Apart from keeping me company on my commute and letting me triangulate my position by DF'ing with the ferrite rod, there was another useful property today. After getting into bed at 0800 after nights, I had to be up at 1315 to go back to work again. There was a thunderstorm at 1200 and each lightning strike could be heard clearly through the earpieces, stronger strokes resulting in louder crashes.
After each crash I counted the seconds until the thunder could be heard. By using the formula 5 secs gap = 1 mile, its progress could be tracked and at one stage it was only a mile away. Because of the risk, I would not bike to work in the thunderstorm, but luckily it headed out to sea and by the time I set off was not audible in the radio, so it was safe. Simon
Apart from keeping me company on my commute and letting me triangulate my position by DF'ing with the ferrite rod, there was another useful property today. After getting into bed at 0800 after nights, I had to be up at 1315 to go back to work again. There was a thunderstorm at 1200 and each lightning strike could be heard clearly through the earpieces, stronger strokes resulting in louder crashes.
After each crash I counted the seconds until the thunder could be heard. By using the formula 5 secs gap = 1 mile, its progress could be tracked and at one stage it was only a mile away. Because of the risk, I would not bike to work in the thunderstorm, but luckily it headed out to sea and by the time I set off was not audible in the radio, so it was safe. Simon
Is it really risky to be out on a bike in a thunderstorm? I can imagine if you're the highest point on an exposed hilltop or empty field with no trees around, and I guess for all I know your cycle to work is over this sort of terrain - but if it's not, is there still a high risk of being struck?
I would not bike to work in the thunderstorm, but luckily it headed out to sea and by the time I set off was not audible in the radio, so it was safe.
I have just conjured up a picture of you cycling around with a telescopic ariel on your helmet. Now I know why you listem to AM. -- If ingnorance is bliss then I am the erm er luckiest thingy in the whatchamacallit. To mail me, change the obvious bit to richard
Is it really risky to be out on a bike in a thunderstorm? I can imagine if you're the highest point on an exposed hilltop or empty field with no trees around, and I guess for all I know your cycle to work is over this sort of terrain - but if it's not, is there still a high risk of being struck?
I was wondering that too. It is at least more dangerous than being in a metal box, aka a car!
Is it really risky to be out on a bike in a thunderstorm? I can imagine if you're the highest point on an exposed hilltop or empty field with no trees around, and I guess for all I know your cycle to work is over this sort of terrain - but if it's not, is there still a high risk of being struck?
No more so than walking. I suppose there could be a theoretical difference, but it's unlikely to be great. You are surely less at risk if there is a close near-miss strike (where the different ground potential could cause a shock to go up one leg of a pedestrian and down the other - hence the advice to put feet together and crouch).
It's safe as long as you are 'on' the bike, i.e. rubber wheels insultating you from the ground (don't put your foot down). Remember from school day faradays experiements. Another advantage of cycling!!
"Simon Mason" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
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Apart from keeping me company on my commute and letting me triangulate my position by DF'ing with the ferrite rod, there was another useful property today. After getting into bed at 0800 after nights, I had to be up at 1315 to go back to work again. There was a thunderstorm at 1200 and each lightning strike could be heard clearly through the earpieces, stronger strokes resulting in louder crashes.
After each crash I counted the seconds until the thunder could be heard. By using the formula 5 secs gap = 1 mile, its progress could be tracked and at one stage it was only a mile away. Because of the risk, I would not bike to work in the thunderstorm, but luckily it headed out to sea and by the time I set off was not audible in the radio, so it was safe. Simon
"Tim" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
It's safe as long as you are 'on' the bike, i.e. rubber wheels insultating you from the ground (don't put your foot down). Remember from school day faradays experiements. Another advantage of cycling!!
I suggest that you do not rely on this to save you in a thunderstorm.
"Tim" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
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It's safe as long as you are 'on' the bike, i.e. rubber wheels insultating you from the ground (don't put your foot down). Remember from school day faradays experiements. Another advantage of cycling!!
This is a popular myth. In no way would several million volts of electricity, that has travelled though miles of air be stopped by a few mm of rubber tyre! The car is the safest option, (after a building), as it provides an easy route to earth around the sides of the body shell. -- Simon Mason Anlaby East Yorkshire. 53°44'N 0°26'W simonmason.karoo.netsimonmason.karoo.netOpen ↗
"Velvet" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
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Is it really risky to be out on a bike in a thunderstorm? I can imagine if you're the highest point on an exposed hilltop or empty field with no trees around, and I guess for all I know your cycle to work is over this sort of terrain - but if it's not, is there still a high risk of being struck?
At several places in my commute, I *am* the highest point (ex rail track in flat terrain) and after cycling through one last year, I would definitely not want to repeat the experience -I was terrified!
"Simon Mason" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
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At several places in my commute, I *am* the highest point (ex rail track in flat terrain) and after cycling through one last year, I would definitely not want to repeat the experience -I was terrified!
The risk is probably *far* lower than typical daily activities like driving a car, which people think of as pretty safe.
