What is the weather doing where you are?

[Gus]

Vienna, the folks in VA are a bit more civilized than downtown - usually a dozen or so (room for about 18) there - free for 2 wheelers - yesterday only mine, today total of 3.........and if someone is worried WMATA has put in large pipes to lock scooters to - although I have seen mopeds on the bike racks!

[AZ-J]

AZ-J isn't summer there also called 'baking season'?????

Gus, you had to ask, HUH?

In dry summer, starting at 5 AM at 76-80 F, people line up for lowered summer rates at the myriad gold courses we have here, that charge a fortune all winter, but they play up until 9-11 AM and 90-95 degrees, which when at 8% humidity is about 78 or 79 F in Florida "feel". It is great shorts and tee shirt weather.

As for riding, we leave town 5-7 AM and ride "UP" to the high country (Phx is 1200 ft above sea level, the Rim between Payson and Prescott is about 4500-4800, and Flagstaff has roads well above 7000 feet), where the temps are 15-30 degrees lower than the low-desert. Usually wearing mesh gear, up there our teeth may chatter a bit at first in the early morning, but the trip home when the sun is waning, is warm indeed, but not hot like at 2-4 PM. The mesh works well then.

It works like this from as early as mid-May to as late as late-June (depending on the year) and lasts until mid-July, late-July or early August (also depending on the year). Then, summer ends and we begin the monsoon season.

Monsoon is when we get just enough humidity (27-30%) to suppress temps maybe 5-10 degrees, but we float 20-25 degrees each day, instead of the 30-40 we do, when it's dry. We also rain late in the day in huge thunder/lightening storms, often with blowing dust, then. That's when I leave the bike parked, BT'd, until early or mid-September, and we start to 30-40 degree float again.

So I lose 1 to 2 months a year of riding. That sure beats the six months I lost every year to ice, snow, sleet, cold, and rain, when I lived in NY or Chicago. The difference between 70+ inches of rain a year and 7 is more dramatic then the temps, here.

And for all of you that think I suck - I say. one, you should have had the foresight I did to move like this, when I was still in school. I have since raised a family here, with one daughter graduating college with honors and an offered scholarship to law school, and another a junior in High School and off to a great start of a career as well. So, shove it, but feel free to come visit and ride with me, anytime.

[SHU]

So, shove it, but feel gree to come visit and ride with me, anytime.

I'm getting a little confused here.

Actually, I may be coming down your way mid-January, AZ-J. Not on my bike, though.

The plan is for me and the dog to wend our way down to Phoenix, and pick up my wife at the airport. Then we'll mosey around car camping for 6-7 days. I'll deliver my wife back to the airport so she can fly home (poor thing has to work), and the dog and I will take our sweet time going back home. I might give you a call if you're up for a cup of coffee sometime.

...........shu

[AZ-J]

I'm getting a little confused here.

Actually, I may be coming down your way mid-January, AZ-J. Not on my bike, though.

The plan is for me and the dog to wend our way down to Phoenix, and pick up my wife at the airport. Then we'll mosey around car camping for 6-7 days. I'll deliver my wife back to the airport so she can fly home (poor thing has to work), and the dog and I will take our sweet time going back home. I might give you a call if you're up for a cup of coffee sometime.

...........shu

I misspelled a word, now fixed, shu. A "cup of coffee" mid-time January sounds great (I happen to love and get along with coffee), but I hope it's after 1/9/09, I'm in Vegas for CES that whole day. PM me for cell # if you want, maybe I'll even ride my bike to meet up with you.

[blackie]

sigh...leaving sunny (and warm) Orlando FL for sunny (and really cold) Calgary AB today......

[Luxamor]

So, shove it, but feel free to come visit and ride with me, anytime.

LOL....well, congrats on your children anyway.
That's a tough job no matter what the weather is.

[Bruce.B]

sigh...leaving sunny (and warm) Orlando FL for sunny (and really cold) Calgary AB today......

