Cold Weather Challenge

WINNERS:

  1. Bob Hedstrom: -16°F, 10.1 mi
    1/15/09, Minneapolis, MN, 2007 Vectrix
    … I’d been riding a Vectrix a lot during the past summer and always trying to test its limits. I really wanted to see what extreme cold would do to battery performance.
    After checking the temperature at 10:45 am and it was still hanging in at -19. Time to ride. The Vectrix has a lot of torque and even the bare looking portions of the streets had a bit of slip to them. I had to be very careful but kept it upright the whole time. I outriggered my boots in all turns…
    Map
  2. Tom S.: -11°F, 11 mi
    1/15/09, Omaha, NE, 2008 Yamaha Zuma
    Commuting in my Jeep is not a whole lot different from being on my Zuma at these temps so I bundled up extra good and headed to work on the Zuma of Doom! 90mpg is always better than 12mpg!… It’s getting cold enuff to where I’m ALMOST ready to give it to the Minnesotans… NOT IN A MILLION YEARS!!! haha!
  3. Colin Doyle: -10°F, 14.1 mi
    12/15, Collegeville, MN, Honda Ruckus 50
    Video!
  4. Luigi G.: -7°F, 10.1 mi
    1/16/09, Dover MA, 1970 Vespa GTr
    I had to do the run early in the night instead of just before sunup as I needed to get finished packing for the long ride to the FYBO rally… (epic report in comments below)
  5. Stefan: -6°F, 10.3 mi
    1/16/09, Cleveland, OH, 1980 Vespa P200
    Old lady was driving me into work…I see the temp at Walgreens was -12°, and i’m all like “it’s on!.” get to the shop, fire up the “mf’n juggernaut beotch p-deuce”, map out a nice 2.5 mile loop, and run it 4 times.…Is it true the runner up prize is a 3 second pull on a bottle of malort with an old style chaser?

THE RULES

  1. All rides must be on a two-wheeled motorscooter. No motorcycles. No sidecars. No three-wheelers (Yes, the Piaggio MP3 has three wheels and is ineligible.)
  2. Entries must meet the minimum distance requirement of 10 miles of continuous riding. List your distance in miles (to one decimal place if desired), and measure your route using a GPS or Google Maps if possible. Scooter odometers lie.
  3. List the ambient temperature in degrees Fahrenheit as listed by NOAA at the time and place of your ride. No, wind chill doesn’t matter when you’re already riding 30+mph. If the temperature varies over the course of your ride, post the average of the high and low temperature.
  4. Coldest temperature wins. If you go 100 miles in 20°F, and somebody else only does 10 miles in 19°F, 19°F wins. If two riders claim the same temperature, the longer distance will be the tiebreaker.
  5. This is just for fun, and on the honor system. If you want to lie it’s up to you. If somebody claims they did 10 miles in 15°F in Florida, we’ll know something’s up.
  6. Your entry must be a ride you just did. Don’t post about how last year you rode in really cold weather. Don’t post about how hardcore your dad is. Your ride must take place between 11/27/08 and 02/28/09
  7. Contest starts at 12:01 am on November 27, 2008 ends at midnight on Feb. 28, 2009.

HONORABLE MENTION

People living in colder climates (aka, Minnesota) have an advantage in this contest so we also separate competitors by state. If you’re riding in cold weather for your neck of the woods, enter anyway, you might win honorable mention for your state. The same CWC rules apply.

HOW TO ENTER

If you’re not already registered on 2strokebuzz, go ahead and register. Your email address will be kept private.
After you’re signed in, cut and paste the following information into the comment form below. Be sure to fill in all the blanks. “Your Story” and photos are optional, but we’d love to hear/see them. 2strokebuzz reserves the right to repost your linked photos, especially if it’s a great photo or if you’re a current leader.


Name: **First name, last initial at least**
Temperature: **°F
Distance: ** miles
State: **
City: **
Date: **
Time: **
Scooter: **year make model**
Your CWC story: **optional**
Photos: **optional, (use tinyurl if possible)**
Map: **optional, (use tinyurl if possible**

NEW: Rye set up a CWC Flickr Pool if you’d like to include your photos there.

Please use the comment thread of this page for entries only. Badmouthing, backpatting, and bragging is welcome on update threads on the main site.

