Winter arrives tomorrow, apparently

Hi all,

I've only been riding for a couple of months and would appreciate any
advice from those among you who keep on riding through the winter. The
media are saying that the cold weather will hit with a vengeance
tonight (which isn't all bad - it might reduce the number of
trick-or-treat scrotes if nothing else) and I'm wondering what approach
you all take to riding at this time of year. I've got all-weather gear
that's up to the job and my bike is in good health - so that's not a
problem - but I'm a bit worried about frost / ice and I'm wondering,
does there come a point temperature-wise at which you say "it's just
not worth the risk" and head for the cage/bus/train/whatever instead?

I'm thinking about my commute across Manchester - mostly main roads,
almost certain to be gritted when they need to be... so maybe it's not
going to be *too* treacherous over the next few months. Just looking
for pointers...

TIA
Tarby

 

Don't fall off!

Seriously though, it's your hands that'll suffer, and you'll be invisible.

 

In uk.rec.motorcycles, Tarby777 belched forth and ejected the following:

Age.

HTH

 

Whinging Courier wrote

It is only drugs or money that are any help.

 

Tarby777 wrote

Snow is an issue and if settling it is probably best to take the bus but
other than that it is only your determination to do it that matters.

Coming from mancland I appreciate you are probably all ready about as
rainproof as it gets so all you have to do now is keep warm. I know it
is slightly different up there in the frozen norf but modern gear should
keep you warm enough on an hour long commute to make the cold little
more than an inconvenience.

The tricks for keeping warm vary but if you pay attention to your hands
and feet you are halfway there and you will be amazed how much a cheap
plastic oversuit can keep out the draughts. Ah yes the draughts, you
will love those, especially when it gets below zero.

Don't forget to budget another five minutes dressing/undressing time to
the journey.

 

In uk.rec.motorcycles, steve auvache belched forth and ejected the
following:

Well, "risk" I grant you isn't what prompted me to write that, more a
"cba getting dressed up like a blimp just to freeze to death if you have
no alternative".

 

Keep warm and use your common sense - if there is ice about I leave later
than usual in the morning to let all those nice car drivers warm the road
up. Snow isn't a problem if the ambient temperature is 3 or 4 degrees above
zero (unless it has settled of course). Get crash bobbins or bars fitted to
your bike if you intend to use the it no matter what.

It's fun sliding down the road on ice ('til you hit something)

HTH

 

Take care on the section between your house and the main road. I know
several people who have had minor bins a few 100m from their home on the
untreated roads of an estate.

As others have said, stay warm as this will ensure you are not distracted
by discomfort. Warm gloves & boots are good but make sure you keep your
core temperature up: your extremities can't keep warm if they are serviced
by cool blood. Giali or similar heated vests are good.

BMW boxer engines make good leg warmers.

The novelty of using the bike lasts about 2 winters. I've used the car for
commuting since about 1995.

 

My Mrs is my judge, unfortunately. But she's usualy right.

One of the best tips I got from this group a while ago was to remember
that those bits of road that remanin shaded keep their frosty/icy bits
for longer. Also not to forget late afternoon and early evening can
make the roads interesting. Tis good fun if as others have said you
keep warm.

brian

 

That's the only vaguely sensible reason I've ever seen for buying a
Beemer.

You should be working in BMW's marketing department.

 

In Italy they could be marketed as depilatory devices, as I found out when
riding in shorts around Lake Garda. I wore jeans when it got really hot in
Croatia.

 

There you go then, a whole new career is opening up before you!