A short cold ride in Chicago
Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 5:02 am
Today I came back into town from a tour I'm working on right now, and went to the chicago motorcycle show.
It was great, lots of cool bike and gear, but it had me missing riding so much, when I pulled into my garage I looked at my bike, and I needed to go for a ride!. It's been 7 weeks since I rode my bike, and I have some new gear to try out.
It's kinda cold right now. 17ºF with wind-chill 7º We just had a few inches of snow fall lately, but the roads were clear and dry (mostly).
So I suit up, starting with BODz performance base-layer long sleeve shirt, pant, and socks, stuff from the motorcycle show.
Incredibly soft and comfortable.
Then I put my suit that was here waiting for me in a box. I sold my BMW Rally II Pro suit and bought a Rev'it R-Lab jacket, with Ultimate pant. I've been waiting a month for them to come. For safe measures I wore my Gerbing's liner.
It was already dark out, and the weather is calling for 2 inches of snow tonight, so I haven't much time to ride with the streets dry and clear.
I disconnected the battery tender, and pushed the bike out of the garage.
She turned over kinda slow 3 or 4 times, then fired up. Yeah! Sta-Bil works!
Brrrrrrr she was cold, smoking, and a little rough, but after 10-15 seconds the engine cleared out, and felt like she would be fine, so I put my helmet on and pulled out on to the street.
Ahhhhhh, so nice to be on two wheels....
Lots of dry salt on the roads. Seemed real slick, but it was so nice to be back in the saddle. There was occasional ice under bridges to look out for too.
Once I was able to get on the expressway, the roads were better. Nice and dry. It was such a blast to open her up a little. I didn't turn the Gerbings liner on until I was at um, at higher speeds, but as soon as I did the slight cold draft went away. So I took a ride downtown, down Michigan Ave., went up lake shore drive then back home.
I love the looks people give you when they see you on a bike in the winter.
Priceless.
Great short ride. Nothing too special, but we can't let our friends down under have all the ride reports just because it's a little cold...
Needed to get that out of my system, I'm on a 5 month tour right now, and I only get to come home for a few days occasionally, and haven't been able to ride since the beginning of Dec.
Either way it was very nice to ride again, and I can't wait for spring time to come, I'm planning a trip North starting in middle of May so this is like preparation for some potential real cold weather riding. Cold, what cold!
It was great, lots of cool bike and gear, but it had me missing riding so much, when I pulled into my garage I looked at my bike, and I needed to go for a ride!. It's been 7 weeks since I rode my bike, and I have some new gear to try out.
It's kinda cold right now. 17ºF with wind-chill 7º We just had a few inches of snow fall lately, but the roads were clear and dry (mostly).
So I suit up, starting with BODz performance base-layer long sleeve shirt, pant, and socks, stuff from the motorcycle show.
Incredibly soft and comfortable.Then I put my suit that was here waiting for me in a box. I sold my BMW Rally II Pro suit and bought a Rev'it R-Lab jacket, with Ultimate pant. I've been waiting a month for them to come. For safe measures I wore my Gerbing's liner.
It was already dark out, and the weather is calling for 2 inches of snow tonight, so I haven't much time to ride with the streets dry and clear.
I disconnected the battery tender, and pushed the bike out of the garage.
She turned over kinda slow 3 or 4 times, then fired up. Yeah! Sta-Bil works!
Brrrrrrr she was cold, smoking, and a little rough, but after 10-15 seconds the engine cleared out, and felt like she would be fine, so I put my helmet on and pulled out on to the street.
Ahhhhhh, so nice to be on two wheels....
Lots of dry salt on the roads. Seemed real slick, but it was so nice to be back in the saddle. There was occasional ice under bridges to look out for too.
Once I was able to get on the expressway, the roads were better. Nice and dry. It was such a blast to open her up a little. I didn't turn the Gerbings liner on until I was at um, at higher speeds, but as soon as I did the slight cold draft went away. So I took a ride downtown, down Michigan Ave., went up lake shore drive then back home.
I love the looks people give you when they see you on a bike in the winter.
Priceless.
Great short ride. Nothing too special, but we can't let our friends down under have all the ride reports just because it's a little cold...
Needed to get that out of my system, I'm on a 5 month tour right now, and I only get to come home for a few days occasionally, and haven't been able to ride since the beginning of Dec.
Either way it was very nice to ride again, and I can't wait for spring time to come, I'm planning a trip North starting in middle of May so this is like preparation for some potential real cold weather riding.
Cold, what cold!
...Did you ever lift your feet up or just slide them both along the ground either side like out-riggers.. 
