Modern Vespa

No, not from injuries that may have been suffered in a horrible, age-related, ballroom dancing lesson accident, but winter finally struck around here yesterday, not a blizzard or anything, but enough to justify putting some gas in the F-150 instead of any of the bikes.

I'm still hoping for a brown Christmas this year, and may still get one if this frozen white shit isn't immediately replaced with more frozen white shit once it melts off...at least for a while.

Where I live, winter hits, then leaves for a little while, then hits again, on and off until spring...then it hits again.

I can usually ride some in the deep winter months when the roads dry off and the temps swing into the fifties and even sixties (F) on occasion..then it sometimes dumps into the sub-zero range for revenge.

Last winter, as a temporary five day assignment, my 'day job' had me driving miners back and forth, sixty miles each way, twice per day in the bus with their shift schedules, to a large mine in Eastern Wyoming (Newcastle area), the temperatures ranging from 25 below zero to about 30 below zero.

I'm not seriously complaining though, we've been having a very nice, and very long autumn this year that has allowed an extended riding season, but it's obviously on hold now for a while.

The affliction often referred to as 'cabin fever' usually starts to infect our brain pans in the December month, mine more than Trixie's, and it's effects won't subside until around March. This is our danger period when we (I) buy motorbikes, not late spring or early summer, but with the mind-numbing winter doldrums.

Just yesterday I arranged a possible sale of my '81 Honda CB900C, with the intention of clearing out a rather small financial obligation concerning that bike in order to make a little more 'room' for a probable new bike purchase down the line a few months.

Anyway, winter just arrived in earnest here, and I'm already posting another rambling, stream-of-consciousness thread about not much of anything. For that I apologize...it's the cabin fever.

Bring it on, I enjoy your posts - from one rambler to another. I used to do most of my buying in the winter months. The last few years, prices did not drop much, but I think this year will be much better. Unfortunately for me, any purchases will have to wait until I heal up good, hopefully by next summer.

Very similar Winters here too.
We can get a nice stretch of sunny days that will dry up the roads enough to tempt one to go for a brisk ride. The problem is all the salt the City lays down. There's no chance I'm taking any of my 2-wheelers out in the salt/dust storm......

I've learned to embrace winter. I love to ski so I just switch my focus. It's also a great opportunity to deep dive on the more complex maintenance items on my PTW.

I've resigned myself to my winter riding sabbatical. I've found that I don't enjoy riding anymore when the temp falls below 45 degrees.

But I keep my scoot ready to go if there is an odd non-rainy, 50 degree day in the next several months.

This time of year always puts me in the doldrums.

Routinely, we garage the scoots for the season and bring them out in April. Just part of living here in Frostbite Falls. I have rode with temperatures in the 50s, but don't enjoy it. Usually, in the 50 degree range, I go out because I am desperate to ride. I layer up in cloths, and stop allot for hot coffee.

See you next season.

Bob Copeland
Minnesota

Winter did not yet arrive here in Belgium.
The previous week was close, with day temperatures around 0°C (30°F).
But today it is back to a normal 10°C (50°F).

It may happen we have winter here already in December, but that is rare.
Mostly if winter hits us it is in January - February.
It has to do with the see temperature that is now still relatively high, but slowly cooling down, getting to its minimum in January - February.

On the other hand we had a lot of rain lately, not a lot in volume, but a lot in almost every day. I do not like riding in the rain.

Riding in the rain and/or in colder temperatures is better if you are headed to an inviting destination.

I'm pretty sure I'd not be so eager to get up before dawn and head out into a chilly downpour...if I wasn't bound for the warm confines and friendly faces of the two coffee shops that I visit.

Makes all the difference.
I drove there once in the rain. People, warmth and coffee smells were the same...but it just didn't do it for me.

works for me....plus it's good for old retired guys to get out of bed and go somewhere. Start your day early....go socialize with others. Even if it's just the lady behind the cash register . Sit in the window and be glad you're not dead. Yet.

Merry Christmas from Madrid, Spain - keep on riding![/img]

sorry for the triple copy but you get the picture! Hope you are all safe and well

Merry Christmas from the UK, unseasonably warm here today 11 deg C , no wind or rain. Just the weather for kids to try out their new bikes and scooters, as long as they didn't ask Santa for a sledge.

The previous snow has melted away, and we're having a brown Christmas this year. The temps on Christmas eve were in the low fifties (F), so I was able to ride the 35 miles to Deadwood for a Christmas eve coffee and toasted bagel.