Riding year-round in Maine

My neighbors think I'm nuts. The ride home from work today was 31 degrees but people who don't ride don't understand that the joy of the ride outweighs any minor discomfort. With the right gear it's not that bad. Today I wore my heavy-weight Sliders Kevlar-lined jeans under my flannel-lined LL Bean khakis, thermal undershirt, shirt/tie (occupational hazard), sweater and my lined river road leather jacket (my Cortech 3/4 touring jacket is warmer but a little too ostentatious for the office) .

Rode 43 miles and the only chill at all was the air coming in under my helmet; I keep a balacvala in my top case for that if it gets too cold. The only other bike that I saw on the road today was a guy gassing up his older Ninja; wearing just a thin jacket, no gloves and no lid leads me to believe that he was heading right back home. Probably topping it off for its annual winter hiatus.

I stopped at the grocery store on the way home and as I got off the bike a woman pushing her cart stopped and asked if I was cold; she said they had put up their Boulevard for the winter already. I told her that was too bad; that there was still some good riding to be had, as long as you invest in the right equipment. Just then, the shopping cart rounder-upper guy sauntered over and asked what the bike was ('04). Said he used to ride but is too broke right now and had to sell his last bike. Staring at the bike he looked pretty wistful; probably remembering some good rides and good friends. Complimented my bike and walked away, riding herd on a shopping cart train.


There is a local Beemer GS rider who is out year-round; on more than one occasion I've seen him blasting through slushy roads of Portland, Maine right after a snow storm; his hi-vis yellow Olympia jacket is so bright it probably melts a path through the slush for him. My co-workers who have seen him think he is also crazy.

If you don't ride, you don't understand the compulsion to ride that overtakes most of us after a few days away...or the compulsion to walk up to complete strangers and share for a few moments the common bond of riding. They don't know what they are missing...

 

I understand, I did not own a car until I was 24 years old, but am a huge puss now. Enjoy your little nugget pecker and be safe!:biggrin:

 

Yep, I hear ya, down here in SE Mass. there aren't too many out during the week. I commuted one day last week on the highway/back roads, and wished I had put on my balaclava, as you said, that was the only part of me that was really cold- my neck!
I don't ride year 'round but you are right there is some good riding still to be had... this Fridays 'supposed to be 60 by midday!:thumbsup:

ace57

 

So, were you wearing your Burger King skivvies too?

Burger King Skivvies: Home of the whopper.

Are all those clothing tags on the outside so everyone can be in awe of your credit rating?

Minnie Pearl lives!

 

WOW that was harsh...... maybe he was just telling everone what he wears to keep warm.......:crazy:

 

Nice glad to see I am not the only one with flannel-lined LL Bean khakis they work great for cold weather riding.

 

Precisely...

 

I work in an office and I go out to see clients during the day; the insulated LLs are great in that I still look moderately professional yet I'm still warm on the bike. Plus, with the LL Bean Visa it's no charge shipping...

 

We don't need no steenkin heat! I rode to work today and man, when the sun goes down...it was 44 degrees in Portland when I left work at 5PM, I went 16 miles south to my hometown and it was only 31 when I pulled into Starbucks for a Joe.

 

I tip my hat. I know it's just as chilly there, too. Our department head (who got whacked last month in a round of layoffs) grew up right across from Lambeau (she's from one of those families that rent their driveway and front yard out during games) and she said it's just as miserable there as here. She just left Maine on Tuesday for her new job in...drum roll, please...the balmy state of Minnesota. Clearly, a slow learner...

 

People like to talk

When I ride in the cold, EVERYBODY wants to stop and chat-"Aren't you cold?!" The snow mobile analogy works real well.
At the risk of BadBilly's wrath, I'll add one more gear review. Aerostitch Kenetsu electric vest. It plugs into my SAE battery tender plug, and it is indispensible at this point. I was crossing NM, Texas, Ok. one trip, and if I don't have that vest, then I'm parked and can't go any further. Bundling up more didn't help, and hypothermia was setting in. Also, it saves you from getting a seat warmer or grip warmer. If you warm up your core/torso, then those spots don't get cold. It works for me.
Neck is critical.
I have the benefit of shedding my riding gear, and changing at work. In fact, gotta whole closet at work- extra shoes, belts, shirts, pants....
People think it is weird, but I think every one else in the world is weird.

 

I agree. Maybe next time we will learn all about footwear too, unless those guys from Maine go barefoot in November.

Great shot of Minnie Pearl here. The price tag hanging off her hat was her "trademark."

In future I will attempt, in your behalf, to keep it simple, and will explain anything you don't quite understand. This of course excludes any nocturnal fantasys you may be having. I am not cute.




http://cdn.cloudfiles.mosso.com/c33242/6fa98311-9ebf-423e-a852-d2b5670cfa32.jpg

 

If Krusty asks about your skivvies. Don't answer.

 

you being not cute is about the only sensible thing you've said.

 

We've still got good weather in my area. It was 8 to 10 degrees celcius today (47 to 50 farenheit), no problems for a ride. I'll keep riding until the snow flurries come.

 

You know, the type of bike has a lot to do with it too. I have a friend who rides a '99 Dyna Low Rider and I tried to talk him into making a run with me up to Montreal this past September (about 5 hours from southern Maine); in our younger days he and I used to go up there a lot and hit it hard on St. Catherine's Street. He said no way; without a shield or fairing he thought he would freeze, and that was in September. Needless to say, his bike's away for the season...

 

.................Poose.

 

I'm glad we are communicating and have discovered common ground by keeping things simple and uncomplicated.

I do have to ask again. Were you really a LEO and if so where?

As for me, I am not: A doctor or a lawyer or a LEO or FBI, CIA, an ex SEAL or Special Forces, I didn't fight in WWII and I never won the CMO. Never shot anyone and sure never whupped any big ass on a racetrack.

Would you like me better if I told you I was cute?