I tend to ride all year round. Not for 'Hero points', but simply because I find using the car a complete chore now. When I had both the R80 Beemer and the Cossack outfit, I was well sorted for winter. Both were flat twins so kept the feet warm, both had heated grips too. I had B.M.W. handguards on the R80 which did really well but not as good as the Russian made hand guards on the Cossack. I rode around Aberdeenshire all day in minus-zero temperatures and my hands were toasty.
Plenty of layers is the key. When I had to go from Westhill to Blackburn every day in the winter on the moped then the GP100, I had jeans, fleecy troosers with cooncil waterproofs on top, t-shirt,jumper, leather jacket and the snorkel parka I had at school,hands were covered with a pair of my mum's thin gloves and a huge pair of ex-army gauntlets, feet had 2 pairs of socks,1 pair of thick soccer socks and a pair of wellies over them. The piece-de-resistance was the pair of screenwash containers(2.5 litre I think?) cut open and taped onto the bars with a self-tapper holding them steady at the bar ends. Looked really 'Heath Robinson' but meant I didn't get frostbite!!
I still remember seeing guys on race reps in the late 80's/early 90's with home-made fairing extensions fitted to keep off the windblast.
As you can see, I didn't really DO fashionable biking in my teens. I tried it but preferred to look like a complete nonce and be warm, than try to look cool in jeans and baseball boots, wondering if you're ever going to see your genitalia again.
I think most of us blokes have experienced the panic that is getting off the bike, running behind a tree/bush, then finding out that your fingers have ceased to function and you're struggling to get your zip open and get your 'Old Boy' out before your bladder lets go
On the subject of riding, my mate mothballs his bike as soon as there is the threat of cold/ice/snow, usually around October, then he pulls the bike out for it's MOT in late March. The calipers have seized up,the chain is solid and, worst of all, his riding skills and confidence have deteriorated so he spends the next month or so sorting the bike then fannying about like he needs stabilisers.
General opinion seems to be- Yes, put the bike away for winter but keep it maintained and ready for use so that when there's a nice sunny day or two, you can get out and hone your riding,and be up to speed by the time the good weather arrives. Bikes don't like not being used and if you're not out on the bike, SWMBO will find you things to do around the house or make you go shopping
Jeez, I don't half ramble sometimes...................................
, i blame black ice 
astra till i get the old girl fixed, isnt it amazing how light your bike gets when u lay it down 200-odd kilo's suddenly became feather weight 
, it was a sad day, people at work blamed inexpereance not being big headed but i do a fair bit off road and have a good idea of what goes where when and how, i had a choice of barb wire fence and 5ft grass bank or the friction filled tarmac 
,
. cya 
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