Conditions on this page are recalculated from the latest forecast every time it is opened, for the current date in the location's own time zone.
Minor pace tax. Loops cancel it out. Out-and-back is fine in any direction. Crosswinds blow road bikes off line. Turbo trainer or sheltered loop only. Most cyclists ride strongest between 14–22°C — warm enough that muscles stay supple, cool enough that core temperature is easy to manage with self-induced airflow. Above 25°C, sustained power drops about 1% per °C. Below 8°C, cold fingers and toes become the limiting factor, not muscle performance. A 0–100 score from a pure function with six inputs: temperature, sustained wind, gust margin, next-hour rain, UV index and visibility. The score starts at 70 and weather subtracts more than it adds. Wind is weighted heaviest — it is the single biggest predictor of a frustrating ride. Heavy rain, gale gusts and sub-zero feels-like can crash the score below 30 alone. Because cyclists move at 3–5x running speed, wind tax is multiplied. A 25 km/h headwind costs a runner ~10s/km. The same headwind costs a cyclist 50+ watts to hold the same pace — that's the difference between an endurance ride and an FTP-grade effort. The Cycling Score treats wind as the king variable. A wind-chill-adjusted temperature that accounts for the rider's own ~25–30 km/h self-induced airflow. At 5°C with a 10 km/h headwind, a stationary observer feels 5°C — the cyclist feels closer to -2°C. The Decision Card shows feels-like below the archetype label; use it (not the dry temperature) to choose kit. If the forecast feels-like at 11:00 is above 28°C, move the ride to 06:00–10:00 — temperatures climb 4–7°C from dawn to noon in summer, and UV climbs from low to severe. Dawn also delivers the lowest typical wind, especially in coastal or alpine terrain. Always leave into the wind so the tailwind rewards the tired return. Even better, choose a loop route — the wind tax averages out over a full circuit. Avoid exposed ridgelines, sea-walls and high bridges in gusts above 50 km/h. The Decision Card and Verdict Grid above factor wind direction by route geometry. Sustained wind above 25 km/h is the #1 destroyer of planned cycling sessions, followed by gust margins above 25 km/h and any rain over 4 mm/h. Temperature comes a distant fourth — cyclists adapt to 5–30°C with kit, but no kit fixes a 50 km/h crosswind on a descent. Yes — and you should, when the Verdict Grid above flags "Skip" for the day. A well-set-up turbo with a fan, towel and Zwift makes a 90 min Z2 ride genuinely enjoyable, and FTP intervals are easier indoors where pace is power, not wind-affected. Pre-cool with ice slurry or cold shower, dawn timing, halve the planned distance, two bidons + electrolytes from the start, ice sock on the back of the neck, white jersey, choose a shaded river-valley route. Never do intervals above 28°C feels-like. Because the self-induced 25–30 km/h airflow over the rider's body acts as a forced-convection cooler — evaporation works even at 80% humidity at speed. The Cycling Score adjusts feels-like accordingly: 28°C + 80% humidity feels close to 28°C on a bike, where it feels 34°C+ to a runner. Under 60 min: water is enough. Above 90 min in heat: sodium becomes critical — water alone causes hyponatremia, which is more dangerous than dehydration. Aim for 500–800 mg sodium per litre of fluid for rides over 2 hours. Yes — and they help. Aero position increases airflow over the back and shoulders, providing slightly more cooling. The risks (crosswind sensitivity, reduced steering control) are weather-related, not heat-related. Most cyclists can ride safely down to about -5°C if dressed properly. Below -10°C feels-like (which is reached with a 30 km/h self-induced airflow at 0°C still air), fingers and toes freeze in 20 min and inhaled air can trigger asthma. Turbo trainer below -15°C feels-like; full winter kit between -5 and -15°C. Long bib tights, thermal jersey, wind-stop gilet, long-finger gloves, neoprene overshoes, buff over the ears, embrocation on knees. The rule: dress for 5–8°C warmer than the actual temperature — the first 10 min are cold, kilometres 10+ you'll be glad you didn't over-dress. Lock the long-ride day around the lowest wind window. Spring and autumn produce the most ridable days in temperate climates.
Scores are capped by dealbreakers — heavy rain, dangerous wind, thick fog or hazardous UV pull a day down no matter how pleasant the rest of the numbers look. Forecast data is Open-Meteo; solar and lunar values are computed for Cycling Decision Guide's own coordinates and time zone. Full details on the methodology page.