Riding in all weather conditions

benws1

With the exception of icy conditions (due to not having any studded tyres), I can't think of any other sort of weather that will stop me taking the bike out for a ride.

I live in Lincolnshire and due to it being quite flat, we get a lot of wind. We also get a lot of rain at times. This or the cold doesn't put me off at all. People who don't cycle think I'm mad. Yes, it can be bloomin hard work at times, but I think it's worth the effort.

Anyone else not bothered by the weather?

By the way, this isn't some 'hard man' thread. I just think that different weather can provide a bit of variety to a bike ride. I must admit that the night riding gives a different perspective too. This year has been the first time I've ridden in January. Apart from my cheap hybrid taking a battering, it's been quite good fun.

I guess investing in the right clothing and lights etc. has helped.

meanredspider

There was a thread about this a few weeks ago - everybody got very excited and it descended into farce (nothing new there then)

I think it was called "Riding through the Winter" or something

fat daddy

yeah me ...... I seem to have the perfect mentality for commuting. I have always loved adverse weather, sure cycling in a balmy 22deg sunny, blue sky is nice ..... but I like the frost covered ice mornings, snow is just epic, rain - well the heavier the better, getting completely drenched is kind of invigorating .. and wind ... sure sometimes, like today its scary as your front wheel gets whipped away when you are doing 20mph .. and the long slog into a head wind ...... but at the end of the commute its so rewarding !

and as for the weekends ..... normally I don't go out, I spend time with my family and kid .... but in torrential weather, loads of rain, there is nothing like taking the mtb or CX out and winging it around the trails getting totally covered in mud and shooting through the water.

I like adverse and extremes of weather

benws1

meanredspider wrote:

There was a thread about this a few weeks ago - everybody got very excited and it descended into farce (nothing new there then)

I think it was called "Riding through the Winter" or something

I wonder how long it will take this thread to change direction.

benjamess

first time I've put some serious miles in outside this winter, definitely learned to enjoy the weather! same as you the only thing stopped me this winter is frozen roads.

most my riding now is commuting and I find myself thinking "still better than using the turbo / driving to work" after commuting through a storm.

i think good set of winter kit and a cheap cx bike have definitely helped though!

fenix

If its 50mph winds - I'm not cycling. Just not worth the risk. That said I always ride all year round. Why wouldn't you ?

keef66

If it's absolutely torrential rain or if there's black ice about I'll likely stay indoors, but beyond that I too find the vagaries of our weather strangely invigorating. Decent kit makes most things tolerable.

My wife thinks I'm mad...

hsiaolc

keef66 wrote:

If it's absolutely torrential rain or if there's black ice about I'll likely stay indoors, but beyond that I too find the vagaries of our weather strangely invigorating. Decent kit makes most things tolerable.

My wife thinks I'm mad...

Same here.

Although I don't know what my thinks since I never bothered to ask. My mom thinks I am mad though.

However, I must admit I am very well equipped and I always feel guilty when I see someone with short sleeves on or shorts in 0C wet conditions while I am in Casetelli Alpha, Deep winter baselayers, Deep winter DHB tights and Rapha Deep winter socks with Rapha Deep winter overshoes and Rapha Deep winter Hat and Casetelli deep winter gloves.

I feel even worse when I see women in less equipped clothing in hard cold conditions.

There are some hard core cyclists out there.

Rb5_turbo

There is no such thing as the wrong weather, just the wrong clothes.

PS - 100% agree with the ice comments, MTB and off road is the choice for those days noting the above comment.

markhewitt1978

I had wondered about this since there is a - albeit remote - chance I could move jobs and that would mean a 12 mile commute mostly on the C2C bike path, most of the year that would be fine, but winter mornings when it's below freezing, is that copable with, or would the road route (busy busy roads) or driving have to be the thing?

964cup

I'm off the bike at the moment, recuperating from a back operation. Everyone in my club keeps telling me that I'm not missing much, but I disagree. I don't care that it's grey, wet and windy - I'd rather be outdoors.

fenix

markhewitt1978 wrote:

I had wondered about this since there is a - albeit remote - chance I could move jobs and that would mean a 12 mile commute mostly on the C2C bike path, most of the year that would be fine, but winter mornings when it's below freezing, is that copable with, or would the road route (busy busy roads) or driving have to be the thing?

Depends on the roads and the weather. I've happily been riding at sub zero temps with no issues but then this sunday was ice all over the place.

