Upsides to Winter Riding

[SmithSwede]

It was 24 degrees when I rode into work Friday morning.   Obscene weather for Texas!  On my frigid excursion, I tried to make a list of all the upsides to winter riding.  Here’s what I’ve got so far.   Suggestions?

No bugs on helmet visor. 

No need to do that annoying “biker wave” to other motorcyclists.

No need for sun screen.

No niggling concerns about engine overheating in slow traffic.

No need to stop for Gatorade ever hour. 

Hot coffee tastes even better when you arrive at your destination. 

[Tom]

People will not try to strike up conversations with you.

You will find out how strong your butt muscles are.

You won't sweat.

Your neighbors will a new found respect based on you being crazeeee.

You arrive at work totally awake.

    BTDT

[Motormike]

Upsides to Winter Riding?  I don't wear out my tires!   I don't ride below 50 degrees and the bike stays in the garage!

[oldbike54]

 The strange looks people in cars give you 

 Dusty

[Guzzi Gal]

My husband says the "air conditioning works beautifully" when he rides to work, unlike in the summer. 

The strange looks people in cars give you. 

 Dusty

Try riding scooters! 

[nick949]

All good points, although will definitely need sunscreen if it's decently cold.

Nick

[Lannis]

The only other folks out there are dudes on scooters who haven't GOT any other wheels.   They generally are wrapped like mummies in 3 scarves, 4 sweatshirts, 2 pair of track pants, and a big pair of rubber wellies.

And I'll still bet they're cold!

Lannis

[yogidozer]

The strange looks people in cars give you 

 Dusty

that ain't because of the weather 

[Motormike]

I have got "caught out" in plenty of cold weather rides.  Just don't like to start out in the cold.  Have several photos of me and the old Electra Glide caught in mountain blizzards.  No Fun.  Here's a famous quote about cold weather riding.  It's generally known as "Motorcycle Cold": 

"There is cold, and there is cold on a motorcycle. Cold on a motorcycle is like being beaten with cold hammers while being kicked with cold boots, a bone bruising cold. The wind's big hands squeeze the heat out of my body and whisk it away; caught in a cold October rain, the drops don't even feel like water. They feel like shards of bone fallen from the skies of Hell to pock my face. I expect to arrive with my cheeks and forehead streaked with blood, but that's just an illusion, just the misery of nerves not designed for highway speeds."

"Despite this, it's hard to give up my motorcycle in the fall and I rush to get it on the road again in the spring; lapses of sanity like this are common among motorcyclists. When you let a motorcycle into your life you're changed forever."

[twowings]

Upside #47: not too much stopping and removing/adding layers when it ain't above 40 all day!
Upside #48: remembering that heated motorcycle clothing is wonderful

[slowmover]

It's the best tonic for life as the winter doldrums start to take effect.I can't believe how happy I am after a ride in winter.The air is clear,you can see for miles in every direction cuz the trees are bare, and it just seems the V7 likes the colder air.

[Tom]

Winter riding on dry pavement way different than Winter riding in a snowstorm aka blizzard. 

[Gliderjohn]

From motormike:

"There is cold, and there is cold on a motorcycle. Cold on a motorcycle is like being beaten with cold hammers while being kicked with cold boots, a bone bruising cold. The wind's big hands squeeze the heat out of my body and whisk it away; caught in a cold October rain, the drops don't even feel like water. They feel like shards of bone fallen from the skies of Hell to pock my face. I expect to arrive with my cheeks and forehead streaked with blood, but that's just an illusion, just the misery of nerves not designed for highway speeds."

Damn, that sent a chill through me just reading the above.
GliderJohn

[wrbix]

Leaves are off the trees greatly improving sight line around the mountain road curves.

[Bonaventure]

To wax artistic about it:  There's a desolateness to the countryside in winter that seems to increase the concept of being in the elements, moving freely and unsheltered, being away from security, being easier prey for the unexpected circumstance, self reliance is more paramount.  All of which fosters an elevated sense of adventure.

