Ever had a 'I goofed up, shoulda gone in the car' day?

[chickenstrip]

[M.C]

[marlc0]

Had a course to do at the end of November, and decided to take the bike, because it was an early start, and i don't like sitting in traffic. When i was leaving, it was cold, but clear, so thought it would be a decent day. Whe i parked up at the course, it started snowing. 5 hours later, I came out to see this.
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2010 Kawasaki ER6-f - Given to the Mrs.
2016 Triumph Tiger 800

[recman]

You left your lights on?

[P.]

[ThatDippyTwat]

If I don't go to work on the bike, I'm not going to work. No intentio of getting a car license back, and there's no bus services that get you there at a reasonable time. The snow wasn't pleasant with spunkguzzlers in white vans tailgating.

As for cosy, it's either stupidly hot (multiple 500-700c heat treatment ovens) or stupidly cold at this time of year, (all doors open because of aforementioned heat, air current over my workspace).

Shit happens, you deal with it, or you don't, I still prefer the bike over the bus, even if it did get there in time.
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'98 VFR800 (touring) - '12 VFR800 Crosrunner (Commuting) - '01 KDX220 (Big Green Antisocial Machine)

[stevo as b4]

Agree on the working outside thing to put cold winter commutes into perspective. I spend 50-70% of my time working outside, and theres days where I've fell over several times in the ice/snow just carrying tools and equipment round.

I've when working in remote areas, got vehicles stuck in snow/ice or on off road tracks and access lanes, and these are 3-7.5t vehicles with big chunky treaded tyres. There's no part of my day suitable for bike commuting, except as MC says from the nearest depot to home and back.

I can walk there in 20min, or if I have to park at the main depot/workshop if I'm van sharing it's a 30min train ride and a 10min walk max at the other end.how do you lot get on that have to take your own tools and equipment to work?

Bike commuting is out if that's the case surely?

[chickenstrip]

[duhawkz]

[G]

[ThatDippyTwat]

[duhawkz]

[Ste]

Ice studs for putting in tyres are great.

I had a pair of studded tyres for a previous push bike which were excellent. Cycling over black ice was no problem. Cycling past cars which were struggling to pull away and were wheel spinning was even better thanks to the very confused look on the drivers face.

You had to be careful when putting a foot down when stopped at lights or a junction and because of how much grip the tyres have, you've also got to be careful once you've got off the bike.

10/10, can recommend Schwalbe Marathon Winter tyres, would buy again. They're not cheap (good tyres never are ) but your other equally expensive normal tyres aren't been used so it all balances out.

[andyscooter]

when we had that bit of snow the other week all the local bus services were stopped due to health and safety
so wouldn't have been any use anyway

I was the only one who turned up every day of the week on time

didn't take bike or car

I walked

it takes about 15 minutes there and two hours home

may or may not have stopped for a couple of pints on way home due to the fact I was walking
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gilera runner vxr200 (chavped)
if its spelt wrong its my fat fingers and daft auto correct on my tablet

[chickenstrip]

[recman]

I'm ok with negative but warm and dry lady points.

[Hong Kong Phooey]

Rolled out the cbr today, cold but dry. I'll just pop out for some bits of shopping.
Wise choice, traffic near the local retail park was nose to tail, gotta get them bargains yo.

Smugly pulled into the retail park and dumped it right by the door.
Righto, just go and get a bit of food shopping, filtered out and finished that errand off, total smugmode engaged.

Right, off home now. Hmm, getting a bit cold, bit sparkly on the road?!
Pulled into my street, which is by now an ice rink. That, and being on an incline made it very interesting. Left it in gear while on the sidestand to stop it rolling, while opening the gate, had to grab into the car to make it down the steep driveway on foot.

Luckily the bottom was out of the chilling wind so once I'd rode the bike down past the icy driveway I could just use the brakes as normal.

Can't even say paying more attention to the weather forecast would have helped.
Feel I had a lucky escape tonight, after vowing previously to not use the bike if there was a chance of ice.
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'81 CG125, '97 FZS600 : '99 CBR600F4, '09 KTM RC8

[Hahadumball]