Road Gone Sour
A perfect road for a ride on a scooter or motorcycle, winding through the woods and dales of central Pennsylvania in late summer. A ride almost perfect if the temperature could be dialed back twenty degrees. At 90F with humidity approaching the same number I’m close to surrendering. Even choosing routes that keep me under the trees for much of the time doesn’t help much.
Bring on the cold weather please. Or at least ratchet down the humidity. Right now it’s just pure miserability.
Panorama Country
A stop not far from Spruce Creek so Paul can make a panoramic photo with his iPhone. He’s got both a serious face and stance when he’s executing the sweeping movement. Things are in flux for Mr. Ruby. His Ducati Hypermotard is for sale on eBay. He’s purchased a used BMW R1200RT to ride across the country in the late fall, and he almost pulled the trigger on the purchase of a Vespa to replace the Piaggio Fly.
I can barely keep up.
Pulpit Rocks
Walking a short way up the trail at Pulpit Rocks, even in the shade, was a tiresome, sweaty undertaking. Paul remained at the road with the scooters while I explored a bit with the camera. Nice place. Need to come back when I’m willing to look around a bit more.
Winding Roads
Even the great roads in central Pennsylvania that challenge the senses and skills — the hot weather melts into an amorphous blob of “so what, who cares…”.
On the bright side, I may have a bit more time to so some things I’ve been putting off as I leave the scooter in the garage.
Or maybe I can ride a little earlier in the day, or a little later. What about you? How do you cope with the heat and the miserability it causes?
Its been the same here in east Tennessee, heat and humidity so high it steals your breath. I haven’t been riding due to the conditions; the heat off the road melts you!
The heat has diminished a bit here but I know what you mean about the heat taking your breath away. Maybe if it were a dry heat…
That kind of heat and especially the humidity would be enough to sideline the most dedicated rider. The heat alone would be fine if it were dry. I’ve cycled in much warmer temperatures without any real issues as long as there was plenty of water and no humidity.
You’re not joining Paul on his cross-country adventure?
I don’t have the time to make that trip. And circumstances aren’t right either. Someday I hope to make that sort of trip…
I told my daughter that if she wants to go for a ride we have to get up early. So far the earliest she has gotten me up was 5:00 am. I don’t mind as long as the temps are in the low 80’s once they get into the 90’s I wrap a chill town around my neck. That being said 50 to 60% humidity is high for us. This years high, so far, is 112f.
Early morning is the way to go. Work to get up early sometimes though. We haven’t had any temperatures over 100F this year so far. Thankfully.
Miserability – you made that word up, didn’t you? People ask me what I miss about Texas, and while there are some thing, the one I don’t miss is the heat and humidity. I guess that’s why I took off to Newfoundland for three weeks. Just didn’t want to face the hot summer here.
That’s a real word Frank. I looked it up to make sure.
My dad was stationed at Fort Hood during the Korean War and he described that part of Texas as hot and miserable — sand blowing in your face while your standing up to your knees in mud. He didn’t think much of Texas.
No real solutions for enjoyable riding in hot/humid weather from this part of the Empire.
I know how to survive it….but that’s not enjoying is it?
Exactly Dom — it’s not enjoyable. Funny thing — I find the winter cold enjoyable. Maybe I should have a Snow Mobile instead of a Vespa.
I’ll take heat over cold any day. With cold comes terrible road conditions. Being bundled up in heavy clothes dulls my movements and maneuvering becomes difficult. I am always sad this time of the season knowing that Autumn and chills are but a month away.
You and I are on opposite ends of the spectrum. I’ll always take the cold over the heat.
Before I resumed riding again I complained about the cold, seemingly endless winters (and I live in NC!). Now as a returning rider who likes to wear at least most all of the gear all of the time (MATGATT?), this summer’s heat and humidity is simply intolerable. I haven’t been for a ride in over a month. Suffering some serious withdrawal effects here…
A month! I would be out riding in the middle of the night or something at least. Hope the weather cools a bit for you.
How does Mr.Ruby like his Fly,I have a 2007 150cc and enjoy mine on a daily basis.The engine is one and the same on the Vespa 150’s.The newer models have fuel injection;however,there is a cost to owning a “Vespa” in the name only. I may bite the bullet and upgrade to a new Vespa or the new Piaggio 350.