Good luck, and be safe. This is a non-commercial, totally unsanctioned event and is being held informally just for fun and bragging rights. The organizers accept no liability for injury or property damage. Riding in cold weather is even more dangerous than riding in warm weather, don’t ride outside your comfort level or take unnecessary risks.

47 thoughts on “Cold Weather Challenge”

  1. Name: Bryan B.
    Temperature: 30°F
    Distance: 10.4 miles
    State: IL
    City: Chicago/Niles
    Date: Nov. 15 2008
    Time: 3pm
    Scooter: 1971 Vespa Primavera 125
    Your CWC story: Cold Weather Challenge kickoff return ride from Super H Mart to Kat Klub. It wasn’t all that cold yet. And it was before the contest started. This is just a sample entry.
    Photos: photos: http://tinyurl.com/6ftc9k
    Map: http://tinyurl.com/648ybt

  2. I’m going to be out of commission for almost all of December, but I should be able to get some cold numbers between thanksgiving and the 4th.

    Is it alright with you if I link to this on my blog?

  3. temp: 38F
    dist: 21 mi
    state: Nebraska
    city: Omaha
    time: 11:30 am
    scooter: 2008 yamaha zuma 50
    Just a little Thanksgiving romp through town to get out and enjoy the warm day! I like the looks people give me as I’m driving along! colder weather to come! It’s only November!!!

  4. 15 miles
    27 when we started.
    11-27-08
    125 Zuma
    Downstate Illinois

  5. Temperature: 40°F
    Distance: 14 miles
    State: TX
    City: Schertz
    Date: 26 November 2008
    Time: 5:00 AM
    Scooter: 2008 Lambretta Uno 150
    Your CWC story: I am in the Army and commute 14 miles one way from the San Antonio burbs into Fort Sam Houston. Although Texas winters are pretty mild, it gets pretty cold at 5 AM in November. Too bad this ride was the day before the contest began and it looks like the lows for the next few weeks will be in the mid to upper 40s at worst. Warm for IA, cold for TX.

  6. Temperature: 36°F
    Distance: 13 miles
    State: MI
    City: Charlevoix
    Date: 30 NOV 2008
    Time: 2:15 PM
    Scooter: 2005 Vespa PX150 (200)
    Your CWC story: A rare snow-free day, and the roads were reasonably clear because the temps have been above freezing. We get upper 30s here at night in early Spring and late Fall, so this was an easy ride. My biggest concern was road salt eating the bike over the winter. So, I took the opportunity to wash the bike one last time.

  7. Temperature: 21°F
    Distance: 19.6 miles
    State: MN
    City: West Saint Paul
    Date: 11/29/2009
    Time: 01:00
    Scooter: 1978 P200E

    Your CWC story: There’s plenty of cold weather to happen yet- but have to get the Twin Cities represented. Double Deuce to home at 1AM- that pretty much paints the picture right there. Congratulations, Chris!

    Photos: None
    Map:
    http://tinyurl.com/699xb4

  8. (you can round me up to 23 degrees. I missed the link to NOAA. I dug around and found this link:
    http://tinyurl.com/5wdrga

    Which showed 23 degrees in Minneapolis, and 19 in WSP. If NOAA is going to be the source of record, just keep it at a steady 23. I don’t want it to look like I”m bending the rules!)

  9. Name: Kelly F.
    Temperature: 35°F
    Distance: 25 miles
    State: OR
    City: Oregon City
    Date: Dec 4th 2008
    Time: 6:30AM
    Scooter: 2008 Genuine Buddy 125
    Your CWC story: Just my usual morning commute from one side of Portland to the other.

  10. Temperature: 18°F
    Distance: 10.3 miles
    State: MO
    City: St. Louis
    Date: Dec 5th 2008
    Time: 8:30AM
    Scooter: 2006 Kymco Bet & Win 250cc
    Your CWC story: Yesterday black ice, today full sunshine but cold. I was itching to ride my smaller scooter versus the Burgman one last time! NOAA said 18 but the temp gauge on the scoot said 20.

  11. Name: Kelly F.
    Temperature: 28°F
    Distance: 25 miles
    State: Oregon
    City: Oregon City
    Date: Dec 5th 2008
    Time: 6:30AM
    Scooter: 2008 Genuine Buddy 125
    Your CWC story: Well I should have waited one more day before entering the fray. My commute this morning was much colder.

