summer is gradually coming to the end and I was wondering do any of you ride in the cold for pleasure I don't mean rain or snow just when it's cold by cold I mean 4 or 5 degrees. I am a bit of a tart nowadays and lock them away until the spring
All year round. Top tip - avoid snow. It's horrible. I might get some heated gloves this year. My hands were not in a good state last winter.
Agreed! Dry and cold is acceptable with the right kit but wet, ice and snow - no thank you. I've ridden in enough wet weather when I was working, now retired, riding is for pleasure, I can't see much pleasure in riding in the rain!!
Riding in the wet and even snow can be fun off road but a real PITA on it. Heated gloves or grips with hand guards make a huge difference to cold dry weather comfort.
@bob1 Yes i do ride. But these days being retired i can choose to if the need occurs. Rain doesn't bother me choosey about frost or snow but just take fie pounds out of the tyres if i do they bite better.
I ride also the whole year. I am just skipping the days with snow, ice and salt. I have installed heat grips on my bike and I wear a heatable jacket. The rest is clothing like an onion. This year I rode down to -7 degrees celsius on a 60 kilometres ride to my office.
Not for me! I put the bike into the garage around October (weather and road salt dependent) and it's there until Spring springs and the roads are clear of salt and slime! Biking is for fun after all!!
All year round for me, unless I think there will be loads of salt, black ice or there is visible snow and ice on the ground.
All year rider here, but not as much as I get older. As I age, the minimum temp at which I will ride has risen. I'm up to about 35 degrees Fahrenheit now. Never on purpose in the snow or when there are icy patches, although I've gotten caught a couple times. I once had to ride home about twenty miles in four inches of snow that snuck up on me when I was in a building with no windows for several hours, surprise! White-knuckle ride there. Just buy good gear and layer up.
What winter riding in Scotland means to me - Temperatures between 6degC (43degF), freezing and bloody freezing Layering up before Getting all those layers back off after Freezing cold extremities Wet riding gear Damp feet White tide marks on my nice boots Washing a filthy bike after every ride Constantly cleaning and lubing the damn chain That'll be a "no" then!
@ajc400 Would tend to agree with you on Scotland. Been there a few years ago by car and that was bad enough. And very scary.
The cold doesn't bother me, modern riding gear, heated grips etc mean its not the issue it was 30 or 40 years ago. But I agree with ajc400, its the salt and crap they spread on the roads during cold spells which put me off. I don't appreciate spending two hours cleaning it all off a bike when I've only had a short ride. Mine will all be heading for the comfort of the garage come the end of October.
Around that time i cover my bike with ATF50 easier to wash of. But agree with all if you have a car that's the time to use it. I don't drive so the bike is the only way for me.
I commute on mine all year round - don't take it out in the snow and ice. Some good thermals and layers its not too bad.
When i was in my 20s in the 70s I rode all year round no matter what, ice snow, fog on my A65 then my Bonnie then bought a CB750K6 which I didn't fancy dropping so it became a fair weather ride only. Now I'm in my 70s I wouldn't dream of riding on ice, snow or in fog, that's what a car is for, I don't bounce like I used to.
Going to give it a try years ago wasn't a problem in the nineties I went out in freezing conditions to attend the Manchester bike show I had to stop along the M56 every mile or two to clean the frost and salt off my visor never again but now I've got the kit since buying the Tiger have had a boost in enthusiasm and get out once a week before this I hadn't rode the firestorm for five years since we moved put it in the garage and basically because new home lots of DIY and things take priority but I bought the Tiger due to an inheritance and just am now obsessed my fishing is now the forgotten interest most of my kit has been stored in a container and it's all about the bikes again I've bought all the service gear for the firestorm and hopefully by next spring that's going to be fully commissioned but sorry went off on a tangent there but back to winter riding that is also one reason I have just bought the thunderbird which I feel will be a lot more of an easier prospect for the winter no complicated electrics and the worry of salt and other nasties that are about in the winter the thunderbird may have quite a bit of chrome and spoked wheels to clean but all accessable but easier to wash and I got a heavy duty dog grooming blower dryer which is marvellous and drying the bike is a doddle.So yes I'm going to blow the dust off my winter riding gear and getting out there
