Author Topic: why we live & ride in Colorado (Read 3384 times)

paddy paul · « **on:** December 10, 2009, 07:09:43 AM »

Just another beautifully Day here in CO, did some work in the garage, cleaned up they cylinders,if you could make it to the main streets you could ride... and did I tell you it was 6 degrees when the picture was taken.. but at least its sunny and no humidity..... Stay warm and ride safe no matter where you are

Gordon · « **Reply #1 on:** December 10, 2009, 07:47:02 AM »

Quote from: paddy paul on December 10, 2009, 07:09:43 AM

if you could make it to the main streets you could ride...

That's my problem, too. My garage is off the alley which hardly gets any direct sunlight during the Winter, so even after the streets are completely clear the alley is still coated with ice for a few days to a couple of weeks depending on the temperature. It's supposed to get up into the lower 40's in the next few days, so hopefully I can get the bikes out soon!

Nice picture.

Hush · « **Reply #2 on:** December 10, 2009, 07:49:47 AM »

You think you have problems?
It's supposed to be 40 degrees "C" here in Napier NZ tomorrow, far too hot for riding and wearing a helmet.....oh no hang on......it will be just right.

ekpent · « **Reply #3 on:** December 10, 2009, 08:19:46 AM »

ARRGGG-We are officially done here in Michigan. Last nights snow and still coming - Lets here from Wisconsin,heard you got it bad.

Steve F · « **Reply #4 on:** December 10, 2009, 09:39:03 AM »

Quote from: paddy paul on December 10, 2009, 07:09:43 AM

Just another beautifully Day here in CO, did some work in the garage, cleaned up they cylinders,if you could make it to the main streets you could ride... and did I tell you it was 6 degrees when the picture was taken.. but at least its sunny and no humidity..... Stay warm and ride safe no matter where you are

Don't know if I would want to live where YOU live...looks like sombody stole yer engine! That sucks.

paddy paul · « **Reply #5 on:** December 10, 2009, 09:43:18 AM »

most of it any way..

;Snow leprechauns

nobody · « **Reply #6 on:** December 10, 2009, 09:52:48 AM »

Quote from: Gordon on December 10, 2009, 07:47:02 AM

Quote from: paddy paul on December 10, 2009, 07:09:43 AM
if you could make it to the main streets you could ride...

That's my problem, too. My garage is off the alley which hardly gets any direct sunlight during the Winter, so even after the streets are completely clear the alley is still coated with ice for a few days to a couple of weeks depending on the temperature.

It's doable, albeit sketchy. Make sure you have good boots, drag your feet and take it slow, try not to lean the bike. That's what I did when I had to bring my bike home from Breckenridge on a cool twenty five degree night in March. There was a good hundred foot stretch of ice between the parking garage and the street. Now the ride down the highway with this antiquated headlight? That's a whole different ballgame... SCARY!

Gordon · « **Reply #7 on:** December 10, 2009, 10:22:29 AM »

Quote from: mgab on December 10, 2009, 09:52:48 AM

It's doable, albeit sketchy. Make sure you have good boots, drag your feet and take it slow, try not to lean the bike. That's what I did when I had to bring my bike home from Breckenridge on a cool twenty five degree night in March. There was a good hundred foot stretch of ice between the parking garage and the street. Now the ride down the highway with this antiquated headlight? That's a whole different ballgame... SCARY!

I tried it once on ice, on the way home from Heffay's a couple of years ago in January. Went down on the left side and scraped up my nice stator cover.

It wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't on a slope. Going uphill the rear tire loses traction pushing the bike. Going downhill both tires lose traction trying to stop, and it's no fun sliding right out into the speeding traffic on Alameda!

Get yourself an H4 for that thing!

nobody · « **Reply #8 on:** December 10, 2009, 10:27:15 AM »

Quote from: Gordon on December 10, 2009, 10:22:29 AM

I tried it once on ice, on the way home from Heffay's a couple of years ago in January. Went down on the left side and scraped up my nice stator cover. It wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't on a slope. Going uphill the rear tire loses traction pushing the bike. Going downhill both tires lose traction trying to stop, and it's no fun sliding right out into the speeding traffic on Alameda!

Oh yeah, I was lucky enough that this patch of ice was fairly flat. A slope would definitely complicate things.

Quote

Get yourself an H4 for that thing!

Haha, I will after I sort out the transmission and switch to some low rise bars, these drag bars don't put the brake lever in a very good spot. A brighter headlight is most certainly on the to do list.

OldSchool_IsCool · « **Reply #9 on:** December 10, 2009, 10:52:01 AM »

Hey Gordon!

Next week, I'll be visiting family that live at Fairmont & Alameda. Let me know if you would like me to stop by and give you a hand getting your points straightened out!

Gordon · « **Reply #10 on:** December 10, 2009, 11:59:49 AM »

Quote from: OldSchool_IsCool on December 10, 2009, 10:52:01 AM

Let me know if you would like me to stop by and give you a hand getting your points straightened out!

I don't get it. $:-\$

OldSchool_IsCool · « **Reply #11 on:** December 10, 2009, 12:11:15 PM »

Don't you and I often come down on opposite sides of the "Points vs Dyna" debate? Or am I more confused then usual?

