Shocked on Ride...how is it possible?

[awesme]

in other words, if you have pacemaker and ride MTB, stay away from high tension lines

 

G

 

very scary...so one day we will all have to ride with special suits

 

 

Abstract

 

Pacemaker function was tested in two electricity substation workers exposed to high tension electric fields. High intensity electric fields induced reversion to the interference mode, producing in one case competitive rhythm and in the other inappropriately slow pacing which resulted in asymptomatic pauses of up to 2.5 s. A suit designed to shield the body from the effects of high intensity electric fields was tried and proved to be effective in protecting the pacemaker, allowing it to function normally in the substations.

[Capricorn]

What happens when it's raining?

 

nothing actually. Water can't be magnetically induced to generate electricity like metals can. Need a very hectic addition of electrically conductive contaminant for that to happen. Since rain is essentially condensed water, the evaporation process, or convective transfer of water vapor leaves pretty much all solubles and particles behind, so low to no chance of it.

 

What the water will do however, is to make your grounding to earth more effective. Way more jiggy...

[RRA]

I never experienced it but my riding mate was telling us about exact experience on that section. said he felt like he was being stung/shocked

ps he was on a carbon bike.

Edited June 8, 2013 by RalphShehab

[G00SE]

You didnt maybe smoke TIK?

 

I was thinking acid either way neither are wise before a race

[BigGuy]

My bike is alu, seatpost as well. There might be something underneath the ground as well. The overhead cables hang pretty low.

[MaxUmis]

As said before it's induced current. Carbon and alu bikes are both susceptible, as it happens on my carbon scultura and alu anthem.

I suspect the seat post and or seat rails are the actual culprits.

The hill outside our estate is dubbed "zapper hill" exactly because of this phenomenon.

What I do to counter the zap is to touch my thumb on some bare metal, like the clamp bolt of a shifter.

That neutralises the potential voltage difference between your body and the bike.

No potential difference, no zap.

[mudda]

EMF

 

Electric and magnetic fields (EMF) are invisible lines of force that surround any electrical device that is plugged in and turned on. EMF are made up of waves of electric and magnetic energy moving together (radiating) through space. Electric fields are produced by electric charges and magnetic fields are produced by the flow of current through wires or electrical devices.

EMF is commonly associated with power lines. A person standing directly under a high-voltage transmission line may feel a mild shock when touching something that conducts electricity. These sensations are caused by the strong electric fields from the high-voltage electricity in the lines. They occur only at close range because the electric fields rapidly become weaker as the distance from the line increases.

[RockCoach]

Have had it happen to me on numerous occasions on a road bike. Steel and aluminium. My theory is that the friction of the lycra through static creates a charge in your body much like rubbing shoes on new carpets. The overhead lines induce an opposite charge in the metal bits on your bike and that is the perfect environment for a bit of current flow between bike and upper thigh. When it has been dark I have seen the arc on my buddies thighs .

 

Ofcourse there is one sure way to prevent the problem. And I think it is a message from the universe to tell us that lycra is bad! This doesn't happen since I stopped wearing lycra. Just another reason to get baggies.

 

 

[gummibear]

Sometimes my Garmin and my Polar do weird things under the power lines.I always thought i discovered a unknown little piece of heaven on the jeep track next to the power lines.Maybe there's a reason nobody else rides there.

 

[XXL]

To answer the question, I don't ride a carbon...do wear Lycra though. I was also wondering if the rock formations on that hill have a high iron content. Don't know what effect that would have, but in northern KZN we used to experience some serious electric storms because, apparently, the rock had a very high iron content!

BTW, no Tik or Acid...

[Kallie.]

Same thing happened to me in the same place but not as bad as what you experienced. It happened last year and again this year, quite a weird feeling.

[Guest Kalahari ou]

The strangest thread ever... the hub and science meet...

[XXL]

Sometimes my Garmin and my Polar do weird things under the power lines.

 

Interestingly, at the "chicken run" bottleneck, we compared three or four "distance covered so far" on the difference bike computers, including my Garmin forerunner and they were all different, by up to 2km.

[Schwynn]

Where is this place? I need my nuts charged!

[Capricorn]

Where is this place? I need my nuts charged!

 

this works the same.. for longer

 

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/11/viagrapills.jpg

[XXL]

Where is this place? I need my nuts charged!

 

It's a secret....