Salty Old Road Dog

Blog Date - 05 November 2012

I admit it...I was in the car last night.  Going to the cinema in bike gear is not really a good idea is it?  Anyhow I saw the first gritter of the year and I felt all wintry and cold, images flashed through my head of dirty visors, rust, crusted headlamps and white patches on my bike gear.  Salt is a necessary evil that keeps the roads ridable and ice free yet plays havoc with motorcycles and their riders.

Salt in water reduces the freezing point of the water.  According to HowStuffWorks.com a 10% salt solution reduces the freezing point from 0 degrees to -6 degrees.  This means rather than skidding on ice and crashing your bike you can ride on sub-zero water and hopefully stay upright.  Of course the salty water does nasty things to your bike which costs money, but I'd suggest it's considerably less costly or painful than falling off. 

Most riders protect their bike through the salty season very well.  What they do is put their shiny motorcycle in the garage, give it a good clean, lock it up tight, put the keys and their bike gear in a warm airing cupboard and use the car.  As such there are many motorcycles out there that have never seen a salty road let alone been subjected to the corrosive properties of Sodium Chloride.  There are a number of riders though for whom this is not an option and an even smaller group who have that option but choose not to take it. 

I'm a member of the last group, I have a car but except for the worst of the weather I keep on riding through the winter.  Why?  Firstly because I'm tight.  The 125 returns 140mpg compared to the car's 45mpg.  I know the 125 will suffer extra wear and tear, rust and general malaise as the salt eats it's way through the tiniest microscopic fractures in any painted or chromed parts.  All this increases maintenance costs but with the price of fuel I still save a fortune, cars weather well enough but drink like an Essex girl on a hen do. 

I also enjoy the challenge...sometimes.  I take some masochistic pleasure in wrapping myself in endless layers until I can hardly move, climbing on board then doing battle with dark roads covered in saline solution whilst the frost, fog and biting winds try to fight their way into my aging bones.  I love to see the bike looking all dirty and salty, looking like I've just crossed the Mongolian Steppes not ridden a handful of miles to get some shopping.  I do actually appreciate most people think I'm a fool and idiot to ride in such conditions, but for years I've tricked myself into believing I'm some kind of hero for riding through the winter.  It's a funny thing the ego...

I am however becoming more and more aware I've gotten old.  The cold bites deeper every year, my patience and tolerance levels decrease annually and the car parked outside looks ever more inviting as I think of it's warm heater, friendly radio, plush seats and an inability to fall over.  What keeps me going is my experience.  I've learned and am still learning new tricks on keeping warm.  I know now to stick to the main roads where the salt is spread.  I know that on a long run a regular 5 minute break can bring back warmth and movement to frozen fingers. 

So bring on another winter.  I'm man enough for it...maybe..possibly...if not...the car's there...but have you seen the price of fuel!

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