February 27, 2011

Gypsy Stats:
3 hr 13 min elapsed time
1 hr 53 min riding time
64.6 miles
34.3 Ave MPH

Beemer Stats:
68.7 miles
37 Ave MPH
45 Ave MPG

Dave: ’03 BWM F650GS
Lindsey: '07 BWM R1200R (Grin!)

Well, Tim reported that he had a head cold too ugly to put in a helmet, so just two of us this morning, both with other obligations on the day, so a very short ride today.

Leaving the house at 7:15, the sun was already up a thumb's width above the horizon with the temperature around 35, plenty cold enough to put on all of the gear and plug in, but not bone chilling like last week. A quick run up the Manatawney brought us to the Creekside Diner in Pleasantville, where the great state of Pennsyltucky is making a very big deal out of replacing the Rt 73 bridge over the Oysterdale Creek. After wrapping around a nice breakfast (ham and cheese quiche, strawberry pancakes) and too many cups of coffee, we went out to find the temperature up in the low 40's. Spring is definitely in the air. The willows are yellow, buds are starting to swell, crocuses are up (and blooming at our neighbor's across the road). We took a quick jaunt around the Blue Hills to Macungie and back on roads full of winter grit and the occasional killer pothole. Just 65 miles or so, but home by mid-morning in time to start worrying about taxes.

First Ride of the Season

February 20, 2011

Gypsy Stats:
160.2 Miles
7hr 42 min elapsed time
4 hr 13 min riding time
38 mph ave speed

Beemer Stats:
167.7 miles
41 mph ave speed
43 mpg ave

92 Octane is up to $3.49/ gal at the Sheetz

Tim: ’96 BMW R1100RS
Dave: ’03 BWM F650GS
Lindsey: '07 BWM R1200R (Grin!)

Last time out was a brief and frigid sojourn on boxer day. We got socked in with snow the end of December and it's been constant snow cover and icy lane since. Friday was sunny with temps approaching 70, Saturday was cooler but still well above freezing with howling winds all day, so the snow is mostly gone and the lane is finally passable on two wheels. Of course those winds were bringing in new weather, so the balmy temps of Friday have headed back to Florida where they came from. When I got up, the thermometer read 24, but by golly an ice free lane is an ice free lane and on the second punch of the starter button, the beemer was willing, so nothing to do but bundle up and give it a try.

Remembering the chill last time, I added a layer: same LD long sleeve base layer, tee shirt, Gerbing electrics, RevIt suit with liner and Frogg Togg jammies top but with an added sweat shit under the electric jacket. I put the balaclava on under the helmet to keep my cheeks and chin warm. I had to ride without my glasses because they kept steaming up with the balaclava on. I swear, today I will finally order that Aerostich chin scarf.

Heading out across the Oley valley at 7:15, the sun was just up, throwing long sharp shadows to the west, the air was clear, and the sky was bright blue. Temperatures held at 24-25 on the 20 mile ride over to Reading, but with the jacket and hand warmers on high and the added gear, I was warm. Except for my toes. I suited up in garage standing in stocking feet on the cold concrete floor. My boots were retrieved from the back seat of the truck where they had spent the night getting thoroughly chilled. The combination of cold toes going into cold boots than going immediately out to ride in the cold just did not work. My poor toes just never got a chance to recover. Next time, I think I will be sure to keep the boot inside over night.

We formed up, our own little BMW club again, and headed out for breakfast: third Sunday so we're back at the Masonic Temple in Birdsboro for custom omlets, salt mackeral, and today's special, blueberry pancakes, all you can eat for $7. After breakfast and a long catch-up and discussion of where this year's motorcycling might take us, we headed out to see how the roads were, west across the county through Adamstown, over into Lancaster and Lebenon counties, then north over the mountain through Swatera gap to Pine Grove, east to Deer Lake, and back homeward on south 61 through Schulkyl Gap and Port Clinton, with a passing nod to Hermy's. Temperatures stayed in the low to mid 30's most of the day, finally rising to just break 40 on the final leg of the ride. The roads were covered with winter grit, espeically at intersections and in the turns, right where you need the most traction, so prudence dictated moderation. Besides, my riding skills were defintiely suffering from winter doldrums. Some of those lines through the curves were pretty ugly. Good thing we were taking it easy.

