Vespa in the Snow
This photograph was made three years ago on a morning jaunt through the snow. It’s an activity I find challenging though I caution most to not follow. A lot of things can quickly go wrong. What strikes me when I look at this picture is how much I’ve changed. Where I was once jumping out of bed to get on the road early when it would snow, now I’m repeatedly hitting the snooze button on the iPhone alarm. And while the Heidenau K66 LT Snow-Tex tires were already mounted three years ago, today those tires are still in the attic.
I’ve not lost interest in riding. Rather, I find it more difficult to meet the physical and mental requirements essential to safely navigate a snowy world. My prognosis — a temporary state remedied by time and healing.
Until then, I’ll practice my assessments of the winter riding world.
Reading the Road
I still walk out into the street before going on a ride in the snow. Testing the traction with a boot provides some insight into what I might find in the wider world. While not scientific or accurate, it helps ground my thoughts of the road ahead. On this morning, I left the Vespa scooter in the garage. Not so much because of the snow, but because my back was still bothering me enough that I didn’t want to chance needing to suddenly manage the weight of the scooter amidst a slip or slide.
Definitely not bad back activity.
State College, Pennsylvania in the Snow
No one was parked in the motorcycle spaces that I routinely use. The drive in proved the roads to be more treacherous that my boot test indicated. At one point approaching a traffic light at the bottom of a hill I began to slow and stop long before the intersection. The road had other ideas as the ABS and traction control on the Honda Fit came to life delivering a controlled slide to the edge of the intersection. The Vespa would have not fared as well.
Let It Snow
A slow, careful walk along a slippery sidewalk was required to stay upright. I wished I had my walking stick along for more sure-footed travel. I find myself using the same scanning techniques and speed assessments while walking that I use while riding.
Weird.
Saint’s Cafe
Like all good trips in the snow, this one ends somewhere to warm the body and spirit. I paused a moment to photograph the Christmas wreath before finding a place to sit and sip hot tea.
It was good I didn’t ride. The roads were far more slippery than I imagined. I’m careful to not overestimate my skill.
A quick update moving forward — I rode the scooter into town this morning. Temperature hovered at 24F. Some big patches of ice involved. Remained upright with the rubber side down. But that was likely the last ride of 2016. More on that in upcoming posts…
Steve, I feel your concern!
Your pain wracked body has allowed no comfort;
best listen to your mind.
Was wondering if you had ever purchased a back support system entitled
Obus Forme. A Canadian company their design would allow you to
pilot the Honda Fit with less pain or similarly sit in an office chair without pain.
And two wheels rolling or sliding is not good, in winter
The pain is receding and I’m getting closer to normal. A lot of work to get there.
Haven’t purchased a back brace. At least not yet.
I’m thinking Vespa trike or a sidecar. How about bolting two scooters side by side. Two wheels and snow sounds like fun in a parking lot but not very safe when surrounded by cages.
The desire to ride is strong.
A Vespa trike — that should be against the laws of riding. Now two bolted side by side — that’s a concept.
Managing snow on the road with other vehicles around is definitely a challenge. For me it involves planning routes, a lot of pulling over, waiting and managing the traffic. Have to admit though, I’m not as interested in doing it now as I did a few years ago.
You are a much braver man than I ?
Not brave. Just focused and careful.
Steve
I empathize with your unwillingness to ride …. fighting through something similar but at least I’ve no injuries to also account for. We’ve not much snow, hoping for more to help me get out more.
The street scene shot with the signs, very nice.
You sure a sidecar rig wouldn’t perhaps re-ignite the snow riding passion?
A side car rig…. I confess that I’ve thought more about it lately.
Of course you know a Ural w/ sidecar would serve you very well in these conditions, make it fun even. No need for 2 wheel drive either. Don’t know about wrestling the handlebars w/ your back though. Regarding winter activities on this very day, separate Email sent.
I’ve thought a lot about the URAL. Just not ready to make that leap.
The back is improving slowly. Will take some time to see if I ever get back to normal.
