I had to work until 6pm today, but until then I was on the ambulance and noticed that the roads sure seemed to be okay. My company sponsors two bowling teams, and Tuesdays are the night they, er, play I guess. I had not gone to watch for a while (They are not very good, it is funny to see), and it felt like forever since I had been out for a ride. I actually don't know when I rode last, and don't want to think about it.

Walking home I saw the wet tire marks on the road, and know that the temps were cold enough for ice to form. I had said at the start of this winter I would not go riding when conditions were potentially dangerous, unless I had too. Then I decided I had to go for a ride, just for sanity sake. Heather was at work, so she couldn't object, so I put on my stuff sent her a text saying I was off, and headed out to the bike.


The alley looked like, well, packed snow over ice actually. I walked back and forth a few times, working out the best route. Typically, I then didn't take it.



The (sorta) pristine snow in front of the garage. Remember this for later.



Bike running, mostly warmed up. I am as ready as I can be, I guess.

As a confession, I am a bit of a gamer geek. Not computer games, Role-playing games (Like dungeon and dragons), and other sort of table games. One company, whose I have not played for a while due to lack of somewhere to play, recently opened a store near here, and I had a spur of the moment urge to go and visit. It was farther than bowling, but I was already going out.

The ride was...fine. I didn't fall over, which is always good. The road condition varied a lot, but was generally okay, 2 days after a snowfall.



Parking lot at the game store. It was very icy, but the Beemer dealt with it well.

After going in, saying hi, and watching some playing (Important to scope out a place to play before actually going there too. Game places are like bars, some you just don't want to be in.), I decided to head to the bowling alley. While I took the interstate to the store, this would be surface streets. There were some patches that could have been icy, but I either avoided them or just lucked out.



The bowling alley parking lot. Looks like fun, huh?



The Beemer at the bowling alley. I found a spot that was not iced in. My fellow employees were surprised to see me, but got over it and bought me sodas. Both teams lost. I was going to order a pizza, but never got the chance. Bowling alleys seem to have the best pizza.

The ride home was fine, and my trust in the Beemer grew. Last winter I had much worse tires, and I think these new ones are working out better (Marathon on the back, Lasertec on the front). The ride back into the alley was fine, though the rear did slip out a little as I was turning in. I was a little nervous because a truck had been following me, and I wasn't sure he was turning onto the alley as well.

My next surprise was a complete inability to get the Beemer back into the garage.


Don't they always look like they are about to fall over? There is a small ridge right at the edge of my garage, and I had all kinds of issues trying to get the bike over it. Worse, the parking spot is narrow, and I had to start over once because it was not lined up right.



I did get it in, however. And take a look at the snow in front of the garage now....



Nice and matted down.

All in all, it was a good ride, since I didn't crash. Played more with the heated gear too, but the temps (in the 20s) were not that cold compared to the clothes I was wearing. I need to be aware of the electric heat and dress lighter. Live and learn.

Little food action at the year round riders meet, New Glarus, WI
--xspain

Where do I live?

Contrary to popular believe, I did know this was an El Nino year when I
decided to try a winter without a car. I am not completely stupid, after
all.

El Nino means, in the midwest, milder than normal temps. Percepitation
is not affected, so I was expecting some snow, some rain, but it to
still be cold.

Instead we have had temps in the 40s and 50s. Clear skies for the most
part, and the blizzard of a month ago is a distant memory used to scare
small children. For my part, I got out my summer bike.

I know it will not last, but I hope you do not think less of me for
enjoying it while I can.
from the road --xspain

As New Years day approaches I end my first full month of what we in
Wisconsin consider winter. Apart from one week the weather has been
delightfully mild, and I am looking forward to a weekend of riding with
friends.

This is the first year my fiancee will be able to ride her own bike in
the Mil Vin Moto groups annual ride, so we got her bike out of storage
so she can rack up some miles before hand. That means the Beemer has to
go back outside, but I got it a nice new tarp.

I developed the hapbit of riding to work, even though it is only a block away. Makes the day start better, and gives me something to look forward to at the end of the day. There are day I need that.

This morning it was a balmy 25 degrees. I didn't get the Heated Gear for Christmas (It was the only thing on my list too, lol), but I did get a lot of fund towards it so maybe at the end of the week.

So long since the last post. Not my fault, really. After the bitter cold and knee deep snow, the weather as turned a (for December) balmy 40s and sunny, so I have been riding. There are still other bikes out too, so I am not even alone. If it stays like this, there will not be much point to blogging, since riding all winter will not be that big of a deal.

The Beemer came back from the Shop on Friday, and I have about 200 miles on it since then. I have to ride it now as much as I can, so I am used to it again when the weather is less agreeable. Odd how strange it felt, after not riding it for more than a month. Still, I am getting the hang of it again, and am not too worried for when winter returns.

I will have to go and take some pictures of Christmas lights. 'Tis the season, and all that.

Finally, Saturday, I had some time to go and look at Christmas lights. I headed downtown, since there is a nice display at Pere Marquette Park, next to the Milwaukee Historical Society. I know that, before the snow storm, it would be easy to get the bike up on the curb, and take some pictures.

Unfortunately, Milwaukee plowed the roads, and the sidewalks, resulting in a huge ridge between the two.


This is a picture from across the river, on the Riverwalk. Not as cool, but I need some snow to melt.


Little photo with the temp on it. The bike didn't show up so well, but you can see it. And I was off the main road, so it was probably the safest picture I took.

The Beemer is done, by the way, but the Shop, where it went for repair (It really is called the Shop, too), is still trapped by ice and snow. 4 wheeled vehicle are having problems there. I said I would pick it up anyway, but they want to take it for a test drive first, and I can't blame them for wanting the roads to be better.

Milwaukee is getting rain and above freezing daytime temps all week, so I have some hope again. We will have to see.