Seriously, it was like I had never leaned into a corner before. RUST-E! Hopefully the weather will hold and I will get back into the groove.
Seriously, it was like I had never leaned into a corner before. RUST-E! Hopefully the weather will hold and I will get back into the groove.
With all the crap still on the roads, its probably better you didn't push it.
Rode to work for the first time this year- same feeling here, although the gravel on every corner certainly doesn't help.
Thankfully we're in a Monsoon currently, so that should take care of the salt remaining on the side of the roads.....and it took me a couple turns before I got back in the hang of it.
If you ride all year, you don't have that problem! Anytime the roads were clear and dry I rode the bike or the scooter. Just because it's cold is no excuse.
I expect to have a shaky start... I'm shopping for a new ride that is a lot different than my normal mount type (tall dual-purpose from sport bike) but haven't thrown a leg over a bike in 16 mos.
It doesn't help that there is still salt and dirt all over the roads between the giant potholes. Atleast I can test it's dual-purpose-ness without going off the actual road.
In reply to minimac:
What gear do you have? I'm good down to the high 30's, but below that riding just sucks. I have fairly severe Psoriatic Arthritis so it's less about feeling the cold and more about the resultant pain.
In reply to NONACK:
I'm good down to around freezing with my normal jacket + layers underneath......but, my bike never really warms up past 140 degrees. I'm also not putting thinner oil in it for it being that cold.
In reply to yamaha:
Same here, just layer up under my regular gear- I've tried heavier gloves, winter jackets, etc. and nothing seems like it's actually much better 
Heated gear would be a big investment if it's not much better.
People run sled dogs at -40F. HTFU 
No heated gear here. Normal cold weather gear consists of my Goldwing First Gear armoured jacket w/ zip in lining, Cortech armoured pants, Converse composite toed work books, heavy cotton socks,a cheap-o painters head sock under a full face and some WestChester padded hi-vis gloves I found at Home Depot for under $10. I can't stand long johns and don't own any. Under the jacket is a long sleeved tee and, if it's under 30*, I might throw on a hoodie. If I'm riding over an hour in the cold, sometimes I'll throw on some knee pads. These 60+ year old knees appreciate it the next day!
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: People run sled dogs at -40F. HTFU
Dog sleds don't go 100+ MPH...unless you toss one off a cliff... with a rocket booster.
NONACK wrote: Heated gear would be a big investment if it's not much better.
I've run heated gear, and do find it can be a big help. The heated vest was the biggest gain. That alone was indeed worth its weight in cold. Not only for freezing cold rides, but for simply chilly ones. With the electric vest I'm no longer chilly. I like that.
The electric vests and heated socks and gloves were washouts when it came to keeping things warm. I have not been nearly as impressed with these.
Hippo hands or the like are the best thing I've found for keeping the hands warm(ish). Dorky, but effective.
I rigged up a riding blanket on one bike years ago, it was remarkably effective at keeping me warm. Combined with the electric vest and I could regularly go riding in sub freezing weather. Did have downsides though, tended to boil my carburetors when I parked, and made me sweat on semi-warm days.
A wind proof rain suit over everything is also very effective at keeping the wind from stripping what heat you have. I used to have a hideous old one-piece vetter that I'd wear. I'd look like a dorky michelin man wearing it, but I wouldn't be cold either.
I wonder if I made a cold weather riding seat stuffed with styrofoam pellets if it work as well as these do for sitting on a cold rock waiting for deer to walk by when it's 0F outside?
http://www.gandermountain.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?i=444843
Those things toast your ass even in the coldest weather thru whatever gear you are wearing.
My biggest problem is my fingers. I've been riding every day since the snow stopped and I am fine in my legs, my face and neck, my core is nice and warm... But my fingers are fricking FREEZING, Mister Bigglesworth.
Although I am popping in to Cycle Gear today to look for a better cold-weather jacket. My ancient Joe Rocket textile jacket just isn't as water-resistant as it used to be, and I arrived at work with a reverse armpit sweat pattern from the rain (my shoulder areas were the only dry parts of my shirt!!). My girlfriend has a nice Sedici multi-lined 3-season jacket that seems nearly as nice as the Tourmaster one I was drooling over but didn't buy.
Anyway, fingers. I seriously have to figure out what to do about gloves with armor but also good insulation.
Lugnut wrote: Anyway, fingers. I seriously have to figure out what to do about gloves with armor but also good insulation.
Arctic windproof, waterproof mittens with liners work for me when skiing in the negative teens. Heated grips behind wind screens seem like a brilliant idea too.
No heated grips. They are nice to have, but switching between four different bikes means I would prefer heated gear to heated equipment, if you see what I am saying.
And not to be a yeah-but poster, but I won't do mittens. I can't cover the brake comfortably without separate fingers.
So glad you're not my pilot. 
I took the Burgman for new tires and state inspection on Monday. Morning temp around 40. I noticed painful cold draft around my neck and my back was cold. I was wearing long johns, jeans, boots with wool socks, heavy leather jacket and ski gloves. The scooter has a big windscreen that also shields the hands so it wasn't too bad. That afternoon I added a balaclava covering my head and neck and a quilted vest. That was warm enough but not real comfortable. I only rode far enough to scrub in the tires.
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