How Cold Do you Ride?
I was riding this morning in 39 degree temps and thought to myself I need something more then a pair of levi jeans if it gets any colder.
How cold is it when you finally put the bike away for the year or do you ride right on through winter?
How cold is it when you finally put the bike away for the year or do you ride right on through winter?
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I've been known to (street) ride in December, which is real fun during a snow storm. Off road there is no limit to the riding season, but you do need to watch out for the sled (snowmoble) jockies on the trails (open ice riding is safer & easier than woods riding in the snow) 0 -
Before I got married and had nothing to do with my time off. My friend and I would ride all year long as long as it was not snowing or raining. I would thermo up and put on cover alls with a full face helmet, thick gloves and have at it.
Cold, dry air does wonders for your engines performance (have to fatten it up a little).0 -
My Nic says it all. The Season doesn't start until the first weekend in January. Arctic Carharts and Pac boots can be a bike riders best friend. 0 -
Finances caused me to ride 50 miles round trip each day to work for two winters. Thermals, down parka, and artic ski mittens for the hands. Full face, and a scarf for the throat. And still danged cold. On the plus side- no June bugs to whap you in the face! 0 -
I have been known to ride year round in my younger years. The coldest ride I ever took was from Oneonta NY. to Old Forge NY. in Dec. . We left Oneonta about 3:oo pm. and the weather was in the 50's heading to Old Forge in the northern part of NY on my 82 Harley lowrider. It was getting colder and colder the farther we went. The last 5 miles there was about 2 in. of snow on the road so we slowed down and put our feet out like outriggers. We got to the bar and had a beer and shot to warm up. A guy in a pickup truck with a snow plow on came in the bar and was telling the bartender that he say the funniest tracks in the road the last 5 miles. We all just laughed and headed back home. WE got there about midnight and it was snowing all the way home. I still have frost bitten fingers from that ride. 0 -
I ride year round most every day (25 mile round trip to the train station). Hippo hands over the handlebars, electric grip heaters and a heavy winter riding suit & I can handle most winter weather here in Maryland, although if it get down below about 12 degrees I'll probably find an excuse to drive the car[:)]. 0 -
In Kotzebue AK we were riding snow machines in 55 below zero hunting moose. It was a bit chilly that day. I am pretty sure we had more than jeans on. [:D] 0 -
Back in the day I would ride across town as long as it was at least freezing (32F) but certainly no road trips. I never did put it away for winter.
Kick me for selling it, I probably won't ever get up the scratch to buy another Harley.0 -
I'll ride my sled 35-40MPH up until -30 after that everything freezes within a few seconds and frostbite appears within minutes of being exsposed to the air. 0 -
24-7-365 days per year...for 20+ yr... unless below 0..[:0] 0 -
quote:Originally posted by mond
24-7-365 days per year...for 20+ yr... unless below 0..[:0]
Is that that silly "metric" zero Mond?
Why do the Brit drink warm beer?[:D]0 -
When I rode, I rode all year round. Cold is cool!! Wow ...Did I say that? Sounds silly!!! 0 -
Ah hah! So all you tough guys ride in temperatures down to zero and below....and yep, I'm doggoned impressed, make no mistake about it.
So tell me, what do you wear, when you're riding in those conditions? My bike has heated grips, I use that real thin, slippery underwear, thermal gear, leathers upper and lower, even on occasion some goose feather stuff....but you let it get down to around freezing and I can't cut it.
What's a body to do? Why am I such a woose?
Sahagan0 -
Once upon a time i rode year round. Seems like 50deg is about the limit anymore.[;)] 0 -
I sold my scoot about 4 years ago and haven't riden one since. But back in my old "Biker" days, my bike was my primary means of transprtation. I had an old beater '74 LTD that I drove only in cases of snow/ice/hard rain.
I once got hired for a job when the HR person remarked that an appicant w/tears in his eyes must really NEED the job.
I did bother to explain that I riden my motorcycle there in 10 degree weather.0 -
quote:Originally posted by SahaganBeta
Ah hah! So all you tough guys ride in temperatures down to zero and below....and yep, I'm doggoned impressed, make no mistake about it.
So tell me, what do you wear, when you're riding in those conditions? My bike has heated grips, I use that real thin, slippery underwear, thermal gear, leathers upper and lower, even on occasion some goose feather stuff....but you let it get down to around freezing and I can't cut it.
What's a body to do? Why am I such a woose?
Sahagan
I wore long johns, jeans and chaps on my legs. Sometimes womens wool leg warmers between.
Shirt, thermal warm up jacket and leather biker coat (they call them jackets, but every one I ever had was equivilent to a coat) on my upper body. Never wore a helmet, so my head got the coldest. Just a stocking cap and cheap (ZZ top) sunglasses. And of course gloves. Never had any kind of heater on any bike I owned.
I see no shame if you don't want to ride in cold/bad weather. If it got too bad, I didn't.
For some people bikes are fair weather hobby. For some a way of life.0 -
I got my first bike delivered into my driveway when I was 20. It was the dead of winter, about a foot of snow on the ground. The very first day you could see ground I was out riding...at about 10 mph. Don;t have it anymore but I used to ride in the winter if it was a sunny day and not wet. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by SahaganBeta
Ah hah! So all you tough guys ride in temperatures down to zero and below....and yep, I'm doggoned impressed, make no mistake about it.
So tell me, what do you wear, when you're riding in those conditions? My bike has heated grips, I use that real thin, slippery underwear, thermal gear, leathers upper and lower, even on occasion some goose feather stuff....but you let it get down to around freezing and I can't cut it.
What's a body to do? Why am I such a woose?
Sahagan
If you are ring a jap bike just wear a tee shirt.... If you are riding a Harley Check out Gore-tex
http://www.gore-tex.com/remote/Satellite?childpagename=goretex_en_US/fabrics_cont_land_c/NavLanding&pagename=SessionWrapper&navid=HomeLanding&xcmp=fbsgtga4-1&s_kwcid=goretex|5889360100 -
The coldest I've ridden was 6 degrees. It was brutal. The last time I went to Daytona for bike week, I had to wait for the snow to melt enough to ride the tire tracks out to the highway. I don't do things like that much anymore, but occasionally have a snow, or sleet storm catch me while I'm already out. 0 -
Year round here in Southeast Texas[:D] 0 -
As long as it doesn't get cold enough for ice to get on the road. You only have to experience that thrill on a bike one time to get your fill of it. 0 -
I once rode an 1100 VIRAGO for 8 years.(Not non-stop) Winter and summer. (i had no truck)Rain or shine.But then... I live in West Palm Beach..[:D]
Jeff0 -
I know this is a motorcycle thread, but I'll toss in, when I lived in Austria and subsequently going to school in Bowling Green, OH- both of which saw some pretty cold snowy winters- I rode a bicycle all year long. If I had a motorcycle I imagine I might hold off when temps went below about 50- higher speed = greater windchill.
I wouldn't mind a used smaller bike- an older honda or something. It would be nice to ride to work and save on gas.0 -
I think 37 is the coldest when I lived in jersey.Here In South Carolina I never really put it away ,but not under 50 unless its necessary 0 -
quote:Originally posted by spryor
Once upon a time i rode year round. Seems like 50deg is about the limit anymore.[;)]
Same here.
We have days of 50 deg weather year round. Not many, but some.
Don't care to have those icicles hanging from the hair on my face any more.0
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