Coldest Ride 2017-2018

OK, I'm not like The Dan in that I'm not ashamed of the temps I ride in until it gets below -25F.
I connected my Gerbing variable controller this weekend in anticipation of the forecast below freezing temps for some mornings this week. This morning on my commute to work I finally turned on the electric gloves since the temp showed a balmy +27F. This year I seem to be getting into that age (health wise) when my thermal distribution system (blood circulation) doesn't work as well as it used to so I need the electric heat in the hands sooner than I used to need it. I've always plugged in the gloves at anything below freezing but kept the variable control turned to the lowest possible setting, which is almost the same as leaving it off. Now I'm thinking it would be good to turn it up a bit more at those temps. That only means that whereas my hands were hot with it turned up all the way at zero F I may now find my hands just comfortable.

rjs987 said:

OK, I'm not like The Dan in that I'm not ashamed of the temps I ride in until it gets below -25F.

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What? I'm not ashamed of the temps I ride in, just nothing up here I figure is cold till we are below 0°F...LOL

Well I did finally find it below freezing, 30° for the commute in to work. But still a ways from really cold.

My gloves are on... I find below 40° I need them. 70+mph for 40 miles will cool off anything to the uncomfortable levels.

October 15th, rode for 1.5 hours from my Mom's in Mt. Pleasant UT to my home in American Fork around 8:00 PM. Expected the temps to be in the 40's - no big deal. I brought my new motoport winter gloves to just try them out for the ride home. My wife came with me too. On the way home, it got down to 27. My wife told me it was going to be a long ride home! We made it ok, but we wished we had planned better. Our legs were cold!

The Dan said:

What? I'm not ashamed of the temps I ride in, just nothing up here I figure is cold till we are below 0°F...LOL

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Your just sitting back waiting to embarrass us all. I got a little cool this morning on my 6 mile ride to the dealer on my Tiger. It was 40. I had my heated grips on. And my Heated jacket was plugged in.

Was 2 deg C this morning as I pulled out of the driveway. Couldn't find my winter gloves so went with my mid-weight summer gloves.
A bit chilly but I sure do love the ST fairing!


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Today's 25mi ride to work was at 27f. No big deal for the temperature but the last 10 miles were on a flat front tire. I'll need to find a new tube before the ride home.
Snow/rain is scheduled for most of the day so I'm in my level 3 gear which adds Klim insulated waterproof bibs. Should be wet but unfrozen roads on my way home tonight.

Doing 40mph with a flat tire on the Yamaha WR250R is not too difficult. Light bike, a small, stiff tire and no-to-minor cost if it gets dropped.
Riding any distance on a flat is _not_ something I'd try with the ST.

Later,
Kent Larson in Minnesota

Well it was a nice balmy 18 deg this morning in NH on my ride to work. The guys at work are taking bets on if I will ride in on Friday. LOL

We have a new leader! Nice ride Dave.

My 25 miles in this morning was at 19 degrees-F so the leader is still Dave.

I still haven't broken out the snowmobile bibs (they are for sub-20 and I really should have used them today) or any heated gear (that's for sub-zero) so there is room for improvement in my score when the weather gets there.

Later,
Kent Larson in Minnesota

Only 3 or 4 more deg and I won't know the temp. The temp on the 1300 flat lines below 14. LOL

Carry a spare thermometer, like an aquarium type, that reads down to -48F or below. That's what I have. I just leave the sensor end hanging out of my jacket pocket to keep it close to ambient air temps when it gets below 14F. At least that's what I was doing for the previous contest readings.

ScubaDave said:

Only 3 or 4 more deg and I won't know the temp. The temp on the 1300 flat lines below 14. LOL

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If the temp is that low...I wouldn't be riding anyway! But what do I know, the worse I see around here is 28F or so...

Last week took my Spyder to winter storage about an hours drive in 17 F wearing light pants and shoes and a warm jacket. It started to snow just as I got there

Tonights ride was at 32, hardly worth mentioning, other than that is the coldest temp we've had this fall so far lol

Finally got some "good" weather here. Saw 21* on the commute to work this morning. Sold my ST last week, so I'll push the Goldwing into winter duty (FJR doesn't have enough wind protection). Goldwing doesn't show air temp unless you hit a button, so tough to catch the low.

Temps are finally starting to cool down. You'll have to beat 28° to break into the top 10!

you might need to get rid of the dashes.. it looks like 17 below is leading. What happens when someone does ride below zero? Rider name --2 ?

the Ferret said:

you might need to get rid of the dashes.. it looks like 17 below is leading. What happens when someone does ride below zero? Rider name --2 ?

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Very good point, thanks for the tip!

This time of year the cold temps don't happen real often yet. This morning's commute showed up as 26F on the bike temp indicator. Airport said it was 22, but I find the road I'm on is always warmer a bit.