Aerostich is responsible for this ride. Seriously, had I not looked through their catalog last night and read “The World’s Coolest Ride” by Mr. Subjective, I would not have chosen the cold this morning. It’s nice to have a reminder to ride when the weather conspires against instinct.
At 29F my hands get cold fast when the gloves come off to make a picture. But it’s worth it to stand in the flow of sunlight.
The Aerostich story says we humans are natural risk managers and improve with success. I know there’s more risk when the temperature drops below the freezing point. Idiots about dumping coffee and other liquids from their vehicles onto the road. And natural springs contribute to the possibilities. Managing these and other obstacles bring focus to life.
Besides, it’s great to see the sunrise in the open.
Like all rides of late food is involved. This morning I met my friend Howard for breakfast at the Naked Egg Cafe in Pine Grove Mills, Pennsylvania. Warm inside and cold out. Nice to beat the rush. Breakfast was, as usual, stellar.
Not sure what Howard ordered, some kind of Southwest breakfast, but it sure was pretty. I opted for my usual bacon, eggs, and this morning the absolute best tater tots I’ve had the opportunity to eat.
Aerostich offers hints on how to ride more and sells a T-shirt by the same name. I’ve been looking at those hints and have the desire for a Roadcrafter suit in my head again. Would make things much easier to deal with when it’s cold. Dressing for cold rides takes time right now.
Warmer tomorrow — 32F at sunrise. Balmy.
Ride More. That’s my motto at the moment.
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That was quite the artfully made breakfast your friend had!
The weather here is warm, even in the early morning it is only in the low 40s here in the metro area.
Strips of frozen water on uphill sections of road, that could be interesting.
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Here! Here! Ride more.
Today, it was a balmy -5°F on my short commute in. We have the additional road hazard of people hauling their own water. Due to the cost on installing a well, many opt for water tanks and put 300-500 gallon tanks in the back of their pickup. Usually some water spills into the bed while filling and this drains out onto the road when the truck heads uphill. So we get this strips of water on just about every uphill section of road.
Charlie6: Dom, the Naked Egg does a great job in presentation. Everything looks and is tasty.
Very warm here today though no time for riding. Have to pull the wheels from the Vespa and mount the snow tires.
Frozen water on the road is a possibility here as well, especially after a thaw and water runs across the road and then freezes. Much to manage when riding in the winter on two wheels.
RichardM: In Alaska -5F is considered balmy. Here that’s really cold and approaching my riding limit of -10F. I say that but I bet if it reached -25F I would try it out…
Careful on the frozen water strips. Don’t want to see any pictures on your blog of the rig spun out of control and into a utility pole.
Ride safe!
Howard’s breakfast looks like a thing of beauty, at least to me. Your ‘tots must have been beautiful in their own right and you won’t see those words together very often.
I’ll leave this cold riding to you Steve since I’ve becoming too leery of icy patches. When my Ural rig finally arrives though…..
Nice pictures Steve,
Like the shadow castings.
Winter photography does seem to capture a kind of magic.
Steve it gets lovely and warm in that space under the seat ……. How can we utilise this little warm space during the winter riding season …… Can it help us in anyway at all?
Regards Len (100mile north of LONDON UK)
I enjoyed this post, as I always do!
I had contemplated starting Rush Hour Rambling back up, now that my daughter is a disaffected teen, and no longer has need of my wisdom or companionship. But then I tune-in here and find that Steve has taken up where I left off, and he is the better photographer. Well, then, carry on, my East Coast compadre. I will continue to ruminate, and perhaps hibernate, here in the Great Grey North.
Ride well,
=gc=
Yes.
Coop: Ice is always a possibility when it’s cold. Part of the challenge of riding is changing how I ride to compensate for that eventuality.
Len: You would think the little oven space under the seat would have some useful role in winter. I hadn’t really thought much about it until reading your comment. First thing that came into my mind was to put a second pair of gloves at the bottom and get them nice and toasty. When my hands are really cold I can stop, swap gloves, and warm up my hands!
Deb: Thanks for the kind words of support. I’ll keep posting!
Gary: Good to hear a voice from the past! Just last week I was doing a Google search for you to see if you started some other blog. Lot’s of people would love to see you kickstart Rush Hour Rambling.
You still have Frogwing and the Vespa?
Keith: Yes. Ride more.
Steve: No, life has brought astounding changes in the past few years. My old Media Command Center has been taken over and repurposed as Emily’s Hideout/Social Networking HQ. Also, though I never thought this would happen, I am currently confined to 4-wheeled commuting. We have had to trim everything to the bone in this economy, just to stay in our house, and that included making the very difficult choice of only 1 motor vehicle per adult in the family. Both Frogwing and (Vespa)Rose are gone. What is it they say? “Tough times never last, but tough people do.” I guess we are putting that one to the test.
Ride well,
=gc=
GC: LIfe always brings new challenges for us to wrestle with and I suppose they are the things that ultimately teach us to savor the good times. Sorry to hear you had to say goodbye to Frog and Rose. I’m sure that had to be a difficult decision but you know it was the right one.
Would love to see you return to RHR even without riding. You have a lifetime of experience and wisdom to share. I know you were instrumental in expanding my own riding and blogging.
Best wishes to you and your family for a good Thanksgiving.
steve