Cold Morning
I’ve finally gotten to the point where the cold doesn’t stand in the way of riding the scooter. As long as the road is reasonably clear of snow and ice I’m good to go. This morning the thermometer was pointing to 5F at sunrise. With no wind and clear skies it almost felt warm.
So I’m good with the cold. The Vespa — not so much. It doesn’t want to idle well below 10F. Have to keep some throttle on or it will stall. Time to do some mechanical investigation I guess. But that minor irritation aside, I was off for a morning of appointments and meetings.
Chiropractic Therapy
First stop of the morning was at my chiropractor. She’s working on some pinched nerves in my neck. Like any good adult male, I wait until things get bad before seeking help. Even though I know ignoring a problem long enough will make it go away, I still keep trying that technique out.
I cheated on my regular chiropractor and tried out a new one just down the street from my house. Support the local businesses and all. He was nice, but he was a neck cracker. Saw him three times and each time I thought he was going to break my neck. Always felt better afterwards but my god, I couldn’t stand the completely vulnerable feeling and that loud and sudden cracking.
No thank you. I’m a wuss. So I returned to my regular chiropractor. She uses a much gentler technique. Takes a bit longer but I’ve not once felt she was going to kill me.
I used to think chiropractors were quacks. When I finally went to one years ago out of desperation after seeing a medical doctor for months, I found almost immediate relief from relentless pain. It returned quickly but some weeks of continued adjustments slowly made the relief permanent.
Magic.
Penn State Parking Wisdom
I’m going to gripe a bit. Ignore what I say. I just can’t help myself in the face of what seems like a case of bureaucratic idiocy.
Had a meeting on campus with my old boss to talk about Penn State Ag Science magazine. When I was employed I could park in a multitude of great spaces. Now that I’m retired and no longer have a parking permit I’m relegated to visitor status. Penn State “upgraded” it’s parking gates in the on campus garages and to protect the safety of motorcycle riders banned them. I guess the gates are too stupid to not try and kill the rider entering and exiting.
Or something like that.
Anyways, they must have forgotten about us motorcycle riding visitors. A call to the Parking Office this morning about where I can park and was directed to the far reaches of outer campus where there was a little payment kiosk. Luckily there was one space to park — the little room left from someone straddling two spaces.
Cold Weather Hike
Nothing screams old age and first world problem like moaning about parking. I was fully prepared to write an open letter to Penn State about their inane parking solution for motorcycles and scooters. Wondering aloud why they just don’t let us park anywhere for free — especially in winter when there are probably all of four idiots riding.
But I quickly grew tired of parking. And my lazy ass could use a walk.
It was cold and the wind howled across the open landscape as I made my way into campus. Kept my helmet on for protection. Reminded me of crossing Parking Lot 80 from East Halls — then at the edge of campus. Same windswept landscape and feeling of crossing an unfriendly wilderness. But I was 17 years old then and too stupid to pay attention to the cold. Or much of anything really.
Easily made the trek to the meeting. Got a free lunch. Shared a few opinions and then was on my way to my next meeting.
Visitor Parking for Scooter at Penn State
Next stop — Innovation Park and the new home for “my team.” A dozen people on the digital education team I led before retirement moved to a new office suite last week. A plan that was underway before I retired. Great space and environment with open access to a variety of work pods and spaces. Kind of wished I was still around.
Stopped in to help make sense of a messy project I dumped on them. Nice to help out.
Tucano Termoscud Apron at High Speeds
On my way home at lunch time. Temperature was around 15F. Perfect for testing the Termoscud on the freeway at higher speeds. I had read that the maximum speed you can ride without the thing flapping around was 55mph. I can attest the thing was solid at 75mph. And I was nice and warm to boot.
I’m kind of loving the apron. Looks weird. A standout badge of honor. When you ride in winter you can get away with all sorts of strangeness. Other riders marvel that you’re out. Everyone else just things you’re nuts.
If you have a Vespa GTS (or some other scooter), use the link below to get one for yourself.
With the apron, it’s a nice place to be on a cold morning Vespa ride.
[optin-cat id=”8800″]
Steve you are the King of cold weather riding. I am in awe of how you do it. Temp being displayed in C up here in Canada I never ride less than 4 Degs C which is 30 something F. I don’t even enjoy that. You have won your “Beaverchuck” award with honour. Be proud of it. Congrats! You continue to be The Man.
Good to see you are sensible to use a chiropractor. .. lots don’t as you know.
Riding in the cold is a mix of preparation and desire. I don’t like being cold so I have to figure out a way to keep the cold air from stealing my heat. And then there’s the technique required to deal with the potential pitfalls of riding below the freezing mark — snow and ice in particular. Considerations of traffic, routes and ability have to be factored in. All of this stuff is decidedly not within the scope of traditional warm weather riding. I enjoy the challenges but most do not. I suppose it’s an acquired taste.
I find chiropractors to provide valuable services. Not right for everything. Frozen shoulder and rotator cuff strain was better managed by physical therapy. But many of my joint issues of neck and back respond wonderfully to the hands of a chiropractor. I know what a skeptic I was for a long, long time so I suspect there are many others who have not experienced the healing power of chiropractic…
Steve;
How is Kim doing? Enjoy the cold spots life throws.
