Less riding this year due to weather
Discussion
Dog Star said:
It’s dreadful - and the last few years the weather has turned to pouring down at the end of May/June. We may not get a summer at all.
My R1 did 30 miles last year, 60 the year before.
Mrs DS got a new Tenere in September.
She has sat on it. Once.
Wow, new bike start of October 23. Hit 4,000miles (no commuting miles) this week. My R1 did 30 miles last year, 60 the year before.
Mrs DS got a new Tenere in September.
She has sat on it. Once.
I wouldn't buy a bike if I didn't use.
Every new bike I have ever owned I have had the first 600 mile service within a fortnight of buying it.
Bought a new Speed Twin 900 last October and I've got my 600 mile (Now on 700 mile) service on Friday.
I have used it at least once in every single month since October
Admittedly it was nice not to have my usual pressure of getting the mileage done having already booked a service for the next week and as my commute is within London I do have the choice of free public transport, car, motorbike, bicycle and even walk the 8 miles to work.
Bought a new Speed Twin 900 last October and I've got my 600 mile (Now on 700 mile) service on Friday.
I have used it at least once in every single month since October
Admittedly it was nice not to have my usual pressure of getting the mileage done having already booked a service for the next week and as my commute is within London I do have the choice of free public transport, car, motorbike, bicycle and even walk the 8 miles to work.
Is it the worst or is it just typical end of April-May British weather? Agree, it does feel like the worst it has been for a while.
I managed my very first ride of the year today, just 20ish miles on my ZXR. I fitted new front discs and pads, so needed to bed them before its mot next week.
Forecasters promise so much, then don’t deliver.. They are predicting an improvement next week, so fingers crossed
I managed my very first ride of the year today, just 20ish miles on my ZXR. I fitted new front discs and pads, so needed to bed them before its mot next week.
Forecasters promise so much, then don’t deliver.. They are predicting an improvement next week, so fingers crossed
Mark_S1000RR_2010 said:
I agree with all of the above. Been riding as main source of travel for many years, I do 20k a year on average and this autumn/winter/spring has been the sternest test yet of my resolve.
Never even fitted my heated jacket. It hasn’t been especially cold, but Christ almighty has it been wet. My kit is nigh-on ruined at having been soaked twice a day, 5 days a week for months on end. I wear Rukka gear, but even that looks 4 years older than it actually is.
I’m fastidious about cleaning my bike (GS) at the weekend. Has to be spotless at all times. This year I got to the point where I just stopped cleaning it, as the 2hrs spend cleaning on Saturday would be completely undone by 07:00 on Monday morning.
It has honestly got me to the point of feeling a certain amount of depression. Riding has become a chore and the roads are a dangerous lottery. The amount of diesel spills, potholes, mud and gravel I see every day means you are constantly stressed, constantly on your guard. You’re doing 60 on the M3 through pouring rain and people are going past you at 90, completely oblivious. No part of it is fun.
But then last night it was not cold, dry, and I took the twisty road home where there was only light traffic. It reminded me why I love bikes. Hopefully, a sign of things to come.
I feel your pain. But also your joy in finding that one, dry, warm-ish evening on your ride home… that’s when it pays dividends to have (and be on) your nice bike. Never even fitted my heated jacket. It hasn’t been especially cold, but Christ almighty has it been wet. My kit is nigh-on ruined at having been soaked twice a day, 5 days a week for months on end. I wear Rukka gear, but even that looks 4 years older than it actually is.
I’m fastidious about cleaning my bike (GS) at the weekend. Has to be spotless at all times. This year I got to the point where I just stopped cleaning it, as the 2hrs spend cleaning on Saturday would be completely undone by 07:00 on Monday morning.
It has honestly got me to the point of feeling a certain amount of depression. Riding has become a chore and the roads are a dangerous lottery. The amount of diesel spills, potholes, mud and gravel I see every day means you are constantly stressed, constantly on your guard. You’re doing 60 on the M3 through pouring rain and people are going past you at 90, completely oblivious. No part of it is fun.
But then last night it was not cold, dry, and I took the twisty road home where there was only light traffic. It reminded me why I love bikes. Hopefully, a sign of things to come.
For the rest of the time and to deal with road surface s
ttery, I really am thinking now that an all weather snotter is in order, that is reliable and dependable, but bounces over potholes and never ever gets washed. NC750 then? I’ll get me coat…ujio said:
I returned from a trip to Spain (Valencia/Alicante region) in March where I spent an absolutely glorious 4 days riding a hired MT09.
