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Journo, racer, trackday addict and life-time dirt-rider – Fagan says that peer pressure is just as dangerous as black ice and stupidity
Don’t be pushed into anything you don’t want to do on two wheels. There’s no comprehensive blueprint or set curriculum to follow, regardless of the pub talk or ‘expert’ opinion. This sentiment sticks for not only those new to biking, but more experienced pilots too. Despite the camaraderie and brotherhood that’s so evident amongst biking, there can also be a certain amount of expectation to perform and this particular prose focuses on winter riding.
From personal experience, more and more people are taxing their bikes for the summer months and leaving them to rest as the inclement weather settles in for winter, which is entirely acceptable. For the die-hards – or those that absolutely need to ride in every possible condition – fair play, but don’t assume everyone else is in the same boat, sometimes literally. “There’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing and equipment.” Well, that’s the biggest load of guff I’ve ever heard. It’s all well and good if you’re skedaddling around on a big adventure bike, taking solace in its weather protection and wearing top-of-therange winter clothing. Or is it? In my 20 years of riding on the road (and 14 years of managing to blag kit as a journalist), I’ve yet to find any riding gear that’s 100% waterproof, despite the claims – and this includes £2000 ‘premium’ brands with all the latest technology and three-letter acronyms. The most effective costumes I’ve found are those all-in-one rain oversuits that cost a fraction of the price but my goolies still end up sodden.
As well as finding the right garms, it’s also vital to choose wisely in the rubber department. I’ve been laughed at for fitting touring tyres to a sportsbike but the idea of winter tyres in biking is entirely plausible. Those £50 Supercorsas you bought from a superstock team in the BSB paddock may look like you’re Peter Hickman on the road, but they’re not going to cut it during winter. For the sake of a £30 changing fee and a bit of garage space, there’s no reason why we shouldn’t have two sets of rubber for all-year-round riding. There’s an element of willywaving and ego when it comes to seeing how far some can get in the snow and ice. Having highsided on black ice many moons ago, I simply jump in the car and choose to deflect the criticism from friends and those that know better on social media. Do what you want. There’s no right or wrong...