Hardened bikers

[Blue_SV650S]

Ok, so who is hardcore and still riding their bike regularly this time of year? And who are the wusses (read sensible ones :D) who wouldn’t dream of going out in the snow and have left their bike nicely wrapped up in the garage?

[Lissa]

Not a wuss :D

[Stingo]

I'm riding the loan bike as mine is still in the menders :twisted:

[fizzwheel]

Yep I dont have a car so I havent got any choice, even if I did have a car I'd still ride the bike

[SVeeedy Gonzales]

I ride it in the cold and the rain but not the snow... and just weekends at the moment

[Saint Matt]

I rode mine in all weathers before I highsided then got a car to run alongside it too.

[TC3]

Have a car but am on the bike twice a week....not hardcore but no wuss either but i wont ride if the ground is covered in frost :D

[timwilky]

I did 200 miles on mine today. Does that make me hard.

Glorious sun, pity someone from the council wants to spend their salt budget as it was all over the roads, why?. Meany I had to wash the bike off when I came home.


Yeas cold. but free of sunday drivers. Yippee

[Stingo]

I did 200 miles on mine today. Does that make me hard.



Nah - just a bit sore...

[JediGoat]

Still riding to and from work everyday, but at this time of year I hope for lots of red lights.....so that I can warm my hands on the engine :D

Jo -> not hard, just hate using the tube

[Carsick]

I did Aberystwyth to Worthing and back over the weekend, other than that, I haven't needed the bike in ages.
I will ride in snow if it isn't settling, but I don't like the idea of 2 up sliding around the welsh mountains.

[Blue_SV650S]

Not a wuss :D

hehe, do you actually 'enjoy' riding this time of year though?

I still do it (part choice, part necessity), but can't wait for spring to come!! :)

[Blue_SV650S]

I did 200 miles on mine today. Does that make me hard.

Glorious sun, pity someone from the council wants to spend their salt budget as it was all over the roads, why?. Meany I had to wash the bike off when I came home.


Yeas cold. but free of sunday drivers. Yippee

Double 'ard I'd say (or double stupid!! :D) I am supposed to be visiting my dad this weekend, that is just shy of a 400 mile round trip, did it back in Nov, when it was hardly warm, but with forecast of –ve figures and snow, I think I’ll take the 4 wheeled option this time :D

[fizzwheel]

hehe, do you actually 'enjoy' riding this time of year though?

Yes I do, its a different experience than riding in the summer, for me the challenge is greater, and the improvement in my riding once the spring / summer comes is noticeable. Smoother throttle control, braking and picking better corner lines are all things you work on through the winter IMHO.

[Blue_SV650S]

Still riding to and from work everyday, but at this time of year I hope for lots of red lights.....so that I can warm my hands on the engine :D

Jo -> not hard, just hate using the tube

Hehe, been there done that :D

Invest in a set of electric heated grips, they are a godsend this time of year :)

[Blue_SV650S]

hehe, do you actually 'enjoy' riding this time of year though?

Yes I do, its a different experience than riding in the summer, for me the challenge is greater, and the improvement in my riding once the spring / summer comes is noticeable. Smoother throttle control, braking and picking better corner lines are all things you work on through the winter IMHO.

I agree; I think it is probably true to say that all season/weather riders make for better/safer overall riders.

[JediGoat]

...but at this time of year I hope for lots of red lights.....so that I can warm my hands on the engine

Hehe, been there done that :D

Invest in a set of electric heated grips, they are a godsend this time of year :)

Probably a good idea. I nearly had my head taken off yesterday. Stopped at lights next to a scoot, leaned over to the right to stick my hand on the engine casing, and another bike slammed to a stop in the gap between us :shock:

I now check my mirrors before hanging off the side of me bike to warm me mitts!

Jo

[Lissa]

Not a wuss :D

hehe, do you actually 'enjoy' riding this time of year though?

