Long day's ride into night, and freezing my you-know-what

[yjleesvrr]

It was a relatively balmy afternoon for a December Sunday yesterday. Heck, even Harley riders were out in Northern Virginia. I thus decided to hop on my Roadster for a last business trip on two wheels for 2006 - to New Jersey.

I departed shortly before 8 p.m. last night from Haymarket. I realized by the time I reached Leesburg 20 miles north that I needed to put my scarf on. I proceeded north on 15 into western Maryland.

What is it about the Maryland panhandle along Route 15? It's like the bermuda triangle. The temperature here is often 10 - 15 degrees colder and windier than points north (in Pennsylvania) or south (Virginia) of this area. I've noted this phenomenon as I've seen the temp gauge in my automobiles drop as I go through this area, but it's another thing to feel it happen on a motorcycle in winter. I had my rain gear on on top of an insulated riding jacket and I was getting so cold I contemplated turning around and heading home to swap for my sedan. Then I reached PA and Gettysburg and the temperature increased precipitously to the point I felt fine. I stopped at a Sheetz to eat and gas up near the battlefield, and continued on.

It didn't get cold again until the hour hand climbed toward 12 on the clock. By the time I got to the NJ border on I-78, the temperature dropped considerably, but still not as cold as it felt in western Maryland. As I arrived in Basking Ridge, this thought came to mind: It's no wonder they filmed "The Blair Witch Project" in Western MD. Funky things happen there weatherwise.

I also thought about how the Roadster continues to give me joy after 4.5 years of ownership. She feels like an old friend to me now, having given me company and reliable service thus far all over the Eastern U.S. The motor feels as strong as I ever recall it being, and the whole bike has a smooth, worn in feel to it.

I'm hitting the road back to Virginia earlier in the evening tonight. I'm going to experience the western MD chill earlier in the evening when it's a little warmer. Either that or head down I-95, which being closer to the ocean tends to be a warmer path - by about 10 degrees F.

[machew01]

Yong, have another good and safe trip home.

mac

[yjleesvrr]

Thanks Mike. I'm going to have to buy an RT or something like it next time if I'm going to do long distance trips in the winter like this. Hope the weather in Raleigh is warmer than VA or NJ, which I'm sure it is...

[rdsmith3]

I tend to get overly optimistic this time of year. The weather report will say something like "sunny and a high of 49" so I plan on riding to work. The reality is that at 6:15 or so in the morning, it is dark and cold. When I ride home, it is also dark and cold. But I still ride, like today.

[sjbmw]

Thanks Mike. I'm going to have to buy an RT or something like it next time if I'm going to do long distance trips in the winter like this. Hope the weather in Raleigh is warmer than VA or NJ, which I'm sure it is...

Have you checked out Gerbing?

I got the socks, pants, jacket liner, glove liners, with heated grips....
they all plug together...turn the thermostat up....mmm toasty.
Like sitting in your living room all the time.

[yjleesvrr]

I have in the past. I assure you I'll buy something, like, maybe today at Cross Country BMW in New Jersey while going home!

[yjleesvrr]

I hit the road early for Virginia this afternoon and got home earlier this evening. I really enjoyed my ride, but again toward the end of the trip it got cold. I'm definitely getting my hands on heated attire. I really would like to ride through this winter as long as there isn't ice on the ground.

Unlike a lot of people, I enjoy riding the Roadster on the highway. Mind you, I don't want to spend all day on the superslab, but the bike feels solid and stable cruising 75-80 mph down the interstate.

[wncbmw]

I also ride through the winter but riding to New Jersey doesn't sound like a trip I would enjoy. Nothing against you NJ guys but the traffic doesn't appeal to me! Glad you could turn a business trip into a ride though, Yong!

One caution on winter riding. I took a ride Sunday afternoon, temps in the 40s, and was running up one of my favorite twisty routes testing the Pirellis, when around one curve a spring running across the road in the shade had one half the road in water, the other half in ice! My half was water, thankfully or I might have been posting an accident report!

[R4R&R]

Nothing against you NJ guys but the traffic doesn't appeal to me!

Oh no! Now you're going to get Yong all fired up on how the Northern VA traffic is much worse than NJ and NY!

Yong,
The Gerbings is great stuff. I have the jacket and thermostat if you want to give them a try (I'm out of winter commuting mode now - no benefit to it at my new job).

[yjleesvrr]

Oh no! Now you're going to get Yong all fired up on how the Northern VA traffic is much worse than NJ and NY!

Nah, you just said it for me! I-78 is crowded during rush hour, but you don't come to a stop all that often. It's mainly a 5-50 mph affair until you get to Phillipsburg. Getting through the toll booth in PA can be a chore.

Manhattan is really the only place where traffic is bad in the NYC area. But you're talking about 3-4 million people teeming on an island that's about the same size as Blacksburg during the average workday!

The trip was pretty much over straight roads. The only curves were to be seen on entrance/exit ramps.

[chris]

Thanks Mike. I'm going to have to buy an RT or something like it next time if I'm going to do long distance trips in the winter like this. Hope the weather in Raleigh is warmer than VA or NJ, which I'm sure it is...

Have you checked out Gerbing?

I got the socks, pants, jacket liner, glove liners, with heated grips....
they all plug together...turn the thermostat up....mmm toasty.
Like sitting in your living room all the time.

I'd fall asleep riding if I was that warm