Winter riding = better rider?

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by Daimo

I can't ride hard, or fast, or improve my skill levels.

Is hard and fast the be all and end all of skill?

Maybe knowing what happens when either end slides will help you in summer because you won't panic. People pay a fortune for skid pan training in car... we get it free

Winter improved my riding - but then it started 2 months after I passed the DAS

It also taught me that the SV isn't very good in snow, but it can be done.

Originally Posted by markc123

It also taught me that the SV isn't very good in snow, but it can be done.

Or ice had some nice feet down ski sessions getting into work car park.
But i would say winter riding makes you more cautious and more observant of road conditions

Oops, it was an Ed piece in Bike, not Visor Down. Well spotted.

Interesting to see peoples views/experiences. Think I can see both sides of the argument, and I guess it depends on the definition of better. Anyway, whether or not it helps, I am certainly bloody glad its spring.

Originally Posted by sloppy joe

I am certainly bloody glad its spring.

+1

I remember my first bad snow + bike (well, moped) experience. Come home from work on a late shift, last train home so it was about 1:15am.

Ped started no issues but I literally could not ride it, zero traction. Had to push it home and fell off anyway when I got to the downhill slope near my flat and decided to try sitting on it and rolling down lol.

[dizzyblonde]

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

Is hard and fast the be all and end all of skill?

Hey thats my line
Riding in Winter certainly keeps your wits about you. Makes you well 'ard too. Or is that cause us Yorkshire peeps are thick skinned

Originally Posted by Daimo

Carternd, do you what bike that is you have sitting in your picture there, and the story about the chap who raced it? OT of course

No, it appears to be a unicycle made of an old Brit bike, it looked cool and wasn't massive Megabytes so...

Enlighten me!

Originally Posted by fastdruid

+1 I have never had my knee down on the road (on the track its every corner). I've even given myself a stern telling off when I've got the pegs down (all of twice in 40k).

IMO I'm a far better rider for riding through winter, slower maybe but absolutely better. I'm also *much* faster when it does rain, mostly because I don't panic and I'm relaxed.

Druid

I've had pegs down on my C90 scoot, and my old Eliminator (since having the SV and getting cocky!), both didn't hinge, and started jacking the back wheel off the floor. I am in no hurry to attempt a similar feat on the SV!

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

Is hard and fast the be all and end all of skill?

Maybe knowing what happens when either end slides will help you in summer because you won't panic. People pay a fortune for skid pan training in car... we get it free

It is, according to Bike magazine. Also, the suspension on nearly everything they test is sh*t and needs complete re-adjustment. And a Yoshimura can.

Back on planet reality...

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by carternd

It is, according to Bike magazine. Also, the suspension on nearly everything they test is sh*t and needs complete re-adjustment. And a Yoshimura can.

Back on planet reality...

Normally I would agree TBH.

But they're test riders who actually might have a bit of skill, compare that to the fookin idiots you see about this time of year wobbling about getting in the bloody way... going slowing when it's 20 degrees than I do when it's 2 degrees below. Not really related!

i think it helped me anyway, first year communte in winter and I think it made me a better rider, safer and faster.