Only one question Blackie: WHY?!!! I really don't think you want to go back home yet!

We're headed for the Keys next week.

Bruce

[blackie]

Only one question Blackie: WHY?!!! I really don't think you want to go back home yet!

We're headed for the Keys next week.

Bruce

Sigh...life gets in the way...

Hey get to Dry Tortugas when you're in the Keys, pretty awesome to see a 100 year old fort in the middle of nowhere

[AZ-J]

Originally Posted by AZ-J
So, shove it, but feel free to come visit and ride with me, anytime.

LOL....well, congrats on your children anyway.
That's a tough job no matter what the weather is.

Thanks for the congrats on the kids!

As for the invite to ride me, but the "shove it" for "all of you that think I suck", I don't think I'd ride with anyone that really thought that, anyway. That could be dangerous.

[Bruce.B]

Sigh...life gets in the way...

Hey get to Dry Tortugas when you're in the Keys, pretty awesome to see a 100 year old fort in the middle of nowhere

Weather permitting we just may do that. We were there several years ago when we still lived in KW and certainly nothing has changed. But it's a great trip with lots of chances for pics. Shall I sign the register for you? Might make you feel a little warmer!

Bruce

[TNT]

12 F and just keeps snowing!

[romanr]

-5F with 15 mph winds... (note that's MINUS 5 F)

WAAAAAAAYYYYYY to cold for me to ride...even the cage is uncomfortably cold.

[AZ-J]

75 today here but PC died Friday, new one expected this Friday. This was typed on new Blackberry.

[romanr]

09:20 (am), CAVU
OAT: Minus 14F
Windchill: Minus 23F
Promises to get above 0F around tomorrow at noon....
I gave up and put the bike on the battery tender.

[Luxamor]

It's freeking cold where I am....got the bike out of the garage and let it idle for awhile.
Check out the webcams in my area.

[AZ-J]

My weather for the week:
http://weather.weatherbug.com/AZ/Sco...0-d7c9b5159741

[TNT]

sunny 39 and snow is melting off roads! Mid 50s Mon & Tue.

[mkl951]

60+ F sunny, no wind, roads are clear...see ya' I'm goin' for a ride!

[Roadpizza]

"Mostly sunny and very windy west of Cascade Locks...mostly cloudy east. Highs in the mid 30s to lower 40s. Cascade Locks westward...east wind 30 to 40 mph with gusts to 75 mph".......this blows.

[AZ-J]

"Sunny. Highs 73 to 78. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph."

[Roadpizza]

That also blows...

[BMW Barbie]

Was damn well hot here today.. 33C/91.4F with hot winds. Waiting for the Southerly-buster to come through and cool it down. The last 3 days have all been over 33C/91.4F and seen a number of bike riders (or as we call them Temporary-Australians) riding in t-shirts, shorts and yes even thongs (Point : Thongs in Australia are like flipflops shoes not the other type of clothing) but they are wearing helmets (Legal requirement). Guess the TA's have never seen how they get road gravel out of skin.. Even though riding is at least possible. Cheers

[AZ-J]

That also blows...

Yes, it does. friend.

[Cynic]

It's raining... and while it's not pouring the newness of the bike kept me from riding today...

[Roadpizza]

Jordan, the wind has died down a bit but, it will be a while before we get your type weather.
Next time the wind starts blowing again, I will try to get a picture of one of the waterfalls here in the Gorge actually blowing up instead of falling down.

[AZ-J]

Philip, you should only see what we here call "the Rim" (the Mogollon Rim) when winter snowmelt starts in N AZ and the water eventually filters into reservoirs (otherwise called lakes) in S AZ. Have you ever seen a flash flood? We get them then, and during our summer Monsoon season; ah, the power of heat on T-storms at 110 and above! Good thing we only get 7.5 inches of rain fall a year. Otherwise, more than the dozen or so cars/trucks that are swept away per year, would be.