  12. Name: Jake G.
    Temperature: 21°F
    Distance: 13 miles
    State: KS
    City: Overland Park
    Date: 12/5/08
    Time: 8:00 am
    Scooter: 2008 Suzuki Burgman 400
    Your CWC story: Just installed handguards last night. Wanted to test them out on today’s commute. They saved me, but I still need better gloves. Wind visors for the legs would be a nice addition also. Had to wear my long johns all day at work- no time to change.

  13. Name: Randall E Solberg
    Temperature: 29°F
    Distance: 11.8 miles
    State: NE
    City: Omaha
    Date: 12/6/2008
    Time: 0630
    Scooter: 2008 Yamaha C3
    Your CWC story: Any day riding is a good day. Woke up and decided to ride out for breakfast.

  14. commute home on a cold night!

    name: tom S.
    temp: 16 F
    distance 11 mi
    state: NE
    city: Omaha
    date: 6Dec2008
    time: 2115 (that’s 9:15pm for all you 12 hr people!)
    scooter: yamaha Zuma 50
    coming home tonight was a little cold but, I had to get Omaha Scooter Club back on top! lots of cold weather still to come and it’s still fall!!! SCOOT OR DIE!!!!
    I dont know how to link so pardon the missing urls. I will find out how and post next ride! thx!

  15. Name: Seth Hershey
    Temperature: 18 degrees
    Distance: 8 miles
    State: OH
    City: Cincinnati
    Date: December 5th
    Time: 6.30am
    Scooter: 2008 SYM HD125 (test bike from Metro Scooter)

    NOAA says the low for that day was 15 degrees. It was dark and 18 degrees when I arrived at Lookout Joe’s coffee for breakfast with another riding friend. We were prepared but still cold.

  16. Damn it all to hell. The trip is only 9.9 miles by google maps.

  17. Name: Eric S.
    Temperature: 34°F
    Distance: 10.9 miles
    State: TX
    City: Austin
    Date: 12/11/08
    Time: 7.15A CST
    Scooter: 2006 Honda Big Ruckus
    Your CWC story: Top Speed of 75 on the highway numbed my thighs, but the rest was well wend-protected and I broke my previous 40-degree-take-the-car rule and think i can handle down to 30 now.
    Map: http://tinyurl.com/6yw74t

  18. Name: Myke w/ a Y
    Temperature: 14°F
    Distance: 10.4 miles and 10.9 miles
    State: MO
    City: St. Louis
    Date: 12/15/08
    Time: 10:30-11am and 11:25-12pm
    Scooter: 1987 Vespa PX200E
    Your CWC story: Last night was an awful ice storm. Today it was the first day of finals. I rode out to campus, completed the final in a half-hour, then rode back home. No heated gear, just long underwear, leather jacket, winter riding gloves, fullface and a scarf.
    Photos: http://tinyurl.com/5uh4u9
    Map: http://tinyurl.com/5uh4u9

  19. Name: blake edwards
    Temperature: 8°F
    Distance: 28.8 miles
    State: IL
    City: chicago to chicago heights
    Date: 12.5.08
    Time: 6:30 AM
    Scooter: 2007 yamaha vino 125
    CWC story: I commute year-round to a teaching gig.

  20. Name: blake edwards
    Temperature: 5°F
    Distance: 20 miles
    State: IL
    City: chicago
    Date: 12.7.08
    Time: 6 AM
    Scooter: 2007 yamaha vino 125
    CWC story: annual toys for tots motorcycle parade! one of three scooters at the start!

  21. Name: Andrew Miller
    Temperature: 4°F
    Distance: 10.6 miles
    State: OH
    City: Columbus
    Date: 12/22/08
    Time: 6:45am
    Scooter: Disqualified – forgot motorcycles don’t count – 2000 Kawasaki KLR 650
    Your CWC story: Dummy me thought “hey, I haven’t gotten to do the CWC and it’s like -30* right now with the windchill so this is probably gonna be the coldest day out there. Obviously it doesn’t count (realized this afterwards) but since I did it I wanted to save the moment for posterity out here. According to NOAA the non-adjusted temp is 4* so that’s still something to be proud(?) of. All of that said, this is my regular commute so it wasn’t as huge of a thing that I rode in today even though Tina would’ve let me have the car.
    Map: http://tinyurl.com/7q92xk

