Time to stop?

[lurch12_2000]

Tough to get motivated to go to work at 26? this morning but I packaged myself up and fired up the old 1100G. I experimented today with using disposable latex gloves under my ski gloves and light liner gloves. Not so much to insulate but to cut the wind chill. I was happy to stop for gas after 15 miles because my fingers were non-functioning from the mid-knuckles down. I took a little extra time while filling up to thaw them out. It is tough to manipulate the insertion of the credit card when your fingers don’t respond. Now understand that, other than my fingers, my body core and other parts were fine. Into the trash with the latex gloves and that idea…and off with my fogging up glasses under the full face helmet. Better to see a little blurry than not at all!
It doesn’t help, either, when you’re making turns and avoiding ice patches entering the gas station and other side turns along the way. It gets tough always checking ahead for shady spots on the curves in the road for lurking ice patches, rather than just enjoying the sweep of the pavement. I may be crazy but I’m not stupid and this may be the last challenge I put up to the oncoming winter and sub-freezing temps (you wimp).
Again I made another stop after 10 more miles to finally get some pics along the Merrimack River. Sorry I didn’t get any a few weeks ago while the foliage was at peak.
I enjoyed the final 10 miles to work in a now balmy 29? with the rising sun!
The ride home was after sunset and about 50, but worth it.

 

[earlfor]

26 degrees and ice patches on the road. Nah, I dont think so. In fact, I'm absolutely certain I am not going for a ride. LMAO

Earl

 

[cromwell1234]

Earl --you live in Florida, give the guy a break and go enjoy that nice weather--lucky bast##d--

 

[TheCafeKid]

32 is where I draw the line. I rode up to meet Jim a couple weekends ago in Jeffersonville and then headed to Lancaster. It was dark and 32 when I left. Anything at or below that point, and to me, the risks simply outweigh the enjoyment. You're cold, hands numb, having to watch for ice patches, let alone the fact that the warm tires on a cold road isnt a great combo to begin with. The oil in the forks is cold and thick, the suspension feels stiff, the bike simply doesnt seem to care for it, and takes forever to warm up, so the clutch slips a bit. I have said I will ride till it snows, and I guess i should clarify that. I will ride till it freezes. Then its simply not enjoyable, as you're more worried about the ride, the bike, your hands, and any exposed skin, than anything else.

 

[rudy]

I'm with ya on that one TCK! Though, I kinda regret having put my bikes away earlier this week when they warned of snow. Today was BEAUTIFUL!! LOTS of bikes out today. I was jonesing hardcore for a nice ride in the sun. Even drove home from work with the windows open, radio off and my helmet on so I could try to emulate that feeling.

Ok, I didn't have my helmet on ^o, but if I had it with me, I would have .

 

[Guest]

Do what I did. Move to CA!
Different world though.

 

[lurch12_2000]

Do what I did. Move to CA!
Different world though.

Will you subsidize my western movement?...maybe use your backyard for a few months?....can I use your kitchen and bathroom too?....it will only be a short while while I raise a million dollars to buy a 3 bedroom ranch!^o...oh yeah...is it ok to bring my 6 kids, too?

 

[lurch12_2000]

26 degrees and ice patches on the road. Nah, I dont think so. In fact, I'm absolutely certain I am not going for a ride. LMAO

Earl

Sorry, I'm not allowed to move south until I reach the mandatory age of 55...but if you can put me up for 2 years I'd appreciate it until...?!

 

[lurch12_2000]

....Even drove home from work with the windows open, radio off and my helmet on so I could try to emulate that feeling.

Ok, I didn't have my helmet on ^o, but if I had it with me, I would have .

I would have waved to you if you had your helmet on while driving the car

 

[lurch12_2000]

32 is where I draw the line.....

So whose left to take these pretty pics for everyone while we get through the winter?:-k

 

[Craiger]

Even drove home from work with the windows open, radio off and my helmet on so I could try to emulate that feeling.

What a great mental picture. LOL!

 

[earlfor]

Earl --you live in Florida, give the guy a break and go enjoy that nice weather--lucky bast##d--

Temps hit 34F here a couple nights ago, didnt go for a ride then either. LOL
I normally ride 7 days a week, 365 a year. Once a month, I start my truck to see if it will still start. LOL

BTW, it was about 70 deg today, so I put the liner in my jacket and endured the cold.

Earl

 

[TheCafeKid]

We're getting a late indian summer here, temps supposed to be in the high 60s and low 70s thru the week durring the day, and only get down into the 40s and 50s at night. WOOOHOO!!

 

[Guest]

Temps hit 34F here a couple nights ago, didnt go for a ride then either. LOL
I normally ride 7 days a week, 365 a year. Once a month, I start my truck to see if it will still start. LOL

BTW, it was about 70 deg today, so I put the liner in my jacket and endured the cold.

Earl

It rained in Bako for the first time in eight months. I had to charge the battery of my car and cut all the Black Widow webs free so I could get out of the driveway.
What water crisis?

 

[earlfor]

It rained in Bako for the first time in eight months. I had to charge the battery of my car and cut all the Black Widow webs free so I could get out of the driveway.
What water crisis?

Its pretty well rained every day for a month here. If I wouldnt ride in the rain or when its going to rain, I couldnt ride. I'm in and out of rain so much, I dont even bother with a rainsuit anymore. LOL

Earl

 

[Guest]

When it hasn't rained in awhile the roads are very slippery.
I'm not afraid of a little rain. I grew up in NE Ohio.
I don't mind the 340 days of sunshine here though.

 

[TheCafeKid]

I dont mind the rain if im not headed to work. If im on the way home or just out for a ride and it starts, let it pour i dont care. Hell, this past summer on the 3rd of July, my stepdad and I set out for Booneville Ky around 6pm. We were meeting up with Mike Riddle the next morning in Slade, and he was gonna ride with us down to Booneville so my stepdad could visit his grandparent grave site and clean it up, as no one had been there in 20 years. We left Dayton, got to Cincy and the skies opened up. We only stopped once because it was raining so hard you couldnt see 10 feet in front of you, and I75 was not shedding the water fast enough to keep up. It was a lake, and the lack of vision and that combined made us think about hydroplaning, so we stopped under a bridge for a bit untill it let up. It let up enough, and we rode in the rain for 200ish miles in the dark. Then the next morning, Mike showed up at the motel, and we set out in the rain again. It rained all day, letting up just as we got to my stepdads grandparent cemetary. It stopped long enough, then when we left, it started again. Hard. We kept going thinking the weekend was a bust for me and Mike as far as hitting some twisties. Then, right about the time we hit Natural Bridge, the sun came out, and within an hour the roads were dry, just in time for us to hit one of the most fun roads in the Red River area, KY77 near the Nada tunnel!

Anyway, it was a mostly wet weekend, and the longest Id ever gone in the rain. Its weird, when you adopt the attitude of "screw it" and ride, its not as bad as you think it would have been to begin with. Its actually kinda fun to ride in the rain sometimes, really.

 

[maro]

Damn city driving makes it NOT fun in the rain. Today I woke up feeling lazy and running late. I decided right off the bat I wasn't gonna take the bike, a chill in my bones stamped my decision... But once I got outside i realized it felt warmer outside then inside. DAMMIT! oh well, took the cage in cause I was late, tired and really need to get some proper warm riding gear.

supposed to be going up to 70 on Friday!