Ride through the winter or give it a miss

[Steve_T]

Question for the commuters amongst you. I rode through the winter last year and the weather conditions were pretty dire at some points. How many of you ride year round (rather than getting back on the train) and how many bow out waiting for warmer weather to return.

Steve.

[veetwin]

Waiting for the sun!

Dukes don't take too kindly to salt/rain/silly drivers/ice.

[raceboy]

Well I'm still out there freezeing my bits off, and risking Italian electrics in the cold/rain/damp
I do about a 15 mile commute along mainly A roads so nothing too icey so far

[craigw]

8 mile commute into london, I've been riding/driving on alternate days. Why is it that other drivers pull out right in front of me when (a) I'm on the bike not in the car. and (b) when it's icy as f***

[dern]

I've done it in the past but this year I really can't be *rsed. I don't mind the rain but the cold/ice and the salt just make the whole thing a drag.

[Davel]

Car for iffy weather, bike for better conditions.

Far better to skid on 4 wheels than 2!

[a j]

I too have done it in the past. One morning i went over seven times (at low speed) on ice . Frankly i have the option to drive in bad weather so i do. Still cant beat the fix from riding when the roads are dry or wet and not greasy.

The train has never been an option for me, if it was ice or not it'd be the bike! Cant stand armpit sniffing on the tubes!

[Mags]

I Ride all year unless it gets really icy or snows!
100 miles a day into London.
Today was really crappy though, damp salty roads and tons of mucky crap sticking to your visor that smears if you wipe it

[Yoda954]

Nope, not all year (any more). If it's DRY & not too cold I'll commute on the bike, but any chance of rain or damp roads & the bike stays at home due to salt really.

[Leadfoot]

Not a chance. Took the bike out Weds as it was such a beautiful clear blue day, f@rk me cold or what?
That said I don't commute by bike anyway 'cos 20 miles each way on the motorway with no fairing is just too much of a pain in the neck (literaly) & I go the opposite direction to all the traffic so gain nothing timewise.

[danhay]

Took the bike out earlier today, and the weather was OK. Then all hell broke loose while I was shopping. I ended up coming home along the A27 through some really painful hailstones, and nasty looking torrents of water on the road - coasted through it and no aquaplaning thank goodness!

I still enjoyed it in a way (afterwards!) as it was some very challenging riding.

[Eliminator]

25 miles commute into London, same home.

I ride all year. Always have - hope I always will.

Did "give in" to heated grips this year. Must be getting soft.

[tvrjohn]

yep commuting to Manchester 27 smiles each way
got knocked off early Dec so use hire bike now

[Captain Muppet]

I was riding the bike all winter (again) but it was stolen and recovered "with no damage". Fifty miles later it was only running on three cylinders and now it's in bits spread across my garage.

Will the insurance replace an engine that's been buzzed to 15k rpm from cold by thieves? Will they .

Beware - my bike was taken from inside my garage where it was locked to a steel frome. I live up a dead end and it is only ever outside my house when I'm washing it. If they'll put this much effort in taking a 13 year old 400 then no one is safe.