motorcyclist struck by lightning

[jride]

I for 1 have ridden many times in thunder storms and probably still will. I don't normally take off from home on the bike when it is storming but if i am already out or its time to leave work and storming i don't let it stop me. BUT thought you should know, if you don't alredy that lightning is a very real danger even while riding.

https://www.nbcactionnews.com/mostpopular/s...ej2ZYeelMA.cspx

 

[Bungie]

I for 1 have ridden many times in thunder storms and probably still will. I don't normally take off from home on the bike when it is storming but if i am already out or its time to leave work and storming i don't let it stop me. BUT thought you should know, if you don't alredy that lightning is a very real danger even while riding.https://www.nbcactionnews.com/mostpopular/s...ej2ZYeelMA.cspx

Believe it. A local guy was touring across Canada and got hit by lightening, I believe in the Northwest Territories somewhere. He was found the next day some distance from his motorcycle - still alive. He spent the next 4 or 5 months in hospital.

 

[pinhead]

It happens.

Clicky for another sad story

 

[canyonman]

So your out in the middle of northern South Dakota nothing taller than you for as far as you can see. lightning everywhere.

What do you do?

"If the o.p. doesn't mind the hijack and since were talking lightning" been in that situation curious how others would deal with it.

 

[Murph]

So your out in the middle of northern South Dakota nothing taller than you for as far as you can see. lightning everywhere.
What do you do?

"If the o.p. doesn't mind the hijack and since were talking lightning" been in that situation curious how others would deal with it.

Good question. I'd prefer to know it was coming and avoid the storm but, assuming one is surprised and there is truly nowhere to go (ie. building, bridge, ditch, etc), I would keep riding. Some might think to stop and hunker down next to the bike but that would be too risky if the lightening was striking close.

 

[Big Sky]

Riding with a small group, we stopped at the summit of Beartooth Pass, getting ready to take a picture. We marveled at the thunderstorms BELOW our 11,200-foot elevation, throwing lightning bolts down into the valleys below. Everyone felt a static shock - juice jumped from my foot to the ground, wife felt it in her hair - and a split second later a bolt crashed to the ground maybe 150 feet away. LOUD! Scairt the livin' **** out'n us! Hopped on bikes to get off that summit, but then the hail started. Hunkered down next to a truck that had pulled off, then let the squall pass. In 10 minutes, it was bright and beautiful and blue. Proceeded down to Red Lodge and got very drunk on tequila at Bogart's.

 

[Lee B.]

So your out in the middle of northern South Dakota nothing taller than you for as far as you can see. lightning everywhere.
What do you do?

"If the o.p. doesn't mind the hijack and since were talking lightning" been in that situation curious how others would deal with it.

I'd do the same thing you are supposed to do while hiking above tree-line: squat down in the lowest depression you can find and wait it out. I'd also remove anything metal from my person: keys in pocket, metal eye glasses, hiking poles, belt buckle, etc. Heard about a guy that was struck by lightening in his hip b/c he had his keys in his pocket.

Another thing to not do: squat under a rock overhang. It will/may keep you dry but lightening can arc across the opening and cook you in the cave.

As someone below stated about the static that is a too-close-for-comfort warning sign. I've been running down off a mountain trail and felt the hair on my arms stand up and then the flash/boom at the same time what seemed like right behind me. That was loud and close! I feel lucky that by that time I was no longer the tallest thing on the trail as we were down among some trees.

 

[dcarver]

Odot said the best protection from lightening is to wear non-conductive shields over your head, like condoms. True, he really said that! :lol:

 

[jride]

So your out in the middle of northern South Dakota nothing taller than you for as far as you can see. lightning everywhere.
What do you do?

"If the o.p. doesn't mind the hijack and since were talking lightning" been in that situation curious how others would deal with it.

For me its keep going. also may say a quick prayer asking forgiveness of my sins and know if this be the day that i die its ok because i will spend eternity in Heaven with God

 

[ctfjr]

So your out in the middle of northern South Dakota nothing taller than you for as far as you can see. lightning everywhere.
What do you do?

"If the o.p. doesn't mind the hijack and since were talking lightning" been in that situation curious how others would deal with it.

For me its keep going. also may say a quick prayer asking forgiveness of my sins and know if this be the day that i die its ok because i will spend eternity in Heaven with God

Been there, done that, scared sh*tless - twice. Once in the Rockies (think it was Colorado) came up over a rise to see a nasty black storm right ahead. Just had time to put on my rain gear when it started to lightning. Just hopped on & kept going but the damn lightning strikes were all around me. Another time coming on RT 80 in western PA it was raining all morning then I hit the lightning / hail VERY heavy rain. I slowed down to about 15 mph on the shoulder because visibility was squat but the damn truckers were wizzin by at 65. . . Could only limp to the next exit where the convenience store manager was kind enough to let me stay inside for over an hour until the storm passed. I wasn't sure what was going to get me 1st, the trucks or the lightning.

 

[Bearly Flying]

Same as when your out Golfing in a Storm. Use a Driving Iron, hold it over your head.......

Cause even God can't hit a Freaking Driving Iron..... :crazy:

 

[KnuckleHead]

This is just God's way of showing us that he hates chrome.

 

[wheatonFJR]

So your out in the middle of northern South Dakota nothing taller than you for as far as you can see. lightning everywhere.
What do you do?

"If the o.p. doesn't mind the hijack and since were talking lightning" been in that situation curious how others would deal with it.

I don't know...but in 1979, I took my new XS Eleven around Lake Michigan...and a big front came in from the west and hit not 10 minutes after I crossed the Mackinac Bridge. Silly me...thinking that my rubber tires were insulating me...kept soldiering on in the lightning, massive rain squalls, and lumber trucks bearing down on me in the less than ideal visibility conditions. It stormed all the way from Mackinac to Escanaba.

I can say, to the best of my recollection, that I was not struck by lightning once...or twice even.

So I would recommend soldiering on...

...if you have a death wish.