Weather, electrics question, and some interesting Guzzis

[johnr]

Weather

I live right at the bottom of this map.



Looking at the isobars there you can see that they are nearly vertical. That means a wind coming straight up off the Antarctic. There is a cold front shown passing over my house this morning too!

This translates into wind and rain, the ground white with hail and a max temp for the day of just 6C (42,8F)

While I know that many of you in North America put up with much worse than that due to your continental weather patterns (and not to mention that the US govt, has probably been frigging round with it  ::) ) that's cold for here, especially considering that we are just into Autumn.  

So anyway, on go the thermals for the first time this year and dress includes a thick woolen jersey (pullover), scarf and woolen beanie. That's for inside, I've no intention of going out today. It would be an ideal day to sit in front of a nice fire and read a book. No fire though. I live in one of those cheap concrete block flats. I've got a gas heater but it's out of gas.

Electrics

A thought has been bothering me for a while.

My Guzzi has it's alternator mounted quite low on the end of the crank. It is covered but is open to the atmosphere. This as you will know is pretty much a standard arrangement on Guzzis these days.

The question is, what happens to this device if you should go through a ford deep enough to submerge it? Can it survive that?

I'm not planning to do that you understand, but I can well see the situation arising and I would like to know if it was a 'go' or not.

Some interesting Guzzis.

I know nothing about these bikes as I pulled the images from a photography blog. They tend to be somewhat sporty reflecting the photographers taste. (He is a Guzzi man)

I do envy them their carbs. Such a simple and space saving solution.

[Muzz]

Got to admit John it was fun outside today playing with a hose ::) ::) Full blast to hit here tonight and in to the morning.  Hope you survive ok down there in Inverdrizzle. ;)

Haven't been through any rivers so can't report how the Breva's electrics perform.

[injundave]

Hi John,
I gotta sympathise, I went to the dog park with my mutt this morning and the southerly was one of those lazy winds. The temp now (11.25am) is 10C (50F) although its bright and sunny at the moment. I'm thinking about taking the bike out to try my new winter gloves.

Stay warm, you too Muzz!

Dave

[pehayes]

Quit your whining.  Early in March there was a town in the Abruzzo region of Italy, east of Rome that got 100" of snowfall in 18 hours.  That's  nearly 3 meters.  I would expect such perhaps in the Italian alps above the Guzzi factory (obligatory Guzzi content) but the victim town is in the central spine of Italy at perhaps only 4,500' elevation.  Do a google search for 'Capracotta snow'.
http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/10/europe/italy-possible-snow-record/

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

[Kiwi_Roy]

I doubt a river would worry the alternator just don't go dipping in the briney

[Markcarovilli]

Quit your whining.  Early in March there was a town in the Abruzzo region of Italy, east of Rome that got 100" of snowfall in 18 hours.  That's  nearly 3 meters.  I would expect such perhaps in the Italian alps above the Guzzi factory (obligatory Guzzi content) but the victim town is in the central spine of Italy at perhaps only 4,500' elevation.  Do a google search for 'Capracotta snow'.
http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/10/europe/italy-possible-snow-record/

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

My wife is from a small village, and we have her home there, about 20 km from Capracotta.   Know it well...

Can't wait to get back there in June to pickup some of your recommened Airone Rosso una buona liquore!

Mark

[johnr]

Quit your whining.  Early in March there was a town in the Abruzzo region of Italy, east of Rome that got 100" of snowfall in 18 hours.  That's  nearly 3 meters.  I would expect such perhaps in the Italian alps above the Guzzi factory (obligatory Guzzi content) but the victim town is in the central spine of Italy at perhaps only 4,500' elevation.  Do a google search for 'Capracotta snow'.
http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/10/europe/italy-possible-snow-record/

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

I well know that others can have things much worse than here, but I reserve the right to whine anyway. I think that part of the deal is what's normal in ones locality and how society, buildings etc are structured around that. For example I have a motorcycle. No other vehicle just the bike. I don't put it away for the winter and I either ride it or take public transport or walk. I expect to able to ride 12 months  of the year (though inland can get pretty dodgy in winter) So nasty Antarctic blows are less than welcome at this time of the year... and I whine.

Must say though that being on the coast I'm not subject to the kind of weather patterns of larger land masses (though the topography more or less simulates a continental weather pattern in inland parts of the island ) The price I pay for living in an area with island weather patterns. exacerbated by sticking out well into the roaring 40s is being subject to extreme changeability. 3, sometimes 4 seasons a day is not uncommon.