Winter Riding

[Patch]

[QUOTE=chic 'n' charge]Winter Riding


My poor bike doesn't come out of garage for almost the whole of winter - am I just a big whimp?

Yup. I did some time at Woodbourne many ago, never stopped us. Go buy some gauntlets, polyprops and a onepiece wetweather suit, and get out there.

I remember taking (my then) g/f down to Chch, as we slowed thru Kaikoura she mentioned she was cold and had wet boots. I told her we were almost there she had no idea. Was pissin' down too.
She luv'd that trip, the hot shower and hot chocolate afterwards too.

There is always an upside to things.

Oh, see if you can do Woodbourne to Nelson faster than 44min :spudbooge I never could. Could only manage 49min.

Have fun in the rain

[sels1]

My poor bike doesn't come out of garage for almost the whole of winter - am I just a big whimp? .

'Fraid so. A very big one. Now get yr gears on and get out there.....

[Goddess of Goof]

Hey I reckon that heated grips would be great - and a superb safety device for Winter riding - don't know about you, but my hands get cold even in Winter gloves - and I don't feel safe enough with numb hands ! Can't respond quickly enuff in an emergency......

If there was a kit you could buy to rig up heated grips I'd like to know about it - and get installed on my bike.

Otherwise, how much would a bike shop charge to install whatever it takes to heat the handgrips? Do you need special plastic grips that can bear heating, or will the factory assembled grips be OK for the job?

Hmmmmmmmmm perhaps its time all bikes were manufactured with heated grips and a simple ON / OFF switch ?????

Also, a weather proof oversuit is essential, and a helmet liner.

I'd ride more in the Winter if I had all of the above.

[SPman]

Heated grip kits are available at Motomail
...and very tempting they are, too

[Beemer]

I must confess I don't feel as excited about riding in winter like I do when it is warmer, but as long as it's not bucketing down with rain or there are gale force winds, I don't mind riding in winter. I prefer to go for a ride in the late morning or early afternoon when the sun is a bit higher - nothing worse than coming home along our windy, narrow country road after 4pm as the sun is setting and not being able to see a damned thing. I live in fear of meeting the milk tanker because the driver seems to think he owns the road!

I have been crook with a cold the past three weeks and I'm hanging out to go for a ride - looks like the weather won't be too bad around here this week so I should be able to take my Goose out flying again!

I do want some heated grips though, the Beemer has them and it really does make a big difference to your enjoyment if your hands are warm.

[Will]

Any one here doing the (Ulysses) Frozen Pines Rally this coming weekend?

.

I hadn't planned on it. No doubt there will be some from this neck of the woods. We also have a day ride going on Saturday. Maybe I could join in...I hadn't planned to but maybe I could shift my schedule around.
Oh damn! Can't. Moving one of our daughters into their first own home. Very important.

Catch up with you on the Remembrance perhaps?

[Eurygnomes]

Chic'n'Charge...I just rode in the wet for the first time this morning, kinda by mistake: it wasn't raining when I left home (otherwise I'm fairly certain I would have wimped out and taken the car) but it started about halfway through my 21k (count 'em) commute!

I'm actually really glad it did start raining because now I have a tiny bit of experience and now know that i'm not going to come off the bike the moment a drop of rain hits the tarmac. All I need is a little bit of confidence (but don't worry - I'm not riding like a loony) and I'm away laughing.

But I've got waterproof gear (and very happy I am to have it too) so despite the fact I was sitting in a bit of a puddle - I was warm and dry. Apart from my hands.

[Paul in NZ]

Yup... people in the north island know all about riding in the winter...

Yes - I rode year round when we lived in ChCh but was damn careful when I did so. The grit and shite on the road put me off more than the cold.

However, even in ChCh a ride on a sunny winters day is a true delight! Make sure you either have decent gloves or buy cheap thermal (Polyprop) gloves for inside your regular ones, thick socks and wrap up and away ya go! A good thermal / wind barrier at the neck is a good move, just be careful of your helmet misting up...

Brilliant!

Paul N

[LB]

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I don't think you're a wimp at all chic'n'charge.

I don't do as much riding in winter as I do in summer - and the rides are shorter (a bit like the days really!)

I've got very good riding gear and heated grips, but I still pick my days. I don't ride in the rain by choice.