The lilac buds are swelling, the willows are all showing yellow, we are over the hump of winter, and the riding season is upon us. This 160 miles marks the first ride of the new season.

December 26, 2010

Little red rooster was peckin' in the yard
Said put the bike in the garage before it starts to snow hard

Well, I had to put in a picture of something...

I was hoping to finally find out why they call this boxer day but it just wasn't really a day for long ride. It's cold and the weatherman has been predicting a foot of snow starting in the middle of the day. Tim took a wait-and-see attitude via e-mail with the implied threat that he might not be in any condition to get up in time for an early start. Dave was iffy on identifying any firehouse breakfasts on the day after Christmas.

I got up early and checked e-mail for updates on plans. Unbeknownst to me, my cell phone had decided it could not find the Verizon network but spent the night trying with the result that the battery was dead and I missed the call and voice mail from Dave. Being fairly oblivious so early in the morning, I suited up and headed out towards Reading taking the long route up 662 through the Oley Valley where the temperature was around 26. Not too bad, but when I swung into the ATM in Oley for some Jacksons, I took the opportunity to crank the Gerbing up to full force. After a quick stop to top up gas at Redner's Quick Stop, I headed across the ridge on Pricetown Road towards Reading. The temperature dropped to 23 degrees.

Now one of the fundamental questions I have been looking for an answer to is "How low can you go?", meaning in temperature on the motorcycle with the current winter gear. Turns out the answer lies somewhere between 23 and 26 degrees. Over the past month and a half, I have ridden in 26-28 degree weather several times and made out fine with the electrics on, but even with the jacket and hand grips cranked up to high, 23 was just too damn cold. So now we know. Problem one was face protection. At 23 the point of my chin and my cheekbones were burning. Problem two, shoulders and upper arms were cold even though the electric jacket felt hot. Also, legs were getting chilly. Amazingly, when I got back to 26 going back through the Oley Valley, these problems eased up. So there is a very definite break point between basically comfortable and unbearable right in that temperature range. Looks like we will have to bulk up a little further (I am looking at the Aerostich face fleece this afternoon) to be able to ride reliably in the 20's. For now we are geared up for anything down to 30's with the occasional dip into the upper 20's. Not bad.

December 12, 2010

OK, no way around it, this day got whacked pretty hard with the ugly stick. The temperature has popped up to the mid-50's, it's pouring rain, and everything is just hung down gray and soggy.

I'm sure if we had to ride, the gear would be up to it. We're waterproof enough and plenty warm. But on the other hand, we don't have to ride and today looks like a pretty good opportunity to stoke up the wood stove and sit in the warm and catch up on stuff. We'll get back to it next week.

December 5, 2010

Beemer Stats:
65.2 Miles
38 MPH Ave
40 MPG Ave

Gypsy Stats:
4 Hr 8 Min elapsed time
1 Hr 42 Min Riding Time (long breakfast!)
62.1 miles
36.2 MPH Ave

Tim: ’96 BMW R1100RS
Dave: ’03 BWM F650GS
Lindsey: '07 BWM R1200R (Grin!)

Looks like our own little BMW club today.

Up before the sun again for an early and chilly start. I checked on the internet and that beautiful, bright Morning Star in the eastern sky is Venus, not Jupiter as reported previously. It's still just as glorious. Still just as chilly out, too - around 28 leaving the house a few minutes after 7:00, dropping to 26 as I make my way across the Oley valley with the rising sun lighting the tips of the trees.

The leaves are down and the crops are in, so the landscape is a wintry mix of grays and browns with the occasional spot of green from a south facing bit of grass.

I'm suited up in what is now winter-standard wear: long LD Comfort base layer, thinsulate lined jeans, Gerbing electric jacket, Rev-It suit with liners, and Frogg-Toggs pajama top. Today, I put up the hood of the Frogg Toggs jacket under the helmet instead of the Balaclava. This provides a very effective seal at the bottom of the helmet without a lot of bulk under the helmet. With the jacket plugged in and turned up, I was toasty.

