Bike in the rain, versus a crowded train.

[biking_fox]

Bike every time. But I've got (chosen, it did effect where we moved to) a shortish commute 3 mile if it's wet, usually 6, longer on sunny nights, and showers and changing room at work. WIthout those it would be less fun. If you can get changed at work, then rain or cold isn't the issue, just wear the right clothes. My least favourite conditions are the jan/feb nights at 2C, dark and driven rain. That really feels miserable. Everything else is fine and often fun.

 

[SuperGalactian]

I remember reading that and realising it wasn't true, even in Swindon. Must have been at least double. Heavy rain was fairly rare but drizzle was common. And, if course, it rains on the way home too.

In my commuting days, I reckoned it was definitely a very small minority of days (in southern England). However, Ballantyne didn’t count the times when it had been raining earlier, and therefore one got wet from the calves downwards. My office frequently had the whiff of socks drying on the radiator. It didn’t matter too much, as I mainly worked alone, but there was always the risk of some visiting dignitary being shown round.

I used to get a buzz from cycling through all adverse conditions. Now that I’m retired, I don’t have the same motivation, sadly. And nothing will get me out in icy conditions now - I don’t need another smashed leg.

 

[matticus]

I guess it all depends on where you live and work, what job you do, how long your shifts are, what your start/finish times are, what equipment you need to carry for work, do you work in the same place all the time, and a thousand other factors. It probably works for those who live in the temperate flatness of the south east, who work 9-5 Mon/Fri in an office with showers and changing facilities, and only live 20k from work. But - cycle commuting is NOT for me!

Yup. Like flying to work - might work for some, but for my location there are many factors against it. NOT for me!

 

[wafter]

I found similar when I replaced the last half / third of my car commute with a ride on the Brompton; swapping parking on the ring-road chewing chunks out of the steering wheel to wafting along beautiful tow paths

While granted it was pretty grim at times during the winter for the usual reasons, no amount of frozen fingers, numb feet or time spent with the little b*stard upside down fixing punctures ever made me thing "I wish I'd taken the car all the way" such was the lasting damage to my mental health caused by two years of abject frustration, rage, powerlessness, destruction of my property and my time wasted.

It's a pretty pathetic reflection of society how many people are prepared to unquestioningly subject themselves to this self-destructive crap daily; often to fund rubbish they could absolutely do without.

 

[Vapin' Joe]

I found similar when I replaced the last half / third of my car commute with a ride on the Brompton; swapping parking on the ring-road chewing chunks out of the steering wheel to wafting along beautiful tow paths

While granted it was pretty grim at times during the winter for the usual reasons, no amount of frozen fingers, numb feet or time spent with the little b*stard upside down fixing punctures ever made me thing "I wish I'd taken the car all the way" such was the lasting damage to my mental health caused by two years of abject frustration, rage, powerlessness, destruction of my property and my time wasted.

It's a pretty pathetic reflection of society how many people are prepared to unquestioningly subject themselves to this self-destructive crap daily; often to fund rubbish they could absolutely do without.

That's something a non cyclist might say about cycling to work. We're all different, just because we enjoy a particular hobby or lifestyle doesn't mean it would appeal to everyone else.

 

[taximan]

A slight deviation from the subject. In my teens I worked on a tug on the Tees. Because we never really sure where we would be moored for the night I always took my bike on board so I could cycle home from wherever we happened to be. One day we had an emergency job and had to tow a small ship to Sunderland and we didn't arrive until after midnight. I decided for once I would take my bike on the train to get home. After a long day (about 16 hours) I promptly fell asleep on the train and woke up at Peterborough, about 200 miles from home. That took a bit of living down.

 

[Phil4000]

I've always said that rain isn't really an issue unless it's pretty windy, cold or both.

Personally I think cycling in all three can be a pretty miserable experience, although cycling when it's snowing is quite magical provided it's not blizzard conditions lol.

Fair enough. I'm the sort of person that would go out in the Lake District hiking at this time of year, and call it fun

 

[Phil4000]

I found similar when I replaced the last half / third of my car commute with a ride on the Brompton; swapping parking on the ring-road chewing chunks out of the steering wheel to wafting along beautiful tow paths

While granted it was pretty grim at times during the winter for the usual reasons, no amount of frozen fingers, numb feet or time spent with the little b*stard upside down fixing punctures ever made me thing "I wish I'd taken the car all the way" such was the lasting damage to my mental health caused by two years of abject frustration, rage, powerlessness, destruction of my property and my time wasted.

It's a pretty pathetic reflection of society how many people are prepared to unquestioningly subject themselves to this self-destructive crap daily; often to fund rubbish they could absolutely do without.

Yes, I think its the route itself that's important. Cycling in Central London rush hour isn't going to be fun.

Swapping the M25 for tow paths is a no brainer.

 

[Phil4000]

Two pairs of Shimano MW7's and a pair of RW5 (road) shoes. Best buy ever. The older MW7's are used for the commute and newer ones with BOA are for non-work rides. Can be found lightly used off ebay for a lot less than RRP.

I'll say something controversial re gore tex shoes; I used to sell them and got the opportunity to get a few at trade price, and test them extensively.

Gore Tex isn't durable enough as a shoe liner. The shoe itself will far outlast the membrane. With me, the membrane would usually go within 6 months to a year.

I'm a novice with cycling gear, but I tell people now to avoid gore tex in shoes/boots when it comes to outdoor activities. I've had gore tex liners in shoes fail on me, on a 6 month trip to India. That convinced me to never use gore tex in shoes again.

Bear in mind with breathability in jackets, gore tex will only breath well in cold, dry conditions. For wet, high humidity it doesn't always breath that well.

 

[ianrauk]

Cycling in Central London rush hour isn't going to be fun.

It's actually not that bad. There is a whole load of really good cycling infrastructure with more being added all the time. There's miles of clear bus lanes that can be used and due to the sheer amount of cyclists on the roads in London, car drivers are probably more bike savvy then most other places. Some road junctions in London have already reached cycle critical mass.

But of course, it's different strokes for different folks.

 

[Phil4000]

It's actually not that bad. There is a whole load of really good cycling infrastructure with more being added all the time. There's miles of clear bus lanes that can be used and due to the sheer amount of cyclists on the roads in London, car drivers are probably more bike savvy then most other places. Some road junctions in London have already reached cycle critical mass.

But of course, it's different strokes for different folks.

Fair point re cycling tracks.