Ducati Monster Forum

So... office told me to work from home today... little rugrat has school closure... what do you peeps think... snow and ice... is it fun or a hassle???

Im at work, but we are officially closed today, so Im going home soon.

Cierra and Rowan are probably still comfortably in bed.  :)

pansy la la nancies

umm, yeah, ok he who ditches his friends, and never ventures off his little hill.

well i answered my own question  [laugh]

both!

sucky down here tho, cause even with a little flurries and people cant drive worth a hoot-n-nanny!  [roll]

It's fun, then the gravel becomes a hassle. Watch out for that nuts for the next longass time  :)

The gravel sucks... but the malls and stores are empty!!! Great time to finish all the Christmas shopping!!!

Got outside today and my stupid car won't start.  [bang]

I don't mind.  I like snow and ice once or twice a year.  It usually melts before I even get around to serious shoveling.  It's better than when I lived on the east coast where the ice and cold would come and stay.  Something like 7 or 9 ice storms one of the the last years I lived there.  A couple of snows a year is fine by me to get the winter spirit.  The winter gray/cold/rain that we get a few months straight dampens my mood but I don't have to shovel it.

Scott

I'm the same way. It's actually nice today because it's sunny and there's still snow on the ground. YAY!!

I biked into work today.

Not much going on here, prolly go home soon as i finish up some things.

The ride in was slow, and i didn't get much of a workout.

However, I did find that my heart rate increased on a number of occasions.

I didn't go in - had the day scheduled off.  But even then I wouldn't have anyway with all these dangerous amatuers that think they can drive but can't and know nothing about snow but go out anyway . . .

I'll stay in my safe little house until they all crash themselves out and it's safe again.  [cheeky]

Beaverton schools cancelled already.

Here a bigger snow storm is on the way Wednesday.

except on days like today when I am going to the city to work...

Snow's good stuff. I'm still not tired of it, even after living in Wyoming and Alaska. Came home from Salem yesterday. Poured the anti-gel in my tank and filled up on diesel. It started coming down right around Aurora. Chains required? GTFO. I aired down and locked it in 4. Everyone else had chains, or stuck to 20 miles per hour, unless they were a pretentious hippie/yuppie Subaru owner, because those are automatically impervious to lessened traction.

'course, with the east wind out here by the river, it's more like zero degrees, but the pickup still starts and the roads are relatively clear. Marine Drive is entirely clear. More snow!

You coming to visit us then?  ;D

I think im on channel 2 news tonight.

We were sledding down the hill at the Gabriel Park today and the news came up and filmed us said it was for the news tonight. Today was fun!

my little dogs wont go potty outdoors! wtf?! there are about 6 inches of snow in our yard which basically buries my little yorkshire terriers to mid-belly. i will be upset if they cant hold it anymore, exploding indoors but then again, i cant blame them, godamnd cold out there! barely like getting bundled to stand on my doorstep and hollering at them! i only have to work half-days right now, paid full days. lot of people cant make it in, wussies! their bad, my good! one day im gonna learn how to put chains on.

True happiness is being a Golden Retriever and having your human take you on a 2-hour hike in the woods in the fresh snow.

I froze my chestnuts but they couldn't get enough of it.  ;D

(http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm173/JohnnyDucati66/rockysandy.jpg)

(old pic - my camera batteries were dead yesterday dammit.)

My little terrier mutt was never fond of the snow either.  Come spring, there would always be a collection of dead circles of grass right around the back stoop.  She never went farther than she had to to take a pee.

Scott

My little pug Millie (she's a fawn) seems to like the snow and ice. She was a hard charger today on our walk and biffed it into a curb because there was a snowdrift built up there. Looked painful but she forgot about it right away  :) I keep the walks short in these below freezing temps.

Chains!?!  Real UPS drivers don't need no stinkin' chains! 8)

And rinse off her little paws to get rid of any salt/de-icer she may pick up.  Irritates them if you don't.

Scott

Looks like there's a winter storm warning for tomorrow, plus Friday will be worse than tomorrow, we could get up to a foot, according to KATU.

I bet its two inches of snow and then changes to rain.. then sleet... then flaming brimstone.  ;D

Well... in Iowa I never needed traction devices, even driving through snow deep enough I was plowing it with the airdam.  In fact, I had a heck of a good time playing World Rally Champion, drifting the GTI around onramps and whatnot.  [evil]  But this?  I went ice skating on the way home from church on Sunday (did a low-speed 180 on Stark out in Gresham), so I had to chain up just to get home.  This was one of those lightly touch the brakes at 15 mph and the car goes sailing sideways experiences.  There was no "pumping the brakes".  One light touch and that was it.

