Thought this might be a good place for those more experienced riders among us to share a bit of advice for the newbies about to embark on their first winters on bigger bikes...one of 'em being me. Sort of on a par with Motorpsych's nigghtime riding thread.
Although this is my second winter on my own bike, last year I was on a 125, so nice skinny tyres much better suited to the white stuff.
This year I'm better equipped with a Pinlock, heated grips I can have on more than the lowest setting and proper quilted textiles.
Last night I made the normal 10 mile commute home at about ten at night. I'd seen the snow coming down about half8. Also seen a gritter going up just minutes before. I work on a cobbled street and cobbles + snow do no mix well so I was a little worried but by the time I left to go home the grit had done it's job and the snow had stopped. Bike covered in snow (parked outside at work), she starts first time, heated grips on and away we go, me taking it very easy. I'd forgotten to stick my gloves on the heater after them getting wet on the way to work so unfortunately they were damp and hence my hands were frozen within 5 mins of me getting on the road
All pretty much fine until I get to the higher bits of my way home, cold winds get up and I find these bits have not been gritted, oh the joy. Half inch to an inch in places. Not much I know but enough to make my back end fishtail round a particularly nasty bend at about 15mph (ironically next to the massive grit pile that provides for the area
). So that shook me up a bit but hand was not going anywhere near the brakes and that's where it was staying. I was making sure to be in higher gears where possible and staying in the car tracks at about 20-25mph I kept going.
Then I come across a flock of about 20 sheep break away from a field on my left, looked like they'd just escaped. Great. I slow right down but really don't want to stop as there were crosswinds and I try not to stop at this bit because I nearly get blown over when I do. And I'd need to use brakes, don't do that if I can help it in these conditions! A few of the sheep stop to face me in the middle of my side of the road next to the traffic island but I ain't stopping. The snow is an inch to my right and I wasn't riding over it to go round them so I move slowly as far over to the right of my side as possible, slow enough for the stragglers to rejoin the flock and start 'em running on the left. I know there's a track on the left that goes to a cricket club, plenty of room for the sheep and sure enough they all dive down it and I can carry on, HUGE sigh of relief. I had a car behind me at this point but I can't pick up speed, the road is still covered and not many cars have been along here late on a Sunday night. The driver behind was pretty good and was giving me plenty of room.
I get home with no further hiccups, sticking to the main roads where possible. I find the ones closer to home have been gritted properly so can ride as normal. Then I just have to endure a very painful ten minutes with my gloves off, as the blood returns to my fingers
My bike's my only transport, obviously if the weather is real bad I wouldn't ride but in those conditions where you either feel it's not too bad and you can "give it a go" or you get caught out, how best to deal with it?
Riding in higher gears, changing gear as smoothly as possible to avoid sudden jerky movements, sticking to car tracks...What else can you do?
Cheers in advance,
MYC
