Darkness and the thermometer indicated 6 degrees when I got out of bed. It requires great effort to leave the house; on foot, by car, or on the Vespa. Once the sun comes out it’s another matter entirely.
Preparing for cold rides takes more time, more layers of clothes, heavier gear, wires for the electric gloves. I feel like a knight preparing for battle except I don’t have a squire to care for the Vespa. The routine mechanical check revealed low tire pressure front and back. Just what I wanted to fiddle with in an unheated garage only marginally warmer than the air outside. I dutifully checked everything, pushed the scooter into the driveway and hit the starter button. Even at 11 degrees the GTS starts right up. No battery tender needed yet.
The Gerbing electric gloves work great at this temperature and aside from the shear bulk of my riding gear everything else keeps me warm and insulated from the icy cold air. Everything but the helmet vent I neglected to close that allowed a little knife if frigid air to torture my left eye.
With the Vespa parked in it’s space at work the bright sun makes everything seem tolerable. Looking at the picture I hardly see anything cold. No matter how cold it is I’m fine if the sun is out. Like one New Year’s Day hike long ago when I fell through the ice at Bear Meadows. Sun was out so I hiked another 8 hours after I got out of the water.
The Vespa provides basic transportation. With some extra gear it allows me to use it year round, even for an 11-degree commute to work. The ride home was much warmer with temperatures soaring to near 30 degrees.
I stopped on the way home to photograph glowing orange corn stubble in the snow. I see a lot of things while I ride that I would like to make a picture of but I do want to go home.
Turning around and walking back towards the scooter I couldn’t resist making one last picture as the sun neared the horizon. It still gets dark too soon and I look forward to longer and warmer days. Until then I’ll have to keep preparing as if I were going out on a moonwalk I suppose. Not very stylish but very effective.
This reminds me of Chicago, when I would bundle up to ride to work in November, trying to catch a couple more days of riding before the snow and salt came. Here in Phoenix people act as if the sun stop working if it gets below 40. Nice post.
And all I can think of is boy who is all bundled up in his snowsuit and
mittens ready to go out the door and
he tells mommy he has to go wee…
Couldn’t resist. Have to remember
you people south of us still are on the out-dated Fahrenheit scale.
Remember when you and I would look at Gary’s posts and comment about riding in such frigid temps? Well, you’ve taken up the torch quite well, with no squire necessary.
I look forward to these cold temperature ride posts. There is something about the “Man against the elements” flavor of these journeys that inspire me.
Have fun,
Bill
atlasrider: The human body is quick to acclimate to new environs though I suspect it is easiest to go from cold to warm.
Stay warm out there is Arizona!
bryce: I always wonder if I fall down if I’ll be like the little brother in a “Christmas Story” yelling I can’t get up!
I always want to indicate what scale we are talking about lest someone thinks it was a balmy 11 degrees Celsius.
Bill: Gary had quite an influence on my thinking as it pertained to winter riding. His activities opened the door to my own cold weather riding. Mine does pale in comparison to the distance and severity that he faced.
I hope he comes around again someday. He was an excellent writer and storyteller and just had some great things to say.
We cannot even imagine 11 degrees much less outside and on a scooter. Sounds insanely painful. But we do love your photos so we are happy that you are enjoying 11 degrees on the Vespa.
Sarch hangs his head in shame as recalls last Saturday’s conversation with his better half while riding on the Gold Wing.
The wife, “I’m thinking that 54 is just a little too cold for riding.”
Sarch, “It is a bit chilly…”
Oh the shame…the shame!
I have ridden in temps in the teens here and I’d LOVE TO HEAR what the car drivers are thinking when they see me out on the road in those temps. (I’m having a BLAST riding, even in the cold weather.)
scooterguy40: Without a doubt drivers think we are nuts. Even the ones who are riders in fair weather. The only people who understand cold weather riding are the ones who do it.
I’m sure of it.
Absolutely.
“I feel like a knight preparing for battle except I don’t have a squire to care for the Vespa.”
This is *exactly* what I think when I get ready in the morning in the winter! So many layers, and things like extra gloves, a hat reminiscent of an arming cap beneath my helmet, etc, make me wish I had a modern squire!
I drive in pretty much anything here in Korea, as I have no other option. The few available buses get me to work almost an hour late, so I *have* to drive. In Korea, they have these big glove-like gauntlets that fit over your handlebars, and they’re amazing. Far cheaper than electric gloves and, really, far more effective – I’ll take a picture of them for you.
The coldest I’ve driven to work in was -12 with a windchill of -21. That was a crazy day. There have been times in my commutes where I have had to pause, get off the bike, and put my hands on the exhaust pipe for a minute or two to fend off frostbite.
Love the scoot and the pictures. I commend you on sticking to the scoot in the winter. I scoot year around as well and really enjoy the ride too.