Comments on: Vespa Riding in a Snow Squall

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Fri, 24 Mar 2023 13:34:18 +0000

[…] I have gotten soft. […]

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Tue, 07 Mar 2017 02:22:11 +0000

In reply to Dan D.

The days just blur together. Blame it on winter…

By: Dan D

Dan D — Tue, 07 Mar 2017 00:55:31 +0000

In reply to Steve Williams.

Duh, those Thursday squalls were Friday. Time just keeps slipping away, that’s my excuse at least. Can’t blame that screw-up on autocorrect, ha

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Mon, 06 Mar 2017 04:28:12 +0000

In reply to Dan D.

South of I-80. That makes sense. I was thinking of Pennsylvania Furnace and Rock Springs. Not the frozen north of Boalsburg.

I’ve read a bit about all the accidents. I consider myself fortunate to have been where I was when the squall came through. A short wait by the stadium was all I needed to get my head together and have the snow lighten a bit. Now it’s transforming into a fond memory…

I’m with you — winter can take a hike.

By: Dan D

Dan D — Mon, 06 Mar 2017 00:59:40 +0000

Hey, just for future reference, when the weather alerts say “Southern Centre” they mean anything south of I-80. Dang better betcha Boalsburg is Southern Centre County!

Those Thursday squalls were pretty tough, scores of vehicles damaged on the Skytop stretch of US322/I-99, horrible traffic jams on the alternative routes. 3/4 mile backup at the Warriors Mark stop signs!

Not a good time to be riding, but at least your short commute and good sense let you pretty much wait it out without too much personal risk. Glad you made it through with nothing more than a hairy experience and a brief delay.

Winter can end any day now.

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Sun, 05 Mar 2017 21:01:37 +0000

In reply to WhoinDatGarden.

Even though we don’t have anything like the traffic you encounter in NYC, a rider still has to factor in the stray pickup truck or SUV that may come along in the snow. It’s another aspect of the riding puzzle in snow. In this case, I should have left the Vespa at home and taken the car back to work. An error in judgement on my part.

I’ve driven in New York and in Queens and can appreciate the challenge of riding there. I’m spoiled where I am.

Thankfully, no back issues, knots or stress. One thing I have learned from many snowy rides is to relax and work through the problem. This was the most complicated. Thankfully it took place close to home and didn’t require hours of riding to solve.

By: WhoinDatGarden

WhoinDatGarden — Sun, 05 Mar 2017 16:51:16 +0000

wow.. Im glad you managed to get back safely. I find that when it is snowing or raining the issue I have riding in NYC isn’t the weather as much as one is going relatively slow (20-25mph) it is the other drivers who just don’t seem to care about the two wheeled folks and the sounds I get to hear while driving across the Brooklyn or Manahattan bridge is kinda eerie.
Also in NYC the roads are in normal conditions horrible to put it lightly, when it snows it becomes worse cuz you cant see the pot holes as they are covered in the snow yet not enough to have patched the holes.
I am sure you had really tight back muscles from the tension of wanting to get back safely. I get knots on the right side just under the shoulder blade when I go through such moments…

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Sun, 05 Mar 2017 03:55:34 +0000

In reply to Curvyroads.

I’m always open to luck. But mostly, I was methodical and proceeded slowly. And I stayed away from traffic.

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Sun, 05 Mar 2017 03:54:13 +0000

In reply to Jillian.

What really made the ride difficult was the fact that I was preoccupied thinking about potentially stories for the magazine on animal science research.

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Sun, 05 Mar 2017 03:53:11 +0000

In reply to RichardM.

It’s an adventure I won’t forget. Had I know how bad it would get I would not have chosen to ride the Vespa.

And yes, it IS time for SPRING!