The temperature on Monday was once again floating above freezing with predictions of doom and gloom from the weather types. In fact, school was cancelled and the university allowed employees to use a sick day as there was not yet a category for "administrative leave". Most areas have "snow days" but we have the inverse. No problem with snow but major problems with rain.
Since I didn't think the roads were that bad, I went ahead and rode in. There was a lot of side to side movement of the rig as it went down the road but that was due to the grooves the road grader had cut into the surface of the ice rather than slipping. It kind of felt like you were crossing a metal grate bridge.
Right now, the predicted snow has finally arrived. Fresh snow on top of ice. Should be a good day tomorrow.
Here is a image capture from the ArcticCam looking south towards downtown Fairbanks. I was curious as to how much snow fell on Monday evening. It looks like maybe only a couple of inches. But by morning, things were looking pretty dreary again. A thick blanket of fog.The second short video is the beginning of the morning commute but the lens was pretty wet after a short distance.
Since I didn't think the roads were that bad, I went ahead and rode in. There was a lot of side to side movement of the rig as it went down the road but that was due to the grooves the road grader had cut into the surface of the ice rather than slipping. It kind of felt like you were crossing a metal grate bridge.
Right now, the predicted snow has finally arrived. Fresh snow on top of ice. Should be a good day tomorrow.
Wow! does it ever look cold! Richard I have to say I think you are pretty amazing riding in all the cold, snow, and ice. Love the videos. I think I am going to try and add more of these to my blog, but I have to learn how to add graphics and music, that's my goal for the year.
ReplyDeleteIt's actually really warm (relatively speaking) around 28°F. No heated gear needed!
DeleteI just use the GoPro free application for editing the videos. There are probably better ways but this is simple.
I am not complaining. This looks really cold and damp. Again congrats on your excellent choice of music for both rides.
ReplyDeleteThank you. Damp it was but no very cold. I'm glad that I don't need to use the rubber face mask in the helmet anymore. Just leaving the visor cracked a bit keeps things from fogging up.
DeleteThis actually looks like fun. This is the way I like to ride my bike- why I always preferred mountain biking over road biking. I'd rather go slow with more challenges.
ReplyDeleteI really am enjoying riding these days. I don't need to plug in every time and regular gloves are a less bulky than the heated ones.
DeletePretty brave to ride in those conditions, but it looks like you rode like a champ.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing, and hooray for it being light out on your way home that day.
I'm thinking that it was fine. There wasn't a whole lot of traffic on the road and traction was more than adequate. Light in the evening is wonderful. Still a couple more weeks until it's light in the morning too!
DeleteLuge like, ice-rutted country roads are a way of life here ... but I am so envious of your above freezing temps even though I hate freezing rain. (Has there been some sort of virtual world flip?)
ReplyDeleteNope, I think that this is what some had predicted due to the polar ice cap melting bringing more heat into the Arctic. The icy, luge runs used to happen rarely. Now it is an annual occurrence.
DeleteAs unlikely as it is that I'll ever start year-round riding, I am envious of the ability the Ural gives you to do just that. We're still waiting for the first signs of warming here, but not looking forward to the inevitable thaw-freeze cycles that give us the icy roads for days on end. Like you said, freezing rain was a rarity here not that many years ago, now we (usually) see several days every winter. The climate is truly messed up for sure.
ReplyDeleteThe original intent of the sidecar was to enable a longer riding season with the sidecar only being attached to the Beemer during the winter. Then, left it on the following summer, than winter, than summer. I really like the flexibility that it provides.
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