Lightning

[stromgal]

Okay, I'll admit I missed the Noah-just-completed-the-Ark-type showers in the Midwest of late, as I was out West.

Nonetheless, there's some serious lightning/thunder going on right now. Having ridden in some scary lightning in Utah, I can attest that I'm happy to be under a roof for this.

Am I turning into a wuss?  

[RedCBRRider]

No.  It's just common sense.  Lightning can be deadly.  No lightning where I am right now, but I was watching the truck race on TV from 'Stallis and they stopped the race due to lightning. Keep your head down.  And watch the sump pump in the basement.

[mxvet57]

Am I turning into a wuss?  

yes              

now get out there and ride

[bobnflorida]

Stromgal--

            This time you want to listen to that little voice. I live in Florida where lightning is a regular occurrence. The locals all now that it is the deadliest natural act.

             I am always reminded of the Cycle World tour a few years ago. When they interviewed the riders wife, she said" at least he died doing what he loved"
The rider was struck by a random bolt in Arizona.
             Seek shelter(avoiding trees) and check the local radar. Ride safe-bob

[maddjack]

Lightning is nothing to take lightly,on a bike ,unlike a car you have no protection from a strike.best thing to do is seek shelter till the fireworks are over.

[Bmwgsrider94]

just got home from riding about 350 miles and it is pouring buckets here   Thunder and lighting is really bad but I did not want to wait it out. So no wuss here  

[stromgal]

Glad you made it home safely!

I've been stuck in the middle of nowhere twice with lightning storms bearing down on me; in Wyoming coming home from the '04 Montrose National, and in Utah this month before heading to the Eureka Springs National. Both times, no shelter anywhere, and the Strom and I were the tallest things around.

I do a lot of singing in my helmet when this happens. Mainly hymns.  

[maddjack]

Glad you made it home safely!

I've been stuck in the middle of nowhere twice with lightning storms bearing down on me; in Wyoming coming home from the '04 Montrose National, and in Utah this month before heading to the Eureka Springs National. Both times, no shelter anywhere, and the Strom and I were the tallest things around.

I do a lot of singing in my helmet when this happens. Mainly hymns.  

I had it happen to me out west too,I agree not a good feeling.

[sleazy rider]

Wait till the bolt hits a tree next to you going down the freeway.    One time was all it took for me.  I seek shelter now.  It was so close, I could smell the ozone and feel the hair raise on my arms and it was LOUD!!!!  

[Bmwgsrider94]

Glad you made it home safely!

I've been stuck in the middle of nowhere twice with lightning storms bearing down on me; in Wyoming coming home from the '04 Montrose National, and in Utah this month before heading to the Eureka Springs National. Both times, no shelter anywhere, and the Strom and I were the tallest things around.

I do a lot of singing in my helmet when this happens. Mainly hymns.  

Thanks ! I was just not in the mood to hangout and wait on this to pass. It was going to stick around awhile I was told at a little mom and pop's gas station. They also told me that hail was reported about 20 miles behind me and moving fast towards the area. I figured I would rather face lighting and thunder than hail  . And I have been in plenty of lighting strikes and the one that stands out the most was 4 yrs ago in Ohio heading to Mid-Ohio for Vintage days with a good friend. 15 miles from the track in some small town we had rain come down on us pretty hard ( no time to get rain gear ) caught up in traffic at a stop light when the hair on my arms stood up and the hair on my head the same when all of a sudden a bolt came across the top of us and hit a tree about 50 yds ahead . We passed everyone red light or not and got to the track as soon as we could . Thats a hair raising experience   .

[DredheadV2.0]

Glad you made it home safely!

I've been stuck in the middle of nowhere twice with lightning storms bearing down on me; in Wyoming coming home from the '04 Montrose National

How long after we parted company was that?  I  vaguely remember a single supercell following us down I-70 after we left the hospital in Grand Junction... kept looking back and seeing this single, creepy black mass looming larger and larger.

Personally, if I'm geared for the rain, I love riding in electrical storms.  Absolutely gorgeous.  It's the accompanying wind I don't so much like.

[sscully]

I'll 3rd or 4th the motion that you are following common sense.

Don't listen to a guy who says commuting to work is not riding ( guess it is surf boarding ?? ) One day (again) your common sense will come in handy.  That little voice in your head is your subconscious telling you something is not right.  Pay attention to it, the Darwin award winners ( and  runner ups ) don't listen to that voice, hence their award status.

[oblivion]

I do a lot of singing in my helmet when this happens. Mainly hymns.  

R.E.O. Speedwagon's "Ridin' the Storm Out."  Always.

Had a fairly close one Friday night heading up to Jellystone in Caledonia, WI. Just as I was going under some high tension lines.  Pucker factor was high, but luckily I got there safely.

[Scratch33]

One of my older brothers made the news in Fredericksburg a few years back when he survived being struck by lightning.

What was he doing at the time?  Standing outside on his back deck, checking out the really cool thunderstorm.  

[Bmwgsrider94]

Again the weather here is in a freak mode. Sunny and hot ( 82 degrees) and then bam clouds come fast and raining like buckets add lighting AGAIN   Lucky there was an Applebees for me to hang out at   . So great food and awesome waitresses to take care of me   . Arrived home in 1 piece and jsut now another storm getting ready to dump heavy rain and thunder and lighting for the 3rd day in a row. Beginning to suck