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Nightmare of a day on the bike!

Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2010 9:51 pm
by rob's red storm
Evening all,
What a shite day I've just had on the bike! The cold weather over the weekend finally killed off my battery. Just enough juice after half hours quick charge this morning to get it going again though...but suddenly no headlight. Ok..annoying...but flicks back on after a couple of minutes (nothing to do with my poking around with wires/fuses though!).
As I go to leave my neighbour pops her head round, "you had a package delivered on Friday but I forgot to bring it round to you". That would be the new battery I was waiting for. :Finger:
Finally got to work, got off the bike and the bloody keys had frozen solid in the lock :Mad3:
Calmed down now :beer:
Got the battery on charge for the morning and some new indicators to be fitted Friday. Sorted. (and got a pocket antifreeze as well)

Did anyone else experience the freezing fog today? Couldnt see a bloody thing!

Re: Nightmare of a day on the bike!

Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2010 10:50 pm
by Wicky
BBBRRRrrrave going out! I've kept mine parked up and instead hopped on bus and train. Tomorrow should be above zero so will venture out
bloody keys had frozen solid in the lock
Good reminder to carry some WD40. Last winter I went to fill up and the petrol cap had frozen solid, thankfully located a contractor working at the petrol station to borrow a can.

Re: Nightmare of a day on the bike!

Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2010 4:34 pm
by tony.mon
Yeah, you don't want to try the old trick of warming the lock with a cigarette lighter on the tank lock parked beside a petrol pump, although to be fair there's no sticker on the canopy post telling you you can't.

Got mine started this afternoon, and will be going to work on it in the morning.

Nice to hear the old dog bark again!

Re: Nightmare of a day on the bike!

Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2010 4:47 pm
by pinkyfloyd
We had freezing fog on Sunday as I was heading to work. Horrid to ride in.

Re: Nightmare of a day on the bike!

Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2010 8:58 pm
by neil
Image
your lucky you can go on bike, this is the view from our house. Had snow chains on my car until sunday night

Re: Nightmare of a day on the bike!

Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2010 9:09 pm
by rob's red storm
your lucky you can go on bike, this is the view from our house. Had snow chains on my car until sunday night
tbh, on my Coventry-Leicester commute we must have had a cumulative 3 inches max. Dont mind riding in the snow, its the freezing fog that gets me! It was so thick on the way to work this morning my visor froze shut!

Now is the time of year I wish I had heated grips!!

Spent half hour this morning swapping in the new battery, only to find the starter button frozen solid. :thumbdown:

Glad of the antifreeze again :thumbup:

Re: Nightmare of a day on the bike!

Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2010 9:53 pm
by Buckers
I am going crazy having to go to work on the train. When I'm on the bike I pity and look down on pedestrians, commuters, cages etc But when I have to walk/train, I feckin hate everyone. What a horrible start to the day - standing around waiting, squashing and squeezing with orrible strangers with viruses and books in your face. Ugh

I was going to take the bike today but everything went sticky - throttle, front brake, choke. How do you unsticky em? Wd40 I presume but where would you apply it? I've been commuting in for many years but never known it be this cold - must be the 80s / 90s since it felt this bitter :thumbdown:

Re: Nightmare of a day on the bike!

Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2010 5:21 pm
by rob's red storm
How do you unsticky em? Wd40
Pretty much :thumbup:
If water has got into switches, cables etc over time it will freeze and cause the stickiness you are describing. Lube the cables and clean out the switches followed by WD40

Luckily my frozen solid started button responded instantly to a good douse of spray can de-icer and copious amount of WD! Cold enough outside working on my brothers damn bike at the moment....bugger taking the storms switches apart as well! Need more room in the garage!!