Took the chains off yesterday night and tried to make it home from work... I burned the tires off across two intersections to get to the nearest parking lot where I could re-chain.  Faaahdge.  [bang]  I even tried lowering the tire pressure, to no avail.

Then today... there was too much bare pavement between intersections to justify chains... but there was too much ice at the intersections for me to stop & start without them.  [bang]

So... this crap either needs to go away so I can ditch the chains, or it needs to really come down and ice over completely so I'm not running them on bare pavement.  I don't care which, I'd just like the weather to choose one.  This wishy-washy BS is getting old.

(http://images-cdn01.associatedcontent.com/image/A1735/173506/300_173506.jpg)

I hear you Dan.  13 years of driving in NY and all over New England with regular tires, now I need chains.  You've seen my street and my driveway, they're both solid ice right now. 

I use cable chains and low pressure.  They're less annoying than real chains on the asphalt stretches but I don't like to go faster than 30mph with them on.  And yeah, no way I'm taking them off.  Just my 8 mile commute to downtown switches from bare pavement to a hill of sheet ice several times.  the chains make it all manageable.

I have a 7:30am flight to catch on Saturday, sounds like it's going to be fun getting there.

Scott

fuk this weather.

Four wheel drive really helps with the starting. Not so much with the stopping.  :P

Fricking... fracking... balderdash... poo!!! Drove into the office... had to get out of house... security gaurd stopped me... "site is closed... absolutely nobody working in office today."  What the yeah??  SITE CLOSED????  The roads are fine... I know how to drive in this....   [bang]

Under-inflated tires are dangerous

they overheat and blow out sidewalls

if you are going for the larger contact patch theory

that is only relevant in deeper snow

the stuff y'all have in P-town right now, would be better served with properly inflated studded snow tires

1) I hate studded tires on principle.  All the paranoid idjits who run them from November to April on dry roads irritate me.  They tear up the roads, and for what?  So they're "prepared" for a seven-day stretch of winter weather that happens, on average, once every ten years? (according to the NWS, anyway)

2) I'm in money-saving mode right now, and buying an extra set of tires ain't in the budget.  I'll make do with my $29 set of chains (I got a good deal from someone I used to work with at Knecht's).

Only way I'd run studded tires is if I could afford a spare set of wheels and had them mounted on those, because I refuse to run them on bare pavement all winter.

Thanks Mother.  I don't drop that much pressure (maybe 3#) and don't go too fast.  I know that low pressure eats your sidewalls fast, especially on high speed straights.

Scott

I only worry about underinflation when it's hot out. Sidewall flex causes heat which compounds with the already warm tire pressure. When the weather gets wet, I air my rears down to 42 for the season. The fronts stay at 50, or it'll wander. Even at 42 in back it's difficult enough to keep my 315 mud terrains hooked up if it's anything less than arid. I'm pretty proud of my too-much-torque "problem".

Surprisingly, a fully loaded UPS truck does pretty well in these road conditions. [thumbsup]

Victor, does your truck start to handle worse as the day wears on and you deliver more packages?

Scott

Last night as I'm going up the slushy, icy hill at home the car just won't go.  It had gotten to the steep part and I had been slowing down the whole way.  I back up for a running start and now I can barely move on the flats.  Get out and check and one of my cable chains had snapped.  Down the hill, to the auto store, and get a new set.  They had run out of the bargain models in my size so I bought the fancy ones which are easier to put on anyway.  A little time and money but no big deal.

What was really funny was how many boxes of chains had just arrived and that they were unpacking behind the counter.  Must have been 20 big boxes.  I wasn't the only one installing them in the parking lot.

Scott

Yes, it does.  When I'm delivering my residencial area, I'm nearly empty, and that's when I have the most traction problems. :'(

I went to a concert last night.... driving home late... over the west hills... tons of fun... plus if you have had any... er... non alcoholic beverages... and then drive on the ice... it makes it so much more exciting.  [bang]

i get to work from home again today, im not minding this weather if my boss lets me work from home. Yipppeeee!!!

SNOW!!!!

Mt. Talbert Park this morning.

