Polar Bear 2016

**cheesy** · 01-01-2016, 03:50 PM

The CX and I went goofy for a second year.

23F when I left home this morning. The 30F on the dial was the garage temp. Bike fired right up.

First part of the ride was north on IL-31 to Country Donuts in Crystal Lake, IL. The owner and I go back more than thirty years. My oldest worked there when she was in high school.

The roads were in decent shape for the most part but I saw that the south bound lane on IL-31, south of Algonquin, had slushy runoff on it, so I altered my route back home. SE on US-14, south on IL-59, and west on IL-72.

Back home.

40 miles total. The higher temp showing is from the bike being parked while I went in the house to do a quick charge to my camera. The cold did it in. Weatherbug showed the temp to be 25F.

My cold weather gear consisted of polypro t-shirt and longies, wool sweater and socks, lined wind pants, thinsulate lined boots, lined leather jacket, Turtle Fur balaclava, and winter MC gloves.

Another Polar Bear in the books.

Weldangrind · 01-01-2016, 04:09 PM

Good for you for braving the cold. Not worried about salt damage?

**cheesy** · 01-01-2016, 04:27 PM

Not really. More concerned about icy patches at 60 mph.

DaytonaMike · 01-01-2016, 06:34 PM

And I thought jumping in a half frozen lake/ocean was crazy!! hahaha Glad you made it home safe.

I think those ice patches and the little tiny motorcycle tire contact patches would have been enough to keep me home at those temps.

SpudRider · 01-01-2016, 08:46 PM

Congratulations, Cheesy.

I wouldn't contemplate a polar bear ride in Idaho, today.

The temperature at 8:00 AM was minus 14 degrees, Fahrenheit. The high temperature today was positive 14 degrees, Fahrenheit.

**cheesy** · 01-01-2016, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpudRider

Congratulations, Cheesy.

I wouldn't contemplate a polar bear ride in Idaho, today.

The temperature at 8:00 AM was minus 14 degrees, Fahrenheit. The high temperature today was positive 14 degrees, Fahrenheit.

Now that's cold.

SpudRider · 01-01-2016, 09:42 PM

I hope El Nino kicks in as anticipated.

Please post a photo of the Polar Bear Patch after you receive it.

jbfla · 01-01-2016, 09:48 PM

Nice looking CX Deluxe!, Cheesy.

I bought mine new in 1980. Sold it to a friend a few years later with 5,000 miles on the odometer. It is still in his garage with only a few more miles on it.

You are one brave guy to venture out in that cold.

jb

FastDoc · 01-02-2016, 12:43 AM

I am really counting on that L Nino do you also, but I am less than Hopeful...

FastDoc · 01-02-2016, 12:44 AM

Cheesy, I can't tell you what a believer I am in electric dear. My personal record was 16 on the Gold wing, and I was out all day. As long as it's sunny you're good to go. I assume there was zero sign of ice on the road? It looks like there is plenty of snow to go around, I would've been a little bit worried for you

FastDoc · 01-02-2016, 12:45 AM

I was out today, temps in the 20s, but on a bicycle. I don't think I am very bright either, so I am no one to talk lol

culcune · 01-02-2016, 05:03 AM

The other week, it showed 32 F on my car's thermometer here in Yuma. It has been so cold, I have been driving since we have been having mornings in the 30's here, and my wife is out of town (the reason the vehicle is free!!). When New York was in the 70's, like Christmas eve, it was in the high 30's, AND 20 to 30+ mph winds in L.A. (not sure if Yuma was as cold).

**cheesy** · 01-02-2016, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FastDoc

I was out today, temps in the 20s, but on a bicycle. I don't think I am very bright either, so I am no one to talk lol

Ha. The guy that has the donut shop hosts the Annual New Years Day Freeze Your Ass Ride in the afternoon. The plan is to ride the distance of the days' temp at the start. One or two times it was so cold that we sat in the shop and just had coffee and donuts. One year, we had so much snow on New Years Eve that we opted to cross country ski. I've done it several times in the past but not since 2008. That year was fairly warm but it was snowing so hard that we couldn't see. We reasoned that if we couldn't see, neither could the cagers, so we bailed early. That was the year after the clobbering and I found I could no longer keep up.

BTW, Doc, my record low temp on the moto is 19f. I have no electrics. On the bicycle, though, it is -15F. You'd be surprised how many strange noises come from a bike chain at that temp.

jb-Get it back.

Spud-Just getting the date rocker this year. I have the Polar Bear rider patch. http://www.piperspatches.biz/PolarBearRide.html

culcune-Cold is relative. That would be a riding day for me. My grand kid from Maine kept going outside without a jacket while she was here.

FastDoc · 01-02-2016, 04:42 PM

-15!!!!!!!'

Brrrrrrrr

**cheesy** · 01-02-2016, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FastDoc

-15!!!!!!!'

Brrrrrrrr

Not my brightest idea.

