) man. Just imagine the ride without that fairing.......
I got caught in the ice today...and sweat bullets!
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,583
Likes: 2
From: " Roll Tide Country "
My commute to work is about 35 miles one way. I ride my bike to work EVERYDAY and average about 20,000/yr just doing that. I don't own a car (my wife) does and so I find it more convenient to take the bike to work rather than bugging her for a ride. (Maybe I'll buy a car next year...but I doubt it.)
Anyway, when I opened the garage this morning it was a cloudy day, the thermometer read a touch over 24 degrees. A little cooler than usual although it's been starting to be a routine around here (Anna, Tx - North of Dallas) over the last week or so.
I fire up the bike, having a smoke, and getting ready for the ride. No rain to speak of has been forcasted though it has been indicated that we might get some precipitation (10% chance) later in the evening.
I head out, a little cold but all good.
About 3 or 4 hours later (11am CST) I get a call from my wife saying that she's is worried it might start sleeting.
I don't argue as I have similar concerns at this point and immediately head to the bike, planning to work the rest of the day from home.
First, just cold. However, about 3 miles or so down the road it starts to drizzle. It hits my helmet visor and promptly freezes, giving me a hazy film to look through.
The road surface hasn't frozen but I'm on high alert. About 10 or 15 minutes later, it's full on sleeting and raining and freezing. By now I've had to pull over, knock the ice off my visor and get going again. The brakes are starting to compromise, with the ice forming over the calipers.
I would try to ride with my visor up just high enough to see but then sleet would hit my eyes and the wind just plain hurt my face! The roads weren't particularly slippery yet but I was constantly vigilant for it.
Finally, the sky cleared a bit and I was breathing a sigh of relief. I pulled over and knocked the ice off the mask again. I decided to press on home, only about another 15 miles. The sky looked clear enough although it remained cloudy overhead. I didn't want to leave my bike overnight at some gas station so I kept going. About 5 miles further (10 miles from home) the sky suddenly opened up! It was that wet slush that falls out of the sky and freezes on cold surface. I was in the middle of no man's land. No gas stations or stores till I got to my neighborhood. I was committed. I finally made it home and here's what I looked like (I had knocked off most of the ice from my body right before I pulled into the garage. I did't realize my wife was going to want to take a picture of me. lol):
Anyway, when I opened the garage this morning it was a cloudy day, the thermometer read a touch over 24 degrees. A little cooler than usual although it's been starting to be a routine around here (Anna, Tx - North of Dallas) over the last week or so.
I fire up the bike, having a smoke, and getting ready for the ride. No rain to speak of has been forcasted though it has been indicated that we might get some precipitation (10% chance) later in the evening.
I head out, a little cold but all good.
About 3 or 4 hours later (11am CST) I get a call from my wife saying that she's is worried it might start sleeting.
I don't argue as I have similar concerns at this point and immediately head to the bike, planning to work the rest of the day from home.
First, just cold. However, about 3 miles or so down the road it starts to drizzle. It hits my helmet visor and promptly freezes, giving me a hazy film to look through.
The road surface hasn't frozen but I'm on high alert. About 10 or 15 minutes later, it's full on sleeting and raining and freezing. By now I've had to pull over, knock the ice off my visor and get going again. The brakes are starting to compromise, with the ice forming over the calipers.
I would try to ride with my visor up just high enough to see but then sleet would hit my eyes and the wind just plain hurt my face! The roads weren't particularly slippery yet but I was constantly vigilant for it.
Finally, the sky cleared a bit and I was breathing a sigh of relief. I pulled over and knocked the ice off the mask again. I decided to press on home, only about another 15 miles. The sky looked clear enough although it remained cloudy overhead. I didn't want to leave my bike overnight at some gas station so I kept going. About 5 miles further (10 miles from home) the sky suddenly opened up! It was that wet slush that falls out of the sky and freezes on cold surface. I was in the middle of no man's land. No gas stations or stores till I got to my neighborhood. I was committed. I finally made it home and here's what I looked like (I had knocked off most of the ice from my body right before I pulled into the garage. I did't realize my wife was going to want to take a picture of me. lol):
As kids, my brother and I rode our bicycles in the snow, and ice.
