Who uses a bike for work?

Originally Posted by mister c

I agree with Lozzo. If you can afford it, buy some decent quality kit to ride in. I used to buy cheap stuff thinking that I was saving money. Last year I decided to splash out & now have Goretex kit, it's expensive, but I am warmish on the colder days & dry when I get to wherever I'm going.

Very similar for me. I've pretty much always bought stuff off Ebay, but this winter I splashed out on some hein gericke goretex textiles, they're bloomin fab. Managed to get a Weise textile jacket off Ebay for just a third of the original price - new - and it makes SUCH a difference. It's taken me a few years to bother to get decent kit but it makes the whole experience so much more enjoyable.

Originally Posted by dizzyblonde

However........its WAAAAAAAYYY too windy to even contemplate being brave over there, so the poofwaggon is wobbling its way there and back instead

Poofs the lot of ya. I was out in this

Originally Posted by Owenski

and today for good measure we've got all 5 to thier extreme.

today, it ain't as bad as folk make out as mentioned before, if you're in decent kit you hardly notice. I admit I will have looked pished today though, was weaving pretty much all the way to work and back today

Originally Posted by missyorkie_chris

Poofs the lot of ya. I was out in this

Me too....

Originally Posted by missyorkie_chris

today, it ain't as bad as folk make out as mentioned before, if you're in decent kit you hardly notice. I admit I will have looked pished today though, was weaving pretty much all the way to work and back today

Lol, yeah, going to work today was fine(wind behind me), going home was more fun.

I have a transit, SV and my 125, I tend to use the 125 for short town stuff, the SV for longer runs, with the van only used if I need to carry large amounts of dive kit. If I was not carrying dive kit around, I would probably get rid of the van. So if you can manage without it, do it

[Jayneflakes]

Originally Posted by missyorkie_chris

It's taken me a few years to bother to get decent kit but it makes the whole experience so much more enjoyable.

I have always had good kit, if you are riding all year round it is essential. My current Weiss jacket is a bit duff for water proofness, but a rain suit keeps me dry when it is really foul.

Originally Posted by missyorkie_chris

Poofs the lot of ya. I was out in this

Yes, big Dykey dyke here and I ride in all weathers. I really enjoyed riding today, especially at ten to nine this morning (on pleasure ride I should add, yes I got up extra early on a foul day to go for a ride for fun!), when I had to go through a flood. The bike was steaming a treat!

Originally Posted by missyorkie_chris

I admit I will have looked pished today though, was weaving pretty much all the way to work and back today

The wind I was riding in this morning was pretty nasty and blew me across my lane a little. However, I was not blasting along and the road was pretty quiet, so no harm done.

[ophic]

Originally Posted by Jayneflakes

Yes, big Dykey dyke here and I ride in all weathers. I really enjoyed riding today, especially at ten to nine this morning (on pleasure ride I should add...)

er... we're talking about motorbikes here Jayney

[MisterTommyH]

Well trying it out today and it doesn't seem too bad (although neither is the weather). This is probably the coldest I've been to work on it in and the textiles were fine over just shirt and trousers.

Weak spot is my 'winter' gloves and probably the misting of my glasses (not the visor). The foggy doesn't really fit this helmet too well.

[SoulKiss]

Everyday ride to work.

As for the hassles of changing, well thats what Draggin Jeans are for, and in bad weather I just wear my leathers all day

I used to commute every day regardless of the weather. Circumstances have now changed. Going to see my kids twice during the week means I need to take the car. Then there is every other Friday when I pick them up for the weekend. Add to that the fact I can make the 80 mile return journey just as quick in the car as I can on the bike. There really isn't much point using the bike. Riding the bike along dual carriage ways and motorways isn't really exciting. I'd rather be sat in the warm listening to the radio. Moved to where I currently live in March last year and I think the bike came out of the garage twice. One of those times was to take the bike for an MOT. It's more exspensive for me to ride the bike. So I have gone from riding the bike nearly every day of the year, to riding the bike hardly ever. Don't get to ride the bike at weekends as family life has priority.

Hopefully the situation will change a bit this year and the bike see's a little more daylight than it did last year. As for riding in all weathers. So long as you have the right kit, it doesn't really make all that much difference what the weather is doing.

I've commuted by bike for virtually all of my working life, tho did have a stint in the car when my bike at the time was off the road for 6 weeks while I got a part shipped from Japan. I actually got used to the car and was happy using it, until I got back on the bike again and it was like OMG I feel alive!!

In my book there's little contest as the bike is always more fun, even in crappy weather. And it's a whole lot quicker and more reliable around somewhere like London where there's a lot of traffic, and it's way easier/cheaper to park. The downside is that if working off site/going to meetings there often isn't anywhere to leave your stuff/get changed.

TBH on a shortish run you never get too cold/wet, even in the very worst of weather. My current 60 mile round trip does see me getting cold on very frosty days despite some decent Goretex kit, tho I reckon heated grips/jacket would do the trick. I have ridden in snow/ice, but generally wouldn't do if I can help it, especially on a proper road bike that I would care about dropping. A bike like the DRZ400SM is great for very tough conditions, but when you're doing unlit country backroads covered in ice and even cars/4x4s are skidding around, it's nice not to have to take the risk!

I guess everyone's situation has different pros and cons, so why not just give it a go and see what you think?

Originally Posted by Stig

So I have gone from riding the bike nearly every day of the year, to riding the bike hardly ever. Don't get to ride the bike at weekends as family life has priority.

It's so weird isn't it - when you have virtually lived on the bike and yet suddenly you barely get to ride...tho as you say it becomes a matter of choices and priorities, and I wouldn't trade Jake for anything!

Originally Posted by Tommy H

Especially those that are used to having a car - how do you find it?

I'm considering getting rid of the car to clear the finance and get something a bit better, but I'd have to be without one for a couple of months.

I've used it on the odd occasion but never when I've had to be anywhere other than the office (I wouldn't have to transport much except hard-hat and boots, and have a top box for that). Does it turn into a pain having to get into gear all the time? Does the weather put you off?

I found it takes a bit of getting used to, especially as you can pretty much dash out the door and be gone whereas bike means putting on all the gear, going to garage, removing all security measures, get bike out of garage etc etc... takes longer than I realize sometimes. Still, you get very good at putting the gear on very quickly!

I just wear my office stuff under my textiles, if it's hot out I might take off the shirt and wear a t-shirt while riding instead so I don't get slow roasted. The biggest faff then is putting the boots on whenever I want to leave my desk to go to the kitchen or washroom.

My CB500 had a topbox but I haven't bothered putting a mount on the Fazer, so I can't carry quite as much as I once did (backpack now). I do sometimes get carried away at the supermarket on the way home and regret it!

Don't ride every day (often need the car for stuff before or after work) and ride more in the summer than winter but there's not a month in the year I don't ride. In the summer sometimes the car sits and gathers dust because I ride almost every day, it's great.

[Biker Biggles]

I use the bike all year round,but do little riding other than commuting when weather is bad.Noticed some leaks in my kit this morning when it chucked it down.More expense coming I fear.