Read on and see what you think. BTW, I like the Battleship Blue Color....I wonder if they'll take Yoshie as a trade-in?
Saturday, December 07, 2013
URAL's 2014 Sidecar Specs.
Basically linking to a blog posting on URAL's website on their 2014 models and what is changing....great updates in my opinion though I am ambivalent about the fuel injection. On the one hand, carburetors can be a pain if you're unsure/confused on what you're doing but at least you can fix it yourself on the side of the road. On the other hand, fuel-injection renders better performance and ease of use but hard to fix on the side of the road, still the claimed redundancy concept is interesting.
Read on and see what you think. BTW, I like the Battleship Blue Color....I wonder if they'll take Yoshie as a trade-in?
Read on and see what you think. BTW, I like the Battleship Blue Color....I wonder if they'll take Yoshie as a trade-in?
Thursday, December 05, 2013
Cold Snap
We in the Denver Metro Area are currently in the grip of a cold snap. A mass of arctic air has come down and is cooling things down quite a bit.
Apparently, Denver recorded a new low last night, -13F which broke the old record of -5F set in 2008.
It was -5F at the house as I geared up to go to the Encana Data Center in the Denver Tech Center, and it would take me about 40 minutes to get there in the slow-n-go traffic conditions on Arapahoe Road.
Roads were snow/ice covered, but with clear lanes where cars had gone previously. Once in a while there were ice patches covering these clear lanes but nothing major.
Interestingly, it got colder as I approached the DTC and I was feeling it at my fingertips and toes. It's apparently -9F as I sit here at the Data Center.
I am glad I changed Valencia's oil last night from 20W50 to 10W40, hopefully it'll help the engine start this afternoon when the forecast temperature will be a balmier +4F.
I am beginning to get an inkling as to why sometimes RichardM elects to drive in when temperatures are south of -20F up there in Fairbanks.
Apparently, Denver recorded a new low last night, -13F which broke the old record of -5F set in 2008.
It was -5F at the house as I geared up to go to the Encana Data Center in the Denver Tech Center, and it would take me about 40 minutes to get there in the slow-n-go traffic conditions on Arapahoe Road.
Roads were snow/ice covered, but with clear lanes where cars had gone previously. Once in a while there were ice patches covering these clear lanes but nothing major.
Interestingly, it got colder as I approached the DTC and I was feeling it at my fingertips and toes. It's apparently -9F as I sit here at the Data Center.
I am glad I changed Valencia's oil last night from 20W50 to 10W40, hopefully it'll help the engine start this afternoon when the forecast temperature will be a balmier +4F.
I am beginning to get an inkling as to why sometimes RichardM elects to drive in when temperatures are south of -20F up there in Fairbanks.
Wednesday, December 04, 2013
Another Snowy Commute
I woke to maybe an inch of snow in my suburb located to the SE of the Denver Metro Area. It was a brisk 6°F outside according to the house thermometer so I geared up with full winter riding gear. This means, long underwear besides the usual complement of protective riding gear, then rain gear on top to keep out the winds.
It was packed snow in my neighborhood till I hit the main roads. Himalaya Road was plowed and the road surface was barely snow covered. Still, I and the cagers out with me before 6AM were driving cautiously and slowly. Only two idiots in pickup trucks today, barreling their way through the traffic like drunken sailors, so it was all good.
I even had my neighbor and close friend Erik L. pull up alongside my rig and we exchanged waves.
The roads became just wet as I entered the Denver city limits, must have been the effect of the magnesium-chloride mixture they spray the roads with to lower the freezing temperature of water.
As I neared the downtown, I made the decision to detour through the city park and see what kind of photos one could take. There wasn't enough light yet when I arrived near the lakeside entrance road so that one will have to wait for a better weather day.
It was packed snow in my neighborhood till I hit the main roads. Himalaya Road was plowed and the road surface was barely snow covered. Still, I and the cagers out with me before 6AM were driving cautiously and slowly. Only two idiots in pickup trucks today, barreling their way through the traffic like drunken sailors, so it was all good.
I even had my neighbor and close friend Erik L. pull up alongside my rig and we exchanged waves.
The roads became just wet as I entered the Denver city limits, must have been the effect of the magnesium-chloride mixture they spray the roads with to lower the freezing temperature of water.
As I neared the downtown, I made the decision to detour through the city park and see what kind of photos one could take. There wasn't enough light yet when I arrived near the lakeside entrance road so that one will have to wait for a better weather day.
An old but large mortar, I believe that's a statue of MLK
in the background. The above was shot in landscape mode which disables
the flash on the camera.
Same spot, this time the camera was in AUTO mode and the
flash captured the falling snow flakes nicely I thought.
Across from the Denver City Park is East High School.
I continued in towards the downtown area, traffic was medium but moving and cautious drivers still were the rule. I made it to the parking garage with no issues and parked in the prime parking spot for motorcycles. I am pretty confident I'll be the sole occupant, unless my friend John S. aka Spat decides to ride his URAL Arctic Patrol in to work.
The snow is supposed to continue accumulating through most of the morning and early afternoon, we shall see. Mr Weather Radar supports the forecast but unless the snow clouds start orbiting Denver, I am betting the snow will end by noon.
The temperature is a reported 8°F as I type this, we're well on the way to the forecast high of 11°F.
Update: 2:50 PM: Pics of surrounding buildings from the 40th floor:
TIAA-CREF Building
Key Bank Building
Sunday, December 01, 2013
Meeting Annabelle Nash
Born two weeks ago, Annabelle Irene Nash is the beautiful daughter of good friends of ours, Oscar and Janet. Oscar, you might recall, has come to my rescue several times in matters dealing with my motorcycles.
Martha, her dad Richard G. and myself headed over to the Nash house to meet Ms Annabelle for the first time.
Martha, her dad Richard G. and myself headed over to the Nash house to meet Ms Annabelle for the first time.
Oscar and Annabelle
Older sister Cassie
(Steve's the older brother to the two above but moved too fast for me to capture via camera)
Martha and Ms Annabelle
After visiting for a while, and much after Martha and Richard G. had returned home, I took my own leave and motored down to the Denver Tech Center for a shot at Mount Evans through the arch that forms the entrance to Westlands Park:
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