This is my first season riding, and I'm just curious; How late does everyone ride?  Do you ride more conservatively because of lower tire temps?  I'm thinking I can probably deal with the cold, but I'm a little concerned about salt and sand on the roads... not to mention black ice.

My riding season was cut short this year due to crashing.

I normally put it away once they start sanding the roads.

It takes the fun out of it.

i've been back out during january thaw,
but i don't enjoy it much

brrrrrrrrr

I rode yesterday cause the temps were in the 60's, but it was obvious the ground temps were still low. Coming out of the gas station after checking the tire pressure, I spun up the rear WAAAAAAAY too easily. I was rolling about 5-6mph and gunned it and the tire just spun and the front got more wobbly than I like to see. Needless to say I made sure I rode longer before trying anything aggressive....

So how long do you let the tires warm up on an average cold-weather ride before you feel confident that they'll do their job?  is it a feel thing?

For me it was about another 10 mins of constant riding while swerving in the lane slowly to help the tire warm faster...

Don't be hating, but looking forward to riding all winter here in Florida. Prolly wimp out tho with the cold cuz we had a "cold snap" here already and I was FREEZING on bike at only 50 degrees!   
I HAVE, however, added liner back to winter textile jacket AND invested in Body UnderArmour (Sports Authority or Dicks-SMART buy, btw), glove liners, better socks and head gear so hope to get some decent time on bike over winter here.

I could NOT manage it up north, not even as little north as NC mountains-Tried it 5 years and thus am back in Florida. We do not have the awesome roads the northerners are so lucky to ride, but that's what a trailer is for.

Hope you all stay warm and do get some time on bikes in over this winter tho!

Thanksgiving is my "official" cut off date , unless slippery road conditions cause me to give it up earlier.  Does anyone else have a hard time starting their bike in the cold?

Quote from: Revv on November 02, 2008, 05:56:46 PM
Thanksgiving is my "official" cut off date , unless slippery road conditions cause me to give it up earlier.  Does anyone else have a hard time starting their bike in the cold?

mine always fires right up.

could be that it rests in a garage with radiant heat 

Just ran the gas out of it on Saturday, cleaned her on Sunday and now she's ready to move into her winter home, my dining room. 

I just don't have the gear to ride in the winter around here.

dont know rode to day though

lata

-panthro

In the 40's and wet here, no riding. Plus the rain from last night was ice this morning....

I usually knock off by Thanksgiving but this year appear to have hung it up a couple of weeks ago. I only ride for fun and it's no fun for me with frozen goolies.

Just got off the bike a hour ago. Hard to put her up for the season. Since I don't ski anymore I need the cold fresh air to remind me that I should fo ski again!   

I live in Maine and I typically ride until about the 1st of November.

The two biggest reasons I put the bike up are leaves and sunlight. As the days start getting markedly shorter the sun never gets high enough for there not to be tons of glare. That, and wet leaves like to hide in shady corners. They're slicker than snot.

The up-side is a long "mod-season." Lots 'o work to do.