This video is a great demonstration of the value of skis for a GS motorcycle riding on snow/ice! The motorcycle in the video looks like a 1100/1150GS so it would close to the weight of my own motorcycle. Wow, I wonder if they make a version for my RT?
Friday, December 21, 2007
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Finally able to use the work parking lot again
I am presently working a contract with United Airlines over at their Training Center near the old Stapleton Airport. Their snow-clearing efforts for the last two snow storms had been less than stellar, pretty much non-existent actually and so I'd been forced to park in the shopping mall across the street and do the long walk in to get to my cubicle for work. The parking lot for the last week or so, has been a sea of snow and ice, mostly ice that prevented me from safely riding to a parking spot.
Well, as of today, I can safely access not only parts of the lot but even the motorcycle parking area I like to use. Both Maria and I are pleased for the most part. I even saw the K1200LT that usually commutes in as well in a cager parking spot in the lot. I hope the facilities guys do a much better job in the next snow storm, walking in from the shopping mall sucks in the cold, not to mention I don't like leaving my motorcyle in an unsecured lot all day long.
As you can see, some clearing remains but for now, it's good enough
The little red gas can on the luggage rack? I am using it to refill the 5 gallon container at home, one gallon at a time, to ensure I've plenty of fuel for the snow-thrower!
Well, as of today, I can safely access not only parts of the lot but even the motorcycle parking area I like to use. Both Maria and I are pleased for the most part. I even saw the K1200LT that usually commutes in as well in a cager parking spot in the lot. I hope the facilities guys do a much better job in the next snow storm, walking in from the shopping mall sucks in the cold, not to mention I don't like leaving my motorcyle in an unsecured lot all day long.
As you can see, some clearing remains but for now, it's good enough
The little red gas can on the luggage rack? I am using it to refill the 5 gallon container at home, one gallon at a time, to ensure I've plenty of fuel for the snow-thrower!
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Riding to the Monument Divide
Temps from the high 20s to mid 40s. Sunny.
A three hour, 120 mile ride today, to bag yet one more pass on my way to the PassBagger 50 Certificate from the ColoradoBeemers Motorcycle Club. Today's target was Monument Pass, located fittingly near the town of Monument which lies south of Castle Rock, CO.
I took the back way to Parker and transited it to Crowfoot Parkway which leads one to Castle Rock. I crossed over the I-25 Superslab at this point heading West and got on Mooseberger Road and enjoyed its twisting turns in a more sedate manner than usual given the occasional patch of ice/slush and gravel put down by the snow plow trucks.
I got onto Co105 soon enough and headed South on this road enjoying the snow covered mountains in the distance. Lots of cars going to and from the local churches but not a single motorcycle to be seen. The road was 99% dry with a couple of patches of road still having ice on them with rather narrow dry furrows cut through them where the trees shaded the ice from the sun. No big deal, just had to pay attention and keep things going smoothly through those places.
I made it to the town of Palmer Lake just fine in this manner and paused by this restaurant near a local biker hangout called O'Malley's Pub and Grill.
The Depot Food & Spirits in Palmer Lake
The train seemingly coming out of the restaurant's wall had always attracted my way on past rides and this time I thought to stop and get a picture.
At this point, I engaged the GPS on my Nokia N800 Internet Tablet and it led me faithfully down a side road outside of Palmer Lake back towards the I-25 Superslab and to the sign shown below which I recorded for the passbagger verifiers.
Monument Pass
After this photo op, I headed south on the slab to the next exit which took me back towards the town of Palmer Lake. I headed through town once again, and went North on CO105, retracing my steps but this time going past Mooseberger Road and continued on CO105 until I reached the town of Sedalia. Still no other motorcyclist in sight, not even at the bar where I'd seen bikers before where CO67 meets US85. Oh well.
I headed back towards Castlerock by way of US85 southbound and soon enough was winging my way back towards the town of Parker via Crowfoot Parkway. Pretty much retraced the same route I'd taken on the way down to Monument for the most part.
The weather was beautiful, not too cold, did not even turn on my electric vest and kept the heated grips in their low setting for most of the ride. Returning to my neighborhood, I was able to use South Ireland Street to get into the neighborhood and then used the last sidewalk part of the King Canute Escape Path to enter my cul-de-sac and home. The street in front of my cul-de-sac? Still snow-packed!