Getting cold on the bike is as much (or more) a safety issue rather than a discomfort issue - it's very easy to lock up the front brake if you can't feel your fingers.

I ride my bike for pleasure, and if it's a day when I know I'm not going to enjoy it then I don't.

Having said that, I've had some magical winter rides on a fine sunny clear day with snow glistening on the Tararuas/Rimutakas.

I don't give a shit if people think I'm a wimp because I choose when I ride.
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[Beemer]

.
.I ride my bike for pleasure, and if it's a day when I know I'm not going to enjoy it then I don't.

I don't give a shit if people think I'm a wimp because I choose when I ride.
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My thoughts exactly LB! I love going for a ride, but if I don't feel 100% or if it's freezing or really windy, I'd rather take the car.

I had to go to Palmerston North for a meeting today and thought I might take the bike, but I'm glad now I didn't. The weather was fine and dry, but the wind really picked up while I was up there and the car was getting quite buffeted on the way home.

Even my husband comments as we drive along in the car when it's bucketing down outside "I'm glad I'm not on the bike today!"

[Lou Girardin]

Hey I reckon that heated grips would be great - and a superb safety device for Winter riding - don't know about you, but my hands get cold even in Winter gloves - and I don't feel safe enough with numb hands ! Can't respond quickly enuff in an emergency......

If there was a kit you could buy to rig up heated grips I'd like to know about it - and get installed on my bike.

Otherwise, how much would a bike shop charge to install whatever it takes to heat the handgrips? Do you need special plastic grips that can bear heating, or will the factory assembled grips be OK for the job?

Hmmmmmmmmm perhaps its time all bikes were manufactured with heated grips and a simple ON / OFF switch ?????

Also, a weather proof oversuit is essential, and a helmet liner.

I'd ride more in the Winter if I had all of the above.

Heated grips = around $100.00 for complete kit.
Baehr heated gloves = $399.00 Mmmmmmm toasty! Like little 'lecky blankets for your hands.

[Liv, Norway]

Hi you Kiwies!

-How cold is it in a normal day down there? Snow?
(I'm in Norway.)

It feels much colder to ride in +3 and rain than in -13 and sun.
But I don't ride when there are ice and/or salt on the road.
I don't feel cold in +5 and sun because I wear electric clothes. And wool.


The summer is nearly over here now; I had to scrape ice from the windshield on my car last week, but it was fine weather for a ride yesterday. I was glad I had my el-socks and my el-vest. And I was sorry for leaving my el-gloves at home - lesson learned; I'll wear my el-gloves next time!

Figure out what to wear so you feel fine. If you don't feel fine you get stiff and cold and you are not a good rider.

Have fun, or get some wood to your fire place!
..I get some wood...

:-) Liv.

[Swoop]

Having bought a bike in winter and "got back into it" while the sun is shining, I'm getting to dislike summer!!! Too bloody hot and sweaty for riding
The best thing is seeing all the other bikers out and about!!!
As others have said, get some good quality thermals, especially glove liners, and get out there!!! I get to play about in -20 degrees (another sport) during winter, and the thermals DO make the difference...

[alley cat]

Sometimes wen i tough it out in the crappy weather i enjoy it more.
Dont think ive gone mad yet, its just a buzz to get through it and into the hot shower with your fingers and toes burning off. And laugh about how shit it was or scary. I always remember my torrential rain rides as sum of the best, even if i was hating it at the time. I love a challenge......sometimes.

[buellbabe]

It boils down to choices we make and the sort of person we are.
Now I've got things like heated grips big screen, warm clothing, the Mrs reckons that I have gone soft. Maybe I need to have softened a bit Now I can enjoy the ride rather than endure it. I sure don't miss burning my hands on the motor trying to warm them up on a frosty morning. I'll ride in any weather conditions but I am not crazy just a little unwell.

Any one here doing the (Ulysses) Frozen Pines Rally this coming weekend?

Try the Cold Kiwi for some great winter riding there and back, book a motel now if the tent has past its used by date.

I get a kick out of riding in bad weather..... but seriously I probably ride as much if not more in Winter than I do in Summer! We are bloody lucky in Nz that we can ride all year round, ya just gotta have the right gear and good tyres! I recommend the Cold Kiwi, its Great fun, drink enuf and you won't feel the cold....