Winter Riding (January 25, 2015)

Have not posted in a while...too long in fact. Course it is winter in Richmond....and that makes riding at times range from difficult to impossible We have been lucky here in that we have not had any real snow (did get some on the grass a few weeks ago) but nothing of note to this date. February though is a difficult time, and tends to be much colder and the ground gets coated white. Still some days in the 50s have happened (and I have even rode in the 30s). Took this photo a few weeks ago in front of the new GWAR bar ( a Richmond based very hard rock band) during one ride.  

Was not riding when I took this photo (was at a bar for one of the NFL playoff games) but did see this very fine Kawasaki Ninja. Its an older one (you can tell by the non-digital cockpit as well as the design) but a classic nonetheless.
You see people riding in almost all kinds of weather....and that is very cool. I am often one of them, but I do have my limits. You can bundle up to a point-but the point does come where almost nothing works. Still, even a short ride in the very cold is better than no cold at all. The motorcycle is also one of the best battery chargers out there.  

Took this photo on January 25, it is Richmond as seen from one of the vantages at Church Hill. Was a good ride in that I got to that location, went via West Broad to Short Pump, and then back down to Monument Ave. Most of the rides so far this winter have been around Richmond. I did get in a very good ride on New Years Day, and so far have been able to get out once a week (with a few exceptions). By the time I get off work, the sun is going down, and so is the temperature.
 

This was also taken on the 25th....this is Monument Ave. Some fantastic houses there, and some cool monuments (this one is to Jefferson Davis). Most Civil War and Confederate though there is one to Tennis legend Arthur Ashe as well. Fun road to ride and check out.
I hope to get some more rides in this winter....though the forecast tomorrow is for the first measurable snow this winter so far (as noted, nothing but a trace so far this winter...was there in the early morning, gone by around 9am that day) and that has made us very very lucky.
One of the things you have to watch out for in winter on icy (we have had some of those  days) is salt and sand. Salt because it is very corrosive to bikes (and cars for that matter) and sand cause on a bike it is very slick.
Riding in the winter calls for some different skills, some serious cold weather gear and some first rate preparation to get ready for what is, and what may, come up during the ride. As always....ride safe.