Anyone Hit By Lightning On Ride
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The thing is, that when you are riding an aluminum bike IN a thunderstorm that is ACTIVE with lightning, those chances of getting hit by lightning go up dramatically. Sure, on a sunny day in arizona they are almost zero, but once you have been in a few storms and actually been close to the lightning, you realize that it is nothing to fool around with, it is simply not worth it to screw around in a thunderstorm, get out, and if you can not, seek shelter and ditch the conductor (bike). I've actually felt the concussive blast from the thunder, in terms of the strike being only a few hundred feet away. It felt like a bomb-blast. It's nothing to screw around with when you have close lightning strikes. Yesterday we had some crazy intense cells and some strikes real close to the shop where I was working. It can definitely get scary when the storm really gets nasty...
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Remember that in arizona the most dangerous are is the periphery of thunder cells. This is the most charged area of the cell but also looks to be the least dangerous. Most people that get struck get struck here. They are waiting for the cell to arrive and don't realize that it has already even though the cloud mass is still distant. Just 3weeks ago we were at Fantasy Island one night and there were three cells surrounding it. We were ridding along until out of blus sky a bolt touched down in the military area. We left reeal fast. The weird thing was that the lightning originated out of no clouds. Scary to say the least. You mayu actually be safer within the storm since the ionization of the ground has built up and is emanating from the highest points, hopefully not you.
Be sane and logical and you will not be hit. Just remember those 2 boys on their motorcycles here in tucson. They were in the pantano wash during a storm (not smart to begin with) but the storm had not yet arrived still they were hit by the same bolt of lightning and died. In a wash, lowest point in the area, but they were the highest points in that low area.
Be sane and logical and you will not be hit. Just remember those 2 boys on their motorcycles here in tucson. They were in the pantano wash during a storm (not smart to begin with) but the storm had not yet arrived still they were hit by the same bolt of lightning and died. In a wash, lowest point in the area, but they were the highest points in that low area.
About 100 yards off while dirt biking
In the 1930's, my grandfather was riding along with two other cowboys (3 abreast), far from the headquarters, and the guy on the far end was struck on the top of his head. The lightning bolt went through his head and body, through the saddle, out one of the horse's legs, blowing the hoof off, and then into the ground. The cowboy was killed instantly, leaving burn holes in his hat and saddle. My grandfather and the other cowboy were both thrown off their horses and stunned, and were some time before they realized what happened, but otherwise unharmed.
in the 1970's. I got shocked mildly through the bike and felt like I had been holding my finger in the light socket for a while. The sky was dark all around, and the area was flat, up around where the 101 crosses Scottsdale Road now.Dirdir said:
In the 1930's, my grandfather was riding along with two other cowboys (3 abreast), far from the headquarters, and the guy on the far end was struck on the top of his head. The lightning bolt went through his head and body, through the saddle, out one of the horse's legs, blowing the hoof off, and then into the ground. The cowboy was killed instantly, leaving burn holes in his hat and saddle. My grandfather and the other cowboy were both thrown off their horses and stunned, and were some time before they realized what happened, but otherwise unharmed.
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Has anyone noticed how your bike shocks you at Pima and Dynamite?
When you're underneath the powerlines run your finger lightly on the handlebars or stem (or something like that). Its not much, but its definately electrical!
When you're underneath the powerlines run your finger lightly on the handlebars or stem (or something like that). Its not much, but its definately electrical!
While loading my motorcycle at P&D I could hear a buzzing coming from my steel loading ramp, my first thought was that I had set the ramp on a bee or some other insect. On closer inspection there was a visible arc between the loading ramp and a bolt on the inside of the tailgate...pretty cool!funboarder1971 said:
A side note about P&D, I was out there riding and ended up talking to a gentleman who nearly had his head severed by a thin wire stretched across the trail he was on. He had a scar on his neck almost ear to ear
. Personally I haven't seen any signs of eco terrorists at P&D (or anywhere else) but his story is always in the back of my mind when riding!
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I was once right under the power lines unloading my bike from the roof rack. The shocks I was receiving when touching the rack were such that I had to move my car before taking off my bike.
As far as getting struck by lightning, I am even more scared now than before posting my question.
As far as getting struck by lightning, I am even more scared now than before posting my question.
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The only way to address this fear is to go riding in a lightening storm. Have plans tonight?
Disclaimer: This is meant to be a joke, and not a personal observation of your downfalls. If you take this seriosly, FU!
Disclaimer: This is meant to be a joke, and not a personal observation of your downfalls. If you take this seriosly, FU!
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Actually, I was planning on doing Kristi's ride tonight, but weather.com shows a sh!tload of activity surrounding Phoenix. I am not sure why she picks Fridays to ride at night because the turnout is usually affected, but unless I see lightning, I should be there at 7:30.skinny-tire said:
As for your disclaimer, you know me way too well to think that I actually have any downfalls. I will assume that you are drunk. You must have some British heritage.
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