Originally Posted by mrog71

Question for you all. Have you ever been shocked on your bike while riding under high-tension power lines?

I live in Northwest Phoenix, and have a substation nearby, so I usually ride under large power lines on my routes. Sometimes when I ride under these lines, I get a painful burning or shocking sensation on my thighs if they come in contact with my frame, or maybe it's coming from my seat or something.

So the basic principle that electrical generators work on is this: a conductor in the presence of a magnetic field, and relative motion between the two, will produce a potential (or voltage. I used to be a nuclear power plant electrician.... ) So I'm thinking that my bike is the conductor which is moving through the magnetic field being produced by the power lines and it's shocking me. It can't be a coincidence. This only happens when I ride under these power lines. So now, when I'm riding under these power lines, I'm very conscious about keeping my legs away from the frame.

Has anyone else ever had this experience?