My cul-de-sac at 1330hrs, note the snow-packed street
A three hour, 120 mile ride today, to bag yet one more pass on my way to the PassBagger 50 Certificate from the ColoradoBeemers Motorcycle Club. Today's target was Monument Pass, located fittingly near the town of Monument which lies south of Castle Rock, CO.
I took the back way to Parker and transited it to Crowfoot Parkway which leads one to Castle Rock. I crossed over the I-25 Superslab at this point heading West and got on Mooseberger Road and enjoyed its twisting turns in a more sedate manner than usual given the occasional patch of ice/slush and gravel put down by the snow plow trucks.
I got onto Co105 soon enough and headed South on this road enjoying the snow covered mountains in the distance. Lots of cars going to and from the local churches but not a single motorcycle to be seen. The road was 99% dry with a couple of patches of road still having ice on them with rather narrow dry furrows cut through them where the trees shaded the ice from the sun. No big deal, just had to pay attention and keep things going smoothly through those places.
I made it to the town of Palmer Lake just fine in this manner and paused by this restaurant near a local biker hangout called O'Malley's Pub and Grill.
The Depot Food & Spirits in Palmer LakeAt this point, I engaged the GPS on my Nokia N800 Internet Tablet and it led me faithfully down a side road outside of Palmer Lake back towards the I-25 Superslab and to the sign shown below which I recorded for the passbagger verifiers.
Monument PassI headed back towards Castlerock by way of US85 southbound and soon enough was winging my way back towards the town of Parker via Crowfoot Parkway. Pretty much retraced the same route I'd taken on the way down to Monument for the most part.
The weather was beautiful, not too cold, did not even turn on my electric vest and kept the heated grips in their low setting for most of the ride. Returning to my neighborhood, I was able to use South Ireland Street to get into the neighborhood and then used the last sidewalk part of the King Canute Escape Path to enter my cul-de-sac and home. The street in front of my cul-de-sac? Still snow-packed!
My cul-de-sac at 1330hrs, note the snow-packed streetSaturday, December 15, 2007
A short ride after Friday's Snow Fall
Temps ranging from 26-28 degrees. Sunny.
We got perhaps and inch and a half of snow throughout the day yesterday, Friday 14DEC07. Not much I must admit but it built on top of the 4-6 inches we'd gotten in the previous snow fall so the street into which my cul-de-sac exits remained snow-packed and some more digging and snow-throwing had to be done on my part to uncover what I will now call the King Canute Escape Path for me and my motorcycle.
As mentioned in previous postings, the escape route depends mainly on keeping the specific sidewalks leading out to the neighborhood entrance clear of snow and ice. Once the main road out of the neighborhood is clear enough, I can then escape via motorcycle.
Here's how the initial part of the escape path looked like before Friday's snow started falling on Thursday night:
o/a 1630hrs on Thursday 13DEC
Here's how it all looked this morning after the sun was out and starting to melt things a bit; I'd helped by shoveling and spreading of ice melting chemicals/sand.
10am 15DEC07
I exited the neighborhood via the King Canute Escape Path after 1230hrs with no incidents again and rode East via Arapahoe Road towards Parker via Inspiration Drive. The roads were wet for the most part with the occasional snow/ice/slush piles that were easily spotted and avoided.
Facing South on Piney Lake Road
As you can see, the skies were sunny and clear, it was not too cold and I rode all the way to the Town of Parker and looped back home using CO83. Perhaps 25 miles total of riding but had to get home so I could take the kids shopping for their Mother's Christmas Present. A longer ride is planned for tomorrow since the roads will be drier hopefully and we're expecting temps to hit 40 degrees! It's going to feel like a heat wave after the cold temps we've been experiencing lately.
We got perhaps and inch and a half of snow throughout the day yesterday, Friday 14DEC07. Not much I must admit but it built on top of the 4-6 inches we'd gotten in the previous snow fall so the street into which my cul-de-sac exits remained snow-packed and some more digging and snow-throwing had to be done on my part to uncover what I will now call the King Canute Escape Path for me and my motorcycle.
As mentioned in previous postings, the escape route depends mainly on keeping the specific sidewalks leading out to the neighborhood entrance clear of snow and ice. Once the main road out of the neighborhood is clear enough, I can then escape via motorcycle.
Here's how the initial part of the escape path looked like before Friday's snow started falling on Thursday night:
o/a 1630hrs on Thursday 13DECHere's how it all looked this morning after the sun was out and starting to melt things a bit; I'd helped by shoveling and spreading of ice melting chemicals/sand.
10am 15DEC07
Facing South on Piney Lake Road
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