How long is the riding season where you live?
#1
How long is the riding season where you live?
I'm considering relocating from San Diego, and I'm curious about the riding weather in other parts of the country. Particularly vermont/upstate NY area, but let's just get all parts of the country in one thread. I'm actually heading out there again this weekend to go skiing and of course see how miserable it is in the wintertime.
Storing vehicles in the garage all winter is a foreign idea to me as I've lived in various parts of SoCal all my life.
Here in San Diego, riding season is 365 days/yr with exception of the rare rainstorm, and at worst when some of the mountain roads get snow and mudslides, or when weather is in the low 40s up there. I commute to work and downtown almost daily, unless I have to haul stuff to a jobsite, or if the weather sucks. Bikes actually are more convenient than cars here, because you can lanesplit and parking is easy and free.
Tell us how long your riding season is, what you do with the bike during the offseason for storage, maintenance, insurance, or if you have the mods and desire to brave the elements and road salt.
Storing vehicles in the garage all winter is a foreign idea to me as I've lived in various parts of SoCal all my life.
Here in San Diego, riding season is 365 days/yr with exception of the rare rainstorm, and at worst when some of the mountain roads get snow and mudslides, or when weather is in the low 40s up there. I commute to work and downtown almost daily, unless I have to haul stuff to a jobsite, or if the weather sucks. Bikes actually are more convenient than cars here, because you can lanesplit and parking is easy and free.
Tell us how long your riding season is, what you do with the bike during the offseason for storage, maintenance, insurance, or if you have the mods and desire to brave the elements and road salt.
#2
South Florida... Rains in the afternoon in the summer and a little chilly sometimes in the winter, but that's being really spoiled after living here awhile. Downside is the only turns are the on and off ramps and the roads, traffic, and drivers basically suck down here. Used to love to commute because of the insane traffic. Lanesplitting is illegal here although I always did it anyway, not so much on highways but in long traffic jams at lights and intersections.
Last edited by captainchaos; 03-17-2009 at 07:18 PM.
#3
I grew up in upstate and lived there or vermont from age 0-26, riding road bikes since 16. I could always ride in april and almost always be reliably riding till halloween. anything before or after was hit or miss and even some of the weeks in early april/late october could be sketchy depending on your dedication. Offroad stuff goes a little later. Beautiful roads between the catskills/adirondacks, green mountains it is really a great place geographically for riding and just general outdoors life.
where you thinking of moving to?
where you thinking of moving to?
#4
Yeah I grew up in jersey and always used to get to ride with my dad (in the 'vette) up in the catskills. Wish I could ride those same roads now on a bike.
#5
Not sure yet, but I fell in love with the state in general after visiting last August. We spent time with her family outside Burlington, lake Champlain, drove and rode around across the state and through NH and spent a few days in Boston. No offense to people from NH, but that place sucks, including the drivers. I was surprised at how different it was from VT. I felt like I was in Bakersfield or something.
I also remember visiting upstate NY as a kid. Beautiful area.
I also remember visiting upstate NY as a kid. Beautiful area.
#6
365 days a year here in San Antonio TX. Check out any 'Texas Hill Country' video on YouTube and you'll see what the area has to offer as far as riding goes. I came here from Minneapolis MN and I'm still getting used to a couple things (like the litter and grafitti), but I love the area. Also, I seem to be meeting plenty of people that have moved here from California. In fact, I work with 2 people from San Diego and about 5 total from California (and that's in an office of about 60 people). But, you seem to be looking into the NE part of the country so nevermind...
I cannot imagine moving back to a climate where the bike is in storage for at least 4 months of the year. It's easy to figure out why my motorcycle insurance doubled in cost when I moved to the South....I get to ride it twice as much!!
I cannot imagine moving back to a climate where the bike is in storage for at least 4 months of the year. It's easy to figure out why my motorcycle insurance doubled in cost when I moved to the South....I get to ride it twice as much!!
#7
You must have been in southern NH. If you were in the mountains on a weekend you were probably harassed by the MassHoles. NH is different from VT though. Southern NH is too developed now. Enough of the thread jacking.
In NH we get April to early Nov if you're brave.
In NH we get April to early Nov if you're brave.
#8
Tell me about it, at the rate I'm going I'll do 16K miles this year.
#9
It gets too hot here for me about mid-June. After the weather breaks in the fall (hopefully early September) we ride the rest of the winter through spring. Some days are too cold but we have gear and we go 45F to 95.
#10
Orange County, California. We usually get less rain than Los Angeles. This year is a major drought. I don't think it's really rained for more than 10 days this season.
I used to commute 80 miles a day in the rain years ago...splitting lanes and sliding sideways off the Bott's Dots. But I quit doing that about 15 years ago. I don't like getting the bike dirty. Also in recent years I didn't like taking off for work at 6:30 AM when it's in the 40's (yeah I know, I became a *****).
Now that I'm retired I don't get out of bed until at least 6:30, so I could ride every day that it doesn't rain. And I probably will, even if just for a surf check.
I used to commute 80 miles a day in the rain years ago...splitting lanes and sliding sideways off the Bott's Dots. But I quit doing that about 15 years ago. I don't like getting the bike dirty. Also in recent years I didn't like taking off for work at 6:30 AM when it's in the 40's (yeah I know, I became a *****).
Now that I'm retired I don't get out of bed until at least 6:30, so I could ride every day that it doesn't rain. And I probably will, even if just for a surf check.
