Coldest Ride, 2021-2022 Winter

[the Ferret]

64 tomorrow, 68 Saturday, I dont think we are going to get too much more cold weather

 

[rjs987]

53F right now here. And I'll be seeing 20F a few early mornings in the next few weeks but nothing lower than that. Warmer climate is moving in.

 

[Yohan]

The book about the Gulag in Siberia was useful when I used to work in a cold store . I found it really was true . One new chap decided he was tough enough and would not notice the cold .So I asked him to come in the cold store . It took less than 2 minutes for him to change his mind . One thing I did to help fellow workers was to have a packet of large safety pins . The insulated suits were a bitty raggedy and if the zip came undone I would give them a safety pin to close the gaps . An interesting thing was to open the door to the deep freezer where it was minus 70 degrees. A scary cold thing . My Dad was in the navy and in Arctic conditions the rule was --Never touch any metal or your skin would stick to it . They had to use hammers to break the ice off .

 

[Yohan]

Riding a bicycle in the snow taught me the motto "If it`s white it`s alright ". If it becomes grey slippery ice with lots of bumps and divots then it`s a new game . Stay off the saddle and concentrate on the front wheel .The back wheel can do what it likes and slides and twitches all over the place. It becomes a balancing test . very good fun .

 

[sirbike]

16 degrees.
40 miles ride.
Heated everything except the air.
Plenty warm outsides.
Warming up my insides now.

 

[Yohan]

Apart from the low temperature or how cold you feel (Not always the same thing ) ,what is riding in the snow on a Pan European like ? Does the ABS work ? Can you feel confident on a steep hill ? How fast or slow can you ride ? Apart from North America ,where they have a dry cold ,what about UK where we always have damp cold in winter ?

 

[Andrew Shadow]

Apart from North America ,where they have a dry cold

Hah!
Not in my North America.
The dampness does its damnedest to defeat your warm clothes.

 

[rjs987]

Yeah, we get the humidity in Central Iowa also. Even when it's cold out. I usually take care to note if the streets just LOOK damp or frosty from the moisture that is wicked up from within the concrete when temps are anywhere between zeroF and freezing. (-17C to 0C). Sometimes happens. Also when temps are just below freezing there is sometimes a fog that results in a hoarfrost. Looks pretty but bad to ride in.
I try to never ride ON the snow. I like to verify the track I put my wheels on is clear and dry. There can be plenty of snow on the sides of the roads but I don't want any under my tires. I did ride my Burgman 650 while giant snow flakes were falling and temps were just barely above freezing twice while on my commute from work to home, resulting in being forced to ride in 2 inches of wet slush. Stayed on slower city streets and in the tracks of the cages in front of me. Good thing that Burgman has such a low CG or I would have been in trouble. It was twice since both times the forecast was for upper 40sF (above +5C) and sunny sky all day so I rode to work... both days... within 10 days of each other in April.

Then I also ended up riding my ST1100 once on 3 inches of snow on a gravel driveway when I set my own personal coldest ride temp (-15.7F or -26.5C). That was very interesting and only really possible due to the snow being relatively fresh and not packed down except for in a few narrow lines from one other vehicle. That driveway was a significant uphill short 300 ft (91 m) and then I decided it was a bad idea. Going back down the hill was really tricky. I did lay the bike over trying to turn around but not while getting down the hill to the dry highway below going really really slow with my feet out like outriggers to prevent tipping.

The only place it is really a DRY cold is the US south west, which can get below freezing in winter time at nights. And even there it's not always as dry as you'd think.

 

[paulcb]

Pretty chilly this morning on my ride in to work, 30°. Not likely to ride in temps much colder... I think my posted 18° will be the best I can do this winter.

 

[rjs987]

Expecting a low of 5F Saturday morning, and then a high of 55F on Sunday. And after that spring has arrived with highs from 54F to 74F and in between as far as the weather prophets can see. I'm done for this season.

 

[the Ferret]

We are going to see 18F Sunday morning and that "should" be it for this winter (I hope lol). Still riding every day, just won't see any lower temps than I've already ridden in this year. Happy to see spring coming.

 

[paulcb]

I think we're pretty much done... any reason to continue for this year, or can we call it?

 

[rjs987]

I would say to call it (of course). Unless there is someone in extreme northern Canada or Alaska or Siberia who is still in the game.

 

[paulcb]

OK, last call for all you uber northern riders.

 

[sirbike]

Thanks for hosting the contest.

 

[the Ferret]

Thanks for hosting the contest.

Absolutely Paul. Thanks again for your hard work.

 

[Mellow]

I can't believe I made the list this time - last position - I don't like to make this list and I don't ever want to make it again, that was crazy cold.
Thanks Paul!

 

[Tedbrogden]

I can't believe I made the list this time - last position - I don't like to make this list and I don't ever want to make it again, that was crazy cold.
Thanks Paul!

But now you're not on that cold tracer, you're hidden in the middle of all that teutonic plastic.

 

[paulcb]

But now you're not on that cold tracer, you're hidden in the middle of all that teutonic plastic.

Yeah, and doesn't it even have heated foot pegs?

 

[Mellow]

But now you're not on that cold tracer, you're hidden in the middle of all that teutonic plastic.

Yeah, I wouldn't have made the trip on the Tracer, I've done that before too.. that was much worse..