01-01-2016, 03:50 PM	#1
cheesy Moderator Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Elburn, IL Posts: 5,817	Polar Bear 2016 The CX and I went goofy for a second year. 23F when I left home this morning. The 30F on the dial was the garage temp. Bike fired right up. First part of the ride was north on IL-31 to Country Donuts in Crystal Lake, IL. The owner and I go back more than thirty years. My oldest worked there when she was in high school. The roads were in decent shape for the most part but I saw that the south bound lane on IL-31, south of Algonquin, had slushy runoff on it, so I altered my route back home. SE on US-14, south on IL-59, and west on IL-72. Back home. 40 miles total. The higher temp showing is from the bike being parked while I went in the house to do a quick charge to my camera. The cold did it in. Weatherbug showed the temp to be 25F. My cold weather gear consisted of polypro t-shirt and longies, wool sweater and socks, lined wind pants, thinsulate lined boots, lined leather jacket, Turtle Fur balaclava, and winter MC gloves. Another Polar Bear in the books. __________________ Cheesy ______________________________________ 07 Hi Bird Enduro-Flown the Coop 07 Ural Gear Up 79 Honda CX500 77 VeloSolex 4600 V3 73 VeloSolex 3800 I'm making this up as I go.-Indiana Jones Telling me something 'is for my own good', is a fast way to a fat lip.-Me I don't even care about my own problems, why should I care about yours?-Quote on one of my favorite t-shirts
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01-01-2016, 04:09 PM	#2
Weldangrind Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sardis, BC, Canada Posts: 25,977	Good for you for braving the cold. Not worried about salt damage? __________________ Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer
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01-01-2016, 04:27 PM	#3
cheesy Moderator Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Elburn, IL Posts: 5,817	Not really. More concerned about icy patches at 60 mph. __________________ Cheesy ______________________________________ 07 Hi Bird Enduro-Flown the Coop 07 Ural Gear Up 79 Honda CX500 77 VeloSolex 4600 V3 73 VeloSolex 3800 I'm making this up as I go.-Indiana Jones Telling me something 'is for my own good', is a fast way to a fat lip.-Me I don't even care about my own problems, why should I care about yours?-Quote on one of my favorite t-shirts
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01-01-2016, 08:46 PM	#5
SpudRider Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Idaho Posts: 25,054	Congratulations, Cheesy. I wouldn't contemplate a polar bear ride in Idaho, today. The temperature at 8:00 AM was minus 14 degrees, Fahrenheit. The high temperature today was positive 14 degrees, Fahrenheit. __________________ Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." Mark Twain 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894
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01-01-2016, 09:42 PM	#7
SpudRider Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Idaho Posts: 25,054	I hope El Nino kicks in as anticipated. Please post a photo of the Polar Bear Patch after you receive it. __________________ Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." Mark Twain 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894
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01-01-2016, 06:34 PM	#4
DaytonaMike Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Colombia Posts: 91	And I thought jumping in a half frozen lake/ocean was crazy!! hahaha Glad you made it home safe. I think those ice patches and the little tiny motorcycle tire contact patches would have been enough to keep me home at those temps.
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01-01-2016, 09:48 PM	#8
jbfla Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: FL, GA, NC Posts: 771	Nice looking CX Deluxe!, Cheesy. I bought mine new in 1980. Sold it to a friend a few years later with 5,000 miles on the odometer. It is still in his garage with only a few more miles on it. You are one brave guy to venture out in that cold. jb __________________ 2016 Honda CB500F......2017 Triumph Street Twin 2014 XT 250........
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01-02-2016, 12:43 AM	#9
FastDoc Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southeastern Washington desert Posts: 14,761	I am really counting on that L Nino do you also, but I am less than Hopeful... __________________ Happy to serve.
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01-02-2016, 12:44 AM	#10
FastDoc Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southeastern Washington desert Posts: 14,761	Cheesy, I can't tell you what a believer I am in electric dear. My personal record was 16 on the Gold wing, and I was out all day. As long as it's sunny you're good to go. I assume there was zero sign of ice on the road? It looks like there is plenty of snow to go around, I would've been a little bit worried for you __________________ Happy to serve.
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01-02-2016, 12:45 AM	#11
FastDoc Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southeastern Washington desert Posts: 14,761	I was out today, temps in the 20s, but on a bicycle. I don't think I am very bright either, so I am no one to talk lol __________________ Happy to serve.
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01-02-2016, 05:03 AM	#12
culcune Join Date: May 2006 Location: Yuma, Arizona Posts: 9,035	The other week, it showed 32 F on my car's thermometer here in Yuma. It has been so cold, I have been driving since we have been having mornings in the 30's here, and my wife is out of town (the reason the vehicle is free!!). When New York was in the 70's, like Christmas eve, it was in the high 30's, AND 20 to 30+ mph winds in L.A. (not sure if Yuma was as cold). __________________ "They say that life's a carousel, spinning fast you got to ride it well..." TGB Delivery Scooter 150 TMEC 200 Enduro--carcass is sadly rotting in the backyard
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01-02-2016, 04:42 PM	#14
FastDoc Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southeastern Washington desert Posts: 14,761	-15!!!!!!!' Brrrrrrrr __________________ Happy to serve.
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