Who uses a bike for work?

[ChrisCurvyS]

I used to wear glasses for driving but you've got to switch to contacts for riding if you can - glasses really aren't practical. Even if they don't mist up, you're still restricting your effective vision to a small section of glasses-shaped view.

Visor misting isn't a problem for me since I got a double-glazed Lazer helmet, complimented by anti-fog spray. Still lift the lid at low speed situations like roundabouts etc though just for the extra visibility, especially in the rain.

Don't think I'll ever forget riding to the west coast of Ireland on a 125 in an open face helmet with glasses on in torrential winter rain, with a dead phone which meant I had to get across the country asap in order to let people know I was still alive. You learn from your mistakes eh?!

i ride to work every day, 20 miles both ways. 30mins door to door, much better than my local tube which is a 30min walk from my house...

good visor helps with the mist and fog, also windoleane for the visor to keep it nice and clean.

i ride in any weather apart from snow, unless caught in it on the way into work or on the way home....

only way to travel imho.

Rode to work today after half an inch to an inch of snow fell last night and a frost followed...and experienced my first proper ice wobble! It wasn't so bad, no idea how I stayed on though!

Less than a mile into my 10mile commute I was on a lane that to my dismay hadn't been gritted. I'd been doing about 30mph, as soon as I saw no grit I rolled off throttle...too late, there's that ice...bike wobbles furiously (like a coin it reminded me of) but my hand didn't go near the brake (keep shocking myself with this!)...i looked down at the bars for a SPLIT second to see wobble wobble then consciously said to myself LOOK UP AWAY FROM STONE WALL, GRIP BARS! then bam, bike was on the straight again. I quickly (but smoothly) knocked down into first and as I was at the bottom of a slope the bike was naturally slowing down so I proceeded to crawl up the rest of (non-gritted) hill in first. Got back to a road I would be gritted and the rest of my ride was non-eventful thank goodness.

I actually think if I had been going slower than 30 I might not have been so lucky, the momentum the bike already had meant it outlasted the wobble and allowed me enough time to react and help steady the bike.

A bit hairy to say the least... I know not to do that road again if in doubt about road conditions! But to be honest, I'm glad it's happened, I've experienced a mud trail bike wobble and now an ice wobble on the SV, must be counting for something in the experience bank!

[ChrisCurvyS]

Yeah - must have shook you up but at least you know what to expect now. And you know that your instincts are good and you did everything right automatically ie don't panic, don't grab the brakes, stay loose on the controls and let it rectify itself.

I had a similar experience the other week - the 60 road I live on out in the sticks had been gritted (saw the gritter go past the night before) but ice had still managed to form by the morning - particularly in the centre of the lane which of course doesn't benefit from the warming effect of lots of car tyres going over it.

As a result, I was riding in the right-hand side car tracks and doing about 40. But when I came to a certain right-hander (which I'm always very careful with anyway as there's a House of Doom right on the bend - built straight onto the road) there was a van facing me waiting to turn right and he was well over on the white lines.

As a result, I had to move over to the centre of my lane where all the ice is. Next thing, the back end of the bike swung out from underneath me and I was all over the place. To top it all off, there was a car sticking out into the road while it waited to pull out of the house's drive - was like something out of Final Destination.

I went loose, forced myself to relax and the bike suddenly found grip again, with just enough time to lean enough in order to avoid the sticky-outy car. Said it before on here but I'd rather ride in snow than deal with black ice - at least snow is inherently detectable and spreads itself evenly.

Anyone got any particular tips for how best to fall off a bike if worst comes to worst in one of these low-speed wobbles? Might sound like a silly question but I expect there's a right and a wrong way to land if the bike goes from under you - my only off (too sharp with the front brake, on ice again) happened too quickly for me to think about it but I landed on my hands and needs anyway. Nothing but bruises, though the steel toe capped boots I had on almost cut my feet in half...

[ChrisCurvyS]

Hands and knees that should have been..hands and needs, lol

[NTECUK]

Times I fell off low speed . The worst hert was when I held on and ended up with the RD,s kick start jamed in my leg.

[ChrisCurvyS]

Can't imagine that was nice. Pal of mine who's a retired Kwak and trackday enthusiast tells me you're always best kicking the bike away from you if you feel it start to go, as much as it might pain you to do so.

Having said that, suppose every situation is different. Wasn't it said that Guy Martin probably only survived his 2010 TT crash because he held on until his bike was mostly through the corner, and therefore he was chucked down the road rather than into the wall?

[NTECUK]

Had a twit clout my GPX top of Bulken Hill, sent The bike in a tank slaper, jumped off it and it hit The low wall sumersulted cam down on the subframe.bent forks ,main. Frame .
I was fine enough to smack The driver in The face for his trouble.
Unfortunately I forgot The police stations on The same roundabout.
Was worth The fine ....

[ChrisCurvyS]

Often wondered - if you assault someone who knocks you off your bike, does it invalidate your insurance claim?

Obviously this won't be a concern in a lot of cases, with so many drivers being uninsured/unlicensed..

[NTECUK]

I got paid out , but that was about 25 years ago .
But no payout for the fine cost.