WOW, What a RIDE!!!

[PacWestGS]

Campfire or Gear, ????? (Campfire)

Riding in the Rain??? No it wasn't just 'rain', it was 'Katrina Rain', it was a cold 'monsoon' :doh

I just got home from my not so daily commute, not even a brand(ish) new 'Stich 1pc RC' could keep me completely dry :violin (Guy's you know the spot?)

Actually it was working well, until I had to slow down from 75 and motor along in traffic the last 23-miles, but I did manage to hit most of the lights green, ye ha. :D

Cars spinning out (hydroplaning) off the road, people (driving smarter than me) slamming on the brakes every time they saw a big wave of water go flying up from the car in front of them. (1150GSs do not hydroplane, ask me :nyah ) windshield wiper on high, and needing more speed 'Scotty', But "Capin' I'm givin' 'er all she's got"

Yesterday it was a balmy 70* and beautiful, this morning I looked at the forecast and said I'll be home before it starts :doh No freaking way, it started before I could even leave work. It's now 44* and looks like big 'hounds and tigers' pouring out of the sky's. :nod

I saw about five other 'riders', none of them looked happy, most of them were in the slow lane riding below the speed limit and flow, (I don't know about that one), I flew home keeping the cages behind me or far out in front. One poor looking guy on Suzuki 'Katana' looked more like a 'Bag Lady' with garbage bags on each foot and hands too, I think he was wearing one under his 'not so waterproof jacket too, but he did have on Army issue Gore-Tex 'camo' pants (which made him look invisible)

The 'Stich', well it worked out pretty good, for being only about a month old. My 'crotch' got it good though when I was going slower in traffic and the rain was just pouring down the front of me :doh

I should have been wearing a dark suit :nod You know what the say about a 'dark suit' don't you.

"It gives you a nice warm happy feeling, and no one else seems to notice" :bliss

I wasn't wearing a dark suit, I was wearing Kaki Dockers, and they look like I pee'd all over myself. :lol Good thing I was coming home and not going to work, Hehehe

Ain’t life great, I think so, no matter what ‘Mother Nature’ throws my way….

Anyone want to go for a RIDE???? :stick

:nyah Didn't think so, I'm gona sit by the fire, right after I get out of the hot tub. :wave


Doc

http://SFDOC.smugmug.com/photos/66926948-M.gif

[Bob_M]

Brand new stitch, water beading up on the arms and thighs. Warm and cozy, then you walk into a coffee shop and the wetness in the groinular region makes you look like an advertisement for adult diapers. I was in Weed, Calif right after people got out of church and I had the same situation. No one there had to Co-Sign a loan, so who cares! :thumb

[RandyB]

2" in less than 24 hours here. Still pouring and no end in sight. A Kalahari suit is not completely waterproof, but close. Tek Wash it and the gore tex. Good weekend for maintenance.

Sounds like Pac NW weather to me. :thumb

[PacWestGS]

Ahhh, the hot tub felt good,


RandyB, try and 1" in just under 2 hours, this was not PNW rain.

Had I known that it would practically stop raining altogether this evening, I would have gone over to the gym and worked out for couple hours and rode home dry. But after eight-hours at work, I guess I was letting the barn-door hit me in arse. (Actually I wanted to rain test the 'Stich'. It's still too new looking, It passed far as I'm concerned. Just need to keep moving)

A cold Guinness, warm food and cozy fire, I'm set.

I hope the 'Stich' is dry in the morning, back to work again. ('Course, I'll probably wear the Killy Air-Mesh tomorrow, it's supposed to be dry and hot again)

Go figure... :D

[jerryb]

Ahhh, the hot tub felt good,


RandyB, try and 1" in just under 2 hours, this was not PNW rain.

Had I known that it would practically stop raining altogether this evening, I would have gone over to the gym and worked out for couple hours and rode home dry. But after eight-hours at work, I guess I was letting the barn-door hit me in arse. (Actually I wanted to rain test the 'Stich'. It's still too new looking, It passed far as I'm concerned. Just need to keep moving)

A cold Guinness, warm food and cozy fire, I'm set.

