Winter Riding Post Aimed at desert rats

Howardr · Post by **Howardr** » Wed Dec 07, 2011 3:27 am

Do you live in the desert? Have you suddenly been blasted with temps usually reserved for those in the frozen north?Are you wanting or needing to ride, but you're freezing?
I just posted a blog entry aimed at us desert rats who have to ride in the cold. It is especially aimed at those trying to buy gear on a budget.
http://skyislandriders.com/?p=1245

Howard

Syd · Post by **Syd** » Wed Dec 07, 2011 7:23 am

Freakin' eh! I just can't bring myself to commute on the scoot. I'm freezing my desert-acclimated a$$ off.

Skootz Kabootz · Post by **Skootz Kabootz** » Wed Dec 07, 2011 9:57 am

Technically LA is a desert—all the palmtree-like greenery is just Hollywood smoke and mirrors—and it is 38º right now! WTF? This is what I moved here to get away from! I have been wearing my winter jacket and riding pants on the daily commute. Soooo glad I bought them!!

Of course you know this just means that in about a week it will be 90º...

Keys · Post by **Keys** » Wed Dec 07, 2011 1:38 pm

Syd wrote:Freakin' eh! I just can't bring myself to commute on the scoot. I'm freezing my desert-acclimated a$$ off.

Aww, c'mon Syd...it was only 17 degrees up here this morning...

--Keys

Raiderfn311 · Post by **Raiderfn311** » Wed Dec 07, 2011 3:31 pm

You guys......C'mon!!!!!!!!!! Grow a pair!

Syd · Post by **Syd** » Wed Dec 07, 2011 5:58 pm

Raiderfn311 wrote:You guys......C'mon!!!!!!!!!! Grow a pair!

I had a pair, but there has been shrinkage.

Lokky · Post by **Lokky** » Wed Dec 07, 2011 7:25 pm

It's amusing as I was considering moving to Cali to get nice winter riding weather but I stuck with Virginia and today we have a high of 69 F

At first when you said 38º I thought you meant Celsius (you know, REAL degrees

), and 38 is a rather hot summer day so I was wondering why you were complaining

jijifer · Post by **jijifer** » Wed Dec 07, 2011 8:14 pm

so most places only see an overnight difference of about 10-15degs. What we've typically get in So Cal is an overnight of 20-30 degrees difference.

We always warm up to the mid-to high 60s but over nights dip into the mid-30s to low 40s.

So we're not having to ride in 30 degrees all day. Just to and from work, usually.

So it's all about layers. Stuff you can remove for your lunch time ride and stuff you can add back for the trek home.

It's still pretty much paradise

Raiderfn311 · Post by **Raiderfn311** » Thu Dec 08, 2011 1:46 am

Syd wrote:
Raiderfn311 wrote:You guys......C'mon!!!!!!!!!! Grow a pair!
I had a pair, but there has been shrinkage.

Great clip!

Drum Pro · Post by **Drum Pro** » Thu Dec 08, 2011 4:15 am

Well I live in the high desert so it can get rather chilly in the mornings and at night. I'm about 45 min. away from Big Bear so sometimes we get snow. Last year I got snowed in for 2 days! And that's not even talking about the high winds we get often...

Ethan Allison · Post by **Ethan Allison** » Thu Dec 08, 2011 8:34 am

Sigh. 38 degrees up here is something special this time of year. You guys just have no idea...

Syd · Post by **Syd** » Thu Dec 08, 2011 6:46 pm

Ethan Allison wrote:Sigh. 38 degrees up here is something special this time of year. You guys just have no idea...

Ha! Sure we do. Why do you think we live in the desert now?

LunaP · Post by **LunaP** » Fri Dec 09, 2011 2:12 am

jrsjr wrote:There I was being all smug about how warm it was here in Richmond today when... Hope all you RVA scootapeeps are under cover instead of under water.

EDIT: I was joking around, but we actually had some pretty harsh weather, with a recorded wind gust of 64 mph, trees and power lines down. Then the temp dropped 30 degrees. That's what I get for making jokes!

Oh wow tell me about it. We were 5 minutes from walking out the door to a dinner party when mini-Irene hit

But yeah, I'm totally interested in a blog about budget winter gear.

I've actually found all my gear except for my jacket. I'm having SERIOUS problems with my jacket because of my size and budget limitations.

2wheelNsanity · Post by **2wheelNsanity** » Fri Dec 09, 2011 3:25 am

It was so nice today, bright sunshine and 39 degrees I went on an a 90 minute ride, sure is gr8 to ride.

neotrotsky · Post by **neotrotsky** » Fri Dec 09, 2011 6:39 am

I have been (sadly) spared from the cold weather riding since finals combined with an overload of work hours and a new pet in the house have killed any free moment to continue getting the scooter dialed in. Runs fine, but it got towed by a neighbour who claimed it was "an eye sore"

I'm just doing the unthinkable and *shudder* taking it to a mechanic to rebuild the carb proper. I just don't have the space to work on it and my neighbours are now resorting to harsher tactics after we called the cops on their drug dealing buddies and got half of the lot evicted. They also tried to steal the scooter twice (caught the KIDS of the neighbours in question last time!). The bike is fine, but I haven't got to getting it past emissions since with the chaos around and with the weather being a more discouraging option at the moment.

