| Author | Message | ||
     Widowmaker2011 |
Guys , my xb12xt is in the inlaws garage in Tampa and I'm here in Western NY DYING to ride. The fever is bad this year. Anywho.. I just found out I have to go to Florida for business the week of March 15th... I had intended to ride it home in late April or May, but opportunity knocks... I have all the right gear that I need , I have ridden since I was 5 (I'm 42) and have ridden in snow before. What I haven't done is travel 1400 miles in questionable conditions. I think I should be good up to Virginia.... looking for some advice....It's pretty much a no turn around kind of ride. | ||
| Greenman44 |
I was in ride home and no turn around circumstance, although I was riding from Virginia to Utah in mid November. Roads were great... weather was cold. No heated gear low to mid 30's the whole way, made it to Kansas before my wife and brother in law came to the rescue. I would say go for it it was fun just too darn cold. I would let plan for a couple of extra days in case the weather is bad. The day I got picked up the weather went from 30s to 65...bummer for me. Hope I didn't ramble to long. Good luck, and have fun. | ||
| Gsilvernale |
Go for it. What have you got to lose. If it gets really bad - stop, park it at some badwebbers house, and take a bus home. | ||
| Dynasport |
I'm in Tampa. Want me to ride it up for you? I'm just helpful that way. | ||
| Crusty |
I've ridden to Daytona Bike Week in early March a few times from Massachusetts. As long as you have the right gear, I don't think you'll have any trouble at all. It's usually pretty warm as far north as Washington, then it starts cooling down. Go for it. If you encounter a little adversity, it'll make the ride more memorable. | ||
| Mainstreamer |
I say go for it, but be prepared for the unexpected. Allow plenty of time for travel so that if the weather turns snotty you lay over for a day or two. Freezing rain or snow is possible in the NE that time of year. Also a heated vest would be a very good thing. Beware of hypothermia, it's a killer. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
I was just looking at possible routes and I think you would be OK until you get near lake Erie...... the lake effect snow could rear its ugly head. What route are you thinking about running? | ||
| Etennuly |
I'm looking at a potential ride to NW Pa in mid March. The way this winter has been I'm concerned about freezing rain or big snow accumulations on the roads. And then there is the potential for a big temperature dip. My other concerns are salt and sand while following or being near big trucks, and potholes in the roads at this time of year. In a normal winter I would have prepped the bike and had my stuff packed already. I'm gonna wait until the last minute weather reports before I decide on a 600 mile trip into the potentially frozen abyss. | ||
| Thetable |
The only thing I would be concerned about is trying to follow break-in recommendations on such a long ride, and being about 400 miles over on the first service interval. | ||
| Widowmaker2011 |
Wolferidgerider- This was my thought based upon historical weather... http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=S aintpaulia+St,+Homosassa,+FL+34446&daddr=VA-288+N+ to:41.14557,-76.992187+to:14777&hl=en&geocode=%3BF eiUOgIdqDdh-w%3B%3B&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=2&sz=5&via =1,2&sll=34.307144,-81.870117&sspn=21.133978,46.58 2031&ie=UTF8&ll=35.746512,-78.09082&spn=20.773178, 46.582031&z=5 | ||
| Johnboy777 |
You should be good until DC (cold weather wise), most likely, at that time of year. So DC to Buffalo, NY, or for about 7.5 hrs of riding, you might end up being colder than you'd like. Just a thought. . | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
That looks good to me! Avoid crossing the Appalachians all together is a good idea... Watch out for the crazy DC drivers! | ||
| Babired |
Make it a journey and plan to stop in historic places for pictures and stuff. I think I'm riding down to Georgia this April on the Uly. I'm going to take a western type of route and going back up I'm going to go up the coast. K | ||
| Widowmaker2011 |
I wanted to rid e the Blue Ridge Parkway bad... but thats not the time of year for that... Thanks for the tips , I'll either take the route I linked to or wait till memorial day and take the blue ridge.. | ||
| Thetable |
This is the route I would suggest. It should avoid most of the DC...um...stuff, and should put you riding right past Frederick Buell right about 1000 miles for that first service. BRP is a nice ride, but it's typically 10-15* cooler than it is below. And the surface quality leaves much to be desired this time of year. | ||
| Widowmaker2011 |
The Table.. I like that route better than mine. (Message edited by widowmaker2011 on February 23, 2009) | ||
| Ulynut |
Why not? If you get caught out in bad weather, you can always rent a U-HAUL to make it home.  | ||
| Nutsosane |
The Uly is worth the trip. NUTS (Message edited by nutsosane on February 24, 2009) | ||
| Crusty |
Why leave a bike in Florida when there will be numerous beautiful riding days before Memorial Day? Western New York isn't the Arctic. Believe it or not, the trees have leaves on them and the weather is beautiful long before the start of the summer season. Early March can be tricky; in 2004, I arrived home from Daytona in a snow storm. But in 2006, it was 62° when I got back. By late March, the weather should be much more agreeable. He has the skill and he has the gear. Go for it. God hates a coward. | ||
| Snakebreak |
Ride? Not ride? RIDE! "Life is 10% what happens to you, and 90% how you deal with it." |
