Step out of the cage and don thy leathers!

Well, what with moving house last November and trying to get used to working shifts I've been leaving the bike at home and resorting to the car for commuting over winter. Work is only 20 minutes away, so stuggling with winter riding kit four times a day doubles the commuting time and obviously four wheels are inherently safer than two when the roads are covered with frozen cr@p at 05:30 in the morning and vision is down to 20 metres due to freezing fog.

I have ventured out a few times, just to see if I can still remember how to ride, and as I'm still alive I guess I still can. But it's amazing how my riding has gone off since I've been leaving the bike at home! It's no longer second nature to be at the right speed in the right place to take any corner that's approaching, now I have to think about it and still get it wrong. And I've lost that intimate contact with the bike I used to have, I ride around thinking "I'm sure it didn't used to make that sound" or "the gear change just doesn't feel right any more", but I can't remember what it did or didn't do last year.

I've got a big two day ride out this weekend, something I go on every year, but this is the first year I don't feel prepared for it. Usually I'm happy to mix it with the fast boys, this year I reckon I'll be at the back edging round the corners like a learner again.

I've got more sense than to try and keep up when I know I can't, so I'll be riding at a pace I'm happy with, getting to know my bike again. But I never had to try to keep up before, I just did. 'Tain't right I tells ye.

I've read and heard many times that the best riders are the ones who keep riding though the winter, the ones who ride when it's REALLY difficult, and I understand the theory of that statement enough to know why it's true and I've spent years doing it, but this year is the first where I can really see it from the fair weather rider's point of view, this is the first year where I've totally FELT it to be true as opposed to just KNOWING it.

Is it a bad thing? I don't think so. I'm seeing how the other half live, I'm being reminded again about just how difficult it is to ride a bike really well, I'll get to learn how to ride my bikes properly again enjoying all the fresh excitement they bought first time round and more improtantly... it'll be a good lesson for me about NOT TAKING THE CAR NEXT WINTER!!

I've read and heard many times that the best riders are the ones who keep riding though the winter, the ones who ride when it's REALLY difficult,

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I think the best riders are the ones who plan what they are doing, take the right precautions, ride within their limits and come home in one piece.
Ease back into your saddle and just enjoy getting the feel again. :thumbup:

I've read and heard many times that the best riders are the ones who keep riding though the winter, the ones who ride when it's REALLY difficult, and I understand the theory of that statement enough to know why it's true and I've spent years doing it, but this year is the first where I can really see it from the fair weather rider's point of view, this is the first year where I've totally FELT it to be true as opposed to just KNOWING it.

This is true to some extent mate. You have already stated who the best riders are though. Your one of them, you recognise that you are rusty and will ride safely within your limitations.

Have a great weekend.

Nelly

even the best riders will take the car if the weather is super crappy..... because the cagers can't drive in it either. Better to be safe than sorry.

have a good ride!

Well, I remembered how to ride properly again and had a load of fun hacking about the B roads of Exmore and Somerset.

One of my mates was obviously still a bit rusty as he rode into me while I was stopped at a junction and knocked me over :banghead:

My bike's a bit scuffed and I've got a few impact aches from hiting the deck and a twisted ankle where the bike fell on me, he has a bruised leg and a cracked mudgard (he remained upright) but other than that all is well.

Good job I was on the old Fazer rather than the shiny Aprilia!

On Saturday I had a notion I might pop down to that do at the Ace Cafe. I knew the bike was a bit of a state so at 9 in the morning I set to giving it a quick clean. I finished at 6.30 in the evening, so much for the Ace Cafe.

I had the fairing off, mudguards, tail mouldings, side panels etc I cleaned & detailed every part I could get at. It took about 30 quids worth of cleaning products, but when I had finished it looked 'the bollocks'.

I nipped round my mates the next morning, he couldn't come out to play, but did remark on how pristine the bike looked. So off I went on a mystery tour around the Cotswolds. After about 120 miles I stopped at a roadside cafe & had a brew while basking in the afternoon sun & chatted to the other old farts on bikes. Lovely, only 25 miles from home, just a gentle ride home. 10 miles later, it went dark over. A minute later I was in a torrential downpour.

I was wearing a goretex jacket & kevlar jeans. I didn't have any waterproofs with me, although I think that by the time I had stopped to put them on I would have been soaked through anyway.

The next 15 miles were the most terrifying I have ever ridden. It was raining so hard that I could barely see through my visor; the roads were awash with several inches of water in places; at one point I was on a dual carriageway & traffic travelling in the other direction was going so fast they were creating a bow wave that was arching over the outside lane of the carriageway & hitting me; going past a slip road on the same stretch, I hit a torrent of water running down the ramp causing the back end to lose grip. How I saved it I don't know.

I kept thinking I should park up under a bridge or something. But then I'd think nearly home. On reflection I think I should have waited it out. It kept raining for a couple of hours but the first half hour or so was the worst.


As for the bike, performed brilliantly despite the conditions. But it looks like a bag of ****e again now, ah well that's next weekend sorted then :Sport:

The next 15 miles were the most terrifying I have ever ridden. It was raining so hard that I could barely see through my visor; the roads were awash with several inches of water in places; at one point I was on a dual carriageway & traffic travelling in the other direction was going so fast they were creating a bow wave that was arching over the outside lane of the carriageway & hitting me

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Summer's here already then!

As for keeping your bike clean, have a look HERE For only a tenner more than you paid you could have your bike professionally cleaned and treated with ACF50. Bit far from you, but the Newbury venue is my place. We also have another mate who specialises in Fazers down with his bike lift offering to service your bike as well.

fast blue one said:

I think the best riders are the ones who plan what they are doing, take the right precautions, ride within their limits and come home in one piece. Ease back into your saddle and just enjoy getting the feel again.

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Agreed. I also think the most important piece of equipment taken on any ride is your brain. When used properly all is well...