Fair weather bikers
 

Ok I suppose about now in October the weather for you poor souls in the Northern Hemishere will be starting to get a bit grim.
So how many of you will be sticking your bikes in the shed and how many of you will be keeping a stiff upper lip (not to mention your other frozen parts).
I live in the city of eternal springtime,so it,s no biggie for me.
Al theturtleshead

Seeing as I don't own a car, and haven't done for some years, I don't have a lot of choice. That said winter riding, although not motorcycling nirvana, isn't so bad. Certainly, in London, winter is the time of year when the weather finally matches the mood of the capital's daily commuters!

Now that I'm in Estonia, the winter doesn't play fair! If it snows or ices, I'll lock the two wheels away until it thaws, unless I really feel the need to practice extracting a bike from a ditch in -10C. If that happens, a few dozen watts of heated jacket and the Ural outfit will certainly see me through a Baltic winter.....

It was right at the freezing point this morning and still rode in. I have adequate gear that lets me ride until the road actually get's snow/ice on it. My weak link were my gloves, but I just bought those over-gloves for rain (the ones made in New Zealand) and I use them in the morning. Fingers still fell a bit cold, but never to where it's a problem.

Muff
 

Get yourself some handlebar muffs.They look like shit,but they don,t half work!
Al theturtleshead

Just having a quick cuppa before I scrape the snow of the seat for my 50 mile ride into London, Ive got a Volvo with heated seats sat on the drive !

I ride all year round.
This morning was the coldest morning yet by far.
70 mile round trip,
god bless heated grips

It snowed up here (Midlands) yesterday.. I ride all year round.. the fingers get quite cold but heat grips are the best, I have not put the thermal liners in my gear yet. so that must tell you something...(oh yeah..it tells you that I am an idiot!:stupid:!). This am it was 0.2deg C at my office but it was sunny and actually a nice ride. i really enjoyed the ride in, my only regret was that i did not have my cammera and had an early meeting so i could not enjoy some of the very nice views... Being midterm (school holidays) there was little traffic and that also helped...

besides when the weather gets bad.. the tossers who ride like mad men are gone and the police leave you alone (i have road long distances on the median strip in the snow and the police just waved me on..)

Great Idea
 

Well in an example of absolute brilliance I had my bike off the road through spring, summer and what should have been autumn. It should be road ready and road legel in a few days just as the temp. reaches to below 0 celcius. It's unfaired and not suitable for any electrical heating gizmos. As it's a Moto Guzzi I can warm my hands on the rocker covers at traffic lights but I do fantasize about the Colombian heat!!! Damn you for reminding me. Linzi

After a 200 mile round trip to Coventry yesterday, I am still thawing out.

Sleet, rain, snow, zero deg temperatures, summer gloves, non-waterproof boots, 3 foot visibility and a road full of myopic inbreds. A hideously innapropriate Cruiser, jeans and a leaky waterproof jacket.

I had to stop three times on the way home to try and stamp and clap feeling back into my feet and hands. I burnt my glove trying to get some heat from the exhaust. I can't stop sneezing now.

Was all worth it for the feeling of the warmth leaking back into my bones while stood in my girlfriend's kitchen afterwards; stark bollock naked holding a cup of tea.

Bloody Brilliant; who wouldn't love biking?

Joel

and now for something completely different...
 

...yes im a big 'pussy' who chickens out at the first sign of an erect nipple lol!
although I am getting the bus into leeds to day and will be purchasing a warm jacket for a bit of winter riding. as I am still new to the world of biking I think I may leave riding in frosty conditions till I have a bit more practice. is columbia warm all year round then? sounds nice and I like bananas....is it true that banana plants walk at night???

Ok then – I will take the heat (pardon the pun) for the rest of you who ditched the bike in favour of the car this morning. While the bike certainly isn’t parked up for the winter, sometimes sitting in a toasty warm car and getting stuck in traffic is far more pleasurable than getting into work on time.
Go on, admit it. You do it too :innocent:

To quote (I think) Billy Connolly "there is no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothing" (or bike, or tyres).

Nothing like a nice bit of snow to keep Plod gainfully employed elsewhere and Captain Volvo and the Rice Rocket Brigade at home in front of the telly. :thumbup1:

Now, fog, that's a PITA and a reason not to ride for fun, but anything else, that's fine.

Three camping trips planned between now and February, so bring it on :thumbup1:

Andy

As long as it's not snowing, I'll be riding! :thumbup1:

:rofl:Snip.. VERY TRUE ..but really root-canal work can be more fun then getting into work on time!! but as i dont have a car I dont have the choice.. (except for two hours on the train.. which is even less fun then getting to work on time.) :thumbup1:

I'm with you on this one mate, although I'm planning a few rideouts with people I know ride all weathers just so I can pick up some tips. My biggest fear right now isn't rain or frost, or snow it's wet leaves and mud off all the tractors round here.

Or mode of transport? Can we stretch it that far?