I hope the 'Stich' is dry in the morning, back to work again. ('Course, I'll probably wear the Killy Air-Mesh tomorrow, it's supposed to be dry and hot again)

Go figure... :D

Try Young's "Luxury" Double Chocolate Stout, (Britian's oldest brewery) like me you may never buy another Guinness.

jerryb

[PacWestGS]

Try Young's "Luxury" Double Chocolate Stout, (Britian's oldest brewery) like me you may never buy another Guinness.

jerryb

Jerryb, where can I buy that, I'd like to try it, I like to try all good beers (yes, even those made in America), but I seldom can find any here that lives up to Europe.

Is it sold in markets, is there a particular 'place' that I can find it? I travel all the time.

Doc

[PacWestGS]

I should add that on Hwy 167 (South) there was at least a 1/2" of standing water on the road (the crown less, much less). Sometimes deeper (it was pouring) and in some places it was running across the road surface like a river, other places were deep puddles over 3/4" deep.

It hadn't rained in a more than a week and the road surface was slick, I took all the turns with due care, and slid across the BOT DOTS every once in awhile.

Thank (Schuberth) for a full-face vented helmet, because I couldn't see much but I had a dry head. I guess that is why I went so fast, it helps keeps the fogging down and the rain off the front. Vee-Wipes are also great (Thanks Bob_M) I'll give you you're loaner back next time I see you, I've bought two more packets (of three) since then and use them all the time.

I think (guess) I need new waterproof gloves, but maybe it's just water running down off my arms into to gloves but they filled with water and my fingers were cold and wet by the time I got home (50-miles) and the grip heaters on low.

It's kind of something that I'm used too, riding in the rain, but today was a monsoon downpour and I just kept on ticking. BMWs are great for giving a sense of security even if that is a 'false sense of security'.

I ride, whether the weather is good or bad, I still ride. I only make choices on what transportation to take on whether my survival is better or worse based on that moment.

No matter what happens. If I ride, I always have a smile on my face for doing it.

Today as well. :thumb

[Burnszilla]

The worst part about 'stich crotch is that it gets cold down there.

[jerryb]

Jerryb, where can I buy that, I'd like to try it, I like to try all good beers (yes, even those made in America), but I seldom can find any here that lives up to Europe.

Is it sold in markets, is there a particular 'place' that I can find it? I travel all the time.

Doc

SFDOC, I find it so interesting in a fast growing city like Charlotte, NC to watch the huge retailers moving in and the resulting retail sterility. I see more retail diversity in my little 35,000 pop. Rust Belt home town of Bay City, MI.
But when it comes to booze that's a different story! How about fruit flavored Mead? New to me till I got here (12 % alc.) and like the most awesome wine I ever drank! Go to honeyrun.com for that stuff, "Chaucer's" brand sucks.
As for the Young's Stout I buy it here in Charlotte from "Total Wine" (12 locations in NC and 9 in VA) on Independence blvd., my favorite store! I've never seen it anywhere else.
And Remeber: Drink Responly!

jerryb

[Grey_Matter]

SFDOC, I too was “caught” in yesterdays little mist. I was out on the Mountain Loop Highway when it stated. This was no PNW wussy rain; this was Florida afternoon thunderstorm rain, without the thunder.

I wore my Savanna II suite & carried my Gerbings jacket liner as a back-up. I ended up putting on the Gerbings as well as a Balaclava. My BMW Gore-Tex gloves did fine. As long as my jacket cuffs are pulled over the gauntlet. Otherwise they will fill with water.

One thing that has been helping keep my crotch dry is an Air-Hawk seat pad. It has small chambers under the cover. Water runs off your inner legs & is channeled away through the cavities in the cushion.

I bought the Air-Hawk as much for this feature as for extra riding comfort. As far as a fogging face shield goes I use a standard Fog-City liner on my Arai XD. It keeps the inside of my face shield fog free even in slow traffic. Like you I ride every day no matter the weather (no snow).

[PUDGYPAINTGUY]

If the stitch lets you down these won't...lol

http://www.depend.com/?iq_id=69224&WT.srch=1&WT.mc_id=69224

[jerryb]

. It's kind of something that I'm used too, riding in the rain, but today was a monsoon downpour and I just kept on ticking. BMWs are great for giving a sense of security even if that is a 'false sense of security'.
Today as well. :thumb

Boy, you ain't just blowing smoke over how BMW's handle in the rain. I don't know about the new Harleys but my '81 is downright frightening in a hard rain. There is no feedback, you feel like you could lose control at any minute. Same with edge traps, I play with edge traps on the GS, the Harley nearly gives me a heart attack!

