9 ways to get motivated for cycling when the weather’s rubbish

When I first read this article last year I quite smugly thought it didn't apply to me as my daily commute of 45k (round trip) would keep me riding through the winter.  But now working from home (and generally getting out on the bike 4/5 times a week for around 150-200k in total) I am worried about keeping going through the winter in the cold and the dark.  I really don't want to lose the habit - or put on the weight!

Been 18 years since I last owned a car, so to get to work I have to ride my bike.

10. Legit way to get away from wife.

Bizarrely enough, outside of my daily commute I actually ride more km in autumn/winter than I do in spring or summer and I find it easier to leave home in the dark on a sunday morning at 7 with temperatures around freezing as opposed to leaving when the sun's long up and more people about during the month of June.  Less family expectation to go out together and enjoy the weather, i guess.  Or else I'm simply a glutton for punishment.

I've cycled in all weather's in the past and the commute has kept me ticking over in the worst of weather.  As Ive got a bit older I've become wary of ice though.  The roads back home are well gritted and whilst it makes a mess of the bike I've got out.  Down here though although its icy less often the roads are poorly gritted and its treacherous.  This year although I'll be playing it by ear (so as to speak), I wasalready in winter gloves, full lenght jersey, leg screens or warmers and gilet (buff some days) when it was 38deg and I was in thermal bib tights last week) :-o 

I don't commute that often so I'm not hardened to the weather like some. I do have to have a serious word with myself on a cold miserable  Saturday or Sunday morning. Something along the lines of just get up, find the right clothes, just get dressed, the struggle to get the overshoes on only takes a few mins it'll be worth it, just get over that first few miles of cold, where's a snood, you'll love it once you get going, others will be there waiting, it'll be an experience, you'll feel great later. 

Ha, ha, this brings back memories! 20 year ago as a student in Aberdeen my flatmate and I would wash our mountain bikes in the bath. The sheer amount of mud, pebbles and pine needles in the bath afterwards nearly caused a few domestics with his missus .

I was thinking about taking the mickey out of you in the northern hemisphere. However, having seen how so many of you ride in absolutely appalling weather (such as Auckland never sees), I thought it more truthful to say I'm in awe of your determination to ride in the face of such challenges.

I cycle mainly to commute, I am not worried about speed, but enjoy the workout, putting in more effort when I feel like it. I enjoy the time in the saddle, up to an hour and half each way, it clears my head, and gets me going. How I used to put up with driving in a car is, now, a complete mystery to me? My colleagues and friends think I've a screw loose cycling 20 miles each way. The weather doesn't bother me too much, as I have been doing it now for a decade. Sometimes, however, after a long 12 hour shift, with the rain lashing down, and the wind howling in my face, it can be a bit daunting, but I chuckle to myself something I made up, that I thought Mohammed Ali might have said in his heyday, that is "Rain ain't pain!". And away I go. Cheers, ya'll keep on pedalling.

Got soaked on my homeward 11m commute yesterday*... STILL better than the car. Might give tomorrow a miss though, lightning forecast

* Endura convert softshell held up pretty well fwiw.

I'm hard enough, but I always worry about my bike (and the need to clean and lube post ride).

I enjoy cycling too much to ride in the rain.

There, I said it!

Bit of 'n+1' but get a properly winterised/bad weather bike (proper mudguards, disc brakes, bigger tyres). I have a 15 mile (each way) commute which I do once or twice a week when the weather's good. Great in the summer when I can get the road bike out, but come this time of year when the weather's a bit unpredictable, I'm always 'debating' which day is best as I don't fancy subjecting the road bike to the demands of crap winter weather. In steps the old winter 'tank'; sure it's a bit heavier but tbh the difference in time is not that much and it seems to cope with bad conditions quite well. The front mudguard even has a flap at the bottom which, whilst not looking particulary sleek, does keep a lot of crap off the chain rings! Come the summer you're off like a rocket once you get onto a lighter 'steed'.

Get a mountain bike and head off road to give yourself a bit of variety - it's more fun coming off in the mud.....

Just bought a Cannondale Caadx. I can't wait for the grime, muck and slop of winter cycling.

It's the additional cleaning and maintenance in winter that causes me a problem since I live in a 1st floor flat with zero outside space (nevermind anything as luxurious as a garage). Cleaning a bike properly in the bath is hard. I've tried.

For this reason I tend to be a fair weather winter cyclist and ride more on the turbo in front of the tv than would be ideal.

I can't drink much the night before riding, so after telling everyone the reason I'm not drinking a few nice pints of local ale is because I'm cycling the next morning, then I have to go cycling the next morning!
It is especially rewarding if you can get out, do 50 odd miles and get back before your hungover housemate is out of bed!

Go and sit in a traffic jam. Nothing like sitting in traffic to make me yearn to be on my bike, whatever the weather.

Also remeber what my granddad said (who served in the North Atlantic as a watchman on merchant ships in WW2) "There's no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothes"

It still beats the turbo/rollers.
if I know I've only got 30-40 minutes then it's the rollers, if I can ride for longer than that then it's outdoors every time (except in snow as drivers in snow seem to just get stupid.

If you love cycling the weather does not provide barrier to enjoyment.

However, don't try to be a hero either. You must learn when discretion is the better part of valour - if it's gusting 50mph or there is slick ice out then think at least twice. I'd say that 90% of our British weather can be ridden in safely, it's the 10% where you must take extra care, or stay off the bike.

I must admit there is something strangely satisfying about being smattered with grit and having rain and spray dripping down your face. Like you're some sort of unstoppable cycling machine, and nothing can get in the way.

If I am honest, I prefer the cold and wet to the hot and dry. As long as my toes are dry! That's my one caveat, got to have dry toes.