Cycling weather: is today a good day to ride?

Rates a bike ride from 6am to 9pm, headwinds and all. GoDay finds the best 2-hour ride of each day, and marks down dark hours, wet roads and ice.

What it weighs, most important first

1. Wind
2. Rain
3. Feels-like temperature
4. Gusts
5. Daylight
6. Rain in the last 6 hours
7. UV
8. Air quality
9. Visibility

Also on the page, but not in the score: wind direction.

What holds the score down

A thunderstorm holds the score at 2. Riding in the dark holds it at 5, and at dusk at 7. Rain over 2 mm an hour, gusts over 60 km/h (37 mph), a feels-like above 38°C (100°F), or a chance of ice (under 1°C on a road that has been wet) hold it at 3.

Questions

How much wind is too much for cycling?

Up to 20 km/h (12 mph) barely counts. From 20 to 35 km/h (12 to 22 mph) you'll feel it, and past 50 km/h (31 mph) GoDay rates it a gale. Gusts over 60 km/h (37 mph) can push you off your line, so they hold the score at 3.

Does it know the roads are wet?

Yes. It looks at the rain in the last 6 hours, because roads stay slippery after the rain stops. A dry hour straight after a downpour still loses points.

Does it work for mountain biking?

Yes, the same rating works for trails. Keep an eye on the recent rain: trails stay muddy for longer than roads.