some of us are riding all year. so i beleve it can helpfull for some riders to be made aware of new hazards during the next months.
watch them leaves
And the pedestrians wearing black clothes, crossing the roads wherever they want, or stepping into the road because the pavement is flooded.
Actually I found the road very slippery this morning. I had two moments going over the main drains metal cover, couldn’t avoid them. It’s due to the rubbish and dirty on the road that got ‘washed’ by the rain… 
Cant wait for the ice! 
Winter riding?.. ummmh 
Ok… go out, if you see the sun is shinning then you can ride your bike… else if there is a cloud in the sky, she is not going to go out…
This is an advantage of living here, only happens 20 days per year 
20 days a year? Grrrrr 
Advice - Mirrors with water beads on (theirs and yours) are next to useless.
Be careful out there you guys. Think about public transport when ever possible please.
Chickening out is the sensible thing to do…
Hey Cezar, that 200 to powerfull for you .
I’ve had the back tyre let go twice already over the last few weeks. Luckily while the bike was upright and traveling straight, but nowhere near white paint, inspection covers, etc.
It’s time to work on those smooth riding skills.
Naaaa, never had a problem. The scoot is a bit hairy in this kinda weather as the brakes are crap. It’s the head down i-pod of invincibility pedestrians that you need to look out for 
oh, and traffic wardens!
Oh, Pacote! I could feel your cruelty on that ! I keep telling Jay that if I can’t see the sun I don’t go out and he keeps taking a piss out of me… But I too was born on a place that if the sun wasn’t out?.. well you know…
The fact is that ! London has not sun at all, whole year around! well, not in my conception and probably not on yours too… That’s why every month I’m off to Costa Blanca to see my old and warm frind THE SUN!
I remember very well what’s it to have a chat with some friends and arrange a ride out or barbecue at any month on the year without the words ‘if the weather’ be ever mentioned…
I try my best to optimistic here and sometimes I even pretend that I can trust channel 5 weather forecoast… 
As Jay says, we have to take the most out of it!
by the way: I’m soggy wet from the rain this morning…
braking distances!
The back letting go isn’t usually a problem … it’s the front letting go that gets really scary!
TonyZRX … hanging off the side isn’t gonna mean that there’s any less force trying to break those wheels free … it will be just the same as leaning the bike!
Thinking about it, it would be interesting to know how everyone is shod.
I’m on Pirelli Daiblos which have kept me sticky-side-down so far 
Bridgestone Battlax BT45s
I live in Central London. I work in Central London. I only ride through choice … so, when the weather is icey, you ain’t gonna see me riding.
I used to live outside London and ride all year round … I just don’t have to anymore!
Ben!!! You’re alive!!
I ride all year round, I have a choice but its a crap one.
Use the car, 1hr+ and no where to park unless I pay £5.
Train 1hr 30mins and that includes a 30minute walk to the station.
Bike, little chilly, risky but I stay dry and its door to door in 20/30minutes.
No contest really, only when the snow arrives do I seek alternative means, even then its probably the car. I’ve bought a winter hack for this year, but to honest the brakes are so sh1te I’m a little nervous about using it. But if it goes down I don’t care, cost me £200 and its there to be wrecked if need be.
Just take it slowly. No heroics, theres no need to filter at speed or overtake quickly. Its not worth thee risk at times. Just allow a bit extra on your journey time and sit back a bit.
The thing I like about the winter is those dry days. It feels great to be able blat it round a bend when you’ve been sh1tting yourself all week before because its been raining. Great feeling.
Oh and Bridgstone 014’s on the gixxer, pretty good in the wet. Far better than Dunslops anyway.
Riding over man hole covers is all good practise. Done it hundreds of times and thankfully not come off, but that feeling of the bike slipping makes you a little less nervous of it after a while. Just don’t hit them whilst twisting the throttle 
Hello Ben… Stranger… How’s things going?
DIESEL…
Hiya! I ride every day, if possible (ok, I wussed out when it snowed last year), unless I have business drinks in the evening. I can’t help it…I love to ride!
A bit of a new situation this winter, as I felt quite happy and comfortable on my Bandit. I now have a Fireblade to contend with and think that I am actually slower on the Blade with the power/wet roads interaction to work out.
Can I add wind to the winter weather equation? I haven’t been overly happy with the bike for the past two weeks (need new front brakes for starters), as it feels like I am wrestling it a bit. A lightbulb came on going over Waterloo bridge this morning…the Blade has fairing…the wind is kicking me about a lot more than I am used to.
Tony…you be careful…gray hair on the way (on my head!) when I hear about your near misses!
What gets me is where they put metal covers. One road near me. there is 2 covers right on the bend at the top of a hill just as you turn left, Both are on lines that you use one on the wide part and the other one is close to the curb!!!
As I used to work for a local authority (Bucks County Council - Highways Dept), I can shed a little light on why the manhole covers are on bends …
The drains run under the roads (especially surface water drains) and where the road changes direction, so do the drains. There is almost always a manhole cover where-ever the drains changes direction for cleaning & maintenance purposes. This is good engineering practice. Now, bear in mind what else is also under there … foul sewers, BT cables, cable co cables, gas, electricity etc etc. This really limits where manhole covers can go, and the result is those covers right on your riding line!
Roads ain’t race-tracks … keep your wits about you.