A few weeks ago plans were hatched for a New Years Day ride. The forecast was for sunny, but chilly weather.
I waffled back and forth between riding Max or riding pillion behind
Troubadour. There were pros and cons to both options.
While I wanted to ride my own ride, I worried about not having any kind of windscreen on Max. On the other hand, on Max I have heated grips and could use my heated jacket liner too.
I haven't ridden pillion in a few years so I felt it would be an adventure in and of itself. And, if my hands got too cold, I wouldn't have to worry about trying to operate the controls with numb hands.
A final check of the weather forecast Thursday night led me to err on the side of caution and I decided to ride pillion.
We woke Friday morning to 28˚F (-2˚C). With
wind chill calculated at 8˚F (-13˚C) I started layering; knee high stockings, long underwear, knee high moto-cross socks, yoga pants, and a turtle neck with a short sleeved performance shirt over top. In my Rev'it riding pants I zipped in the quilted liner, but left out the rain liner. My Rev'it jacket had both the rain liner (for wind protection) and quilted liners installed.
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| (The view out our front window - frost on the Fiat and kids playing on the ice on the road) |
We arrived at
Coffee Culture around 10 am. I think we were actually one of the last to arrive. Melissa arrived in her car due to her Triumph Daytona liking cold weather even less than Troubadour's Triumph. There were 7 of us total; 5 bikes, 6 riders, and Mel in her car.
We sat, drank coffee and/or tea, and discussed potential routes. At 11:00(ish) David started rousting us to get moving. As we geared up I snapped a few pics.
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| (Mel, Bob, Jay, and David) |
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| (Bob's MultiStrada, PolarBear's Tiger, Troubadour's Tiger) |
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| (Lucy - Troubadour's Tiger) |
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| (Photo by Melissa - folks getting ready) |
Right after this picture was taken is when Troubadour attempted to start his beloved Lucy. No bueno. The battery issues of last summer had followed her into the cold winter days of January. Luckily, Jay keeps a set of jumper cables in his BMW and he was able to give her a boost. Thanks Jay! Soon after we were off.
We decided to forgo the original 88 mile route of Troubadour's and instead ride to Falls City to see if the
Bread Board Artisan Bakery was open. It wasn't. On to Monmouth to the
Yeasty Beasty. A quaint little pizzeria and micro brew place. According to their website they are the home of "Pizza, Beer, and Fun".
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| (Our route from Corvallis to Falls City) |
On arrival we noticed there was a large group of 15 or so motorcycles, mostly large cruisers, parked across the street. Other brave souls out for a ride in the cold. They too were partaking at the Yeasty Beasty. Their riders took up a good portion of the restaurant but there was still a corner booth for the 7 of us.
We all ordered hot coffee or tea and perused the menu. I decided on the mini veggie pizza with no cheese and Troubadour had the Mediterranean mini pizza with no cheese. Sorry no food porn. My camera was in my riding jacket at an adjacent table and inaccessible. Well, I could have tried to retrieve the camera but it would have meant me squeezing out of the back of the booth while repeating, "excuse me, pardon me, excuse me", all to do it over again as I performed some type of yoga move trying to get back to my spot.
The service was good and the pizza tasty. We'll definitely go back again.
Sufficiently sophonsified we started suiting up and headed outside to point the bikes towards home. The cruiser riders had left just prior to our departure. I snapped a quick picture.
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| (Other riders out braving the cold) |
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| (Ducatis, Triumphs, and BMWs, oh my) |
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| (The line-up in front of the Yeast Beasty in Monmouth, Oregon) |
The ride home was uneventful, and that is a good thing. The temperatures were a little warmer too, which was nice. We headed east towards Independence then south on the Independence/ Corvallis Highway. Melissa played tail gunner/sweep in her car for us and took a few pictures with her cell phone.
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| (random photo by Mel taken along the Independence Highway) |
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| (Some nice 15mph corners - Jay on the left, Troubadour and I on the right - photo by Mel) |
Folks peeled off in different directions along the way depending on where they called home. We arrived home just after 2 pm. First thing I did was to put my feet in hot water in the bathtub. They were so cold even though my hands weren't too bad.
