting is going to travel through you. Secondly, I wouldn't want to ride in storm dreching rain.
The body actually conducts electricity better then metals do. The body is 80% water (or so, it's been years since health class) so if it is you or a metal pole (about the same height) the lightning will go through you. So I wouldn't recommend riding in a storm. I pulled off under an overpass one evening and waited about 30 minutes for the storm to pass over. Helps to carry a book in your bag/backpack ;c)
Bgimp, you're mistaken. Metals are much better conductors than water. Actually, water itself is NOT a conductor. It's the minerals and salts in water that actually make "water" conduct. So, our bodies are NOT more conductive to electricity than a metal pole....
If you get hit by a lightning bolt on your bike you'll probably get knocked out if not killed. There is enough residual energy surrounding the bolt that even if you are not the direct path of the current your body will shut down as all your neurons and synapses will fire at once overwhelming the brain. Almost like a re-boot on a computer! A lot of people suffer permanent nerve damage from lightning strikes - similar to paralysis except the limb HURTS like a mo-fo, like it's "asleep" all the time.
it never bothers me unless i am carring a bag of golf clubs strapped on my back, while holding an umbrella to keep dry while riding down the road.
here in central florida we have more morons struck by lightning then anywhere else. usually they get struck on the golf course. I JUST DON'T GET IT!!!!!
I got struck by lightning when I was at the lake... saw the storm coming and was heading out of the water, then BOOM!!
Knocked me out, but I got the "residual" hit cuz I dont have any noticable brain damage... hehe... it was CRAZY though man... everyone saw it, scared the hell out of them...
Riding in Lightning
Linear Mode
