Cool Morning Ride

[biscuitsngravy]

Took off from Kennewick, WA this morning with two friends riding a Goldwing and a Beemer. Warmer than we expected at 43 degrees. Had breakfast at Vantage, WA along the Columbia River, then headed northeast to Ellensburg, WA, then south along the Yakima River to Prosser, WA, then back to Kennewick, WA. It was sunny and pleasant once the sun came out after breakfast.

Traveled about 210 miles. Our pace was between 60mph to 70mph. With my new exhaust system and power commander, I got 48mpg, which is an improvement. My Nomad ran and handled like a dream. You just can't beat 'em. (Well, the Beemer had heated grips and seat, but I'm trying not to be envious.)

Have a great weekend out there!

Sounds great. Reminds me of the trip I took this summer. Rode up from Utah through yakima (had to stop at the harley dealer because my two harley friends were with me) cut off at ellensburg and went up over blewitt pass over stevens pass and came back over highway 20 through Okanogan, Grand Coulee dam, spokane and south through Idaho. 6 days - what a great time we had!

[Idaho]

B&G and Wolfman, sounds like you guys had great rides with good friends. Can't beat that. Okay, you can but not easilly.

I had a meeting yesterday morning in Hagerman, Idaho. 154 miles away. Left home at 6 am, temp was 24 degrees, bike speedo registered 80. (what is the WCF at 24 degrees and 75mph?) I went about 80 miles and stopped to warm my hands and get a cup of hot coffee. Fingers were the only thing that started to get cold. Lots of cold weather gear. I'm thinking maybe a set of gauntlet style leather mittens with hand warmers in the mitten. If I can find a set there will be no stopping me. Okay, except for snow and ice on the road. I hate ice, especially on two wheels.

[biscuitsngravy]

That trip up through Okanogan/Omak is great for scenic views, Wolfman. I've been up there along the Columbia River many times at different seasons for business. Also have some friends in Tonasket and like to watch the sun go down on the Canadian mountains up there.
Great biking country.

[biscuitsngravy]

Hey Idaho.... the gauntlet gloves would draw me like a moth to a flame. Yesterdays cool ride would have been even better with a pair like you describe. Otherwise, I was pretty warm.

One of the best parts of the ride was riding through the indian reservation right after we left Omak in the morning. What a great motorcycle road!

[hangon702]

My only cool morning ride is when I ride to work at 3:30 in the morning http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif. you dont know how tempted I am to keep on riding.

[Idaho]

Hey Idaho.... the gauntlet gloves would draw me like a moth to a flame. Yesterdays cool ride would have been even better with a pair like you describe. Otherwise, I was pretty warm.

Found these at Cabelas. Review is from a guy who bought them for cold weather on his motorcycle. Looks promising.
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0047653960360a&type=product&cmCat=search&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&QueryText=leather+mittens&N=4887&Ntk=Products&Ntx=mode+matchall&Nty=1&Ntt=leather+mittens&noImage=0

[dogdoc]

Snowmobiling gaunlets gloves with Thinsulate and gortex sounds like they might be the warmest I might try next.

[socwkbiker]

B&G and Idaho and WM, may I be the first to officially say that the three of you are Nuckin' Futs! Warmer than you thought at 43? 24? Ok, I've ridden in just above 30 a few times, but you loonatics take trips! What the hell??? Do you have fur like bigfoot to stay warm? I would freeze my ass off and I've got a lot of ass! There's only one thing I can do:

I officially dub you three the founding members of the Kawanow Polar Bear Riding Club! See Trip for your patches.

As for those of us down south and in Nevada, I think we're quite content staying warm when we ride. http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

[Idaho]

LMAO. You Texans just don't appreciate what it means to ride without bugs. Of course the trade off is ice on the chaps.