Do you check the weather the night before?

mattrsa

I did last night and saw heavy rain was on the cards so decided not to bike to work.

When I got up this morning it was raining but I would not say hard and I could have easily rode in but did not have the time as I woke up later.

So the question is, do you check the weather the night before, or do you get up in the morning and then make the decision on biking or not.

ndru

I don't check the weather because I always bike. When it's raining I put my rain cape on. When it's very cold I put more clothes on.

The Rookie

I get up every work day intending to ride, then look at the weather.....I don't mind getting soaked on the way home, so as long as its looks 'OK' 5 minutes before I'm due to leave, I bike, if it's bad I can get changed and into the car in time to still be at my desk on time.

Simon

asprilla

I check the weather the night before because I want to know what clothes I need for the in and out journeys. I still ride whatever the weather.

Pep

yes.
If it rains, I drive.
If dry, I ride.

I don't mind to get wet and cold. But it seems I always get a bad cold/flu after. That's why I ride when it rains.

cyclopsbiker

I always ride and only check the weather by looking out of the window in the morning.

Verbal

I used to do that and would always get up and see that the weather was in fact fine but due to lack of time/prep would end up driving in.

Now I don't bother, dress accordingly and ride in regardless

theblender

I check the weather several times a day, but then I'm a weather geek.

If rain is on the cards, I go onto the Met Office rainfall radar to keep an eye on where the rain is going to be when I'm riding, and how heavy it is. You can work out quite accuratley whether you're going to get a soaking or not.

If it's really unstable weather, i also go onto the Lightning detector website, to see where lightning strikes are occuring, and i'll also visit torro website to see if there's a chance of funnel clouds/hail/tornadoes....I did say I'm a weather geek!

cyclopsbiker

a true weather geek!! excellent. do you have a weather station at home?

Clarion

I check the Met Office website every few days to see what the trends will be with wind & rain.

But I ride anyway.

el_presidente

theblender wrote:

I check the weather several times a day, but then I'm a weather geek.

If rain is on the cards, I go onto the Met Office rainfall radar to keep an eye on where the rain is going to be when I'm riding, and how heavy it is. You can work out quite accuratley whether you're going to get a soaking or not.

If it's really unstable weather, i also go onto the Lightning detector website, to see where lightning strikes are occuring, and i'll also visit torro website to see if there's a chance of funnel clouds/hail/tornadoes....I did say I'm a weather geek!

http://www.Raintoday.co.uk is much better resolution rain radar on a larger map. Far superior to the Met Office site

mcj78

I do check, however the BBC weather website for the Glasgow & the west of Scotland appears to be some bloke looking out the window & ammending the current weather accordingly, whilst the next 5 days are pretty much always forecast for heavy rain - a lot of which doesn't always transpire.

I usually look out the window in the morning & if the streets are dry-ish, off I go - if it rains during the day, I accept that i'm gonna get a bit wet on the way home & promise myself a couple of ales for being a big brave boy. If it's biblical rain in the morning, i drive to work muttering about how it's dangerous to cycle busy roads in torrential rain as some fool would end up knocking me off, then promise myself a few ales for being sensible.

Must try the Met office rain radar thingy.

MartinGT

I check and get ready for both. If its hammering it down I get the train, if its light rain or ok ill bike in.

vitesse169

I cycle in on late shifts and some nights - always drive for earlies.... still look at the weather forecast for being forearmed....

graeme_s-2

Asprilla wrote:

I check the weather the night before because I want to know what clothes I need for the in and out journeys. I still ride whatever the weather.

+1

This is exactly what I do.

biondino

Graeme_S wrote:

Asprilla wrote:

I check the weather the night before because I want to know what clothes I need for the in and out journeys. I still ride whatever the weather.

+1

This is exactly what I do.

+2. I won't ride in the ice but otherwise I'm on the bike (there might be circumstances wqhen I wouldn't ride in if it's raining heavily but I can't remeber the last time). What I do want to know, especially in spring and autumn, is the temperature (and wind speed/direction to a lesser extent) as it can fluctuate wildly day to day. It was 4 degrees yesterday morning but it'll be in double figures this evening and I'll wear significantly different gear for each.

Canny Jock

Always check the weather so I can get the right clothes ready. I pretty much know to the degree what I need to wear.

iPete

Yup and when I wake up, need to decide layers, gloves, waterproofs etc etc. It doesn't stop me cycling though

Alphabet

MTFU

it's only rain

MarkW100

el_presidente wrote:

theblender wrote:

I check the weather several times a day, but then I'm a weather geek.

If rain is on the cards, I go onto the Met Office rainfall radar to keep an eye on where the rain is going to be when I'm riding, and how heavy it is. You can work out quite accuratley whether you're going to get a soaking or not.

If it's really unstable weather, i also go onto the Lightning detector website, to see where lightning strikes are occuring, and i'll also visit torro website to see if there's a chance of funnel clouds/hail/tornadoes....I did say I'm a weather geek!

http://www.Raintoday.co.uk is much better resolution rain radar on a larger map. Far superior to the Met Office site

+1 Raintoday.co.uk
I always check before I set out in the morning and 15 mins before I leave work to see what gets thrown in the backpack and what gets worn. Weather geek myself :roll:
Try this for an all in one site for up to date weather http://www.ukweatherworld.co.uk/LWUK.asp

Headhuunter

I've only not ridden due to weather when it snowed in early 2009, however by early 2010 I had manned up and rode right through the winter, I just had to walk the bike to end of my road because it was too icy to ride on bu the main roads were fine. I don't care about the weather, all I do is check the outdoor temperature on our little weather station thing to decide how many layers to wear. I'd rather be wet on the bike than crammed into a hot, sweaty, steamy bus or train carriage which is the other alternative.

theblender

Cheers for the links, fellow weather geeks!

Initialised

Headhuunter wrote:

check the outdoor temperature on our little weather station thing to decide how many layers to wear.

My mates suggested that how I decided what to wear. They we're taking the piss but it's true.

cambs

I use this site to check the current temperature in SW London:

http://www.chessingtonweather.co.uk/

Also handy for verifying wind direction and speed.[/url]

metmanmark

My recommendation is to go to the Met Office site and then use the "Invent" tab at the top. This is where they showcase new ways of displaying weather information.

SmellTheGlove

MetManMark wrote:

My recommendation is to go to the Met Office site and then use the "Invent" tab at the top.

...this concept has made my day. The MetOffice finally confess that all their work is an invention! Personally I use Metcheck (which is marginally better than guesswork).

mwooldridge

The weather just dictates what your going to wear rather than whether your going to ride or not? I have a thermometer outside the bedroom window that tells me how many layers I need, and when I let the dog out it tells me if I need a waterproof or not.