#11
Try coming to Canada and ride!! We start, for the most part, around the end of May and ride until about mid October.....even then it's not guaranteed by any means. During the winter it can get as cold as -50c
Last edited by Grizz; 03-17-2009 at 11:58 PM.
#12
Kevin I grew up in Maine and I will tell you that the riding season may be from May to October but you will also have to deal with shitty frost damaged roads, lots of sand and gravel on the roads in the spring, wet leaves in the fall, and lots of rain storms. So out of the 6 months of riding time you may only get in 4.
#13
northeast Ohio, March Till About Late October. you get some warmer weather in march but there's usually to much salt and crap on the road to ride so its gotta rain a couple times before i go out. last weekend was the first for me 40 degrees and sunny it had rained the previous week so i'm good to go for now
but we usually get a freak snowstorm in April so i'm just waiting for that
but we usually get a freak snowstorm in April so i'm just waiting for that
#15
#16
Kevin I grew up in Maine and I will tell you that the riding season may be from May to October but you will also have to deal with shitty frost damaged roads, lots of sand and gravel on the roads in the spring, wet leaves in the fall, and lots of rain storms. So out of the 6 months of riding time you may only get in 4.
#17
NH is about april to nov like flyinghawk said. upstate has better roads then my southern but its still fun. I want to ride to vermont real bad because people seem to love and i drove through it once and the backroads looked so nice!
At least NH is "tax" free haha.
At least NH is "tax" free haha.
#18
RC
#19
San Diego - Bikers Paradise
That's a true statement as long as the ride starts around 11am and ends around 3pm. .
Early mornings can be a bit rough.......I live up in Ramona.....work in Carlsbad.......so I make the ~40 mile commute on the Superchicken in the late Spring, Summer, early Fall....but it gets down to the low 30's here in the mornings during the late Fall, Winter, early Spring AND I'd be riding home in the dark.......so I'm generally NOT interested.....besides, my focus is on "off-road" motorcycling Oct-March.....
That said, it's mid 50's this morning and the forecast is mid 80's in the inland valleys by this afternooon......and no more riding home in the dark now that time has changed........soooooo....... I'm riding the bike to work today
Moving away from San Diego ......re-think it.....
Early mornings can be a bit rough.......I live up in Ramona.....work in Carlsbad.......so I make the ~40 mile commute on the Superchicken in the late Spring, Summer, early Fall....but it gets down to the low 30's here in the mornings during the late Fall, Winter, early Spring AND I'd be riding home in the dark.......so I'm generally NOT interested.....besides, my focus is on "off-road" motorcycling Oct-March.....
That said, it's mid 50's this morning and the forecast is mid 80's in the inland valleys by this afternooon......and no more riding home in the dark now that time has changed........soooooo....... I'm riding the bike to work today
Moving away from San Diego ......re-think it.....
#20
No doubt , great roads up there ! I used to go up every other weekend till the cop's got really bad . Started doing trackdays instead ...cost about the same as a ticket & a whole lot safer ! But I am going to give the mountains another shot this weekend ,I just gotta remember to take it easy !
Last edited by HRCVTR1000; 03-18-2009 at 07:06 AM.
#21
and +2 on the tax free
#22
moncton nb canada:
june-october
winter storage:
find a garage, preferably heated
fill gas tank and stabilize
change oil & filter
keep battery in a warm place and charge every month or two
wash and wax
cover with cotton sheet
winter:
perform mods and other maintenance like plugs, air filter, etc...
dream of riding in the summer heat
june-october
winter storage:
find a garage, preferably heated
fill gas tank and stabilize
change oil & filter
keep battery in a warm place and charge every month or two
wash and wax
cover with cotton sheet
winter:
perform mods and other maintenance like plugs, air filter, etc...
dream of riding in the summer heat
#24
On the front range of Colorado our season fluctuates so much it is hard to pinpoint, some years the bike goes into the far reaches of the garage in November and comes out in March so 5 months of bike storage on average.
But this year has been very kind, I have yet to put the SH up for more than a week at a time. If you can stand a brisk morning ride from 39-50 degrees you follow that up with a pleasant 60-75 degrees in the afternoon, the past 3 weekends even the wanna-bees have been out. Honestly on the front range the riding season is usually mid March thru Halloween.
But this year has been very kind, I have yet to put the SH up for more than a week at a time. If you can stand a brisk morning ride from 39-50 degrees you follow that up with a pleasant 60-75 degrees in the afternoon, the past 3 weekends even the wanna-bees have been out. Honestly on the front range the riding season is usually mid March thru Halloween.
#25
Not sure yet, but I fell in love with the state in general after visiting last August. We spent time with her family outside Burlington, lake Champlain, drove and rode around across the state and through NH and spent a few days in Boston. No offense to people from NH, but that place sucks, including the drivers. I was surprised at how different it was from VT. I felt like I was in Bakersfield or something.
I also remember visiting upstate NY as a kid. Beautiful area.
I also remember visiting upstate NY as a kid. Beautiful area.
#28
phoenix az, 365. 2 hours north and your at 7000 feet for the summer months, lakes all around, beach is 6 hours west, and Mexico is about 3 hours south, there seems to always be somewhere to ride. We just did a 400 mile ride on Friday that took us through forest, rain, snow and through the red rocks of Sedona.