In Canberra, where I lived for a total of over 20 years in separate stints, there are two distinct seasons. No, that wasn’t a typo. I know that the FOUR seasons are on display more distinctly in the nation’s capital than just about anywhere, that’s one of the city’s great charms.
No, I’m talking about the TWO seasons, riding season and non-riding season. You see, for many of Canberra’s motorcycling denizens, the first chill of Autumn sees the bike relegated to the garage until Spring has well and truly sprung.
And they do have a point. Winter night time temperatures in Canberra regularly go below zero and stay there for considerable parts of the ensuing day. Suiting up and braving the sub-zero to get to work in the morning can seem to be a trial sometimes and the temptation of a heater and the cruise control makes the car a very appealing prospect.
But there are the hardcore bikers who ride whatever the weather and I well remember one night, many years ago, when I returned home after a visit to a friend’s place in the next suburb with my beard cracking with ice. I found out the next morning that the overnight temperature had been -9 degrees. No wonder.
I’m no hardcore biker, but I am proud to say that i rode through every Canberra Winter in the times that I lived there and I enjoyed it.
Now where I live on the South Coast of NSW there isn’t really any excuse for putting the bike away during the Winter. About the only impediment this Winter has been that we have had an unseasonally large amount of rain. Funny, though, I still know riders who basically store the bike for the Winter and get out and start riding in the Spring.
So, with that in mind, it seems to be coming on to riding season again just now. Sure, the nights are still a bit chilly but the days are becoming warmer earlier in the day and the roads are becoming more filled with keen motorcyclists, out and about and enjoying the Spring weather. I’ve even noticed some tourers out and about, packed with luggage and hitting the road to some destination or other. I must confess to envying them.
So, if it even vaguely looks fine this weekend, get out the gear and hop on and go for a ride. I know I’ll be doing that.