HondaMan · « **Reply #12 on:** December 10, 2009, 12:20:35 PM »

Quote from: paddy paul on December 10, 2009, 07:09:43 AM

Just another beautifully Day here in CO, did some work in the garage, cleaned up they cylinders,if you could make it to the main streets you could ride... and did I tell you it was 6 degrees when the picture was taken.. but at least its sunny and no humidity..... Stay warm and ride safe no matter where you are

Hey, where's your snow!?
I've got plenty extra here, maybe I should send it to you?

Gordon · « **Reply #13 on:** December 10, 2009, 12:37:24 PM »

Quote from: OldSchool_IsCool on December 10, 2009, 12:11:15 PM

Don't you and I often come down on opposite sides of the "Points vs Dyna" debate? Or am I more confused then usual?

Ah!

I was going to say how my bikes don't have points, but now it makes sense.

Simpson · « **Reply #14 on:** December 10, 2009, 07:20:46 PM »

It was 70 degress here the last couple days.

Everytime winter rolls around you guys remind me why I moved from central New York.
Brrrrr...

dave500 · « **Reply #15 on:** December 11, 2009, 04:07:47 AM »

hi,on the east coast of australia,snow is only in the fridge!!its probably like your new orleans or miami ,hot and humid,we ride all year down here.the riding like you blokes do on icey roads and all,courage and skill.

IHWillys · « **Reply #16 on:** December 11, 2009, 06:52:05 AM »

Yeah, I rode year round an '82 Virago 750 for a couple of years when I was a student at CSU, had no other mechanized transportation and lived miles from the nearest bus stop in town. Now I mostly remember those times in the snow as a very stupid thing to do but I never had much of a mishap doing it, just slow speed stuff. Multiple times I had someone follow me at a safe distance at my slow pace in the far right lane on the packed snow of College Ave, must've been fellow riders watching out for the idiot on the bike, or lawyers(hehe).

An exposed air-cooled engine is good for warming one's hands at the stoplights. Those were the times when I wished for long red lights.

Ken

dave500 · « **Reply #17 on:** December 12, 2009, 05:12:17 AM »

hey ihwillys,,ive only ridden a dirt bike in snow,about 17 years ago in victoria /australia,it was an early 80s yamaha IT 250 ,we wernt expecting it on this long uphill venture,,anyway we could hardly steer with good knobbies(tyres),and as for the putting the hands on the exhaust pipe!!that was the first and last time i ever did that!!its true ,it works!!snow belongs on post cards only!!!

Freaky1 · « **Reply #18 on:** December 12, 2009, 08:47:25 AM »

It's going to break 40 today...I can feel it! I used to ride to Fort Collins year round because my girlfriend went to CSU, it was usually 2 or 3 in the morning after the bars closed, looked somewhat like the guy in "The Gumball Rally" but no stopping, just flat out as fast as my little Virago 500 would go.

Gordon · « **Reply #19 on:** December 12, 2009, 10:28:53 AM »

Quote from: Freaky1 on December 12, 2009, 08:47:25 AM

It's going to break 40 today...I can feel it! I used to ride to Fort Collins year round because my girlfriend went to CSU, it was usually 2 or 3 in the morning after the bars closed, looked somewhat like the guy in "The Gumball Rally" but no stopping, just flat out as fast as my little Virago 500 would go.

I didn't ride to work this morning because I went in at 4am and I knew the alley would be frozen solid, but I'll be riding again starting tomorrow! Even if I have to go out there with my flat spade and carve out a path for the bikes.

They really need to be ridden and I'm getting a very twitchy throttle hand.

d3buttz · « **Reply #20 on:** December 12, 2009, 10:30:41 AM »

I Just got back from running errands on the bike, it was hairy as hell getting out of the side streets of my neighborhood with all the residual snow in the shade, but once i got out onto the main streets it was all go. A pair of long johns and gloves and i am comfortable. mid december and i can still ride!- i love colorado.............hey gordon-wanna meet up for a ride tomorrow?

Gordon · « **Reply #21 on:** December 12, 2009, 10:36:06 AM »

Quote from: d3buttz on December 12, 2009, 10:30:41 AM

hey gordon-wanna meet up for a ride tomorrow?

Can't, unfortunately. I've got my son until 3pm and then I go to work.

Don R · « **Reply #22 on:** December 12, 2009, 10:46:22 AM »

Do they use road salt there? Thats why mine won't come out unless it warms and rains first.

Gordon · « **Reply #23 on:** December 12, 2009, 11:12:44 AM »

Quote from: Don R on December 12, 2009, 10:46:22 AM

Do they use road salt there? Thats why mine won't come out unless it warms and rains first.

They use liquid magnesium chloride. Once the roads are dry it's no problem. They put it down immediately before a predicted snow storm, so I'm not normally out on the bike then anyway.

Don R · « **Reply #24 on:** December 12, 2009, 11:15:48 AM »

I think we use that here on bridges and special areas. Salt everywhere else.

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Author Topic: why we live & ride in Colorado (Read 3384 times)