Riding With Thor

With thunderstorm season now in high gear, I’m reminded of the close calls I’ve with lightning while bicycling.

Sitting on a metal frame while lightning threatens nearby strikes most people as unwise.  It probably is.  It’s one of the few cycling risks that can really catch you by surprise.

This isn’t going to be about lightning safety.  There are plenty of other sources out there for lightning safety facts.  I will say however that those skinny little bicycle tires won’t do anything to “insulate” you from a lightning strike.

I’ve had three close calls with lightning while cycling.

Central Florida is often called the lightning capital of North America, but only one of my close calls with Thor was here.  It was near Kissimmee, FL as I was biking home from work back in the early ’80s.  The area around Kissimmee is wide open former ranch lands.  A bicyclist on a road there is one of the taller things around, and hence a good target. Read more »

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