1st ride in 6 weeks

[Aceslock]

As a fine weather rider, i have been sitting by the window every day, going in and out of the garage to look at the bike, hoping, praying that this f##kin rain will stop so i can get out on it....... well finally yesterday i said sod it!

Took a few attempts to get it started, but then she purred in to life...... i think i had a semi

As soon as i went off the drive it emptied down for about 5 secs but then cleared up thank god

I was very nervous tho for some reason..... don't know if it was because i haven't been out for so long combined with the damp road surfaces, or the fact that i had a skinful on Saturday. Does anyone else on here get nervous after not riding for a while?
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Previous Bike: Skyjet SJ27
Sold: Yamaha YZF 600 R Thundercat. Sold: ZX636R
Current bike: R1 14B (Beast)

[rubyhorse2]

dont tend to miss that many days. Longest is usually my summer hols so couple of weeks.

You need to start enjoying the rain

[NJD]

If you're in that much of an urge to ride and don't want to take your bike out in anything but the sun / clear weather why not get a cheap winter hack from gumtree or alike to practice riding in poor conditions and to allow you to pootle about on something you wont have to worry about making look clean all the time. In honesty (at least where I am) the winter thus far has been tame, most challenging conditions I've encountered (since I ride a tiddler) are strong winds blowing me about uncontrollably. Get on yer bike.

I use the bike for commuting so don't really go all that long without it, a few days in a row perhaps on rare occasions. On the whole I've been nervous before rides but as soon as I jump on the bike I get my head into gear and just ride, not to say that every ride is %100 perfect or even close mind.

[Aceslock]

Its not the bike i'm worried about getting wet its me....

As i don't commute on my bike (although i did in the summer) i have no reason to go out in the rain if it can be helped. Although you are probably right, i should ride in the rain to improve my skills.
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Previous Bike: Skyjet SJ27
Sold: Yamaha YZF 600 R Thundercat. Sold: ZX636R
Current bike: R1 14B (Beast)

[chickenstrip]

I've been a little, shall we say, apprehensive at the start of the last couple of rides, but mainly because my tyres are about on the limit and I've been riding in places where the roads are awash. But a few minutes into each ride and I figured all's well and just got on with it. But I knew I wouldn't be pushing it at all either.

The last ride around the Lakeland fells was actually enjoyable because of the conditions - I just saw it as a little bit of a challenge - at least there was no ice to worry about.

But I can appreciate the OP's sentiment; at this time of year I'm just willing winter to be over, and spring to hurry up and get here!
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[Holdawayt]

I rode for the first time yesterday since passing my test in August. Safe to say I was a bit wobbly. Took the bike for it's MOT, went off to Bridgnorth and almost reached Wales. After that I was absolutely fine.

I know what you mean though, I didn't want to bank it over on a wet corner even though I knew it'd be fine. Mind over matter and all that. You'll get back into the swing of it. Wednesday looks like a nice sunny day - commute that day and have some fun!

Tom.

[c_dug]

I've had a couple of extended breaks (3-6 months) in the last 3 years, due to injury and mechanical issues. I've taken it quite easy to start with when first getting back on, but in all honesty within a couple of miles I've generally got back into the swing of things.

I think I've done a bit over 100,000 miles on two wheels in the last 9 years or so though, and I reckon that helps. Six weeks off after just passing your test would probably be worse.
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[Matt B]

I think it's pretty normal to feel that way if you haven't been out for a while. I always feel a bit rusty and stiff if I haven't ridden for a bit and our street makes it worse. It never really gets much sun in the winter so when the weather has been damp it takes ages to dry out and is often covered with a layer of slimy leaves. Combined with cold tyres I tend to take it really easy for a while. Only takes a few miles for me to warm up though, not a bad thing because it gives the tyres a chance to warm up too.
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stinkwheel: He had an animated .gif of a cat performing fellatio. It's not socially acceptable. It can have real life adverse effects on other people.

[iooi]

[thepuma]

Why won't you go out in the rain.
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YBR125 (SOLD) - CBR250R(SOLD) - CBR650F(SOLD) Current - Street Triple
765 RS

[stevo as b4]

Stop using bike as a toy if you can?

I don't ride often, but when I do I like to use it as an excuse to go somewhere, run an errand, visit friends or pick up something from the shops. I also don't care about being a crap rider when I feel like one, and because I do 100's instead of 1000's of miles a year on average these days, I have no reason to want to get back into roadcraft, and trying to be fast, smooth, make progress and feel like I'm doing it right.

The roads were better in 1998-2005, traffic was less, speed limits were higher on some routes and much hooning was done at times. Been there, done it, seen it and been to enough bike meets, race events and touring trips to satisfy me and so on todays overcrowded roads, which loads of wankers, OAP's, Twats, Foreign useless drivers, and a ton of arrogance and zero fucks given to every other road user, I don't care if I don't ride much and will pick my days, randomly as and when I feel like it.

[Aceslock]

[M.C]

Yep, I find nervousness translates a lot more on a bike than in a car. After 8 months without riding I felt like a complete noob, similar period without driving and I'm fine. Odd as I find riding more natural

[Deso]

I managed to get out Sunday just gone for the first time in 6/7 weeks due to it being wet and miserable.
Only out for a couple of hours down to Willingham Woods, but boy did it blow the cobwebs away!

My bike is a toy and I don't go out purposely in the rain. If I get caught out in it then meh.
I don't mind cleaning the bike after the rain has crapped it up, but it's the salt through the winter that does the damage. I have ACF50 and all the cleaning stuff etc, but just don't feel the need to expose my bike to the wet.
I keep an eye on the weather and pick my weekend days when not at work. I think I got wet 3 times this year.
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What if the whole world farted at once?

[Aceslock]

[talkToTheHat]

Overcook the braking in a car, likeky abs kicks in and you overshoot where you planned on stopping by a fee feet.

Do the same on a bike and there is a high chance of expensive an painful.

Taking it gently through a wet and slippery roundabout? I bet the driver behind doesn't understand why you are dawdling and gets agressive.

Yeah riding in the rain isnt as much fun as riding in the dry. But if i didn't I'd never ride the damn thing. I had the incentive when i first started riding to ride across town late at night all the way through winter. Saw all the rain and wind and got proper cold but i leant how to ride.

That said i'm gonna grab a cup of coffee, then collect my parcel whilst it is dry.
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Bandit. does. everything.

[Aceslock]

[M.C]

Riding in the rain can be beneficial, as you need to be smoother it helps your riding overall. The main thing I don't like is the lack of visibility, but if just the roads are wet it's normally not that much of an issue, you just need to be more careful of manhole covers, white lines etc.

I sometimes get cars coming really close (even in the dry), then when I power through the corner they're nowhere, in a complete mess braking into the corner. I guess you don't really appreciate slow in - fast out until you're on a bike. Anyway ignore them, if you go in too fast it's you that crashes.

[talkToTheHat]