Reactions?

[chunkygoat]

Just out of curiosity here, I was wondering if yall in parts of the world with cold temperatures and snow, get ridiculous reactions from people when you ride.

For example, mid-winter, 25 degrees Fahrenheit, no snow - I ride my bike to work and people say "wow that sucks" or "what were you thinking." Other ones I get often are "hey nice leather pants, fag" -- "who's the ass-clown who rode a sports bike to work"

I usually just laugh and rebuttle with a smartass remark like "who's the clown who drove a geo metro to work" :Flipr something to that affect.

Does anybody else get ridiculous reactions from people when you ride in cold weather? If so what kind of comments do you get?

 

[Norbert]

Not where I work. People ask me about my commute while I walk to my office. Twice someone rolled down their window to talk to me while at a light (they usually smile and say "Joos crazee, mang!" and I usually yell out "I'm ok I have heated gear" and we wave bye) .

Marylanders know when something is badass. :thumbup:
It's just the douche bags in your particular corner of Pennsylvania. Sorry.

 

[D-Mac]

Not where I work. People ask me about my commute while I walk to my office. Twice someone rolled down their window to talk to me while at a light (they usually smile and say "Joos crazee, mang!" and I usually yell out "I'm ok I have heated gear" and we wave bye) .

Marylanders know when something is badass. :thumbup:
It's just the douche bags in your particular corner of Pennsylvania. Sorry.

Yup. People think I'm nuts. I'll ride as low as 15-20F, but since I'm originally from Canada, my co-workers think it's normal for me to ride a motorcycle all winter.:rockon:

 

[Stumbles06]

Does anybody else get ridiculous reactions from people when you ride in cold weather? If so what kind of comments do you get?

What's this "Cold Weather" that you speak of??? J/K :BLAA:

40 degrees Celcius today.. :spank:

:rockon:

 

[discgolfdude]

I don't have heated gear yet, but I ride to work twice a day, but most people look at me and say aren't you cold. When I take off all the layers I'm burning up except for my hands. I change into shorts and go drive my bus lol. Then people look at me funny, shorts in winter when its freezing and they laugh.

 

[FB400]

I found 34 degrees F pretty bone chilling 2 weeks ago, so I have to give you props for going out in 25 degrees. As I am cruising around in cold weather I can't help thinking what a bunch of wimps all these people in cars are... so warm and cozy in their cages!!!

 

[youngGun]

I usually get things such as "youre and idiot" or "do you not know what the temp is outside" the best one was when a guy i work with asked if i needed gas money for my jeep LOL i told him i rode cause i wanted to not because i had to...they all think im crazy i usually ride in temps down to the high teens :rockon:

 

[zigzagg321]

I just dont ride when its cold. Tires never warm up... not worth the risk to me personally.

 

[DaveOTZ]

Zig... surprisingly even in light snow I've felt my tire and it is warm... WOW...

People I work with think I'm nuts for riding daily to begin with... I work with a lot of brain injury and Spinal Cord injury... I find that riding usually helps me relate to my patients though...

I find more and more every year people are more and more surprised that I'm just not more like them... Im not saying the whole state of PA but when I lived in Allentown I got crap for everything that was different than those around me....

 

[AutoXer]

I find more and more every year people are more and more surprised that I'm just not more like them... Im not saying the whole state of PA but when I lived in Allentown I got crap for everything that was different than those around me....

Glad I moved from Allentown at age 7 then!

I do enjoy the reaction of "You rode the bike today?" on colder days. Uh, gee, I'm carrying a helmet and jacket, what gave it away? Sometimes they ask "why?", and when I say "because its fun" invariably I get that deer in the headlight non-comprehending look ...

jZ

 

[Botch]

I usually ride thru the year, but this winter we have just enough accumulation that the roads are slick every day (I'll otherwise ride down to 24F, any lower then my faceshield frosts over). I've ridden at least once a month since July '07 when I first bought Fizzer, but December's coming to a close and it's still icy out...

 

[spidersden]

I have had a few non-riding coworkers be surprised by me riding in the cold. Most of them are more concerned than condescending. "Is your car broke down? Do you need a ride?" etc.

Now, the guys that ride, they always seem quite impressed. "Dang, I don't see how you ride when it's this cold." The phrase "hard-core" has been mentioned more than a few times... Of course, several of those times have been my loving wife calling me "hard-core silly"

 

[VEGASRIDER]

If they asky why I ride, I tell them the truth.

I can't afford to drive a car. Coupled with the price of fuel and only getting between 20-30 mpg gets too expensive. Sometimes I wonder how some people can afford to drive. Are they driving without insurance?

To be honest, I'd rather ride a nice bike than drive a POS. I get plenty of compliments about my ride. And if I somehow accumulated a lot of money like in the millions, I would just buy more bikes.

Besides, I like riding in the cold versus the heat. It's not uncommon to get below freezing here in Vegas.

Besides, it's FUN!

 

[bossfn]

I think under 32F (0C) aka FREEZING is crazy! I've been out in 40 degree weather and it was a bit too cold for me.

But...if you live somewhere that gets that cold, that means you get snow -- don't you guys winterize your bikes and put them away?!

 

[jerdman89]

I'm usually comfortable riding into the mid 30's and I only have summer gear and I always get the "are you an idiot" and "aren't you cold" but I usually just drive my car it's the only time of year it gets any mileage. It's a pos and I only drive it enough for 1 oil change a year.

 

[jrevans]

Re: Easy now...

Glad I moved from Allentown at age 7 then!

jZ

Easy now with picking on us Allentown area folks.

Actually, I was born and raised on the good side of the state (Western, PA) but am now 20 minutes South of Allentown.

I don't ride much once they through salt/cinders on the road, as it's just too dicey for me at intersections. I put ten miles on last week and that was probably it for me this year. Stabilizer is in the tank and I'm waiting for that next warm day.

But, I get the inverse treatment that you guys get. In the summer time, when I ride to work (well, when I was still employed....) in my Aerostich suit, everyone asks me how my warm snowmobile suit is. I usually just give them the normal "I'd rather sweat than bleed" comment.

 

[crazy dave]

My coworkers think Im crazy for riding in this weather along with other people including some who ride. I put it this way. I pay for a full years worth of insurance, why not ride for a full year. I do feel uncomfortable riding below freezing though only due to the possibility of ice. but if you dress right its not that big of a deal to ride in the cold. Just keep in mind that your tires take a long time to warm up.

 

[x47b3207]

I'm envious of those who are still riding. :thumbup: Due to mainly salt my bike has been put away for a couple of weeks (and it seems like it has been months).

The only reaction that I've noticed is when I'm heading out the door and temps are in the 30's is my wife just shaking her head. Once on the road, I'm to focused to notice or care what anybody else thinks.

 

[discgolfdude]

The best part of riding to work in the winter is, I get a great parking spot. When it's warm and sunny, All the bike slots are full, so this is a plus to riding when it's cold out. However, today I had to deal with my ignition freezing on me, and I had to go to the shop and get some deicer.

 

[FB400]

Ok so we got around 15 inches of snow on Saturday. Less than alot of viewers I know.. Roads are clear but wet in parts due to meltling snow. Sun is out, 36 degrees.. I went for it. As a result of this thread I took more notice of people as I rode by.. long looks of disbelief.. hey, I like it!!! Not exactly the conditions I want to be riding in for long but satisfied me with a little fix. :rockon: