I'm only a part-time cycle commuter, only 1 to 3 times a week depending, and I was gonna ride more this week for the "bike to work week" thing... But the forecast was for thunderstorms and I don't much like the idea of being struck by lightning...

But then I was wondering if the likelihood of getting struck by lightning was higher or lower than the likelihood of wearing a helmet saving my life. Now I have a headache... and I'm still a wuss...

If it wasn't raining when you left and you were afraid of getting soaked on the way home, you are indeed a wuss.

The liklihood of getting struck by lightning depends on where you are. On a hilltop with no trees? or in the city between tall buildings? You get the idea.

Every spring I ride helmetless through thunderstorms while listening to my ipod, on a steel bike even. So far, so good.

I ride pretty much in any weather, but lightning is just scary and I try to avoid it.

What, no lights?

When's the last time your car or house was struck by lightning? They're more likely to get hit. My house has been "out" in every thunderstorm for the last 17 years since we built it, with a grounded metal rod sticking 30 feet up in the air and no significant trees around to attract lightning away from it, and it doesn't move so it's a lot easier for ion trails to from from it than from a moving object, and it's never been hit.

I don't worry about it.

Its ok to Wuss out. Sure, it's nice to ride every day, but in my opinion, it's better to commute on bike part time than not at all. Keep workin!

Exactly....

There is no set of rules that say you have to ride in foul weather. If you choose to ride on good weather days that is your perogative. Enjoy riding in to work when you feel like it...and don't worry about being a "wuss".

Well, I think it is good that he feels guilty enough about it that he owned up to it in a new thread. That shows good intent not to wuss out in the future.

I found that once I got going and commuted every day for two weeks, I felt really antsy and a little cranky on the few days when I couldn't commute by bike. You'll get there.

I also found that if I wussed out every day when the forecast said "chance of rain" I was only riding less than 50% of the time. I decided to take my chances when it is not raining in the AM. I usually come out OK, and the worst that happens is I come home wet, which is no problem.

Sorry for the noob question, but is it ride your bike week nationally? I've searched and have seen some places have ride your bike days which differ.

For Inferno: League of American Bicyclists is promoting May 17-21, 2010 as "bike to work week" and May 21 specifically as bike-to-work-day.

Thank you!

I live in Florida, so I've only been close to being killed by lightning about 3 times in the last 35 years... One time as a kid, the lightning strike was so close, my ears were ringing from how loud it was. A classmate of one of my friends was killed by lightning (not while riding though).

I am definitely riding Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday... hopefully Thursday too!

I rode. On the way home, I caught the front as it passed through. A mile or two from work I ducked under a shelter in a park and considered sagging home. In just a few minutes, the high winds subsided, the lightning stopped and the rain eased up and I ended up with a relatively uneventful ride.

Don't feel badly about wussing out because I am about to join you. It is COLD out right now with a chance of rain so I am going to drive 6 miles to the pool. If it were not so cold, I would hop on the bike and pedal my life away.

Even though I got caught in the rain, the temps were still warm. At this point, almost 9 pm, it's still in the high 60s. I ran out to pick up a prescription at Walgreens and took the bike. Whenever I do that, my wife greets me with "You're back already??" That's cool.

If you get hit by lightning it would probably be a good day to play the lottery as well. What are the odds?

You'll get no disrespect from me. I'm a total fair weather rider. Fortunately, I live in a pretty fair weather region.

your chances of getting struck by lightning are so slim, I guarantee riding your bike or driving your car is more dangerous. but it doesn't matter that you wussed out..

I ride a folding bike and if it's not pouring i'll ride, but once it starts to rain cats and dogs then I fold up the bike and take public transit home. Folding bikes gives you are great backup plan if you live close to bus stops and stuff.

Don't be ashamed, mate! I skip out on rainy days too. I don't have fenders on my bike (yet) and no poncho/rain gear. I don't have a shower at work, so why come in soaking wet? I'm not in great shape yet, so I've skipped on excessively windy days too. Riding to/from into the wind is brutal.

I live in Florida too. It is the lightning capital of the world. I fear the lightning as well. I love riding home in the rain on what would otherwise be a very hot and humid day. But when there's lightning - yikes - especially when I'm crossing Tampa Bay and there is nothing around me but water and I'm elevated above it on a bridge. Last year it was striking all around me as I was crossing the Bay and I was terrified. I made it to a gas station, pulled in there and called my GF to come and get me. However, it took her a half hour to get to me and by that time the lightning had moved on and I could have finished my ride. Next time I'll just take shelter and wait it out.

This guy takes the cake. He lives in London, Ontario. I've been following his blog for a while; it's one of my favorites.

^He's got the bike path all to himself...except for that one guy hunkering down under the bridge.

yeah... replay this in east LA and things get a little more... interesting haha