[MikeT]

Well this afternoon it was sunny and + 1 Celcius...even saw a bike out near Pefferlaw on hwy 48. Couldn't make out what it was...looked like saddlebags on the back but no fairing, it was quite a distance away. Little crazy with nothing but snow and slush on the shoulders and every parking lot.
At least the snowbanks might cushion your fall.
Now at 6:40 pm the temps are dropping rapidly and it is supposed to get down to - 20 C plus high winds.
Luvly....I booked a bike school at Infineon in California for March....can't wait.

[Luxamor]

Up in the low 50's F today and I actually got to go for a brief rip before work.
Wow - I appreciate this bike more when I am away for a period of time.
Just excellent.

[Roadpizza]

Jordan, I saw the results of a flash flood when I lived in Ouray, Colorado. I worked my way up the canyon a few days later and could see the flood level had reached thiry feet or more on the canyon walls.

I'll mention here for comparison that we get an average of eighty inches of rain fall a year here.

Philip, you should only see what we here call "the Rim" (the Mogollon Rim) when winter snowmelt starts in N AZ and the water eventually filters into reservoirs (otherwise called lakes) in S AZ. Have you ever seen a flash flood? We get them then, and during our summer Monsoon season; ah, the power of heat on T-storms at 110 and above! Good thing we only get 7.5 inches of rain fall a year. Otherwise, more than the dozen or so cars/trucks that are swept away per year, would be.

[Luxamor]

I just posted this ride report which is definitely weather related.

[AZ-J]

Jordan, I saw the results of a flash flood when I lived in Ouray, Colorado. I worked my way up the canyon a few days later and could see the flood level had reached thiry feet or more on the canyon walls.

I'll mention here for comparison that we get an average of eighty inches of rain fall a year here.

So, friend, how many cars get swept away down the river, in 80" of rain a year? And, believe me, I know what you are talking about; where I grew up in NY, we got 77"/year (some of that being snowfall, when cars bash each other instead). I honestly can say I do not miss that cold or snow, or wet level at all, and I'll take our summer heat, the T-storms, and the micro bursts that now and then can pull a roof off, in exchange anytime.

[Roadpizza]

The only things I miss about living back East are lightening bugs and the Autumn colors.
As for things being washed away.... http://www.oregongeology.com/sub/Lan...-abstracts.pdf
That is a picture of one of our customer's home after a nasty bit of weather. The landslide washed across I-84 taking semi-trucks and covering the train cars that where to the north.

[AZ-J]

Not so nice - that wash away link. We have summertime wildfires that do plenty of damage, though. Often, no manmade thrown amount of water can stop them, rain does sometimes, if we are lucky enough to get some. And we call this weather, too.

[DaveC]

Today in Melbourne it was 43 degrees C (109 F). On the way to work this morning my OBC's ambient temperature read 22.5 degrees. Then in the afternoon when it was stinking hot, the display stayed on 22.5 degrees and never changed. It was about half an hour to get home in stop and go traffic, but I expected the OBC to catch up at some time. What's that about? It's now 9 pm and still 37 degrees (99 F) outside. At least our bedroom is air-conditioned

[steve n rose]

Dave, I'll have your 43 C any day, compared to our 36 C with max humidity.

[SKID]

Well it snowed while we were at The MCN London Motorcycle Show yesterday and on the way home too.

It has continued for most of the night with about 10" covering the everywhere so work got called off today but I've managed to keep myself busy see........

[steve n rose]

Yep, looks like a typical Englishman to me.
If things get a bit hot, they just melt away to nothing.

[Pat H]

[SKID]

My snowman has grown a bit



I can't stand daytime TV. I'd rather catch chill blanes.

[Darren J]

A bit thick-waisted. Don't get much practice making those eh?

[kismetcapitan]

mid 40s fahrenheit yesterday, I took the bike out to run errands as the weather was quite pleasant. But roads are slick - coated with salt residue or something. Never even got close to half-throttle, I tried it and spun my rear wheel.

