Position revised : fair weather bikers may not be wimps

[shouldbworking]

Well id always taken the view that fair weather bikers must be total wimps. Not that id ever ridden a motorbike but hey.

Anyway, I've been doing a 14 mile commute of mostly rural NSL on my L plated 125 in preparation for my retest tomorrow, and broadly, I felt assured I was right.

Sure, windy days it got a bit less than ideal on the exposed stretches, but no matter. Rain? pah. Fog? cold, but its only in the valleys.. Very cold? ok, I can see why heated grips exist for long journeys in such weather. Dark? eat more carrots.

And then came my journey home today.

Step outside.. blimey. it really is raining, proper rain as in localised flooding and large puddles everywhere. Oh well. SPLASH. lorry came the other way. I chuckle as I wipe the visor clear again and leave town onto the NSL.

Its about this time I realise that its not only very rainy, its got to the point of being proper dark, and it is windy, and not just a little!

The rest of the journey home can be summarised as skipping from one patch of road based lethality to the next. From the aforementioned lakes at the side of the road, gusts of wind sending me sideways, wet leaves from overhanging trees, huge amounts of mud outside the quarry, to the suicidal drivers who cant amend their speed for the conditions, the oh so promising smell of diesel at the roundabout by the hgv fuelling station and the driver in the town centre who didnt look before pulling out I got home tense and rigid as a board. but safe.

So yes, I can understand why people might not want to ride in these conditions but what do you think? is it just down to experience and gear? my toy lightweight supermoto-style bike and broad 6 ft frame hardly lent itself to the conditions, how do people on proper bikes fare?

Apologies for length yadda yadda.

[Stu R]

it's fun for a while, especially when you first start riding, doesn't bother me particularly unless it's raining stair rods, but I'd far rather be dry.

[RemaL]

Agree with Stu, I did the "lets commute every day all year round after passing my DAS"

now just enjoy the bike when its dry, still all year round though

[N Dentressangle]

I'd say you were about right.

For me, it boils down to why take unnecessary risks if there's no real reward at the end?

Biking ought to be enjoyable, and for most of us that isn't the case if it's windy, cold and pissing down. It's also more likely you'll come to grief in those kind of conditions, isn't it?

What's the saying about old and bold bikers?

[cyberface]

Nothing worse than commuting to a bloody train ride to London on a bike, getting absolutely soaked on the way there, sitting in sopping wet trousers on the train and looking like trash when you get to work...

Yes, I was that nutter who thought I could ride faster than the rain on my 180 scooter and decided a tailored woollen suit and expensive shoes was appropriate protective gear (had a good lid and gloves, mind you...). Bloody good job I didn't stack it...

[Chilli]

RemaL said:

Agree with Stu, I did the "lets commute every day all year round after passing my DAS"

now just enjoy the bike when its dry, still all year round though

Yep, agree with that. It was a novelty at first, but then became a PITA. Does wonders for your riding though!

[Stu R]

Tuscan Rat said:

Its fun on the way home, as you can sort yourself out at home etc, However going to work and arriving all wet is no fun trust me.

Invest in a good set of waterproofs and get back out there. Oh and keep some dry underware at work, nothing worse than commando all day.....

I went for a ride with AndyM31 and Steve T the other day we did 190 miles and I think less for the last 10 it rained all day, but you just got to smile and enjoy !!!

Bang on, had a lovely 2 week stint without a dry day, which is all well and good except I do 100 miles each way, and only ever wear draggin jeans, summer boots, summer gloves and a jacket that lets water in as if it weren't there. Nothing worse than pulling your gear on after 9 hours at work when it's not dried out from the morning's ride, which was at 5am and left you rather frosty.
Still worth it for the odd dry run, had some epic rides home across the moors and into co. durham

[Glade]

RemaL said:

Agree with Stu, I did the "lets commute every day all year round after passing my DAS"

now just enjoy the bike when its dry, still all year round though

I did for a couple of years, then last winter year I got offered a free car.

Was great for bad weather days and taking big things places... I still used the bike all year round but when you can't be arsed with the gear and the weather at least you have a choice!

I ditched the car in the spring but now it's getting dark early, I find myself following the bangernomics threads quite carefully!!

[RemaL]

Glade said:

RemaL said:

Agree with Stu, I did the "lets commute every day all year round after passing my DAS"

now just enjoy the bike when its dry, still all year round though

I did for a couple of years, then last winter year I got offered a free car.

same here. seems daft to me to use the bike, when I got a car at home

[wiliferus]

My bike is my sole form of transport so the mrs can keep the car at home with the little one. I've only been riding a month so far and have had a few soggy rides, and had one wet underwear experience

Hopefully my theory is by the time i've ridden through the stty winter weather and the summer returns my riding skills will be much improved!

