And I thought I could handle cold weather.

[Gone in 60]

We're still in the 80s here at home, but I'm looking forward to packing my mesh gear away for cooler weather. I'm wondering if I'll miss my old BMW's heated grips when it gets down to the lower 50s on some of my winter commute mornings.

My wife and I just took a driving trip, and since she likes to pack for temperature possibilities ranging from volcanic to arctic, I decided to help her by listing the forecasted temperatures for each of our stops. The forcasts were wildly optimistic, and it was much colder in most places than we anticipated. But, we survived just fine.

I was surprised to see as many riders as we did in some places. I guess you just get used to your surroundings. We were in Flagstaff, waiting at a red light, and a guy wearing jeans and a regular textile jacket whizzed by on an FZ07. For reference, I took a quick shot of our car's temp reading.

Guess that makes me sort of a wuss...

[LongRanger_imp]

I frequently see "real" HD riders cruising down the freeways around here in the winter, wearing only a knit wool cap (no helmet), while the temps are in the 20's. It's actually quite impressive. I'm still a fair weather San Diego wimp myself. Low-40's and dry roads are my limit.

[pdedse]

We're still in the 80s here at home, but I'm looking forward to packing my mesh gear away for cooler weather. I'm wondering if I'll miss my old BMW's heated grips when it gets down to the lower 50s on some of my winter commute mornings.

My wife and I just took a driving trip, and since she likes to pack for temperature possibilities ranging from volcanic to arctic, I decided to help her by listing the forecasted temperatures for each of our stops. The forcasts were wildly optimistic, and it was much colder in most places than we anticipated. But, we survived just fine.

I was surprised to see as many riders as we did in some places. I guess you just get used to your surroundings. We were in Flagstaff, waiting at a red light, and a guy wearing jeans and a regular textile jacket whizzed by on an FZ07. For reference, I took a quick shot of our car's temp reading.

Guess that makes me sort of a wuss...

Yeah, but you never know how far he was going. It's one thing to ride 1/2 hour plus when it's freezing, but the fz07 rider might have been on a short 10 minute ride to work or back home.

[Gone in 60]

Yeah, I know... I was thinking the same thing when I saw the guy. But 18 degrees is 18 degrees. We were freezing just from the walk from the hotel door to the car.

On my last job, I rode through a canyon that could dip down to the mid 30s for a few minutes in a few places, for a few days in winter, and that was enough for me. I'm with Long Ranger.

[GoldOxide_imp]

I frequently see "real" HD riders cruising down the freeways around here in the winter, wearing only a knit wool cap (no helmet), while the temps are in the 20's. It's actually quite impressive. I'm still a fair weather San Diego wimp myself. Low-40's and dry roads are my limit.

Many HDs have a pretty decent wind-breaking set-up.

[KiowaEagle_imp]

40 is my low although this weekend I started a couple of rides when it was 35. But I knew it was warming up quickly. I'm feeling the cabin fever already closing in....

[the Ferret]

In 1981 I rode at -9F. Then a couple of years ago -2F, so I really have no limit as to temp, but prefer it above freezing anyway. These days I have the proper clothes for riding in those conditions...freeze out base gear and balaclava, electric jacket liner and glove liners and heavy cordura outter gear. (In 1981 I had a snowmobile suit, snow mobile boots, fleece lined leather mittens and a wool scarf lol)

These days when it gets anywhere near 40 the elect gear comes out. I'll be wearing it on a ride in about an hour in fact lol

[Gone in 60]

Bleh! No thank you sir! All of this just reminded me that I need a new neck warmer before it gets cold here. Wore a hole through my old one last year, and some 45 degree air snuck in and made me very uncomfortable.

Funny, when we went on our road trip last week, my cousins were telling me that there was a chance that we'd hit some snow in Colorado or northern New Mexico. I considered the remaining poor weather traction ability of our tires which have done 65,000 miles, the cost of replacing said tires before our trip, or renting a car. Renting was the cheapest option, and heavy snow conditions over something called "Wolf Creek Pass" (thanks, Waze) basically paid for the rental in peace of mind.

[LongRanger_imp]

Wolf Creek typically gets dumped on. Come back in July or August on your two-wheeler -- there's some very fine riding near there.

[GoldOxide_imp]

Snow is a drag indeed. However, I dislike more is the wet salt brine on the road. The bike issues it can create are obvious. But don't forget the gear gets a heavy dose of the crap too.

I much prefer the dry [salt] roads in winter.