Monday, February 26, 2007

~ Nippy Weather on the Way to Work Today ~

When I got up this morning to sub in a school library I couldn't decide if it was warm enough or not. So I thought I'd get my hair washed (why? I don't know! Helmet hair messed it up, lol), dressed and then checked the outside temp. It was hovering at almost 30 degrees F., but with the wind they said it "felt" like 23 degrees F.

I just read Steve's blog over at Scooter In The Sticks yeststerday. Here's what he had to say "It was 14° F when I started the Vespa this morning. The weather forecast promised temperatures rising into the mid-20's under sunny skies. These kinds of days always provide a break in the bad winter weather and allow a ride if you are so inclined."

Well, I really had my heart set on riding to work, so I figured "I was so inclined." He made 14 degree F. sound down right balmy, lol. I thought I had to give it a try at least once. The forecast was for almost 50 degrees later in the day, so the ride to my afterschool math tutoring at another school should be warm.

The ride to this school took 20 minutes and there was a slight brisk wind that was like a jump in a cold pond. But it wasn't so bad that I was terribly uncomfortable. It was a fun ride and I was glad I chose to do it. What better way to get to work? The sunrise was hitting Pikes Peak and it was gorgeous. After I got off the first job it wasn't the balmy 50 degrees F. I had hoped for, but it wasn't as cold as the morning. I was anticipating taking the liner out of my motorcycle jacket, but with one step out of the building and into the wind I immediately changed my mind. It was cold. It was supposedly 48 degrees and with the wind it was reported to feel like 43 degree F. It definitely wasn't as bad as the morning, but "Brrr" came to mind.

One thing I wish I had done was fueled up the other day. This morning I rolled my motorcycle out of the garage and it was close to empty. I felt pretty confident I should be able to get to work without "hopefully" having to turn the fuel valve to reserve. The last time I had to do that it happened at the most inopportune time. It was two summers ago when I had only had my motorcycle for about 4 months. I was in the middle of a busy intersection, not realizing that I was running out of gas. The motorcycle chugged it's way slowly to the other road and died before I could get the darn valve turned, aughhhh!!! I was able to get out of the way of traffic, but some were mad at being inconvenienced at the slow down. Once I was out of the way, I turned the fuel valve to the reserve and then it wouldn't start. Finally it did after a minute, and that was about a full minute that felt like a cazillon years when everyone is staring at you passing by.

Long story short, I keep a close eye on my fuel gage and fill up long before I need to. But this morning did catch me in that uncomfortable situation. I got to the school, but then I was sweating a little riding to the next school in the afternoon. As soon as I got out of math tutoring I was high-tailing it to the nearest gas station. That thing drank a lot of gas, lol. I'm just glad that it's not as expensive to gas up the motorcycle as my van.

So this story ends with another great ride to and from work. Hopefully the weather holds for my sub job on Wednesday and I will try and take a picture. I'm not an early bird by nature, so I usually don't have time to spare to stop for pics in the morning and I'm rushing in the afternoon to get to my math tutoring job. So, we will see.

Wishing you adventures in your part of the world,

Biker Betty :)

19 comments:

Giest said...

hehe, taking your chances with the cold now? i loved riding in the cold, getting the odd looks and people at work thinking i'm crazy and hardcore. :) unfortunately i would be crazy to ride right now...unless the bike had skis.

vespajitsu said...

First, I think all you who ride in sub-freezing temps are out of your minds! Cold down here is when it gets below 50 degrees.Brrrrrr!
2nd We love your dog. We love dogs! We take ours everywhere, unless it's on the Vespas of course.
3rd, I drive my wife insane with always pushing the envelope on our vehicles gas tanks. Can't help myself, I actually put in 18.1 gallons of gas in our Camry the other day and the specs say the fuel tank is 18 gal. :) Haven't run out ......yet!

Pamela said...

I bet it gives you a rosy complexion

Bill Sommers said...

It just made for a more interesting ride.

Funny how it can be freezing cold outside, and sitting with an empty tank on the side of a busy street, not being able to start, will still make you sweat.