Due to time constraints I don't get to ride as much as I want in the UK but now I'm seriously questioning why I bother and whether I should just do riding holidays.
In March in SE Spain there wasn't any rain and the temp was between 15-22 degrees.
The roads were absolutely marvellous, I rode more twisties in 1 day than I have done in SE England in years. Not only that the roads were deserted and I think I only encountered one pothole in over 400 miles of riding. The roads down here in rural SE England will soon unrideable in a few years (it's a challenge in the car ffs).
Granted the UK is the UK (busy roads and st weather most of the time), but this trip really opened up my eyes to how riding somewhere like Spain is such a PLUS.
I've just been down in Moraira for a couple of weeks for work and had driven down so I was really tempted to put my helmet and a jacket in the van. I didn't as I didn't think I'd have a day off but as it turns out I did and I could have rented an MT09 for €80 a day, no brainer if I end up back down there!! Due to time constraints I don't get to ride as much as I want in the UK but now I'm seriously questioning why I bother and whether I should just do riding holidays.
In March in SE Spain there wasn't any rain and the temp was between 15-22 degrees.
The roads were absolutely marvellous, I rode more twisties in 1 day than I have done in SE England in years. Not only that the roads were deserted and I think I only encountered one pothole in over 400 miles of riding. The roads down here in rural SE England will soon unrideable in a few years (it's a challenge in the car ffs).
Granted the UK is the UK (busy roads and s
t weather most of the time), but this trip really opened up my eyes to how riding somewhere like Spain is such a PLUS.
Well, got out for around 3 hours last night on my local weardale circuit with the daughter as pillion (her 1st time on a bike) and it was fantastic. Seen loads of other bikes out and was a warm, sunny evening. Roads weren't too bad a condition (expecting loads of gravel from heavy rains) and weather stayed fine.
Hopefully this is the turning point.........
Hopefully this is the turning point.........
Yeah looking at my Fb memories I was out on one of the bikes pretty much everyday last year during March-April .
I only commute on two wheels when it’s nice weather in the morning. Don’t mind getting caught in a shower in way home.
It feels like it hasn’t really stopped raining since about July last year.
This year I’ve commuted on bike less than a half a dozen times! Maybe more but it doesn’t feel like it.
Fingers crossed for a better summer than last.
I only commute on two wheels when it’s nice weather in the morning. Don’t mind getting caught in a shower in way home.
It feels like it hasn’t really stopped raining since about July last year.
This year I’ve commuted on bike less than a half a dozen times! Maybe more but it doesn’t feel like it.
Fingers crossed for a better summer than last.
Not really a fan of riding in rain as I only take the bike out for fun blasts. But in January I got a new Oxford textile jacket and trousers set. Much toastyer than what I had before and I took the bike out quite comfortably around 5C, whereas previously I wouldn't bother if it was less than 10C. Keeps me dry also so if it does rain its not such a ballache.
y2blade said:
It feels like it hasn’t really stopped raining since about July last year.
That’s it. It’s bad for rain here anyway (Pennines , it’s why they built cotton mills here) but this last ten months has been something else.
I've been commuting on and off through the winter. I'd say it has been wetter than usual and I have been driving to the station and taking the Tube more often than previous years. Weekend fun rides have happened but only locally.
I'm kind of restricted what I can do timewise with kid's football, wife's commitments and so on so If I get a three to four hour window of good weather I go to some green lanes on my 350excf or a 50 mile road loop in Surrey/Sussex/Kent if I can't be bothered to pull on all the amour, motocross boots etc.
I had a couple of days trail riding in April in Spain - lovely weather, miles of gravel and loamy single-track and twin track, some rocky trails. It certainly knocks south east England into a cocked hat.
Re the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 - I had an hour on one yesterday and it gradually charmed me. It can comfortably hold 75 on the motorway and is very stable. The suspension was better than expected and the engine genuinely enjoyable. It also felt pretty well put together. I'm considering it as a third bike, mainly for commuting as it does 80mpg and has a 17 litre tank
I'm kind of restricted what I can do timewise with kid's football, wife's commitments and so on so If I get a three to four hour window of good weather I go to some green lanes on my 350excf or a 50 mile road loop in Surrey/Sussex/Kent if I can't be bothered to pull on all the amour, motocross boots etc.
I had a couple of days trail riding in April in Spain - lovely weather, miles of gravel and loamy single-track and twin track, some rocky trails. It certainly knocks south east England into a cocked hat.
