Author Topic: Bike Commuting & Thunder Storms, am I a wussypants?  (Read 8645 times)

jonchappelle

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Bike Commuting & Thunder Storms, am I a wussypants?
« on: June 25, 2013, 08:55:54 AM »
I just started bike commuting this year, thanks to this site! I have wanted to bike commute for a while now, and finally overcame the "I can't do it", "It's not safe", "It's too far" thoughts. Everyone I've talked to at work thinks I'm nuts. I'm the only person that rides a bicycle to my plant (industrial manufacturing). I've been commuting 2x a week, trying to build up to 4x or 5x a week. But, lately the Midwest has been getting hit with some crazy thunderstorms. They were probably always here, but I never really paid attention to weather when I drove everywhere. Getting caught in a thunderstorm light show while riding a bike will make you remember.

Am I a wuss for skipping these thunderstorm days? This sounds like a ridiculous question, and maybe it is. Not too long ago I would have considered biking to work on a good day ridiculous. I honestly don't know anyone that has been struck by lightning. Should I challenge the ingrained childhood lessons to stay out of the rain/thunder/etc? Should I learn to enjoy the light & sound show? The weather reports have been wrong about 50% of the time anyways, so should I just risk it?

My ride is 26 miles one way, 1.5 hrs on a good day and 2 hrs in bad weather. There's no easy way to avoid a storm. I'm looking to move closer once my lease is up. Two thirds of the ride is on bike trails mostly surrounded by trees, the rest is on two lane city traffic with lots of metal cars.

fiveoclockshadow

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Re: Bike Commuting & Thunder Storms, am I a wussypants?
« Reply #1 on: June 25, 2013, 09:22:38 AM »
This is one of those sticky statistical questions.  In general, people are rarely struck by lightning.  However, part of that is because nearly everyone is in a building or car these days.  People who work outside are much more likely to be struck.  Also, most of these statistics are taken nationwide.  In many states there are no fatalities because there are no thunderstorms.  So since you live someplace there are actually thunderstorms the rate is significantly higher than the national rate.

Note that at airports as soon as there is cloud to ground lightning detected in the airport vicinity all ground works stops.  That is, all baggage handlers and everyone else on the tarmac moves indoors.   The planes and the passengers are safe, there may even be take-offs and landings still going on - but all exposed human activity on the tarmac stops.  Similar for sporting events.  There is a good reason for this...

Also keep in mind that while lightning strike *deaths* are low only about 1 in 10 people struck are killed.  So there are ten times as many people being struck as show up in fatality rates.  While only 1 in 10 die, 8 in 10 suffer a permanent disability of some kind - often neurological or central nervous system related.

So don't screw with lightning.  Yes, you are "unlikely" to be killed if you are an "average" American.  But if you are someone who spends time outdoors during thunder storms obviously you are much, much more likely to be struck than "average" since you are doing distinctly "un-average" activities.

Also keep in mind besides the lightning itself nearly as many people are killed by falling trees from thunderstorm winds - almost an equal number in fact.

So, wussypants or not?  I'd say it is pretty darn sensible to not ride your bike in a thunderstorm.  However, does that mean "don't ride your bike"?  That depends.  Maybe you can have a back up plan for the afternoon commute?  Check the weather and radar and if things look bad get a ride.  Or have a book with you and wait it out at work.  Perhaps some fraction of days you just decide to drive if the forecast is quite bad.  And understand your route.  Know where there are some makeshift shelter spots along the way, understand lightning safety and the proper stance to take when no shelter is available.  Since you mentioned "metal cars" as if they are a threat (they aren't at all) I'm going to suggest reading up on lightning safety.

Taking the above measures I suspect you'd be able to ride your bike a fair fraction of the time during storm season and minimal risk.  You might get stuck in a storm once or twice but will be educated enough to know what to do to stay reasonably safe.  You might end up with an inconvenience once or twice too (begging a ride, staying at work longer to wait out a storm, etc. etc.).

You have already gotten over the hump of fearing car accidents (much more likely) so I don't think you should let weather chase you away.  Just learn and plan in advance.

zhelud

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Re: Bike Commuting & Thunder Storms, am I a wussypants?
« Reply #2 on: June 25, 2013, 09:24:24 AM »
The Central Committee of Bike Commuting Badassity will not sanction you for deciding that the weather or weather forecast is too bad for biking.
Personally, I don't ride if the forecast is a high chance of severe thunderstorms in the afternoon. But if it is "30 percent chance of scattered thundershowers" or something like that, I will usually risk it. I just carry a raincoat, and I know a few spots on my route where I can take shelter if things get really bad.

matchewed

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GuitarStv

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Re: Bike Commuting & Thunder Storms, am I a wussypants?
« Reply #4 on: June 25, 2013, 09:34:17 AM »
I will ponder your question while biking home 11 miles tonight in what the weather network assures me will be a thunderstorm . . .