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| (Our route from Falls City, to Monmouth, then back to Corvallis) |
To read Troubadour's take on the trip click this ---->
LINK.
While I don't make New Years resolutions, I do hope to get out and do more riding in 2016. I wish everyone a happy healthy 2016.
- Au Revoir
"A happy New Year! Grant that I may bring no tear to any eye. When this New Year in time shall end, let it be said I've played the friend, have lived and loved and labored here, and made of it a happy year." - Edgar Guest
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Nice! I enjoy a ride on a nice winter's day - although it doesn't normally get as cold here as where you are.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to all those ride posts this year...
You are lucky that it doesn't get quite as cold in NZ, of course you may get more rain overall.
DeleteHappy New Year!!!!!!!! Looks like a womderful day in the sunshine, albeit cold! I think you need heated socks! I am jonesing for a ride, but am going to make my ICBC insurance bucks count and wait until its a little warmer I think. Otherwise the bike sits in the garage wasting the money paud to Icbc! Thinks is going to be around $1000 bucks this year as rates went up again across the board. So It will be a $2000 instance bilk for me between the car and bike.
ReplyDeleteAnyway still trying to figure out the Vancouver motorcycle show thing!
Happy New Year to you too.
DeleteI have been debating battery powered heated insoles for my boots. When I think of spending the money I try to convince myself I don't ride in the cold, then Brad reminds me that my feet are always cold.
Your ICBC rates scare me. We've been out of BC for 15 years now and I sure don't miss that. Even paying for our own healthcare we don't spend as much. We pay $255 a month and that includes full coverage on 4 bikes, 2 cars, and both life insurance policies. Health insurance is separate of course.
Hope to see you at the show. I know what a pain BC Ferries can be though.
What a promising start into the new year. I hope that you'll get your wish granted and be able to spend more time on two wheels this year. I tend to fight off cold feet by wearing Sealskinz socks (they are good for cycling and kayaking, too). However, my hands seem to need the comfort of heated grips. My bike goes in the shop (for regular service), and I am contemplating about having them installed. Looking forward to this year's posts from the wild wet coast.
ReplyDeleteLet's hope we can keep the riding momentum going. We had freezing rain all day Sunday so Mondays commute was a little slick. No one out on two wheels. Thanks for the tip on the socks.
DeleteGet the heated grips. We have them on all the bikes now, even the little dual sports.
Hah! Check that out...flat roads somewhere other than Flatistan.
ReplyDeleteWe have a few stretches of flat and straight on the valley floor. Highway 99W is the worst for it north and south.
DeleteIt's nice to get out isn't it. Have you considered a snap on windshield for yourself?
ReplyDeleteIt was nice even though it was cold.
DeleteI have thought of a little flyscreen but nothing larger. I hear of too many people having issues with windscreens creating buffeting on the helmet. I usually just deal with the cold.
Chris L (Mr. Everyday Riding) made it from Minneapolis to Alaska to Sand Diego and Home on an SV650 with no windscreen. I can at least do a little bit of winter riding without one. Or at least I'd like to think I can.
Always interesting to see the other side of a "joint" ride report....everyone's perspective is different.
ReplyDeleteSufficiently sophonsified, never heard that phrase, something new to add....thanks
We do have a different perspective when riding, especially when I am riding pillion and not my own ride.
DeleteHe did touch down his boot on one of those 15 mph corners. That was interesting and surprised us both. Note to self - suspension compressed more with me on the back.
Sufficiently sophonsified was a term I've only ever heard in Canada. Haven't heard it since, but I still say it. I usually say I am sufficiently sophonsified and anything else would be superfluous.
Nice to see that little bit of Monmouth. I drove up there fairly often. Looks cold, sounds cold. I remember my feet actually turning blue a few times in winter. I avoid that now at all costs!
ReplyDeleteMonmouth has some cool old building and has grown a lot over the years. Not so much because of WOU (Western Oregon University) but more because of the retirement homes and complexes.
DeleteMy feet didn't turn blue, but they go white and hurt, not a good thing.
It's nice to see pictures from the Saturday coffee group. I really enjoyed visiting with them last summer.