I was in a gas station 90 miles from home at 1am once in March when the attendant tells me this huge storm is coming with snow and high winds and it should hit any time.

I had just come 1,150 miles from Daytona BW and was in no mood to get a motel so I hit 1-75 hoping to make it. Within minutes the sky went nuts with huge white clouds swirling like mad and then the crazy wind. It wasn't snow but the biggest rain drops I had ever seen.

I hit the first exit and headed for a motel. Then like a switch going on and off in my head it was: "You can make it" so I turn around, then, "No you can't make it", etc. I actually turned around 3 or 4 times like that until this rush of adrenaline took over and I hit that highway high on my body's drugs that the stress of riding 1,150 miles let loose.

It turned out to be the highest High I will ever experience on a motorcycle. There wasn't a car on the road, they were all pulled off on the shoulder! I held it between 70 and 75 leaned over from the wind and drifting like I was riding in deep sugar sand from the gusts! With each overpass I held my breath though wondering if they could be icing over.

It was a total blast wondering what those car drivers were thinking as I blew past! It started snowing just before I got home and dumped 10" on the level by the next morning.

The best rain gloves I have found are the thin rubber industrial gloves like unlined dish washing gloves (not the shiny ones, they have no grip) and big enough to fit over a pair of Jersey gloves.

jerryb

[CustomSarge]

The Pac NW is well noted for being WET. You get the milder seasons, you are subject to the Mediterainean(sp?!) climate. Us in the Great Lakes region suffer seasonal extremes, but stable precipitations once seasonal shift has occured. Nothing's perfect... <<<)))

P.S. 3 yrs ago, I was on my LTX Under a class 1 tornado: dropping tree branches, straight line rain, & generally indicating what a stupid move I made to go home at That time. Lesson for me: Really Dark skies = camp wherever thou art!

[jerryb]

[QUOTE=Statdawg]Guinness should be enjoyed at 42 degrees fahrenheit, and not cold. Warmer Guinness unwanted flavor's might emerge; any colder, and desirable flavors might be lost due to the coldness against your palate. I don't really know why but that is the way my family males taught me. :buds

Know why some beer glasses are tall and narrow? It's to trap the scent around your nose to enhance the experience. The article also told why there are other shapes but that's the only one I remember.

I see you're from PA. I first saw Yuengling (sic?) for the first time about 3yrs. ago at Daytona and now I see it everywhere. It says on the carton it's "America's Oldest Brewery" you got to wonder why in all that time it was nowhere and now it's everywhere.

jerryb

[PacWestGS]

Statdawg, yep 42 or close to. That's what I :drink it at in big 'ol Belgium Beer 'Gobblet' (at least I think that is the kind of glass), I don't have very many mugs, and the ones I do have from Germany aren't really the type to drink from.

I was warm yesterday on the way home and 98% dry, actually only got wet (down there) in the last 10-15 minutes of getting to the house.

I have had Hypothermia on a bike before riding across country on an open standard (CB650-Four) back the eighties; rain, wet, 400 some miles, temps around 45-50, perfect disaster waiting to happen. Pulled in to Durango CO, (from Flagstaff AZ) needing gas, hadn't thought about it much, probably couldn't think to begin with. Pull up to pump, stop, lift my foot off the peg and that was all the farther it moved, as I was falling over, I remembered I was still in gear so I let the clutch out and rode up and down the street until both my legs could move again. Stopped at another gas/mart in front of the door (not the pumps) and crawled inside, cashier takes one look at my blue face and says, "Coffee, over there" and points. I downed about two-10oz cups as I was just standing there; dripping, trembling, and started to shake like mad. After that I started to make intelligible conversation, everything before that was babble and mumbles. I didn't make it back to Ft Carson until the next day, got a room across the street, used up all the hot water in the motel before getting out of the shower, called my unit and said I ain't gonna be there tonight.

Got to ride in some fresh snow the next morning going over Wolf Creek Pass Hwy 160 in April, so had I not needed gas, I probably wouldn't be here writing this.

I'd seen it before (Mech-Infantry war games in the snowy German country side) but It sneaks up on you all unsuspecting like and then you just feel all warm and comfortable inside, even though your 'core-body-temps' are out of wack and dropping fast.

Later on, I did become a medic and learned more than I ever needed to know about heat and cold injuries.

And 'yes' any alcohol (beer, wine, spirits) will increase the likelyhood of developing a cold weather injury, as well as leading to dehydration for both.