Thats why I dont ride my 750# bicycle in the snow. Course it don't snow here in God's Country!
L.ray
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 21,709
Likes: 17,550
From: Driftless Area
Looks like some kind of experimental textured special paint. I predict it won't sell.
Nice job staying upright, but it's easier if you buy an old VW........and you can still freeze yer azz off.
Nice job staying upright, but it's easier if you buy an old VW........and you can still freeze yer azz off.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,227
Likes: 5
Looks like some kind of experimental textured special paint. I predict it won't sell.
That is what I said about the "Denim"...Take a new bike, leave it out in the weather a while and ya got Denim..
Nice job staying upright, but it's easier if you buy an old VW........and you can still freeze yer azz off
I can vouch for that...
.
That is what I said about the "Denim"...Take a new bike, leave it out in the weather a while and ya got Denim..
Nice job staying upright, but it's easier if you buy an old VW........and you can still freeze yer azz off
I can vouch for that...
.
..........
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 5,356
Likes: 8
From: Roswell, NM
That's hard core Dude, glad you made it safe. Let the wife take you the next time though. I'm from Texas, and I know what you mean by the state not knowing how to deal with it. totally different than when I lived in Michigan for awhile, they're out and clearing roads at 3 in the morning so you can ride if you can take the salt and cold!
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 341
Likes: 0
From: Charleston, WV
....oh and no windshields or fairings here! Hope that never happens again.
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 217
Likes: 1
From:
So you went from motorcycle to icecicle. I thought I'd be cute and ride in this morning. It was clear, but a mile down and 100 foot visabilty.
That little voice said turn around and get the truck.
Was I ever glad. Got over here on 205 going into Rockwall and it's blowing off the lake there. Headlights are appearing like someone just turned on the switch not 20 yards in front of you.
gmikesell....gonna make it to the toy run Sunday?? 25*F and not going up much.
Go to cyclegear in Plano next to the original pancake house on parker and 75.
Ask for the turtle fur face cover. best 20 bucks I ever spent and I ride open face.
That little voice said turn around and get the truck.
Was I ever glad. Got over here on 205 going into Rockwall and it's blowing off the lake there. Headlights are appearing like someone just turned on the switch not 20 yards in front of you.
gmikesell....gonna make it to the toy run Sunday?? 25*F and not going up much.
Go to cyclegear in Plano next to the original pancake house on parker and 75.
Ask for the turtle fur face cover. best 20 bucks I ever spent and I ride open face.
Thread Starter
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Advanced
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
TexFordD, as a matter of fact, yes, I anticipate I'll be at the toy run tomorrow. It's the only one I participate in and look forward to it all year.
Yeah, I think I would have been even more unsure about riding in the fog we've had the last couple days than in the ice. At least there, people saw me and gave me wide berth (At least most of them). In the dense fog, you have about as much chance of not getting hit as you do staying upright on a solid sheet of wet ice, in my useless opinion. Today, with temps in the high 60's or low 70's I couldn't resist an aimless ride to Celina and back (about an hour) just to remember what a nice ride feels like!
Thanks for the tip about the turtle fur face cover! I've been thinking about getting something like that. I think I'll give it a look see tomorrow.
Oh yeah, and one other thing...if you guys see me say hi! I'll be hard to miss. I'll be the one wearing the Harley Davidson billboard!
Yeah, I think I would have been even more unsure about riding in the fog we've had the last couple days than in the ice. At least there, people saw me and gave me wide berth (At least most of them). In the dense fog, you have about as much chance of not getting hit as you do staying upright on a solid sheet of wet ice, in my useless opinion. Today, with temps in the high 60's or low 70's I couldn't resist an aimless ride to Celina and back (about an hour) just to remember what a nice ride feels like!
Thanks for the tip about the turtle fur face cover! I've been thinking about getting something like that. I think I'll give it a look see tomorrow.
Oh yeah, and one other thing...if you guys see me say hi! I'll be hard to miss. I'll be the one wearing the Harley Davidson billboard!
Last edited by gmikesell; Dec 19, 2008 at 08:52 PM.
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