Nice Day Out

[Willow]

Yesterday the temp predictions were unseasonably comforting.  I had some places to go.  I dragged out the Valkyrie.  It didn't want to start and required that I engage the enricher which is not so unusual as it had sit idle for over two months.  That's unusual.  Once I started the bake and proceeded to the first intersection the right turn signal didn't activate.  I wondered if my turn signals were flawed (they are all led) but apparently after the electricity flowed for a bit they felt better about cooperating.

It was a good ride.  She tends to move more quickly than traffic and I have to discipline our urges to remain reasonable, but not entirely legal.

I did discover that I should have put on my gloves.  I reminded myself that even though the temps were in the fifties it isn't still Summer.  The ride home from the first required visit was even more pleasant as we were into the sixties.

I rode again this morning and was disappointed to discover that it was somewhat cooler than I expected.  It was still a good day for a ride.

[John Schmidt]

Better than a day at work...whatever it may be.

[John97]

I’m pretty sure I haven’t gone for a ride on Feb 10 before on a bike. I have on a snowmobile though. But that changed today, the temps in central Illinois were decent enough to rack up about 50 miles on my Magna. The Valk is waiting for me to take my rear wheel in for the tire that’s sitting in the garage. But you’re right…it was a nice day out. Even at work digging graves

[f6john]

I was out most of the day but not on the bike. My mechanic work on my car is blocking the garage door and I’m still as much as a week away from receiving parts I need to reassemble everything. I knew this could happen going in but I started on this project on December 27th and never considered parts would still be an issue in February.

Anyway it was still a winter wonderland around here in the morning when I left, I needed 4 wheel drive to get out to the street. By the end of the day almost every trace of ice and snow was gone except in the shadows. Even still, I could have gotten in a ride, if I could have squeezed the bike past the car. Afternoon temps reached 65 degrees and I did at least have the window rolled down for a while.

[GiG]

ATGATT
“All the Gear” includes Gloves! 

[F6Dave]

I took the F6B out Monday. The temperature readout was showing 70 degrees. Pretty good for February 9th in Colorado.

[f6john]

I took the F6B out Monday. The temperature readout was showing 70 degrees. Pretty good for February 9th in Colorado.

How does that shield do deflecting the air? The stock height of my shield on the Wing is so tall I can’t see over it but I haven’t made a move to look for something shorter.

[F6Dave]

How does that shield do deflecting the air? The stock height of my shield on the Wing is so tall I can’t see over it but I haven’t made a move to look for something shorter.

It's the Klock Werks shield for the F6B. It may not fit the full size Wing with its adjustable shield, but they surely make others that fit.

It has a 'recurve' at the top which is very effective in deflecting wind over you. I hear some wind noise at the top of my helmet now and then, but that's it. I look over the shield, which I like. IMO it's the best looking shield available for the F6B.

[f6john]

I like it. I know SmokinJoe has a lower shield on his Wing but I don’t think it has the recurve. Thanks for the info! I don’t know if I will make use of it though. I haven’t been happy with the stock shield since I got the bike but being tighter than bark on a tree does help me to put things off.

[Jersey mike]

I took the F6B out Monday. The temperature readout was showing 70 degrees. Pretty good for February 9th in Colorado.

What gps unit are you using?

[F6Dave]

I took the F6B out Monday. The temperature readout was showing 70 degrees. Pretty good for February 9th in Colorado.

What gps unit are you using?

That's Waze running on an Android Auto/Carplay unit I bought from Amazon. I paid about $80 but they're now selling for $50. You can run other map apps like Google, and music and weather apps too. There's more info on my old post here:

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,131463.0.html

[HayHauler]

Yes, I bought one as well.  I have it on my scooter.  I am thinking about a little larger one for the Valkyrie, so I don't have to mount my phone out in the elements and can put it in a charger hidden from weather and prying eyes.

Hay 
Jimmyt

[NewValker]

It hit 39* today, warmest in a month. I found out my solar battery tender died sometime in the last month, so I bought a real one. Let the battery charge and fired her up.  Sure sounds good, but with the mountains of snow that ain’t melting a bit, it’ll be a long time till she rolls out. Sad…
Like reading about you guys that can ride though, thanks

Craig

[Jess from VA]

We hit 50 Craig, also the warmest in a month.  It felt like a heat wave.  

No way I'm riding with roads clear, but covered in salt and dust, and ice melt everywhere.  A ride in that corrosive crap means hours of work washing and cleaning the bike.  Nope!  My hose bibs all remain off.

It was warm enough to give myself a hair cut (always outdoors) (haven't been to a barber in 30 years), not quite USMC high and tight, but close.  

All I have been doing every day for almost a week (3-5 hours) is going out dressed warm and chipping and shoveling ice and snow and clearing my walks and big driveway.  I'm in good shape, but I have a shoulder that doesn't like it, and my feet aren't happy either (peripheral neuropathy gets painful with wet/sweat and cold, no matter how good the socks and boots).  I'm about 3/4 done.  The huge piles may not thaw until June.  

I got some company today because I got a new windshield in my big Promaster van.  He worked on the van in the clean half of my driveway, while I shoveled ice out of the other half for a good part of the afternoon.  Nice fellow.

I'm whipped.  Again.  Did I mention I hate winter?!!  

[hubcapsc]

I rode the red bike today, ran it to reserve and filled it with fresh gas... 

-Mike

[Jersey mike]

We hit 50 Craig, also the warmest in a month.  It felt like a heat wave.  

No way I'm riding with roads clear, but covered in salt and dust, and ice melt everywhere.  A ride in that corrosive crap means hours of work washing and cleaning the bike.  Nope!  My hose bibs all remain off.

