Are you a Hot or Cold Rider?

[Kurt'sSV]

It's now the start of summer and main riding season (well for the rest of the country, riding season for SoCal last 12 months). Instead of riding through chilly morning weather, we're going to enjoy early starts because we're going to try to beat the heat. But is riding in the heat worse than riding in the cold? Or is the cold worse than riding in the heat?

I would rather ride in the heat than in the cold even though I have plenty of cold weather gear to wear. I feel that I can move around better on the bike when I'm warm. I'm also more confident in the stickiness of the tires when the asphalt is warm.

[Jarasco]

Unless you can afford heated grips, heated vests, heated socks, and a goldwing with a heater on it.... you're always going to be cold with cold weather riding.

With the warm weather, the only really sucky part is when you get stuck at a light. Oh and you have to pack more water.

[Seven]

I prefer the warmth. Probably because I just don't have the gear for cold weather riding.

[Knightshade]

I'd rather sweat than freeze...if it gets really hot..you just sweat more...so you drink more...if it gets really cold...then you're shivering...and the fingers and the back of my head hurt from the cold air..

[bwarbiany]

I'm from Chicago... Riding through some of the near-desert areas hear in SoCal, wearing heavy leather, sucks. No matter how well the tires are sticking.

I'll take cold (45-50 degrees) before anything higher than 95 any day of the week.

[TFK_in_Mass]

Oddly enough, Massachusetts drivers (the worst in America) are more cognisant of bikes in the winter, because all of the obnoxious Harleys have been put away. The drivers will be more aware of the rarity and not hit you.

That, and by the time summer rolls around, drivers have been woken up at 3:00 a.m. by some wanker on his drag-piped Fat Boy so frequently that they are actually gunning for bikers, no matter who.

[pinhead875]

If I had to choose, I'd rather ride in hot hot weather than cold cold weather.
I have gear for both, but being cold while riding just plain sucks.

[doub1etap]

My coworkers prefer that I ride in cold weather

[CSMRellim]

I think this is a pretty easy question to answer. Cooler weather is much better for the simple reason of being able to wear more protective gear and not dying from the heat. More protective gear gives you more confidence, which in turn translates to faster times/speeds! Thats what everybody rides for, right? J/K:D

[T-Hip]

Originally posted by TFK_in_Mass
Oddly enough, Massachusetts drivers (the worst in America) are more cognisant of bikes in the winter, because all of the obnoxious Harleys have been put away. The drivers will be more aware of the rarity and not hit you.

That, and by the time summer rolls around, drivers have been woken up at 3:00 a.m. by some wanker on his drag-piped Fat Boy so frequently that they are actually gunning for bikers, no matter who.


Mass drivers are the worst in America. I was almost hit on Monday so I don't know if anyone is paying more attention here. Usually there is just so much trafic that nobody can go fast enough to kill you.

TFK what area do you ride? I live near Boston and haven't found any great routes. I have had to go out of state away from the traffic and police to have fun.

[stingray]

warm but not hot is a good weather to ride in. @ the track, anything about 100F ambient is too hot (it means the tarmac is a good 15-20F over that). 90F is a good temp. not a scorcher but you know the tires are @ a good temp. perfed leathers, gloves and a good well vented lid goes along way to being comfortable in mildly hot temps.

usually summer trackdays (particularly out of the bay like t-hill, bwillow, etc) get some HOT days. a few july trackdays, goes to about 135-140F tarmac temp and about 110 ambient. the shade and the misters were going full blast and if you stood anywhere outside of misting water, you'd get burned. on track, you could literally feel the your feet burning up from the heat radiating from the track.

[CrowLaw]

Some like it hot!

[einstein]

i am a cold ad hot rider but would probably prefer warm days.

[NJersey]

It's not the temperature; it's the environment. The chill is hitting us here in the northeast but the environment is at its best. I love the fall and all it brings. Even though I'll be waking up to temperatures in the upper 30's tomorrow, I'm looking forward to cranking up my SV and feeling every sense of Fall. I usually call it quits it's below 35 when I get up for work, but that's only because I'm cautious about hitting some frost on the road before the cagers have had a chance to warm them up. Otherwise, the smells of Fall are better than any other time of year and the crisp air is worth some stiff knees.

Enjoy the ride... just keep your hands warm!

[drewster]

hot/ cold...i prefer the warm weather but i will take what i can get as long as there is no worries about frost...too cold just dims the senses,but, if i take my wife for a cold ride it is a good excuse to warm up when we get home ;) ;)