Accepting Colder Weather
It’s no secret that I ride in cold weather. There may be a growing element of secrecy regarding my feelings about doing it. While the 2006 Vespa GTS 250 scooter is still ready and willing to head out in the coldest weather I cannot make the same claim. Each year as winter approaches I feel a greater resistance to abandoning the warmth and comfort of home so I can continue with my annual riding-based winterization program.
The idea of parking the machine for five or six months did not sit well. Too many warm days during the winter that I would want to ride. And plenty of freezing days where the roads were dry. Twenty years ago I swear I never felt cold. Now I am chilled lingering too long in front of an open refrigerator. But if I am going to avoid draining fuels, pulling batteries, or adding Stabil to tanks, I need to keep riding.
The best method for me now is to start early, ride often, and ease into the cold.
Having a Plan
Like so many things in my life I need to have a plan. So to avoid the mess of shutting down machines I cobbled together my Riding-Based Winterization plan. At its core, it means I will keep riding enough through the winter to keep things functional. I work towards riding each of the machines in the garage once every two weeks for at least 15 miles. And I also rotate them on and off Battery Tenders. Since I don’t have smart chargers I can’t leave them on all the time lest I boil out the liquid. Something I had to test and witness to believe.
Cold Weather Satisfaction
While it may be a problem to move from warm house to a cold ride, once I’m on the road those old therapeutic effects take hold and I’m in love with the ride again. With rides limited to an hour or less I’m glad I have a variety of routes to choose from. Rothrock State Forest is minutes from my home and provides endless opportunities to relax and enjoy the scenery. There are nearly 200 miles of drivable forest roads in Rothrock. On this ride I was only sampling about 15 of them.
Feeling Small
Riding delivers many thoughts, feelings, and emotions. Freedom is a popular cry among riders. I’ve found something else that is just as powerful — awe. That feeling I get when I look up at the stars on a clear, crisp, winter night. The Orion constellation blazing forth again. Peering into the universe and realizing how tiny small and insignificant I am in the grand scheme. It’s humbling.
In the forest there are places, vistas, and views where I sense the same thing. My scooter and I tiny in the landscape. And I realize how fortunate I am to be alive and able to traverse the world on a scooter or motorcycle. An unexpected benefit of my riding-based winterization program.
The Road Home
At 40 degrees Fahrenheit I can feel comfortable and warm without resorting to heavy gear or added accessories on the Vespa scooter. Cold enough to begin my slow acclimation to the changing season but not so bad that I declare a close to it all.
As I head towards home I tally the important aspects of my riding-based winterization program.
- Rode for 90 minutes
- Endured 40F without extreme gear
- Experienced awe
- Added 25 miles to the clock
- Took some pictures
- Reminded myself that life is good.
Not too shabby in my book. Next machine in line is my 2001 Kawasaki W650.
Discover more from Scooter in the Sticks
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Wonderful words and images as always, Steve. I look forward to seeing your latest post pop up in my emails. Great conditions and route options you have to travel slowly and appreciate what’s around. Your words resonate so well. Much appreciated.
Central Pennsylvania definitely has great conditions and routes for riding scooters and motorcycles. I’m amazed at how often I still find roads and trails that are new to me. A testament to the size of Pennsylvania and its network of roads.
Hopefully I can keep you looking forward to posts in the New Year.
Well, nothing like taking months for me to reply to your comments. Sorry.
Thank you for the kind words, I appreciate them. And you’re correct, I have many options for great rides here. Especially for someone who is interested in traveling slowly and drinking in the world around me. There will be more posts soon.
This is my second winter riding a scooter, and I’ve noticed something interesting: riding through winter seems to build a kind of resistance to the cold. Little by little, I stop feeling it in the same way. The body adapts.
I sometimes think that if you didn’t ride through winter, you’d probably feel the cold much more than you do now. That gradual exposure really matters. With age, that resistance may become smaller — but without winter riding, it might not exist at all.
And I really liked the idea that going out is about keeping the machines working. I feel it works the same way for us. I need to ride my scooter to keep myself functioning, to avoid surrendering to the darker season — which, at the same time, reveals its own beauty through contrast.
In a way, it feels like a kind of hot-and-cold therapy. People pay for that in spas. We just go for a ride.
Sorry for the delay in responding. I’ve been distracted by life…
Riding in the cold does build up resistance. It did for me. This year, at age 71, I see there is a limit to how much resistance I can build and adapt. A sad realization but something I have to factor into my riding. You seem to understand the challenge.
I still don’t want to surrender to winter but man it is more challenging than it used to be.
The idea of hot-and-cold therapy is a good one. You hit the nail on the head.
And again, sorry for the delay in responding.
Remember that song line,Well I never been to Spain, but Ive been to Oklahoma..Thats true for me Steve, sadly I’ve never been to Pennsilvania however thanks to your beautiful photographs maybe I have..Thanks a million for your time and talents you share with us . It’s always about the ride regardless of WEATHER. I think it’s a rare gift that we get what u convey each time an email from you comes our way..Best wishes sir to you and all the readers of this treasure in 2026, Keep looking up yes we are tiny in this vast universe..Thanks again …Don Etheredge in Texas
Sorry again Don for taking so long to respond.
I’m glad you find some satisfaction in the view of central Pennsylvania I provide. It is a beautiful place to live and ride.
And thank you for the kind words on the things I share here. It’s been a challenge of late to write. Hopefully that will soon change because I do enjoy writing. Clears my mind much like a ride does.
I will just say this: thank you Steve for another well-written and much appreciated post. I always look forward to them.
Thanks Steel. And forgive the long delay in responding.