It was warm enough to give myself a hair cut (always outdoors) (haven't been to a barber in 30 years), not quite USMC high and tight, but close.  

All I have been doing every day for almost a week (3-5 hours) is going out dressed warm and chipping and shoveling ice and snow and clearing my walks and big driveway.  I'm in good shape, but I have a shoulder that doesn't like it, and my feet aren't happy either (peripheral neuropathy gets painful with wet/sweat and cold, no matter how good the socks and boots).  I'm about 3/4 done.  The huge piles may not thaw until June.  

I got some company today because I got a new windshield in my big Promaster van.  He worked on the van in the clean half of my driveway, while I shoveled ice out of the other half for a good part of the afternoon.  Nice fellow.

I'm whipped.  Again.  Did I mention I hate winter?!!  

Next week we will be in a warmup for about four days with Tuesday in the low 50’s I think and night temps above freezing so,we will get a good melt off but enough salt laid out that we will need a few days of rain to wash it all away.

[Rams]

Once the snow and ice disappeared due to the warming temps, I started getting the Valkyries out just to make sure everything was good and it was. Have ridden every day when the temps allowed it alternating the bikes, today it’s the two wheelers turn, the “Rat” bike hasn’t been out for a while.

Rams.

[Jess from VA]

It's a cold 30s and really windy, so I took a day off from moving ice to rest the old bones and feet.

Ran to the Costco and Walmart to stock up on basics early, and watching Derek Bieri on Roadworthy Rescues (the best show on TV).

 

[Willow]

ATGATT
“All the Gear” includes Gloves! 

It's good advice.  I must confess that I maybe know I should be but I am not an ATGATT rider.  Interestingly, when I exited the machine a dozen years ago at hiway speed the pavement tore the gloves off my hands.  The medical persons worked hard to repair or regrow skin on the backs of my hands.

It was another nice day today.  I've not gone on any long rides, but the Valkyrie is getting out of the garage rather regularly for February.   

[hubcapsc]

Black bike out today. Now it is filled up with fresh gas too. Wasn't it
just a week or so ago that it was 12 degrees and icy?



-Mike

[Jess from VA]

Where I live, except for plowed roads and parking lots and shoveled walks and driveways, it's still a winter wonderland everywhere.  Like in that picture.

[Jersey mike]

Where I live, except for plowed roads and parking lots and shoveled walks and driveways, it's still a winter wonderland everywhere.  Like in that picture.

Basically the same here. We’ve had above freezing temps w/sun and clouds surging the days but dropping to below 32 at night. Today a high of 37 and all sun, no clouds.

There’s still quite a bit to melt off. My deck is almost completely ice free and it’s getting obvious on some lawns and other places that have good sun exposure throughout the day theere is some melting and evaporation going on. Hoping on some rain soon.

[Jess from VA]

Where I live, except for plowed roads and parking lots and shoveled walks and driveways, it's still a winter wonderland everywhere.  Like in that picture.

Basically the same here. We’ve had above freezing temps w/sun and clouds surging the days but dropping to below 32 at night. Today a high of 37 and all sun, no clouds.

There’s still quite a bit to melt off. My deck is almost completely ice free and it’s getting obvious on some lawns and other places that have good sun exposure throughout the day theere is some melting and evaporation going on. Hoping on some rain soon.

Well my deck (in back, not much sun) is still covered in ice.  A little bit of ground has started showing around the house and back yard.  50s starting tomorrow and rain Sunday.

The sea of ice and snow will soon be a sea of mud.  But it looks like I can turn on my hose bibs without any freeze or broken pipe for a while.  I'd like to wash my truck.  

I just wish the constant wind would lay off.  It keeps it miserable outside, and the heat turned up and humidifiers running inside.   

[Jersey mike]

Where I live, except for plowed roads and parking lots and shoveled walks and driveways, it's still a winter wonderland everywhere.  Like in that picture.

Basically the same here. We’ve had above freezing temps w/sun and clouds surging the days but dropping to below 32 at night. Today a high of 37 and all sun, no clouds.

There’s still quite a bit to melt off. My deck is almost completely ice free and it’s getting obvious on some lawns and other places that have good sun exposure throughout the day theere is some melting and evaporation going on. Hoping on some rain soon.

Well my deck (in back, not much sun) is still covered in ice.  A little bit of ground has started showing around the house and back yard.  50s starting tomorrow and rain Sunday.

The sea of ice and snow will soon be a sea of mud.  But it looks like I can turn on my hose bibs without any freeze or broken pipe for a while.  I'd like to wash my truck.  

I just wish the constant wind would lay off.  It keeps it miserable outside, and the heat turned up and humidifiers running inside.   

Yeah, the remaining 3’ of my deck is slowly melting, from the sliders out, it gets a dose of morning sun until about 10am and then it’s up to the air temp to do its job. The wind here has been quite a nuisance as well, almost daily of 10-15 or even higher at times. The flag out the front door has been steadily waving instead of just hanging.

[Jess from VA]

I continue to go out every day (3-5 hrs) and chip and shovel ice.  Despite the thaw, what's left is solid runs of ice that remain slip and fall hazards.  Today because the existing piles are so big and the throws so far with the shovel, I used my wheelbarrow to cart the big chunks out to the yard to save my arms and shoulders.  I'm finally about done, and it's raining and 40s all day.  

Yesterday was 50s and I turned on a hose bib and washed my big truck and hosed off the undercarriage of salt.  Just for something different to do, and it needed it.  

Now some old movie with my feet up.