Dodging the rain

[travellingwest]

This never ending monsoon season we appear to be having, loosely referred to as Winter, is drastically interfering with getting out on the bike, in between that other annoying thing - work. I don't mind cold, don't mind a bit of a breeze but the rain is a big fat no for me. Not only is it just not fun, even in weather appropriate gear, but the damp seeps into my arthritic-y joints and makes them worse. However, I am trying to nip out when there appears to be a cessation in the wet stuff falling from the heavens. Most recently at 04.50. I woke up at 04.30, clocked it wasn't raining to which my brain immediately responded "get out for a ride, now". After debating this with myself for a moment or two, I agreed with myself to go and had a quick 5 mile ride round town. Of course the benefit of being out at early o'clock is no traffic and who doesn't like having the roads to oneself?
Is anyone else making the most of those non-raining moments at whatever o'clock it happens to be?

 

[Dogtrousers]

Getting up at 5am?

No, my preference would be getting up at 7 even if it does mean getting drenched

 

[DCLane]

I'll try to find gaps but also built up an old frameset late last year so I have a 'bad weather' road bike so I don't have to consider what might happen to my 'nice' stuff.

 

[StuAff]

Had this past week off. Not much riding, unsurprisingly, but did do 64 miles to Littlehampton and back on Wednesday. Had to go through one flooded stretch..

 

[nogoodnamesleft]

It's weird. I hate cycling in the rain but am quite happy putting on waterproofs and going out for a walk in even heavy rain. Can't work out why the difference.

Even on cycling tour I'll sit out a day in a campsite/tent if it rains but if then also rains the next day I will cycle & endure (can't sit out 2 days in a row in a tent).

 

[cyberknight]

Getting up at 5am?

No, my preference would be getting up at 7 even if it does mean getting drenched

lie in
this week the alarm has been set for 3.45 am but i try to get up before as im out the door by 4.15 if cycling in .

 

[Brandane]

Welcome to my world! (And that of every other resident of the west of Scotland, even in "summer").

Ironically recently our weather has been drier than most of the rest of the country, but with a strong, cold, easterly wind blowing day and night for weeks on end. You have to have a certain mentality to cycle here, which is one reason why cycling will never be a mainstream method of transport here. Yet local councils insist on wasting money on half baked, unpopular cycle facilities that not even cyclists want!

 

[fossyant]

Not with being a commuter - bike out in all weather, but so far this week only had one 'damp' commute - roads soaked but no rain (and yes this is Manchester... although we seems to be under perma-cloud.

I use the CX bike with guards on for this time of year for the 'leisure' rides, old, but good, 90's MTB with guards for the commute.

I don't take the two classic road bikes out often, and it does need to be dry.

 

[esoxlucius]

It seems that November right through to March in the UK is a constant weather watch for cyclists, whether you're checking your phone for windows of opportunity, glued to the after news weather reports on tele or just stood at the window weighing up the dismal scene outside. It can be depressing.

I do very little outdoor cycling through the "off" months and just do the odd indoor turbo workout, which I hate, or I may pop out for a run, which I also don't really like.

But there is always light at the end of the tunnel. Outdoor cycling inactivity during the off months is certainly addressed during spring through to autumn.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

This never ending monsoon season we appear to be having, loosely referred to as Winter, is drastically interfering with getting out on the bike, in between that other annoying thing - work. I don't mind cold, don't mind a bit of a breeze but the rain is a big fat no for me. Not only is it just not fun, even in weather appropriate gear, but the damp seeps into my arthritic-y joints and makes them worse. However, I am trying to nip out when there appears to be a cessation in the wet stuff falling from the heavens. Most recently at 04.50. I woke up at 04.30, clocked it wasn't raining to which my brain immediately responded "get out for a ride, now". After debating this with myself for a moment or two, I agreed with myself to go and had a quick 5 mile ride round town. Of course the benefit of being out at early o'clock is no traffic and who doesn't like having the roads to oneself?
Is anyone else making the most of those non-raining moments at whatever o'clock it happens to be?

No.

5 mile ride just not worth it for me. I can get more cardio on the Dreadmill or Turbo and stay warm whilst at it.

 

[cyberknight]

No.

5 mile ride just not worth it for me. I can get more cardio on the Dreadmill or Turbo and stay warm whilst at it.

indeed
My "short " course for a quick blast is 22 miles and i consider anything much shorter as not worth the bother so i will do 40-45 mins on zwift instead if the weather is rubbish enough . Commute is just under 10 miles each way which i do need to work on putting the effort in more but its hard work on shifts as the home commute on late shift can start after midnight and its harder to motivate that late .

 

[Big John]

Now I'm retired I just wait for a dry-ish window of opportunity. I have my regular days but it's usually not an issue to switch days if the weather's carp. When I was working I'd do a turbo session or use the rollers. One day I'll invest in a smart trainer. The winters are getting harder as I get older so training indoors in the dry gets more and more tempting.

 

[presta]

Just get your clobber on and get on with it, it always looks worse peering out of the window at it.

 

[Dogtrousers]

I really don't mind riding in the rain, but I really don't like starting a ride when it's raining. As @presta says, once you get going it's not so bad.

 

[Dorset Boy]

It's rained everyday in 2026 around here and loads of roads are underwater.
Since November it's either been wet, freezing, windy or a combination.
Have Zwift taken control of the weather?