Winter - Ride or Hibernate?

[cognosticator]

Supposed to be in the upper 70's today. I have a 190 mile route laid out. 60 miles to Darien GA for breakfast, then 130 miles of back road home. Unfortunately, no twisties in southe east Georgia, but still fun in the country.

[MWJD58]

It's still mild here for December in Chicago, but had my last ride a week ago, changed the oil, cleaned and lubed the chain, topped off the tank and added fuel stabilizer. Now she's on a stand, under a cover with the battery tender hooked up, and just to be sure I'm not tempted, I called my insurance company and switched over to their winter storage plan. Guess that's a vote for hibernate. Time to wash the riding gear....

[PhilM]

Had a 278 mile ride yesterday. Beautiful!! Lots of bikes out.
The roads were clean, no salt or sand. What a great day.

[tiriana]

Rubber Biscuit,
Your discussion about frost heaves brought back many memories of growing up in Hopkinton, NH and Kennebunk, ME. Frost heaves are something that must be experienced to understand.
In my ill-spent youth I bicycled for fun and utility and had many frustrating experiences with the sand accumulated on the shoulders of the road to dune-like depths. You were very charitable by saying the sand was washed off by the first substantial spring rains. Unless you were referring to the rains in July! These are some of the reasons that we now live in Central PA. Here I can ride virtually year round, as long as I don't look at the thermometer. In the winter I drive the car for rain and snow only, much to my wife's consternation.


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[KiwiBilly]

no surrender kiwi style go hard

Originally Posted by Oops!

Looking out the window I see fields that are sparkling white with a deep frost. The road is coated in a cocktail of corrosive salts, grits and a sprayed on sticky substance to keep the cocktail on the road surface.

Do I take the S3 for exercise, before it seizes up through inactivity or do I admit defeat, run up the white flag and take the car?

Somehow riding around, trying to avoid any unsalted areas of tarmac, whilst the rider and bike get covered in grot is thoroughly unappealing. The thought of sliding my pristine white S3 along the cold tarmac is affecting my thinking. Maybe I'll just have another cuppa and another think ...... Maybe I should just emigrate from this barren wilderness and seek sunnier climes?

[Chico]

Getting salt on your scoot and the corrosion that follows is not worth the uncomfortable ride. I park my bikes and let them rest in the winter. Proper prepping is a must and they all get connected to a battery tender.

Chico

[wyomingpat]

It was nice and sunny yesterday and I thought about going for a ride - but when I stepped outside it was only 5f so I decided not to! Happy to ride in anything except snow and ice and have a Kenda 761 coming for the back tire for the winter - might need a front one too. Now that new electric bike with the stabilizing gyros in it would be fun on the ice!

[badmcc]

Still riding, just got a pair of Bike It heated gloves, and a good coat AC50 and all is good

[PJP]

About 4c yesterday, sun was shining, took her out for probably the last ride of 2012. Yes, cold, tentative, then wet, dirty and fun, a bit like the wife, seriously, 50 miles or so, but it was worth it, now for the cleaning...... Will try again in January

[e-rider]

These days it seldom gets too cold to ride around St. Louis with the right, (i.e. heated), gear, but once there is even a little snow here they put down enough salt to melt Antarctica, enough to create a new Bonneville Salt Flats, enough to ..., well, you get the idea.

I've had some some truly memorable winter rides despite the cold, but what salt does to the bike makes you wanna cry.