I'm A Rider- Jo Farrow

The TV weather forecaster believes in utilitarian cycling – and uses a big stick to teach others how to ride

- Trevor Ward

I always check the weather before I go out on the bike. My three [primary school age] girls all cycle independently to school, and I tell them, “You will need your waterproofs today” or “You will have to take your gloves”. They used to pull faces but now, most of the time, they respect that I know what I’m talking about, that I am actually a weather forecaster! When they were younger and I’d pick them up from school on my own bike, I’d always be the one with the waterproof trousers on. Everyone else would just stare and make comments, but I would say, “Yeah, and? Look at you, you’re all drenched”.

Wind is the most important weather consideration for cyclists. Yet unbelievably, when the BBC changed to new graphics for its weather maps about 11 years ago, it said we didn’t need to show the wind strength or direction. The forecasters were like, “You’ve got to be joking!” So wind is back on.

I’ve ridden a bike since the age of five. I was the eldest of three and we always cycled to school or were out imagining we were characters from [’70s TV series] The Red Hand Gang, who all had Chopper-type bikes with tassels on the handlebars. I’ve ridden a tandem, which was exciting, although I did fall off because the person behind wasn’t very good.