Shocking problem

[Firewater]

Part of my usual ride close to home takes me on a gravel road underneath electric overhead powerlines. The first time I rode there I experienced a very definite electric shock between my thighs and the saddle.

 

I'm not talking about a minor static electricity sort of shock and it does not happen only once - it happens on every turn of the crank when I am close to or underneath the cables. Since then I have experienced it every single time, the last time was really not pleasant -I almost lost control of the bike because both my inner thighs and both hands were shocked similtaneously. It was a matter of "eina %$@" and then trying to gain control of the bike again. Now when I ride close to or underneath the cables I ride with my legs wide open like a ....... to try and avoid being shocked.

 

Anyone else experienced this?

 

 

[dirtrider]

Yip we had one spot on our night rides that goes under the power cables and it is really good for a laught or two .

[cat-i]

yup - same nightrides that dirty refers to - feels like a bee-sting - nowadays the guys warn us when we get close

[TiBones]

That is so cool! Please tell me where these rides are - I have a wife that is new to MTB..................

[LeTurbo]

That is so cool! Please tell me where these rides are - I have a wife that is new to MTB..................

 

Bwahahahahaha! I've needed a good LOL for a while.

[Nighthawk]

Ive never heard of something like this happening.. Its quite interesting and I agree, quite good for a laugh or two. I suppose it can't be too harmful. It takes quite a hectic shock to do damage, the only thing I see happening is you losing control and end up hitting the dirt. If it bothers you a lot, just try to avoid it. I'm sure there must be other routes to take.

[covie]

get a carobn bike and cranks , make sure your wife's is steel or titanium

[Capricorn]

here u go..

[KnobbyMech]

Not a good place to take a leak then!

[TNOSE_E]

Ok. So this one MX track near PTA has a 35m jump under the powerlines. If you hit the jump while touching the clutch or front brake with your damp gloves, you get zapped.

[Stryder]

Don't do any rides around the Koeberg trail, there are 2 lots of power lines to ride under. Feels like ants are crawling around.

 

Or in covie's ride, probably ticks

[covie]

Don't do any rides around the Koeberg trail, there are 2 lots of power lines to ride under. Feels like ants are crawling around.

 

Or in covie's ride, probably ticks

 

 

I love koeberg couple laps there and the voices in my head completely dissapear.

[bikemonster]

Don't do any rides around the Koeberg trail, there are 2 lots of power lines to ride under. Feels like ants are crawling around.

 

Ants are insects of the family Formicidae. The same Latin root which provides the adjective 'formic' (of ants), as in formic acid.

 

So, if it feels like you have ants crawling on your skin, you are formicating.

[TNOSE_E]

Formicating in my pants?

[Stryder]

I stopped formicating, and started masticating instead

[kennyg]

Its happened to me on my old mongoose. There a set of lines on a ride near the Vaal dam, it was particularly wet and my wife and I were on the ride.

 

She got zapped on her thumb, and me on the inner thigh... its quite suprising and if you were going quickly it could be disasterous.

 

hee hee