Bad Weather

[378]

Came home from work yesterday and it was beautiful (Well for Feb in PA anyhow). Sunny, 40 deg, and even rained hard the night before to wash the salt off the roads. So I get the brilliant idea to take a quick ride. Get about 5 miles out and a snow storm hits. Total white out conditions. The roads were covered instantly. I began slipping everywhere. Could not see a thing. Windshield covered, face shield covered, hands and butt were very warm though. What to do?

I didn't want to chance getting it back home. I just purchased my Lt and did not want it sliding out from under me. Driving conditions were bad enough for four wheels let alone two. So, I had a friend about a 1/2 mile away and chose to park it there. After the embarrassment of my explanation, he totally understood. He purchased an BMW last year and understands our obsession to ride any chance we get.

Hence, he has a new bike at his house until the weather changes. That may be a couple of weeks away.

Lets hear some bad weather stories for fun.

[jaskjb]

Glad you got off the road safe.
Guess I don't have a bad weather story this time of year. Was minus 12 this morning in Rochester, mn. There is enough snow on the street to keep the LT parked for a while yet.

[vernvernvern]

Yep, I can relate. About a month or so ago(Super Bowl Sunday) it was a nice 40° Sunday morning so although rain was predicted to start at 2 PM, I decided that since I hadn't had a bike ride for several weeks, I'd ride the LT to Church. All was fine going in to town(about 12 miles) and attended Curch. Looked out of the Church door after the Service and noticed at least an inch of wet snow on the ground. Ugh! No way am I going to move/ride it anywhere. Not even to a nearby friends garage. I could see me trying to get the big babe back up in the slick snow if it went down. So, called for a ride home and waited out the snow storm. It ended about game time so hooked up the trailer and went to town after the LT. No problem except the starter button wanted to stick down, thus no headlight. After tapping the button a couple of times , it came up, the lights came on , loaded it and strapped her down and headed home. Of course I missed the second quarter of the SuperBowl. As you know, I didn't miss much. Haven't had a ride since and the LT is sitting in a COLD garage waiting to be cleaned up. I am anxiously waiting for thawing weather coming next week(I HOPE!). It sure hasn't been a bike riding winter in my neck of the woods.

Come summer, I'll be complaing about it being to hot to ride. LOL Well, maybe not.

[Steve_R]

But I rode Friday, Saturday, Sunday, yesterday, today and I will be riding tomorrow. Sorry guys, I just couldn't help myself. :D

[bflemingor]

Took the LT out for a Sunday lunch with a touring friend - t'was a bright clear 61 - dry roads - CAVU. Mt. Hood in it's white winter glory, the coast range topped with snow & very little traffic.

Made me remember why I live in the NW & ride a K12... :p

[niel_petersen]

Minus 8 degF in Minneapolis this AM. Can't even work in my garage. UGH!

[GolfGuy]

Minus 15 tonight!!! Not pretty....Snow up to my you know what...but...70 and Sunny in My garage! :histerica

[meese]

We decided to run up Pike's Peak after CCR a few years ago. The non-paved portion of the road was in fine shape and we made good time, even passing several minivans who were being especially timid. Visions of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb vied with the incredible views as we ascended into the clouds.

After the obligatory pictures at the top we went into the gift shop for lunch and souvenirs. While perusing postcards, there was an announcement that the weather had changed and that the ranger was escorting folks back down the hill. We went outside and found this:

http://www.bmwlt.com/gallery/files/1/7/8/Pikes_Peak.jpg

Now the LT's power-assisted ABS is arguably the best brakes ever designed for a motorcycle. But when the ground is constantly slick, the power assist is just too much and the ABS just keeps activating which is worse than having no brakes at all. I stayed in 1st gear with nothing but engine-braking for the first few miles down. I'd wave a car around, then ride in his tire tracks until I couldn't see them anymore, then wave the next car around.

Once we got below the storm, the rest of the ride down was fine. We stopped at the lower gift shop to finish our shopping, where several folks commented about those crazy folks on the motorcycle. All I could think was that I'd still rather be on the bike, even in those conditions, than to be stuck in a cage for the whole trip. Riders can understand that, while cagers never will. :)