As we formed up to head over to Kutztown for fire house breakfast, Tim reported that the control unit for his electric vest was broken. He decided to try out his new layering system with the Gore Tex top layer without electrics. In the spirit of solidarity and experimentation, I headed out to Kutztown with my jacket unplugged, too. Well actually, I gotta be honest, that solidarity business is BS. It was more like stupidity; I forgot to plug in as we were heading out. The experiment was worth the trouble, though. Riding through 28 degrees relying on just layering was not too bad, except my finger tips and toes got cold. So it appears to be true, if you can keep your core warm with the electric jacket, the body pumps warm blood out to the extremities to keep them warm. If your core needs to conserve heat, the first thing to go is the toes.

Breakfast was crowded because the fire company was having its Christmas celebration, complete with grandchildren getting pictures taken sitting in Santa's lap. The local Brownie Troop was busing tables. I swear they must have been getting paid by the dish - little girls in brown vests with badges hovered around the table pouncing on each plate as soon as the last fork full of food was raised from it. Twice I had to actually wrestle my coffee cup back from an eager Brownie so I could get another cup of joe.

I was short on time and we were planning to go out to buy a Christmas tree, so I parted company with the others after breakfast and headed home. Not quite straight home, of course. I headed over the backbone of the county towards Frredricksville, then dropped down through Landis Store and Hill Church pausing long enough to take a gray winter photo of the Upper Perk Valley spread out below Franklin Hill. Short ride - long breakfast - great morning.

November 21, 2010 Elk Neck, Md

November 21, 2010

Beemer Stats:
238 Miles
43 MPH Ave.
45 MPG Ave

Gypsy Stats:
225.8 Miles
9 Hr 37 Min Elapsed Time
5 Hr 56 Min Riding Time
38 MPH Ave

What a beautiful late autumn morning in SE Pennsylvania. I got up early to run hot water over my back before going out to ride motorcycles around in subfreezing weather (we do this because....?) and found Jupiter brilliant in the eastern sky as the morning star thru the bathroom window. Hello World. Does it get any better than this? Let's go RIDE!

I put on the LD Comfort long johns as base layer. The outdoor thermometer read 28 degrees but I figured it would warm up over the course of the day, so I didn't put on on the thinsulate lined jeans, just the sweat pants between the base layer and the riding suit. For top layer, I wore my $10,000 Tee shirt (not to worry, it came with a free motorcycle) over the LD long sleeves, then the Gerbing electric jacket, riding suit with liner, and light blue Frogg Toggs as an extra wind break. I always feel like I'm wearing my pajamas when I put on the Frogg Toggs. I don't know why, probably the color. I need to get a new set in black.

I mounted up, plugged in, and headed out around 7:00 am with the rising sun just lighting the tips of the trees. The thermometer said 28 and meant it. The electric jacket was toasty but the sweat pants were not enough. My legs were chilly. Next time, I figure the thinsulate and flannel lined jeans come out whenever the temp is below about 45.

We are into late November in PA so most of the leaves are on the ground, with just a few die hard yellow Norway maples holding out and the occasional decorative shrub providing a splash of bright red against the grays and browns of the landscape. The corn and beans are pretty much in, leaving stubble in the fields.

I stopped to gas up at the Redners Quick Stop. Usually, I go in for a quick cup of coffee at this point, but today I was so bundled with layers that I didn't think it was worth the trouble of getting out of the riding gear then bundling up again. I could have just gone in with my gear on but I was wearing the balaclava tucked in to all of the layers of jacket and didn't want to be mistaken for a terrorist by the counter clerk.

The temp was up to 35 as I cruised the ridge over to Reading to form up for the ride. I was looking at the map for ideas of where to go today thinking south and Elk Neck, MD when Tim came out and said, "How 'bout Elk Neck, Md today?" Very weird. But of course it being third Sunday of the month it was off to the Masonic Temple in Birdsboro for breakfast first - custom omelets and special today pumpkin pancakes. Plus, this is the only place I know where you can a get a piece of salt mackerel for breakfast without cooking it yourself.

We didn't dawdle over breakfast and were soon headed south into Chester County. When I found us turning off of US 322 onto Birdell Rd, I called for a quick diversion and lead us over to Chambers Lake on the edge of Hibernia Park. The boat launch parking lot provided the opportunity for a group photo with the site of our old house on Martins Corner Rd, now under water, in the background. By this time, the palatial portapotty at the edge of the lot was a welcome relief as well.

