Originally Posted by Tappets
hi all, just a general question about cycling in inclement weather, regarding lightning.
i know common sense tells me what i really need to know, but is there any evidence or reports that riding a bicycle in rain/lightning makes a better target than say a nearby utility pole or tree or someone with an umbrella?
i got stuck in a pretty good storm on the way home from work friday afternoon. as i got closer to my house, the lightning seemed to get worse. i tried to take as many back roads as possible to avoid traffic... and being a typical guy, i pressed on. if frame material makes any difference, it's Ti.
just wondering.
I got stuck riding towards a storm going home one night, riding on a MUP that went under some high tension power lines. It was just sprinkling where I was, but there was heavy rain and a lot of wind and lightning coming my way that inspired me to push harder to get home before the storm hit. I wondered if the power lines/poles would be great lightning rods, or if they'd increase my chance of getting hurt, and got home shortly before the storm hit. Was I safer under the power lines, or in more danger from the lightning?