We had some good 'Micro-Brews' at the Spokane Rally, hope there is some local flavor in Vermont as well.

Until then,

Ride before drinking and park it you reverse the order.... :bottle

[jerryb]

Original quote by Statdawg[/QUOTE] Yuengling (Pottsville Pa. )was just a small time family brewery but like Coor's has expanded their operation's. I am not a 100% fan except their darks from a tap a worth a swollow. I always laughed at " America's Oldest Brewery". Then I traveled to Montreal and Molson was the "Oldest Brewery in North America ". Really I have had some wonderful unknowns in my day. But I can never be a fan of a set brand. The reason is when you first have that wonderful brew you want to repeat the experience and never get fulfilled as the first glass. But try Delirium Tremens in a tulip glass and let it breath, and please in the safety of your own home. There is a reason why pink elephants are their trademark. I wonder what great beers we can have in Vermont ???????? Maybe we should start a beer thread ?????? :beer Oh this is SFDOC's wet ride thread we might have to regroup here ?????????[/QUOTE]



Statdawg: This thread is getting better all the time and I don't think SFDOC minds a bit, he knows how to start a great thread.
After reading your thoughts on not sticking to one brand I realize I do just that but it never occurred to me why, but that's it.

My wife says you got to be pulling my leg about the Delirium Tremens. She says nobody in their right mind would name an alcoholic beverage that. I didn't even get it till she reminded me what it meant.

When I've spent enough on the micro brewed stuff I come back to Samuel Adams Boston Lager, to me, for the money you can't beat it.

jerryb

[PacWestGS]

That reminded me of some of the Triple-Bock and (Christmas Beers) over in Germany. That's when they clean the vats and get ready for the new year. Some of those had like 14% by volume and if you could drink three you were either a real man, or no longer had a working liver.

Ahhh, life's little reminders :D

Someone throw another log on the fire, this conversation is getting better all the time. And to think it started with "While I was riding in the rain and checking out my 'Stich'?

:lurk

:beer

[jerryb]

That reminded me of some of the Triple-Bock and (Christmas Beers) over in Germany. That's when they clean the vats and get ready for the new year. Some of those had like 14% by volume and if you could drink three you were either a real man, or no longer had a working liver.

Ahhh, life's little reminders :D

Someone throw another log on the fire, this conversation is getting better all the time. And to think it started with "While I was riding in the rain and checking out my 'Stich'?

:lurk

:beer


You hit it right on SFDOC with "life's little reminders". Beer and good times, do they go together or what? Like the German Christmas beers you mention. A long time riding buddy that I rode to 6 OA Nationals with brought some back from Germany, it was called "Santa Claus" beer. He's no longer around, he's on all good roads now.
I'll never forget my first quart of Stroh's. Me and my buddy covered with mud and in soaking wet boots after a dirt bike poker run cooking hot dogs over a fire, in the dark, long after everybody else had gone home.

jerryb

[PacWestGS]

Ahh, Bultaco's, my first real bike '73 Alpina 250 (light blue). Beat the crap out of that thing and rode it all over Southern California (back in the day), freeways, hills, the beach, sidewalks and away from every San Clemente and Dana Point Police Officer who ever tried to catch me. :doh I got into a lot of trouble with that bike, had a rap sheet at Juvi like you wouldn't believe; loud broken exhaust, broken tail light, broken head light, non-DOT approved tires, failure to stop, driving without a license, etc. etc..... :lurk


Damn I'm glad I grew up someday after that :dance

Then I had a car, a 1969 Camaro Rally Sport, man I wish I'd have kept that car, eight-years and then the Army and Germany and so many other things that happen in life.

Life's little reminders :thumb

Hey do you remember when gas was $0.42 a gallon and it had 106 Octane? (I know some of you remember it being even cheaper)

[rgvilla]

SF Doc i remember when gas was .19 a gallon. I rode a honda 750 while in college after the army. It was my only transportation. I was caught in a snowstorm between Santa Fe and Albuquerque. When I got back to my apartment I had a good 1/2 inch of ice on my front. My "protective gear" was an army field jacket, jeans, army gloves, and an open faced bell helmet, and combat boots. the next year for spring break my and the then significant other headed to puerto penasco over the arizona border. it was 19 degrees F when we left Albuquerque, same gear with long underwear. Oh to be young again! I sure love my Gerbing heated liner and gloves now. Have fun and be careful ;) ;)