  22. Name: Quinn Yost – Double entry
    Temperature: 26/25 °F
    Distance: 22.3/21.7miles
    State: IL
    City: Des Plaines – Chicago / Chicago – Des Plaines
    Date: 01/02/09
    Time: 1:15 – 2:00 / 3:15 – 4:00
    Scooter: ’07 Scarabeo 500
    Your CWC story: Work provided me with an excuse for a nice ride today. Had to take some (small) equipment to the datacenter downtown. Thought about taking the Vino, but decided to break out the big Bug. Was onsite for about an hour, so I broke I’m breaking the ride up into 2 entries.
    Map Out: http://tinyurl.com/9dwhub
    Map Back: http://tinyurl.com/7hp48j

  23. Name: Clayton S
    Temperature: 5??F
    Distance: 20 miles
    Country: South Korea
    City: Namhansansong
    Date: Jan/11th/2009
    Time: 8:30-950
    Scooter: 1998 Honda Tact
    Your CWC story: I wanted to see the City Lights, So i drove my SCOOTER to KFC got a bucket of chicken for 15,000 won Then I rode up the Parkway to the Top of Namhamsansong which is 480meters above sea level. I drove on part of the wall cause the park closes at 8:00PM Then i stoped and Ate the Kernals Chicken atop of a bridge and washed it down with a Coke. On the way back down I found a fallen Tree. We had a crap load of wind last night. And my chicken Froze before i could finsih it all.
    I will post some pictures

  24. Failed Attempt
    Name: Aaron R
    Temperature: -20F
    Distance: 1.5 miles
    State: IA
    City: Bettendorf
    Date: 1.15.08
    Time: 6:30 AM
    Scooter: 1974 Vespa super

    Well superfreak 0, Jack frost -20 i mean 1.

    So i woke up earlyer than normal and threw on 3 shirts 1 sweater 1 coat, dickies pants, snowboard bibs a at least a size smaller than they used to fit, baggy sweatpants, work and sport insulated bibs, 1 pair dress socks, 1 pair wool socks, 1 pair thermal socks, snow boots, snowmobile mittens, neck tube, and nolan full face helmet. Louie and I had freckles 1974 vespa super running last night with a shot of starter fluid down the spark plug hole.

    This morning freckles started and warmed up for 5 minutes and stalled the first time put it into gear. Started it back up with another take the plug out spray put plug in start first kick. Jack up the idle a bit, take off the stocking cap and put on the helmet. Well i made 1.5 laps of my planned route around the neighborhood, the first 150 feet the face shield frosted over, so i opened up the faceshield to a crack and squinted in the dark to navigate the partially snow and ice covered roads, I was able to get going about 30 mph but turning and stoping where done with at very slow speeds. So unless i have a way to not fog up the faceshield I’m done. But i did try, and its freakin cold, at 20 mph at -20 in the dark with the faceshield open.

    nothing was cold except my nose and around my eyes from having the faceshield open.

    Super FROZE— OUT brrrrrrrrrrrrrr

  25. Name: Bob Hedstrom
    Temperature: -18f on departure -14f upon return NOAA Average -16f.
    Distance: Odometer 10.4 miles Google maps distance 10.14 miles.
    State: Minnesota
    City:Minneapolis
    Date:January 15, 2009
    Time: 11:00 AM
    Scooter: 2007 Vectrix electric
    Your CWC story:
    Cold here today. Even by our standards. I took the dog out for a walk at -23f and it didn’t seem unbearable. I’d been riding a Vectrix a lot during the past summer and always trying to test its limits. I really wanted to see what extreme cold would do to battery performance.
    After checking the temperature at 10:45 am and it was still hanging in at -19. Time to ride. The Vectrix has a lot of torque and even the bare looking portions of the streets had a bit of slip to them. I had to be very careful but kept it upright the whole time. I outriggered my boots in all turns. Maximum speed 45 mph.
    Gear: LaCrosse -40 boots, long underwaer bottoms, Levi jeans, t-shirt, wool sweater, fieldshear riding jacket liner, wool jacket, fleece balaclava, headband, goggles (no room for helmet) CKX snowmobile mitts.
    Photos: **optional, (use tinyurl if possible)**
    Map: http://tinyurl.com/7rrh4m

  26. name: Tom S.
    temp: noaa temp -11F
    distance: 11 mi
    time: 9am cst
    date: 15Jan2009
    location: Omaha, NE
    scooter: 2008 yamaha zuma
    cwc story: commuting in my Jeep is not a whole lot different from being on my Zuma at these temps so I bundled up extra good and headded to work on the Zuma of Doom! 90mpg is always better than 12mpg! It’ll help me save up for that good set of skipants to wear around on the scoot! It’s getting cold enuff to where I’m ALMOST ready to give it to the Minnesotans. . . . . NOT IN A MILLION YEARS!!! haha!