I still do it (part choice, part necessity), but can't wait for spring to come!! :)

I love it at any time of year. :D

I have really good winter gear so I don't get cold, and a bright, crisp morning is fantastic. Saying that, I don't mind the rain either. Just love to be out on the road whenever possible. :D

[Caddy2000]

If only I didn't need to take 2 chainsaws, 2 forestry lids, chainsaw boots, trousers, gloves etc, and all my climbing gear with me ever day.... forgot the tool kits, petrol, blah blah blah into east London every day... :-({|=

.... To all that do the A13 between 7 and 8 in the moring, I'm the one who's looking at you and crying with envy. Did the commute in on Monday as the van was in for repairs; it only took HALF AN HOUR!!!!!!!! :evil: :evil:

[rwoodcock01]

Aye still on the bike in this weather, ask the wife (aka Daphne) to whom as been riding pillion, despite the cold is still keeping with me.

At some point I really ought to work out how to install the heated grips, preferably so that when the ignition is off they don't switch on!

Cheers

Rich

(Defrosting as he types)

[madmal]

hehe, do you actually 'enjoy' riding this time of year though?

Yes I do, its a different experience than riding in the summer, for me the challenge is greater, and the improvement in my riding once the spring / summer comes is noticeable. Smoother throttle control, braking and picking better corner lines are all things you work on through the winter IMHO.

I agree; I think it is probably true to say that all season/weather riders make for better/safer overall riders.

tis true me thinks. you have to be so much more aware of everything riding at this time of year. sharpens your riding ability for the onslaught of summer :)

[stewboy]

I'm double hrd i always ride in this weather 8)

[Gidders]

Every day. Not the still shiny new SV, though - old 600 Divvy, or XLR 125 in the snow.

[Blue_SV650S]

shop_addict – I have never ridden in the ‘big smoke’ … you are not selling the idea to me either :D

rwoodcock01 – Before reading your reply on here, I have coincidently replied to your heated grips request, hopefully get them sorted soon :)

Lissa – If you have the right gear it makes it much more bearable this time of year (sadly I am still using my summer gloves :D), but there is nothing like spring/summer day!! To me that is where riding is the most fun. I have had a chuckle or two in the wet, but again that is only fun until your gear gives up and you end up soaking wet … a pair of soggy pants with an entire day ahead is not good form :D getting serious ‘shrinkage’ and a runny nose when it is freezing cold isn’t a good look either!! :D

Madmal – all season riders are also ‘keeping your hand in’ which must help too. I believe statistically spring is one of the highest biker accident times (people dusting off that gixer thou after a winter layoff).

stewboy – as stated before double ‘ard or just a sadomasochist?? :D

[amarko5]

Every day. Not the still shiny new SV, though - old 600 Divvy, or XLR 125 in the snow.

likewise (except for the SV is a TDM and the XLR125 is a hongdou 200 ) :P :lol:

i still take the tdm out if there is no snow or ice, but everyday beast at the moment is the cheapo chinese bike :lol:

[JediGoat]

shop_addict – I have never ridden in the ‘big smoke’ … you are not selling the idea to me either :D

Blue

It's no bother, you just need:

1. The brightest flourescent jacket in the world
2. Eight pairs of eyes
3. Reactions you never knew you had
4. Half decent brakes
5. Luck
6. A v.loud horn (to be used at least four times a day)
7. A diverse variety of hand gestures
8. And a decent dense of humour (see below)

Jo

P.s. I beeped at a guy a couple of days ago, beacuse he cut me up near Paddington...we swapped rude hand gestures.....then the moment must have got the better of him, because he decided to throw stuff out the window at me, but the best he could manage was...........a tissue :shock: This should be classed as a serious driving offence, because I almost wet myself laughing and could have subsequently lost control of the bike!

[lee_m]

Im currently doing my DAS, first lesson was rain/snow showers with strong winds, 2nd it was very cold with very heavy rain and strong winds, my next one is tomorrow morning, looks like it'll be the same again.

