A True Winter experience with Spyder

[NancysToy]

Before my Spyder arrived, I was thinking with a rainsuit, and proper clothing, I would ride (except in cases of snow or icy conditions). It would be my primary transportation. I have since changed my thinking.

I've decided, If it's under about 38 degrees, I'm driving my Frontier to the office, and leave the Spyder in the garage. It's simply too cold. And, if it's raining when I'm about to leave, again; the Spyder stays garaged. For me, it's too much to risk; way too much to risk.

But, for all of you that do choose to ride in these conditions, please be careful.

I ride two wheels or three, in any weather. A good riding suit (type depending on the weather), rainsuit, and heated gear can make any trip comfortable. I draw the line at snow that sticks to the road (on two wheels), salt, or lightning. The rest is fair game. Like GeminiJane said, though, it is nice to be retired and have some choice, especially in the timing of the trip.
-Scotty

 

[3tracs]

:shocked: Glad you both made it home!

 

[92lt]

It was in the 30's when I took my DMV road test. I ended up wearing my Bombardier modular snowmobile helmet (DOT approved).

I'm not riding my Spyder because of the salt. I live outside of Buffalo and they salt the crap out of the roads. The snow doesn't bother me; salt does though.

 

[vtrider]

I've enjoyed the spyder and hope to get a couple more rides, but winter in the northeast getting upon us and it will be time for me to store the spyder and get ready to break out these soon.

 

[nancyemh]

You guys have way more guts than me!! :bowdown: My baby is put away - except for ryding in the Christmas Parade. Be safe!!

 

[jeuchler]

...I would have had a heart attack trying to do the same ride on two wheels, if I could have kept the bike upright for the entire trip. No problems on the Spyder....

Well, OK, I can't compete with Brian and Deb's story, but...

I ordered the pizza after I got home from work, and when I walked out of the house to go to the next town to pick it up, I realized I had locked my keys in the truck.:yikes:

I called Barb to see if she could get the food on her way home, but she was no where near ready to leave yet, plus she's a 45 minute drive away.


"Cancel the pizza." she said.

(Cancel pizza?! Never!)

Just then I remembered I had another vehicle!

I bundled up and rode the Spyder out. 32 degrees, only a bit of ice on the roads, and a beautiful clear sky.

The folks I know at the pizza parlor greeted me, but seemed afraid to ask what the heck I was doing as I walked out with my helmet, a large pizza, two eggplant parmesan sandwiches (they're called "grinders" up here, by the way) and a fried dough.

I popped the trunk ("geez...gotta put that spring in this winter") and after three tries got all the food in:

Bag first, then pizza box, almost vertically, with corners of the box folded down so it was now a pentagon shape.

"Oh well. We'll eat it with a spoon, I suppose," I thought.

Drove loudly (Micron seems even louder in the cold) and yet in stealth mode (I had forgotten to take off those decorative black lexan headlight covers) past many stares and got home with pizza, believe it or not, intact. This was a pizza place that does not make it with runny cheese.

Of course, you know the epilogue of the story: Barb came home, felt briefly sorry for my minimal frostbite (I couldn't find my gauntlets) ate a slice, and said "Yuk. I hate this pizza." nojoke

Apparently she's a fan of the runny cheese.

(Hmm...it's 20 degrees and snowing outside now. I think I'll suggest a Spyder ryde to go out to breakfast...)

Postscript - I told the story to my neighbor this morning, who laughed and said, "I don't know what thermometer you were reading (it was the one on the Spyder's dash) but it wasn't 38--it never got above 20 degrees all yesterday and night. You must really like frozen pizza!" )