Cold ride

[pcv57]

With a little time off this week because of American Thanksgiving, it seemed like a good time to go for a nice long ride. In northwest CT, the roads are beautiful. Lots of twisty backroads with great mountain views. Late morning was about 32 degrees F but with heated gear it wasn’t too bad. Most of the leaves are down and the roads were dry so road conditions were pretty good. Coming through a mountain pass, the corner was in the shade so I didn’t see the patch of ice. Leaned over in the corner, the tires slid but quickly hit dry pavement and got traction again. It was a scary reminder that once temps drop, road conditions can change in a flash. Once l cleaned out my shorts, I continued to enjoy a great ride but a bit more cautiously.

[JerryG]

If it was 32 in the late morning, it was probably in the 20s overnight. At those temps, any road surface that hasn't gotten a good amount of sun can be black ice. The episode I use as my personal caution was on the Blue Ridge Parkway west of Asheville with a group of 12 riders. As we entered one of the tunnels, there was a 3 foot diameter circle of black ice. The water had dripped from the tunnel entrance and that area remained in shade all day. I was with a group of 12 bikes; if it had been in our lane, it could have been very messy.

[Sthap]

I’m quite a bit north of you guys(Vermont)
While I do have some friends that do not put their bikes away and ride them on the odd warm winter day, mine are in the basement waiting for spring for the exact reasons you both highlighted
We had some snow last night in the valleys and some of the mountains had a foot or so, I will be skiing next week

[JerryG]

Originally Posted by Sthap

I’m quite a bit north of you guys(Vermont)
While I do have some friends that do not put their bikes away and ride them on the odd warm winter day, mine are in the basement waiting for spring for the exact reasons you both highlighted
We had some snow last night in the valleys and some of the mountains had a foot or so, I will be skiing next week

Enjoy your skiing; I wasn't in the northlands long enough to get into that. When I retired, I moved to Western North Carolina to ride year round minus the rare snow, ice, and possible black ice days. On most days, I just have to wait until later in the day, choose my route carefully, and/or point myself south into the South Carolina lowlands. 2021 was a banner year with ~24,000 miles on the XR and 3,000 miles on the RR. On true no-ride days, I just stretch out in front of a real wood fireplace with a good book and a hot chocolate laced with Irish Cream. Tomorrow, with a 59f high predicted, I'll be riding from about 11 AM to 4 PM and then curl up with a hot chocolate and Irish Cream. On every Wednesday, this week with 60f predicted, I'll join the hardy subgroup from the local Sons and Daughters of Arthritis for half day/lunch ride. Live is good.

[Sthap]

Originally Posted by JerryG

Enjoy your skiing; I wasn't in the northlands long enough to get into that. When I retired, I moved to Western North Carolina to ride year round minus the rare snow, ice, and possible black ice days. On most days, I just have to wait until later in the day, choose my route carefully, and/or point myself south into the South Carolina lowlands. 2021 was a banner year with ~24,000 miles on the XR and 3,000 miles on the RR. On true no-ride days, I just stretch out in front of a real wood fireplace with a good book and a hot chocolate laced with Irish Cream. Tomorrow, with a 59f high predicted, I'll be riding from about 11 AM to 4 PM and then curl up with a hot chocolate and Irish Cream. On every Wednesday, this week with 60f predicted, I'll join the hardy subgroup from the local Sons and Daughters of Arthritis for half day/lunch ride. Live is good.

Originally Posted by JerryG

Enjoy your skiing; I wasn't in the northlands long enough to get into that. When I retired, I moved to Western North Carolina to ride year round minus the rare snow, ice, and possible black ice days. On most days, I just have to wait until later in the day, choose my route carefully, and/or point myself south into the South Carolina lowlands. 2021 was a banner year with ~24,000 miles on the XR and 3,000 miles on the RR. On true no-ride days, I just stretch out in front of a real wood fireplace with a good book and a hot chocolate laced with Irish Cream. Tomorrow, with a 59f high predicted, I'll be riding from about 11 AM to 4 PM and then curl up with a hot chocolate and Irish Cream. On every Wednesday, this week with 60f predicted, I'll join the hardy subgroup from the local Sons and Daughters of Arthritis for half day/lunch ride. Live is good.

I’ve been skiing almost as long as I’ve been riding, will be retiring next week and I plan to do a lot of both

My daughter went to school and now lives in West Virginia, and l got to ride a lot in that area, never made it to North Carolina thought, but that whole area is a awesome part of the country to ride

Modern gear makes it so easy to ride in the colder weather and when working I was always the first person to ride to work in the spring and the last to ride to work in the fall

Long term may move south but at the moment I have more of a problem with the hot summers than the cold winters
Of Vermont, but as I get older I’m sure that will change

[Sthap]

Oops sorry for the double quote

[JerryG]

Originally Posted by Sthap

Oops sorry for the double quote

Must be the "getting older" part. 

[pcv57]

There have been winters where I’ve ridden at least one day each month. However, I’m not that motivated anymore. I just put fuel stabilizer in the tank, cleaned and lubed the chain, battery tender in place and mothballs all around the tires and under the seat.
The Blue Ridge Parkway is beautiful and certainly a longer riding season than CT or VT.

[smithy]

I pity you poor guys who have to "winter hibernate" your bike.....here in Aus we can ride all year round without fear of ice etc....where l am we rarely see single digit Celsius temps even in the middle of winter......but we do suffer the other end of the spectrum with 45C+ for days on end.

Smithy. 

[Antares]

Originally Posted by smithy

I pity you poor guys who have to "winter hibernate" your bike.....here in Aus we can ride all year round without fear of ice etc....where l am we rarely see single digit Celsius temps even in the middle of winter......but we do suffer the other end of the spectrum with 45C+ for days on end.

Smithy.

Another reason why the UK is the best!! Almost 100% of the year is 5°c to 35°c, perfect for riding!!! Oh wait... It rains on 90% of those days... damn it...