Yamaha Niken
Dark, wet and cold maybe, Mossy still enjoyed his first trip of 2020
Two wheels at the front are ideal for winter, right?
The emotions I felt returning to my house couldn’t have been in more contrast to those I’d had when I left the previous day. The 345-mile round trip I made on the Niken turned out to be unexpectedly enjoyable, all the more surprising given the largely terrible weather I rode in most of the way.
NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS
Togging up for the run to Manchester saw me in a fairly non-enthused mood. I’m lucky to have some top-quality riding kit, guaranteed to keep me dry and toasty. The Niken is a proven machine for riding in poor conditions. And the prospect of spending time with mates over a curry and a few beers was pretty enticing. But, and for me it’s a big but, the palaver of getting ready for action is the worst part of any ride. Trying to ignore the greater convenience, comfort and warmth of my car wasn’t easy
I’ll admit. But I’m glad I finally got underway.
HANG ON, THIS ISN’T THAT BAD
Determined not to use motorways, I knew my route would take more time, and meant the last two hours would be ridden in the dark. I’m really not keen on no-light conditions, especially when every single mile of the run is soaking wet and very chilly. But as I had the right attitude for the trip (and that’s rare, believe me), my patience and care were rewarded. It was a great shame to ride through the Peak District with no chance of viewing its special landscapes, but the Chicken Sag and three pints of Kingfisher made up for any loss!
TAKING PICTURES, GETTING LOST
Mate Shaun suggested a slightly different return route for me the following morning. I’d said I wanted to snap a few pics so he let me know of some scenic locations. With more rain threatening to darken the day, if I’m honest I wasn’t too keen on taking anything other than the most direct route home. Once again I’m glad I hung on in there and made the diversions I did. With an encouraging 10°C showing on the Niken’s dash not long after I set off, weather conditions initially felt quite agreeable. The views certainly were, and with a nice photographic record in the bag of Mam Tor, one of the Peak’s notorious steep and twisting passes, I headed for home. Thankfully, I got a bit lost.
NOTHING’S GOING TO STOP ME NOW
Following the advice of my sat-nav had me head somewhere I’d not intended, but even along muddy, slimy roads, with rain beginning to fall, I still had to declare enjoyment from the ride. It’s all too easy to become discouraged by biking in the winter months. Apart from the inhospitable weather conditions, your bike becomes totally filthy within minutes, and grip levels are noticeably reduced. Yet even with those negatives in place, exploring the Peak District’s empty backroads turned out to be fun. It’s all about being positive, I guess. But with the Niken running well, and offering good grip, and comfort from its superb screen and heated grips, I had little to moan about, so I didn’t!
MORE MATES, MORE FUN
Having lunch in Hinckley with an old mate I used to race with back in the mid-80s boosted the enjoyment of the outing all the more. By the time I got home I was actually a bit disappointed to have it all come to an end. It was proof that winter biking can be worth it, even when several things are far from perfect. It’s encouraged me to set out with a more optimistic frame of mind the next time I venture out. Hopefully, there’ll be another curry at the end of it!
I might not have been in the mood to ride to Manchester in early January, but once I got going I discovered there’s still lots to enjoy. It’s all about being in the right frame of mind, I guess.