It was cold wet and windy for this morning’s ride. I thought it’s only a bit of rain, no problem, and I can MTFU and ride like normal, oh no! After a couple of hours I headed home and still haven’t thawed out properlty. It looks like I’m going to repeat it again tomorrow, it’s madness.

How do you keep up the motivation to go out when the weather’s crap?

I don’t bother if the weather’s shit before I start off. I just don’t see the point of getting soaked and cold. I don’t feel the need to prove how ‘hard’ I am.

Don’t mind cold, but I just can’t see what enjoyment is to be had in foul weather. I’ve never, ever enjoyed being out in pissing rain.

There’s a massive list of chores I have to do if I don’t go riding. It’s enough to get me out in any weather.

Just mustering up a dose of MTFU to go our for a run in nr gale force winds and pissing rain…

Well, you do need to keep your AWESOMEness, Surf-Mat. Must be quite hard work. 😉

The worst of it is that the weather isn’t going to lift until Tuesday and it’s a long weekend here, typical 🙄
I think I could manage running in the rain if I could be ar5ed with running.

I haven’t been able to exercise for a week as I’d have norovirus (I think) so gagging to get out there. Still not 100% but hey ho, when one is awesome, one must overlook such temporary failings.

In my mind, those that get out there when they don’t feel like it (bit off colour, weather sh1t, etc) are the ones that have that “edge” over others. Works for me in running, not quite in MTBing yet (or maybe ever!)

Surf should be cranking tomorrow (just seen it and it’s almost there) so can’t wait to get some wave time in – maaaaaaan.

I love being out in proper weather. Just love the feeling of getting my arse kicked by mother nature. Call it a fetish if you will.

Really doesn’t bother me. If it’s hooning down I don’t bother with a waterproof, but I do keep moving.
I’ll head out whatever the weather, consequently I have a lot of lonely rides 😕

Winter is like this for me, in fact its actually all year come to think of it.

1: Cold – OK

2: ice – OK

3: Snow _ok

4: rain – not ok.

5: high winds – ok but not if it also has 1,2,3,or 4 in it.

If I’m out for a few hours it doesn’t bother me but I can’t be ar5ed to get soaking wet & covered in mud if I’ve only got an hour to play with….But it was glorious on the Chase today,so it was even better 😀

I dont usually bother mountain biking if its raining heavily, to much faffing about loading/unloading the car, stopping & starting etc.

Road bike it doesnt bother me, requires a bit more motivation but once your out, your out. Yesterday it was raining a fair bit, 30mph winds, just went out and once you start riding you warm up quickly and you dont stop on a road ride either

Bad weather…it’s all about having the right gear, innit.

With regards to motivation, never once have I been happy about getting up at 5am for my twice-weekly early rides. But once 10 minutes into the ride, I’ve never regretted it. Get the right gear and get out there, feel smug all day, simples.

Just mustering up a dose of MTFU to go our for a run in nr gale force winds and pissing rain…

I find going out for a run in the shite weather alot easier than getting the bike out. Think it’s more to do with only getting a shorts/top covered in shite rather than bike, bag, more clothing etc.

…plus you can always make it a nice short run, whereas biking its pointless just to go out for less than x miles.

I set myself a stopping point in a not so local pub that serves nice cider and has a roaring log fire 😆

Makes coming home a bit of a challenge though!

I don’t bother if the weather’s shit before I start off. I just don’t see the point of getting soaked and cold. I don’t feel the need to prove how ‘hard’ I am.

Don’t mind cold, but I just can’t see what enjoyment is to be had in foul weather. I’ve never, ever enjoyed being out in pissing rain.

+1. I’ve enjoyed a few rainy rides but most of the time I just can’t be arsed with the hassle of having to clean everything afterwards.

I like snow riding though.

+1 to MTFU

Thawing out is part of the fun – cold weather equals more fun time.

If it’s really crap I just jump on the turbo and do some intervals, good training, and dry. Otherwise I just go out and get wet, if you’re cold you’re either dressed inappropriately or going too slowly! 😉

Bad weather…it’s all about having the right gear, innit.

Agreed.

