The past month many days the roads were a mess. Even for four-wheeled vehicles. No fear here though for the Vespa is fine in the garage connected to a Battery Tender, slowly slurping juice from the Allegheny Power grid. I’m relaxed.
Content.
There were days when the roads were mostly free of slippery stuff. Certainly in the range of routine riding in previous winters. The scooter is on the Battery Tender though. The battery will be fine if I wait for a better day to ride. It’s still cold outside, well below freezing, and I do have a Battery Tender…
I realize now how much of my winter riding was, in part, motivated by a desire to keep the battery charged. By not wanting to winterize the Vespa. I never liked the idea of taking it out of commission for months at a time. Now a Battery Tender has come into my riding life. Like indoor plumbing and hot showers. Once you have them you can’t easily go back. You get soft. Complacent. You start having wussy thoughts — GPS, chrome accessories, and worse.
I left this morning at 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Brrr, cold. Water on the road, My Vespa might get dirty. It’s windy. Now it’s 50 degrees and I think I should go home. The sun is out but I believe 50 degrees is chilly. I need to stop somewhere and get warm. Get my head on straight. Damn Battery Tender. I’ve turned into a riding wimp.
It turned me into a riding wimp.
I just sat with a cup of tea and jotted down some notes so I would not forget my wimpdomization. Make sure I recorded what was happening to me in case I needed to call a cab home. Crazy.
And then, on the way home, it happened. I sensed a shift. Any concerns about cold, weather, water, it all evaporated. I was a rider again. Maybe it wasn’t the Battery Tender. Maybe it was the weather, the desert of riding experiences of late all piling up in my head like it was my fault. Good old brain is always plotting.
I rode into town tonight. Temperature dropping near freezing but I had a few errands to conduct. And I was set on riding. That’s the way it should be. It’s good to be on the road again.
And the Battery Tender isn’t plugged in, just in case.
Fortunately, living in Seattle, I’ve not needed to resort to a battery tender, though I do have a few friends who’ve done so. And so far this winter I’ve only had a couple of close to two week periods where the GTS was garage bound and lonely; the GL doesn’t care one whit, having no battery … superior is that way. However, I do find myself choosing 4-wheel drive and heater more frequently this winter than in previous. Can’t decide if it’s prudence, or aging -:) In any case, my decisions are usually made with some semblance of rational thought. And once in-a-while I have some chocolate to show for my erstwhile efforts as well -:)
I just love the first picture you posted..The scenery, road and the view is superb. Excellent job on this one..!
Battery tender, fortunately never had to use one.. I am not sure if the battery won’t develop a dependency on this thing once you start using it.
I’ve seen articles recommending its use but have always shied away from doing so
When we purchased our Vespas, they were pushing the battery tender. We were told if we did not ride them at least every two weeks that the batteries would go down. According to the sales department, the battery tender would extend the life of the battery. We don’t know about that. We have had our scooters for 15 months and so far they have always started. Of course we don’t have to worry about freezing temperatures. We don’t know what the life of a battery should be.
I think you should change the words “lazy” and “wimp” to “smart”. With the kind of weather I know you have had, it has to make it a bit difficult to ride on a regular basis.
Where I am the snow rarely lasts more than a week, so I do not have a battery tender. But I am sure that they are a wise accessory in many parts of the country. My daughter actually takes the battery out of her Vespa for 3 months or so during the winter, but she is not as determined to ride in the cold as I am.
We actually had a couple of 60 degree days here last week. It was really nice not to have to bundle up so much in clothing for the ride.
BTW I also made an entry in the cold weather challenge over at 2strokebuzz.com, but I noticed your post there is way colder than mine. I used the name “ramjet” there because I couldn’t get the site to work very well on my blackberry.
I am very happy that warmer days are coming.
Battery tenders are neato when you live in central Minnesota. When the plows come through and leave a sheet of ice nearly two and a half inches thick and about seven feet wide from inside the apron of the driveway to the street. I’m out there with the ice chipper and angry about it. Because the battery tender works! lol
… and now its raining…
blast it I think I know what cabin fever is
Harv
Harv
I understand the feeling. My new car has seat warmers. Totally wimpy.During that coldest spell I fell for them. They are really nice. But wimpy. I am trying to kick the habit.
hehehe! good ol’e Steve!
water on the road you say?
wait a minute: check my latest post and try to imagine what water on the road means here.
Rain has been hard in these past months, not usual at all. I believed we were turning into frogs…
The feeling of being on the road keeps us alive. I don’t own a battery tender, and I hope I won’t need it in the future. I just changed my front tire, it grips the tarmac and my 20 kms daily commute is what makes going to work easier 🙂
The road is always the answer.
Ale-
L’Insetto Scoppiettante
I miss the days of plastic bags on my feet and newspaper stuffed down my front. Arrrgh! It was horrible and anyone who tells you the good old days were better has forgotten the agomny of trying to kickstart an engine in freezing cold sleet. A lazy rider is like me who can’t be bothered to stop and put on more clothes when the temperature drops and rides home with his teeth chattering. A battery tender is modern living at its best. Long may it last. You have nice feet by the way.
Until the wind fills it, a kite is merely a piece of paper and sticks. Once in the breeze, though, it finds its purpose and glory.
Thus your transformation once on the road.
Chuck: Like you my choice of warmer modes of transportation may be prudence. Or age. Either way I have noticed it. Combine that with more bad days and the Battery Tender made sense I guess.
I need more chocolate. I am going to have to try that mug O cake I saw on your blog.
Baron’s Life: Thanks for the kind words about the photo. It is a beautiful place to stop and make a picture.
From what I can tell from the tender won’t damage the battery like some older chargers could. No memory development. I think most of the dependency is in my head…
It is nice on those really cold days to hear the starter turn like it was 80 degrees outside.
Heinz & Frenchie: In warm climates I would think the battery would be fine for a long time. I went for years through winter without a Battery Tender but was able to ride pretty frequently. This year the weather was a lot worse hence the change.
cpa3485: 60 degrees! I can’t wait. That’s perfect riding weather in my book. Another month or two and we’ll be there.
It’s pretty amazing to read the entries on the Cold Weather Challenge at 2 Stroke Buzz. There are some chilly rides listed!
Harv: My hat’s off to you for managing Minnesota winters. Back when Gary was still riding and posting about the Baron in Winter I was just amazed. You guys are hardcore riders up there.
How’s he doing?
DDpaint: I bet someone makes electric heated seats for scooters!
Ale: Wow! That’s a lot of water you have there. With that coffee colored water there must be some agriculture around.
Conchscooter: I think you could ride anywhere. You like the warm weather but something tells me that you would be riding in winter in Siberia if you were there. A Ural with a sidecar!
Thanks for the feet comment. I’m blushing…
irondad: Holy cow! A poet warrior philosopher!! What’s happening to you out there?
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again — you guys on that side of the pond are a tough bunch! I seem to always find reasons not to ride, like it might rain and it’s too much hassle to put on rain gear. I guess some of us have got soft down here in Africa but as you say, once you’re on the road it’s all worth it.
Because of my wimpy attitude the trickle-charger gets a fair bit of use in winter.
~Hilton~
http://www.thelightstuff.blogspot.com
A photojournalist’s musings mainly about photography
FYI lead-acid batteries don’t charge properly in sub-freezing temperatures. So you may need to pull the battery anyway.
In the end, riding is still better for the battery, because it also probably gets warmed up too. (depending on where it is located in your Vespa)
Nice work on the pics Steve, I like the processing on road shot, and the cookie picture is yummy!