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Visionary
Posts: 1359
New Bohemia, Va | I need to be saved from myself at times as my desire to ride will overrule logic as was this morning. Black ice is a very dangerous thing and could be prevalent after an evening of rain and then a drop in tempature below freezing. The clear skies and the fact that I missed most of December riding due to the exhaust leak discovery, traveling and its own bad weather, I'm ready to straddle the saddle.
This morning it was 27 degrees and clear skies after a late evening I rain, I knew the potential for black ice was high, to include the well travel roads. But I made the decision to ride despite the fact my ignition was frozen and the brake handle was cold enough to freeze and hold on the first pull in. I keep the bike outside, plus I was out riding in the rain last night when it was hovering around 40 degrees.
When I pulled out, the nice little ice slush pond was at the end of the road as usual because the grade and the curb prevents a complete run off when it rains. That was my first challenge to get through, which I did that with ease going through and rolling slow to dry out the tires. Then the next challenge was the bridge about a mile from the house that was easily crossed due to the texture. From there, every wet region on the road was suspect to me and proved to be free of ice of each passing. I maintained awareness of every square inch of highway and chided me for my foolishness. But none the less I made it to work free of any slips or slides.
I make this post to say "Don't do this!" At any given moment I could have hit a spot with a point of no return and would have fell to a foolish statistic and earned a place on the Vision-Riders Darwin Awards.
On the other hand, no rain today, a high of 44 with no snow to melt and an expected low of 25 tomorrow is looking good with less of a pucker factor.
Edited by Cap'n Nemo 2011-01-03 7:43 AM
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Cruiser
Posts: 284
mansfield, MA United States | I'll ride in snow and slush. I'll ride in driving rain and temps in the negative numbers. But after it rained last night and temps drop into the 20s I drove the cage to work today. I agree. Black ice is not what you want to ride in. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 173
Prescott Valley, AZ | +1 If it rains the evening or night before and the temps get below freezing I'm in a cage. Spent three winters in Alaska and am confident in my winter driving skills on 4 wheels, not so much on two wheels however. And besides it hurts when you fall down! |
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Tourer
Posts: 401
| Came very close to riding down here at the Beach, but something told me NO. My choice was confirmed when I went sideways on the on ramp in my car. |
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Tourer
Posts: 548
Mount Vernon, WA United States | I have thermometers on my bikes. When it gets down to 33... I'm off the bike. I don't care how dry it "looks". The only time riding on ice and in snow is fun is on a dirt bike in a field. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1359
New Bohemia, Va | Yeah, that's another point, I hate to get slid into by a run away cage on ice. I'll have to watch out for those this morning. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1308
Sand Rock, AL United States | That's the only thing I won't ride in, ice of any color. Though I have called the weatherman's bluff and ridden to work a few times only to ride home on ice. Very scary. I did a lot of praying. I guess it's true, the Lord watches over fools. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 804
Perry Hall, MD | Got fooled this weekend by the rising temps. that caused a heavy fog which dampened the roads, When mixed with the salt put on the roads a day or two earlier it was as slick as ice. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 60
not far from hustler wisconsin | Here in Wi, there is so much corrosive sand and salt out that i wont ride until the rains of march...wash the roads clean |
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Tourer
Posts: 457
Green Bay, WI United States | Miles - 2011-01-04 1:50 AM
I have thermometers on my bikes. When it gets down to 33... I'm off the bike. I don't care how dry it "looks". The only time riding on ice and in snow is fun is on a dirt bike in a field.
Don't forget that black ice can form at most degrees below 50 with the right road, wind, moon and/or sun and other thermo conditions. This is what they say happened to ole James Dean, bullshit, he had a car turn into him in his Porsche 550 Spyder, #130 called "Little Bastard". So much for naming our bikes. Ever try riding a dirt bike with screws in the nobbies on a frozen lake, hope your knees can take it when you fall, ride on!
Ride hard, ride fast but above all-ride safe and free....
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Tourer
Posts: 353
| 8-ball - 2011-01-12 9:35 PM
Don't forget that black ice can form at most degrees below 50 with the right road, wind, moon and/or sun and other thermo conditions.
Wildman/8-ball
How is that possible when the freezing point of water is 32?? |
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Visionary
Posts: 1359
New Bohemia, Va | Depending on prior conditions ambient tempatures above freezing does not mean the ground tempature is above freezing.
I'm riding this morning, ground is frozen and the temp is 27, why? Crazy I guess.
oops, I was wrong, it's 21.
