So let's suppose...
 

... i am riding my steel framed bicycle high on a mountain in a thunderstorm. am i at a higher risk to be struck by lightning than if i were hiking? what if i were hiking with aluminum trekking poles? would my meaty 2.3" rubber bike tires act as an insulator and would i be gravy just riding along? would i be at greater risk to have a tree struck by lightning fall on me than actually being struck my lightning myself?

Next question: Have any of you been struck by lightning riding your bicycle or otherwise?

Raise your hand if you have not been struck by lightning . . . .

Frame material doesn't matter. We're talking about an electrical charge with enough voltage to jump several miles through the air. It can easily jump from a cloud to you, then jump to your frame/wheels, then jump another two inches to the ground.

crap, now i have to worry about lightning? F this whole biking thing, i'm sticking with my PS3.

If you are going down the mountain really really fast lightning might not be able to catch you.:twitchy::roflmao2:

I have not been, but I have a cousin who was struck twice by lightning while playing on a PS2.

I've been swimming, near a steel awning in a thunderstorm.

The ground was hit next to the office of the apartments, where the pool was even further behind.

Lightning is random, but a heavy lightning rod helps.

Just don't bike in storms, I know it's hard not to.

Climbing or bouldering is my activity of choice for lightning storms. The slow-paced intense sport lends itself to he nature of the weather, pretty dope experience.

That is crazy. I hope he's okay. And maybe deterred from, or at a minimum afraid of, gaming systems for the rest of his days.

He's fine, and has an Xbox360 now.

Aluminum conducts electricity too. Some wiring is still aluminum (although it's not ideal....copper is ideal).

The higher you are, the more likely you are to be hit by lightning. The mountains are more dangerous than the valleys.

The North Georgia mountains are really good for downhill and trail, but you'll see warnings about lightning up there, because it strikes more often than in the valleys below.

i think you would sooner get hit by a tree that was struck by lightning than getting hit by actual lightning. trees are taller and have a better chance of getting hit.