Friday, October 12, 2012

The End of the RIding Season?

Today may be the end of the riding season for me. The temperature sign at the entrance to the University claimed that it was 9°F. I probably should've parked the bike there and took a picture but no place to park. We still don't have any snow though the weather guessers say that we'll see some next week. For me, parking the bike is simply adding Stabil to a full gas tank, removing the side cases, plugging in the battery tender, draining the carb bowls and putting it up on the center stand in the back of the garage.

This week has been consumed by a technology conference for the university community sponsored by my department. Lots of sessions including speakers from Apple talking about their continued commitment to the educational community. There was a session on iOS programming that I found interesting enough to download the development environment. As if I needed something else to do. Today was also a great presentation by a local professional photographer on shooting RAW and the mandatory, minimum post-processing using either Lightroom or Aperture.

Now I just need to retrieve the geocaches that we placed as part of the technology conference.
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18 comments:

  1. Martha October 12, 2012 at 1:27 PM

    Soon here, too, I fear. We won't hit your 9 degrees for a while, but it's cold enough and windy enough to take the pleasure out of riding. I rode a lot this year. Sorry to see it end.

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    1. RichardMOctober 12, 2012 at 2:24 PM

      By the end of the month we are usually well below zero (°F). The barn door fairing on my bike does a pretty good job of keeping me out of the wind. Also, the humidity is pretty low which really helps.

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  2. UnknownOctober 12, 2012 at 1:32 PM

    Richard:

    You forgot to raise your front wheel OFF the cement floor. I usually use the centre stand too but put a block of wood under the front tire. I park outside under a carport so I also have to use a bike cover to keep the fog/mist off the metal as it pits.

    bob
    Riding the Wet Coast
    My YouTube

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    1. RichardMOctober 12, 2012 at 2:22 PM

      The bike is pretty well balanced on the center stand. The front wheel is off the ground but even a few pounds of force on the front will tip it from the rear wheel to the front. I would guess that just about all the weight is on the center stand. Fortunately, no bike cover needed.

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  3. BeemerGirlOctober 12, 2012 at 2:29 PM

    At least you and the bike had a bonus of an epic journey this year! Good things to reminisce over while you work on any updates over the winter.

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    1. RichardMOctober 12, 2012 at 2:51 PM

      It was a great trip, but I'm not sure "epic" is the right word for it. After all, it was the 17th time I've made the trip though the first by motorcycle...

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  4. redlegsridesOctober 12, 2012 at 3:17 PM

    RichardM, you call it the end because you lack that sidecar your "inner child" secretly urges you to acquire....if you had it, you'd be like me....impatiently anticipating the snow and the beauty it brings, the challenge it brings and the enormous fun it imparts upon one's winter riding.....

    I'm just saying.

    dom

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    1. RichardMOctober 13, 2012 at 1:27 PM

      I think you may have missed your calling. Marketing or maybe a pusher...

      Actually, I did call the gentleman with the /7 and the Cozy but didn't have the cash handy. Probably no riding this winter. Hopefully by next Spring.

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    2. redlegsridesOctober 13, 2012 at 5:34 PM

      Sadly Richard, I couldn't market my way out of a paper bag.

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    3. RichardMOctober 13, 2012 at 5:51 PM

      I don't know you push sidecars pretty well. BTW, I did tell him that I'll buy the sidecar and subframe sometime this winter. I figured that winter is probably not the best time to learn. I have been reading the David Hough's Yellow Book but probably won't have an opportunity to take a class.

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  5. VStar LadyOctober 12, 2012 at 5:11 PM

    The end is coming here as well - cold is one thing, wet and cold is a whole other ball game. For me storage means one last ride to K-Tec and the great guys who worry about everything else for me (no garage on site.)

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    1. RichardMOctober 13, 2012 at 1:29 PM

      For now, it is just cold not cold and wet. I should get in another ride this afternoon as there are some errands that need done...

      They are predicting snow all next week.

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  6. ConchscooterOctober 12, 2012 at 7:22 PM

    Getting cool here too, mid 70s by night and mid 80s by day. Helped by a fresh north wind. May have to use the helmet with the face shield in another month.

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    1. RichardMOctober 13, 2012 at 1:31 PM

      Do you have your heated gear out yet or just getting by with the heated seat? ;-)

      Sounds nice though I like the peace and quiet winter seems to bring. There is something relaxing about winter.

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  7. BluekatOctober 13, 2012 at 1:56 PM

    Chant with me Sidecar...sidecar...sidecar...
    :)

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  8. TrobairitzOctober 14, 2012 at 7:52 AM

    Brrrr. I think you should get a prize for riding when it is only 9˚F.

    It is 55 here and I am not sure I want to venture out. I must get acclimated to the cooler weather first.

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    1. RichardMOctober 15, 2012 at 1:36 PM

      Thanks to Chris's recommendation to try heated gear, 9°F didn't seem that cold at all. I was more focused on looking for ice patches on the road. I did have the thermostat turned up almost half way though and always needed to be conscious of how much power I was using. This old bike has a pretty pathetic charging system.

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