Just did a nice route around the Surrey Hills…very wet & muddy and it was tipping it down for about 30minutes but the main bits (read feet and bum) stayed relatively dry and thats all thats needed for me.

once again, riding conditions in sheffield have been perfect, beautiful almost to the point of bringing me to tears.

low autumn sun lighting up the autumn leaves from above, filling the forest below with golden light.

warm enough, cool enough.

dry trails with a swooshy carpet of leaves and chestnuts.

life is good.

I think I just accept that for six months of the year it’s going to be like this. And if I miss a day, well it’s a slippery slope innit.

Beautiful up here in the North West Pennines.
Just back from a sunny jaunt up to the wind turbines, a loop of Cragg Quarry and back home.
Plus, the lad from next door came with us and there was no need to call out the air ambulance this time, so all round things are pretty good! 🙂

Well depsite the rain, the run was very pleasant and met up with a fellow runner mate a third of the way around.

It was lovely here too this morning – had lunch outside a seaside cafe in the sunshine.

Good stuff Mat, getting my head around a 3.5 hour jaunt tomorrow. 😐

I guess, its what type of riding you enjoy doing on a mtb, that will go a long way to deciding if you ride in shit weather or not.

If your the type who just enjoys riding the fire roads or mountain paths – then they will ride pretty much the same in almost any weather.
But if you enjoy more steep, quicker, technical rides … then bad weather can make a big difference.

I dont mind being caught out in the heavy rain. Its a different question all together about starting a ride in heavy rain…

But if you enjoy more steep, quicker, technical rides … then bad weather can make a big difference.

the only difference is it will make you a better rider!

Surf-Mat – Member
I haven’t been able to exercise for a week as I’d have norovirus (I think) so gagging to get out there. Still not 100% but hey ho, when one is awesome, one must overlook such temporary failings…

No, don’t push it mate.

I did that 20 years ago – was super-fit etc – recovering from a virus. Thought I should MTFU and did.

Next thing Guillaine-Barr including some paralysis. Seems to specialise in fit people who push it too hard. No doubt one of the medicos on here could comment. I don’t think I’ve ever fully recovered and it definitely affects your endurance IMO.

I am motivated by drifting my rear wheel through slippery muddy corners and over roots. Two hours is enough on bad weather days though.

Motivation comes from thinking of sunny weather and lots of racing next season that I will do badly in unless I get out and ride now…

GB

I’m also in the camp of not starting a ride in the rain, don’t mind if it rains during the ride. Went over the local DH tracks today….seriously slippery over there, massive difference in difficulty compared with 2 weeks ago! Still excellent though.

Don Simon, Monday should be OK: http://www.aemet.es/es/eltiempo/prediccion/localidades/collado-villalba-28235

Can’t be arsed with the rain, either, usually go for a run or swim instead. Like tomorrow, for example 🙂

I’m quite happy to be out in pretty much any weather but I’ll properly prepare (clothing etc).

Decent kit and riding with a group/club help. Make your plans in advance and commit to riding regardless of the weather.

I’m hanging on to every last bit of sunshine we get, rain and wind for riding is just w@nk…….today was good…….

First a bit of this…

Then a bit of this…

Then a brew stop…

A few of these…

Then a few more…

Resulted in this…

God I love getting out on the bike…..let’s hope we have a decent winter in the North! 🙂

Romster – our little boy (2) has the same hoody!

Generally, the cold does not really bother me.

As others have said once you get going and warm it doesn’t really have any effect, although my toes are an exception no matter what I wear. But those first 20 minutes can be hell and there are an infinite number of times I have wanted to turn around in those first few miles.

Mixed in is also a sense of achievement that you are out in all weathers when lesser mortals are still under the duvet.

All that said, last winter was a bitch for me. My asthma was bad between mid oct and mid dec so I couldn’t ride. Come mid december the temperature was god knows how many degrees lower than it had been 2 months earlier and I just couldn’t get my head around it.

I think I need a gradual reaquaintence with the cold weather and not a short sharp shock.

Romster- lovin your pics, looks like a great day out!

Love getting in after a winter ride, covered in crap, red face, then light the fire, roast meal and a glass of wine. Perfect.

I enjoy being out in really shit weather. Last nights commute home was 20 miles into a crazy headwind and torrential rain. Good waterproof jacket, Waterproof shorts, cap under my helmet and waterproof gloves and I loved it. Of course I’d rather have blue sky and sunshine but I love the buzz from riding in really bad weather.