Saturday, January 31, 2015

Cold Ride


The forecast all week was for warmer temperatures within a couple of days but it still hasn't happened. In fact, this morning, the weather guesser types were saying that it should be up into the negative teens by noon. We'll see how it is on Sunday when one of the local BMW riders invited a bunch to his shop for the afternoon. Something about a football game...

On Thursday, I did get the Beemer out on the road just to say that I've ridden at -40°. When I cruised by the university time/temp sign it claimed that it was -48°F. I glanced over at the GoPro and it had already shut down. It seems to have a really short battery life in the cold. But once I bring it inside to charge up the battery, it's fully charged within 15 minutes. Oh well, first world problem...

I was thinking that I had found the lower limit of all of the heated gear as I was feeling kind of cold when pulling back into the garage. Then I looked down and sometime near the end of the ride, the cord from the Gerbing controller had gotten disconnected from the bike. Probably when I stopped to chip the ice from the helmet vents. It is starting to warm up a bit  outside so probably no -50°F video this year...

A Ural update. Ural will be sending a lifter and a push rod sometime, hopefully soon. Mickey said that he has the parts on hand and had just been waiting to get verbal approval from Jason at the mother ship in Redmond. Anxious to get it back on the road.

Here is the next PBC video.



Saturday evening - It really warmed up overnight. It was -14°F this afternoon and it felt downright balmy. Plus it was bright and sunny. I was pretty busy all day but managed to sneak a ride in around the middle of the day. Tomorrow is supposed to be even warmer, possibly even above 0°F. Pretty quick change.


14 comments:

  1. -40? Brrrr doesn't seem to be a chilly enough work for that.

    We've had a car engine freeze at that temperature in Edmonton. Note to self - never visit Edmonton in January in an old car without a block heater.

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    1. That demonstrates one of the benefits of an air-cooled engine. No water to freeze up...

      Maybe ALL CAPS would be better BRRRRR?

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  2. I bet you felt almost euphoric with that "warm" brilliantly sunny ride!

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    1. It really did feel nice and warm out especially with the bright sun.

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  3. I am sitting here cuddled in my blanket and freezing while watching your vids. Need to fetch a cuppa tea now...

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    1. Sorry about that....

      Maybe imagine it's all sand.

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  4. 0 degrees?!? You going to be in shorts under your gear? :)

    waiting for permission from the mothership? that tappet looked pretty damaged to me! Oh well, it'll be there soon enough .... sending gaskets as well?

    now to watch the videos....

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    1. It didn't quite make it above 0°F today. Mickey says that he is sending the stuff out of his inventory.

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  5. re your first video, I've only had my skidoo helmet vents freeze up once but not to the extent where it interfered with breathing! Does yours compress down further into your face when you snap the helmet's chinbar down to lock it?

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    1. Yes, it does compress more. But the openings on the side of the helmet close up with ice after a while. I'm told that it's a common problem with the Bombardier helmets when it's really cold.

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  6. re the second video....looked like glorious riding conditions! I bet the locals are saying to themselves as they see you riding: "dang, now there's two sidecar nutjobs out there riding in the cold!"......still amazes me how much water accumulates in these temperatures but glad you've got it figured out for both rigs. Are you going to put a drain plug in the air filter housing? :)

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    1. The airhead airbox has a small drain with a one way valve installed already. I haven't checked inside the airbox. It is kind of a hassle to open up.

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  7. That's just too cold for me ... glad you're still out there making videos and having fun though.

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    1. I have it on good authority that all Canadians are tough and these temperatures are a walk in the park...

      Or at least that's what I'm told. The whole PBC thing is fun and it's a good reason to get out everyday.

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