Rohan Dennis ditches sponsors' bike and helmet as he retains Worlds TT crown; The Mounties always get their ... cycling husky?!; More UCI sock height fun; Do you commute in the rain?; Dygert beats 48 of the U23 men in Yorkshire TT + more on live blog

Numbers, numbers, numbers! Power in Watts, Calories in grams of food, Weight in Kilograms, Torque in NewtonMeters, cadence in RPM, and inclines in %!

No wonder Mental Health doesn't get talked about, there's no time left.

In a recent issue of Cycling plus the editor(?) wrote a small frontispiece which mentioned somewhere that he still needed to lose a few kilos in order to.... I can't remember what.  This was posted next to a picture of the author proudly stood by his bike in his cycling gear. 

What's my point? Well, he didn't look overweight! In fact many would be proud to look as lean as he did! Suddenly, I recognised myself. I too strive to lose a few kilos. I too am about the same height and weight as the editor. Rubbish, we are exhibiting a dangerous trend of body dysmorphia. This is a Mental Health issue and should not be being promoted by anyone. Look at some of the world-class athletes. They are exceptional individuals. Most of us are not. Especially those of us pushing on in years. No, I am not recommending obesity. Your survival in hospital with illness is generally acknowledged as better if you have a little extra covering.

Exceptional athletes push their bodies to extremes. Look closely, do they look well? Do they look relaxed? When Wiggo won the TdF in 2012 I reckon he looked ill. Now he's put the weight back he looks well, at least physically! Starving yourself to look good or perform better athletically is irrational and a perfect example of short-termism. There is a price to pay and that may involve those around you as they take care of you! I welcome your thoughts.

Chloe Dygert proves that hi-tech isn't needed to win Gold.

How refreshing to hear that she left her power meter at home and went on "feel". Coppi, Anquetil and Merckx didn't use one either to name a few. Hayley Simmonds said that she would need to review her numbers as they were good, yet her performance time did not seem to match up!  So, there we have it! Chapeau Chloe! Your "gut feel" put 92 seconds into your world-class competitors.

So, stick on some Old Dunlop high pressure tyres on 27.5 steel rims and go out and learn to understand what your body is saying rather than looking at your screen.

Concorde CX, Bonjour! Que pense tu?

I do a short commute (about 2 miles) to the station in all weathers, but if it's raining then I don't bother doing the full commute home (about 22 miles) and instead get the train back. I just don't enjoy riding in the rain.

Husky on a bike? Is this going to spawn some new kind of cycle pursuit race? Whatever next - squirrels playing chess?

Don't mind getting rained on during the return trip but don't like it on the way there. If its raining when i get up I'll drive. My waterproof stuff is boil in the bag so pointless really.

Looking out of window now......car.

I just put a smile on my face before I go out the door. It usually stays on my face as I get wetter, because there is no point sulking.  The smile gets broader as I pass vehicles waiting for traffic lights to change and queueing at roundabouts. Then, once at work I joke with collegues about the sodden state of me and answer their teasing comments of not  buying a car.

This is really all true. I find riding in the rain truely exhilarating, even when dark. The worst thing about wet weather riding is not having mudguards. I hate the feeling of the inner legs getting wetter than my torso, but apart from that, a smile, good lights and kit; away you go!

To master Dennis jnr, Please refer to rule #16

Respect the jersey

If it's cold and wet, then waterproof socks such as Sealskinz are great, usually wear a thin pair of wool socks underneath.  I find covers really fiddly to get on/off, which is time consuming for a commute. The waterproof socks means I can use my shoes for a bit longer before resorting to winter boots.

We are lucky to have lockers, shower area and drying cupboard so no reason not to cycle in really. Apart from the numpties on the road. The rain has meant traffic has been worse the last few days as people who would have walked, cycled or used public transport decide driving is better.  Had a real close near miss where a car decided to change lanes right as I went past with no indication or warning. The video evidence is currently winging its way to WMP via their dashcam portal as we speak (Although I don't know if they do anything with them). 

I commuted in to work by bike today ( as I do most of the days I work ) the rain was about the worst I can remember, in many years, but it was very mild ( 15 degrees Celsius or there abouts ) so it certainly didn’t stop me. Getting wet doesn’t bother me, getting wet and cold, bothers me. As long as you wear enough clothing to stop you getting a chill, that’s really the key thing. A lightweight jacket, some covers for my shoes ( it’s not cold enough for full boots yet ) and a pair of Neoprene gloves, and job’s a good’un. My stuff dries out in the heated lockers we have at my place of work, so it will be dry by the time I leave. 

Spare socks and pants at work.  And newspaper to stuff into the bike shoes.

The bridleways I have been recently riding go up and down a bit, and many had become stream beds earlier in the day and had been stripped back to rocks and even the chalk base.  With occasional deeps sections of mud and silt.  It had been a relatively dry late summer and early autumn, up until this week.

I drop a gear or two and a few mph in the rain, more so in the really heavy stuff.  But sealed away in their protected metal boxes many motorists seemingly do not adjust their driving style.  Forgetting their vision is somewhat impared, especially their side windows and mirrors.  Let alone braking distance and grip on the road. 

I too have spiked tyres, and the level of traction is phenomenal, and it is the behaviour of the motorists that is truely terrifying when the roads become covered in snow and ice.

Office drying facilities are a bit lacking here, so I take at least a spare pair of dry shorts and socks in my bag.

The problem with commuting in the rain isn't getting wet, it's that motorists forget how to drive, and that the P fairy will inevitably visit.  I've only ever had her visit in the rain and swapping a tube by the side of Bethnal Green Road in sheeting rain is a less than enjoyable experience.

It's not the rain that's the problem, it's the standing water from poor drainage , hidden potholes and grief from riding more primary to avoid the gutters that puts you off!!

Praise the God of Full Mudguards. I don't wear waterproofs as I get too hot. I wear technical clobber, designed for running, that dries out really quickly.

As @geomannie 531 says, it's only water. I'm only ever an hour away from dry clothes. If I get soaked on the way in, I hang my kit in front of air conditioner outlets on the building opposite. I can access from our basement, hang up so it's covered from above and hey presto the hot air dries my kit by lunchtime.

Thank you 'Gods of the Internet' for the fungal toenail cream ad immediately below that one shoe off story.

Wet commuting tip? Have somewhere dry and warm to dry your kit before home time. Nowt worse than putting wet kit back on (I suppose climate breakdown or Nuclear armageddon are worse, but you know what I mean). Mudguards are essential, even the strap on type are better than nothing. Use lights even in the daytime when it's raining (some would advise lights all the time anyway). A peaked cap (casquette) is great for keeping the rain off your glasses - if it stops then just flip the peak up, hipster style!

Another hint - staying warm is more important than staying dry (but both is better!), so windproof tops and merino where possible.

Commuting in rain? Why would you not when the alternatives are so horrid? It's only water.