Old Fair Weather Rider

[Rotten Ralph]

Past the three quarter century mark now and I have lost the desire to ride in 90F weather and 30F weather. Any of you elderly Guzzi guys (other than Lannis and Kev) experienced this? Or am I just turning into the old curmudgeon my wife says that I am?

[oldbike54]

 Same here Ralph , and I'm just a pup at 62 . If ain't fun I'm out .

 Dusty

[Wayne Orwig]

I have grown tired of high humidity stuff. Well, I no longer ask the wife to go with me in that weather at least. I'm sure that some of it is me, but it is like the humidity has gone up more than the temperature. 95F at 90% humidity just sucks.
Like last weekend at the Blue Ridge rally. Sunday morning, 75F for a few hours on the parkway was nice. But as we headed south, the temperature rose to 90F, and the humidity stayed the same, which was very high from the rains on Saturday. Yuck.
I still do year round, even when it is under 20F, but I have had an electric vest for 20 years too.

[rodekyll]

I don't get up in the morning saying "Yay!  Snow!  I'm going for a ride!"  But if it happens along the way it's just part of the deal.  I think the only think I REALLY don't want to ride in is another t-storm.  They used to be fun but now they're not.

But we all should ride in our comfort zones, be it speed, weather, or whatever.

[oldbike54]

 Snow can be cool , as long as the roads are clear , rain , well , I've been wet several times , haven't melted yet , but cloud to ground lightening freaks me out . Heat simply makes me sick any more , hardly even go out in it unlike 20 years ago .

 Dusty

[wymple]

I'm 67, and I rarely ride in the 90's temps. I also avoid anything below 60. I like comfortable, 70-75 is perfect.

[rboe]

While on the road you have to suck it up (as long as it's safe) but for day rides, coffee runs - meh, I'll take the truck if it's too hot or wet. Or leave early enough to avoid excess heat, cold or wet (cold is a bit easier to deal with now that I have electrics).

Rain especially. I put in all day rain rides when I lived in Minnesota. I figure I've paid my dues and don't have to prove anything anymore. Besides; you are supposed to enjoy your hobbies, not endure them.

[Testarossa]

I don't mind cold and wet, but I wilt in heat.  Passed out exercising in 100F weather once, so I won't go near the motorcycles if over 90F.

[Cam3512]

I hear ya Ralph.  Personally, I'd rather plug in and ride in cold temps as opposed to cooking in the heat.  And I'm still a quarter century behind you.  My air cooled Guzzi feels the same way.

[Aaron D.]

Still one of my favorite sensations on a motorcycle-riding as the evening cools a bit, short sleeves-lovely.

[m13]

OH! the good old days! I'm there too. That summer early evening ride and getting that exhilarating cool temps in the dips was sweet, but these days..Man this aging sucks in so many ways!,.. By sundown I am usually physically done, my night vision isn't the best. OH, the good old days! The heat? Nope, Never liked the heat. When I rode EVERY day in my twenties, like others have said, it was just part of the everyday experience, but now, I'll admit it,..I'm a Spring, Fall rider,..if I even ride at all!.. OH! the good old days!

[Lannis]

Any of you elderly Guzzi guys (other than Lannis and Kev) experienced this?

That's not very nice on a couple of levels .....         

[LowRyter]

I hate the heat.  Not that fond of tents either. 

[Rotten Ralph]

That's not very nice on a couple of levels .....         

 

[slowmover]

At 62 heat is bad. Windy too.Love the cooler temps.I've figured 39F is my limit.

[Triple Jim]

Ralph, I can't say I ever liked riding in temperatures under 30F, but I did it to get to class when I commuted to the University of MD.  Same with over 90, unless the humidity is low. 

Now I'm 58.  I took a package to the Post Office a week or two ago when the temperature was something over 90, and rode the Mille.  I figured after I dropped it off I'd take a long route home, the length determined by how hot I felt.  It was a pleasant ride, but I made it fairly short, because I could tell I was getting hotter and hotter as I rode. 

I do ride my bicycle 20 miles a day, and lately there's really no time of day when I don't lose a lot of water in that hour.  Maybe that means I get somewhat adapted to the heat.

So I'm not convinced age is really what's driving your preferences.  Maybe it's just experience.  Like why I don't drink 8 or 10 beers on a Friday night like I sometimes did when I was in my 20s.  I can still do it, but I've had enough of the side effects.  :)

[Red Dog]

Still don't own a cage by choice so I do ride year round. 

Last winter saw many mid 20's morning & had to push ice off the seat, summers here are very hot & humid so I do prefer cold weather riding.

Don't care for the heavy thunderstorms we get & I'm pretty sure that not too long ago I caught the tail end of a twister because I have never had wind that came at me from 3 different directions & could move a 900lb Victory sideways.  My Vic is the bike of choice for lousy weather riding it has a full fairing, barn door windshield & hard lowers with vents & heated hand grips & seat.  Very comfortable & stable ride.

I'm in my mid 60's

[Testarossa]

Maybe it's just experience.  Like why I don't drink 8 or 10 beers on a Friday night like I sometimes did when I was in my 20s.  I can still do it, but I've had enough of the side effects.  :)

The side effects have grown acute and onerous with the years. I love my beer, but the sugar rush keeps me awake and pissing all night long. The liver, kidneys and prostate just ain't what they used to be.  On the other hand, wine is fine.  I'm developing a new palate.

[Rotten Ralph]

Ralph, I can't say I ever liked riding in temperatures under 30F, but I did it to get to class when I commuted to the University of MD.  Same with over 90, unless the humidity is low. 

