Stranded at Work
01-13-22, 03:17 AM
#26
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For me, it was that moment when I realized my bike lock was so secure it wouldn't even let me take my bike out of the rack.
Nowadays we fortunately have cell phones and uber.
Nowadays we fortunately have cell phones and uber.
01-13-22, 06:13 AM
#27
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I changed into my cycling gear, turned on my Garmin and walked out the door... CRASH! A thunderstorm started right as I was leaving.
I bicycle commute twice a week to work, three times if I can, but I'm stranded here at my office waiting for the lightening to stop. I've always prided myself on cycling in any weather except for 25mph+ wind or lightening. Fortunately, I don't need to deal with snow or subfreezing temeratures here in SE Florida, but I'm not going out there in an electrical storm. So I'm here with you folks until I don't hear lightening for ten minutes. My makeshift dinner tonight consists of 2 Nutrigrain bars covered in almond butter. It's not my choice of dinner selections, but it's not so bad, considering. My office assistant usually has chocolate hidden somewhere in her desk, but I'm afraid I'll eat all of it if I start on only one or two. It may sound like I'm complaining, but I'm not upset; I'm just killing time. I'm also done with work, having put in a ten hour day. It's been about 40 minutes, and I can still hear some thunder.
So do any of you have stranded at work stories?
I bicycle commute twice a week to work, three times if I can, but I'm stranded here at my office waiting for the lightening to stop. I've always prided myself on cycling in any weather except for 25mph+ wind or lightening. Fortunately, I don't need to deal with snow or subfreezing temeratures here in SE Florida, but I'm not going out there in an electrical storm. So I'm here with you folks until I don't hear lightening for ten minutes. My makeshift dinner tonight consists of 2 Nutrigrain bars covered in almond butter. It's not my choice of dinner selections, but it's not so bad, considering. My office assistant usually has chocolate hidden somewhere in her desk, but I'm afraid I'll eat all of it if I start on only one or two. It may sound like I'm complaining, but I'm not upset; I'm just killing time. I'm also done with work, having put in a ten hour day. It's been about 40 minutes, and I can still hear some thunder.
So do any of you have stranded at work stories?
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01-13-22, 02:11 PM
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Think of it this way: lightning travels thousands of feet through the air which is a very poor conductor of electricity to get to the ground. A small bit of rubber or a bit of plastic isn’t going to stop it.
Carbon fiber is also conductive. I once felt the electricity of an approaching storm crackle through my fly rod high up in the Colorado Rockies.
Carbon fiber is also conductive. I once felt the electricity of an approaching storm crackle through my fly rod high up in the Colorado Rockies.
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01-13-22, 06:35 PM
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When I was a GI, I was stationed in Tampa for a few years. I was into triathlons. I would run/swim/bike in any weather. I ESPECIALLY loved it when it was raining, because I was cooler and felt cleaner. Sometimes a good rain will cleanse your soul. Sometimes we need to realize the simple joys in life, and one of my simplest, yet most-satisfying joys would be to run or ride in the heat and all of a sudden a rainstorm bursts and cools me right off. So refreshing, so much fun! Lightning? Meh. If its my time to go, its up to God, and if he wants to direct one of those lightning bolts at me, then so be it. Honestly, rather than being stick at work, I would have called an Uber.
Last edited by Bassmanbob; 01-13-22 at 06:52 PM.
01-13-22, 06:38 PM
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I'm with you in the rain. When I ride in the rain, I sometimes suddenly realize, I've been cycling with a big smile on my face. For me, I think it has to do with Velo rule # 9. But I don't mess with lightening. Florida is the capital of lightening, and I've heard of too many stories of people getting struck.
Lightening is making something weigh less.
Lightning is the stuff that zaps you.
Sorry.
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01-13-22, 06:51 PM
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01-13-22, 07:59 PM
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01-13-22, 08:24 PM
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My posts weren't serious enough to get butt-hurt about anything. I'll go back to worrying about my plastic bike disintegrating in the sunshine or assploding after getting a scuff on the paint.
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01-13-22, 10:35 PM
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Metals are conductive…all of them. 95 of the 118 elements are metals that will conduct electricity. There are also 8 metaloids which can conduct electricity (kinda). Carbon is kind of weird in that is not a metal but it can be nonconductive or conductive depending on its crystalline form. Carbon fiber is graphite like and can conduct electricity pretty well. Ever heard of “arc lights”? The light is produced by an electrical arc between two graphite electrodes.
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01-14-22, 06:20 AM
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Metals are conductive…all of them. 95 of the 118 elements are metals that will conduct electricity. There are also 8 metaloids which can conduct electricity (kinda). Carbon is kind of weird in that is not a metal but it can be nonconductive or conductive depending on its crystalline form. Carbon fiber is graphite like and can conduct electricity pretty well. Ever heard of “arc lights”? The light is produced by an electrical arc between two graphite electrodes.
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01-15-22, 03:39 PM
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Bike commuted most of the 8 years we lived in Atlanta. Can only remember a couple of times having to call spouse for a car ride home due to threatening weather. One of those times she called me at work and strongly suggested I let her pick me up.
I was able to make it home on my bike the day of Snow Jam in January 1982.
I was able to make it home on my bike the day of Snow Jam in January 1982.
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01-16-22, 11:59 AM
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I'm with you in the rain. When I ride in the rain, I sometimes suddenly realize, I've been cycling with a big smile on my face. For me, I think it has to do with Velo rule # 9. But I don't mess with lightning. Florida is the capital of lightning, and I've heard of too many stories of people getting struck.
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01-21-22, 03:28 PM
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I once had to seek shelter at a Burger King for a half hour. They didn't seem to mind that I didn't order anything after I told them I was sheltering from the storm. Perhaps it would have been nice for me to purchase at least a cup of coffee.
01-24-22, 09:13 AM
#40
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We get a lot of summer storms in central Texas around June. I was on my way home in an absolute downpour and storm and about a mile away from home, the lightning hit a block down the road.
Had to stop to make sure I didn't **** my pants.
Had to stop to make sure I didn't **** my pants.
