[ducatiman]

till spring riding, for us Northerners at least. I dunno, following this offers a timeline and I think stirs some excitement.....and personally, it kind of breaks the winter into sections...for me at least. Obviously, I'm itching with anticipation to ride! We'll (I'll) check these off as they pass. Whythehecknot. Comments and thoughts are always welcome. C'mon spring, dammit!

-Dec 21 Winter solstice....check
-Dec 25 Christmas....check
-Jan 1 New years ....check
-January 21 Martin Luther King birthday....check
-Jan 26-27 Rolex 24 at Daytona (opens the US racing season) ....check
-February 2 Ground Hog Day....check
-February 12 Lincoln birthday....check
-February 17 Daytona 500......check
-February 18 Washington birthday/Presidents Day.....check
-March 16 Daytona 200....check

Warmth just about to pop up here! Finally!

 

[bpe]

Don't forget Feb 2, ground hog day. We may get lucky and see an early spring.

 

[ducatiman]

Oh, the humanity! How could I forget such a monumental occasion?

I'll add it in immediately 8)

 

[bpe]

Don't forget Feb 2, ground hog day. We may get lucky and see an early spring.

 

[Davenay67]

^ I see what you did there....

 

[ducatiman]

I consider the matter dropped

 

[K-woppa]

Don't forget Feb 2, ground hog day. We may get lucky and see an early spring.

"OK campers, rise and shine!"

I break my winter into three phases, January, February, and March. :grin2:

Seriously, I do. Fortunately, the worst of the three comes first. I go into mild panic after New Year's Day, because it's the beginning of being plunged into a bitter cold, icy, windy, gray, fight for survival, especially if you work outdoors. There's also little in the way of good holidays or celebrations. It's as if life in general retreats into a cave. Wow, saying that out loud was cathartic.

Once February rolls around, there's more sunlight, more breaks from the routine, and there's at least the hope of spring on the distant horizon.

March begins with my birthday, and suddenly April's not so far away, when I get to look forward to moving from 30 degrees and snowing to 35 degrees and raining. Welcome to New England.

Through all of this, I'm thankful for my marginally heated garage. I do enjoy the annual ritual of watching ducatiman check off the winter milestones, on the countdown to spring. I'm thinking this coming riding season will begin with a motorcycle trip to Long Island.

 

[ducatiman]

"OK campers, rise and shine!"

I break my winter into three phases, January, February, and March. :grin2:

Seriously, I do. Fortunately, the worst of the three comes first. I go into mild panic after New Year's Day, because it's the beginning of being plunged into a bitter cold, icy, windy, gray, fight for survival, especially if you work outdoors. There's also little in the way of good holidays or celebrations. It's as if life in general retreats into a cave. Wow, saying that out loud was cathartic.

Once February rolls around, there's more sunlight, more breaks from the routine, and there's at least the hope of spring on the distant horizon.

March begins with my birthday, and suddenly April's not so far away, when I get to look forward to moving from 30 degrees and snowing to 35 degrees and raining. Welcome to New England.

Through all of this, I'm thankful for my marginally heated garage. I do enjoy the annual ritual of watching ducatiman check off the winter milestones, on the countdown to spring. I'm thinking this coming riding season will begin with a motorcycle trip to Long Island.

Riding around through NYC or taking the New London-Orient Point ferry? The ferry trip is nice, cuts out a ton of traffic and you're fresh when you land. Though I'm not sure the cost these days...bikes DO receive priority and get "waved on" (ahead of cars lined up) as they have certain bike only, safe specific areas.

Reminders of whats to come ...the unpredictable snow right into April, merciless cold and wind....brrrr.

So far, minimal snow this season. Never mind, I'm in denial of the inevitable onslaught.

 

[ruxpin76]

the outdoor racing season starts in earnest in March around here... With indoor karting on coke syrup available in Dec., but a few scattered outdoor karting events in the Jan/Feb. mix. Diversifying into the 2 and 4 wheel variants keeps things exciting and the bank account empty.

 

[ducatiman]

Daytona 500 today broadcast nationwide on Fox TV

Hey, watching NASCAR racing is better than watching NO racing here in the still cold, unrideable (at least for me) Northeast.

But we're getting closer, approaching spring turnaround!

 

[[email protected]]

Seems to me the vernal equinox is a natural for your checklist as well. Even if the weather still sucks at least you can tell yourself its officially spring. This year its Wednesday March 20, 2:58 p.m. PST. I'll let you do the math to convert it to Eastern time. Being on the West coast, I haven't slurped enough coffee yet.

 

[K-woppa]

OK, two of the three are down; January and February. This is just about the point where I start anticipating warmer weather. This year, a short mid-March trip to San Antonio will be the gateway to spring.

 

[john z]

For those in my neck of the woods,even though it was 55 yesterday, remember that water in the shade will be ice regardless of the ambient temp.
Extra care in the canyons.

 

[ducatiman]

55? I'm jealous. We'll be playing "dodge the pothole" here once season hits.

#c'monspringdammit

 

[[email protected]]

Just for the heck of it I checked last year's expired registration papers still sitting under the seat of my bike. Last spring I plated it on April 4th. That was the date that I decided it was warm enough and the roads were clear enough to start riding again. So only about a month to go....yahooooo...

Pothole season around here never goes away, which makes you appreciate a bike with a suspension that really works.

 

[Apriliarider]

Pothole season around here never goes away, which makes you appreciate a bike with a suspension that really works.

Same here. I'm not sure which is worse though. Pot holes or the vain attempts to repair them.



At least, once you know a pot hole is there, it can be avoided. Once the city or county fill it, it doesn't stay filled. One day it's good. You start thinking, "that made a world of difference".



A week later you hit the same spot, and get jarred right out of your seat. All the fill has settled and it is just as bad as it was. Or worse. Now there's a hole and gravel scattered all over the road too. :| Not cool. .... sean

 

[ducatiman]

Pothole season around here never goes away, which makes you appreciate a bike with a suspension that really works.

Looking way ahead in my path, I appreciate a bike with stable precise steering, using anything/everything in my power to AVOIDING the damn things in the first place. Changing line wherever needed.

You get to a point where you 'learn" the ever changing, year by year pothole landscape, both active and repaired, around your area. I know I have.

Must be awake and AWARE!

 

[bpe]

^ Which is why I try to avoid riding unfamiliar roads after dark.

 

[john z]

^^ In the rain even on familiar roads, potholes suck. "I know that there is one here somewhere. Do I fall in a crater or switch to the slip 'n slide center line?"

The struggles are real.

 

[[email protected]]

Yeah, you've got to know the "pothole line" as well as the "rain line". And don't get me started on frost heaves!