Bike in the rain, versus a crowded train.

[ianrauk]

The actual number of times I actually got wet whilst cycling was surprisingly few and an absolute soaking was as rare as hens teeth.

I'm one of those saddos who counts and notes rainy commutes.
You are indeed correct, it's really not that often in the scheme of things.

2023 52 rainy commutes
2024 44
2025 36
2026 to date 34

2026 started off really wet but dried up for months on end with a really dry spring, summer and autumn making up for it over the last month.

 

[SuperGalactian]

I seem to remember that in the 1970s Ricard Ballantyne (Richard's Bicycle Book) pointed out that the number of days per year when it was raining in England between 8 and 9 am was very small - something like 10.

 

[ColinJ]

I seem to remember that in the 1970s Ricard Ballantyne (Richard's Bicycle Book) pointed out that the number of days per year when it was raining in England between 8 and 9 am was very small - something like 10.

I can believe that - I walked to and from university in Manchester/Salford and only got really wet a few times in nearly 3 years!

 

[Webbo2]

I seem to remember that in the 1970s Ricard Ballantyne (Richard's Bicycle Book) pointed out that the number of days per year when it was raining in England between 8 and 9 am was very small - something like 10.

Clearly he didn’t live in North Yorkshire.

 

[Jameshow]

Regarding rain....
I used to cycle train cycle commute into London, all year round. We had secure parking, showers, changing rooms and clothes storage so dead easy.
The actual number of times I actually got wet whilst cycling was surprisingly few and an absolute soaking was as rare as hens teeth.

Clearly Manchester would be a different proposition

In Manchester you could count the number of days you stayed dry!🤣

With love from Yorkshire!🤣

 

[Raging_Pixie]

Commuted by bike for years. Used to smile at people waiting in the rain for a bus but I have to admit we had good showers at work. And while it was cheaper than getting the train it wasn't as cheap as my co-workers imagined .

 

[Pat "5mph"]

I'm 63, get free bus travel (at 60 here in Scotland) and still commute by bike, I love it, hate the bus!
I commute in all weather, ice no problems because I have my studded tyres ice bike, the rare times is snows heavily I'll walk the impassable bits.
Rain does not bother me, the time of day does not bother me either.
Early am is great, deserted roads.
Until lockdown, I used to work in hospitality, any shift from 6am starts to 3am finishes, 12, 14 hours shifts.
Loved riding home at 3 am, it's sort of magical, and when you get home you aren't even tired from work anymore.

 

[fossyant]

In Manchester you could count the number of days you stayed dry!🤣

With love from Yorkshire!🤣

Correct. It's why we were good for cotton ! Wet.