Somehow I forsee you developing into a “snowbird”, taking up Winter residence in some much warmer but scenic area. And the ability to have a second Vespa.
I certainly now understand why people become snowbirds. But I’m not sure whether I want to trade the cold for alligators, fire ants, mosquitoes and pythons…
…and rats, and ginkos, and Spring/Summer humidity (if talking about Florida) – our daughter lives there. But man is it real nice December to April compared to here. And there’s always the picturesque SouthWest for the same months. Just take a look at the most recent Arizona Highways magazine.
I have come to appreciate why people move south in the winter as they get older. There are cold days now where I don’t want to emerge from bed let alone gear up to brave the cold on two wheels.
Maybe the Carolinas would be a good compromise…
Steve, be sure to put appropriate shoes on the Fit as well. Tire Town sells the best studless ice and snow tire on the market, Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 from Finland, they make a world of difference on the icy and snowy roads. Especially on those downhill traffic light stops where you really want to stop. They put my set on last week, I have been getting around very safely ever since, it’s not a risk I’m prepared to take, trying to get around without great snow tires.
The Nokian tires look pretty nice. I’ve not put a set of snow tires on a car in a long time. Not since I had a rear wheel drive car back in the 1970s. Guess that suggests I don’t really need any with the front wheel drive cars. The all season radials along with the masterful care of the roads here in winter — generally — has made the snow tires optional. Still, those Nokian’s look good.
What are you driving that got a new set of tires? Four or two?
For many years I rode year round, winter and summer, on two wheels. I don’t any more. If I lived somewhere where it was warm all year long, I’d ride year round. Here in Pennsylvania I no longer ride in the winter.
You’re part of a big community of riders who don’t ride in the winter. Lot’s of reasons that make sense to keep the machines in the garage.
I always want my riding to be fun. Years ago I did the “Ride year Round” maneuver briefly and lived, and suffered, to tell about it. Snow itself is bad enough but what it sometimes covers is worse. I fell on what I thought was snow when I was out on a dirt bike one day. As I lay on the ground bewildered I noticed the ground felt awfully hard. A quick brush with my glove revealed that I was lying on a huge frozen puddle. The snow covered it from sight. I wouldn’t want that to happen to you Steve. A back is a terrible thing to waste.
I’ve navigated a lot of snow covered ice. Can’t take anything for granted in the winter. You’re right about a back being a terrible thing to waste. Can’t imagine hitting the pavement with a bad back. My dogs keep trying to take me out while they race around the yard. That’s bad enough!
Years ago, I remembered being really annoyed with not being able to ride for half of the year. But after a couple of motobloggers effectively demonstrated a simple solution (Everydayriding & Charlie6), I started researching a similar approach. The original intent was to just leave the third wheel on during the snow season. That’s not what happened as I found that I actually enjoy riding more now than before. Odd and not what I expected.
Personally, I wouldn’t ride in the snow on two wheels unless there was a really good reason beyond “just because you can”.
I have no good reason to ride in the snow. None. Just did it to see if I could. Cold — that’s different. I like to ride.
The three wheeled solution has it’s benefits. Curious about you liking it better than two wheels. It’s such a different experience to me.
It’s funny you mention this because I just read a post about someone who could be one of Steve’s neighbors: http://www.revzilla.com/common-tread/the-streak-this-man-has-ridden-a-motorcycle-every-day-for-16-years
Steve,
I have one word for you.. Ural….
Buy one and never look back.. I have 3..
Love the pictures….
Safety Bob
URAL. A big investment…
I love your blog. I avidly check each day for updates. I am new to scooting and have a vespa gts 300 ss. I am still on my learner’s plates and have yet to venture onto a wet road let alone a snowy road! You inspire me to be braver to see these amazing Vistas for myself.
Thanks for the kind words. Sorry I haven’t been posting more of late. Hopefully that will change soon.
For now, I suggest not navigating the wet or snowy roads. Practice in the warm weather first!
