Winter Blues
How bad is it too be a motorcyclist in winter? Buckle up buttercup because I’m going to paint you a picture of this misery….
I’m the guy you see passing you on his bike whilst you’re warm and cosy in your car and think ‘‘look at that idiot, isn’t he cold?’’ and the answer to that is YES. I am very cold but the reasons why ‘‘we’’ get out in the freezing cold isn’t because we like it, or because we have a thing for hard nipples, it’s an act of pure desperation that usually hits days after the first snow.
The process is usually the same, I have a plan, I am going to do all the servicing on the bikes, going to sort all my gear, the garage needs cleaning and in my head that will give me things to do till spring. Reality is I’m done after 2 days and I’m left sitting there in an organized garage looking great with three perfectly serviced and ready bikes just looking out into the dark abyss also known as winter wonderland aka Switzerland.
Just the usual view I have from my chair of despair weighing the pros and cons of going out to cheat death in a snow storm.
Just to paint you the picture of pain…it is so bad that I don’t even want a beer….it is so bad that I consider counselling….it’s so painful that the Make a Wish Foundation calls me and asks if they can help me….I get cards from people in prison telling me everything will be ok…Yes its bad.
Riding a motorcycle through the alps or along a Swiss lake on a sunny day is one of those vices that you can’t shake off, once you’ve done it there is no going back, you need it almost as badly as you need that next breath of air or a wiz after 5 beers. I’m getting emotional…I need a minute….I’m back. So what do we do about it is the next question, we Ride.
My rule is, if the temperature is above 2 degrees Celsius and I don’t see a black cat or break a mirror then I’m out…is it safe? probably not. Is it sensible? Hell no. Would I recommend it? Unless I really dislike you and have a wish of not seeing you again then NO. Why do I do it then? Because at this point it’s all I know, it’s the thing that brings peace in my life and order to my head, everyone has something in their life that makes them mellow, something that makes you stop and think life is beautiful and worth living and for me it’s that moment when my head is empty of thoughts and worries and I catch myself smiling at nothing. On one of my last winter outings on Frankie (Honda CM 125 from 1988) the back tyre left the chat at about 80+ in a corner, I got him back and had a 5 minute conversation with him about it laughing and even gave him a little slap on the tank asking him ‘‘why are you trying to kill me you beautiful bastard?!’’ It sounds bad but those of you who see these bikes as their own entity with a soul and story will understand me, it’s a risk to ride in the winter but what isn’t risky really? You can go for a shower and slip, you can go shopping and get impaled by a baggett - so just do what you love and be safe.
The little moments where you stop and enjoy the view and the fact you’re there to see it.
There is always a sense of adventure and fulfilment when you get to the place you wanted to and think back to how you got there. Let’s face it, when it’s difficult it feels way better, if it’s not a challenge and if there isn’t that chance of failure then is it even worth it? It’s the failures that give taste to the wins. If all you did was win would you even know you won? It’s probably just an ego thing to be fair, bragging rights that we ride all year in any weather or maybe it’s just a love thing. I’m sure different people will see it in different ways and do it for different reasons. I do it for the LOVE of it. I’ve learned long ago that an ego is pointless, so just do it for you.
For someone who usually runs from social interactions, a winter ride is spot on what you need, you’re the only one out there.
One of the good things about a winter ride is you ride slower, you take in more of what’s around you and you get to learn things about your bike that you wouldn’t know by just ridding in the summer. You learn the limits of grip and when you go beyond them you learn really quick if you have the reflexes and nerves to deal with it. I do think it makes you a way better rider if you learn to ride regardless of weather because who knows someday you get yourself needing to ride back home in the most horrible of weathers and it will make no difference because you know how to deal and cope with it all.
My advice is to get yourself some good warm winter gear, proper tyres and get out there. Go slow, enjoy and take it all in and maybe just maybe when you get over that grey hill you fought so hard to get over with all that rain and wind there is a ray of sunshine on the other side that makes it all worth it and you’ll think ‘‘Oh David was right, this is awesome’’ or you’ll send me hate mail, regardless of it I’m proud of you for even trying.
Be safe and have fun!
