Are the lights on in here?!!!

[glwilson]

Anybody here?

What has happened around here?

My god... this place is dark and damp.

[kioti]

Everyone is depressed about winter coming or they are like me, I broke out my maps and started planning next seasons rides.

Is it spring yet???

[ponch]

THe lights are on, but no one is home.

[biscuitsngravy]

I think I see a flicker of a candle. BnG

[baddad]

Yes...Yes...I think i see it... there it is!!!!

[phenrichs]

Here ya go.

[glwilson]

Well... here we sit... deep in the snow and no where to go.

I shoveled eight to twelve inches of wet-thick snow -- it was like shoveling bricks... the snow blower couldn't handle it.

The bike is covered and put away... (has been for several weeks now).

Now... it is just a matter of biding my time for the next 4-5 months until the riding season begins again.

I have planned many new trips that I haven't taken before. Some in areas I have been before... some in areas I haven't.

For those that are looking to plan some routes this winter for next season... you might want to try using the Bing Maps 3D. This is Microsoft's answer to Google maps... only that it offers a 3D version whereby you can zoom-in and "slant" the view so that you can get an idea of what the road elevations are.

I have found this tool to be a great value. Instead of just looking at the map and choosing "twisty-roads"; you can actually zoom-in and slant the view and then move forward along the road to see if it also provides any changes in elevation. (Be sure to use the satellite view.)

I have discovered a few roads that I thought were flat; but actually have some hills and valleys along them. I have also found the exact opposite also -- thus saving me from having to ride those roads in place of the "better" ones.

Now... you may need to know that sometimes the elevations may not look all that high or low. This might be deceiving to some degree. I have looked at some roads I know are "hilly" for comparison and have found that even though it may not look that hilly in the slanted-3D view... it is more than you think.

Anyway... check it out and play around with it until you get familiar with it (it can take awhile to get the zoom, slant, and forward buttons coordinated at first).

I remapped several routes for the ND Rally in July and have come up with several really good rides that you can take depending on the type of riding you want to do.

Hope all your months in this winter are good ones; and that you don't go through too much of a withdrawal.

Greg

[phenrichs]

Greg I have two words for you.

Bigger Snowblower.

[glwilson]

Ha! That's what I was thinking, but my neighbor has one big enough to use on the interstate (I swear, this thing is huge), and it wouldn't handle it either.

It just kept getting ice packed around the impeller.

My advice...

Hire a snowplow to do the drive!!!!

[phenrichs]

I like that. Anytime I can move snow out of my driveway from the comfort of my recliner is a good day.

I like the new pic of the Ultra better than the old one BTW. That is a cool shot.

[roadman]

Yeah.....thats what I'm doing,is planning trips for next season.I plan on going back to Custer with a couple of riding buddies,sometime in late June.....i hope i can remember all the routes we did as a group while out there...so much to see and only 9 days to do it in :)

[phenrichs]

Give me a shout if you go through here on I-90 roadman. and don't worry about the routes, as long as you don't get off the paved roads you will always find your way back.

[roadman]

Ill be sure to give you a shout OP.

[glwilson]

Originally Posted by roadman

Yeah.....thats what I'm doing,is planning trips for next season.I plan on going back to Custer with a couple of riding buddies,sometime in late June.....i hope i can remember all the routes we did as a group while out there...so much to see and only 9 days to do it in :)

Late June?

Does that mean we won't be seeing you in July ???

[roadman]

I plan on making the rally in July also :)