Who rides in the winter?

[AstronautNinja]

I actually did ride daily as a kid thinking back. Ringing the neck of a 50cc every waking moment of the day, roughly an hour each way to college. 

[AstronautNinja]

The beast in question. 

 

To get it de-restricted without my dad knowing I rode it to a local engineers, took the exhaust off in the carpark, borrowed an angle grinder, chopped the offending section off and had them weld some tubing in place. 

 

I thought I was being clever, definitely not realising the bike would be loud AF and blatently obvious I'd been messing but my god did it feel fast at the time with my newly unleashed 55mph top speed. 

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

A bit off piste but related.   I said elsewhere that my new Richa goretex gloves leaked so they were replaced. After the rain this week I can confirm that the replacements also leak. Not as badly as the first pair but definitely wet inside after a few miles in moderate rain. 

 

They are very comfortable and excellent for a range of temperatures,  but definitely not as waterproof as goretex claim.

 

My cheap non-heated IXS winter gloves are actually much better at keeping my hand dry. 

 

My heated Gerbing gloves are pretty useless in the rain. Fine on a dry frosty day but once wet take ages to dry out. 

[Saul]

I have never had heated gloves, heated grips but not gloves.   I have Richa, Akito and Weisse gloves but the only ones that are anywhere near waterproof are Alpinestar Drystars.   Not perfect but they have to be proper soaked to let any dampness through, never on my work commute.  Problem with the Drystars is they are bulky and clumsy in use.  I like the Weisse best for comfort but are not waterproof in any way.    I tend to wear whatever is dry on a run of wet days but it has to be proper Baltic to resort to the Drystars which is the only time I appreciate them.     I have a Richa riding gear and that is waterproof and has not leaked in a couple of years, my commute is 45 minutes so in that context it has worked very well.  My Richa gloves are ok but not waterproof, pretty sure they aren't Goretex.    Don't know if that adds anything of worth but just my experience.  

[RideWithStyles]

I Dont bother with heated gloves (only heated grips for me) as it’s another thing to go wrong and a lot of compromises on a  PPE product that is very individual size and fit so difficulty finding a normal glove is hard enough.
gloves have a hard (shorter) life compared to other clothing to start with before fragile components (heating,wires,control and connections) added let alone for a lot more money…

Edited September 25, 2024 by RideWithStyles

[bud]

I commute everyday. Luckily we don't see any snow often this far south.

Edited September 25, 2024 by bud

[Capt Sisko]

Strange, my Richa winter gloves are coming up to five winters old and have never leaked a drop.

[S-Westerly]

9 hours ago, Capt Sisko said:

Strange, my Richa winter gloves are coming up to five winters old and have never leaked a drop.

Ditto. I've a pair of Richa winter gloves with goretex (Atlantic model?) which are my goto winter gloves and they've been keeping my hands dry for 2 winters now. In really cold weather I combine them with heated inner gloves from Keis in conjunction with a heated vest. As comfortable as it gets and I've ridden in heavy rain all the way from Gloucestershire to Northumberland in December. Not fun but survivable. 

[Saul]

On 23/09/2024 at 14:13, AstronautNinja said:

Some absolute warriors here

 

To those who commute / ride daily. Do you have a car?

I do, sometimes I do go for the heater and radio but only when the weather is dangerously bad, IMHO obviously.   I really don't like crossing Bodmin Moor in the dark and foggy or icy conditions on two wheels.  Don't mind wind, cold and rain.     Just to clarify I only work 10 to 12 night shifts a month so don't commute daily.  

[Mawsley]

Work from home and avoid going to meetings, so no commuting for me. So zero chance I go out in foul weather anymore. At one point I was doing 30k p/a, I’ve served my time with numb fingers.

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

If the current weather continues I shall be investing in a snorkel. 

[peepae]

I send it every day, more careful if warnings of ice but dual carriageways usually remain perfectly fine. It's the roads towards them that you have to watch out for. 

Haven't dropped my bike due to ice or snow since riding in 2019. It doesn't help that I do not have any other transportation method.

 

Might be my cycling skills from having to cycle 40km every day no matter the weather from 6 to 19 

 

(If I had to ride on residential roads most of the way, I would not be riding my bike when there's ice warnings around. Snow is fine as long as the road has cleared and no rain.)

Edited October 3, 2024 by peepae

[Throttled]

I ride all year. This year has had more winter than summer miles due to the weather. Today's run to Glencoe is the first calm day in perfect conditions, no high winds all year.

[Copycat73]

fcuk that .. been there done that ... now i`ve got a ford wit a nice heater..

[John Metcalfe]

I'm lucky enough to live in Tunisia so can and do ride all year round.

The temps in our winter are around 20 to 25 during the day dropping down to around 10 at night so still warm enough to be out and about after dark.

[Trooper74]

All year round, rain,  cold, freezing, … but no ice … 30 years ago I was trapped on a flat country road, on the the way to RAF Church Fenton,  … black ice … even with my feet down I fell off …. Never again … if it’s icy I’m strictly a 1000hrs - 1500hrs rider ….

Here’s a GOM thing … all the guys and girls on the massive Adventure Bikes waving and nodding to you in August ……. Where Were They In February !!!  
Oxford Heated Handlebar Grips ….. are a gift from the gods ……

[S-Westerly]

With you on black ice. Very careful what roads I ride when black ice can be around and try and avoid darkness then. Never been affected by it on a bike but have written off 2 cars on it.

[Blackholesun]

Ride all year to work and back but would probably not bother in the snow. Although my alternate transport would be a bicycle!

[Saul]

Bit parky riding home this morning.    
 

Edited October 13, 2024 by Saul

[Simon Davey]

2 hours ago, Saul said:

Bit party riding home this morning.    
 

 

 

That's a bit too "fresh".

[Gerontious]

Ready for it…,

 

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/Q4dFVVJV7JFNgU7o/?mibextid=WC7FNe

[Saul]

5 hours ago, Angela Collen said:

@Saul that peg looks really high tech!!

Tis functional though

 

[Simon Davey]

4 hours ago, Gerontious said:

Ready for it…,

 

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/Q4dFVVJV7JFNgU7o/?mibextid=WC7FNe

 

That's pretty ingenious.

[Fleck]

We're out for a ride and lunch tomorrow as long as it's 8 Celsius or above we're good to go.

 

Usually get out once a month in winter