And I live in Florida. When I see it I count the seconds between the flash and the boom. I do this while riding to get a sense of how far away it is. When I start counting less than 5 seconds I get really worried and I look for shelter. Gas Stations work great if they have an overhang you can get under for protection.

The worst part is when I'm crossing Tampa Bay on the Gandy bridge, which is 3.5 miles in open water. Half way across that bridge one day I was watching bolts strike the water and I was heading right for them. by the time I got to the end of the bridge the bolts were striking in front, back, and both sides of me. And it was still two more miles to the nearest shelter. I pedaled like a mad man for those two miles until I reached a gas station, where I pulled in under the overhang and waited it out.