And today's commuting highlight is...

[308mate]

Yesterday: sprinted chap on a Multistrada wheelied off the lights after we shared a couple of brisk starts from previous sets.

Today: chap on a lovely SP2 gave it a blat in the tunnel under Southwark bridge at my request. He looked like he was out for the fun of it. Heading to the Ace maybe?

[Bailey93]

-1 when I left this morning ignition barrel was frozen... Defrosted it with some warm water and was frozen again when I got to work.

Time to get some Vaseline and WD40 in their later, and in my ignition

[SteelerSE]

-5 here this morning. The bike is staying at home.

[kiethton]

My commute involved the train...

Tried to go and collect the bike last night but unfortunately the battery was dead as a duck - couldn't even bump start it. In a way I'm quite glad - would rather my first ride on the new CBR not be on ice - going to be different enough learning how to ride it first, especially as its far more powerful/heavier than both the CBR125R and the test school's CB650F I took the test on yesterday.

[3DP]

-5 this morning at mine too. Everything frozen. I literally had the genitalia of a Ken doll at the end of my scooter ride.

[Sea Demon]

-5 for me too, my wife said 'why don't you get the train today?' Whaaaat!

Cover came off like it had been heavily starched, fingers felt like they'd been smashed with a hammer on the M20 - couldn't wait for a set of lights so I could get my hands on the engine, apart from that it was fine

[sjtscott]

About -2 in East London at 8am this morning. My bike cover was frozen solid as were both my D Lock and Chain Padlock. Whilst the D Lock was frozen on just one part and the key actually worked and brute force freed it, the padlock was fully frozen solid.. luckily my car is right next to where I keep my bike and I had the key with me, the tin of window de-icer came out, did the job to allow me to actually get the chain off.
Heated gloves on medium absolutely fantastic this morning actually verging on too warm

[mitzy]

Not been on the bike for three months really not fancied it - coming back to this thread sooon

[EvoBarry]

It's been mild but damp up in Cheshire this week, I'm still using the bike but its getting filthy as hell with all this drizzle/road crud being thrown up.

[CAPP0]

mitzy said:

Not been on the bike for three months really not fancied it - coming back to this thread sooon

Just because you're a girl doesn't mean you can be girly

[Angrybiker]

Don't know what temperature it was in London this morning but was very pleased - Held Freezer IIs and inner gloves, hands were toasty.

[theturbs]

sjtscott said:

About -2 in East London at 8am this morning. My bike cover was frozen solid as were both my D Lock and Chain Padlock. Whilst the D Lock was frozen on just one part and the key actually worked and brute force freed it, the padlock was fully frozen solid.. luckily my car is right next to where I keep my bike and I had the key with me, the tin of window de-icer came out, did the job to allow me to actually get the chain off.
Heated gloves on medium absolutely fantastic this morning actually verging on too warm

When reading the "luckily my car is right next to where I keep my bike" part of your post, I thought you were going to say that you got in the car and left the bike at home!

[Tall_Paul]

supercommuter said:

All the people with cold hands...get some bar muffs and heated grips! I rode 120 miles down the motorway last night with just sealskin cotton gloves on (my dainese D-Dry's I normally wear were far from dry) and it was like having my hands in an oven.

Urbano Tucano fur lined muffs. It is like putting my hand in chewbakas ass...so warm.

That's what I have, however this morning at -4 in Kent my fingers were still a little cold after a 45 minute commute.

Heated gloves next winter for me.

[tjlazer]

supercommuter said:

All the people with cold hands...get some bar muffs and heated grips! I rode 120 miles down the motorway last night with just sealskin cotton gloves on (my dainese D-Dry's I normally wear were far from dry) and it was like having my hands in an oven.

Urbano Tucano fur lined muffs. It is like putting my hand in chewbakas ass...so warm.

I refer you to RJs description 'id rather die of frostbite' than use muffs. Hopefully it won't come to that, inner gloves work pretty well for me.

[Pothole]

I'm hating this mist hanging in the air, making my visor wet!

"Highlight" today was a sole van with a rear fog light showing...when I got up next to him I saw he had sunglasses on...I expect it looked foggy from his perspective. Muppet!

[sjtscott]

theturbs said:

When reading the "luckily my car is right next to where I keep my bike" part of your post, I thought you were going to say that you got in the car and left the bike at home!

I live in zone 2 and work in zone 1 of central London. You don't drive unless you are stupid or genuinely have no other viable option lol and besides the slow moving generally stationary solid traffic queue of mainly coaches, trucks, taxis and vans and still far too many 'smarter than me' single occupancy private cars, I'm not paying to drive in the charging zone or paying to park
If there was no bike, I'll take the tube, if the tube is also not working I'll cycle, if all else fails I'll work at home before I ever consider driving week day peek time.
Your post has cheered me up no end.. If I didn't live in London the bike would be put away for winter simple.

Edited by sjtscott on Wednesday 18th January 23:58

[Bailey93]

Ignition barrel was frozen again this morning, I sprayed wd40 down the hole and put Vaseline on the key (oo er) and gave it a lot of in and out action, but obviously It hasn't worked.

What else can I do bar pouring warm water on it.

[CAPP0]

Bailey93 said:

Ignition barrel was frozen again this morning, I sprayed wd40 down the hole and put Vaseline on the key (oo er) and gave it a lot of in and out action, but obviously It hasn't worked.

What else can I do bar pouring warm water on it.

(Carefully) heat the key up on the gas stove, don't get it too hot or you'll melt the plastic. Doesn't need to be very hot anyway, then put it back in and wait 10s.

[boyse7en]

Today's highlight was to discover that one of my heated grips has stopped working.
Not fun when it was -3 deg C for some of my route, and never went above zero it all.

Had to finger-wiggle all the way to work just to keep them mobile

[Bailey93]

CAPP0 said:

(Carefully) heat the key up on the gas stove, don't get it too hot or you'll melt the plastic. Doesn't need to be very hot anyway, then put it back in and wait 10s.

Sorry, I meant to prevent it. Ive already put wd40 and vasaline in the key hole but it didn't work.