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2) Ice melt chemicals or salt have been spread on the roadways (done riding till spring).
3) With Raynauds its a challenge and Im not hooked up for heated gear. My brother is big time into that gear. Nowadays anything below 50° makes me cringe and my reactions are slower the colder it gets. Beside the where heck am I gonna go for a nice loop anyways that is enjoyable without temping a hazard? We used to a do a couple really cold rides but stopping to eat, drink and warm up was all we did. We always needed a couple more seats just to pile up our gear. Then on the ride back that cold air has me ready let the liquid go.
So its off to FLORIDA for 4+ months. We drive, can tow one of the bikes if desired.
Yeah old thread were hitting our high of 27° so its timely.
Oldie but goodie. In my 20’s the bike was the only vehicle, rode in sleet, rain, temps in the teens. Used to creatively borrow my brothers Tyrolia jacket in the winter. Presently, with my old age and Madonna sized vagina, I only ride in 50+ temps - no wind chill. My Goldilocks zone temp is 60-75.
Low 50’s and I have the surgical gloves under the riding gloves and many layers under the jacket. September/October my favorite riding season, fall colors, comfy temps riding in gear and less bugs to clean off.
When I was in my twenties, I'd ride my Triumph Bonneville to work all year round without even thinking about it. When I got home I'd give her a good wash to remove any road salt, I never seemed to feel the cold in those days. Now that I'm in my late sixties, I stop riding as soon as I see the first road gritter of the winter season, I do feel the cold these days. The winter weather can be harsh when you are at an altitude of 1200 feet above sea level, see below.
Last edited by Rob Roy's Revenge; Dec 7, 2023 at 10:25 AM.
Can't say I'm a fan of the cold and riding through blizzard conditions in the high CA-OR Rockies anymore, but can't tolerate riding sans helmet in the blazing sun anymore either. You learn to appreciate a full face helmet more after a few bouts of skin cancer too, but dam those were the days and I wouldn't change a single thing even if i could!
I always though temperature and how long someone rode today brags was an odd flex. Hasn't changed...
FWIW...anything below 70F or so is a no-go at 71 YOA these days. I used to ride an hour+ to HOG meetings in sub-32F temps (odd flex)...but that was 25 years ago. Seems pretty damned silly in retrospect...
I only ride for the fun of it- and arthritis definitely makes you pay the price out in the cold.
Now I'm a warm weather only rider, if it's less than 56 or so I won't have any real fun so I skip it.
I've decided to put mine away already. Youth is wasted on the young they say.
True? Nah. When I was young I really enjoyed myself- I rode to high school on snow covered roads a few times. That was what we called hairy back then.
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