Coldest Ride, 2021-2022 Winter

[Obo]

Guess it was fun while it lasted. Congrats to all on the list and those who tried hard and had some success.

@rjs987 your cheque with 1st place winnings is in the mail.

 

[paulcb]

Guess it was fun while it lasted. Congrats to all on the list and those who tried hard and had some success.

@rjs987 your cheque with 1st place winnings is in the mail.

That’s great that you’re paying out the winnings this year Obo, thanks!

 

[rjs987]

Hasn't that account been... frozen for a long time?

 

[the Ferret]

lol winter jokes are finally back in

 

[Obo]

lol winter jokes are finally back in

I'm cool with that.

 

[paulcb]

OK, we're done, official results below. Congrats again to Bob, who needs to complain to Obo if he doesn't receive his prize money. And welcome to several new entrants... Will, Bigdaddy, Weasel and Mellow, but it sounds as if one of them won't be back.



Now, we need someone from Northern Canada to host the Hottest Ride.

 

[Obo]

Now, we need someone from Northern Canada to host the Hottest Ride.

I'd do that but I'd be afraid of photos of folks riding bikes wearing Speedos.

 

[paulcb]

I'd do that but I'd be afraid of photos of folks riding bikes wearing Speedos.

In that case, please don't!

 

[the Ferret]

Congrats to rjs987 on his spectacular win and to all the participants that ventured out into conditions that send average motorcyclists scurrying to a seat on the couch in front of the TV/ fireplace with a blanket over their lap and a cup of hot chocolate in their hand, while their trusty motorcycles shiver in the garage under a sheet, hooked up to a battery tender with a tank full of seafoam.

Ride on brave brothers!

 

[rjs987]

I'd do that but I'd be afraid of photos of folks riding bikes wearing Speedos.

I saw that once... in Florida... at Navarre Beach. Ride came walking up from the beach in nothing but his swimsuit. Bare feet, no other gear or clothes of any kind. Don't remember if he even wore sunglasses. Produce his key from... someplace. Fired up his super sport bike and flung sand all over and chirped his tire a few times (when it found some bare pavement which was hard to find since it WAS on a beach parking lot) and tore out of there at more than double the speed limit (20 mph on the mile long sandy bridge to the mainland). The bike had only steel serrated foot pegs common on sport bikes. I expected to read about his demise in the news that night. It was disturbing.

 

[Obo]

Yup, no brains sometimes. Best I've seen around here is flimsy nylon shorts and flip flops on a sport bike on the highway. Did have a full faced helmet on, but helmets are mandatory here. Common sense isn't.

 

[rjs987]

I really don't recall that in the history of this Coldest Ride game the winning temp was ever NOT somewhat below zeroF.
This would be the first time for that. Seems odd that for a year of such warmer "cold" temps that the news in Iowa today is that the soil temp is still way too cold to start planting for farmers. Normally soil temps are above an average of 50F by now and at least 4% of the crops are planted by now. As it stands today the soil temp average across the state is still in the low 40sF so has a long way to go. What keeps it there is the cold nights and not so warm days.

This is one of the web sites I look at as the cold season starts and also ends to see the chance of any moisture freezing on the pavement. Once we are well into the cold season there is no need to wonder if the ground is below freezing, I just look at how any snow is staying put without melting. There is another one I also look at that shows actual pavement and bridge deck temps that are reported by sensors we have in the roads around the state.
https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/agclimate/soilt.php

 

[Obo]

I really don't recall that in the history of this Coldest Ride game the winning temp was ever NOT somewhat below zeroF.

Maybe we contestants are getting smarter (or wimpier)
It certainly was a cold enough winter to achieve those temps.

 

[rjs987]

Maybe. More like wimpier. If I was still commuting to work I would have been in temps several deg colder than I recorded this year. I just don't get up that early any more.

 

[the Ferret]

I had a -2 a couple years ago but couldn't come close to catching The Dan from N Dakota that year, I think he had -25. We've only been that cold once that I recall, in 1977

We just don't normally get that cold here in SW Ohio

The lowest temps recorded here in the last 12 years (notice only 5 years of the 12 it made it below zero), and if there is accumulated snow or ice on the road of course, I won't ride.

4	February 17, 2021
11	December 25, 2020
-7	January 31, 2019
-7	January 02, 2018
3	December 27, 2017
5	January 18, 2016
-12	February 20, 2015
-8	January 22, 2014
3	December 12, 2013
11	January 15, 2012
-8	January 22, 2011
0	December 15, 2010

 

[mudduc]

Well, my excuse this year was not having a bike to ride. I sold my WR250 a few years back when I was no longer required to commute in to work.

After finding none of the bikes in the garage would start when below zero I did put my son's KTM Duke 390 into the mud room for one attempt at a -5⁰F morning. I made it half a block when the backend started to step out and I found I didn't have as good control with his 390 compared to my 250.

I picked up the bike. Found the clutch lever broken and the shifter messed up. Pushed it back into the garage. Didn't make the mileage to qualify so it wasn't reported.

I'm picking up a 2020 Yamaha WR250 soon so I'll have something to commute with again on cold and/or rain days. Wish Yamaha would bring in a WR300 to compete with the Honda CRF300 or sell the European WR450R here in the USA. I've been waiting for something from Yamaha but am tired of waiting and just don't like the looks of the Honda. I'm getting ripped off with an over-priced "rare" 2020 year Yamaha for now.

Later,
Kent Larson from Minnesota

 

[Weaselinsuit]

Saw a guy once on the highway in California sitting cross legged on his bike wearing nothing but cut off jean shorts and sunglasses. No footwear, no pants, no jacket, no gloves and no helmet. I pray he never wiped out.

 

[paulcb]

This pic is getting some attention on advrider... gives me the willies...

 

[rjs987]

At least their chins, and maybe their faces, will be recognizable. Doesn't look so cold there however.
Anyone know those two? Are they still around? Still able to ride?

 

[Mellow]

He gets the expensive helmet..