Exploring life on a Vespa Scooter and Royal Enfield Himalayan motorcycle.
Cold HandsAfter a winter ride in the sunshine at 29F the most memorable part of my ride were cold hands. Induced by the gloveless needs of self-portraiture. Still, for a moment, it was gratifying to face the sunlight, allowing it to kindle hopes that spring and warmer rides aren’t far off. Just as I’m warming to the cold. And working to drive through the mental doldrums of winter.Continue Reading
Christmas Morning in State College, PennsylvaniaPenn State is closed, the students are gone and the town is empty. Not a soul around. It was 13F and windy when I got up and there was a dusting of snow when I got up on Christmas morning — not ideal riding weather. The dogs weren’t overly excited either. And suddenly I’m trying to rationalize a little Christmas ride on the Vespa scooter.
It didn’t take long to hatch a plan or to convince myself it wasn’t all that cold outside. Told myself there were ideal conditions for testing the Tucano Urbano gear — the hand grip muffs and the Termoscud apron.
The test: Can I ride without the heavy winter overpants and with only my LL Bean deerskin gloves?
So off I went, fully expecting to have cold hands, legs and body.Continue Reading
Moving Through a Gray WorldAs autumn fades and winter approaches it feels as if a heavy, gray blanket is being pulled across the world. Perhaps it’s just me gripped by grayness. Doesn’t help that I had a head cold for a week which is now burning into my chest and leaving me feeling indifferent to pretty much everything. With great effort I push myself out of the house. If not to ride, at least to walk.Continue Reading
Cold StartI’ll try to resolve two truths that seem in opposition with each other. One, I don’t like being cold. And two, I choose to ride through the winter. They only seem opposed because most riders think you can’t ride in cold weather without getting cold.
That’s the challenge. Or part of it anyway. The Vespa in winter.
A few mornings ago I headed out with the thermometer indicating 29F. Cold enough to remind me it’s not as simple as I thought. Riding in cold weather demands work. For me, in these three areas:
Gear — the stuff that keeps you safe and warm.
Skill — the ability to manage the cold and the risk of snow and ice safely.
Mental — the drive to ride regardless of the weather.
Gear and skill are essential but the easiest to acquire. Money, time and practice will get you where you need to be.
The mental stuff — that’s a different story. After twelve years of winter riding — it’s only gotten harder.
When I started riding in the cold I could physically endure a lot more than I can now.
Thinking back to sub-zero rides, warming my hands with headlights and exhaust gas makes me shiver. I could do things then by force of will. Now my body can’t, or won’t go where my brain wants to lead it.
Despite the blue skies and bright sunshine it was cold enough, especially in shadowed areas, to have a little frost and ice on parts of the road. I had to tell myself to slow down and not assume the bright sky meant dry pavement.Continue Reading
Winter is Coming. Again…A storm approaches. Perhaps the biggest of the season and with it days without riding. Despite the cold, bleak day I wanted to ride. The 16F temperature when I awoke didn’t damper the desire to be on the road. The winter riding consciousness is in control and almost any weather now seems rideable.
Rideable. Is that even a word?Continue Reading