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Last night I went out cycling in the rain. It wasn’t raining when I left the house and foolishly I didn’t take a waterproof.

It bucketed it down, as they say round here. And I got a dutiful soaking.

As I squelched along, for that was the sound of my spray soaked Asics trainers on the pedals, I wondered at what temperature or soaking I would risk illness.

It was about 15 degrees celsius, so not too cold. But the wind chill made me feel cold. However, pounding on the pedals was obviously generating heat in my legs which was spreading upwards.

Stopping even when it isn’t raining still gets cold because of the sweat. Sometimes before I jump in the shower after a long ride I can feel shivery, and that’s in the house. So stopping when I am rain soaked is not an option.

I got home safely and no I’ll effects. I cut the ride short even though it was no longer raining by the time I made the decision, but I didn’t want to keep going. I don’t get cramp as a rule, but my calf muscles were cold and I was starting to struggle.

In hind sight I wonder if I shouldn’t have baled earlier. Was I right to keep going? At what point is retreat the better part of valour? What is the lowest safe ambient temperature you can be out, cycling, and getting properly wet?