Re the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 - I had an hour on one yesterday and it gradually charmed me. It can comfortably hold 75 on the motorway and is very stable. The suspension was better than expected and the engine genuinely enjoyable. It also felt pretty well put together. I'm considering it as a third bike, mainly for commuting as it does 80mpg and has a 17 litre tank
Hugo Stiglitz said:
The last two weeks = high winds.
I actually shouted in my helmet at one point on Saddleworth Moor
OH COME ON GIVE US A BREAK!
I came back over Saddleworth on the M62 on Sunday morning. Tipping down with rain. I was wearing jeans. It was three degrees. In a month and a half the nights start drawing in for winter. Bonkers. I actually shouted in my helmet at one point on Saddleworth Moor
OH COME ON GIVE US A BREAK!
Thanks, all... Reading these posts made me chuckle... yep... it's been wet!
That said, I've been trying to get out for a bimble as much as possible recently, not sure what sort of mileage I've done (it's spread over four bikes), but I've, thankfully, rarely been caught in a serious downpour. Thankfully, as I still don't have any proper kit... so when it rains, I get soaked.
A few months back, I nearly died, it was a pretty good reminder to enjoy each day as much as possible... I don't mean having to "go for it" constantly, just appreciate what's going on at any given moment and try and make the most of it. With that in mind I've been bimbling about to local chalk horses, long barrows and the like... very pleasant. Not been far afield (not quite been up to longer journeys), but lots of shorter trundles. I will admit to having considered buying a full face tho', but probably won't get around to it!
The Scrambler, currently my "default" choice, basking in the sunshine just along the A4 from Cherhill White Horse...
That said, I've been trying to get out for a bimble as much as possible recently, not sure what sort of mileage I've done (it's spread over four bikes), but I've, thankfully, rarely been caught in a serious downpour. Thankfully, as I still don't have any proper kit... so when it rains, I get soaked.
A few months back, I nearly died, it was a pretty good reminder to enjoy each day as much as possible... I don't mean having to "go for it" constantly, just appreciate what's going on at any given moment and try and make the most of it. With that in mind I've been bimbling about to local chalk horses, long barrows and the like... very pleasant. Not been far afield (not quite been up to longer journeys), but lots of shorter trundles. I will admit to having considered buying a full face tho', but probably won't get around to it!
The Scrambler, currently my "default" choice, basking in the sunshine just along the A4 from Cherhill White Horse...
According to the met Office we have had the wettest 18 months since their records began.. I've commuted and gotten wet but so far no purely leisure rides..
The weekend bimble bike has barely done more mileage than it took to get an MOT. I'm still considering buying an additional bike or 2 lol.
The weekend bimble bike has barely done more mileage than it took to get an MOT. I'm still considering buying an additional bike or 2 lol.
Edited by MDUBZ on Wednesday 1st May 13:41
It's grim up here to in the Northern Pennines too. You talk to some of the farmers, who have been here generations, and this one has been one of the wettest. Last winter and summer wasn't too clever either.
I'm retired so can get out whenever the weather is suitable which means dry and preferably over 5°C, but I've still done not much over a thousand miles since January.
The annoying thing is it is exactly what the scientists where telling us in the 80's - global warming wouldn't be warm, just mild and wet.
I'm retired so can get out whenever the weather is suitable which means dry and preferably over 5°C, but I've still done not much over a thousand miles since January.
The annoying thing is it is exactly what the scientists where telling us in the 80's - global warming wouldn't be warm, just mild and wet.
Hugo Stiglitz said:
The last two weeks = high winds.
I actually shouted in my helmet at one point on Saddleworth Moor
OH COME ON GIVE US A BREAK!
Yep, done that a few times as well. I feel like it hasn't stopped being gusty since I was in Germany - still haven't gotten over how bad that was. I actually shouted in my helmet at one point on Saddleworth Moor
OH COME ON GIVE US A BREAK!
I spent this morning cleaning my old 500 and cursing myself for loading it with so much XCP Rust Blocker. The entire front of the block is THICK with mud and grime which now won't come off!
It's (just) May and I still haven't even gotten my summer jacket and gloves out yet let alone worn them.
I had a 200 mile ride out on mine last week and it was a mix of rain, hail, blinding sunshine and then black clouds. Got wet, then dry, then wet, but was dry by the time I got home. Lots of fun on an un-faired bike!
The weather has been really poor this year so far. Can't remember it being any worse in my 32 years of riding.
The weather has been really poor this year so far. Can't remember it being any worse in my 32 years of riding.
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