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Comment by jojobas | Hacker News Reader

The survey was strategically done in late Summer. I concede some people could still do their shopping in Hamburg's raining 2°C, but I'd guess the comparison charts would not be as cheerful.

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I found it bizarre that "weather-independence" was one of the least important metrics. I commuted by bike for years and it's miserable in wind and rain. The numbers of fellow cyclists varied massively depending on the weather.

Bike ≠ e-bike. My e-bike makes commuting in teeming rain kind of fun - with appropriate rain gear only my hands and face get wet, and there's very little physical effort. Trying to do the same ride on a pushbike is indeed miserable.

I'm about as enthusiastic a bike user as you'll find but I've never found 'rain kind of fun', especially not on longer distances (>40 km, my 'regular' road trip is 64K there and back for 128 in total). The road gets slippery, other people (in cars) pay less attention and have less visibility, you get soaked and if you're not careful you can get undercooled even on relatively warm days. Cold weather: no problem, wet weather: if I can avoid it I will.

I'm talking about a 10 minute 4km commute, not a multi-hour trek (which doesn't sound fun to me in any weather). I really do find it fun, and I really do only get my hands and face wet. Gumboots, rain pants, rain jacket, backpack cover, helmet cover: no way to get soaked or even damp.

In Perth Western Australia my commute is about 25km. and at best a little over an hour to ride by bike down the bike paths along side the freeway.

today it was 25 deg C at 6am and over 32 deg C at 5pm when I would have to ride home.

I'll ride it every now and again, but honestly its too much to do on a regular basis.

In hannover we have daily bike counters at certain bike lanes. The numbers go up and down depending on temperature and rain. Guess it depends on the options one has. If you still have a car you will not use the bike in the rain.

I have a car, it's use doesn't depend on the weather, but distance & stuff to carry (no cargo bike)

No such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing. Bike ponchos are a game changer for dealing with rain. I actively enjoy biking in bad weather.

And my kid/dog sit nice and dry under the hood of the cargo area.

Some weather will get your poncho tightly wrapped around your head. "Deadliest catch" style overalls are more fitting, and it's not the best to walk around in.

I've ridden motorbikes for many years in a subtropical city, had all the right rain gear and it still sucked to ride in the rare +5°C rain. Even southern Germany gets snow and icy rain, good luck clothing for that.

Someone needs to make an active air-conditioned suit for motorbike riders that uses electricity from the bike.

Edit: of course it already exists: https://newatlas.com/entrosys-motorcycle-airconditioner-revi...

That's a gimmick, these were never sold in any quantity. If it's hot and humid there's just no way to ride in appropriately protective gear. South East Asia solution is to ride in shorts and flip-flops, with expected results in even minor falls.

Maybe something more like this:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquid_cooling_and_ventilation...

I live in southern Germany and have no problems clothing. For rain and wet or very cold conditions I use rain trousers (insulate as well) and often my rain jacket. 5° rain is one of the best rain weather's, because you don't sweat easily just wearing rain cloths above your indoor cloths.

A much bigger problem here is cycling paths not being maintained in the winter and salt on the roads.

Where I live, enough clothes for the coldest days (negative tens in F!) means you could not possibly get on a bike.

Whoever came up with that quote didn't live where tornadoes are common.

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