[Blue_SV650S]

...a tissue :shock: This should be classed as a serious driving offence, because I almost wet myself laughing and could have subsequently lost control of the bike!

lol, well at least you would have had a tissue to 'wipe up' :D

[mysteryjimbo]

5th winter. I must be dead hard doing a 70 mile round trip every day! 8) 8)

[thor]

Don't have a driving licence so...yeah.

Heated grips rule.

[Cloggsy]

would still be riding mine (in the sunshine,) at this time of year, but the dealer seems intent on not letting me :evil:

[JakeRS]

not riding the SV, but got me an ER5 to wreck over the winter :lol:

[Grinch]

I've now got 2 SV's... One for the winter/commuting and one for best, well it will be when I get some time to work on it. Then I imagine I'll have to pull the winter one apart to clean it all up and prep it for next winter. Hammerit the frame and stuff.

[Skip]

After thinking that I wouldnt ride my bike at all through the winter I have found the odd weekend of sunshine to go out on it, but this time of year the roads are damp and with a few roundabouts on my way to work its just too tempting to go everywhere sideways in my 325i... :oops: :lol:

Soon as the weather warms up and the roads are drier I will be using the bike much more...

[huge]

Every day...

...now where are my fingertips....

...boy was it cold this am!

[Ceri JC]

Yep, I've ridden recreationally in snow several times as well as a dozen or so through neccessity. I've not got anything to prove :)

[speedygirl]

trying to get out as much as I can - can walk to work though :D lucky me, and not too keen on getting than spanking new shiny SV covered in salt on its first winter :? but been out most weekends and the odd free day. don;t mind rain too much but my fingers go oddly white and dead looking after about half an hour at this time of year... takes a couple hours to defrost and bloody hurts!!

having learnt to ride in the cold and wet, and only ridden the new bike in the winter, am hoping skills learnt now will stand me in good stead for the nicer (hopefully!) weather to come :D :D

[T0mm0]

Yep, still commuting to work, approx 50 miles a day. It was the coldest morning so far this year but the heated grips make such a difference.

I remember last year after buying a fairly expensive pair of winter gloves and warming my hands on the engine on a particularly cold morning, I noticed some of the fabric had singed :shock: (I now let the heated grips do the work :D )

[Skip]

Daft thing is (little admission here) that its the bike I am most worried about, I only insured it TPFT as its my first year on it and I cant afford to replace it if I crashed it so I wont take any risks riding it in bad weather... am I sad?! :oops:

[twosizes]

Im currently doing my DAS, first lesson was rain/snow showers with strong winds, 2nd it was very cold with very heavy rain and strong winds, my next one is tomorrow morning, looks like it'll be the same again.

I know the feeling mate - in exactly the same boat! 8)

[mysteryjimbo]

Im currently doing my DAS, first lesson was rain/snow showers with strong winds, 2nd it was very cold with very heavy rain and strong winds, my next one is tomorrow morning, looks like it'll be the same again.

I know the feeling mate - in exactly the same boat! 8)

I remember doing my CBT in November. Week after it snowed and i was still travelling on the bike to work.

Luckily i did my test in August......in torrential rain

[silent]

i ride at this time fo year, its ok on the dry days, but i dont like the cold and the wet and cold just irritates me!

cant wait for summer!

andy

[Daimo]

Every single working day, for the last 6-7 years, holidays and sickness excluded (and weekends unless im out for a ride) 26 miles each way every day.

ICE, snow, wind, rain, hail, you name it, i'll ride in it.

And if it gets really really cold, theres always my handgrips ;) But then i've got some really good warm clothing.

[jambo]

Yep, still riding, could be commuting by train but where's the fun in that? :lol:

[ash]

Yep.. every single day !! Although with all the problems I've had with the brakes seizing up this year I can understand why people don't !!!!

