KEYS TO RIDING IN THE RAIN

Are you comfortable riding in the rain? If you have not done much riding on wet roads, may be it is time to include a rainy weather skill set in your 2010 riding goals. My keys to riding in the rain will be a good start.

• Good Tires: Make sure your tires have good tread
• Rain Gear: Have good rain gear http://www.aerostich.com/aerostich-suits
• Dry Hands: Have good hand gear. I like aerostich triple digit glove covers
• Dry Feet: Have boots that keep you dry. I use Redwing Leather Conditioner for waterproofing boots.
• Slippery Roads: Remember the roadways will be particularly slippery for the first 10 minutes after the start of the rain, as oils, gas and other chemicals on the roadway have not been wash away.
• Short Rides: Take short trips when it is raining to get comfortable. Much is psychological, as I have found the roadways to be just fine. It is more a matter of gaining confidence.
• Take It Easy: No need to be in a rush.
• Slippery Surfaces: Be wary of painted surfaces on the roadway and sewer covers etc. as I have been told these surfaces can be slick. Personally I have never experienced slipping on them.
• Nice And Easy: No need to rush on corners and turns. As you learn how your bike responds, you can increase your speed.
• Keep Your Distance: Make sure to have greater spacing behind cars and your riding buddies to allow for greater stoping distance.
• Be Adventurous: Ride in some really nasty weather for fun.
• Be Aware: You vision will be reduced along with other drivers. So will your visibility.
• Have Fun: Enjoy learning to ride in the rain. You are on your way to becoming an Every Day Biker (EDB)

Warning Kickstand in not a motorcycling expert and is actually rather stupid too! Please take my advice and check it with credible sources.

JAY COOKE STATE PARK RIDE

Northern Minnesota has hundreds of miles of scenic roads to ride. I suppose there are many other areas in the United States that offer just as many great roads, but I think we have the best. One of my favorite rides is along the Northshore of Lake Superior. http://www.northshorevisitor.com/

Another great ride is on Highway 23, which is also called Veteran's Evergreen Memorial Drive
http://www.byways.org/explore/byways/11184/stories/53858 This highway starts very near my home and goes diagonally across the state from Duluth to the southwestern corner of our state. The 50 mile section from Duluth to just past Askov is a great ride.

I want to introduce you to a fantastic eight mile section of road that goes through Jay Cooke State Park. http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/jay_cooke/index.html


On the outskirts of Duluth in a community call Fond Du Lac highway 210 follows the St. Louis River into Jay Cooke State Park.

The roadway is in good conditions and winds through a forrest of white birch, poplar, maple, white pines, red pines and cedar. It is late fall in Duluth, but the temperature was near 50 when I took this ride on November 11. Our average high for this time of year is about 38 degrees, so we consider this weather rather balmy!

The St. Louis River is in the background. http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/watertrails/stlouisriver/index.html

After traveling 2 miles on 210 the road enters the state park.

After leaving the state park, the road brings you to the city of Thompson population 153.

Leaving Thompson the 210 crosses the St. Louis River.

About a mile past the bridge 210 enters the city of Carlton population around 330.

From Carlton there are many county roads that offer great motorcycling.

WHEN FOOLISH WAS FASHIONABLE

I've been on this earth long enough to remember when foolish was fashionable. I long for those days again. It was a time when people were a bit more light hearted and did not seem to dwell as much on the ills of this world.


I have never been willing to let go of those days. So in the eyes of many, I don't act my age. Maybe I am a little too goofy at times and people have just cause in being annoyed by me. But if that is the price I need to pay for a light hearted, and some what silly slant on life, it is worth it!

To be a true Nobody one needs to be willing to be involved in some Tom foolery and not take oneself too seriously. Try some foolishness on for size and let me know how it goes.

THE LAST RIDE

Our last ride of the year is the Sturgeon Bike Week Ride. We go down Highway 23 then take some back roads over to Highway 61 to Sturgeon Lake and continue on 61 back to Duluth. This year the ride was on Saturday Oct. 17. It was in the low 40's and sunny.

Dirty Deeds, Kickstand and Pretzel

Left to right: Smelty, Thunder Brother,Dirty Deeds, Kickstand and Pretzel

We made a stop at the Nobody Museum where the curator Flash showed us around

Smelty and Pretzel are happy to be riding together. Smelty had cycle problems for a good part of the summer so he was not on many rides.

Dirty Deeds and Flash at the club house before the club headed down the road

Thunder Brother is getting better at riding in less than ideal conditions. By the time he is the age of Kickstand he will be riding in the snow and loving it.

I messed up and put the photos in the wrong order, so I am not including photos of the museum. But don't fret, I will do an article on that in a few days. We ended up riding down to Askov and eating lunch then heading back to Duluth as time became a factor. It was a 95 - 120 mile ride depending on where one called home. We are going to have more rides this late fall and winter, but they will be limited to the real stupid Nobodies.

As I am finishing this blog entry, Pretzel, Kickstand, Jawa and Smelty are still riding.