In other news: Anyone know of good deals on house rentals in the Central/near East valley

? A scooter and it's family need a new home away from the crackheads

Drum Pro · Post by **Drum Pro** » Fri Dec 09, 2011 1:17 pm

@neotrotsky: Can't help with the housing but I do know that crack heads will try and steal everything not nailed down. I once had a girlfriend who thought it be cool to try that filth. She couldn't understand why, when I found out, I kicked her out of my house. She came back loads of times and even broke all the windows of my house when I refused to get back with her. Harassed me so much I finally had to move.

Raiderfn311 · Post by **Raiderfn311** » Sat Dec 10, 2011 12:05 am

Neotrotsky, if there is a way MOVE. Or walk around with one of your guns on your hip, since shooting is one of your things. Neighbors can be tricky. Where the F do you live anyway? South Central Arizona?

Edit-What kind of pet?

neotrotsky · Post by **neotrotsky** » Sat Dec 10, 2011 3:39 am

Raiderfn311 wrote:Neotrotsky, if there is a way MOVE. Or walk around with one of your guns on your hip, since shooting is one of your things. Neighbors can be tricky. Where the F do you live anyway? South Central Arizona?

Edit-What kind of pet?

I do NOT open carry. I may do IPA, but I actually dislike carrying everyday. I honestly don't feel a personal need to. Besides, it would create more tension than solve. Moving when we get the grant check is a far better option since we're not economically tied to Mesa, but more so Phoenix. Mesa is just one large Meth den with a large Mormon temple in the middle of it now...

As for the pet? One pretentious bunny rabbit

It was a gift, and one I'm trying to contend with

Syd · Post by **Syd** » Sat Dec 10, 2011 6:08 pm

neotrotsky wrote:
Raiderfn311 wrote:Neotrotsky, if there is a way MOVE. Or walk around with one of your guns on your hip, since shooting is one of your things. Neighbors can be tricky. Where the F do you live anyway? South Central Arizona?

Edit-What kind of pet?
I do NOT open carry. I may do IPA, but I actually dislike carrying everyday. I honestly don't feel a personal need to. Besides, it would create more tension than solve. Moving when we get the grant check is a far better option since we're not economically tied to Mesa, but more so Phoenix. Mesa is just one large Meth den with a large Mormon temple in the middle of it now...

As for the pet? One pretentious bunny rabbit It was a gift, and one I'm trying to contend with

To be accurate, the large Temple came first to Mesa. The meth-heads much later.

GrantSR · Post by **GrantSR** » Mon Dec 12, 2011 4:15 am

... only inadequate gear.

I have ridden in < 0 degree F weather. Short trips of less than 3 miles mind you, and only if the roads are clear. But I have also regularly ridden in weather below freezing down to about 20 degrees. Yes, a windscreen helps a lot. I rode the 40 miles (round trip) from Lawrence to Topeka Kansas and back twice around Christmas time in 2007 to make arrangements to move. There were some patches of ice on the road but I was able to avoid them. You do what you gotta do.

When I lived in Kansas City, I rode a 50cc Honda Moped in 6" of snow (yes, both up hill and down hill) about 10 miles to work at 5:30 in the morning. You just clamp the seat between your thighs, put your feed down as outriggers, and snow-mobile your way along. Fortunately there is not much traffic out at that time of day. I did the same thing on a 50cc Twist-N-Go in Lawrence. (My Buddy proved to be too heavy to do this with, and the clutch catches too aggressively so it always spins out.)

So, I don't want to hear any of you sissies complaining about 38 degree weather.

When I see all those fair weather motorcycle riders out riding in their tough-looking black leather jackets on their tough looking choppers all I can do is smile and chuckle to myself ... wussies!

BootScootin'FireFighter · Fri Dec 16, 2011 5:43 pm

It's not so bad! I love this weather. I do want a leather jacket, and chaps. I ride year round and want to go farther, in colder... with less required thawing breaks.

Southerner · Post by **Southerner** » Fri Dec 16, 2011 9:56 pm

neotrotsky wrote:
Raiderfn311 wrote:Neotrotsky, if there is a way MOVE. Or walk around with one of your guns on your hip, since shooting is one of your things. Neighbors can be tricky. Where the F do you live anyway? South Central Arizona?

Edit-What kind of pet?
I do NOT open carry. I may do IPA, but I actually dislike carrying everyday. I honestly don't feel a personal need to. Besides, it would create more tension than solve. Moving when we get the grant check is a far better option since we're not economically tied to Mesa, but more so Phoenix. Mesa is just one large Meth den with a large Mormon temple in the middle of it now...

As for the pet? One pretentious bunny rabbit It was a gift, and one I'm trying to contend with

Speaking as someone who sometimes carries himself, them thangs launch bullets, they do not repel them.

Speaking as someone who has had the misfortune to deal with various drugheads, MOVE ASAP. Easier said than done, I know, but a safer location is better than a houseful of ordinance.

Congratulations on the bunny. Never had a lagomorph.

Thankfully, the weather down here has been pretty tolerable so far. But January's coming.

Modern Buddy

Winter Riding Post Aimed at desert rats

Winter Riding Post Aimed at desert rats

There is no such thing as bad weather ...