Coldest Ride, 2020-2021 Winter

[rjs987]

Go ahead and use all the electrics you need. It does take an extra measure of concentration to ride on roads in the cold season just 'cuz some of the "obstacles" to be avoided cannot be seen until close to them and then sometimes even then it's too late to avoid so balance and position and finesse are needed all at once.

Oh, and for a long time until 2007 I had a personal computer version of Asteroids that I could play that worked exactly like the original. And then played the Apple/Mac version called Maelstrom.

More very light flurries just starting here. Today might have made it over zero F, maybe, and headed down from there overnight. A very cold weekend coming up with some snow tonight and tomorrow night but then 5 days of clear, sort of, skies. Still looking at highs of -5 and -6 F on Sunday and Monday and lows of -14 F and -23 F on Monday and Tuesday mornings (always a moving target). Now if only the roads would get clear I can get out on my bike again. Riding at -16 F or below would be my personal coldest yet so we'll see what happens.

 

[Obo]

This is on topic as Asteroids is the oldest coolest raster game.

Unless you liked Battlezone better..


Play Asteroids online here: https://games.aarp.org/games/atari-asteroids

 

[paulcb]

Play Asteroids online here: https://games.aarp.org/games/atari-asteroids

I really wish you hadn't posted that link...

 

[Obo]

I really wish you hadn't posted that link...

If you are all playing Asteroids I have a better chance of getting 1st place back.....

 

[rjs987]

Hope it doesn't change as to snow chances. Even this is no confidence that the roads will be clear enough to ride on by Tuesday morning. And with the dew point so close to the actual temp there may be some freezing fog or hoar frost or moisture wicking up from the concrete pavement and freezing on the surface. (most of the roads around here are concrete, but black top also has this issue).

 

[the Ferret]

the forecast we got for the next week I wouldn't wish on a Eskimo. No riding for the foreseeable future at this point.

 

[jmgatlin]

Today and tomorrow are in the negative numbers (-15 right now)… and while it’d put me in first place, I’m just not sure I’m quite up to it…as I sit here sipping on my coffee and dream of playing asteroids

 

[rjs987]

Need to get gas in my bike today (since I'm thinking of riding in the morning). I ran a few planned routes in the cage just to check out what roads are clear enough to ride on 2 wheels and which are not. Not very many roads are clear enough all along the path. By "clear enough" I mean to say that the snow and ice packed on them is not so much that I cannot navigate on 2 wheels. When the cage slips and slides when I just tap the brake that's not a good sign. I found that the main commuter route roads are clear, but they are also the busiest. Side roads off the beaten path (literally and figuratively) still have too much packed snow/ice in places before I can turn off onto a different road so must avoid those. My own neighborhood street is clear only 2/3 of the way across so have to be careful about oncoming traffic when going in one direction so I don't get pushed over onto the ice. It's -3F now and not likely to get much warmer today so heading out to get gas soon. I did have to also get gas in the cage so I know the path to the station is clear.

 

[the Ferret]

Go rjs! just be careful sir!

My morning's ride lol ..to get rid of the 2" we got last night. 7-11" coming tonight so I get to ride again! YEA!

 

[Daboo]

We got 10 inches of snow in my area of Puget Sound over the weekend. It's perfect Subaru Outback weather...but not two-wheeled weather.

Even if I managed to ride in it, I still wouldn't get on the leader board here.

Chris

 

[Obo]

My morning's ride lol ..to get rid of the 2" we got last night. 7-11" coming tonight so I get to ride again! YEA!

Lucky you. When I have to get rid of the white stuff I have to walk behind the motor.

Hmm, now you have me thinking... make a tow behind trailer for the snowblower with a seat...

 

[the Ferret]

Wish I had thought of that. Used to have a 10 hp 3 stage, elect start, snow blower but as I got older it got to be too much walking up and down my long curvy uphill driveway, so I traded my wife's Majesty 400 scooter in on a quad with blade. She lost a scooter she hardly ever road and I don't feel like I'm having a heart attack every time it snows.

 

[rjs987]

Say, that seat attachment is a great idea! My snow thrower has electric start and a reverse gear so that would work out perfectly.

I did go get gas. The station I go to is Costco and is normally just 1.4 miles down the road. But due to the snow/ice on the wrong side of my street I threw some kitty litter over the slick stuff just off the end of my driveway (I'm on the wrong side of the street for quick melting) and turned left instead of right going out of the driveway so I could keep to cleared pavement. That way it was 2.5 miles to the station instead. Then I decided what the heck and took off the long way home finding as many clear paths as I could. I figured I could just turn around if there was not a clear path going forward. There was a short section or two that was covered with a narrow path through that looked just wet. I know better than that but took those very carefully doing little more than coasting over them. Straight and slow is your friend in these riding conditions. I like curvy roads like anyone else but when snow/ice cover is a big potential curvy roads tend to get WAY TOO EXCITING, if you know what I mean.
I ended up riding 16.4 miles around town and a little out in the country and passed a bank time/temp sign on the way that told me it was still -2 F. So that's my best for this season so far. I still think I'll get another slightly longer ride in tomorrow morning just to clear a few more cobwebs from the brain from sitting inside too much. It is expected to be colder. We were fortunate to have missed the latest snow storm that ended up passing by to the south of us. The last 2 days there has been no snow and none expected for the next 2 days... maybe.

 

[the Ferret]

Yea baby. -2 is a good number. Congrats

 

[Nashcat]

Feb 15, 2021 18 Degrees, but I doubt I'll meet the 15 mile requirement, but I did ride in the neighborhood and in the woods for over an hour, on two wheels. About 2" of snow on top of 1/4" ice!

 

[rjs987]

@Nashcat , were you able to maintain an AVERAGE of around 15 mph for that hour + of trailblazing through the woods? That would seem to meet the miles specification here.

And tomorrow I expect to see a post from @The Dan about his cold commute to work at somewhere around -20 F. Actually surprised he didn't ride this morning at around -25 F.

 

[Nashcat]

@Nashcat , were you able to maintain an AVERAGE of around 15 mph for that hour + of trailblazing through the woods? That would seem to meet the miles specification here

Probably closer to 10 mph. Maybe get an honorable mention? Participation trophy? My daughter will probably assign me the “Dumber than a Rock” award.

John

 

[the Ferret]

Feb 15, 2021 18 Degrees, but I doubt I'll meet the 15 mile requirement, but I did ride in the neighborhood and in the woods for over an hour, on two wheels. About 2" of snow on top of 1/4" ice!

That's pretty serious weather for Tennessee isn't it? Do you often get snow?

 

[Nashcat]

That's pretty serious weather for Tennessee isn't it? Do you often get snow?

Every couple of years, we‘ll have snow. Looks like this one will stick around for several more days, since it has 1/4” of ice under the snow and temps are staying below freezing.

 

[rjs987]

Looks like the ride I did today will be what I am staying with for a little while longer. Family duties call since my grandson's school is delayed start and no one else is available to take him from when my son and his wife both go to work until that late start time. Family is more important.