Bicycling in Lightning - What to Do??

Question
Hi Robert,

My wife and I were cycling in a Mountainous part of New Mexico on a Highway when a big time thunder, lightning and rain deluge hit. Lightning was really close.  We were in the middle of nowhere with no shelter of any kind to be found.  What is the correct thing to do in this situation to be safe? ie keep riding, stop and wait it out etc. There was fairly heavy traffic and visability was poor.  Since a bike is metal is it a possible target to pick up lightning if it strikes nearby?

I haven't been able to find anything on this subject.

Thanks.

Answer
I am not an expert on this, but have read some common sence things about lightning.  It can be very daingerous to be on a metal bicycle in a lightning storm.  Especially in exposed areas such as hilltops or areas where the road is on an exposed hillside.  Safer areas would be down in canyons or down in a road cut where there are high banks on both sides.  I usually stop to wait out lightning, but haven't been in that many storms.  It isn't safe to be under one lone tree, but in a forest of many trees is okay.  Lightning will tend to just strike the tall thing in the area.  I try to wait out a storm in a low area between road cuts.  Best to be in an area of civilization like a park or picnic area.  Picnic shelters or even a cafe in a town if possible.

For entertainment, I bring a radio with me on my trips.  It also helps me plan where to be in terms of weather forcasts.  When thunder storms are predicted I sometimes do things like plan to find a motel.  Also the AM radio band gets a lot of crackling sound if storms are near by.  If the AM radio isn't crackling too much, I know I am safe.  With out the cracking on the radio, or hearing thunder, I know it is probably just a rain storm.  Weather can change real fast, but forcasts and AM static, plus watching the sky all helps.  If a storm is close, I try to wait it out in an unexposed or low area.  

Robert