If you have to commute though I'd have a set of ice wheels ready to go just in case. You must save a fortune over driving or training in anyway ?

lincolndave

the weather that stops me , fog and ice , i personally think it's to dangerous to ride in both of those weather conditions

kingstongraham

Rb5_turbo wrote:

There is no such thing as the wrong weather, just the wrong clothes.

https://youtu.be/KHsTn7ketto?t=8m7s

markhewitt1978

Fenix wrote:

Depends on the roads and the weather. I've happily been riding at sub zero temps with no issues but then this sunday was ice all over the place.

If you have to commute though I'd have a set of ice wheels ready to go just in case. You must save a fortune over driving or training in anyway ?

Oh yes, riding into work the savings would be huge over my current commute but only if I completely get rid of my car, there would be no opportunity to just drive in some days.

step83

Thick fog and high winds are all that tend to stop me. I have waterproof clothing, generally found my face to be water proof. If theres ice ill just take a mountain bike out on the trails.
Only issue ive had over winter was riding through a very deep puddle where one of my feet went under water resulting in a wet foot. Oh an the time I under estimated the wind chill so had to get the emergency gilet out of the back pocket.

fat daddy

well the wind was in my face all the way to work this morning ...... in theory now its gusting 41mph, it should still be in the same direction and I'll have a 40mph tail wind to hit a couple of strava KOMS

but

you know that wind will STILL be in my face

N0bodyOfTheGoat

Until today, I've been able to just about force myself out on the bike everyday regardless of the weather since last Tuesday, including an ongoing annual leave week with some pants weather. But we made a late decision to have a pub lunch, I ate far too much and the pre-storm winds are definitely picking up, so it looks like no riding until at least Saturday.

It probably doesn't help that I did a decent semi-hilly 13-miler yesterday, the longest ride I've done in a while, thinking that today I was going to be dragged around The Range or alike!

I find it ironic that I bought an Elite trainer in 2006, barely used the damn thing and then passed it on with my Tricross Singlecross last summer, only now after finding some sort of frequent cycling mojo since last month I really wish I had a trainer to hook the Wazoo on to later once my food has settled a bit more.

itboffin

markhewitt1978 wrote:

Fenix wrote:

Depends on the roads and the weather. I've happily been riding at sub zero temps with no issues but then this sunday was ice all over the place.

If you have to commute though I'd have a set of ice wheels ready to go just in case. You must save a fortune over driving or training in anyway ?

Oh yes, riding into work the savings would be huge over my current commute but only if I completely get rid of my car, there would be no opportunity to just drive in some days.

i got rid of mine about 5 years ago and until the last year I've ridden in all conditions, now i'm being more careful by avoiding ice, fog and torrential rain or wind, in the 10 years since I moved away from London the weather down here has been getting more extreme and of course i've aged

MiddleRinger

I used to ride in all weather conditions - sometimes by choice or because I commuted - pitch black mornings, lashing rain, minus 8 degrees, gale force winds, etc. Everything but dense fog or chance of black ice. For weekend rides if I was meeting some club mates the weather didn't matter as the ride was always good fun and the cafe stop chat even better. Cleaning the bike down afterwards was not always as much fun though and the extra wear on bike parts was a shocker!

These days I'm much more of a fair weather cyclist. I'm cool with that though.

redvee

I don't drive and PT is available to get to work but would take too long for my liking I commute in all weathers. When we all first started, work colleagues would ask what happens when it rains, I get wet, or what about when it's cold, I put more layers on than have to open zips or take something off after the first two miles cause I've warmed up.

fat daddy

redvee wrote:

work colleagues would ask what happens when it rains.

I get this all the time ..... people have become pansies IMO .... its rain FFS, its drops of water that fall out the sky and land on you, what do you think happens when it rains .... what do you think will happen to you if it lands on you.

we live in the UK, and people are scared of getting wet ?

Sometimes I get annoyed at Wifey and relatives when its raining and they don't want to go outside and are vocal about it infront of my kiddy ... I really don't want her growing up to me one of these people made of sugar that will dissolve if they get wet ..... its raining, its fun to go out and ride the scooter though puddles and jump in them and float stuff down the gutters in to the drains

people really do get old when they stop being kids ! .. its a shame, Children enjoy themselves, grown ups just moan "what if it rains"

rick_chasey

No excuses with modern kit.

