Sub Zero Riding

[Trinity765]

It seems that those vehicles with thermometers give a slippery road warning at 4c and while 4c in itself doesn't mean ice, if night time temperatures have dropped to freezing and daytime temperatures don't rise above 4c, I'm not going to go out on the bike. Some riders give themselves hero status for doing so, but I think they are somewhat stupid. The heroes are the ones that have to go out at those temperatures because they are volunteer blood runners or even poor Deliveroo drivers - they can have my hero badge but not anyone who does it for fun.

I came home on the A27 in falling snow many years ago and it was horrible - I kept muttering to myself "Normal women, mothers, mothers who care about their children aren't doing this for a very good reason - I must be crazy. This is irresponsible". Big snowflakes were splattering across my visor, it was dark so visibility was very bad and lifting my visor meant that ice crystals hit my face and eyeballs like hundreds of tiny needles. I found that screaming in my helmet both helps me stay alert and warm

Give me your reckless riding in snow and ice stories (with pics) and would you do it now? You can give me your advice for how to ride in sub zero conditions, but I'm not going to take it as I will be in the car or better still, in front of the fire with a cup of hot chocolate.

[ZRX61]

Rode across Dartmoor in the middle of Winter, at night, on an H2, two up, during a blizzard.

Pulled into a gas station in Plymouth & discovered I couldn't put my feet down, we just fell over. Help arrived & picked us & the bike up. Found blood & wool on the front of the bike. Never saw or felt us hitting a sheep.

These days I adopted the idea of not riding when the temp is less than my age: 62.

[wull]

Years ago when I didn’t have a car or the missus required the car then I had to, I rode all year round in all conditions and got caught out in the snow a few times.

It’s for that reason that now I don’t go out in winter at all and don’t even use the bike during the season if it’s wet or too cold that I don’t bother, a case of been there done that so absolutely fuck that, I can’t think of anything worse.

[v8-powered]

As per Wull, I had the daft habit of having a bike as my sole transport for many years so rode all year round - that was up to this year when I handed in my man-card and purchased a 2nd car.

What changed it for me was last winter it snowed quite heavily and despite my wife offering me a lift I still decided to ride - what a nightmare! Fresh snow on the roads, bike went where it wanted - entire journey was spent dragging my feet to keep the bike upright.
We moved home this summer and the road with live on it covered by big oak trees so the road can be slippery even with a little rain, I rode yesterday morning in near freezing temps and the road felt terrible - the car will be used on Thursday when I'm next in London.
I've made the exec decision now that my ST1050 is being sold and I'll likely get a big scoot for the commute, the spare car will be getting much more use.

[Bustaspoke]

Riding on snow & ice? Been there done that..
Age 16 on my moped riding to work I came off on the snow & the idiot car driver who was tailgating me got out of his car white as a sheet as he thought he'd ran over me.
Age 17 on my 125 on a country lane & the back end stepped out as if I had a puncture.I stopped the bike bike & checked everything,there's nothing wrong so I get going again.About 800 metres later both wheels let go & I bounce into a field,that'll be black ice then.
Age 18 on my GT250 slowing coming up to a T junction the car in front brakes & skids on sheet ice,it's a T junction I have to apply stopping power the result is inevitible.
I was an apprentice spark working on building sites,I couldn't afford a car & there was no public transport out in the sticks.I used to dread the weather forecast at this time of year.
About 11 years ago we had a good dump of snow & the roads were blocked,so I took the XT600 out for a play



I fell off it twice in about 12 miles but it was a good,if different experience

[Horse]

Have two.

1.
Went to the Thames Valley police training centre at Sulhampstead, for the launch of Bikesafe 2000. Ironic, since they stayed out of Bikesafe afterwards.

February, quite cool. Came outside at the end. Slid on ice while walking to the bike. And remembered the water that had been flowing across the site's uphill access road.

But that's ok, there's a second access road. Off down that way. Onto public roads, turn left to go back home.

On a road that the adjacent river had recently flooded onto.

Luckily as the water receded it had left loads of grit and gravel strewn randomly, so I rode the RT stood up traily style, picking my way along the gravel.


2.

Bike was only means of transport, other than walking.

Frosty morning. Checked the track from bike parking to road. OK. Checked the road outside, OK. phoned the security guard at work, asked about the car park. 'OK' he said.

Got there fine. Car park empty, so I thought "Park in usual place ... just the other side of that puddle". Or, as I soon found out, 'ice'.

Crunch.

[wheelnut]

Like others, did it as a matter of course when I was younger. Nowadays if there’s ice on the drive I grab the car keys.

We don’t get that much snow here but I do remember a few years ago a very heavy snowstorm when I was in Northallerton followed by a very uncomfortable ride back following the tyre track of the car in front

[DefTrap]

Too many when I was younger, bike was my only transport and used it for commuting.

Worst was going out to work as normal at my bar job at 6pm, totally clear, albeit very cold.
Snow comes down and by the time I leave its fresh and thick on the roads. Turning and braking really difficult, the only good thing being that I'm literally the only one stupid enough to try it. This was central Cambridge. Couple of hours to do less than 10 miles but didn't fall off

[Demannu]

When I was a hairy arsed construction worker, had to get from glaaaaaawster to abingdon every day, in Feb, on my z1000.
Not my idea of fun, so bought a car, and promptly stuffed that through a hedge on the way home from work, so back on the bike!