[Lcarlson]

It's the best tonic for life as the winter doldrums start to take effect.I can't believe how happy I am after a ride in winter.The air is clear,you can see for miles in every direction cuz the trees are bare, and it just seems the V7 likes the colder air.

r

😊😊😊

[Lcarlson]

To wax artistic about it:  There's a desolateness to the countryside in winter that seems to increase the concept of being in the elements, moving freely and unsheltered, being away from security, being easier prey for the unexpected circumstance, self reliance is more paramount.  All of which fosters an elevated sense of adventure.

Also, 😊😊😊

[johnr]

"There is cold, and there is cold on a motorcycle. Cold on a motorcycle is like being beaten with cold hammers while being kicked with cold boots, a bone bruising cold. The wind's big hands squeeze the heat out of my body and whisk it away; caught in a cold October rain, the drops don't even feel like water. They feel like shards of bone fallen from the skies of Hell to pock my face. I expect to arrive with my cheeks and forehead streaked with blood, but that's just an illusion, just the misery of nerves not designed for highway speeds."

Sounds familiar!  I s'pose most of the riding down where I am would be considered cold weather riding.

[mojoe]

Got to agree Johnr riding in Scotland in summer was sometimes a 2 layer Job, used to wear a ski suit under my 2 sizes 2 big leather jacket for winter rides in 80's, then saw sense and moved to semi tropical Essex 

[Motormike]

"The coldest winter I ever spent was one summer in San Francisco,"  Mark Twain.  I love that quote, having visited the city by the bay on several occasions, I can relate.

[twhitaker]

There is the one upmanship of being the only biker to have ridden to work.

[Sheepdog]

Down here where it remains a little warmer in winter, it means that we can finally wear leather riding gear.

[Ncdan]

Get a good laugh when my wife tells me how stupid I am when I meet the boys for breakfast when it’s 10 degrees😂

[sidmonsters]

I ride to work and home as road conditions permit, temperature is a secondary consideration.  I kinda feel like I'm pulling one over on Mother Nature, especially here in Northeast Ohio where the sun rarely appears through the cloud cover Dec.-March.  I get weird looks from motorists, and people at work can't believe I rode when they don't see my car out front.  But snowmobilers gear up and get out in stupid cold and go fast, so that's my response to the people who think I'm round the bend.  Maybe there are just degrees of crazy   I've been much colder deer hunting than ever (so far) on the bike.  Those transverse heads that make your knees sweat in July are friends in December! Heated grips and a windshield don't hurt, either.  I think many of the Harley guys around here would find it not so bad, too, if they could just be convinced to put a helmet on!
Steve

[bpreynolds]

To wax artistic about it:  There's a desolateness to the countryside in winter that seems to increase the concept of being in the elements, moving freely and unsheltered, being away from security, being easier prey for the unexpected circumstance, self reliance is more paramount.  All of which fosters an elevated sense of adventure.

 :1: :1: :1:

It is my favorite time of year to ride.  Heated gear also makes the experience change from just being tolerable to something kinda magical almost.  The quality of the air, the sound of the engine, all very different in the Winter riding.  Just plain rewarding.

[SmokinJoe]

With the heated gear I'm comfortable, the cold air seems quieter, and air cooled motors run easier. Makes it more fun to run up and down the mountains as very little other traffic.

[Nic in Western NYS]

Best memories from the coldest rides.  As a lone wolf rider, never more alone than when it's really cold (under 20F). 
Need to have a bike that the corrosion from salty roads won't mess with my mind and detract from the experience.  Maybe an old RT like the old days?  Don't think I could enjoy riding a Norge with salt eating it up.

[lucian]

 Photo opp's

[webmost]

The old ball and chain doesn't want to clutter up your pillion.

[kirby1923]

Winter riding, say from December to March, can be pleasant in some areas of the states but I can't think of one thing to say good about riding below about 30 degrees, not one. Anywhere.

I always wave even in a cold rain.

:-)