The Chainlink

Biking with lightning? Crazy or hardcore?

I've decided to not ride in lightning storms. Not simply for my fear of the lightning (let's just say I retain a healthy respect) but also in regards to the "stopping and staring" I get (results in extremely unpredictable behavior from drivers). Does anyone have similar experiences and or strategies regarding cycle commuting in electrical storms?

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Permalink Reply by millenial removing Bernie tattoo on May 31, 2013 at 8:27am

I wouldn't ride out in the open (the LFP for example) but in the city its no big deal, and I wasn't the only guy riding yesterday.

Permalink Reply by Julia 3.5/7.5 mi on May 31, 2013 at 9:00am

Same as envane - I usually keep riding. If it's a crazy downpour, I usually just expect that traffic can't see me/isn't looking for me, and ride super cautiously. I use my lights, bright clothing, bright yellow pannier covers, etc. Lightning doesn't really bother me - I'm never the tallest point on Milwaukee/Elston. I don't think I even notice stopping/staring at this point - though there's more of it when you're riding through a mid-winter snowstorm than a lightening storm :)

Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on May 31, 2013 at 10:35am

I would never be the tallest point anywhere, and it might not be logical, but I draw the line at lightning.  And hail.  And the kind of gusty winds that accompanied those storms yesterday. So I guess I am kind of wimpy, but rain, especially when it is warm out, does not stop me.

Permalink Reply by Jason W on May 31, 2013 at 11:04am

I don't worry about lightening. MUCH more worried about drivers having lower visibility through wet car windows.

Permalink Reply by Tricolor on May 31, 2013 at 11:33am

I'm not worried about lightning at this altitude, and there's almost always something taller than you on a bike around, except maybe along the bit between Oak Street and Navy Pier.

Permalink Reply by Tank-Ridin' Ryan on May 31, 2013 at 11:48am

A few of us were out on the Swedish Days ride a few years ago in a crazy downpour with some lightning strikes 20-30 feet away at times.  We had no choice but to go through that storm, but I wouldn't go hop on my bike in a rural area when a storm cell is right on top of it.

A good rule of thumb for gauging how far lightning is from you is how much time there is between the flash and the thunder.  Five seconds between equals approximately a mile.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on May 31, 2013 at 12:55pm

I try to avoid some of the more wide open sections of the lakefront path during lightning. FYI - if you are close to a large tree when it's struck by lightning, it's possible for lightning to travel from the tree to you - or for branches (large and small) to come down.  I was riding home when last spring's bit lightning/hail storm hit. I wasn't thrilled to be on top of a ridge under so many tall trees.  I just kept moving and tried to get home as fast as possible.

If you think that taking shelter under a tree during lightning is a good idea, it's not. Better to take shelter under a shelter that may be grounded.

Permalink Reply by David Barish on May 31, 2013 at 1:04pm

In strong electrical storms I get spooked.  Last Summer I was riding home when this happened. The rain was no big deal but there was a lot of activity in the sky.  I was not in an open area. I was on a suburban street.  I pulled over to a shop and left my bike under the awning and stood inside the shop for about 30 minutes until the activity had passed by. I then resumed the ride. It may have been panic or it may have been nearby disaster but I could literally sense the hair on the back of my neck standing up.  I have no regret about pulling over.

Permalink Reply by mike w. on May 31, 2013 at 2:36pm

i've been "near-missed" too often to not have respect for lightning. Yesterday afternoon i was heading west into an approaching storm. i made a guess as to whether i could beat the storm to my destination (i was about 2 miles away.) i bailed and found shelter for about 40 minutes whilst it blew through. Two lightning strikes within 1/2 mile from my shelter convinced me i made the right choice. BTW they were ground strikes in a suburban area (Wilmette/Evanston border) so not being the tallest thing out there is no guarantee of safety.

Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on May 31, 2013 at 3:37pm
It's not the lightining for me but the fact I can't see with water blowing in my face or just looking down to see the road not ahead and the standing water that hides the potholes. So...no.
Permalink Reply by Matt M. 18.5KM on May 31, 2013 at 4:02pm
you mean like the Metallica album?
Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein on May 31, 2013 at 4:35pm

Master of Puppets?

Matt M. said:

you mean like the Metallica album?

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