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How often do you get wet cycling in Copenhagen?

Rain rarely hits a short ride

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Short answer

Getting wet on a bike in Copenhagen happens less often than most people expect. A DMI study from 1994 for the Danish Cyclists' Federation found that cyclists got wet on about 4 % of trips in the Copenhagen area and about 5 % around Herning. In a later example, a commuter riding Gladsaxe to Østerbro twice a day made 498 trips from September 2002 to August 2003 and got wet only 17 times, about 3.5 % of the trips.

Weather and seasons

Why

  1. A full year of daily commuting gave only 17 wet trips.
  2. The Copenhagen area came out a little drier than Herning.
  3. Rain gear is for the few wet days, not every ride.

Details

In the commuter example, even light rain of 0.4 mm over half an hour counted as too wet to ride in comfort.

Tip

Check the rain radar on dmi.dk or in the DMI app before you set off, and wait for a shower to pass if you can.

What may differ

Weather varies a lot from year to year, so one year can be much wetter than the figures suggest.

Common misconception

In Denmark you get soaked on almost every bike ride.

What actually happens

Measured over a whole year, Copenhagen cyclists got wet on only around 4 % of their trips.

People also ask

  • What should I wear for cycling in Copenhagen in the rain?
  • Is it windy to cycle in Denmark?
  • Where can I see the rain radar for Denmark?

Sources

This answer is for reference only. Weather varies a lot from year to year, so check the DMI forecast before you travel.

Weather and seasons
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