"Weather" or not to ride

[HawkGTRider]

Like it has been for many across the country, it's been really cold the last few days. I've managed to get out and ride one day so far this month...how sad, unless you haven't been able to get out at all.
Now, I'm sitting here watching it snew. I spelled it that way so that I could respond to inquiries of "What's snew?" My response..."Not much...what's new with you?" I can't remember what Vaudeville Comedy routine that comes from...probably Abbott and Costello or someone else from a similar era.
For real, I'm sitting here watching it snow. The forecast is for 4-8 inches of accumulation  today and tonight. We haven't had a snow that big (big for here) for a few years, so things will come to a grinding halt now for a few days. I know many of you deal with quantities that make that sound like a dusting, but it's a lot for here. If I want more, I can go up into the Smoky Mountains National Park and get all I want. There'll be plenty there. I've got plenty of groceries and don't have to get out for a few days.
I'm looking forward to days nearer the end of the month as the long range forecast is better. There are a couple of days with snow in the forecast, but most days are clear with temperature highs in the mid 30s-mid 40s. I can do that for some short jaunts and test rides after working on a bike.
Be careful out there. Ride when you can. It will get better. And I'm looking forward to seeing other MSTA riders out and about.

[aaronengle]

Here in the land of the Kiwi I just finished my third day of riding. 22 celsius felt warm for this southern Ohio farm boy.OH! Aaron   

[STLTHMSTA]

Oh sure you SOB rub it in.  LOL In case you all didn't cyfer that, A-a-ron is in New Zealand having a ball I'm sure. A trip of a life time for sure. Enjoy old buddy, see ya when you return.  What kind of scoot do you get to ride there??      TM

[aaronengle]

Triumph  800 Tiger. Still got 20 days left so I wont go into many details yet. Maybe a full report write up during a flight layover. Aaron 

[STLTHMSTA]

Awesome, remember to stay to the left.  LOLOL.   TM

[Britman]

It's slowly melting here in Maggie Valley NC with more forecast Sunday.              Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[NinjaBob]

60 Degrees here yesterday. Got in a 150 mile lunch ride with 4 other members.

[HawkGTRider]

60 Degrees here yesterday. Got in a 150 mile lunch ride with 4 other members.

With a few days advance notice thanks to the long term weather forecast, MSTA members Roger White, Bill Clevenger, friend Gene Forbes, and I went out for a lunch ride on Friday (the 17th). There was still plenty of snow in yards and on less used driveways, so we decided to stick to bigger roads...something we usually leave for others as we prefer little backroads. We just weren't in the mood for picking up bikes from any surprises in a shady area that might still be a bit slippery. Our destination was the Green Tomato Cafe near Mooresburg, TN northeast of Knoxville. With a round trip of about 100 miles, it seemed like the right distance for a mid-January and still wintery day. We got there, had lunch, and were well sated.

The forecast had predicted temps in the upper 40s, and we were amused to watch the temperatures on our phone connected GPSs, bike thermometers, etc., gradually work upwards. Roger commented that the temperatures were SOARING upwards towards 50. After the high temp had been 15-20 degrees lower than that each day for a couple of weeks, it did seem grand, and our spirits certainly were SOARING.

My sympathies go out to those of you who don't get to experience a day like that.

[STLTHMSTA]

Thanks Geoffrey, mine haven't moved since hmmmm, I can't remember.  It WAS in December though.   TM

[Ride4MS]

Well, it is a -3 F right now in southern Minnesota. Up from about -15 overnight and colder on the way later today and Monday.
A lot different than past few weeks when we were in San Juan, Puerto Rico for 5 days, then sailed away on a Viking Cruise to Manaus, Brazil in the rain forest where we had 95F and up for a few days with high humidity. Never did get used to that heat.

We are sending some of the cold to the South and SE U.S. later this week to share with you. So enjoy the warm now.

[HawkGTRider]

Well, it is a -3 F right now in southern Minnesota. Up from about -15 overnight and colder on the way later today and Monday.
A lot different than past few weeks when we were in San Juan, Puerto Rico for 5 days, then sailed away on a Viking Cruise to Manaus, Brazil in the rain forest where we had 95F and up for a few days with high humidity. Never did get used to that heat.
We are sending some of the cold to the South and SE U.S. later this week to share with you. So enjoy the warm now.

While we were enjoying the temperature "SOARING" upwards to near 50, one of our group commented over our Senas that we could thank our friends from Minnesota for sharing their weather in previous days and in the near future. You're a nice guy, but that kind of sharing we don't need!

[STLTHMSTA]

Well, what a difference a couple weeks make. Today as it got up into the 50's I had a choice to make. Do I slide out for a ride at least for a little while or do I work one that massive tree that fell in my yard??? !!!  I AM unsupervised after all. Well, the angel on my left shoulder won this time. I cut more on this tree. See, it's 80 feet long or better (it's not tall anymore now that it's on its side). It came mighty close to taking out my SUV that was parked in the corner of my driveway. It's always something.
So you luck dogs that got out for a bit, good on ya. I sure saw plenty around town for February.   

Yesterday I did make it to the Garage Brewed Bike show in Cincinnati at the Rhingeist Brewery with a few local buds. Our very now Patmo was there workin' the show. The esteemed former Prez Moose Parish was also in attendance. Great to see you both.   TM

[Ride4MS]

I drove a SUV to Minneapolis 2 days ago and some of the Minnesotans being tough riders, had decided to go for a ride on I-35 in the country. I saw 3 that day, not together,  and it was about 35F so it was above freezing. There was also a custom 3 wheeler with a V-8 and car rear end with cover that looked like it would catch a lot of air to make the ride cold. The front had extended forks.
Hard to believe that he would take that out after the salt that was put on the roads about a week earlier.

Reminded me of a friend about 15+ years ago, that said he was going to ride his HD to work at least once every week all winter long. The next Spring, he said never again as the crown and aluminium was all salt damaged, and could not buff it out.

I then told him about the guy that rode his Honda 750 to work every day back in the late 1970's when I was the Service Manager at Mankato Honda. His ride was about 15 miles each way. He would trade about every year and the air cooled fins looked horrible, even after the shop used many chemicals, that would be illegal today. He also had lots of stories about hitting snow drifts, not knowing if they were soft or hard which would possibly cause him to lay it down.

[NinjaBob]

After the polar vortex a couple weeks ago that brought Louisiana a hard freeze and 8 or 10 inches of snow we've had some unsuasaly nice January days. I took advantage to give 4 bikes about 250 miles of exercise. Our parish does not use salt, they put a bunch of sand on the bridges. For the first two trips the sand was hard to avoid and soaking wet. I did not know what to expect and slowed  way down but my tires handled it fine. After a couple days the 4 wheel vehicles had made tracks of bare pavement for me. However while riding the R3 I had to  ride a hilly section where major construction was going on and the road was covered with mud. I was amazed the the R3's track tires handled it so well.