Gerry1time
Did a wee in Dirac's toilet
first a few spots of rain, now a massive rumble of thunder, just as i'm about to walk home, ace...
There's another storm a'brewin'
- Thread starter Gerry1time
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gentlegreen
I hummus, therefore I am ...
Arse - I'd better get on me bike pronto !Gerry1time said:
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fractionMan
Custom Title
Yeah, I heard that too.
I was already on my bike- in deepest Leigh Woods- when the rain started. And not a raincoat in sight. Oh well, got home finally, without getting too dishevelled.
I know there's a Dutch cycle accessory manufacturer (they're called Basil, if you're half interested.. and no, this isn't a plug...
) who makes a brolly holder for the front of your bike. Doubtless works fine in sensible and cycle-lane-provided Holland. Having just come up Whiteladies Road in the rush hour, ...er, nice idea, but no thanks...
I know there's a Dutch cycle accessory manufacturer (they're called Basil, if you're half interested.. and no, this isn't a plug...
) who makes a brolly holder for the front of your bike. Doubtless works fine in sensible and cycle-lane-provided Holland. Having just come up Whiteladies Road in the rush hour, ...er, nice idea, but no thanks...
gentlegreen
I hummus, therefore I am ...
If I'd waited another 5 minutes I could have had such a lovely ride home.
At least it wasn't cold.
But as per usual, there were loads of morons on 4 wheels who'd clearly watched too many Clarkson skid-pan stunts
.
At least it wasn't cold.
But as per usual, there were loads of morons on 4 wheels who'd clearly watched too many Clarkson skid-pan stunts
.
I got a refreshing light shower as I came out of Tesco, but missed the absolute hammering down 
I was slightly nervous about cycling through trees in lightening though.
I was slightly nervous about cycling through trees in lightening though.
It's risky to stand near a tall object, as you can get secondary shocks. I think you'd be reasonably safe if you are surrounded by buildings, but golf courses etc. are dangerous. Florida has the most lightning strikes.
You're perfectly safe in a thunderstorm if you're on a bicycle, because you've got rubber tyres insulating you from the ground. So if you're hit by lightning, the millions of volts course down through you, encounter the tyres, and think "Damn! Foiled again!" C'est facile!
A Government Spokesperson Speaks: We do not condone the above advice. You should take the proper precautions to avoid lightning strike. These are... (statement ends)
A Government Spokesperson Speaks: We do not condone the above advice. You should take the proper precautions to avoid lightning strike. These are... (statement ends)
munkeeunit
sumptuous lushness
There was hail stones too 
Dru said:
Not true, sadly.
http://www.bicyclelane.com/Survival_Tips/the_elements/lightning_strike.htm
Yes. Sorry, thought it would be obvious I was joking... 
I'd think that having tall things like buildings and trees around you in a thunderstorm would be the best thing, as the lightning would go for them. As long as you're not actually hugging the tree.
The worst thing is to be caught out in the open. The Sensible Advice for this sort of eventuality is to lie down to make less of a target of yourself. But I've never been able to do that; I'd feel a bit silly, and the ground's always wet in the circumstances. (I still have a little frisson at the memory of a time when I was about eight, walking along a raised trackway in the Lancashire flatlands, during a thunderstorm, hastening home. Lightning was hammering down all round.... so near, and me so stupid...)
We may reassure ourselves with statistics. You're highly unlikely to be wiped out by a lightning strike in Bristol. (Pretty likely to be wiped out by damfool car driver going Ooooh look at that.... though )
I'd think that having tall things like buildings and trees around you in a thunderstorm would be the best thing, as the lightning would go for them. As long as you're not actually hugging the tree.
The worst thing is to be caught out in the open. The Sensible Advice for this sort of eventuality is to lie down to make less of a target of yourself. But I've never been able to do that; I'd feel a bit silly, and the ground's always wet in the circumstances. (I still have a little frisson at the memory of a time when I was about eight, walking along a raised trackway in the Lancashire flatlands, during a thunderstorm, hastening home. Lightning was hammering down all round.... so near, and me so stupid...)
We may reassure ourselves with statistics. You're highly unlikely to be wiped out by a lightning strike in Bristol. (Pretty likely to be wiped out by damfool car driver going Ooooh look at that.... though
)munkeeunit
sumptuous lushness
Whenever I find myself walking around in a heavy storm, especially if it's especially windy, I've always got one eye on the tiles of the roofs, things hanging off from shop fronts, etc. Don't know what the statistics are for getting your head caved in by a bit of stray roofing in a storm, but it's got to be significantly higher than getting struck by lightning.
gentlegreen
I hummus, therefore I am ...
Found myself watching gardening progs on TV last night and saw them evacuating Kew gardens during a storm.
I hadn't previously realised just how dangerous outdoors can be
They should cut down all those dangerous trees !
.
I hadn't previously realised just how dangerous outdoors can be
They should cut down all those dangerous trees !
.
munkeeunit
sumptuous lushness
*sniggers*
and then burn them all in big pits just to be on the safe side.
and then burn them all in big pits just to be on the safe side.
munkeeunit
sumptuous lushness
Dru said:
Remember that recent reoprt which showed that trees produce methane?
