The view down the street. It’s like this every morning. Or so it seems. Frigid, icy, non-riding friendly. The road thumbing its nose at me, daring me to give it a go. I haven’t taken the bait. My Vespa sits patiently in the garage. I exaggerate when I say every morning is like this. I have managed to ride to work a few times. The cold does play tricks though and it’s already getting to me. The past few winters have been mild and much of the time the roads have been clear. Now in mid-November there’s this.
As I said it hasn’t been bad all the time these last couple weeks. One day last week it was sunny and clear and I rode to work even though the thermometer read 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Cold but perfectly reasonable riding conditions with the road dry. I stopped on the way to work to make a panorama picture near Beaver Stadium. The perspective in the picture makes it hard to accept it is the second largest stadium in the country seating just over 107 thousand people.
Since making that picture the weather has gotten more oppressive and the roads have been less than perfect. I choose my rides after a walk down the street and a quick look at the weather. For now though I’ll just have to wait for dry pavement.
I got the feeling things Up North wer ebad with two weeks straight of relatively cool north winds blowing across the Keys. My 60 degrees is your 20 degrees I suppose.
Conchscooter: Yeah, the weather has been less than inviting. I just came in from a short walk with the dog and the road is wet with a few wet snowflakes adding to the already snow-covered landscape. Just an inch or so but still enough to say “winter”.
So I drive the car or truck ($1.99 a gallon makes it easier to take) and right now I have no desire to ride when I can curl up in the warm livingroom with my wife and watch Season 5 of “The Wire” courtesy of Netflix…
Having only 14 months of riding under my belt (seat, maybe?), I really had no comparison as to riding weather in our general locale. Last year I rode well into November and December with regularity. But this year… Well, its frustrating to say the least.
Good to know its not my imagination!
Here in the south, my morning commute is usually done in 20 degree weather, but the ride home is in 50 to 60 degree weather.
It’s all about layers…
my scooter is my only transportation. so, I have some snowtires on order. riding in a ‘wintry mix’ here is a bit hair-raising even though I stay in the city and main thoroughfares. Monday night, I rode home on Atherton and kept thinking “I thought Atherton was mostly flat!” Seemed almost mountainous that night.
I live in Northern California and we are experiencing a drought and unseasonably warm weather…so it is great riding weather. However, even though we can ride longer, I have to say that your stories of riding in the Pennsylvania countryside have me envious. Sometimes it is quality not quantity that counts. Stay warm, be safe and we will patiently await the tales of your rides in better weather.
Winters here in British Columbia hover around &/or just above freezing. This means we can get ice during the nights, and during the day it warms (above freezing). so you can always look forward to ice roads in the mornings. we seldom get periods of below freezing weather which would keep the roads “ice-free”. Yesterday we also had freezing FOG so likewise, under these circumstances we prefer not to ride. Gas is still cdn$3.41/us gal ($0.90/ltr x $3.785)
This comment has been removed by the author.
Atherton? Flat, Anonymous? Not between the university and the Stevens Motel, my favorite place to stay in State College.
When I published my most recent lament about not wanting to ride on snow, I thought Steve was going to come to my rescue with tips about how to do it, but instead I see even he’s hanging up the handlebars. Somehow I think Pennsylvania’s going to get buried under the snow this winter, though I’m hoping we won’t.
Steve! You’re going to get the Christmas tree on the scooter, aren’t you?
– Joe at Scootin’ da Valley
Doug C: I am amazed at how frustrated I am already. Last year the bad roads didn’t seem to come until much later. I suppose this is just a wonderful opportunity to practice patience.
And think about a battery tender…
scooterguy40: Layers it is. The big secret for a whole range of activities. And with riding it helps that one of those layers are windproof.
anonymous one: Atherton Street is definitely not flat. You can tell if you ride a bicycle or if you venture on two wheels when it is covered with snow or slush. I have come home in snow more than once and it is no fun since all the cars and trucks rush on as usual.
I turn off in Harris Acres and wind my way home via the backroads. Or sometimes come through Lemont and Oak Hall. Less traffic, more room for error…
Be careful out there. What are you riding?
anonymous two: I’ve never been north of San Francisco but I have always pictured northern California as central Pennsylvania on steroids. HIlls and mountains, big trees, lush forests. Do I have all this wrong?
bobskoot: WE have been lucky here the past few years. Roads bone dry most of the time no matter how cold. No fog or mist to make things slick most of the time. And when it did occur it cleared quickly. Not the case the past week or so.
On the other hand gas was 1.99 a gallon. That’s a pleasant switch.
Joe: Say it’s not so. No blanket of snow all winter! But I do fear this may be a bad winter…
I have not put the scooter away, just waiting for mornings that the road is not slick. Once the salt builds up it won’t be a problem. At least not for traction. The scooter takes a beating though.
Kim and I talked about the tree this evening and I said “I’ll get it”. So unless we are snowbound I should make my way home with a tree on the scooter.
Joe: Riding tips for snow…. go slow. Real slow. Stay off roads with lots of traffic.
Go even slower.
Don’t use the front brake.
Use your feet as outriggers.
Go slow.
And last, go slow…
Thank you, Steve. I think I’ll go slow!
Joe
you two are the funniest riders I’ve ever read! 🙂
Yet, I think I’ll just stick with going slow. good advices.
Ale-
L’Insetto Scoppiettante