Now I'm 58.  I took a package to the Post Office a week or two ago when the temperature was something over 90, and rode the Mille.  I figured after I dropped it off I'd take a long route home, the length determined by how hot I felt.  It was a pleasant ride, but I made it fairly short, because I could tell I was getting hotter and hotter as I rode. 

I do ride my bicycle 20 miles a day, and lately there's really no time of day when I don't lose a lot of water in that hour.  Maybe that means I get somewhat adapted to the heat.

So I'm not convinced age is really what's driving your preferences.  Maybe it's just experience.  Like why I don't drink 8 or 10 beers on a Friday night like I sometimes did when I was in my 20s.  I can still do it, but I've had enough of the side effects.  :)

Jim, I taught a course called Biology of Aging and people do physiologically get less tolerant of heat and cold as they age. Obviously it varies quite a bit among individuals. End result is age AND experience are likely what's driving me to be a fair weather wimp.

[Triple Jim]

Jim, I taught a course called Biology of Aging and people do physiologically get less tolerant of heat and cold as they age. Obviously it varies quite a bit among individuals. End result is age AND experience are likely what's driving me to be a fair weather wimp.

It's possible I'm just in denial.  I'll  keep denying that I'm having any symptoms of aging until it makes me look too foolish to do so.  Like the way the knight in Monty Python and the Holy Grail kept denying he was hurt, even after his arms and legs were cut off.

On the other hand, wine is fine.  I'm developing a new palate.

That's a new one on me... wine being easier on the body than beer.  I guess before I doubt that, I need to start drinking more wine.  This is science, after all!

[StuCorpe]

At 74 myself and I will ride in both high heat and cold if I have to, but if I am getting ready to leave home and either one is present I will wait a day (or a week) before starting out.

[Triple Jim]

StuCorpe, do you ever run across Rick Brett up there in Traverse City?

[wildebube]

My range goes a little higher than yours, but I'm much the same.  I was a year-round rider for many years and have done several long stretches where motorcycles were my only transportation.  I rode in single digit temperatures and on days when the real temperature in traffic, in the sun, and over asphalt was at least 120 and probably a good bit higher than that, but no more.  Down to about freezing is still acceptable and I don't have any problem with the 90s, but when it starts hitting triple digits, I'm done.  Riding ceases to be fun for me when it's that hot.

Which, I might add, is why I'm sitting in front of the computer typing this response instead of out riding.

[Testarossa]

When I used to commute on the T, on hot days I could stuff coldpaks inside my mesh jacket. I can still do that, and suck on a Camelbak, but that only works for the first hour. If the wind is hotter than normal body temp, the breeze doesn't cool you -- it just sucks out the sweat while raising your fever.  Not healthy.

[Sasquatch Jim]

  I am 72 and still ride year round.  Always have, always will.  Yes, I have lived in Alaska, and the Pacific north wet, and the Midwest,  those are the reasons I now live where I live.  Many of those years, I didn't have a car or truck, so riding year round wasn't a choice.  Putting spiked tires on was.  Now days I haven't seen a day colder than the 50s or hotter than 100 for 6 years.  And damn few of those 100s.  probable less than 10 of them in six years.  Even in the 90s, it aint too bad because there is usually the trade wind blowing off the ocean.  Living on a rock has its' advantages.  Cost of living ain't one of them.
 BTW I am coaching a fellow soon to be septugenarian in fastening my old Ural side car onto his Eldo.

[NorthernProducer]

I turned 70 this year and noticed that my temperature (and humidity) limits have changed a lot over the 55+ years of riding.  My minimums are 60F and max is about 95F since retiring to the high humidity Southeast.  I'm sure that my military service related health issues have a role in what I can tolerate, but I'll keep riding as long as I feel able.  I do remember back in the early '60s riding my Cushman Super Eagle to school in the Ohio winters when it was below 32F and thought little about the temp's...even without the high-tech winter riding gear we have available today.  Aaahhh, those were the days!

[Mark Harpell]

I had a 25 mile commute to work at five a.m. Used to be if it was below 40, i'd take the truck, then it became 45.... Then 50..... Then we bought a house ten miles from work.....back to 40......when I hit fifty again...well, probly retire.....
This was my winter bike..til I got the Goose.......notice the hard water.......brrr... ...

[Lcarlson]

For a bunch of, ah, slightly middle ageish dudes (68 here), we seem to be doing all right. Everybody has their own preferences, and local conditions vary, but it's good to hear the willingness of most to keep the faith most of the time. Myself, I've generally avoided riding below 32 F to avoid the likelihood of ice, but otherwise I ride year round. An experience with triple digit heat in the Nevada desert last year had me leery of those temps, but it's not really an issue of anything but comfort around here. So, 30 - 90 F I ride if I feel like it; if not, I don't.

[Testarossa]

Today, while we waited for the weather to cool, I pulled out the vacuum gauges and rebalanced the carbs, turning the mixture screws about an eighth of a rotation in opposite directions. At 6:30 the sun went behind clouds over the mountains to the west, and the air temp fell to about 75F. We rode 45 minutes up into the foothills on Colorado Route 7, and had the road to ourselves except for a few motorcyclists hurrying down-valley as we ascended. At about 7000 feet, the air at 7:15 felt like 65F. Delightful.  Home in the twilight at 8pm. 

And yes, I swear the engine felt smoother, the exhaust burble more liquid.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Meh.. buncha wimps..