Sunday, November 10, 2013

8" of Snow

The weather guessers were partially right. The "winter storm" came on Saturday evening and I discovered a limit of my three wheel riding. By Sunday morning, there was about 8" of fluffy snow on the roads. I managed to make it out of the driveway and down the subdivision road fish tailing all the way down the hill. At this point it didn't make any sense to turn around as I probably would be unable to make it back up the hill. I went on to church and hoped that the snow plows would make it to our road by the afternoon.

By 3:00 no snow plows but the snow was somewhat packed down from traffic. I made it back up the road (barely!) with the rear wheel spinning the whole way. With this much snow 2WD may not have been enough especially with the warm snow. Maybe if I was able to fit chains on the pusher…

I should have taken a photo of the wheels when I arrived at the church as snow completely filled the webbing all the way to the hub. And after sitting most of the day outside, the brake pads were frozen to the discs.


15 comments:

  1. I was thinking it was a bit brisk for shirt sleeves at the beach with Cheyenne this morning. 77 and windy. She liked it.

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    1. Sometimes, 77F sounds good. At other times, less so. Thank you for commenting!

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  2. Love the photo.

    I spotted the snow on the cam last night and wanted to congratulate you on getting some fluffy snow!

    By the way, what is the statue on the Golden Heart plaza?

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    1. The statue in the Golden Heart Plaza is one of an native american family titled "First Family".

      Fluffy snow is nice though you can't build anything with it...

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  3. Good snow story Richard! I must say I envy you though perhaps knobbies might be the ticket on the pusher. 2WD really does help, especially on inclines. Chains would probably do the trick too....need pics of the rig in the snow!

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    1. Oh, forgot to mention, you want to clear your spokes of snow buildup if going onto clear roads....the snow adversely affects the wheel balances....in your case, it sounds like it was snow all the way there and back.

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    2. I do have the K60 on the rear, not really a knobby but not really a street tire either. And yes, it was deep snow for most of the trip. Even this morning, some roads weren't plowed and a lot of fish tailing went on whenever the rear wheel started spinning.

      Not too many snow pictures as it's usually dark when I'm out riding these days. Plus, once going, I don't want to stop. And remember, there isn't anything worth taking a picture of in Fairbanks. Too flat..

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  4. Glad you made it back up the hill, but where are the pretty snow pictures

    I like seeing snow, just not shoveling it.

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    1. Now you want "pretty snow pictures". If you ask many around here there is no such thing. I spent about an hour yesterday clearing snow from our driveway and had to buy a new snow shovel. All of the good ones were already sold out...

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    2. Can't imagine riding in 8 inches of snow. Four is the most I've attempted on the Vespa and then only for a few miles.

      Pictures of the rig in the snow, day or night will be winners. With new digital cameras you can shoot practically in the dark. No excuses now -- just make those pictures!

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    3. 8" of snow was too much for just 1WD so not something I would recommend. Even this morning, the ruts in some of the roads make riding a bit treacherous.

      I'll try to take more pictures...

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  5. Richard:

    8" of snow here would shut down our city. Actually. 4" may shut down the city. With that much snow even a Jeep would be challenged so you were brave to attempt your ride with only ONE wheel drive.

    You knew last year that snow was coming. Why would you wait until the last hour to purchase a new snow shovel ? (sorry, just thinking out loud)

    I also like to see snow photos, from a distance of course

    bob
    Riding the Wet Coast

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    1. 8" of snow didn't shut down the town and by 10am, most of the major roads were plowed including the entire Walmart parking lot. I'm not sure where they moved the snow to but they weren't planning on losing any sales to a little snow. I figured that there is only one way to find out if that was too much fresh snow was to try it. Since that morning, no problem but another storm is predicted for tonight.

      On Saturday morning, I was told that we needed a small snow shovel. We have plenty of other options to move snow but my grain scoop had broken a few years back and that's what was needed at the moment. Aluminum grain scoops make great snow shovels.

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  6. Snow? No Thanks.....I ran a 200 mile ride Sunday in the mountains of NM. Was a brisk 70*. I spent my first 40 years in MT. working out in the sub zero crap. Decided that I'd had enough.

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    1. Sometimes, I'm still trying to figure out why I'm still here...

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