Mesh jacket/pants, wicking undergarments (UnderArmor, MotoSkiveez, etc.), hydration, movement. Doesn’t help a lot when you stop, but it does help when travelling.
I think I received the payment for the Ducati. “Louie” from Georgia bought it. That means I can pick up the BMW tomorrow I think. We will see if the paperwork can be completed. I was going to pull the trigger on the Vespa 150 3V but God stopped me. It was in the process of being written up for another customer when I arrived. I’m reminded how my eyes overpower my brain in these matters. I’m more than a few instances I buy something I don’t need only because I’m controlled by the beauty/sexy.
Kept thinking how Steve and latterly Paul were coping with the extreme humidity. Years
past the heat has ben high inthe summer as well; however this year the humidity levels have been
to be kind, deadly. Here in Canada we record temperature in metric, and ditto the humidity, so for example 32C outside is 89.5 on the Fahreneit scale; add in the humidity factor and that 32C feels to the average person more like 42C (107F) or as high as 44C (111F) as it has been some days in the past few weeks.
Inside where the air has been conditioned (moisture removed) is one option however once outside, all of the negative factors appear, such as heavy perspiration and in some cases shortness of breath. Now wear protective gear on a two wheeled converyance and all thoughts of enjoyment of the ride disappear.
Yes, thinking of cooler temperatures is nice , however forthe cold you can layer and dress for same; for heat and humidity, you may only disrobe only so far. Laws of decency and safety aside, even in shorts and tank tops
it still may be too damn miserable to even contemplate venturing forth.
Actually the extreme warm weather could be termed an unsafe condition, truth be told.
And then some retail outlets have the cooling effect set so low, that as you leave,the structure, your spectacles fog, and you’re immediatly struck with a blinding headache due to the very hot weather, outside.
In your quadracycle or jusr walking outside, this time of the year is a place of negative feelings. Best to not ride….
90deg F = 32deg C.
Getting up there but still beautiful weather for riding in T shirt and flip-flops down to the beach. I can see though that many would feel a bit vulnerable dressed scantily for a longer ride. The heat only hits when one stops for a break.
As for climbing mountains in such weather…hmmm.
You still seem to have vigor on your side Steve, good to see.
Are we “Westerners” becoming too pampered?
Are we all getting a little pampered?
We call this ‘Florida weather’ as in Florida in August that is. Walking in a newly-paved pitch black parking lot the other day was like walking in an oven. But still I ride and love it, heat and humidity and all.
The BMW R1200RT is dreamy, heated everything, digital everything, and even an electric windshield. I wonder how Paul will react to that. Quite a different ride from his red Ducati.
Point your Vespa North, here in Western Canada (Alberta) we get maybe a week or two of hot weather if we are lucky! I guess it is all a matter of perspective, we always seem to want or don’t want what we have! Autumn is just around the corner and soon we will be enjoying the more seasonable cool weather for riding!
In Florida’s summer if I’m not BACK by 10:00 a.m. I’ve melted into the pavement. The only way around the heat and humidity is to be on the road just before sun up – and even then the “low” is usually around 80F this time of year. I won’t hit cool weather until November at least. Sigh…
In Florida this time of year if I’m not BACK from a ride by 10:00 a.m., I’ve melted into the asphalt and my scoot has gone home without me. Even pre-sunrise it’s around 80 degrees and I won’t have “Fall” weather until at least November. Sigh…
Getting to this post rather late, but…
The Heat: Those were the days when I reluctantly threw the ATGATT Handbook out the window, grabbed the cargo shorts and short-sleeved shirt, helmet and gloves (even there, I left the armored leather numbers at home for a pair of mostly-armored breathable-fabric riding gloves). My rationale: sweating bullets and uncomfortably fidgeting while behind the ‘bars in full gear s potentially more risky than riding comfortably and undistracted while admittedly less protectively dressed. I’m still waiting on that armored fabric jacket that’s supposed to be wonderful for at least 3/4 of the riding year (I do regard myself as essentially a year-round rider; last year I probably stayed off Melody for less than one month out of the year).
How’s Paul getting on with his new RT?