sburns
Well-known member
At least it's kinda green on the west coast, still bland and brown over here.
Who's still riding? (Fall & Winter 2024 Edition)
- Thread starter PrivatePilot
- Start date
I got out on Friday after the sun expectedly came out and it got also unexpectedly warm. I'd say it was the first really enjoyable ride since last November. Didn't/couldn't go far, but it was nice to be out.
Was going to go out today but blech, temps not great, lost enthusiasm. Went over and did some stuff with the camper instead to get it ready for the long weekend in 4 weeks.
Next week the temps are looking pretty solidly better than what we've been getting at least, although I did swap all the snow tires off the cars, turned on the garden hose tap in the garage again, and put away the snow blower, so I'm tempting fate. I've left one shovel on the front porch just in case lol.
Was going to go out today but blech, temps not great, lost enthusiasm. Went over and did some stuff with the camper instead to get it ready for the long weekend in 4 weeks.
Next week the temps are looking pretty solidly better than what we've been getting at least, although I did swap all the snow tires off the cars, turned on the garden hose tap in the garage again, and put away the snow blower, so I'm tempting fate. I've left one shovel on the front porch just in case lol.
Finally got the bike out for a ride after work. Only half hour to get the season started. Felt great to be out again. Of course forgot the new ear plugs to try out. Oh well. Here’s to a new season. 
sburns
Well-known member
Did a ride around north end of Lake Simcoe via Mono/Hockley valley (somehow that works). The tree damage on North Simcoe was intense. They are still cleaning up, saw lots of crews out from Barrie to Orilla.
When I crossed lakeside drive through Barrie, the temps were perfect, and there was a nice cool breeze off the lake. So nice!
When I crossed lakeside drive through Barrie, the temps were perfect, and there was a nice cool breeze off the lake. So nice!
I got out for a good solid 3ish hours solo after work today, first "real" ride of the year I'd say, and quite nice temperature wise until the last half hour as the sun was setting. Stopped in Cobourg for a nibble, went up to Roseneath and after a stop there toured around, came back along Rice lake scenic drive, through Gores Landing and across the backroads towards home.
It was that first ride of the year when I was reminded of many of the things I love about riding. Passing through little towns, kids waving at you, two guys shooting the **** gave me a beer bottle lift-salute from a driveway as I passed, the smell of people burning freshly raked leaves, the smell of someones campfire, passed a farmers field that was being tilled and that awesome deep earthy smell, freshly spread manure at one point (hey, it's a country thing, and it signals spring lol), and then that "golden hour" smell that comes out of the forest about a half hour before sunset - not sure if there's a name for that (it's kinda like Petrichor but without the rain), but all of those are smells that I loved as a kid who was raised to love the outdoors, and they still all hit home.
Given all the insanity recently, it was some true wind therapy.
It was that first ride of the year when I was reminded of many of the things I love about riding. Passing through little towns, kids waving at you, two guys shooting the **** gave me a beer bottle lift-salute from a driveway as I passed, the smell of people burning freshly raked leaves, the smell of someones campfire, passed a farmers field that was being tilled and that awesome deep earthy smell, freshly spread manure at one point (hey, it's a country thing, and it signals spring lol), and then that "golden hour" smell that comes out of the forest about a half hour before sunset - not sure if there's a name for that (it's kinda like Petrichor but without the rain), but all of those are smells that I loved as a kid who was raised to love the outdoors, and they still all hit home.
Given all the insanity recently, it was some true wind therapy.
We hit this area on Saturday heading out to the Fogoris Brewery. That is some nice lazy zig zagging.
Glad to hear you got out. From your posts it was easy to tell you were really jonesing for a ride.
" passed a farmers field that was being tilled and that awesome deep earthy smell, freshly spread manure at one point"
I'm guessing we passed the same mega manure tanker and tractor just off the Ganaraska Road flinging its contents in a 60 ft. radius . Could smell it forever.
I'm guessing we passed the same mega manure tanker and tractor just off the Ganaraska Road flinging its contents in a 60 ft. radius . Could smell it forever.
I know it’s revolting to some people but I grew up spending a lot of time in the country so it’s just one of those smells that doesn’t bother me much, and in a strange way is actually enjoyable in that it means spring has finally arrived lol.
And yep I was on ganaraska road at one point. Might have passed you, saw a few adv guys going east if you’re on an adv
And yep I was on ganaraska road at one point. Might have passed you, saw a few adv guys going east if you’re on an adv
Got out for another few hours this evening, great weather at long last. Unfortunately my back is objecting to pretty much everything right now. Always something. 
Priller
Well-known member
Great weather today, but all I could do was my usual QEW commute into Toronto. Still, great to get out, and saved myself about 15 minutes in the HOV lane as a nice bonus.
Not much good in the 14-day forecast, though, so don't expect much more than short blats until May...
Not much good in the 14-day forecast, though, so don't expect much more than short blats until May...
Going to take a few days off to rest the back, weather is crap anyways today and tomorrow from the looks of it- aiming for an Algonquin loop on Sunday I think as it is looking great on the flip side.
Plenty of moose on 60. Even in the afternoon yesterday.
Went all the way to freakin James bay last summer and saw something like 2 rabbits and a mangy fox, I’ll take a moose lol.
Been there twice and never saw a moose.
Just following up on my memorial Iron Butt ride I posted about last fall.
The ride was certified by the Iron Butt Association a few weeks ago and then the boss himself (Mr. Kneebone) reached out to me directly regarding the certificate. There was some question why I didn't run the ride initially when it was initially posted as these sorts of memorial rides are typically part of an official IBA sanctioned event, or a ride to the funeral of the lost rider, and then they're "closed" and never certified ever again. I explained how I wasn't able to participate at the time as I was in a bad spot with my head injury and there was no way I would have been able to safely run an IBA. The last thing I wanted to do was be another statistic like the fellow we were already remembering.
So, they agreed to not only allow the ride with the memorial certificate, but to make it a one-off Canadian 1600 km/24hrs version vs the 1000 mile/24 hours that it was originally certified as.
So not only will I have the certificate, I'll have a complete one-off that nobody else has, and probably never will have.
They also volunteered to add in a few extra certs as I said that I'd like to give one of them to his widow - she said she'd like to have something to memorialize his final ride and I don't think she ever got one of the original certs.
So, yeah, awesome.
And with that, I think it's time we put this thread to bed for yet another winter as we're officially into the 2025 riding season.
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So far from the pics I have seen riders are on dry and wet roads.
What happened to the die-hards driving on snow and ice covered roads where we get real snow like in Montreal taking turns with the front wheel at full lock Kenny Roberts style dirt tracking. And down to -23C where two hours later while watching TV, you knees are still cold even though you were extremely well dressed.
Sheesh, riders these days.
What happened to the die-hards driving on snow and ice covered roads where we get real snow like in Montreal taking turns with the front wheel at full lock Kenny Roberts style dirt tracking. And down to -23C where two hours later while watching TV, you knees are still cold even though you were extremely well dressed.
Sheesh, riders these days.
I hated taking the bus and drove to the bike shop daily all year long. Lets not talk about the number the salt did to the engine cases.
I am not the one pulling their suspenders out to see how late people are riding. Besides the GTA does not get any real winter. Going to motorcycle shows in the GTA, there was always some motorcycles parked outside.
