Rain, Rain, Go Away: What Happens When it Rains on Tour

"We schedule our tours for the best possible weather, and most of the time we are rewarded with it. But rain is the one thing we cannot control, and sooner or later every rider meets a wet day. So here is exactly what happens when it rains on one of our tours, and why you have very little to worry about."

Safety comes First, always

Let us start with the firm rule. Safety comes before everything. We suspend cycling in heavy rain, and always during a Category 1 lightning warning. That is not negotiable, and it is one of the quiet reasons people trust us. No one is ever asked to take a risk with the weather.

Light rain is a different matter. Where conditions safely allow, we prepare riders to enjoy it, so please pack for light rain and wind. With the right gear it is genuinely manageable, and being a small group keeps us nimble enough to re-route or reshape the day the moment the weather turns.

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The forecast is our Friend

Here is something reassuring that most travellers do not know. Weather forecasts across our main destinations, especially Japan, Taiwan and China, are remarkably accurate, above all the day-before forecast. If Japan says 90 per cent rain tomorrow, you can be fairly sure it will rain. Exactly when and where it falls is another matter, and that is where our planning earns its keep.

If it rains before we set off

If the rain arrives before we start riding, we usually shift the whole day's programme back by about two hours while we watch the skies. Far from a disappointment, this simply hands you a slow, leisurely breakfast and a little more time to rest in your room. Some of the best mornings on tour begin this way.

If we know there is an interesting stop further along the route, say a cheese-making factory in the Netherlands, we may set off and visit that first, then begin the ride once the weather clears. Because every rider has 100 per cent on board support, we can start a ride from anywhere. That flexibility is the whole point of the way we run our Brompton Overseas Cycling Tours. If it rains starts mid-ride

If the rain begins after we have set off, what we do depends on how heavy it is. Whatever happens, one of our Tour Guide will find a suitable shelter to take cover, and we activate the safety support vehicles to come to you. One honest note: if a vehicle cannot reach you directly, perhaps because the path is a pure bike lane with no road access, we will either meet at a sensible mid-point or carry on gently to the next checkpoint.

If the rain is light, we will happily carry on, as long as the majority of the group still wants to. And there is a secret here that seasoned riders know well. Rain often brings a cool breeze and a dreamy fog that transforms the landscape into something soft and cinematic. Some of the most memorable riding of your life may happen on a drizzly afternoon.

How we ride safely in the wet

Riding well in the rain is mostly about slowing down and staying alert. Your tyres play a part. The T Line's slick Schwalbe One tyres can feel more slippery on wet roads than the standard Schwalbe Marathons, so we adjust accordingly. As a rule on tour, we drop the average speed by around 40 per cent to a comfortable 12 to 14km an hour. We avoid braking through turns, and everyone in the convoy keeps a careful eye out for puddles, potholes and gaps in the road. Ride within those simple limits and a wet road holds no fear.

Part of the Adventure, never an obligation

Enduring a little weather is part and parcel of an overseas cycling tour, and honestly it becomes a story of its own. But your enjoyment is always the point. You are never obliged to ride in the rain. If a wet day is simply not your idea of fun, sit it out. The support vehicle is always close by, and if enough of the group would prefer an alternative programme and we can arrange one, we will. That willingness to adapt is what sets our small group cycling tours apart.

Because we generally tour where temperatures sit between about 12 and 18 degrees, a proper wind and waterproof jacket is one of the smartest things in your bag. Pack a good one and you can afford to be bold, even when the sky is not.

And do not worry about the Bike

There is one last worry we can take off your plate entirely. Do not think about the bike. After a wet ride, every Brompton is cleaned, wiped down and treated with anti-rust care, so your pride and joy never suffers for a rainy day. You look after your safety and your comfort. We will look after everything else, your precious bicycle included.

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