The Thermometer is the Most important Motorcycle Instrument

[davenowherejones]

All year long I must consult my thermometer before I go riding my Forza 300.

During the winter it determines if I can ride at all. Ice is not fun on a scooter with lots of plastic. And my old bones do not like -30 any more. I used to ski at -30.

During the summer I need to know how much water to carry and what clothes to wear. I do not get any of the super hot desert temperatures.

Currently it is 0 degrees C. I have a personal minimum of 5C now. I also have to check the temperature of where I am going.

One problem is the Environment Canada or whatever they are called now, only updates the temperature once an hour on the hour. There can be huge changes in an hour sometimes.

Today I want to go to Cache Creek, BC for lunch. It is now 1.2C But the sun is starting to peak over the mountains and it will warm up faster. The problem is that the dark side of the mountains is still cold and icy.

Some days it takes forever to get warm and I run out of daylight hours for the desired trip. The nights get really cold fast.

Spring officially starts in four days.

ps How come St Patricks Day is a big event but St David's Day is virtually unknown, even by this David with a half Welsh adopted father. (March 1, 2018, I looked it up on Google) Damn I missed it again. 1.9C on the dark side of my house, going up!

[davenowherejones]

5.7C, so do I put on 2 or 3 pairs of long underwear. I am going up in the mountains so 3 is best but how many shirts?

[Ole]

my therm on the Forza read 51F on today's ride
and it was a wonderful 36 miles

my last ride was in late November

just glorious

[davenowherejones]

So after a weather delay I made it to Cache Creek for a late lunch at the Bear's Claw Lodge.

I took an energy bar break in Spences Bridge just after a stare down with a herd of big horn sheep. If they had charged, I would have lost.

There were places with lots of snow beside the highway. It was a 3 pair long underwear day. I should have stopped and put my snowmobile gloves on. The hands were cold at lunch.

The clouds threatened to dump rain/snow on me but I went around all of them.

I fuelled up close to home and discovered that I now have just over 70,000 km on the 2014 Honda Forza 300 re-built ICBC written off wreck. Not bad.

Once I had the forks filled with oil it became a nice to ride scooter. I suspect it had no fork oil right from the factory in Thailand. That may even be why the previous owner dropped the bike in a parking lot. Speed bumps were deadly, forks collapsed completely.

I hate people behind me since I stop frequently to look at stuff. I find money and I stop. I stop to look at rocks and wild animals. I stop to scratch my nose. I stop way too often to pee. I pull over onto the gravel and force people to overtake me.

The price of gas has increased lately because our leaders are being stupid. Yes, dumber and dumberer. The roads are pretty empty right now so I have a pleasant ride without many pullovers.

A nice day with NO RAIN!!!

[lillypinkjenny]

I feel cold just reading it, though, Dave.

[springer1]

Bravo !!! Nice post !

[davenowherejones]

Will this winter ever end?

I wanted to go to Merritt, BC via the Coquihalla. It is 5C in Hope, almost rideable but it is -4C in Merritt, too cold. The Highways webcam shows snow all over the highway at the summit.

I am going back to bed for 3 weeks!!!

Or shopping in Chilliwack, soon to be the home of Molson Coors where every case of beer will soon smell like cow shit. The whole town smells of cow shit. Gotta feed those bad girls better.

[Mel46]

...and I am upset because it is only 57°F outside right now?? Brrr. You must be one of those brave souls who will ride in almost any temperature.

[davenowherejones]

3 pair of long underwear, boxer shorts, rain pants and armoured pants go a long way. My hairy chest protects me also. Snowmobile gloves are amazing. Knowing when to say no also helps.

[davenowherejones]

The rain gauge is the second most important instrument but I use a puddle as a substitute. If the puddle is hard it is too cold.

I NEED to ride really soon.

[WhiteNoise]

^^ good one! Puddles. Check. I need to ride really soon too

[davenowherejones]

I just wanted to post something on Friday the Thirteenth. No riding lately, too much work and rain. I worked in the rain yesterday but saw blue sky not too far up river. Gotta go there! And where is that rainbow end?

[you you]

The rain gauge is the second most important instrument but I use a puddle as a substitute. If the puddle is hard it is too cold.