When I saw (from what I saw anyway) that the plants tested were kept in artificial light under restrictive glass containers which pushed right up against their leaves, I immediately had the idea that maybe these plants were under stress and that's why they were possibly producing methane.
I'm not an expert in these things, but as they were surprised to find methane at all, I'm sure they should repeat those tests in more natural conditions and without restrictiction. And if that means putting huge bell jars over fully grown trees in natural conditions, then I would suggest they should.
Hmmm, I missed out on that particular report. But it does strike me as odd that trees have just been getting on with doing what they do best since long before our ancestors came down from them, without any apparent harm to the environment; and suddenly it turns out they're actually rather naughty. Gosh. It's a good job there are so many motor vehicles around, restoring the balance with their life-giving fumes. (A particular tip of the hat to all those public-spirited burghers of Henleaze and its environs, who, although they could no doubt make do with a dinky little Smart car to pop to the health club in, exert themselves, at no small expense, to drive those remarkably large Mitsubishi tank things. Venceremos! )
rowan
Well-Known Member
A few years ago I found myself on Dunkery Beacon (highest point on Exmoor) in a huge thunderstorm. I drove down as quick as I dared and watched the rest of the storm from down next to the beach.
Afterwards several people told me I'd have been ok if I'd stayed where I was because the van tyres would have protected me from any lightening strikes ?
Reading this thread has now got me wondering, did I do the right thing, or would I have been ok staying in my van on what I think might actually be the highest point in southern england?
Afterwards several people told me I'd have been ok if I'd stayed where I was because the van tyres would have protected me from any lightening strikes ?
Reading this thread has now got me wondering, did I do the right thing, or would I have been ok staying in my van on what I think might actually be the highest point in southern england?
Here's a link to the website of an ozzie loonie who chases thunderstorms.
http://strikeone.com.au/avoid/avoid.htm
..it seems that if you avoid touching the metal parts of the car, you're relatively safe.
On the matter of being protected by your tyres, it does seem unlikely; lightning happens because there is such a huge potential difference between the thundercloud and the earth that the cloud can't help but discharge itself. The electricity will find the easiest way to earth; air is a very poor conductor, so anything else that comes along is likely to be a preferred route. But whichever route it takes, having plucked up the enthusuasm to travel some hundreds of feet through plain air, it doesn't seem likely to baulk at a few more inches just because there's a bit of rubber in the way.
Sitting in a metal box might not be as dangerous as it seems; during the electric storm at sea that I described in the other storm thread, I know that the ship was struck, probably several times, because lots of sensitive electrical equipment was destroyed. But no-one on board was hurt at all. The steel obviously provided a swift route for the electricity down to the sea.
http://strikeone.com.au/avoid/avoid.htm
..it seems that if you avoid touching the metal parts of the car, you're relatively safe.
On the matter of being protected by your tyres, it does seem unlikely; lightning happens because there is such a huge potential difference between the thundercloud and the earth that the cloud can't help but discharge itself. The electricity will find the easiest way to earth; air is a very poor conductor, so anything else that comes along is likely to be a preferred route. But whichever route it takes, having plucked up the enthusuasm to travel some hundreds of feet through plain air, it doesn't seem likely to baulk at a few more inches just because there's a bit of rubber in the way.
Sitting in a metal box might not be as dangerous as it seems; during the electric storm at sea that I described in the other storm thread, I know that the ship was struck, probably several times, because lots of sensitive electrical equipment was destroyed. But no-one on board was hurt at all. The steel obviously provided a swift route for the electricity down to the sea.
Generally all lightening wants to do is to get to earth. It will 'chose' the easiest, ie lowest resistance route. If you are in the open you are easier than the few feet of air you occupy so it goes thru you. Trouble is you are not a very good conductor and because you have a fintite resistance power is dissapted in you as the elctricity tries to squeeze thru your finite resistance. This has the effect of explosively heating your tissues, bet that stings.
Metal things usually survive strikes cos their very low resistance means little energy is dissapated in their structure.
In a car you are safe cos the metal is much better at conducting than you. A bike is probably unsafe as the strike may hit your head befor finding the metal.
When I was two I was nearly struck by a bolt, I slept for 24 hours and love storms to this day. Sadly my mum has been left with a phobia of lightening.
Here is my lightening film from the other flasher thread for those who may be intersted... http://www.zaskarfilms.com/Films/springlight.wmv
Metal things usually survive strikes cos their very low resistance means little energy is dissapated in their structure.
In a car you are safe cos the metal is much better at conducting than you. A bike is probably unsafe as the strike may hit your head befor finding the metal.
When I was two I was nearly struck by a bolt, I slept for 24 hours and love storms to this day. Sadly my mum has been left with a phobia of lightening.
Here is my lightening film from the other flasher thread for those who may be intersted... http://www.zaskarfilms.com/Films/springlight.wmv
rowan
Well-Known Member
Dru said:
Hmmm. Just read that link and saw this:
"Standing on a beach is more dangerous than being in the car park. I have seen lightning travel out of its way to strike the waterline where land and water meet.
You think it would strike the headland as it is higher but it is quite common that it strikes the beach. I can't be sure why lightning does this but in anycase, don't stand on a beach during a thunderstorm."
So it looks like coming down from the Moor to sit right next to the sea to watch the storm wasn't such a good idea after all
gentlegreen
I hummus, therefore I am ...
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