Matthewfalle

1 winter mile is worth 2 summer miles in my book.

Matthewfalle

fat daddy wrote:

redvee wrote:

work colleagues would ask what happens when it rains.

I get this all the time ..... people have become pansies IMO .... its rain FFS, its drops of water that fall out the sky and land on you, what do you think happens when it rains .... what do you think will happen to you if it lands on you.

we live in the UK, and people are scared of getting wet ?

Sometimes I get annoyed at Wifey and relatives when its raining and they don't want to go outside and are vocal about it infront of my kiddy ... I really don't want her growing up to me one of these people made of sugar that will dissolve if they get wet ..... its raining, its fun to go out and ride the scooter though puddles and jump in them and float stuff down the gutters in to the drains

people really do get old when they stop being kids ! .. its a shame, Children enjoy themselves, grown ups just moan "what if it rains"

Depends if you're riding a carbon bike and don't do the required I suppose......

N0bodyOfTheGoat

I'm looking out of the window, trying to decide if I want to do a quick ~30 minute ride before the weather warning comes into effect in Southampton. Metcheck reckons gusts up to 26mph at the moment and perhaps a very light drizzle...

Edit: Well I threw myself into the elements, bit breezy and a bit damp, but the ~45mins ride didn't kill me and I feel better for it! Another ride, just like Tuesday's, where I'm a bit shocked to see I covered more than 10 miles just cycling on my metaphorical doorstep! :shock:
http://www.strava.com/activities/853603318

Dizeee

I always ride in all weathers.

5 years of road biking and averaging 5000 miles a year plus I don't own a turbo.

I liken it to the Rocky 4 mentality - proper training outside in the elements fighting gravity and resistance from the planets weather must be better training than churning out identical miles indoors plugged into a computer system of some sort. Hence why Stallone beat Lungren.

meanredspider

I find that 99% of the time the prospect of a grim weather ride is far worse than the reality. On that 1% of occasions, I've judged it wrong like the time I had to walk the kilometre across the Kessock Bridge trying to hold down my bike because the cross winds were too high or the 2.5 hours it took to do my 1 hour MTB commute to work because the snow was so deep. Like some others have mentioned, I'm in the group that take perverse pleasure from defeating the elements. It's not big or clever it's just how it is.

davep1

I'm less hardy than most of you, although the thought of riding in crap weather is usually worse than in actuality. If I have planned a weekend ride, and get up to find it is raining, I will likely delay or put it off. I live on the south coast so bad weather doesn't normally hang around, which means you can get out that afternoon or the next day. I ride over 5000 miles a year on and off road so I am getting the miles in.
If you haven't got exactly the right kit you have to plan it so you can bail out when it gets too bad. My road bike doesn't have mudguards, and much as I don't want to believe this, winter riding on UK roads really does shred certain parts of bikes. I was looking at the brake blocks last night as I cleaned it, mud and grit across the top of them, never mind under the frame or in all those oily bits...I spend hours looking at potential winter bikes...

hsiaolc

fat daddy wrote:

redvee wrote:

work colleagues would ask what happens when it rains.

I get this all the time ..... people have become pansies IMO .... its rain FFS, its drops of water that fall out the sky and land on you, what do you think happens when it rains .... what do you think will happen to you if it lands on you.

we live in the UK, and people are scared of getting wet ?

Sometimes I get annoyed at Wifey and relatives when its raining and they don't want to go outside and are vocal about it infront of my kiddy ... I really don't want her growing up to me one of these people made of sugar that will dissolve if they get wet ..... its raining, its fun to go out and ride the scooter though puddles and jump in them and float stuff down the gutters in to the drains

people really do get old when they stop being kids ! .. its a shame, Children enjoy themselves, grown ups just moan "what if it rains"

I think the word the kids use these days is "Snow Flakes".

You can always send kids to Sandhurst to get some military training.

I am snow flakes but I am thinking of sending my son to be hard core.

fat daddy

my 5 year old knows that

(1) Daddy is Badass
(2) Mummy is weaksauce

and when she grows up she wants to be a badass mummy so she can play with her children all the time.

Although I do envy weaksauce mummy .. normally after the 15 iteration of playing "The Terminator" .. where I am obviously the T100 she is Kyle Reese and Mummy is Sarah Conner and she has to kill me before I can kill her mum ... Its basically Hide and seek combined with pillow fight combined with wressling and nerf shooting