Realistically how many days can you cycle to work?

[katymac]

For an average unfit fair weather cycler?

In East anglia if it makes a difference

[katymac]

Oh sorry I mean in a year WRT bad weather!!

[BarchesterFlowers]

I do two or three days a week generally but in the winter ❄️ I often do zero. 12-14 mile round trip. I don't do more than that because of the time it takes and I have to look groomed at least two days a week 😁.

[Trills]

How far away it is would make more of a difference...

If it's 3 miles then all of them.

If it's 10 miles then you'll need to work up to it.

[katymac]

Is winter Oct-Mar? Dec-Jan? or somewhere between?

I imagine I will be cycling less - & I only intend to work 3 days max anyway subject to actually getting a job

I wonder if my boss will let me charge my battery at work.....is that an interview question do you think?

[katymac]

Oh I have cycled over 350 miles in the last 2 months I cheat with a motor it's the weather I am more concerned about

[Trills]

When I lived in Cambridge I cycled to my (3 miles away, no need to dress smartly) job every day.

I didn't cycle when it had snowed (came off my bike once doing that), but that's only 0-3 days per year on average.

There were very few days when it was raining heavily, and with an electric bike you'll be able to wear waterproofs more comfortably than if you have to pedal hard (no fun being sweaty inside and rained on outside).

Cambridge is very dry, but if you're in East Anglia your climate should be similar.

[annandale]

I only cycle 3 and a bit miles each way but the breakthrough was getting a bike that fitted and worked properly (i.e. a new one) via the cycle to work scheme. Now i always cycle.

[GlowWine]

I cycle in all weather but admittedly have not far to go (20 mins). I have the full weather gear and keep a towel and change of clothes at work (no showers unfortunately). In extreme situations (ice, snow, storm) I have got off and walked and got there late. I'd rather be in one piece.

[Spindelina]

I'm in the SW (so wetter weather than you) and do a short (3km) bike ride in all but icy weather. I get drenched and get changed.

Though I'm heavily pregnant at the moment, and paid for taxis in the recent stupidly hot weather!

Facilities for cycling to work is definitely an interview question imo - shows you've thought about the practicalities of the job i.e. you're serious.

[Trills]

The Met Office classes a "rain day" as a day when over 1mm of rain falls. In East Anglia this ranges from 8 days in August to 11 days in January.

So 1 in every 3 or 4 days has SOME rain.

But 1mm of rain is unlikely to bother you.

[Etymology23]

My brother cycles every day all through the year. This surely just depends how far and how smart you have to be once you get there? If you can change your clothes and have an electric bike, you could presumably do a 7-10 mile commute pretty happily on a bike? If you're on gritted roads at least - less easy if the roads will be icy. Water proof jacket and trousers with a change of clothes at work and you'd be sorted.

[AnnaNimmity]

I cycle every day except when it's really icy. That bothers me more than rain. I prob only missed one day this winter (central london so roads ok)

[lljkk]

Um... mudguards? Good Goretex jacket & waterproof panniers, cycle in lycra & work clothes in bag.
Somewhere under cover to store the bike while you're at work is a minimum acceptable.
I work FT, in East Anglia & I cycle 8 mile RT to work (plus a half hour each way train journey, too).
I tend to only drive in if it's very rainy+cold, that's once a month on average. Ring roads are horrible.
Most/many bike lights are USB-charged now, so just need a computer to stick it into. Or you could get a USB-battery pack.

[SheepyFun]

How far is work if you'd need to charge your battery? A colleague cycles 10 miles each way (1.5 for me, so no need for a motor!), and her ebike has a range of 96 miles, so it she charges it each night.

Said colleague cycles 3-4 times a week in the winter. If it's snowing, I walk. Otherwise I cycle, and take a change of clothes when it rains (I prefer that to full waterproofs).

[katymac]

So realistically it could be 10 months of the year

DH could drop me if the rain is awful or there is snow

It just makes looking for a job easier if I know what to expect

Waterproofs are a possibility, & yes facilities at work would be important

At least it won't be as holly as north Wales - Tuweilieog to Abersoch was hell - even the motor gave up on some hills

[Spudlet]

If you get set up at work, you could do it in most weathers. Leave a little kit at work - small towel, maybe spare clothes, makeup if you use it, you could even leave a travel hairdryer there. With decent waterproofs, you'd be fine

I once caused a great stir in work by getting caught in a downpour just before I arrived and getting soaked. Fortunately I had an entirely dry set of clothes ready right down to underwear, but it turned out the discreet spot I chose to hang my bra out to dry was not as discreet as I thought

[katymac]

My current battery says 25 miles but I did 24 very hilly miles & it was showing 20% I think I'd just like the security of being able to charge it if I need too

BTW NWales was HILLY not holly - that would have made for an uncomfortable ride

[AtiaoftheJulii]

Dh cycles every day, only three miles (one way) but uphill going to work! He has good waterproofs and just wears them over his work clothes. Keeps a suit at work in case he has to be extra smart for some reason.

[Deianira]

My journey is pretty short (15-20 minutes) and I cycle every day, rain or shine. I've got a back basket and a waterproof cover for it, so my bag etc. stay dry, and I just wear a decent length coat. I don't normally even need to change when I get to work - with good mudguards etc. I don't get that bedraggled - although proper shoes help stop my feet getting so wet, so that's a definite must.

[LetBartletBeBartlet]

I find over Autumn/Winter it's more the gale force winds that hamper my cycling in than the rain (am just outside the Peak District).

As above, I cycled daily in all weather conditions in Cambridge so YMMV

[WhichJob]

Following as I am about to start commuting by bike and I'm very unfit.

[VickieCherry]

I cycle two miles to the station and back, so not far, but I cycle every day unless it's raining heavily (or snowing) in the morning. I'd happily do double that without a thought - I bloody love cycling. I don't mind getting wet on the way back, as I can get changed as soon as I get home. I'm in East Anglia so it's very rare it's wet enough to not cycle.

I don't bother with waterproofs because I suspect I'd get very hot and sweaty in them, and bits of me would get wet anyway.

[INeedNewShoes]

I loved my cycle to the station (3 miles) as part of commute. During the summer I wore shorts which didn't really matter if they got wet in the rain. In winter you'll want a good waterproof hi-vis jacket (with sleeves - not just the gilet type) and pair of thin waterproof cycling trousers and you'll probably find the rain doesn't bother you that much.

I came of my bike the first time I cycled on snow so that was the end of that for cycling in wintry weather.

Ooh I actually feel envious now. I miss my daily cycle!

[noitsnotteattimeyet]

I work four days a week and have an almost 20 mile round trip. Since getting my electric bike 😍 I've cycled in every day I've been in the office (wfh a couple of days a month) apart from last week when there was torrential rain. I won't cycle if it's very icy or snowing but a little bit of rain is fine - I just can't cope with a deluge of biblical proportions 😬

[Childrenofthestones]

10 miles each way year round in all weathers. Big difference for me is that we have showers at work and this helps massively.