Commuting - Weather Limit?

So this morning when I get up, it's raining pretty hard. The roads are flooding, fields are now full size ponds with speed boats in them, and it's still coming down hard.

Would you have ridden into work in that weather?

Now, mix that with lightning. I decided not to commute today just because of the lightning; however, the rain is not supposed to quit until Thursday. Maybe I'll get to play in the puddles tomorrow.

My main question, what is your limit for commuting? Will you ride in anything (including a severe T-storm)?

You should have allowed people to vote more then once in this particular poll. And I think you should have made this for more then just commuting, but rather for all types of riding.

What is the differance between lightening and heavy lightening? To me lightening is very dangerous no matter what. And in my area it is all bad. There is not determination or differance between lightening and heavy lightening where I live. And when lightening strikes you seek shelter.

You also forgot to add a vote for tornado's.

I voted only in nice weather. Heat and humidity do not bother me. In fact the more the better, to me heat and humidity is nice weather. Any temp. over 65 degrees is what I like to ride in. I usually do not ride in rain or temps. less then 65 degrees unless I am on a organised ride. If I get caught in the rain and I am not on a organised ride, depending on how bad it gets determines whether or not I continue. I will not ride in thunderstorms no matter what. If I ride in cooler weather or rain on a organised ride I dress accordingly for it. This is for any kind of riding I do. Whether it be for commuting or recreation.

I didn't vote, because I take every day as it comes. Sometimes if it's raining in the morning I don't ride because arriving at work dripping would be a hassle on that particular day. Other days I would ride anyway.

I don't care if it's raining on the outbound leg, but it's stupid to ride if the weather is dangerous. If there's lightning or 40mph+ winds, I just wait an hour; it can't last.

RichC

I voted for thunderstorms, and no riding for me, I won't golf when it is lightning, so I feel a bike is even more dangerous, I value my life too much.

I generally give it a miss when the roads are iced up, not because I cant ride in the ice, but because of other road users.
I haven't met my minimum temp yet, the lowest being -10C in a dry Utah winter. I love riding country lanes on frosty mornings.
Most of the time it is between 10 and 20C, which is pretty comfortable. In cooler weather there is no need to worry about sweating, temperature regulation is very easy. 18C/65F is when I might venture out in shorts.
Rain; it just happens so I dont worry about it.

I guess I could be considered a fair weather commuter. But the reason for that is I also bring by daughter along for the ride and drop her off at daycare along the way. If it was just me, I would probably commute in the rain as well. In the bay area rain is about the worst weather we get.

Dave

Wind is a much bigger problem than rain or temperature. A gusty storm can make cycling hazardous, esp when a big truck passes.
Hopefully that morning headwind will still be there for the return journey.

I lied. I said, "I ride in all weather."

Truth be told, we don't get snow where I live more often than once a year, on average (if that much.)

And rain? Heck, if it happens, I'll be glad for it--might cool things down!

Cold? If I told you about our "cold" winters, you'd wonder if we were insane or not: often well above freezing in the daytime.

So, "I ride in all weather."

(Hey, at least I ride! Most commuters I know are hiding out in their gas-powered chariots.)

I voted 'all weather', by which I mean all the weather we get here in Brisbane, which, apart from the occasional torrential downpour and lightning, is pretty benign. The only thing that stops me riding is lethargy.

I agree with Allister the weather here is good all year round so no real problems. The only thing I don't like is severe winds, this can ruin any ride. This morning was quite windy, and when a semi passed me I nearly got sucked in by the turbulence, not a nice thing. Severe thunderstorms usually keep me inside although taking out the FS MTB can be fun when things turn wet. I always take a riding partner when I MTB ride as I then have someone on hand to go for help if I do a Superman into the trees.:D

CHEERS.

Mark

I voted "all weather" and, sadly, lied. Winter conditions can be quite nasty here, so I guess my limit would go somewhere in -25 to -30C. I've done x-country skiing in -25C, so I suppose I'd be OK until that at least.

As we don't get real storms where I live, summertime is "all weather" season for me.

--J

i voted 'all weather'... which is pretty much true (so long as it's safe and possible)

in 1yr in Munich i haven't seen any threatening lightening and heavy rain is no problem.
the coldest week was about -20C (-4F) in the morning and i rode as usual.
we don't usually get major snow accumulation and i have metal studded bike snow tires for moderate snow and ice, so i rode in both this winter.

i used to live in Portland OR and there is no extreme weather (just frequent light rain from October through May).

during 9 months in Mass - we had 4-5ft of snow 2 times and i didn't ride for a few days... when 'normal' cars can't be driven i usually don't ride.

Texas - maybe lighting or the occaisional tornado/hurrican - obviously if it's not safe to be outside the cycling is also unsafe

* for me if it's below -20C i don't like to be outside in gerenal(grew up in Texas), so i probably wouldn't ride (never lived anywhere REALLY cold)
* if there were major flooding i might not ride, but then a bike can go through 2+ feet of water better than your average car...

although there are days when i just don't feel like riding or maybe my legs are really sore from a race... so in Munich i'll take the subway 1-2 days per month and read... takes longer than riding, but sometimes it's nice to read for 45 minutes... but usually it's more how i feel than the weather, although a sunny day usually makes me 'feel' pretty good!

I'll commute in all but severe weather, but have been known to catch the train in less than truly attrocious weather purely for comfort or laziness.

Richard

I ride in all weather but I do have limits. I don't commute below 15 degrees F, I don't leave the house in hard rain and try to avoid cold and wet riding. Cold is OK, wet is OK but cold and wet really stinks.

Today it was hot. I don't know the temperature, but it was hot.

I have to get used to this all over again.

I'd rather ride in the invigorating cold!

:D

I put don't ride while it is raining simply because I do not have rain gear. I expect that to change with commuting over the course of the summer. I endeavor to commute at least once where there is some sort of rainfall (something more than a drizzle).

:beer:

Looking at the bike parking at work, rain seems to have no effect on the number of bicycles, but quite an effect on the number of motorcycles.

I kind of noticed the motorcyle vs. bike parking as well.

In average weather, there are 2 bikes and 3 motorcycles.

In bad weather, there are 2 bikes and no motorcycles.

In really nice weather, there is 1 bike and 5 or 6 motorcycles (one biker occasionally rides a motorcycle)

Originally posted by Allister
The only thing that stops me riding is lethargy.

Oh, my gosh!

:eek:

Oh, golly, that's VERY BAD!