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

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

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:

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.

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:

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