Wading Through Weather Decisions
Deciding to ride continuously throughout the year requires some honest looks in the mirror. It’s easy for me to equate what I was able to do 15 years ago with how I am today. And when today means I’m 70 years old I had best be rigorously honest about my riding abilities and limits. I’ve told myself that there will be no more riding in snow and probably no riding below the freezing mark. Seems a reasonable boundary to embrace. So how is it that I found myself riding through a series of snow squalls with the thermometer hovering at 32F? Was it a bad series of assessments based on the weather forecast or did I let my pride and ego get the better of me?
Winterizing Myself
With the temperature at 32F a walk on the street in front of the house to investigate whether the damp road had a sheen of ice seemed prudent. No road salt had hit the pavement yet so it’s difficult to know when liquid water changes to ice. Satisfied that the road was just wet I departed for a 15 miles ride to breakfast.
I was surprised at the amount of cold tolerance I seemed to possess. Especially considering I was not heavily geared up for the ride. Winter jacket, helmet, insulated gloves, jeans, and boots. Add to that the expectation that the thermometer would creep up a few degrees and I was ready to roll.
Scattered Snow Squalls
The Vespa GTS scooter is well suited for winter riding. Easy to handle. Light enough to hold up should things start to slip away. The fairing keeps the wind off the legs and feet and a pair of yet to be installed this season handlebar muffs keep the hands toasty warm. Nothing in my garage comes close. So when the snow started to fly I was comfortable and confident. Past experience reassured me that the scooter was fine. All I needed to do was sharpen my winter riding eyesight. Anticipating problematic stretches of road where snow or ice might collect. Watching the sky for signs of snow, rain, or sleet. And generally moderating speed and lean angles to prevent any unfortunate encounters with loss of tire bite or gravity.
It was a pleasant ride despite a few moments of sudden snow squalls.
It’s Only a Little Snow
Coming down the mountain I could see a snow squall approaching. Snow was already blowing across the road surface but not sticking in place. Visibility decreased to the point where I felt it prudent to increase my monitoring of traffic behind me should I need to make a prudent detour to the side of the road. By the time I stopped to make this portrait most of the snow on my jacket and helmet had melted or blown away.
When snow is involved I have to make sure I don’t confuse what’s in the air with what’s on the ground. Or more specifically, what’s on the road. On this day the roads never got worse than wet. And the only time I came near dropping the Vespa occurred right after I made the first photo. There was slippery mud in the grass and a too heavy hand on throttle caused the scooter to fishtail. It’s unsettling to feel the rear wheel start to go sideways. I quickly adjusted and saved myself the embarrassment of drop. But it was a good lesson to pay close attention at all times to all riding surfaces.
Cozy Contentment
My secondary goal for the ride was getting breakfast after further practice in my acclimatization to the cold. By the time I parked in front of Barnes & Noble my hands were cold and I was beginning to feel the chill. And when I walked inside I was immediately bathed in warm air. The contrast from cold to warm is thrilling. My body responds to the change with a rush of satisfaction that I can only attribute to having braved the cold.
By the time I was drinking tea and munching on a breakfast sandwich I believed 32F was a non-issue in regard to riding. That belief led me to ride the next morning at 22F with the same gear. The only difference being blue skies and dazzling sunlight which always makes a ride seem warmer.
I’m not sure what the next steps will be. After leaving Barnes & Noble I found myself behind a municipal truck spreading salt on the road. A sure sign of winter. I need to ride the W650 and the Honda Trail 125 next. And install the handlebar muffs on the Vespa GTS and Royal Enfield Himalayan. Other than that I’ll just go with the flow and see where it leads.
Winter is here.
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