Normally I’d reserve this type of story for later in the year, but since the month of July has now been officially renamed Joctober, as it’s felt much more like the tenth month of the year, it seemed appropriate. Banish the thought of a BBQ summer as predicted by the Met Office. What should have been one of the hottest months has been a wash out.

So, this is where the science of deciding if it’s too wet to ride comes into play. However, there are a few preliminary measures that you can take to determine the severity of Mother Nature.

- Is the rain hard enough to set off a car alarm?
- Has it made driving conditions hazardous?
- Does it sound like next door are building an ark?

If the answer is ‘yes’ to any of the above then needless to say it’s looking pretty nasty outside. I prefer to have the decision making taken out of my hands, which is where Little Cat enters the equation. Now don’t be mistaken, (as the saying goes) "don’t judge a book by its cover", L.C. knows a thing or two about surviving in the hardest conditions. Abandoned at 4 weeks old, our paths crossed on a bitterly cold evening in November when I found the young scruff soaked to the bone and pinned to the road. So here’s the science…

1) As you’ve guessed by now, it’s hammering out there.

2) Despite trying to hide amongst the fresh laundry, L.C. can sense he’s about to be rudely awoken…which he is. There may be a struggle, but it’s for the best.

3) Cat in one hand, stopwatch in the other, flick open the catch on the front door and introduce L.C. to the elements.

4) As soon as paws hit floor, start the clock!

5) Through trial and error it’s been proven that a cat at full tilt can get from front to back, past the wheelie bins, over (or under) the gate, along the length of the house, through the flower bed, onto the patio, past the garden furniture and through the cat flap in exactly 8.6 seconds. Remember, that’s going absolutely full bore with no room for error.

6) When the cat flap sounds stop the clock!

7) 8.6 seconds or less and it’s too wet to ride. Over 8.6 seconds and it’s time to mummify yourself in Gortex, stop mincing about the house and hit the road.

The science of riding, or not riding. It’s as simple as chucking your cat out the door…