[Dickyboy]

Like most of you, I didn't get a car licence till later so only had a bike or bicycle for transport, once rode my xt250 riding Swansea to Aberystwyth mostly with my feet down at 30mph in the snow, like Bustaspoke I used to like riding out in the snow on my trailie bikes, which reminds me I might have to take my mate up on his offer of a DR350 which he's no longer able to ride.
Got a 40 mile round trip for my MOT on Friday morning sans heated grips which prob won't be fun but at least it looks to be dry.

[tricol]

Commuted for about 4/5 years on scooters to and from work all year round. I hated and somehow enjoyed it at times, but I wouldn't want to be doing it now.

I'd not long had my first little Yam Aerox and had a part time job at a Volvo dealership when I was at tech. Heavy snow arrived and I left the scooter at work for a couple of days. I got fed up and decided to take it home when there was still a lot of snow around and binned it at a junction just around the corner from work. The driver behind me actually drove around me, not even a quick 'Are you okay?', just pissed off home Busted wing mirror, scuffed belly and a bruised ego. To make matters worse, I had to push the b4st4rd home3 miles!

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Trail riding in the snow is great fun, I might dig out a picture later of me semi submerged in an icy puddle

[Supermofo]

Did 13 years with a bike as my only transport and no desire to ride again in winter it's horrible.

Stupidest was riding my 2 month old Fazer 600, my first big bike, home in heavy falling/settled snow as I didn't want to leave it outside my girlfriends house. So risked crashing it instead There's a reason why my folks road is called 'Hillside', it's a nightmare in snow/ice. I made it but shouldn't have bothered.

[ChrisW]

I rode from Harpenden to the North West for christmas once, on an RGV250, in freezing weather, just to be able to avoid the traffic queues. It was quite possibly the most miserable experience of my life.

[Count Steer]

I rode from Harpenden to the North West for christmas once, on an RGV250, in freezing weather, just to be able to avoid the traffic queues. It was quite possibly the most miserable experience of my life.

Similar. Sarf Croydon to Norf Wales after Christmas. As if the cold and wet wasn't enough, the last 40 miles of freezing, thick fog put the tin hat on it.

(Got back before the pub shut though. )

[ChrisW]

I rode from Harpenden to the North West for christmas once, on an RGV250, in freezing weather, just to be able to avoid the traffic queues. It was quite possibly the most miserable experience of my life.

Similar. Sarf Croydon to Norf Wales after Christmas. As if the cold and wet wasn't enough, the last 40 miles of freezing, thick fog put the tin hat on it.

(Got back before the pub shut though. )

Put me off winter riding for life!

I remember stopping at the services and buying newspapers to stuff inside my jacket & pants...

[Count Steer]

I rode from Harpenden to the North West for christmas once, on an RGV250, in freezing weather, just to be able to avoid the traffic queues. It was quite possibly the most miserable experience of my life.

Similar. Sarf Croydon to Norf Wales after Christmas. As if the cold and wet wasn't enough, the last 40 miles of freezing, thick fog put the tin hat on it.

(Got back before the pub shut though. )

Put me off winter riding for life!

I remember stopping at the services and buying newspapers to stuff inside my jacket & pants...

I remember my overtrousers giving it up as a bad job and dumping what felt like a pint of iced water in my groin after the first 100 miles. We'd also both got our feet in bread bags inside our boots because they weren't particularly waterproof either. ).

[Rockburner]

I've done snow and ice a few times over the years.



Going into the office in Guildford one winter - most of the roads were fine, salt was down. But the last few hundred yards were fun.





In the words of Chris Rea: "Going home for Christmas!".
The worst part of that journey wasn't the icy back road up through the woods to the house - but the main roads were not one single driver had the patience to give me any room. I was trickling along because it was cold and slippery, and every car driver was completely oblivious and tailgating like it was the national sport.


I've also had a commute home one evening from London up the M40 on the Mirthcycle where the snow was falling thickly but not sticking, so the traffic wasn't slowing. It was like doing the Trench Run in the X-Wing game.
Most of the rest of that ride was fine, apart from coming out of a wooded valley onto the top of the Downs and discovering a completely white field where the road was supposed to be. I'd been doing that run for over a year at that time and had to think hard which side of the road the one single visible tree was on! It didn't help that my headlight was getting dim... I discovered why when I stopped for petrol: the snow had built up in the fairing and was blocking the lens!! I was covered head to foot as well and looked like a Yeti.
This is the only photo I can find of the Mirth (on the left): you can see how the fairing would catch the snow!

[Taipan]

If i can get grip, i'll go. I ride into London using the main A road each day which will always be gritted and London rarely has ice. I'm warmer in my bike gear than if I was walking to the train station and to work and its quicker by bike and I'm guaranteed a seat! Nothing to do with being stupid or a hero, its just a lot more convenient, quicker and cheaper.

I rode my old R30 into London in the snow on its Maxxis wet tyres. It was a fooking hoot. Roosting and fishtailing everywhere!

[Noggin]

I had to ride to the valley last November for classes - cos I had no car! I can't say I enjoyed it much, but it raised lots of eyebrows with the French up here!!