Dogs Love Snow
My dogs love snow. They don’t seem to tire of it or complain about the weather. They have lessons to teach. Me, I’m complaining. Just when I thought the snow was done for the season I woke to six inches of the white stuff. If it wasn’t so beautiful I would have been despondent.
Lily raced through the garden, everything heavy with wet snow, with typical reckless abandon. As I trudged along I knew I was going for a ride. The temperature was right — a hair above freezing which would me the roads at worse would be slush or slightly snow covered. Perhaps even just wet. So one last winter riding adventure.
This must be the last real snow of the season. So of course it was time for a snowy Vespa ride.
If I Can Just Get Out of the Driveway
Snow at the freezing mark is like grease. Wet and slippery. Pushing the scooter out through the snow was a job. Wished I had the Heidenau snow tires on. Worried that I might slip and fall against the car. Had momentary visions of being trapped under the scooter and not able to reach my iPhone.
Great way to start a ride.
Proceed With Caution
It’s easy to get over confident when riding in snow. It may seem counter intuitive if you’ve never ridden a lot in the white stuff. But once you’re moving, especially in straight lines, the urge to use a little more throttle can take hold. Riding through the comparatively clear tire tracks still presented slush and the occasional snow covered areas to deal with. And dealing means slowing down and treating the throttle like a hot potato.
Simplicity
Riding a Vespa in the snow is an exercise in simplicity. It means reducing focus to speed, traction and traffic. Slow speed, looking for maximum traction, and being completely aware of other vehicles for myriad reasons. When I saw the road sign I was reminded of how simple things can be — left turn.
Being Mindful of the Cold
I can’t stress enough how important staying warm is to winter Vespa riding. Staying focused on the road, snow, ice and whatever else the weather hurls at you is critical to success. If you’re shivering or mentally complaining to yourself about cold hands, feet or whatever else, you’re fighting a losing battle. And being warm means an investment in gear. I can’t count how many riders I spoken to who dismiss their solitary winter riding experience with, “It’s too cold.” When pressed about gear it’s obvious they don’t have anything useful for cold weather.
Beautiful Landscapes
This most recent snowfall was dazzling in terms of the picturesque views it produced. Scene after scene of snowy landscapes presented themselves. So much so that I regretted not taking along my “professional” digital camera. Sometimes I think riding is really just a tool for me to make more pictures.
How Fast Can You Dump a Vespa Scooter?
You can put a scooter on the ground almost instantly in the snow. Even faster with a motorcycle. By the time I stopped to make this photograph I had been on the road for an hour and was comfortable with the conditions. I was pulled over into the heavy snow/slush mix so I could park safely while tinkering with the camera. Back on the scooter and ready to get back on the road I twisted the throttle just a little too much.
Just a little.
And immediately the back tire breaks free and the ass end of the Vespa is moving right and wanting to put the scooter onto the pavement.
Fast. Really fast.
Fortunately I was paying attention and muscle memory had me back off the throttle before my brain could think about what was happening. The center of gravity on the Vespa is very low to the ground which helps a lot in being stable in this kind of situation. A motorcycle with a higher center of gravity would be much worse to deal with.
By 10am the snow was almost gone from the roads. By late afternoon it was hard to believe the world was shrouded in snow just that morning. This, THIS must be the last real snow of the winter riding season.
It has to be. Really. I’ve had enough.
Uncle.
.Though your winter photos are beautiful, I am getting a little worn out by your never ending winter and I live in Florida! Come on Spring Time!!!
It’s here. Near 80F today. Unfortunately I’ll be cutting ornamental grasses, raking, and hauling three tons of gravel with a wheelbarrow to pave paths that the dogs turned into mud. If my body endures I’ll go for a ride tomorrow.
I’ll try and tone down any further comments about the weather so you can enjoy your Florida bliss!
Hoping you get your wish and that its your last snow ride for the season….your conditions are more like Spring in Colorado should be!
While it’s still possible to see snow I don’t expect anything more than a flurry. Fingers crossed that spring has sprung!
Uncle indeed. Cant recall previous winters that filled me with such anxiety…riding withdrawal.
Saturday’s ride in near 50’s sunshine….then more white slop.
Feels like punishment for something….but what have we done? Oh…never mind.
And we have Gravel strewn roads to look forward to for that special feeling ….yikes lost traction! Be safe.
Was out yesterday for a 65 mile breakfast ride. Lots and lots of gravel on the road. Luckily I don’t push aggressively while riding. For those that do — beware. Traction loss is a possibility.
