Winter Riders...Are We The Brave Or The Stupid?

Blog date  January 2017 

Winter riding...do you? Or do you not? 

What ever your answer winter riding seems to generate a lot of debate.

The longer I have been a biker I have sadly come to realise that the dream we sell ourselves, that bikers are all friends, well family really is simply not true. Although there is still thankfully a certain breed of biker for whom this standard still holds true this is not universal. There are many divisions. I have already discussed the problems of being CC Snobs(The BIG CC Question - Are You A CC Snob?) and herein lies yet another divide that some people like to get hot under the collar about.  

Some (I don't want to go about tarring everyone with the same brush here...so I repeat SOME) non winter riders seem to become very defensive when the subject of winter riding is raised. I find this rather curious. If one is happy with one's choices why become defensive or even rude about other peoples choices? For example I choose to wear a high viz vest. I will if asked be happy to talk to you why I made that choice but I would not call you an unsafe idiot if you yourself did not wear one. After all we are all adults and must stand by our own choices.

However as soon as the dark and rain descends so does the seemingly touchy subject of Winter Riding. It can also bring forth some chilly comments from those who choose not to ride throughout the winter. 

Comments such as :-

• To ride in the winter is stupid and dangerous.
• Riding is hazardous enough without taking on the dark and slippery leaves and wet roads.
• It is irresponsible to ride in the winter if you are a mother.
• Winter riders do not love their bikes as much as fair weather riders because they subject their motorbikes to salt. 
• It is stupid to ride when you are cold.
• We fair-weather bikers have nothing to prove and are confident enough not to feel they have to "prove" anything by riding through the winter. What are all weather riders trying to prove by riding through the winter? 

Whaooh there...steady on chaps and chapesses. If fair weather riders are so happy with their choice not to ride all year round and feel they have nothing to prove then why the icy comments?

I do not care if you ride a 125cc or a 1400cc. I do not care if you ride a 2 stoke or a inline 4. So I certainly do not care if you ride only in the summer. You ride that is all that matters.

However I do not like to be treated with some weird contempt because I choose to ride throughout the winter. 
I do not consider myself an irresponsible mother who has a reckless lack of regard for her own life. I do not consider myself as stupid for choosing to ride all year. So let's have a closer look at some of those frosty remarks.

It is true that riding throughout the winter months brings some additional challenges. Wet leaves etc are hazards but lets not pretend that hazards are limited to winter months only. After all I live in the UK and our summers do not consist of long hot days filled with endless sunshine and dry roads. It rains, rather a lot. Therefore wet weather riding is a skill we should all be sure to master. If you can ride through the rain of summer you can ride through the rain of winter. It is no more hazardous. 

In fact Summer can have its own special hazards. A light shower after days of dry weather can bring all the oil laid dormant on the roads to rise to the surface, creating a very slippery layer every bit as dangerous as leaves. If you never learn to master wet weather riding then you are more likely to be a danger to yourself and others when the day comes when you get caught out in the rain. 

A long hot summers day is not a "none dangerous" time to be out riding your bike. A hot day brings a lot of traffic onto the roads, making it far more busy than it would and on a dull grey winter's day. It also brings out the boy and girl racers. Dry roads bring greater speeds for some riders and these racers can prove very dangerous if their skills do not match their dreams. Their mistakes could cost both themselves and you dear. 
So lets not pretend that summer is one easy ride, it is not. It has its own particular set of dangers you have to be aware of and allow for. Just as winter has its own particular problems. 

With the advances in warm weather riding gear one really does not have to be too cold if you dress and layer yourself up correctly. Being too hot and dehydrated can also effect your riding during the summer. 

As for the salt, does it really melt our bikes before our very eyes? Ok I am not naive I know salt is not good for my motorcycle. However I accept this is a downfall and do my best to minimize the risk. I wash off the salt as soon as possible and I protect my bikes over the winter months by scrupulously covering them in protective sprays. It is time consuming, especially with two bikes. But it is the price I pay and accept gladly to keep getting my smile miles all year round. 

All year motorcycles. One trying out its first winter. The other into its 3rd. Neither have melted... yet
Kept well lubed chains can survive what winter throws at them. 

I ride throughout the year because I am lucky enough to choose to do so. I do not have to because I also own a car. I choose to because my bike is my freedom and my therapy. I could not stand to go for months without riding. I actually enjoy the quieter roads of winter. I can at times also relish the challenge of the wet roads and rocking and rolling in the wind. Some people get their thrills doing 120mph on dry tarmac. I find my thrill in riding through swirling leaves and finding my favourite spots and routes relatively deserted. Ok it is the UK nothing is deserted but less busy at least.

So there is really no need for such negative comments from our fair weather friends. But maybe they are defensive because they themselves have been subject to bragging or negative comments directed at them by some all weather riders. Maybe they have been called soft or accused of lacking in confidence. After all are not some bullies born from those bullied themselves? Who knows? But lets us all try and be kinder to each other and accept we all do and like different aspects of riding. We do not all have to be the same, it would be dull and boring if we were. so lets embrace those differences if we can. 

Lets us not only ride what we like but also ride it when we like. 

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