The sky was variable, dark gray overcast threatening as we came out from breakfast, blowing over to bright sun an hour later when we stopped by the lake.

On to Elk Neck State Park! Elk Neck, directly south of Elkton, MD, is a peninsula sticking out into the northern end of the Chesapeake Bay. It is known for its great birding, especially raptors including native bald eagles, high cliffs above the water, and its somewhat stubby, 33 ft high, stone light house. We took the 2 mile hike from the parking lot out to the light house and back. No raptors to be found today, but there was a flock of Eastern Bluebirds and a few desultory vultures circling overhead.

Back north across the Chester Co. horse country got us home just as the sun was setting. Well, that's how many daylight hours there are in a day this time of year.

November 7, 2010

Beemer Stats:
112.7 Miles
40 MPH Ave
43 MPG Ave

Gypsy Stats:
5 Hr 56 Min elapsed time
2 Hr 43 Min Riding Time (long breakfast!)
105.7 miles
38.9 MPH Ave

Tim: ’96 BMW R1100RS
Dave: ’99 Triumph Sprint ST 955 Triple (aka Smokin’ Red)
Lindsey: '07 BWM R1200R (Grin!)

Just a short run today; Tim scored a ticket to the Eagles-Colts game at 4:00, so he needed to get home by noon. Dave pointed out that it was fall-back day. If we started at 8:00 EDT (7:00 EST) rather than 8:00 EST, we would hardly notice and could get in an extra hour of riding time. This worked for me for three reasons: (1) heading out to meet up at 7:00 (EDT) would be before the sun was up enough to raise the temp so I could really try out the electrics, (2) we get an extra hour of helmet time, and (3) if I could get through all of Sunday on EDT, then I could collect my extra hour on Monday morning when it had some real value.

Heading out at 7:11 am EDT (6:11 EST) it was brisk, to put it lightly: 28 leaving the house, dropping to as low as 24.7 crossing the Oley Valley. I gotta tell you, on a motorcycle with no windscreen moving at 60 MPH, this a few degrees below cold. I suited up in the two piece, custom made, motorcycle long underwear as a base layer. For pants I wore Thinsulate and flannel lined jeans with the RevIt suit pants with liner. On top, I layered up with the Gerbing heated jacket, RevIt liner and riding jacket, topped with the Frogg Toggs jacket as an extra wind break. On my head, I wore a balaclava and the Shark Evoline helmet with the chin bar closed in the full face position. With the jacket plugged in and turned on and the heated hand grips turned on, this was amazingly warm and comfortable. The biggest problem was visibility as the balaclava tends to deflect the exhaled breath up onto glasses which fog up. I had to open the helmet face shield one notch to clear the fog and suffered the consequent cold breeze on the cheeks. All-in-all though, I think we demonstrated that sub-freezing riding is definitely in as long as the roads are dry.

When I got to Tim's his bike with gear was parked on the street. Hmm..... Something's up. Tim is usually getting the bike out of the garage and collecting the gear for the ride at this time. Turns out, he sprung forward instead of falling back, confused the time change and rolled out at 6:00 am wondering why it was so cold and dark and where everyone else was.

By this time the temp was holding between 30-32. After sub 25, this felt downright balmy (with the electrics still on!). Luckily, Giegertown FD opens their Sunday morning breakfast at 7:30, so we didn't have to go out a ride around in circles in the cold for an hour before getting a cup of joe. 'Pears to be a new guy on the grill today, so the pig was pretty abused before getting to table. But the GFD special eggs were OK and the SOS filled in the holes. We lingered for 2 1/2 hours over breakfast catching up on news, then headed out to ride around the county. Temps made it up into the low 40's and the ride was glorious. A bit breezy, so the air was full of swirling leaves. The colors are past their prime with maybe 50% of trees bare and the remainder mostly the yellows and brown mixed with the the deep russet of the pin oaks.

Well, I didn't take the camera along this morning, so no pics of the ride, but here is a pic of my new Kentucky KM900 mandolin, the stringed instrument sized to travel on a motorcycle. I went up to Steve Walker's after the ride today to pick it up . Sweet instrument. It looks great, but more importantly, it rings like a bell. And the action is incredibly close. Look for mando music at the next BWM rally.