  27. Name: Luigi G.
    Temperature: -7F
    Distance: 10.1 miles
    State: MA
    City: Dover
    Date: 16 January 2009
    Time: 0100
    Scooter: 1970 Vespa GTr
    Your CWC story: I had to do the run early in the night instead of just before sunup as I needed to get finished packing for the long ride to the FYBO rally. I use the temperature at the nearest NOAA/METAR reporting site (KOWD, Norwood, 6 miles away similar geography/demography) which is within a half degree of the nearest PWS Sherborn only 2 miles from this ride (with identical geography/demography). Of course, at sunup it was -11 so, well, I just gave up 4 degrees, but it’s for a rally and the Incriminators are worth it. Heck this is southern New England, I bettered my 07-08 season run by 9 degrees. I know the MN and NE will battle it out for the tops. I’m in ‘extreme northern Rhode Island’ teamwise, and Smallstate has to represent!

    The scooter ran fine (within its limits, I have a small seal leak I need to fix just postponing the rebuild as long as possible), the real limiting factor was me, specifically facial tolerance of cold intersecting with fogging. I wore thermals and sweats under jeans with a rainpants for wind, ski gloves, two fleeces, my Alpha (just because) with a orange reflective insulated vest over the top, heres the stupid part, my Boots were already packed in the van for the trip to the rally, so I just went with my sneakers double socked and that was no way good enough, and I am such a ATGATT when on the public roadway.

    The real highlight of the ride was about 2 miles in when a car was honking and flashing its lights, I slowed (from 20ish to a crawl) as I approached, and 3 deer jump out of the shadows and cross in front of me, maybe 30 feet, double back in front of the stopping but oncoming car and bolt back into the woods. Oh yeah, you know the small dips in the ride, little valleys where the cool air pools and it refreshes you in the summer, well, they were filled with daggers last night, and it was quite noticeable.

    Not yet half way through the ‘Imp of perverse” grab hold of me for an instant and knowing since it was a figure 8 loop, I could just double back with enough ‘proof’ with only 3 miles and 10 minutes in the frigid cold, but quick as i thought that, I dismissed the idea. But in between frantic blinking, breathing through my ears, and a few stops at a lone street light for a photo, I pondered, this was not for some prize or bragging rights (though I will be bragging) this was feeling alive, for having a memory, of the impractical thing to be done, not reckless but a darn good story to recall on future days. I spent the last 3 miles up North toward the center of town just soaking every nuance in, to remember it clearly.

    Photos: when I get back, I have some from the extreme point on the ride, but my real camera was freezing up and not working so they are mostly just dark grainy cell pics, in the dark. I’ll put them in the CWC pool on flickr and send you the tinyurl. Meanwhile screenshot from wunderground: http://tinyurl.com/8wvkkp

    Map: http://tinyurl.com/8j6atx

  28. Name: Apple Quick
    Temperature: -2 F
    Distance: 12.2 miles
    State: Indiana
    City: Indianapolis
    Date: 1-16-09
    Time: 11:05
    Scooter: 2008 Vespa S
    Your CWC story: I rode to the expressway so that I could travel fast and on clear roads. The Windscreen and full face are a huge help. Fingers felt like the had been hit by a hammer. Must get better gloves.
    Photos: **optional, (use tinyurl if possible)**
    Map: **optional, (use tinyurl if possible**

  29. Name: stefan – jedi knights scooter club
    Temperature: -6°F
    Distance: 10.3 miles
    State: oh
    City: cleveburg
    Date: 1-16-09
    Time: 10:30 a.m.
    Scooter: 1980 p-deuce

    Your CWC story:

    old lady was driving me into work cuz my broke ass vw is getting a new head and cylinders, but that’s another story. anyhow, i see the temp at walgreens was -12, and i’m all like “it’s on!”. get to the shop, fire up the “mf’n juggernaut beotch p-deuce”, map out a nice 2.5 mile loop, and run it 4 times. by the time all that happened, temp went up 6 deg., and i was cold.

    is it true the runner up prize is a 3 second pull on a bottle of malort with an old style chaser?

