We’ve enjoyed a warmer than usual fall here in Western Pennsylvania, filling the memory books with memories of leafy rides through colorful foliage and days when we had to look twice at the calendar to remind ourselves that yes, this is December and we’re still aboard two wheels. Mother Nature and Old Man Winter had their inevitable conference call recently, bringing the lengthy riding season to an abrupt close. The winter riding gear is now cleaned and stored away for early spring journeys and we’re all faced with the prospect of two or three months of repairing, cleaning and lusting after motorcycles rather than clocking miles on them.
S few years back, this time of year would launch me into a distinctly nasty funk, my brooding, unhappy demeanor affecting not just my own mental state but that of my wife and extended family and friends.
With age (allegedly comes wisdom, and I’m learning to make the most of the winter riding break. A few of the lessons I’ve accumulated over the years are worth sharing and here’s a few tips that have helped turn frosty, gray days to one’s advantage:
1. Get In Shape: No matter how fit you were st the peak of the riding season, chances are your bod can benefit from regular exercise during the winter months. Each spring when the CRM crew heads westwards to test rider new bikes in So cal, I’m amazed at how little stamina I possess, especially in my legs and lower body. In recent years, I’ve taken the opportunity to fill the winter ,months with regular cardio exercise, pedaling a stationary bicycle and stretching for about 30 minutes most days. This or any type of regular workout will help ward off the wintertime blues and make for a sunnier disposition overall while the benefits of being fit and ready to ride when the sun finally shines again is a great idea.
2. Tune-Up That Ride: If you’ve ridden several thousand miles over the warm months, your bike very likely requires at least some basic maintenance. Why wait until the first warm days of spring to finally address that loose chain, the dirty, season-old engine lubricant and other tedious-but-necessary tasks when they can be accomplished now? Out team of skilled techs remind me that letting dirty motor oil sit inside your motorcycle all winter is actually quite bad for the intricate working parts, while fluid changes, inspecting bearings and brakes is always a good idea. Do. It. Now.
3. Pick a Destination: Whether you’re a short run type of rider or the meditative type who digs all-day (or even all-week) jaunts, there’s likely a few destinations that you weren’t able to reach during the previous riding season. I keep a written list of my favorite roads and areas in which to ride, but with the time constraints of a career and family to attend to, they’re often lost to the four winds. How many weekends have we rolled our faithful motorbike out of the garage with a far-off target in mind, only to receive a text, business call r other intrusive communication that turns that day of pure bliss into a hurried, 20-minute blast on a tiny section of our favorite road? Plan ahead now and make a written (or phone notes) list of places you intent to visit and apexes you’re eager to thrash and make a point to fulfill them when summer is again here.
4. Change Your Ride:
Few events in a biking life can inspire and reinvigorate like a new set of wheels. Life is immeasurably short and regrets many, so why not make the coming year the memorable one where your riding days are spent aboard that dream machine you’ve longed for? My grandmother often reminded people that no one ever saw a U-Haul truck following a hearse to a cemetery, so spend your money and enjoy yourself while you still can. Not in a financial position to buy a new motorcycle? There’s plentiful high-quality, low-mileage used machines to be had and prices are lower during the depths of winter than they will be in three brief months when showrooms are filled with customers.