I am very out of practice. The roads were a warzone and I had a bit of trouble mentally keeping up with the fast video-game pace it takes to dice it up in Seoul. Ended up dumping my bike at a stoplight when a delivery bike darted right into the spot I was headed for while maneuvering at the front of the stopped traffic. Basic slow motion front lockup and fall. Bent my damned shift lever which is bothering my to where I'm replacing it today - I've banged it straight too many times now.

I'm going to start riding daily now; I need to keep my mental skills sharp, and master the ability to ride on crap roads. They look dry, they ain't. My car is a riot - when the turbos come online all four wheels spin (it's AWD). Spinning wheels on a bike; not so good.

Traction control. It works. My neighbor's 1098R is running with DTC set at 7 (nearly for full rain conditions), and still hasn't clocked over 100km on the odometer. Just too dicey to ride such a thing - 4km little ride and that's it. The F800 can't put power down, a 1098R is stuttering, bouncing off the traction control like crazy.

[AZ-J]

I went on a 150 mile loop Sunday, mid 70s F to 50s, then 70s. In other words, up, down, up, and down again. But the snowline is now way outside of here, as opposed to four weeks ago, when we were surrounded by it @ 1 mile around the city.

[trevor]

Global Warming alive and well I see

I'm sure somehow the fact the Northern Hemisphere is up to it's eys in snow is due to Global Warming.

I mean lets not let science get in the way of a good story:-

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2008/02/1...ast-12-months/

Lot's more on google go look.

This is the best:- http://www.drroyspencer.com/ Once the govt. stops paying your wages you change your minds!!!

Wonder if Al Gore will make Inconvient Truth 2.0 ?

.

[nicko]

Global Warming alive and well I see

I'm sure somehow the fact the Northern Hemisphere is up to it's eys in snow is due to Global Warming.

.

Yeah well since the last couple of summers have been complete washouts, its been renamed simply as 'Climate Change' here. That way, the general populace can be fleeced tax-wise whatever turns out.

Mind you, I guess that will all be forgotten about until the economic situation picks up again. Thats something else which is the fault of the average punter in the street - nothing to do with greedy and inept corporates or blundering 'head-in-the-sand' governments......



.... not ridden for a couple of days, so I'm a bit grumpy.....


nicko

[noj]

Well I still can't get to work - beautiful day but no trains and I've wimped out on two wheel travel.

The road outside:



Home:



Better than yesterday







But Sunday was lovely:

[romanr]

At 05:30 it's +1F, -15F wind chill.
Forecast is 11F for a high, -5F tonight, wind chillls down to -20F.


It got up to +40F Saturday and I put 45minutes on the bike. First ride in 2 months.
Snow, ice, sand and salt on all the parking lots, roadsides and side roads. It's been a LOOOONNNNNGGGG winter.

[Will]

While the rest of the UK slips and slides on snow and London is nearly at a standstill again today. We in the South Lakes of Cumbria are enjoying bright sunshine, 4C temperature and I'm just off outside to wash the rest of the salt off the old K75S.

[SHU]

Well I still can't get to work - beautiful day but no trains and I've wimped out on two wheel travel.

The road outside:

I wouldn't call it wimping out. That road looks like a recipe for a crash. I wouldn't want to be out there on my bike with the cars slipping and sliding. Does anyone put snow tires on their cars there in the winter?

...........shu

[Luxamor]

I've been following the weather in the UK lately.
Really unusual to see that much snow in London.
Dream of spring and summer...it's working for me.

[noj]

Does anyone put snow tires on their cars there in the winter?

...........shu

No. But this is exceptional weather for us - in a normal 'winter' there's probably only 3 or 4 working days that I don't ride due to conditions - and think it was only 1 last year.

But also explains why the entire infrastructure grinds to a halt when it does snow a little