Friday, December 31, 2010

Snow riding to close out the year...

The following photos and video took several attempts as I learned to use my new toys; the gopro videocamera and the panasonic lumix ZS7.  That, and venturing out with the wrong settings on the device, or forgetting the SD memory card or it being just really cold.  Most of the footage was taken with temperatures from 2 to 6°F.

 Helmet mounted GoPro, still tweaking the angle of the camera.  I think I'll be using this mount just for "cliff side views" when riding on mountain roads/trails; this to give the viewer a look "over the edge".

Perfect snow levels as you can see on my driveway, not high enough to cause the exhausts to "float" the pusher tire and lose traction.

On a barely snow-covered dirt trail near the Blackstone Country Club

The following video demonstrates the hazards of mounting a camera on one's helmet.  Hazard in terms of causing the viewer of the resulting movie some nausea/headaches if you don't cut out the parts where one's head is moving to check traffic.  I tried my best to remove such parts.....as I mentioned before, I think helmet mounted videos in the future will be short and limited to specific angles.


or you can watch the video on youtube:  LINK

This video was shot with the Panasonic Lumix ZS7's videocam function, it was Russian Donuts for breakfast this morning!  (The car was not as close as it looks)


or you can watch the video on youtube: LINK

So, enough foolishness.  My family and I wish you and yours a truly safe, prosperous and Happy New Year!

PS: Operation Colorado 365 is a success.  I managed to ride every day during 2010, although I only managed to rack up a total of 16,941 miles between my two motorcycles.  I guess I have to quit slacking off like this for 2011!


The riding logs are on the right side column of the blog, lower third.

10 comments:

Allen Madding said...

Wow, I enjoyed my ride today as we have a sudden warm snap and got in the 60s, but it isn't going to last long. But 2-6 degrees and riding in the snow, you are the man!

Loved the Russian Donuts, good stuff.

Happy New Year!

-Peace

Steve Williams said...

Happy New Year. Great videos. Whenever I think I have it rough riding in winter I need only visit your site.

The sidecar makes a world of difference. Be careful having all that fun!

Steve Williams
Scooter in the Sticks

RichardM said...

Great videos! And congratulations on Colorado 365. That is quite an accomplishment.

Happy New Year!
Richard

Chris said...

2WD makes the donuts easy. ;) Have you tried going to the right or just the left. I do the right sometimes. You just have to lean in to avoid flipping.

I didn't realize you ride around with your visor open! That's cold.

-Chris @ everydayriding.org

redlegsrides said...

Allen: Thanks for the kind words, the donuts are fun for a while, now for some longer distance riding....

Steve: Thanks to you as well for your comments and visits. There's a fine line between careful and taking a chance, I like to think I spent most of the time on the careful side. : )

RichardM: thanks, the Ural makes it easy when the weather is "iffy".

Chris: Jealous? : )
I've not tried CW donuts, fulltime 2WD also means one must avoid at all costs flying the chair....lots of potential for FD damage when that powered sidecar wheel touches down if you don't do things right. As to the visor, it's not open for long on the cold days!

Thank you all and Happy New Year!

dom

SonjaM said...

Yay, New year's donuts. I really admire your riding skills and I am looking forward to your videos from the edge...

Keith - Circle Blue said...

Congratulations on riding every day last year. That is an quite an accomplishment, sidecar or no!

May 2011 be a safe, prosperous, and wonderful year for you and yours.

~Keith

Joe said...

Wishing you many fun-filled and safe rides in 2011!


- Joe at Scootin' da Valley

Chris said...

Jealous? Nah, I have 2wd with the kick of a lever ;) (and then back to 1wd with another kick)

redlegsrides said...

SonjaM, no skills really, turn the steering hard left, open throttle, hold on tight.

Circle Blue, thanks for the kind words...Happy New Year to you as well.

Joe, thanks, same to you as well.

Chris...it's all good, some day my fulltime 2WD FD will fail, then I'll bolt on one like yours. : )