"Simon Mason" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
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Apart from keeping me company on my commute and letting me triangulate my position by DF'ing with the ferrite rod, there was another useful property today. After getting into bed at 0800 after nights, I had to be up at 1315 to go back to work again. There was a thunderstorm at 1200 and each lightning strike could be heard clearly through the earpieces, stronger strokes resulting in louder crashes.
Learn French and listen to the TdF on 164 long wave.
"Adrian Boliston" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
Quoted message said:
"Simon Mason" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
At several places in my commute, I *am* the highest point (ex rail track in flat terrain) and after cycling through one last year, I would definitely not want to repeat the experience -I was terrified!
The risk is probably *far* lower than typical daily activities like driving a car, which people think of as pretty safe.
Stats anyone?
80 people killed in USA per year, but many more are disabled. "Avoid leaning against vehicles. Get off bicycles and motorcycles. "
"W K" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
"Simon Mason" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Apart from keeping me company on my commute and letting me triangulate my position by DF'ing with the ferrite rod, there was another useful property today. After getting into bed at 0800 after nights, I had to be up at 1315 to go back to work again. There was a thunderstorm at 1200 and each lightning strike could be heard clearly through the earpieces, stronger strokes resulting in louder crashes.
Learn French and listen to the TdF on 164 long wave.
I understand Dutch and can listen to it on 747 kHz MW.
I would expect cycling underneath a thunderstorm with lightening to be risky as the bike not only creates a charge as it goes along (the tyres rubbing against the road would pick up eletrons and then throw them into the frame just like a car does which can result in a chock if you touch the car door upon opening it) but is also atracting the attentino of elertical energy with its conductivity, the otherweek I read in the paper that a golfer got struck twice in one match!
"Simon Mason" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Apart from keeping me company on my commute and letting me triangulate my position by DF'ing with the ferrite rod, there was another useful property today. After getting into bed at 0800 after nights, I had to be up at 1315 to go back to work again. There was a thunderstorm at 1200 and each lightning strike could be heard clearly through the earpieces, stronger strokes resulting in louder crashes.
After each crash I counted the seconds until the thunder could be heard. By using the formula 5 secs gap = 1 mile, its progress could be tracked and at one stage it was only a mile away. Because of the risk, I would not bike to work in the thunderstorm, but luckily it headed out to sea and by the time I set off was not audible in the radio, so it was safe. Simon
On Thu, 31 Jul 2003 09:25:12 +0100, "Tim" <[email hidden]> wrote (more or less):
Quoted message said:
It's safe as long as you are 'on' the bike, i.e. rubber wheels insultating you from the ground (don't put your foot down). Remember from school day faradays experiements. Another advantage of cycling!!
Won't these rubber tyres be covered in water during a thunderstorm?
visual_infinity <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
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I would expect cycling underneath a thunderstorm with lightening to be risky as the bike not only creates a charge as it goes along (the tyres rubbing against the road would pick up eletrons and then throw them into the frame just like a car does which can result in a chock if you touch the car door upon opening it)
This is another myth. It's not the car that gets charged with static electricity, it's you! As you get out of the car's seat, the back of your shirt rubs against the car seat and charges you up, like a glass rod being rubbed with a cloth.
As you close the door, you discharge yourself into the car's metal body, which acts as an earth (not *the* earth, but just an earth.) Once, to stop myself getting a shock, I shut the car with my hand on the glass window, but I was still carrying a charge and I got a shock on a metal letter box instead. Simon
"Simon Mason" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
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This is another myth. It's not the car that gets charged with static electricity, it's you! As you get out of the car's seat, the back of your shirt rubs against the car seat and charges you up, like a glass rod being rubbed with a cloth.
As you close the door, you discharge yourself into the car's metal body, which acts as an earth (not *the* earth, but just an earth.) Once, to stop myself getting a shock, I shut the car with my hand on the glass window, but I was still carrying a charge and I got a shock on a metal letter box instead. Simon
Sometimes it gives you quite a strong shock. I have been know to embarrass myself when parking in a busy street and letting out a few not very lady like words when it happens!!!
Fortunately, it doesn`t seem to happen nearly so much with the car I have now. Don`t know why this would be, but I am not complaining.
"Simon Mason" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
This is another myth. It's not the car that gets charged with static electricity, it's you! As you get out of the car's seat, the back of your shirt rubs against the car seat and charges you up, like a glass rod being rubbed with a cloth.
As you close the door, you discharge yourself into the car's metal body, which acts as an earth (not *the* earth, but just an earth.) Once, to stop myself getting a shock, I shut the car with my hand on the glass window, but I was still carrying a charge and I got a shock on a metal letter box instead. Simon
Sometimes it gives you quite a strong shock. I have been know to embarrass myself when parking in a busy street and letting out a few not very lady like words when it happens!!!
Fortunately, it doesn`t seem to happen nearly so much with the car I have now. Don`t know why this would be, but I am not complaining.
Maureen
The trick is to make sure you're holding the edge of the door *all* the time when you're getting out of the car. That way as the charge builds, it instantly drains, no shocks.
Not always easy to stay connected to the door though - it's not natural.
