Saturday, November 24, 2012

Winter Riding Has Arrived

1st Ural Snow Ride

It’s amazing how much can change in a day. In my last post, I mentioned how it was sunny and in the high 60s. A rare thing indeed for Minnesota in late November. When I woke up yesterday, it was still in the 50s. As the day wore on the temp withered away. It began to snow just after lunch, and by dinner there was two inches of snow resting on the ground. For my ride today, the temperature crept towards 30F, but never made it. Winter has arrived.

I spent some time getting reacquainted with the Ural in an empty parking lot. Just like I do in the spring when I switch my primary riding to two-wheels, I spend some time practicing emergency maneuvers in the winter when I switch to three-wheels. Swerves, quick stops, and flying the chair. I’m a bit rusty with the later one, the first two came back quickly.

14 comments:

  1. Ah, the sleeper awakes. Enjoy the white stuff in the best possible way.

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  2. I have to say, I don't envy you riding in the snow, but I know you get a real kick out if it. Here's to a happy riding winter (for you, not me)! I just explained to my son that you sometimes ride across frozen lakes - all he did was shake his head and look horrified!

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    1. yup, in the dead of winter the ice on the lakes will be several feet thick. more than strong enough to park dozens of big trucks much less my motorcycle. check out this link from the government on ice strength: http://www.mvp-wc.usace.army.mil/ice/ice_load.html

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  3. Yay! I know it is bittersweet, but it is time. Let's up for a more traditional winter. We are still way too dry.
    ~k

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    1. a more traditional winter than last year would be nice. we hardly got any snow at all which is my favorite part. hardly made all the cold and gray days worth it.

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  4. It started snowing up here on Thanksgiving day.... It's been snowing off and on since. Darn "lake effect" snow!

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    1. we only got snow on thanksgiving day. you'd think we'd get some lake effect down here too! we have plenty of them around. I noticed yesterday a couple of them have just got a nice layer of frost on them as they start to cool and freeze.

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  5. Mother Nature snapped her fingers and ta da - snow.

    I think you secretly like it though as it is a good excuse to ride the Ural - not that you need an excuse.

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    1. and then she snapped them again and too warm. lol.

      right now i do need an excuse to ride the ural..

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  6. You need much more before it's in the fun category. The Twin Cities are not really near any large bodies of warm water, do you really get "lake effect" snow?

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    1. yes, i agree. much more before it get really fun. lake effect? not so much.

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  7. Chris:

    Hard to imagine going from 50's down to freezing in one day, and then the snow . . .

    Nice to see your Ural enjoying herself. Must have been lonely in the garage waiting for the bad weather

    bob
    Riding the Wet Coast
    My Flickr // My YouTube

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    1. yea, the ural sits in there next to the GS while the other bikes get to go out and play regularly.

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