IF.....we ARE seeing "climate change" ....
Discussion
...with allegedly warmer, wetter weather would that mean a change of riding habits for you?
Ignoring the arguments about climate change & alleged causes I was outside early this a.m & looking at solid cloud cover then saw forecast for rain/showers through to Monday (in bloody June after all?). It just made me think with having been commuting on the bike a lot more lately -would I prefer to ride in the wet rather than not at all if we DO see more wet summers? I've only been a dry guy up to now & certainly don't go out when raining- I don't need to & it's not quite the same fun. If I was out & got caught obviously I'd carry on but the nusiance of keeping dry & then cleaning bike after hasn't been my preference up to now.
What say you all??
Ignoring the arguments about climate change & alleged causes I was outside early this a.m & looking at solid cloud cover then saw forecast for rain/showers through to Monday (in bloody June after all?). It just made me think with having been commuting on the bike a lot more lately -would I prefer to ride in the wet rather than not at all if we DO see more wet summers? I've only been a dry guy up to now & certainly don't go out when raining- I don't need to & it's not quite the same fun. If I was out & got caught obviously I'd carry on but the nusiance of keeping dry & then cleaning bike after hasn't been my preference up to now.
What say you all??
I've generally always riden out of necessity rather than for the love of it. Initially because I coulndn't afford a car, then as a courier and now to commute into the city, so have always riden in all weathers.
As many commuters (including myself) wear waterproof textile gear anyway, there's no difference dressing for a wet day or a dry day.
The only difference is that the ride takes a little longer as there's less grip and car drivers tend to use their mirrors less, so you have to be a bit more careful.
If the climate gets wetter I'll simply save money on tyres, chains and sprockets, but have to leave 5 minutes earlier.
As many commuters (including myself) wear waterproof textile gear anyway, there's no difference dressing for a wet day or a dry day.
The only difference is that the ride takes a little longer as there's less grip and car drivers tend to use their mirrors less, so you have to be a bit more careful.
If the climate gets wetter I'll simply save money on tyres, chains and sprockets, but have to leave 5 minutes earlier.
:I have to ride in the rain quite alot but I wouldn't go out for a fun ride in the wet. You can't accelerate (although fish tailing can be fun) you cant break hard and you cant corner. The three things I love about riding my bike. I always ride in full textiles anyway so I don't mind it catching me out. Wouldn't mind doing some wet track days on wet tyres though. Have watched a few and you can still lap pretty quick.
As things stand I prefer riding in the dry than in the wet but I prefer riding the bike in the wet than going by car. Therefore I'll ride in all weathers except ice and snow and for me that gets to the point that it feels sufficiently unsafe to take the car.
I used to hate the wet with a passion. I used to watch every weather forecast and not take the bike if it even looked like raining. I used to nervously watch through the window rain clouds come in during the day. No fun whatsoever.
Now all I do is keep an eye on the forecast if and only if people have been suggesting snow (and people always mention it) and have strapped a min/max thermometer to the kids trampoline so that I can see if it's still way below zero when I want to set out. Otherwise I just suit up and go.I never clean my bike except before the mot as a courtesy to them. Very liberating.
If it gets warmer but wetter I won't mind because I know I can keep myself dry.
I used to hate the wet with a passion. I used to watch every weather forecast and not take the bike if it even looked like raining. I used to nervously watch through the window rain clouds come in during the day. No fun whatsoever.
Now all I do is keep an eye on the forecast if and only if people have been suggesting snow (and people always mention it) and have strapped a min/max thermometer to the kids trampoline so that I can see if it's still way below zero when I want to set out. Otherwise I just suit up and go.I never clean my bike except before the mot as a courtesy to them. Very liberating.
If it gets warmer but wetter I won't mind because I know I can keep myself dry.
I definitely prefer to ride in the dry but do ride in the wet when it’s needed. Only frost/snow actually stops me although I have been known to ‘chicken out’ of taking the bike when the forecast says heavy rain all day. (It’s a pain in the arse getting all the gear off/on at a clients site, especially if I’m also dripping all over their carpet. Add to that the fact that my commute is only slightly quicker on the bike as opposed to the car – I only save between 10 or 15 minutes – and that the car is actually cheaper to run ….. )
The biggest advantage of dry weather is that I wear my leathers which give so much more feel through the seat than either my summer one piece over suit or my winter textiles, both of which slide all over the seat during cornering, braking and acceleration.
If it got wetter and warmer I would still use the bike most of the time though I wouldn’t enjoy it quite so much.
The biggest advantage of dry weather is that I wear my leathers which give so much more feel through the seat than either my summer one piece over suit or my winter textiles, both of which slide all over the seat during cornering, braking and acceleration.
If it got wetter and warmer I would still use the bike most of the time though I wouldn’t enjoy it quite so much.
Edited by black-k1 on Friday 13th June 14:31
By the time I get up and see it hurling down with rain, it's already too late to go by car, so I don't really have the luxury of choice 
If I could choose, I'd rather take the car in the pouring rain, even though it'll take an extra hour to get home. In reality though though only snow or bad ice will see me in the car. It didn't get bad enough for the car once this winter though.
If I could choose, I'd rather take the car in the pouring rain, even though it'll take an extra hour to get home. In reality though though only snow or bad ice will see me in the car. It didn't get bad enough for the car once this winter though.
I ride in all weathers. I find wet roads are actually okay provided the front tyre isn't squared off, at least the tarmac is usually quite clean underneath. Middle of winter with all that salt n crap on the road and a touch of frost and you daren't lean or accelerate, that I don't like.
Only thing that is changing my riding habits at the moment is the outrageous cost of fuel.
Only thing that is changing my riding habits at the moment is the outrageous cost of fuel.
Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff