Not sure what to wear to cycle in the rain? There’s an app for that

Well the app own today. I chose to ignore the need to include a rain cape and it rained. Actually, I got wet, but it wasn't too bad.

But other riders got it badly wrong today - fingerless gloves and shorts. The shorts weren't so much the problem, but they were complaining about the gloves.

It works and it saves the guess work. You don't have to obey it, it is just a guide.

First time using the app 8am yesterday morning. The forecast said there might be rain in the afternoon, but it was sunny and dry setting out. The app said 'wear everything' - lobster mitts, boots, Roubaix tights, full-on jacket - the works. Now going on my experience of 6,000km+ riding in a 50-mile radius each year and paying close attention to the Met Office weather app and rain radar, I'd have normally gone one layer down - normal tights, or two layers of gloves, maybe a baselayer, long jersey and gilet, eschewing the boots. There was a modicum of gentle mockage from my riding partner.

Boy, am I glad I followed the app's advice.

After 3hrs of riding in increasingly nice weather, getting a bit warm with 13 degrees and intermittent sunshine but nothing that couldn't be unzipped away, shit got real. Within a 15 minute period the temperature went from 13 to *zero*, wind picked up from 10 to 30MPH, and biblical proportions of hail and sleet descended - enough to make drifts on exposed road corners. This went on for the last 20k. I am 100% certain based on bitter previous cold/wet experience that had I not been wearing the lobster mitts I would have had to stop or slow dramatically as the ability to shift/brake would have left my useless, clawed hands.

Now I'm the first to say the plural of anecdote is not data. But this happened.

Since I don't own lobster mitts, nondoflex leggies, Roubaix panties or cycling boots ( tbh I don't even know what that stuff is) how am I supposed to react to the apps advice.

My wardrobe is short sleeve jersey(summer) long sleeve(winter), base layer, vest, arm warmers, gloves(winter), long bibs ( winter) short bibs ( summer), wool buff. Most of which goes with me in the appropriate season even if I don't wear it.

I'm not sure how I would react to being told I needed to buy a load of new stuff, the above has served me well for a long time.

@mike, do you know the developer?

So I have to reverse the apps suggestion back into a ....er weather app??

I really can't comprehend why people are having their shit gripped by this app. It's a weather app that's been tailored to display the results in a way the purchaser of the app would like them.

If you prefer millibars or hectopascals or whatever then, you know, "there's an app for that".

You may not own claw gloves or overshoes or any other dedicated deep winter or foul weather gear but I do. You may be tough as boots and can just ride regardless but I ride to work everyday and can't afford to let weather beat me so I dress accordingly.

For the record, the developer's name is Christopher. It says this in the actual article that we're all commenting on, but apparently people are posting without actually reading the article.

I don't get the anger, either. I came back here to forward the link over to a friend in Belgium (now *that's* a place with challenging weather), and saw the volume of new posts. So bizarre! The app really is pretty great. And the guy who made it does seem like a decent and clever guy, and he's knows a lot about cycling. He's made something very useful for fellow riders--why get so annoyed by that?

It's one of the cheapest cycling products I've bought, and I'm really glad to have it.

The comments on the What To Wear Cycling app are both hilarious and sad. Hilarious because way too many commenters are in an uproar over a £1.99 app. We are talking about £1.99, right? But seriously, it's not about the £1.99, is it? It's that somebody made an app centered around your precious sport of cycling and dared to charge for it.

Yeah, we're on the sad part now. Sad to continue to have to defend cycling against the all-too-acurate rap that the sport is overrun by sanctimonious social retards. We call them douche bags in the states and it's one of the reasons good people stay away from cycling. Can anyone out there shed light on why cycling attracts so many paranoid and defensive types? Bottom line: keep your £1.99 and keep pedaling in another direction because no one likes you. Okay, I'm done. You may now attack me.