How do you all cope with patches of bad weather? How do you continue training?

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synchronicity
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Location: Moruya, Australia
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by synchronicity

Here in Australia, we're undergoing a "La Niña" year. It means loads and loads of rain.
Just as I began to write this, coincidentally, it just started to rain. :x
We've already had weeks of rain, and even more is forecast. :x
Dams are overflowing and several regions have flooded.

I don't own an indoor trainer (yet). Never have done. But I'm starting to think it's inevitable (rollers).🤔

The last time I went out cycling when the clouds were threatening, I thought "what's the worst that can happen? I'll get wet", but by the end of the ride there were lightning strikes all around me, in a forest, which really made me think twice about going out in such weather again, and then a little while after that I promptly got massively pelted with hail. the wind picked up. So much so that I had to get off and stand under a tree for protection. Well I couldn't see anything either (and balancing was hard). Trees fell over in the local vicinity. My arms had great big welts on them and my helmet now has dents in it. Now granted this is kinda unusual, but it was very painful, almost like torture. I'd rather not repeat that experience...

How do you cope with this?
Do you just go out no matter what? (and get the appropriate clothes)
Or do you train indoors?
What to do?

I seem to be (am) missing out on too many rides, something has to change.
Last edited by synchronicity on Sun Mar 21, 2021 11:18 am, edited 1 time in total.
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by barbaar

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RTW
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by RTW

Dedicated wet weather bike with full fenders. Multiple weather apps and checking of the weather. Lots of kit (4 different rain jackets depending on conditions). External thermometer with indoor readout. And Zwift too.

Andrew69
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by Andrew69

Drizzle or light rain, I ride outside Edit: Its not like it gets cold enough here to worry about, its more of a safety issue
What we have now in NSW, I just ride on the trainer.
Not into Zwift (too much of a game look to it), just have a turbo (Kurt Kinetic dumb trainer that feels very road like and is bullet proof), old bike that sits on the trainer 24/7, a huge fan and an iPod full of music I have re-mixed to 170-180bpm
Some days i hit it hard with intervals (I do love how easy my Wahoo Bolt makes it to do multiple intervals) or just spin for an hour (about my limit on the trainer) riding at Z2

But Im lucky in that i also have various other equipment I could use if I get bored including lots of gym gear, stair climber, Concept 2 rower, and a treadmill
I tend to stick to the bike and rower, Mrs uses the rest

velomane
Posts: 243
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Location: Winnipeg, Canada

by velomane

When you say you got caught in a thunderstorm, this was a cumulonimbus cloud. These things are dangerous! I've been hammered by them three times in the last twenty years (I remember all three times) and they are not a joy at all. In addition to the hail and lightning, they come with extremely strong and unpredictable winds so they are very dangerous indeed.

When you say, "what's the worst that can happen?", if all that is forecast is rainfall, then go riding. Have a wet weather bike if you can. If the forecast says thunderstorms, then stay inside. You will not outride that storm, it will hunt you down.

Ypuh
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Location: The Netherlands

by Ypuh

As the saying goes, there's no bad weather, just bad clothing.

I don't fully agree. Cycling in the rain can be fun, but 9 times out 10 I wish it didn't. It's more the mess/cleaning/wind/cold that's annoying, rather than being cold/unable to ride etc.

Holland is known for its rain, but the weather's changed the last couple of years. A lot more dry periods and when it rains, it just rains harder (so effectively the same amount of water in fewer hours). This means riding in the rain is less fun now, but overall we're better off.

2 years ago I've upgraded my indoor setup to a Tacx Neo and started to give really give Zwift a good go. It takes some hours/months to get used to, but now I thourogly enjoy it to the point I almost never outside with rain anymore. Corona is bit of an expection. I'm stuck working from home for over a year now, so weekends come rain come shine I'm riding outside. A good Windstopper jacket and a Shakedry shell in my back pocket makes sure I don't get too cold/wet.
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Cord1138
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Joined: Tue Nov 10, 2020 8:26 pm

by Cord1138

I don't go out in bad weather, don't like the rain. In the UK winter it get's dark early, so I don't like going out. Even with the best clothing, I take into account the braking distances and visibility, mine and drivers on the road, so I don't want to take the risk. Maybe I am too risk averse. Also the cleaning after a ride in wet weather is a pain.

I bought a Neo 2T, first month was hard, then I got a good indoor setup including a rocker plate, now I just put on Netflix etc and can do up to 3 hours. A great way to catch up on shows :) I really do love training indoors now. Also, as I am doing structured training with Xert, it is making me a stronger cyclist, something I would have found hard to do with purely outdoors training. I prefer having a structured session but with a Netflix show/film. I found Zwift too boring.