:P

jonchappelle

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Re: Bike Commuting & Thunder Storms, am I a wussypants?
« Reply #5 on: June 25, 2013, 09:46:15 AM »
Thanks for the lightning safety links. I'll read up on that.

I'll have to learn to interpret the weather reports better. I have to make this judgment call early since commuting is a large portion of the day. The report was for severe thunderstorms right when I would be leaving today, but it's just overcast right now. Two weeks ago there were some insane storms, so I drove 4/5 days but it was only bad for 2 of them. There's no public transit here, but I might be able to catch a ride in an emergency.

Sparafusile

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Re: Bike Commuting & Thunder Storms, am I a wussypants?
« Reply #6 on: June 25, 2013, 09:57:52 AM »
I hear you about the Midwest storms. Seem to pop up at random all of a sudden. In Indiana we have a saying that I'm sure is shared many places "if you don't like the weather, wait 10 minutes". That goes both ways unfortunately - the forecast could be clear skies, but storm pops or or the other way around.

I took a nice log bike ride over the weekend on what was suppose to be a clear day and ended up in a storm. To tell you the truth, it wasn't so bad. I did get soaked through and through, but I wasn't on my way to work so I didn't care. I did get a lot of odd looks from people in their cars. If you're going to ride in the rain, bring a fresh pair of socks and shoes. I was totally surprised how wet my feet were when I got home. I also commute with a laptop computer on my back for work which I will put in a trash bag if it's going to rain. Same with my cell phone.

matchewed

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Re: Bike Commuting & Thunder Storms, am I a wussypants?
« Reply #7 on: June 25, 2013, 10:00:14 AM »
For the record I didn't link that to scare just to inform. Having been caught in several thunderstorms it is a bit hairy but it gets the bike clean. :D

Spork

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Re: Bike Commuting & Thunder Storms, am I a wussypants?
« Reply #8 on: June 25, 2013, 10:04:37 AM »
My ride is 26 miles one way, 1.5 hrs on a good day and 2 hrs in bad weather.

Given that statistic, I will personally punch anyone that calls you a wussypants directly in the nose.

amerikian

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Re: Bike Commuting & Thunder Storms, am I a wussypants?
« Reply #9 on: June 25, 2013, 10:48:18 AM »
I started bike commuting in February, in Wisconsin.  Studded tires, snow, ice, wind, blizzards....it was awesome.

I've been waiting/expecting to get caught in a big storm this summer but have missed them all, except this morning.  Even when the weather forecast/radar shows thunderstorm activity, if I were to listen to all report and drive in due to the possibility of extreme weather, I wouldn't ride hardly at all.

Today I got caught in a small storm.  Some wind and lightening.  Heavy rain.  It was awesome.  Waterproof backpack with my work clothes/stuff and my regular bike riding gear.  I got soaked but just changed in the bathroom as usual into my clean, dry clothes.  There was even a downed tree on the bike path today.  Very dark out too. 

I'm a big storm fan anyways - always watching the radar and storms roll in.  I love it.  So to be IN the storm is really exciting.  I always count the seconds between a flash of lightening and the sound of thunder to get an idea how close it was to me.  Usually its 5 - 10+ seconds away (they say a second = a mile?).  So I figure I'm safe.  Once the thunder is 1-5 seconds away I'll start to consider shelter.

Anyways - I would not call you a wussy pants at all for not riding in thunder storms.  But I will call myself Bad-ass for riding in them. 

Cinder

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Re: Bike Commuting & Thunder Storms, am I a wussypants?
« Reply #10 on: June 25, 2013, 11:21:42 AM »
My ride is 26 miles one way, 1.5 hrs on a good day and 2 hrs in bad weather.

Given that statistic, I will personally punch anyone that calls you a wussypants directly in the nose.

Seconded.  I ride in crazy rainstorms, but they aren't quite as crazy here in Central PA. I have heard the power lines whistling once or twice during bad ones.  I DO usually have my foul weather gear (jacket and pants) for my ride home, and I always bring spare socks.  My ride is only 8 miles each way, so not nearly as bad. 

Your badassery is not in question in my book!  Only thing I could suggest would be a good set of foul weather gear!

Sparafusile

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Re: Bike Commuting & Thunder Storms, am I a wussypants?
« Reply #11 on: June 25, 2013, 12:17:35 PM »
Usually its 5 - 10+ seconds away (they say a second = a mile?).

5 seconds is a mile, so it's actually closer than you think.