Have fun,
Bill

Anonymous said...

So Betty did you get to ride Wednesday as well?

It reached the 70's here in Alabama today...there were quite a few motorcycles out there on the way to and from work. I have to admit I was feeling a bit jealous and wondering if I shouldn't have rode in myself.

Biker Betty said...

Hi Giest, It's funny to get those double takes. I think part of that is because I'm female. There are lots of women riders here, so it's not like it's a rarity.


Hi Cody, We have to put up with the cold if we want to ride at all during the winter. I can't go too far, as I don't have all those wonderful heated grips, vests, gloves and all the other gadgets out there to plug in, hehe. With the absence of all that, if I go too far on a cold day I turn into a "motor-sicle."

Yea, dogs are great. Ours is way too big to haul on a bike. I have seen, like I'm sure you have, those who haul the tiny dogs on their bikes. Oh, I did see a lab once in a side car in town. I talked with the gentleman and those two go everywhere together.

I'm glad my husband doesn't like to test the gas tank mileage like you do. I feel for your wife, lol.

Hi Pamela, Yes, even with a full face helmet I get lots of wind up under the chin. My face can get pretty cold.

Hi Bill, I know you get out in the sub-freezing stuff yourself. You, Gary and Steve are my Obi-Wan Kenobi's when it comes to cold weather riding. But you guys top me with driving in the snow with your scooters. There is no way I'm getting my cruiser out in that.


Hi Sarch, No, I didn't get to ride today, sigh. I'd have to have those skis Giest was talking about, lol. It started out okay, but cold, but by noonish the snow was falling fast.

70's there today !?! No fair!! Well, at least there was nice weather somewhere for people to ride. I won't trade my summers for yours though. I like my usually mild summers.



***Thanks everyone for stopping by and leaving a comment. And to those of you just cruising thru.

Have a great day,
Biker Betty :)

Sharon Lynne said...

I work as a math tutor too! I'm an instructional aide in Special Education at our local school. I've entertained the idea of riding to work on my dirt bike, but it needs blinkers (It's plated). I think I'll just stay on the dirt! I don't have the nerve.

It was great getting your note, over at my blog. Thanks for stopping in and I look forward to checking in on you over here!

Biker Betty said...

Hi Sharon Lynne, Wow, that's pretty neat that we both do that. I do it four days a week for one hour each day after school. I have a great group of kids. I also sub in school libraries as needed and lately they have been keeping me busy, lol.

Maybe some day you might want to get a small cruiser similar to mine to ride to work on. In nice weather it's lots of fun.

Take care and I will check in on your blog too.

Steve Williams said...

I'm glad I could provide inspiration to ride to work; after all I am one of the Ride to Work bloggers.

I want to add though that I do not relish being cold. I ride in the temperatures I do only because I can dress warmly enough to be comfortable. When the temperature drops below 10 degrees I start approaching the uncomfortable zone with the gear I have. Mainly my hands. Unless I go with electric gear I will not be making any long rides in those temperatures.

The brisk wind can have an amazing effect. If there is no wind and sunny skies I swear 10 degrees is more comfortable than 25, overcast and windy. Probably in my head.

Anyways, glad to rode. Riding is so great that I feel it is worth putting up with a bit of discomfort.

Steve Williams
Scooter in the Sticks

Biker Betty said...

Hi Steve, I'm glad you put in the link to Ride To Work Bloggers. I will have to add that to my sidebar. I just went over there and I know a few of you already. I found the others very interesting to read. Some day I will get a full time job and then I will have to see if I can get my blog added too.

I know what you mean when driving in the cold. My hands are the first to freeze up and I just HATE it. Some day I hope to get heated grips or gloves. I've also mentioned to my husband that I want to look into getting hand shields to deflects the wind. We are usually windy here, plus when we're moving on our motorcycles/scooters, we do create wind. I'm not far from the mountains and even in the summer it can get cold up there, but sooo beautiful.

Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.

Used cars said...

Even me. I have hot water then i go out or I warm me that time for enough.

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