November 2020 Newsletter
Presidents Message
As the days get shorter and the weather gets cooler, I am thankful for where I live. In the winter months there’s just a little more daylight here than northern locations and the weather is mild enough to allow year around riding. This has not always been the case for me. Over the years I’ve changed where I live, acquired new equipment, and changed my attitude.
Growing up along the Wasatch Front, snow is a part of life almost 6 months of the year. And when there’s snow on the road, you just can’t ride. At least not far. When I moved to Maine, that didn’t help at all. Even more snow. But, years later, after moving to Southern California, I learned I didn’t have to live with snow. And it was good. All year ‘round. When I retired, I moved back to Utah, but to St. George where I still don’t have to deal with the snow. And it’s still good. I love being able to ride whenever I want.
I’ve been able to extend the riding season in cold weather areas, at first, just by bundling up. But the real game changer was when I got heated riding gear. This allowed me to ride with temperatures in the 20’s. I remember riding into downtown Salt Lake City to have a look at the 2002 Winter Olympics. And I could commute to work along the Wasatch Front on my motorcycle during every month of the year. Not every day, but at least one day during every month.
My attitude towards riding has changed with experience. When I was in my twenties, I recall riding with my wife when we got caught in a rain storm in Park City. Even though I had a fairing, the rain was pelting me in the face so hard I swore it was hailing. But it was just a hard rain at highway speed. We had to take cover and wait for the storm to pass. Fast forward a couple of decades to a ride through the Canadian Rockies. It rained all three days we rode through Canada. But this time I had a face shield, rain gear, and heated riding gear. The visibility was limited, but I was comfortable and I was riding. It was then I decided that a day in the saddle is a good day, with or without the rain. A few years later I had reconnected with a close high school buddy and we were out for a ride when it started raining. The weather was warm and I could see we would ride out of the rain within a half hour. So, no big deal. But after the ride, I learned my buddy was thinking we needed to get out of the rain and take cover. When he saw me pull off the highway near a gas station, he figured I was pulling in for cover. But I continued on past the gas station without stopping. We obviously had differing attitudes towards the rain.
So, as we approach the winter riding season, bundle up with the right gear and the right attitude and ride.
David Long