Less riding this year due to weather

[cliffords]

This is not the wind and rain thread , but an observation.
I have ridden for 40 years and now retired I can take most opportunities to ride regardless of the day of the week.

I don't ever remember getting to May tomorrow and riding so few days .
Is this year the worst ever ? Looks good today followed by 10 days of rain according to the BBC.

New to me bike four weeks ago and I have not filled it up yet .
I only ride for pleasure not commuting.

[black-k1]

This year is as bad, wet weather wise, as I can remember in 45 years of riding. I've had to force myself to go out in the rain to ensure that my new bike is fully run in before my Old Gits trip at the start of June. A small group of us did a run up to Yorkshire over this weekend and got soaked!

[Chicken Chaser]

I got out yesterday. Weather was ok, 11 deg and I dodged the rain. New bike 3 weeks ago and it's only 2nd time out on it.

[Dog Star]

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.

[STe_rsv4]

Unfortunately for me I've done more riding this year than I would have liked due to the alternator packing in on my car!
Not exactly what I would call pleasurable riding going to and from work in the pissing down rain.
But yes, this has been possibly the worst year so far from a riders perspective. Today is the 1st day Ive actually rode the bike into work out of choice!

[Crudeoink]

I got my first off-road bike at the tail end of last year. I've been out a few times but the lanes are pretty awful at the moment. The odd day of sunshine here and there isnt enough to dry the mud out so its a complete mess everywhere. That combined with having a car thats a convertible... this year has been shiyte so far!

[ChocolateFrog]

Haven't even bothered MOTing mine yet.

Time off and weather have not coincided yet this year.

[the cueball]

It's been horrible for sure.

I still ride almost every day though, a bit of cold and rain doesn't stop me, but there have been a few times I've sacked it and jumped in the car - certainly not used to it coming up to May!

The roads are in a shocking state as well... only this morning on my commute, going to turn into a corner, I had the choice of:

1 line with diesel

1 line with stones/gravel

1 line with the run off from the 2 above

1 line with a pot hole filling up with water

it's tough out there at the moment!

[bogie]

Yep, its the worst year I can remember, usually I'm out every few weeks even over winter and this year have just managed a few dry days so far

So much for global warming ...

[Biker9090]

Worst I can remember but I've done more riding than ever.

Made the mistake of wearing my summer boots a few times when I shouldn't and getting utterly, utterly waterlogged.

The wind has been the worst in living memory for me. Never before this year had I experienced the feeling of the front wheel feeling like it was going to be washed out like it felt in Germany.

Ironically, the only tour I did that was largely dry was the Dragon Rally!

[tvrolet]

cliffords said:

I have ridden for 40 years and now retired I can take most opportunities to ride regardless of the day of the week.

black-k1 said:

This year is as bad, wet weather wise, as I can remember in 45 years of riding.

In 50 years of riding I can't recall getting out so little...although in fairness in the 70s I was commuting by bike, so if I didn't ride I didn't go.

Took the 'modern' Chief for an MOT the other day and the clock was correct. It's not smart enough to change the time itself, so it hadn't been used since before the clocks changed back in October.

I've had a couple of the classics at shows and the like, but that hardly counts as riding. There was a classic meet the other weekend and it looked dry for the first time in ages so I fired-up the '47 Chief and chugged along. And then it pissed down and I got soaked. Oh, and there was a Triumph Triples club meet and surprise surprise it was sunny (but cold as a witch's tit) so I took the Hurricane to that. But in both cases if it wasn't to 'meets' then it would have been too miserable or cold to go out.

I don't SORN any of the bikes (although only 1 needs road tax to be paid) and always up for a ride if it's a decent day and not too bitter...but only 2 rides so far this year And not today either - cold, damp and miserable.

[CHLEMCBH]

I've ridden just as much by necessity. TF for the drying cupboards at work without which I think most of my gear would be mouldy by now!

[gareth_r]

Over 2200 miles so far this year, and I'm very much a fair weather rider these days. I've avoided salty/mucky roads and really low temperatures, and I've been caught in the rain only a couple of times.

[Mach]

black-k1 said:

This year is as bad, wet weather wise, as I can remember in 45 years of riding. I've had to force myself to go out in the rain to ensure that my new bike is fully run in before my Old Gits trip at the start of June. A small group of us did a run up to Yorkshire over this weekend and got soaked!

Same. Took delivery of my new Pikes Peak on 2nd March and only done 450 miles. Running in service booked for 25th May before heading off to Croatia on 29th so I'm having to just nip out for a quick 50 miles when I can. Did that last night and it was wet and windy. I only ride motorbikes for pleasure so if it's wet and cold I've got cars for that.

To be fair we did have one dry weekend but we were away...

Other than that it's been utterly grim.

[cliffords]

gareth_r said:

Over 2200 miles so far this year, and I'm very much a fair weather rider these days. I've avoided salty/mucky roads and really low temperatures, and I've been caught in the rain only a couple of times.

What country do you live in ?

[gareth_r]

cliffords said:

gareth_r said:

Over 2200 miles so far this year, and I'm very much a fair weather rider these days. I've avoided salty/mucky roads and really low temperatures, and I've been caught in the rain only a couple of times.

What country do you live in?

UK. To be precise, between Bristol and Bath.

EDIT
P. S. I should probably mention that I'm retired, so I can ride any time I want.

Edited by gareth_r on Tuesday 30th April 12:04

[dibblecorse]

Same here, no commute as haven't worked since Nov so no need to ride, no inclination to ride on the road as its just no fun the current weather, although in fairness even my 3 day Jerez euro saw 2 days of rain, hopefully May will bring better weather.

[Wombat3]

Mach said:

Same. Took delivery of my new Pikes Peak on 2nd March and only done 450 miles. Running in service booked for 25th May before heading off to Croatia on 29th so I'm having to just nip out for a quick 50 miles when I can. Did that last night and it was wet and windy. I only ride motorbikes for pleasure so if it's wet and cold I've got cars for that.

To be fair we did have one dry weekend but we were away...

Other than that it's been utterly grim.

The service light will go on at 622

(if you get it serviced before that it will come on at 622 anyway and then annoy you!)

[EVOTECH3BELL]

I'm thinning my bike collection down for this very reason.
Pointless having 3 bikes if they're going to get a mess each time I take them out.
Il keep one for the rare nice evening and the other is my commuting/touring hack
Roads are awful, full of potholes and gravel.
Plus rising insurance costs etc

[Mach]

Wombat3 said:

The service light will go on at 622

(if you get it serviced before that it will come on at 622 anyway and then annoy you!)

I shall make sure I hit 622 then before it goes in