07-13-2014, 10:56 PM
I live about 45 minutes north of DC. Last winter was considerably worse than normal...but in most years there's a day or two of "warm enough" weather (which by my definition is 40+) with clear roads once every 2-3 weeks from December thru February. It's not ideal, but it's generally enough that, if I make the effort to ride when I can, I don't really need to winterize bikes.
In November and March things are ramping down/up, respectively. So in general I consider the "normal" riding season here to be roughly mid-March through mid-November. The situation is probably a bit better in DC/NOVA.
Decent cold-weather riding gear--particularly coupled with heated grips and hand guards (or heated gear, if you want to go whole-hog)--will gain you some riding days too.
As far as riding to CA in the middle of December...it all depends on luck and timing, I suppose. If you caught a lucky warm day or two out of DC (which definitely happens--I remember it being in the 70s one weekend in DC last year), you could make your way south before heading west and be home free.
In November and March things are ramping down/up, respectively. So in general I consider the "normal" riding season here to be roughly mid-March through mid-November. The situation is probably a bit better in DC/NOVA.
Decent cold-weather riding gear--particularly coupled with heated grips and hand guards (or heated gear, if you want to go whole-hog)--will gain you some riding days too.
As far as riding to CA in the middle of December...it all depends on luck and timing, I suppose. If you caught a lucky warm day or two out of DC (which definitely happens--I remember it being in the 70s one weekend in DC last year), you could make your way south before heading west and be home free.