groundeffect
Registered User
With all of the recent snowfall and winter storms we've had lately, luckily, today started with a wel-comed glimmer of hope. The forecast predicted a partly sunny sky with temperatures just above freezing. I also had a couple hours off in the afternoon. 
Shortly after lunch, I got ready to ride, switched into reverse, backed out of the garage leaving three tire marks (The "Y" factor signature) in the dusting of snow still left in the driveway. The roads were mostly dry but for some runoff from snowbanks along the way. I knew I would have to wash my bike as soon as I got home, but no worries. Ride now, wash later !
Off my side street and onto the main road through the city of St. John's, I rode on three wheels. The powerful and eager Rotax 998cc power plant in my Spyder hummed, and was more then willing to cruise with a twist of the wrist as I up-shifted.
The afternoon led me through small towns along the east coat of the Avalon Peninsula, with breathtaking views of the vibrant blue Atlantic, frozen fresh water ponds, some nice twists and turns that I'm familiar with, but this time I'm on three wheels instead of two… and I'm loving it!
. Still getting used to the turns on my Spyder, I've been alternated techniques to find what works best for me. So far I like leaning over the seat slightly on the inside of the turn, while pushing my body to the inside by pressing the outside peg. A little more time in the saddle and I hope to be solid with proper body english.
The smiles continued through the coastal towns and to the peak of the point at Cape Spear, the most easterly point in of North America.
From here I trekked into the city once again, through downtown to the top of Signal Hill for a view overlooking the city on one side, and the horizon where the ocean meets the sky on the other. I stopped into an empty parking lot to practice some of the Can-Am suggested Spyder Roadster training techniques; the swerve, engine kill switch, ABS braking and some more turning and hard cornering. Then I headed for home, wanting to skip rush-hour before the traffic got too heavy.
Home again, after a mostly sunny sky, the clouds loomed overhead as I pulled in the driveway and got out my garden hose. Shortly after, the clouds cleared again and beams of light cast a glow over my RS. It sat there gleaming in the driveway, wet from a wash-down to rid the salt and winter road dirt and my smile grew a couple more sizes
The sunlight dropped below the far hills just as I was drying her off, when I noticed ice crystals had formed on the seat from the temperatures which just dropped below freezing. I powered her into the garage and closed the door behind me as I called it a day. A great day and 92 km (60miles) experiencing the "Y" factor, in the middle of Winter, February 10th, 2010; the first real ride on my Spyder.
This machine is awesome!
Cheers from Newfoundland,
Ryde Safe!
Dean (aka groundeffect)
Shortly after lunch, I got ready to ride, switched into reverse, backed out of the garage leaving three tire marks (The "Y" factor signature) in the dusting of snow still left in the driveway. The roads were mostly dry but for some runoff from snowbanks along the way. I knew I would have to wash my bike as soon as I got home, but no worries. Ride now, wash later !
Off my side street and onto the main road through the city of St. John's, I rode on three wheels. The powerful and eager Rotax 998cc power plant in my Spyder hummed, and was more then willing to cruise with a twist of the wrist as I up-shifted.
The afternoon led me through small towns along the east coat of the Avalon Peninsula, with breathtaking views of the vibrant blue Atlantic, frozen fresh water ponds, some nice twists and turns that I'm familiar with, but this time I'm on three wheels instead of two… and I'm loving it!
. Still getting used to the turns on my Spyder, I've been alternated techniques to find what works best for me. So far I like leaning over the seat slightly on the inside of the turn, while pushing my body to the inside by pressing the outside peg. A little more time in the saddle and I hope to be solid with proper body english.The smiles continued through the coastal towns and to the peak of the point at Cape Spear, the most easterly point in of North America.
From here I trekked into the city once again, through downtown to the top of Signal Hill for a view overlooking the city on one side, and the horizon where the ocean meets the sky on the other. I stopped into an empty parking lot to practice some of the Can-Am suggested Spyder Roadster training techniques; the swerve, engine kill switch, ABS braking and some more turning and hard cornering. Then I headed for home, wanting to skip rush-hour before the traffic got too heavy.
Home again, after a mostly sunny sky, the clouds loomed overhead as I pulled in the driveway and got out my garden hose. Shortly after, the clouds cleared again and beams of light cast a glow over my RS. It sat there gleaming in the driveway, wet from a wash-down to rid the salt and winter road dirt and my smile grew a couple more sizes
The sunlight dropped below the far hills just as I was drying her off, when I noticed ice crystals had formed on the seat from the temperatures which just dropped below freezing. I powered her into the garage and closed the door behind me as I called it a day. A great day and 92 km (60miles) experiencing the "Y" factor, in the middle of Winter, February 10th, 2010; the first real ride on my Spyder.
This machine is awesome!
Cheers from Newfoundland,
Ryde Safe!
Dean (aka groundeffect)
