Perhaps I was supposed to stumble across this video right now.
A flame of recognition runs through me each time I hear Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush sing Don’t Give Up. Woven through the lyrics and melody is a story of struggle, surrender, and hope. As the year nears an end I find myself more deeply engaged in reflection and the paths I have wandered. Old wounds and loss, opportunities squandered, poor choices and unfortunate circumstance. It’s good to remember. And perfect days with a wife who loves me, support of family and friends, good food, fine chocolate, fast sunrises over clear roads, and so much more to be grateful for. All these memories make up the tapestry of my life and remind me that smooth roads follow rough ones. Around each bend is something new.
Snow be damned I wanted to ride today. Left in the dark to have an early breakfast with my friend Howard. The streets in town were dressed in tiny white lights for the holidays. The Christmas spirit has taken hold. The roads were mostly clear and I was riding in straight lines so any sudden ice in the dark would be more easily negotiated. The weather forecast called for a chance of a sudden inch or so of snowfall about the time I would be riding to work but I’ll deal with that if and when it comes.
great song,but I like my own mental imagery I cooked up back in the 80s than the video, however hugging Kate bush for 5 mins wouldnt be so bad
You give a new definition to the phrase “winter scootering”.
(Maybe i shouldnt have taken the battery out of my arilia 200.)
I couldn’t ride today, too much black ice. Friday looks to be in the mid 40’s so I think I will give it a try then!
vermontscoot: I agree about the imagery. It’s certainly not what I see in my head easier. The magic of music–we all get to produce our own movies…
I talk to other riders who pull their batteries and winterize their machines. That’s certainly an option but I’ve found that aside from the cold their are a lot of clear days and roads through the winter.
And the salt residue. Can’t forget that. But everyone wants a rat scooter right?
rick: Black ice is definitely something to pay attention to and manage carefully. Unfortunately the only two methods I know of are to not ride or to ride real slow when its likely to occur. The first doesn’t take much skill. The second takes a lot of patience, humility (ego doesn’t like being the slowpoke in traffic), and acceptance that speed and ice are an impossible combination.
Mid 40’s is nice winter riding weather. Good luck and be careful!
I wonder if you can get away with winter riding in PA because it is flatter. I really can’t imagine navigating some of the hills in northern vermont+snow+ ice…gulp! To get to paved roads I would have to navigate a dirt/ice/salt/frozen mud admixture (plus,i am rookie rider