Kim’s condition has stabilized but surgery is not far off. A lot to consider and prepare for.
All of my bikes have a throttle lock of one kind or another, useful to hold the idle up while the engine warms. Just don’t leave it unattended for long, or it will over rev when warm. The V-Strom has a commercially made device ($20) that clamps on the throttle grip. Push it down against the brake lever to hold the throttle open. No, it is not dangerous. The slightest pressure shuts the throttle. My DR has a twisted piece of plastic coated coat hanger that works in the same way. Believe it or not, it works aceptionaly well! It’s been on there since 2012 , about 30,000 miles, and has never requires an adjustment! So, if you can find a plastic covered coat hanger, you can instantly have a throttle lock.
Don’t talk to someone while typing, or you’ll make spelling errors, as above.
Yeah, it makes it aceptionaly hard to rede an unnerstan.
I’ve considered a throttle lock for the Vespa but have just been managing the idle by hand. I’ll have to tinker with the coat hanger…
Pas de pneus Heidenau cet hiver ?
No Heidenau tires this winter ?
Not yet. I have them in the garage. Have been too lazy to put them on. I’m amazed at how lazy I’ve been.
Since I used to live in Europe, where both scooters and lap aprons are quite prevalent and commonplace, I have been fully aware of their benefits for decades. And since you’re a dedicated winter rider as I have been, it’s good to see that you are finally using one.
Not sure why I’ve been so stubborn regarding the use of an apron. Should have acquired one years ago rather than suffering through the cold.
Today I’m a wiser man.
Ohhhh Scooter man…?
You say…..
“So I’m good with the cold. The Vespa — not so much. It doesn’t want to idle well below 10F. Have to keep some throttle on or it will stall. Time to do some mechanical investigation I guess. ”
Investigate all you like….
…Venturi effect … temperature drop… is classic…classic!!…for ALL internal combustion engines requiring a regularly regimented fuel charge at a given RPM.
“Icing” is real…much to the detriment of many airborn pilots throughout history.?..be well both. think Spring.
Many on the Modern Vespa forum concur with your assessment of icing. And that there won’t be much I can do about it. As long as the engine doesn’t completely die I can live with the rough idle. So I’ll continue to ride until it dies. Or not.
Thanks for the mechanical tutoring. I can never have too much. Appreciate it. Really.
Steve
Glad you’ve got your winter MoJo back.
The Termoscud testing reminds me of my first car. It had side curtains and driving at highway speeds would suck the tops out making the canvas roof flap.
Hah. What kind of car did you have?
Hi Steve
It was a 1964 MG Midget.
Cold weather riding (anything below freezing in either measurement) can be fraught with
problems, mostly lack of adhesion for the tyres. I usually had a large heavy sidecar on the bike in later years, helped somewhat however you still require traction to get moving.
As to chiropractic, and sadly misunderstood solution to many problems.
My own chiropractor is a few years younger than me (72 in 2018) however we’ve been friends since before secondary school; he knows my body and knows exactly how to make the body feel better.
Basically adjust and or apply a tens unit, then skip a day or two and return for more adjustment if required.
Unlike older and younger friends who’ve pended themselves to oblivion playing contact sports, I have no such problem; too clumsy to play sports and and too physically weak for non-contact sports was/is a blessing in disguise.
If things get really messed which I do every once in a while, then my chiropractor will
appear here at my house in exchange for a cup of tea and talk. When i was recovering from chemo nine years ago, it was a comfort for him to appear when needed; he got his fee, site and maybe some chocolate chip cookies to go home.
Keep thinking about your Kim and wondering if any of us on the blog can help at some point. Surgery, ANY surgery that involves one’s own anatomy, can always be scary.
Sometimes it’s as to be done on an emergency basis as for your heart stent. Other surgery as for Kim (whatever it may be) is far more difficult; you have to wait for the time and the place and even then it may not happen as planned. Thinking of my eight hour surgery some ten years ago to remove my left kidney, my spleen and ll my lymph nodes in an eighth our plus surgery, and how i function or not, afterwards.
The hurry up and wait for the specialist surgeon to be available, waiting on a gurney
for gosh knows how long before being brought into the OR.
Do keep us posted about Kim and how you are surviving , please.
Sorry for the delay in responding. The demands of post-operative care are more daunting than I suspected. Taking time to sort out this new life.
My chiropractor is definitely helping and, like your experience, knows what needs to be done to care for my own unique aches and pains. A much appreciated gift right now.
Kim is progressing but the severity of the nerve compression means it is going to take time. Months most likely. In the meantime the pain and lack of mobility are withering on her. Recovery isn’t a linear or predictable process which makes things worse. Never know what to expect one day to the next. We just keep showing up each day and take things as they come.
Seems to me you should get a parking permit for “consulting work”….
Good to hear that apron works at speed….legs aren’t the problem for me, the cold gets to my toes and fingers first after hours on the road.
Its so warm here in AZ that I think my blood is thinning. I felt chilled at 50F this afternoon!
Penn State is tight fisted when it comes to parking. Everyone must pay.
So much time has passed since you posted your comments. It’s no longer cold here. Was 70F yesterday. Unusual for February!