GOING THE DISTANCE

The seasonal question is returning – which is more of a factor in battery life: the miles you travel, or the time your engine runs?

This year, although people have been commuting far less than usual, they’re also warier of public transport. There are fewer people on buses, and far more in individual vehicles (often badly driven, because the drivers used to take the train). So, traffic is, if anything, heavier than usual. How much does the battery charge when idling, really?

We’ve been locked down again, so winter rides have not included the prospect of a hot coffee or pub lunch, which has made them little more than an exercise in going far enough to keep the battery happy (or long enough – this is the eternal question) and keeping them short enough (in all senses) that I still have all fingers and toes when I get back home.

An unseasonably cold snap has not helped in either endeavour, especially with its accompanying rain and fog further limiting effective riding time.

I long for the days I can once again plan my rides around a hot coffee, good lunch and, ideally, a log fire. Oh. And lighter traffic.