It better be bloody worth it!

ETA - I did a motorway ride the other day whilst not appreciating how windy it was. I'm not too manly to admit i was so scared i could have stopped on the hardshoulder for a little cry

Edited by wiliferus on Thursday 23 October 19:57

[shouldbworking]

Heh glad im not alone then, although I can report that I've been quite pleased with my gear. I have a cheap rst rift 2 piece set with additional back protector added in, but when its zipped together its really very very good. May be time put the thermal lining back in though.

The only thing im wishing I did have is a set of motorbike boots. Old walking boots are decidely less than waterproof and I end up with soggy feet.

[YZF600R]

I've ridden in all weathers including heavy snow/ice etc.

However, biking is now (for me, at least) a hobby. Therefore it should be fun.

Getting soaked is not fun, unless you're on an epic voyage. I don't mind the cold though

[King Herald]

shouldbworking said:

Well id always taken the view that fair weather bikers must be total wimps. Not that id ever ridden a motorbike but hey.....

Well, there's not a lot to say to that really.

I passed my car test when I was 29, and hardly touched my bike after that. It is just SOOOOOO easy to grab your keys, run out the door, jump in the car, slam the door, and away you go. Music, heater, dry, wipers, four wheels, comfy seat, demisters etc etc.

Now I just bought another bike, and I have no intentions of riding it when it is raining. I mean, why would you want to?

[Twit]

I ride in all weathers and I much much prefer the cold dark winter to the summer. There are far less numpties out on bikes and cars are just car as normal. Rain doesnt bother me as the kit I have works and I just ride to the conditions. I think there is something very theraputic about riding around in the pouring rain and cold! But its not for everyone!!!

[Hyperion]

Here's the thing - when it's raining car drivers love nothing better than crashing into each other...the worse the weather, the more crashes they have - they love it.

This is where a bike makes even more sense...when everyone is sitting in their metal boxes in the resulting tailbacks, daydreaming their lives away going nowhere fast...us bikers can simply filter passed with a huge grin on our faces and be on our way.

There is NOTHING worse than sitting in a traffic jam and being passed by bikers, when your bike is in the garage!!

Edited by Hyperion on Thursday 23 October 21:31

[dern]

King Herald said:

I mean, why would you want to?

Can't speak for anyone else but I have the kit so I don't get wet and I simply prefer riding the bike to driving the car.

[Walter Sobchak]

when i was at college i had done my driving licence but spent all of the money i had on a bike, a bike that at 17 was a real bit of kit-an RVF 400, i had to ride it through winter and in rain(nothing compares to being caught out on an R1 in sleet though), anyway i put up with it because it was all worth it and i had a bike i loved riding on dry warm days, now i dont have to ride through the winter i dont, i would rather take a bit longer to go to work in a car and have a bike for enjoyment rather than as a sole mode of transport.

[davidgt4]

This year gone back to daily bike commuting after a few years off - as other posts say I got the right dry and warm gear (for me Aerostich,Daytona,Held,Schuberth) and I arrive at work quicker, happier and dry/warm. Filtering through traffic is very mentally uplifting! Coping with wind and rain is not much fun on a small unfaired bike - I think you'll want something rather more substantial if you're making a habit of it. I find I need something pretty big/comfortable now and my FJR1300 with an adjustable screen is rock solid in gusts and rain - fits the bill as a year round commuter. Keep at it!

[roboxm3]

Hyperion said:

Here's the thing - when it's raining car drivers love nothing better than crashing into each other...the worse the weather, the more crashes they have - they love it.

This is where a bike makes even more sense...when everyone is sitting in their metal boxes in the resulting tailbacks, daydreaming their lives away going nowhere fast...us bikers can simply filter passed with a huge grin on our faces and be on our way.

There is NOTHING worse than sitting in a traffic jam and being passed by bikers, when your bike is in the garage!!

Edited by Hyperion on Thursday 23 October 21:31

I shall be starting the daily commute very shortly so this is the only post I shall pay any attention to! In fact I might print it off anf laminate it for those cold, wet, wintery nights!

[King Herald]

dern said:

King Herald said:

I mean, why would you want to?

Can't speak for anyone else but I have the kit so I don't get wet and I simply prefer riding the bike to driving the car.

To be honest, I remember vaguely I used to quite like riding in the cold and wet many years ago, a certain masochistic tendency I guess, but I haven't done it in such a long time now. Maybe the novelty wore off after ten years riding everywhere?

At the moment I don't commute to work, so the bike is just for fun. I plan to buy some wet weather gear in the near future, ready for winter, so maybe my opinion will change.