Weather is all relative. Here in Northern Michigan, we get excited whenever the temperature gets over 40 degrees each spring, because compared to the past four months of below-freezing days, that really is a heat wave.
Riding in the cold and wet can be tough. We've all done it; skipped a ride because it just wasn't nice enough, even if we've ridden in those conditions a million times before. It's normal, it's human, and sometimes, yes, it's the right call.
But this time of year, we're looking for any excuse to get outside, and we wanted to know. How bad does the weather have to be to make you skip a group ride? Is it the temperature, the rain, the wind, or a combination of all three?
Looking at our own rides, we tend to stay indoors and spend some warm, sweaty hours on Watopia with our friends from Zwift whenever it's a downpour. With a laptop and a trainer, it's as realistic feeling as stationary riding can be, and while it's all virtual, having other wheels to follow and group rides and events makes missing an outdoor ride a bit more bearable. Here's when you should, and shouldn't, ride outside.
1. It's icy. This is a legitimate problem in our neck of the woods. With freezing temperatures overnight and snow melt during the day, those little puddles along the shoulder and on hills turn into hockey rinks. Especially if you ride in the morning, unless you know the route is largely clear, you'll probably get more out of your trainer than risking it on the roads.
When To Try It: Watch the overnight temperatures and see if the temps have stayed above freezing. Once they're 32 degrees or above in the evening, you can usually give the roads a go. Also, make mental notes of any puddles or run-off patterns on your favorite route so it's easier for you to look out for those sketchy areas.
2. It's wet and cold. You can usually survive rain, and you can always gut out the cold, but soggy and freezing doesn't go together well. If it's below 40 and raining steadily, it's often a good idea to stay inside. It's even more important to use good judgement if you're planning to ride in these conditions solo; a double flat or mechanical issue and you could be stranded, cold, and waiting for evac long enough to risk hypothermia.
When To Try It: If you just have to get outside, stick close to home. Find a three to five mile loop that you can ride safely, sticking to roads that are out of the wind and avoid long descents where you're sure to get chilled. If you start feeling too cold, lose feeling in your limps, or start to chatter, bag it, get home and get warm.
3. It's dark. We love a good night ride, but adding dark to the recipe of bad weather is a bit of an unnecessary risk. Low light conditions, even if the sun is still technically up, make being able to see in rain, mist or fog even more difficult, and what's more, can make it more difficult for cars to see you.
When To Try It: If riding early or late is just when you have the time to ride, really invest. A strong LED tail light (or two!) is the best place to start, but a strong 500+ lumen head light, reflective clothing and tape on your bike frame can all make a big difference, too. We've even ridden with two headlights, one to see ahead and one point almost straight down to help create a halo around the bike to give drivers a better sense of space when passing.
So, what's your threshold of bad weather? What tips would you add for riding in tough conditions? Let us know!