What happens if you're struck by lightning?
Well we were up on t'moor last night when a jolly great thunderstorm arrived, flashing lights an' all and I got to thinking that being on top of a moor on a piece of metal in a thunderstorm is probably not a fantastically clever thing to do.
But then I thought perhaps it will be alright because we've got great big bits of rubber between ourselves and the ground so if the lightning does hit us it can't earth and we'll be saved.
Anyone who's been hit by lightning on an MTB care to comment of the efficacy of this hypothesis?
But then I thought perhaps it will be alright because we've got great big bits of rubber between ourselves and the ground so if the lightning does hit us it can't earth and we'll be saved.
Anyone who's been hit by lightning on an MTB care to comment of the efficacy of this hypothesis?
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Oh, it will still earth, several million volts will ensure that! It will jump from you to the ground. Bizarely being wet is better, due to the so called skin effect - it will take the least path of resistance, over your wet body rather than through it and buggering your insides up. Best thing is to crouch low, headdown with feet together. This can lessen potential potential differences in the ground creating current (one reasons why cows often die when struck!)
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Take Lee Trevino's advice and always carry a 1 iron.
Even God can't hit a 1 iron!
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<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by supersonic</i>
Best thing is to crouch low, headdown with feet together. This can lessen potential potential differences in the ground creating current (one reasons why cows often die when struck!)
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Thats also why giraffes on the African plains are extremely frightened of lightening.
On average 153 giraffes die each year from lightening strikes (BigAl 20 June 07)
80% of statistics are made up on the spot (Vic Reeves, some time ago)
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Goes upt one leg and down tother (three)
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Has anyone heard that you should open your gob during a thunderstorm. Something to do with equalising pressures if you do get hit. I'm not making it up......honest! [;)]
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Not heard that one, but sounds plausible!
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I heard you should stick one's "derriere" in the air as its the least sensitive part of the body
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I wouldnt stick my boll*cks in the air!
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My grandad was hit by lightening (not yesterday mind - he's long gone)
He didn't even realise, but several people saw it. He was in a bus depot - lightening struck his head - and then arced out of his body (from the shoulders therefore avoiding the heart and organs I guess) to two buses either side of him.
He deserved a bit of luck after marrying my Nan!
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Hers's a question:
If you're hit by lightening (and survive without serious injury) are you:
a) lucky - because you survived, or
b) unlucky - for being hit in the first place?
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There was some Yank who was struck seven times, and survived them all! When he did die, his gravestone got struck. Some park ranger. Our house got hit once.
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you can avoid being struck by lightning while out mountainbiking by riding with someone much taller than you and wearing a big metal helmet.0
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<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by BigAl</i>
Take Lee Trevino's advice and always carry a 1 iron.
Even God can't hit a 1 iron!
Updated pics:
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Kona Lava Dome - no more :-(
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I like that [:D]
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<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by supersonic</i>
There was some Yank who was struck seven times, and survived them all! When he did die, his gravestone got struck. Some park ranger. Our house got hit once.
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According to the Guinness Book of Records, [Roy C.]Sullivan was first hit by lightning in 1942, which caused him to lose his big toenail. Over the next 35 years, lightning burned off Sullivan's eyebrows, seared his left shoulders, set his hair on fire, struck his legs, injured his ankle, and burned his stomach and chest.
"Then, in 1983, the man who owns the Guinness record for having
survived the most lightning strikes took his own life, reportedly
after suffering a lover's broken heart."
Poor bugger!
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I've got a carbon frame, seatpost, saddle, handlebars and carbon shoes so how does this effect me if I get struck? I just thought my saddle rails are titanium so part of the saddle is metal.
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You still die.
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Cheerfull!!!
Yep, lots of warnings on my carbon fishing rods about overhead powerlines.... just as good as metal at conducting (to all intents and purposes anyway...)
You coluld constuct a Faraday cage, but I think it would slow you down on the climbs..... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faraday_cage
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Riding a hardrock is like riding a faraday cage, that much metal.
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<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by BigAl</i>
Take Lee Trevino's advice and always carry a 1 iron.
Even God can't hit a 1 iron!
Updated pics:
Giant Anthem
Bianchi Via Nirone
Kona Lava Dome - no more :-(
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just thought you might like to know that i can hit a 1iron,,, but i am playing of 5 now[^]
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You could always take out of the recumbent handbook and fit a lightning conductor [:D]0
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The first question was will a small piece of rubber separating me from the ground protect me from lightning, and later someone asked about a carbon bike with very little metal.
I think what needs to be appreciated is that the potential difference (voltage) that causes the current (lightning) to flow is great enough to break down several hundred feet of air, which is an insulator. Therefore it stands to reason that a small amount on non-metal insulator separating you from the ground is unlikely to phase the lightning by much! If it wants to flow through you and your bike, it will!!
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zi4kXgDB ... ed&search=
Protection from lightning! (Bit awkward on a bike tho'......)
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Man, 230V mains scares me! I wouldn't be in the same building as that thing!
Nice vid though [;)]
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<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by supersonic</i>
Riding a hardrock is like riding a faraday cage, that much metal.
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I knew there was a reason I got one.[:D]
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<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by tombate911</i>
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by BigAl</i>
Take Lee Trevino's advice and always carry a 1 iron.
Even God can't hit a 1 iron!
Updated pics:
Giant Anthem
Bianchi Via Nirone
Kona Lava Dome - no more :-(
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just thought you might like to know that i can hit a 1iron,,, but i am playing of 5 now[^]
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Thou shall henceforth be known as God.
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Personaly I'd go riding with someone who had a carbon frame.
Let them take the hit! [:D]
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