Ducati Monster Forum

I decided yesterday that a ride would be in order. They called for rain in the afternoon, no biggie. I arise at the crack of 8am to 30ish degrees.
By the time I left it was allll the way up to 40. Sweet! Silk top, long underwear top, firstgear pants with expedition weight longies on top, 1 A* Trigger suit, A* cold blocker gloves and Sidi boots.
20 miles in I noticed precip on my face shield. Then it started snowing. And 20mph winds. Stopped to put on my raingear jacket and continued on, getting weird looks.
I ended up having to stop another 20 miles later to put on the rain pants too. My core was plenty warm but hands and feet were taking a beating. Water/fog/snow built up on the visor.

It was about 100 miles with 80 of it being in the snow. Not that it was accumulating but it makes visibility suck. 2 other riders out. Manly men!
heated grips don't cut it. Gloves don't cut it. I think sooner or later I'm going to have to break down and buy electric gloves and maybe socks. I should have worn my Sealskinz and they may have blocked the cold a bit better.
Maybe I"ll head out tomorrow as well. Sposed to be a high of almost 48!

You are crazy.  Not so much for freezing yourself, but aren't the roads slick being wet and that cold with cold tires?

But, I understand you trying to extend the season living in the midwest.  It is snowing here in Eastern IA today.

mitt

I rode a few days agin when it was a balmy 50 here in Chicago. [beer]

I think we are going to hit 45 here in the twin cities tommorrow.  I might go for a ride.  Too cold for this time of year..wished it would be more normal like 60. 

Mid 50s forecast for today.

I had planned to ride but I don't know about traction on roads at that temperature.

I plan on riding my usual frisky way with the 1098 R .

It just isn't much fun when there is nobody out riding in the woods and forest when it is this cool .

I know, it's not really cold, but I am concerned about traction when riding hard in the twisties.

Dolph     :)

50's? You'll be fine, just take it easy while your tires warm up.

And it's more fun when the roads are empty. ;)

You remember the tires you had on your bike 10 years ago when it was in the 90 degree range? Your current tires are better than that at 50 degrees I'm guessin ;)
I wasn't riding too hard - lot of leaves on the roads and I find that bundled up it's harder to be any sort of aggressive. Plus The visor constantly fogging and water buildup.

I didn't go out today when it was nicer. Instead I spent a couple hours temporarily hooking up my woodburner to get some heat in the house. And beer. Gotta have beer.
If I keep the bike I'd like to wash it before winter and bring it in the house. That's a problem with late season rides ;)

When I lived in WI I used to look forward to the -20 weather when the sun is out and the asphalt is bone dry.  Loved that weather!  Hang in there - real winters comming!