Edited by Cap'n Nemo 2011-01-13 5:35 AM
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 9
Westbrook, Maine | Maine DOT is real good about warning folks about the driving conditions here! Do you suppose the sign applies to the snowmobile crossing in the background?
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Visionary
Posts: 1359
New Bohemia, Va | Made the 32 mile journey work, arriving alive. I must say I was rather apprehensive after I got on the road and focused on potential slick spots to avoid them. Thankfully, I did not hit any spots but that is not saying there wasn't any, I saw a few.
The radio did say the tempature dropped to 19, but with the adrenaline pumping I couldn't tell. |
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Tourer
Posts: 562
SC, Bluffton | Miles - 2011-01-04 1:50 AM
I have thermometers on my bikes. When it gets down to 33... I'm off the bike. I don't care how dry it "looks". The only time riding on ice and in snow is fun is on a dirt bike in a field.
I have that too, When it hits 90, I am off the bike. I hate the heat, humidity, etc.. This morning was
25 when I left home (Goldwing today). Lots of frost everywhere, so I rode very cautiously until I
got close to work, as it rose to 34 degrees.
Herb |
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Visionary
Posts: 1359
New Bohemia, Va | g1nomad - 2011-01-14 2:35 PM
Miles - 2011-01-04 1:50 AM
I have thermometers on my bikes. When it gets down to 33... I'm off the bike. I don't care how dry it "looks". The only time riding on ice and in snow is fun is on a dirt bike in a field.
I have that too, When it hits 90, I am off the bike. I hate the heat, humidity, etc.. This morning was
25 when I left home (Goldwing today). Lots of frost everywhere, so I rode very cautiously until I
got close to work, as it rose to 34 degrees.
Herb
I don't want to sound like I'm correcting a man with your obvious experience on motorbikes, but will direct a comment to the casual reader. Just because the ambient tempature is above freezin' doesn't mean that black ice is no longer a threat. |
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Tourer
Posts: 562
SC, Bluffton | Cap'n Nemo - 2011-01-14 2:52 PM
I don't want to sound like I'm correcting a man with your obvious experience on motorbikes, but will direct a comment to the casual reader. Just because the ambient tempature is above freezin' doesn't mean that black ice is no longer a threat.
I might actually be being stupid, but it is so rare, for my area, to be this cold. I don't even know what black
ice is.  I just now if the roads were wet the prior day, and it gets under freezing, be afraid.
Savannah, Georgia, which I live just above, set a record low of 19 this morning. It is already close to 50
degrees though? Something makes me think the ground must be warmer then the morning air?
I know my route to work so well. I know where water can sit. I assume black ice only forms wear water sat?
The cold: I know my expensive cans of Plexus & Hondaline Spirits aren't squirting out of the cans!!!! They are
in the garage. I hope I didn't screw them up trying to get them to work.
Herb |
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Tourer
Posts: 506
Woodland Hills, CA | Its 70 degrees outside. What are you guys talking about! |
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Visionary
Posts: 1359
New Bohemia, Va | g1nomad - 2011-01-14 3:19 PM
Cap'n Nemo - 2011-01-14 2:52 PM
I don't want to sound like I'm correcting a man with your obvious experience on motorbikes, but will direct a comment to the casual reader. Just because the ambient tempature is above freezin' doesn't mean that black ice is no longer a threat.
I might actually be being stupid, but it is so rare, for my area, to be this cold. I don't even know what black
ice is. I just now if the roads were wet the prior day, and it gets under freezing, be afraid.
Savannah, Georgia, which I live just above, set a record low of 19 this morning. It is already close to 50
degrees though? Something makes me think the ground must be warmer then the morning air?
I know my route to work so well. I know where water can sit. I assume black ice only forms wear water sat?
The cold: I know my expensive cans of Plexus & Hondaline Spirits aren't squirting out of the cans!!!! They are
in the garage. I hope I didn't screw them up trying to get them to work.
Herb
you're on target Herb, it has everything to do with ground tempature. I worry very little, though it can fool me if it dips to 30 at night and have 50 degree days. Lately, here in the Old Dominion, we've had some hard freezes over the past few weeks, so even it if get up to 35 during the day, I'm suspect of moisture on the road since most likely the ground is still below freezing. Also, keep in mind to that there can be ice and you not see it. Consider frost on the road and the road is not traveled much.
Just some schoolin' for the unsuspecting that would brave cold tempatures thinking its okay since we do it. Rider. beware.
70, I long for those days at this point so I can ride nekked.
Edited by Cap'n Nemo 2011-01-14 5:12 PM
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