Best kept secret in the Portland area.   ;D

Happy Holidays peeps.

http://s296.photobucket.com/albums/mm173/JohnnyDucati66/Mt-Talbert/?albumview=slideshow (http://s296.photobucket.com/albums/mm173/JohnnyDucati66/Mt-Talbert/?albumview=slideshow)

Nice to be pseudo snowed in.  ;D  I could go out... but why.  [coffee]  Hot drinks... and hot wife... I think I like it inside.

I saw two motorcycles out in the snow, one a Harley Davidson :o, the other was a Honda Ruckus. [thumbsup]

I'd roll a Ruckus in this weather. There were a couple of guys up here in teh "couve out on dirt bikes.  Rode my neighbors around the hood.  It was fun! ;D

I wish I had a four wheeler right now  [evil]

I have a Subaru, SOOO much fun [evil]. I've been hooning around in that for the last couple of days.  mmmm sideways mmmmm

I love my Subaru in this kind of weather! [thumbsup]


I'm toolin' around at 30, no chains, just regular all weather radials. [evil]

AWD & anti-lock brakes!  8)

im glad your all so happy in your vehickles. my civic sucks ass

People, if you must drive 19mph on the freeway, don't do it in the fast lane! >:(


Slow drivin' bastards! [bang]

what lanes?

Chains.  They really work, even on Civics.

Scott

went to Longview yesterday....lots of ice and snow.
Did not use chains. drove our suburban in 4wd high in the dodgy areas and 2wd on cleared pavement,Shift on the fly is great!!.
From Kalama River Road (where I live) exit 32 i-5 is clear northbound. From there south a bloody disaster. ( there was a great picture of a cowlitz county snowplow off the road stuck in a ditch in yesterdays paper hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha moron)
There were big rigs with chains on(company policy) but most people were getting around fine.
If you can't drive in this stuff ,stay home.
My employer is shut down until Monday , he does not want the trucks out on the street (for liability issues) which is fine, but no work = no income!
I drive a freightliner for a living , but he won't let me work............time to look for another job methinks!

Find someone that'll give you a nice Paccar to drive! 8)

If I had my choice it'd be another Volvo, hopefully  line power.  The last one had 1.9 million miles on it when I drove for Reddaway.
The company I have started with now(casual part time), ABF, uses different trucks like most LTL companies , most are line power Sterling  or Mack .
Cummins is (PART?) owned by TATA in India , the same people who own Jaguar/LandRover. Wonder if you get a free vindaloo when you go in for an inframe..............? [laugh]

Volvos and Freightshakers... you're a mechanic's nightmare. ;D

1.9 million miles on my company  volvo, truck was great!
Better than a freightliner thats for damn sure!

I get up to go running this morning... 2 inches of snow on the jeep... I was thinking..."What the hell is that?? SNOW?!" Anyhow... I went to the gym this morning instead of running outside.... for 4 am the gym was a pretty happening place .... can we get rid of this snow and rain and back into good riding weather??   [bang]

Sunny and 41º this morning here.  We did get 3.75" of rain yesterday.

it flooded up here

and then it froze

we have a frozen river down the north side of Govy loop

really trippy

More snow... crikeys... this is an interesting winter... not a good riding one... but an interesting one.

Those with kids will understand this.....what if the beaverton schools were closed again on monday for a snowday? I think some parents would go postal.,...

For anyone with kids in school im sure will agree with me, this winter so far has been royally screwed up. My kid missed one full week because of the snow right before his 2 week schools out vacation.  That means one MORE full week of trying to figure out at the last second who is going to go a day without pay and stay home with him or what kid center is open so we can pay to have him there. To see snow at this point now that im fully tapped on any hrs off at work (my wife and i have 0 hrs left to take off) scares the crap out me. Schools close in beaverton at the drop of a hat. We cant afford even one more day off, yet if the schools close one of you have to stay home. NO MORE SNOW.

I know its not much help now, but once I'm out there full time, I'd be willing to do some kid watching during the work week if they are well behaved and don't require constant supervision (fixing lunch, making sure the knives stay in the drawers, that kinda thing would be done).

All I require is an internet connection so I can work and it would cost you a heck of a lot less than a full day out of work or day care.

Y'all hang in there.  [thumbsup]

Oh! Here's a moto video of me (in the lead) and two other guys riding Deals Gap here in NC. Hope it chears y'all up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cxaYq3wgP4 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cxaYq3wgP4)