Cyclist=Meteorologist
 

I’ve never had to pay so much attention to the weather in my life. Now that I ride a lot, I’m constantly having to watch the weather. I’ve learned to watch the radar myself and decide for myself if it going to be dry enough to ride. Maybe those living in dry area, don’t have to, but I sure do here in MN.

Anyone else notice that they watch the weather a lot more now?

I always have, but then again, I sail too!

yup, and it get's worse for me in the winter, I have to figure out if it's rain, snow and what the real temp is, and then you have to worry about the windchill, frost bite and bitter cold :), but hey it's all good.

I was actually a weather geek before I got back into cycling, I usually check at least 2 reports, one official government one, the other from the weather channel, if both are clear, then I don't bother with the radar, if the forecast is chance of rain, I'll check the radar to see. I may also take a weatheradio with me, if it's possible that it will change later on, on longer rides. This usually clips on my waist and is programmed to alert for any severe weather, in my area. Light rain doesn't bother me, much, but heavier stuff, or thunderstorms, thats a different issue.

I actually have my computer bookmarked to a zillion weather sites. The winds mainly are what I look at to determine my route and which bike I use.

I live in Seattle, so I pretty much know that it's going to rain from mid-October through June. If, by some unexpected Act Of God, it doesn't rain, it will be cold. (That's the big secret here -- the clouds actually keep the warm air trapped down so it doesn't get cold and snow. If it clears up, the temperature plummets.)

I use FireFox and have ForecastFox set to display current conditions and the forecast for 3 days ahead anytime my browser is up.

Yeah, I have 2 or 3 bookmarked also. I use the radar if there is rain nearby. I use satalite views for it there is precip forcasted later that day. I also like to see what the wind will be doing, but I figure if I ride into it, it's a better workout.

It has been thunderstoming here every day I have had off the last two weeks. I have gotten in a couple quick rides, but this really sucks!!!!!!!!!

I usually listen to KETV (7) in the morning and see what her forecast says. She is usually pretty accurate and then I decide on what I am going to do and when. So far it has not been clear when I have a chance to ride. I look at a government radar site some days also, and the weather.com to see the forecast, but it is not usually as accurate as Channel 7 in Omaha.

I was hoping to ride the Wabash Trace this weekend with my wife and another couple, but it will probably not rideable as much rain as we have had. I won't be able to ride for about 10 days, because I will be flying to Kentucky to do some construction work and riding home on my new to me 2002 Suzuki SV650S.

I don't pay any attention to the "fortune tellers" and their educated guesses. I ride a motorcycle 365 days a week hot or cold,rain or shine,day or night. If it starts raining I put on the rain gear,cold a jacket etc. Same when I'm on the bicycle.

I was sort of a weather geek even as a teenager, but when I first moved to Reno from Southern California, I really started paying attention. Until I was 30, I'd never seen snow or been in weather colder than about 48 degrees, so the mountains were a big change for me.
Now, though, I just go. We don't get much snow, less than a foot a few times a year, and it melts off quickly. Ice or deep snow ground me, but I ride in the rain (we're in a desert, we only get about seven inches a year--actually it's kind of a treat). Fenders make a big difference--I have them w/road tires on an old mountain bike, and I use that when the weather's bad.
I spent quite a bit of time in Seattle last year, and I was impressed. Those people ride when it's pouring out. I'll be 95 percent of the bikes I saw had fenders. Around here it's probably 2 percent.

I've got the forecastfox extension working in the corner of my browser at all times. It's got a little radar button that is pretty slick.

+1. Well, only 3 actually. I look for Thunderstorms.

I not only watch the weather, while commuting but feel better when I actuallly see the radar map. Any big clouds anywhere within 1000 miles, I think twice about my commute. My commute has been an overnight . Conditions can change.

I use the old school method: Put a rock outside (or use one that is handily embedded in your yard). If the rock is dry, it is sunny. If it is wet, it's raining. If it is hot, it is summer. If it is cold it is winter. :D:D

You forgot one! If the rock lifts out of the yard and flies away, it's too windy to ride against the headwind!;)

HA! I forgot that one! Too funny!

Funny you should mention this. lol I looked at the forecast this morning and it said almost no chance of rain (I think it was 10%) all day.

Well, it came time to do my ride home commute this evening and I got to do most of it in pounding rain. I watched the radar as the time got close and picked the best break between storms but still got soaked half way trough the ride home.

I just wish the weather people were right more often

I have been a weather geek way back to when I took up surfing. I had to know when the low pressure cells were dropping in so I could drop in on some waves. I thought about applying for the NOAA Hurricane hunting group as a flight engineer when I was in the Navy, but the wife was not real keen on the idea. It just an interesting science and the power it can provide is just awesome.

Here they were forecasting rain all day, I had a nice ride, started out in sunshine, started raining 5 minutes after my ride ended.:D

That is something I have always wanted to get into. Not exactly the response I was expecting from Indiana. Very cool though.

I became a pilot right after high school. Been a weather geek every since then.

That explains a lot! I guess they always get the forecasts right....they just make them for the wrong places! :D

I just downloaded 4 gigs of math books. I'm going to have this whole weather thing figured out by next year.

I don't get the "weather people are never right" complaint. C'mon, people, it's a forecast -- you do know what that word means, right? Read it with intelligence and you'll have a reasonable idea of what you're likely to be dealing with. If you want a precise guarantee of the temperature, humidity, wind and precipitation, you need to stay indoors, that's all. But if you are going to go outside, particularly for the kind of stuff I do in the places I do it, you'd be a fool not to consult a forecast -- it can be a matter of life or death.

You know if Florida the daily forecast should be as follows:

In Spring: Warm possible rain
In Summer: Hot possible heavy rain
In Fall: Warm possible rain
In Winter: Cool possible rain

What else do you need :D