How to get the most out of bad weather riding

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If you are a keen cyclist and you aren’t fortunate enough to live in the South of France, it is an inevitability you will find yourself riding in bad weather at some point. You may have a big event that you have been targeting all year, only for it to fall on bad weather.

You might just be sick of the turbo and keen to ride outside.

Well fear not. Here are our tips to maximise your bad weather rides and make them more enjoyable.

1. Don’t suffer on your own. When the weather turns nasty Riding with others is great way to stay motivated and help the time pass quicker.

2. When waiting for your mates to arrive to group ride, keep warm by practising skills like track standing and wheelies.

3. Punctures are more common on dirty wet roads. If one of your group gets a puncture, if you are not helping change it then keep moving. As you can quickly get cold if just standing around. Also use a co2 inflater for speed, though we would always recommend bringing a pump.

4. Pick a route with bail out options if the weather could turn bad. This can mean doing a loop close to home, so you can peel off at any point, or picking a route with strategically located cafes and train stations.

5. If there is a cold snap, consider setting off an hour later, as this can lower the chances of random ice patches in small lanes.

6. Finally be sure to use social media to make sure everyone knows how hardcore you are for riding in bad weather. However, if the weather is really bad, either take a tactical rest day, or do an indoor ride.

This list isn’t exhaustive though, so if you have your own ideas or tips, then feel free to share them in the comments.