A couple weeks ago I stopped on the way to work to put on an extra layer to keep the cold away from my tender flesh. Less than perfect weather does seem like a good reason to stop riding when minor fashion adjustments make flying down the road a pleasure. It must be too much of an adjustment for a lot of riders.
Here I am in Maine. Sustained winds of 25 knots are blowing in off the ocean with gusts up to 38 knots. That’s around 44 mph for non-nautical types. A fresh gale. Rain stings when it hits your face. It’s hard to walk. And you hope nothing comes flying off the beach in your direction.
Just like setting off on the Vespa when the temperature plummets I head out on the beach for a walk to Perkins Cove about a mile away. I have the right gear. There is a fine little café where I can get in out of the weather and have something hot to drink. Arriving in Perkins Cove, wet yet satisfied in the same manner when I return from a winter ride, I find the café closed. Everything is closed and aside from a few storm peepers inside their cars there isn’t a soul outside.
The experience gave me an excellent opportunity to justify and rationalize my riding (and walking) behavior. Standing on a promontory looking out past the waves I remembered sailing through similar weather just 30 miles off shore on my way to Peake’s Island, Maine.
Maybe it’s a good time to re-evaluate risk.
A similar paralysis takes place with photographers over-zealous concern for camera gear in the rain. Moderate adjustments and care usually do the trick when using those tools in inhospitable conditions.
Hi Steve,
We have even more in common than I realized. My wife and I were im Ogunquit recharging our batteries just a week and a half ago. Very therapeutic. Unlike you my scooter will be tucked away for the winter in a few weeks.
Be safe.
Chuck: The strong wind was blowing salt spray directly into shore and coating everything, including cameras, with some nasty stuff. I managed to keep my Leica M6 and Canon G9 mostly dry and gave them both a good cleaning when I got back to the room.
I saw one other person in the storm and he had a digital SLR in a plastic bag but was having trouble taking pictures. I suggested next time he tape the opening to the front of the lens which had a skylight filter on it and just cover the exposed part with his hand when not shooting and keep something to wipe the lens off with in a pocket.
You have any seaside storm tricks?
David: Ogunquit is a great place to recharge your batteries. I see a lot of license plates from Canada in the parking lot following your lead.
I’m off to Perkins Cove in a few minutes for breakfast. The sun is shining this morning so I hope someone is open to feed me.
Really nice post. Great pictures of one of my most favourite places. Really appreciated.
I’ve gotten e-mails from many people who say they put their bikes away when the daytime high temperature is consistently 50F. Ironically, most of them live in the PNW (where one is always admonished to dress in layers), home to a company called REI, which offers an excellent selection of inclement-weather clothing in its numerous retail outlets.
Go figure…
__Orin
Scootin’ Old Skool
Dear Steve:
The coast of Maine is where people goe to realign their souls. The place has a way of putting things in perspectve.
Fondest regards,
Jack • reep • Toad
Twisted Roads
Reminds me of the movie “Splash”. Tom Hanks’ character goes to Cape Cod to realign. ( nice word, Jack R!)
It’s probably an ego thing that will earn me extra penance at some point, but I take great satisfaction in riding when few people do. So I can’t complain that they don’t ride. Otherwise there would be no comparison.
Interestingly, I will be in Connecticut next month. Not riding there, though. Next year I’m going to chuck it all and spend some weeks riding across the U.S. Need some realignment of my own.
P.S. Thank you for the mention in an earlier post. I’m honored. Except for being in the same paragraph as Jack, that is!
There’s something about a brisk wind and cold sea spray that always makes me feel a little more alive. Having grown up in a house just 300 feet away from a cliff overlooking the Gulf of St. Lawrence, I can truly say that I sometimes miss the salty air and the weather that came with it (good and bad).
Met a guy in the Magdalen Islands a few years ago that rode his 650 V-Strom year-round. He’d bought some knobbies and a stud-gun, then with little more than a small drill proceeded to make his own studded winter tires. Told me he’d never had a spill due to road conditions… but the wind had knocked him off the bike a few times! 😉
Cheers,
Lucky
David: Thanks for your kind words. And I haven’t forgotten your photograph. I’m just slow….
Orin: I really believe a lot of riders are missing the boat on riding in colder weather. I know more than a few riders I have talked to describe how bad conditions are when the temperature drops below 60. When I push them on clothing they are riding with the same gear they do at 90.
No wonder they’re cold!
Mr. Riepe: It took awhile this year for the realignment process to be complete.
Maybe is goes slower with age.
irondad: You are always so thoughtful and reasonable. If I asked your wife if that’s the real you what would she say?
Good thoughts though regardless.
Lucky: I agree, there is something special about the air sweeping in over the ocean. More than once I have wondered about moving closer to the sea.
I’ve seen studded tires for the Vespa but am content now to live snow covered road travel vicariously. I have fallen down in the snow.
No wind induced falls yet though.