[northwind]

I'm as hard as nails, me ;) Though it's mainly through a lack of choice, still never got round to doing my car test. If the roads are badly icy I won't ride, there's conditions where it's just not a good idea, but we're talking maybe one or two days a year. Even snow's fine if you're careful, the main risk is other drivers not the snow itself.

[Patch]

Not many on the road today

Went to Nottingham and back brom Basingstoke, only saw 3 other bikers all day.

Was a bit chilly mind and the snow passed Leicester was worrying for a while

[Sudoxe]

Ok, so who is hardcore and still riding their bike regularly this time of year? And who are the wusses (read sensible ones :D) who wouldn’t dream of going out in the snow and have left their bike nicely wrapped up in the garage?
Road to work today, binned the bike. Got it recovered home, and set to work getting it back roadworthy. Was back on the road by arround 3-4pm this afternoon :shock: :lol:

[medwaysv]

I ride all year round too except when it snows,been there,done that,seen the film,got the pictures of the smashed bike lol.
i like a couple of others on here am on only tpft insurance..so...and dont laugh,i bought myself a little honda c50 for the icy days.
where i live,the roads are bad enough as it is without snow and ice covering them.
so...hardend in a c50 phut phut woosey type of way

[cuffy]

I do ride in the cold..try not too when it's icey...but currently still off the road due to my recent skate boarding accident...still got a swollen ear and cant get helmet on :cry:

[Iansv]

Ride pretty much 365 days a year inc snowy days 8)

[Blue_SV650S]

It seems we have a lot of hardcore people out there :)

For those that are worried about dropping their bikes, or getting them all mucky/salty I can understand that, that is where having a separate ‘winter hack’ as some have said they do is a real bonus.

It is hard to stop the tell tail signs that a bike has been exposed to carp conditions i.e corrosion/furring. I tend to give mine a good wash-wax wash every week and a good coating of WD to those bits that require it to keep looking nice (engine, exhaust). It only takes 15mins, so not too bad … :) I also do an extra wash if the roads have been particularly bad or I have gone for a longer ride.

For those that don’t want to risk dropping their bike, there is no reason why you should have an off, most main or urban roads are well (some might say over) salted. So generally speaking ice isn’t a major problem. This is obviously location dependent mind!! I live on the south coast so very few days are unridable. All this said you might get caught out by hidden ice, but lets face it diesel, horse poo, gravel etc are a constant threat even when weather is fair!! So is it really worth over worrying about??

I also think where the bike moves about a bit this time of year gives you conditioning to having the bike doing this and a slow speed feel to grip available, come the summer when pace picks up, I think you will have a much better idea when you are reaching the limit as you will know the tell-tail signs. This will make you a safer and faster rider I think.

Like I said I can understand peoples reluctance, but I think there are some real benefits too.

I tend to get the shakes if I haven’t ridden a bike for a few days, so not doingwinter riding isn’t an option for me :D

[DeanoN]

hehe, do you actually 'enjoy' riding this time of year though?

Yes I do, its a different experience than riding in the summer, for me the challenge is greater, and the improvement in my riding once the spring / summer comes is noticeable. Smoother throttle control, braking and picking better corner lines are all things you work on through the winter IMHO.

I totally agree, after several years winter riding i'm most definatly aware of the extra feel i've got for the road.

That strange shhhhkkkkkkkhhhhhkkkkkkk sound of helmet on road surface lets you know just how far you can push it in the wet. :lol:

[the_runt69]

Take mine to work most days unless its snowing and laying. have been to known to ride back from work in that as well. But if you only want to ride your bike when its sunny its your choice not anybody's else's so do what you prefer.
H
Ps that is of course if the bag of spanners starts.

[Skip]

You are obviously all harder than me! :lol:

Seriously though, I have some pretty grim roads to ride on to work through the Norfolk countryside, mud is ALWAYS about at this time of year and during the summer! Also I havent accumulated enough warm gear yet! Yes I know, excuses, excuses! :lol:

[northwind]

Today I'm off ill and it's snowed like an absolute ****ard... Good timing, me!