Commuting - I stopped looking at it, and now I'm riding more often

The weather report, that is.

I used to check the weather report when I got up in the morning. Thunderstorms, rain, high heat, snow etc were all good enough reasons for me to go back to bed for another hour once a week or so. Invariably, the weather wouldn't behave as predicted, and I'd end up driving home in what would have been awesome riding conditions.

So I stopped looking. Now, I'm just carrying the rain gear all the time just in case, hanging out at the office for an extra 30 mins every now and again to let the lightning pass, and riding every day.

Anyone else a slave to, or been a slave to, the weather forecast?

I sometimes check the weather forcast in the summer but only to see where the openings in the thunder storms are on the radar.
During the cooler months I check everyday to see how many layers to wear. The only time it might stop me from riding is predictions of heavy snow. Luckily one of my co-workers lives just down the road from me so I can always get a ride home if weather conditions get too unsafe for riding.
Craig

I check the weather daily but not to determine if I should ride or not. It is just to make sure I am prepared. I sold my car this past spring so not riding is not an option. The wife wouldn't appreciate it if I took our only vehicle and left her at home with the kidlets because I didn't feel like riding. :eek:

Total slave to the weather report. It tells me how to dress and what bike to take. :D

That's funny, because I made the same decision early this year. Seems like they always predict a shower if there's any chance at all that there might be a few drops anywhere in the state. I hate walking to the car after work through beautiful weather. If I'm walking to the car, I want it to be in a thunderstorm.

I check the weather daily but not to determine if I should ride or not. It is just to make sure I am prepared.
This was the same reason I used to look all the time - just to decide what to wear and what to take with me. It was seeing the storm predicitions that made my 530am sleepy self slink back to bed every now and again (maybe once every two weeks) and miss out on a great riding day. Funny thing is, the bigger storms usually hit on days they weren't predicted!

It's one of the good things about Denver - the temperature is reasonably predictable, and my wife always lets me know if there's going to be a major swing one way or the other. At this time of year keeping the arm warmers, vest, and a rain jacket in the panniers gets me through anything mother nature will throw at me. In a few weeks I'll add the knee warmers.

I guess I'll start looking at the weather report again as winter hits, but probably just to see the temperature. Gotta ignore those storm warnings around here!

Total slave to the weather report. It tells me how to dress and what bike to take. :D

Me too.

I even check the hour by hour prediction in the morning, to see what it will be like when I'm riding, or if I need to bring a jacket for after dark etc.

And ..........it works great. I don't remember it failing me more than once or twice in the last few years.

Ditto. My commute goes through 3 cities and the weather can vary from clear, to rainy to hail or snow all in 1 commute! Without the radar, it would be hard to know!

i'm in denver too -- the weather is always nice in the morning, but afternoons can be unpredictable, especially in the summer.

one gadget i love is my wireless thermometer, has sensor outside tucked under a ledge, and the display is in my bathroom. great in the winter, can see if it's 30 or 50 before dressing. some have the forecast based on barometric pressure

i'm lucky as my office is on a hill in SE side of city, so i can look out the winter and see which way a storm is moving, if i see one coming from south or laterally i can usually head out at 3:30 and beat it home. if it's from the north, i might wait til it passes then ride.

nothing like riding when it's sunny and humid right after a storm has passed- nice change from the usual dry air.

occasionally it will be sunny and clear and RAINING! storms are isolated and move fast, so sometimes the winds blows rain over

the weather is always nice in the morning, but afternoons can be unpredictable, especially in the summer.Sing it, brother.

I quite like the Environment Canada (http://weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca/city/pages/on-143_metric_e.html) page for Toronto. It doesn't just say "Rain in the afternoon", it usually gives you a percentage, so I can figure out whether I want to play the odds or not. Having said that, I'm really quite glad I took transit today, since there's an F-ing Tornado Warning here today!!!

To the rest of you T.O. commuters, good luck getting home.

My rule is that I only am willing to get wet once on the commute. Riding in or riding out. But I always carry rain gear this time of the year. Can always take the train home.

I check in to see how hot I will be. The answer is always the same: hot. It's an itch I can't stop scratching.

In non-summer, I rarely check, but I keep a windbreaker in my bag.

Don't ck. the weather that often unless we have a heavy storm system coming in like we did this spring. But then again I live in SoCal.

Anyone else a slave to, or been a slave to, the weather forecast?

No, but I live in Southern California.

And if we have another El Nino (insert ~) winter ahead of us I will just dress for the occasion. I have both lightweight and heavy duty rainwear, both tops and bottoms.

I don't bother, the weather report is always the same. It looks almost exactly like this (http://www.weather.com/activities/other/other/weather/tenday.html?locid=95616&from=36hr_topnav_undeclared) from may through october.

Stu,

Still kind of hooked to the pinpoint on chnl 2. Mostly cause of lightning. I gave up looking at 20% 30% etc. Just toss in the rain poncho and before leaving check to see if I need to wait for lightning to pass. Just eliminates a lot of headaches.