Saturday, December 31, 2011

Back on Two Wheels (Almost)

This has been a slow week. The university administration declared a "hard closure" implying that they didn't want anyone around so that they could minimize power and heat for the week. If you didn't have any vacation time saved up then too bad. I am taking advantage of this slack time to do some things I've been putting off for a while. I finally put on the studded snow tires I picked up from REI in Anchorage last month and tried them out on a short trip up and down our road. They seem to work pretty well on the packed snow and ice but it was too cold (-36°F) to really try them out. Braking works better than expected and managed to stay upright though I was somewhat reluctant to try any quick turns. My plan is to take the bike to my office next week and try them out on the university roads once it warms up a bit.

I wish you all a healthy, happy and wonderful New Year.

12 comments:

  1. Richard Happy New Year!!! I wish you and your family many belssings in 2012!!! Ride safe!

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  2. Richard, wishing you a wonderful riding year, motorized or not.

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  3. -36.....you have got to be kidding me! Have a great year mate,all the best from down under9where it is warm at the moment)

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  4. It will be interesting to see how the tires work for you. One of the reasons I chose Billie when buying a motorbike/scoot was it's nearness to a bicycle. I'd hoped to be able to ride whenever bicycle commuters would ride. It hasn't quite worked out that way. Here there are commuters who are unfazed by ice or snow. I keep telling myself their being out there and my not is an issue of sanity . . . mine. Still, I wonder.

    Happy New Year!

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  5. Richard....

    -36, now that is cold....makes the +19 I just rode infor breakfast with Uralisti seem like a heatwave!

    Been thinking of studding Yoshie's front tire for traction on snow...will look forward to your experiences with yours.

    Happy New Year!

    Dom

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  6. -36 - too fluffing cold to be out on two wheels. Can you get heated grips for that thing?

    A happy healthy new year to you and your family Richard. Hope to see you again this year.

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  7. The huge ice cream freezer at Penn State goes down to -30F and that's uncomfortably cold. What the heck are you doing riding a bicycle at -36F???

    Geez. You'll turn into a popscicle.

    Have a great New Year!

    Steve Williams
    Scooter in the Sticks

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  8. Best wishes for 2012 Richard. Those are seriously impressive tyres. When are you going to fit similar ones to the Beemer for that all year round motoring experience?

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  9. Thank you all for the wonderful New Years wishes.

    @Trobairitz No heated grips but the again with me providing the propulsion, not much speed either.

    @Steve Not sure what I was thinking except that it had warmed up from -43°F the previous day.

    @Geoff There are some motorcyclists who ride on studded tires in the banana belt (Anchorage). Still very icy just not as cold.

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  10. Richard:

    Happy New Year to you. It's too cold to ride a bicycle, unless you have heated grips.

    bob
    Riding the Wet Coast

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  11. Bob:
    Not too cold to ride a bicycle but it is too cold for normal Crocs™. You need the insulted ones. No heated grips or clothing either as the battery is too heavy plus if you're cold, you just look for a hill...

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  12. Happy New Year. Can have some good fun on studded tires. Glad you are enabling getting out. Very nice.

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