Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Spring Has Sprung

THe UK has finally lurched out of the longest spell of winter weather that most of us have known.

I finally got out on my bike at the weekend for the first time in about three months and today used it for the first time this year to go to work. Normally I'd expect to get out about once a fortnight through the winter months.

Now I don't claim to be an all weather motorcyclist - I don't feel I need to prove I can ride a bike through a blizzard or a thunderstorm - trust me, I've done it and it's not much fun.

My journey to work is about 45 miles (70km) and I start early so I'm out the door usually at about 6:30am. This means, as far as I'm concerned, that the weather has to be at least bearable at that time of day. This morning it was about 3 degrees and had crept up to about 5 degrees by the time I got to the office. If you're moving through air this cold at any significant speed the wind chill factor is pretty cold so you still need to wrap up and even if you do, after an hour or so the cold is starting to get into your bones.

The payoff of course is the ride home at 5pm when it was about 10-12 degrees. Clear, electric blue skies and a light chill on the air. This, I think, is about right for biking. You can still wear the proper kit and not overheat but you don't get too cold either. I'm entering that part of the year when the daily commute is something to look forward to.

Happy days.

4 comments:

nursemyra said...

i hope you wear a full face helmet and leathers too. It freaks me out when I see people on bikes in just their street clothes which offer no protection at all if they have an accident.

enjoy the ride!

King of Scurf said...

I always kit up nursemyra.

I'm often reminded of the story of the doctor who tells a patient they need an emergency organ transplant. He then pauses, looks out of the window and says "But it's just started to rain, there'll be a motorcyclist in soon." I don't intend it to be me.

Ninja said...

Can we have some pictures please luv....

nursemyra said...

I hadn't heard that story before.....