ReplyDeleteI hear that the heated insoles are the way to go, but that's just what I hear. More convenient as they can be left in place all the time and just used when needed. I have been thinking about them as well. The new boots aren't as warm as the old ones.
It isn't often we take pictures of the group on Saturday so I am glad I could share.
DeleteHappy New Year to you and Brad!
ReplyDeleteGreat to see you both getting out in the cooler weather. The only downside to riding an unfaired bike in winter is the time taken to layer up! I swear by Icebreaker merino layers. Good in the cold and warmer weather too as you don't end up all smelly at the end of a hot days' ride like when wearing polypropylene or cotton :-). Safe riding!
Thanks Geoff. Our best to you and Jennie as well.
DeleteYes, layer up is a pain in the arse. I use 32˚Heat for a base layer and it seems to work fairly well, just my darn feet and hands, but that is due to low blood pressure and poor circulation.
'Sophonsified'... that's a first for me. I must live too far east. I think it must be a west-of-Manitoba thing.
ReplyDeleteNice ride. Cold sucks, and it's insidious. Even with heated grips, and even if I don't actually feel cold while I'm riding, within 15 minutes of getting home, my hands become chilled, and they never were on the bike. Go figure. That's what hot baths are for.
If Karen hadn't of piped up and said she'd heard it before I'd be inclined to agree on the West of Manitoba part.
DeleteFunny how our core can get colder when we get out of the cold. Maybe it is time for a hot tub.
Sufficiently sophonsified - OMG, haven't heard anyone say that in a while. My hubby used to say it all the time (as well as all of the old timers gang his parents hung out with.) You have just put another smile on my face.
ReplyDeleteGlad you had a good time, tasty food and didn't get 'blue' cold!
Hooray, someone else has heard the phrase. Glad I could make you smile.
DeleteWhat a great way to start off the New Year! I'm envious. Sorry about the cold toes though. That's the price we have to pay to enjoy the outdoors though eh?
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to reading more about your trips and seeing pictures of your state! Take care.
Hello! Are you buried under snow yet? Must be hard to not be able to ride year round. Of course we have a lot of people that don't here because of the cold and rain.
DeleteHappy new year to you both, I believe 2016 is going to be a good one. Heck going out riding in -2 celsius! I wouldn't do that, well we don't get that cold here anyway but still...In winter we do get snow on the mountains a couple of hundred kilometres in land from our little coastal town so we could experience it if we really wanted to I suppose.
ReplyDeleteThanks Andrew. Happy New Year to you and your wife as well.
DeleteRiding at freezing is about my limit. I'd much rather stay at least 8-10˚C.
Wooh thats chilly, not for me my friend. Still looks like you had fun and your getting in more riding than me.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it was a little too chilly. Better on the way back though.
DeleteHappy New Year to both of you. That's a little too cold since I don't have heated gear. I did go out last weekend for a Polar Bear run and it was 36 when I left the house but later got up to 48. It's not worth/fun riding when it's this cold.
ReplyDeleteI'm stealing the cartoon, need it to post on my facebook page :-)
48 isn't bad, but the 36 is chilly. Glad you too go out for a polar bear ride.
DeleteA cold ride for sure! I do miss those nice little outings in search of good coffee and pastry. And I never minded riding pillion and leaving my own bike at home. Sort of snuggly too, when riding on a cold day.
ReplyDeleteRiding pillion can be snuggly, not that you can feel much through all those layers. It was nice to sit back and relax and not have to focus as much.
DeleteI'm glad you got out, but it even LOOKS cold! I'll have to remember "sufficiently sophonsified." Love the cartoon at the end. :-)
ReplyDeleteCold but at least it was sunny. Unlike the 49˚F and pouring rain we've had for the last week and forecast for the next week.
Delete"Sufficiently sophonsified" I haven't heard that phrase for a looooong time. My Uncle (at least 40 years since he passed) used to say that and I would laugh every time! Thanks for the memory.
ReplyDeleteSorry about the cold feet...I have Gerbing heated soles that I use occasionally, they are wonderful!
I am glad other people have heard the phrase so I know I'm not just crazy in remembering it.
DeleteI like the heated insole idea, Cabela's sells some here that are battery operated. I'm still debating on them.