Well, this morning was met with a bit more than a dusting of the white stuff here in Asbury Park. My plan was to shower, make breakfast, pack my tech kit bag and hop on Melody for the six-mile ride to Long Branch train station for the ride to New York. (The station in Asbury is just a mile from the house, but there are more trains departing from Long Branch further up the line, so I often catch trains from there. In spite of the snow, I felt a more than usual urgent need to ride: yesterday, with super-heavy hearts, we had to have Miranda, our beloved Tuxedo cat, euthanized on account of a serious tumor. To say the least, neither I nor Sig, Other was in very good shape afterward.
I ran outside to house to test the snow on the driveway – mostly powder, thankfully, only slightly slick underneath. I run back in, cook breakfast, pour brewed tea into my flask, drop it into my bag, suit up, and head out the side door to where Melody patiently sits, with just a light coat of powder to brush off her saddle. hop on, fire her up, let her idle for half a minute then gingerly head down the driveway and head off. Cold-cold-cold, but other than a few slightly-numb fingertips the ride to LB was swift and uneventful. Much-needed therapy, I must tell you. (I’ll have a real shrink to chat with Monday.)
Yeah, you can call me a “year-rounder” on the Vespa.
Sorry to hear of the loss of your cat. So hard to say goodbye to a four-legged member of the household. Time takes some of the sharpness from it.
Riding is like therapy. Therapy I can’t afford to go without in the winter. Glad you were able to get out a bit. Be careful though. I don’t advise riding in the snow. It’s a strange, dangerous activity…
Just a thought on a cold December 20, 2016.
Steve has tried other forms of two-wheeled transport; look at his previous writings. Steve is a Vespa person, none of us are going to change that. A Ural? Not!
After retirement in June, Steve being on a lesser income/pension may then allow his being look at other modes of transport; keep in mind his Vespa was/is his primary commute vehicle.
And suspect Steve’s Sunday morning routine to Saints’ Cafe is his way of unwinding from a probably hectic week at work. Will this continue after retirement or, will Steve have a different routine?
Keep thinking if I were to drive from the cold north to State College on a Sunday morning there would be a good chance for me to discover Steve sitting there with a pot of tea, steeping. The moleskin notebook open to a blank page, writing instrument at the ready, and our subject gazing into the future…
Maybe given the world’s possible political turmoil for 2017 gazing into the future may well be the best for all of us.
To Steve Williams, his wife, the dogs his children and grandchildren a very Merry Christmas from Southern Ontario, Canada.
Man, so many questions. Lots to think about. And what will retirement bring? I’m planning but we’ll see what happens.
One thing that I think will happen — I’ll be at Saint’s Cafe more often! Not sure about the gazing into the future part…
Merry Christmas to you Bryce. Best wishes for a fine holiday season!
As mentioned before, I’m riding in winter with the same attitude I’ve adopted for decades with my unpowered two-wheelers: if it’s dry, I fly; a bit of snow, go slow; if there’s ice, no dice. (Wiping out on a bicycle on an icy street is no fun at all. )
What I’ve also recently learned is that some of the most hazardous conditions can lay in wait extremely close to home. To wit: The owner of the house to the right of ours has yet to fix the sump pump/drainage system, which tends to spill out onto the shared driveway. This is annoying enough in warmer weather, but as you can imagine, at this time of the year it’s downright treacherous. As I was coming home last night, I made a point of hitting the driveway at what I thought was a safe angle, but Melody’s rear tire broke traction for a fraction of a second regardless. Fortunately, skill, along with traction control, saved the day. Driveway is lightly sanded now, but I’m going to have to have a few words with the owner. (But not the occupants – they’re just renting, and are in fact a cool bunch.)
You adopted list sounds like fodder for a great riding T-shirt!
The ice on the driveway — that’s the danger. You just never know what will be out there. A cup of tossed coffee can create enough of an icy patch to make things crazy…
I really enjoyed exploring this site. Lots of great pictures and timely, relevant information.