The weather is finally getting better, and I can enjoy going out again, but will still keep training indoors as I enjoy it so much. Very glad I have an indoor setup to complement outdoor rides.
Last edited by Cord1138 on Sun Mar 21, 2021 10:42 pm, edited 1 time in total.

AJS914
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Joined: Tue Jan 28, 2014 6:52 pm

by AJS914

If roads are wet but it's not raining I'll ride my gravel bike. The wide tires feel a lot more sure footed.

I finally embraced the trainer this last winter. I rode indoors, sometimes 5-6 days per week. Put on a movie or tv show and pound out some time in Z2. Add in some efforts. It also really helps that my trainer room is very cool in the winter and I have an airconditioner there for the summer. Getting a good trainer (Kickr) has also really helped. I really hated my wheel on Tacx Vortex but the wheel-off Kickr is much more enjoyable to ride.

TheRich
Posts: 1037
Joined: Tue Jan 01, 2019 1:36 am

by TheRich

Riding indoors.

After an overtraining/overexertion/something incident last summer, I got a trainer in the fall with the plan of avoiding too much exposure to extremes of cold (in relative terms) and heat. Nobody needs that every day, it's an unnecessary risk.

Etienne
Posts: 374
Joined: Tue Aug 23, 2005 11:41 am
Location: France

by Etienne

synchronicity wrote:
Sun Mar 21, 2021 7:24 am
How do you cope with this?
If for whatever reason, road conditions may be unsafe ... then don't ride.

Buy a good direct drive indoor trainer, add a subscription to a reputable indoor rides provider (Zwift if you like virtual, Rouvy or Fulgaz if you prefer real life videos) and you're good to go.

I began indoor training many years ago, when home trainers were not as sophisticated and it has always been a good way to avoid unsafe or uncomfortable conditions and still ride. In addition, indoor training can be a very good complement to targeted sessions, to enhance FTP for instance.

trainingpartner
Posts: 126
Joined: Thu Jun 18, 2020 1:33 pm

by trainingpartner

synchronicity wrote:
Sun Mar 21, 2021 7:24 am
Here in Australia, we're undergoing a "La Niña" year. It means loads and loads of rain.
Just as I began to write this, coincidentally, it just started to rain. :x
We've already had weeks of rain, and even more is forecast. :x
Dams are overflowing and several regions have flooded.

I don't own an indoor trainer (yet). Never have done. But I'm starting to think it's inevitable (rollers).🤔

The last time I went out cycling when the clouds were threatening, I thought "what's the worst that can happen? I'll get wet", but by the end of the ride there were lightning strikes all around me, in a forest, which really made me think twice about going out in such weather again, and then a little while after that I promptly got massively pelted with hail. the wind picked up. So much so that I had to get off and stand under a tree for protection. Well I couldn't see anything either (and balancing was hard). Trees fell over in the local vicinity. My arms had great big welts on them and my helmet now has dents in it. Now granted this is kinda unusual, but it was very painful, almost like torture. I'd rather not repeat that experience...

How do you cope with this?
Do you just go out no matter what? (and get the appropriate clothes)
Or do you train indoors?
What to do?

I seem to be (am) missing out on too many rides, something has to change.
I have yet to ride in weather that N+1 was not the right number of jackets. It's only rain 👍

iheartbianchi
Posts: 680
Joined: Sun Mar 24, 2019 9:17 am

by iheartbianchi

Riding outside in poor weather is dangerous and gets expensive.

Get a cheap indoor roller, or if you can afford it, one of those fancy Kickr devices? Even treadmill running is fine. Indoor training may be boring at first, but your brain gets used to it after a week.
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sychen
Posts: 1473
Joined: Thu Apr 24, 2014 1:06 pm

by sychen

Good news op.. La Nina is officially over according to BOM. Still a indoor setup even with a wheel on smart trainer is useful for bad weather or injury recovery.

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Andrew69
Posts: 593
Joined: Thu Feb 19, 2009 10:52 am
Location: ɹǝpunuʍop

by Andrew69

sychen wrote:
Thu Apr 01, 2021 8:21 am
Good news op.. La Nina is officially over according to BOM. Still a indoor setup even with a wheel on smart trainer is useful for bad weather or injury recovery.
Good! Im not going to miss it at all
At least Ive got the 4 day Easter weekend to rack up some k's :beerchug:

kode54
Posts: 3749
Joined: Tue May 23, 2006 9:39 pm

by kode54

Days I don't ride...

1. snow/icy
2. raining med to heavy
3. thick fog where I can't see beyond a block
4. windy with gust over 35mph

All other days I ride.
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