Comments on: Personal Riding Lesson https://scooterinthesticks.com/2016/02/personal-riding-lesson/ Exploring life on a Vespa, Royal Enfield Himalayan, Honda Trail 125, and a Kawasaki W650 Mon, 14 Mar 2016 15:22:50 +0000 hourly 1 By: Kathy https://scooterinthesticks.com/2016/02/personal-riding-lesson/#comment-31150 Mon, 14 Mar 2016 15:22:50 +0000 https://scooterinthesticks.com/?p=6050#comment-31150 Two selfies!?! Nice.

We all have “teaching moments” like yours. Luckily, your moment didn’t end in a fall.

I’m always thankful for learning experiences, even if some are more painful and expensive than others.

]]> By: Steve Williams https://scooterinthesticks.com/2016/02/personal-riding-lesson/#comment-30847 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 01:38:15 +0000 https://scooterinthesticks.com/?p=6050#comment-30847 In reply to Robert.

I was on he road the parallel’s RT45 and the top of Tussey Mountain. Lot’s of sunshine hitting it so mostly clear of ice. Not like some of the deep cuts where you probably were. The ice up there can be bad. Last time I attempted it was with a 2WD pickup with chains. Chains help.

]]> By: Steve Williams https://scooterinthesticks.com/2016/02/personal-riding-lesson/#comment-30844 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 01:34:44 +0000 https://scooterinthesticks.com/?p=6050#comment-30844 In reply to Lowbuckrider.

Those temperature changes always fascinate me. The only big shift like that I’ve experienced has been sailing. Once out of Camden, Maine near 90F in town and in the high Forties in the Gulf of Maine. My T-shirt didn’t prepare me.

Had to chuckle at the new learning curve. Could imagine more than a few scenarios…

]]> By: Steve Williams https://scooterinthesticks.com/2016/02/personal-riding-lesson/#comment-30843 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 01:31:30 +0000 https://scooterinthesticks.com/?p=6050#comment-30843 In reply to Alessandro Melillo.

I’m definitely not Steve McQueen. As a kid his cooler king character in The Great Escape was a hero. But I never imagined being like him.

]]> By: Steve Williams https://scooterinthesticks.com/2016/02/personal-riding-lesson/#comment-30842 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 01:30:13 +0000 https://scooterinthesticks.com/?p=6050#comment-30842 In reply to Gene Culver.

I usually am not caught unaware like I was this time. Distracted no doubt. I learned early about head up, no death grip on the bars and aim well. Have improved my gravel riding with that and it worked on the ice too.

Ugh.

The Super Sherpa is a great bike. Hope you had fun with it.

]]> By: Robert https://scooterinthesticks.com/2016/02/personal-riding-lesson/#comment-30811 Sun, 28 Feb 2016 16:54:52 +0000 https://scooterinthesticks.com/?p=6050#comment-30811 We spent yesterday in the Jeep crawling around Tussey Mountain and encountered a LOT of ice. Even 4WD low range was just effective enough to prevent disaster in one instance. We were lucky. I wonder if that guy in a regular 2WD car ever got out of there?
BTW, when I look in the mirror, I wonder who that old man is.

]]> By: Lowbuckrider https://scooterinthesticks.com/2016/02/personal-riding-lesson/#comment-30804 Sun, 28 Feb 2016 14:18:18 +0000 https://scooterinthesticks.com/?p=6050#comment-30804 A couple of weeks ago I was headed across Angeles Crest Hwy. It was about 82 at the bottom of the Mountains and 54 on the backside of the mountain but still a good bit of snow in the sides of the road. I had cut my speed from 55 to 30ish while riding through the snowy area. When I saw the large area of ice I aimed straight made no changes & tried to stay loose, no drama, the same when I came back through.

I seem to spend a lot of time assessing my riding skills, especially on my commute to and from work. Lately the SO has started riding with me. Although the weekends are spent riding with my daughter riding with my wife has been a whole new learning curve.

]]> By: Alessandro Melillo https://scooterinthesticks.com/2016/02/personal-riding-lesson/#comment-30799 Sun, 28 Feb 2016 10:12:07 +0000 https://scooterinthesticks.com/?p=6050#comment-30799 “my experience is only as good as my willingness to apply it”.
These are some wise words that many riders never keep in mind.
We all should.
We’re not Steve McQueen, though we like to think we do.

]]> By: Gene Culver https://scooterinthesticks.com/2016/02/personal-riding-lesson/#comment-30791 Sun, 28 Feb 2016 04:53:24 +0000 https://scooterinthesticks.com/?p=6050#comment-30791 First comment is about thermodynamics. The wet bulb temperature is always less than the dry bulb temperature which is what the bank and radio will tell you it is outside. With just a little breeze and evaporation, the wet surface can chill to the wet bulb temp and freeze the water. Remember the signs about bridges freezing before roadway. That’s why newer cars will display ice icon when the exterior temp (dry bulb) gets to 37 F.
Next, remember to keep shoulders loose and aim toward better road conditions, as you did. Keep the bike upright and prepare to reach better traction. Works on gravel too.
We’ll see if I can apply this tomorrow as I take my new-to-me KL250 Super Sherpa to some unpaved trails.
Gene

]]> By: Steve Williams https://scooterinthesticks.com/2016/02/personal-riding-lesson/#comment-30789 Sun, 28 Feb 2016 03:15:57 +0000 https://scooterinthesticks.com/?p=6050#comment-30789 In reply to Dom.

Yeah, I’ve been on ice plenty of times but never moving fast. You really are helpless and just have to hope you can keep gravity in line and not cause the tires to break loose.

Next time I’ll pay closer attention.

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