Hope your riding withdrawal and anxiety clears soon!
Here in Scotland we have had the hardest winter of heavy snow for years. With many sheep farms, lambing has started and after four days of almost non stop rain and now more heavy snow lamb deaths are high especially on outside hill farms.
I sincerely hope this is the last of the snow, snow is costly and dangerous. And I take delivery of my new Vespa Primavera Touring on Friday . I am now 74 and 125cc is enough for my slowing reactions, although it’s quite surprising the pep of these wee 125 engines.
Steve, may I offer my compliments on you being game and skilful enough to ride in snow, and thank you very much indeed for the posts and photos.
Congratulations on your Vespa Primavera. What a fine gift to yourself at 74. Best wishes for many, many years of safe and wonderful scooter riding. The landscapes of Scotland seem a fine place to ride. It’s on my ever growing list of places I would like to see.
Regarding riding in the snow… As the years gain on me and my body reacts ever less forgiving of the cold I find winter, and snow, more and more challenging. The mental hurdles are high as well. But when I finally do venture out it’s always rewarding. So I’ll keep riding until it isn’t. Until then, I hope I can share things of interest to you and others who see the world from a scooter or motorcycle.
Your winter”cover” is an excellent purchase even though a little expensive,keeping warm and dry are the 1st thing one should look at in late Fall/Winter/Spring outings.
The winter cover was great. Took it off a couple days ago — a nod (and hope) to the end of winter. Warm and dry is critical to cold weather riding. I have been studying it for years now!
The equinox says spring, outside does not. The time of year for tree trimming . Yesterday April 4/18 60 mph or more winds, nature’s method. Today forestry workers everywhere shredding the remains of trees, tree limbs and similar that were pruned the previous day by Mother Nature. Many small twigs and branches which can be picked up, then broken into smaller bits and tossed on the compost pile.
No snow here, yet. Maybe later this week and beyond. Reports of winter temperatures and precipitation for another 7 to 10 days….
Now Steve; go to the calendar on the wall in the kitchen (you do have one of “those” calendars, big enough squares for each day to write future activities?) and on or about the first of November write a note to install the winter tires on the Vespa.
Not sure if you do so for your four-wheeled devices, I’d do it for the van at the very least.
Neither of you have to be out in poor weather, you now retired and Kim having to be careful otherwise.
In the interim enjoy what cool weather remains; Lily seems so happy sprawled in the snow!
You posted your comment almost two weeks ago. Sorry for the laziness in my reply. All the bad weather you described is behind us now. Warm and sleepy here now. At least for a few days. I spent a day picking up all that Mother Nature pruned — the township’s big chipper truck has taken it all away.
Winter tires! Yes. Good plan. I will put it on the calendar. Hopefully the squirrels haven’t gnawed on them…
I haven’t had winter tires on a vehicle since my 1992 Chevy S-10 2WD pickup truck. Snow tires helped that. But the front wheel drive vehicles do fine without them.
Lily is always happily sprawled regardless of weather. She’s lounging in the shade right now…
Still easier to deal with cold than hot and humid. The snow photos look wonderful and I know that I’m going to wish for the cooler temperatures in a few months. Maybe a little less snow and ice. Having to keep moving it around is starting to get a little old…
Maybe we just need something innocuous to complain about. Weather is our diversion. I agree about cold over hot. I have a difficult time dealing with hot days. Just want to curl up in the dark and snooze. With cold, I can feel the challenge to overcome it.
Snow? What’s that?
If I had to choose between riding my motorcycle or scooter in the snow the bike wins. Scooters have small wheels, real short wheelbases and an engine located closely to the rear wheel. Not to mention no footpegs. While dragging your feet to stabilize the scooter in the snow it’s not the most effective technique. On a bike you stand on the pegs. It puts your center of gravity lower and allows it to continue easily. That’s why they don’t sell ADV scooters.
The main advantage I see to the scooter is the low center of gravity. Even standing on the pegs of a motorcycle you still have a higher center. And usually more weight to contend with. Or so it has seemed to me. And since I’ve often had to pad through icy patches by foot the low slung scooter is much easier to contend with. But I have seen videos of guys plowing through snow on Goldwings so who knows. Whatever works is the right thing. No perfect solutions when it comes to snow.
ADV scooters — Honda has one they’re selling in Europe. Looks pretty cool. Honda X-ADV. Not sure they’ll ever sell it in the USA but I wouldn’t mind having a look.