Author Topic: Too early? (Read 914 times)

naustin · « **on:** March 16, 2019, 10:13:07 AM »

I have an appointment at Aerostich this coming Friday to get fitted for a new set of gear. Still on the fence whether to go Roadcrafter or Darien, but leaning Darien with the heated liner. Definitely prefer 2 pc.

The real question is - should I ride? 🥶😈

It’s 225 miles from home straight up I35... Kind of a waste of rubber, but I’m desperate to get the bike out!

sleazy rider · « **Reply #1 on:** March 16, 2019, 11:04:12 AM »

I'd be looking hard at the forecast up till departure. It's March in Minnesota. Fear the snow.

Cablebandit · « **Reply #2 on:** March 16, 2019, 11:36:30 AM »

Yup...game day decision. It's snowing here today, was beautiful yesterday.

That said, I'd ride if you can. that way you can be fit on your bike.

naustin · « **Reply #3 on:** March 16, 2019, 01:09:54 PM »

Quote from: Cablebandit on March 16, 2019, 11:36:30 AM

Yup...game day decision. It's snowing here today, was beautiful yesterday.

That said, I'd ride if you can. that way you can be fit on your bike.

There’s that advantage, plus having a picture at Aerostich in March is cool too. Current Forecast is 30/45 in Duluth, 30/55 at home - sunny all day. 🤔

maddjack · « **Reply #4 on:** March 17, 2019, 09:23:14 AM »

Weather this time of year is real iffy, I think discretion is the better part of valor on this one and would myself , take a car just to avoid worries of whats it going to do .

Skee · « **Reply #5 on:** March 17, 2019, 03:35:07 PM »

That's good common sense. Now on the other hand, if you wake up to a nice crisp sunny day with no clouds in sight...

sodapop6620 · « **Reply #6 on:** March 18, 2019, 06:12:50 AM »

It is going to be in the 50s in Pa. I would ride.

chornbe · « **Reply #7 on:** March 18, 2019, 07:44:17 AM »

Just drive. Be ready, arrive comfortable.

stevent · « **Reply #8 on:** March 18, 2019, 11:39:10 AM »

On the plus side a Darien with the fleece liner and fleece pants can handle just about anything. If you have heated grips you should be fine and you'll have a cool story to tell. Worse case scenario it snows, you fall down and get run over by a semi and crushed to an unrecognizable pulp. In that case your wife gets the insurance, her and her new boyfriend buy a bitchin' Camaro and drive around drinking Bud Light all day long.

A win-win for someone either way.

Cablebandit · « **Reply #9 on:** March 18, 2019, 11:46:06 AM »

This is why I have no life insurance

naustin · « **Reply #10 on:** March 18, 2019, 12:20:28 PM »

The forecast is still a moving target. Biggest issue is we have a foot of snow on the ground, so lots of puddles and melt water in the afternoons.... City streets are more gravel than pavement, but the freeway is clean and dry. I’ll be driving up and down it for work all week, so there won’t be any surprises.

Bike is ready to go, if I decide to ride.

chornbe · « **Reply #11 on:** March 18, 2019, 12:43:23 PM »

You're nuts. Any water + any freezing temps + anywhere on your route = just not worth it.

Any two of those factors are manageable. All three? Fuuuuugeddaboudit.

Virginian · « **Reply #12 on:** March 18, 2019, 02:03:08 PM »

I'd ride..

naustin · « **Reply #13 on:** March 18, 2019, 04:49:50 PM »

Quote from: chornbe on March 18, 2019, 12:43:23 PM

You're nuts. Any water + any freezing temps + anywhere on your route = just not worth it.

Any two of those factors are manageable. All three? Fuuuuugeddaboudit.

LongHaulPaul rode from Daytona back to his home in New Hampshire yesterday. I subscribed to the IBA Facebook page, so now I keep seeing people riding everywhere - rain, snow, & hail be damned. 😂.

Vulcanbill · « **Reply #14 on:** March 18, 2019, 05:23:07 PM »

If you ride, later you will be able to recount your adversity.

Vulcanbill · « **Reply #15 on:** March 18, 2019, 05:42:47 PM »

at leisure

coho · « **Reply #16 on:** March 18, 2019, 10:56:10 PM »

Quote from: Vulcanbill on March 18, 2019, 05:23:07 PM

If you ride, later you will be able to recount your adversity.

Quote from: Vulcanbill on March 18, 2019, 05:42:47 PM

at leisure

That sounds adventurous.

sleazy rider · « **Reply #17 on:** March 19, 2019, 06:51:25 AM »

Quote from: naustin on March 18, 2019, 04:49:50 PM

Quote from: chornbe on March 18, 2019, 12:43:23 PM
You're nuts. Any water + any freezing temps + anywhere on your route = just not worth it.

Any two of those factors are manageable. All three? Fuuuuugeddaboudit.

LongHaulPaul rode from Daytona back to his home in New Hampshire yesterday. I subscribed to the IBA Facebook page, so now I keep seeing people riding everywhere - rain, snow, & hail be damned. 😂.

Rain and hail? NBD. I've done the riding in snow thing being caught out by the weather a couple times, once a few hundred miles from home. It ain't fun.

chornbe · « **Reply #18 on:** March 19, 2019, 06:59:04 AM »

Yep. It's all fun and adventurous until you hit something in the road that shouldn't be there, and you're sliding across the road into a guard rail, the bike smashing into you and making you a human pretzel with a shit ton of kinetic energy. Mitigate what you can; ice as a known factor in the ride that takes you hundreds of miles away from home and support... Just not worth it (to me) any more. Plenty of time for plenty of great riding.

To each his own. Enjoy, whatever you decide.

Max Wedge · « **Reply #19 on:** March 19, 2019, 11:04:14 AM »

Quote from: naustin on March 16, 2019, 10:13:07 AM

Kind of a waste of rubber, but I’m desperate to get the bike out!

Riding is never a waste of rubber. Car tires are a waste of rubber. Just use this as a real test of your weather forecasting abilities. Make your best guess and go for it. I often ride below freezing here, depends on temps the night before, and amount of sun during the day, and what times you will be out. Example: I rode when it was 16° on a sunny Saturday afternoon when it had been dry (no new snow accumulation) for a couple of hours. Great fun. After dark? no way.

sodapop6620 · « **Reply #20 on:** July 06, 2019, 06:53:47 PM »

So, which suit did you go with? How is it working in this heat?

thatguy · « **Reply #21 on:** July 06, 2019, 07:17:56 PM »

I've worn my Darien in 100+F many times. Shorts and t-shirt base layer. Soak the t-shirt and open the vents and it's refreshing. I have gone as far as putting ice in the big chest pockets and it works too but is kinda messy.