    Photos:
    http://tinyurl.com/9nrqro
    http://tinyurl.com/7r9f3b
    http://tinyurl.com/6uwunf

    Map: http://tinyurl.com/772bgt

  30. Name: blake edwards
    Temperature: -2°F
    Distance: 15 miles
    State: IL
    City: chicago to river grove
    Date: 1.16.09
    Time: 1 PM
    Scooter: 2007 yamaha vino 125
    CWC story: was going to ride to the community colleges I teach at (56 mile round trip, most at 40 MPH) to pick up some books, but when I kept hearing about frozen bridges and cars sliding out (and it was still -7°F at the time) I thought forget it. Still, I wanted to know if I could wrestle with the minus readings, so I took a little jaunt.

    The roads were fairly dry, the sun was out, and I didn’t feel much horrid cold. I tried to shoot some video, but that was a waste the minute I got out of the alleyway behind my place (no tripod, big mittens, awkward).

    Speaking of, the dress for this weather (and for much of the cold weather riding I do) is as follows:

    Torso: –Hoodie with a flannel and aCortech touring motorcycle jacket with down liner (this jacket is absolutely incredible)

    head and neck: face mask, alpaca wool neck warmer (girlfriend made this: extremely toasty), helmet

    hands: north face mittens (I forget the model, but they’re 2” packed down, so pretty darn warm)

    legs: jeans, scooter apron (keeps the legs even warmer)

    feet: hiking boots, wool socks

    some additional notes:
    1) I plan on replacing my mittens with outdoor research alti mitts; more expensive, but waterproof and two layers of synthetic down (that won’t bunch / collapse).
    2) the scooter windscreen helps immensely.
    3) I’ve just cleared 10,000 miles! (have had the scooter for 15 months)

    a photo of minor relevance, from the toys for tots ride early december (my 5 degree ride): http://tinyurl.com/9yy5ea

    I’m the pair of images below the route 66 image…

  31. Name: sandor
    Temperature: +6°F
    Distance: 12.1 miles
    State: Pennsylvania

    City: Philadelphia

    Date: Saturday 17 January 2008

    Time: 0545 to 0645

    Scooter: 1974 Vespa 90

    Your CWC story: on a whim due to expected record lows myself and another vespa rider decided to ride before sunrise. it was a great ride – a couple layers and carhart coveralls did their job. one big water main burst on the parkway, causing a foot of slushy salty icy mix.

    Photos:
    http://tinyurl.com/9o96db
    http://tinyurl.com/9rcafv
    http://tinyurl.com/7z75nc
    http://tinyurl.com/958sg6

    Map:
    http://tinyurl.com/ay62lw

  32. Name: Steve Williams
    Temperature: -1 F
    Distance: 14 miles
    State: Pennsylvania
    City: State College
    Date: January 17, 2009
    Time: 8:00 AM
    Scooter: 2006 Vespa GTS 250ie

    Your CWC story: My local forecast said -4F when I left. Checking today I saw the temperature was -5F. It got warmer quickly by the time I stopped to get warm after 14 miles. Some quick riding and some slow. The official temp showed 3 degrees when I stopped even though my indicator on the GTS showed 10. I suspect the temperatures vary wildly across the valley as air flows around.

    All I know is it was cold!

    I posted on my blog about it too: FRIGID RIDING AND THE BATTERY TENDER

    Steve Williams
    Scooter in the Sticks

  33. Posting this for my club mate Kevin

    Name: Kevin
    Temperature: 0°F
    Distance: 17miles
    State: Missouri

    City: St. Louis

    Date: Friday 16 January 2009

    Time: 5:30am

    Scooter: 06 Burgman 650 (Ms. Goodbody)

    Kevin is a Brewmaster at AB.. well AB InBev now. Kevin is our most hard core member and rides all year. Good thing! Cold weather shouldn’t stop the making of beer!

  34. Name: Jonathan C. Overturf
    Temperature: 3°F
    Distance: 18.2 miles
    State: Virginia
    City: Roanoke
    Date: 17 January 2009
    Time: 6:00 AM
    Scooter: 2008 Yamaha Zuma (aka Blackey)
    After watching the weather and using the hourly forecast maps on Weather.com and via the NOAA, It looked like Saturday the 17th was going to be the coldest time (thus far this year). I layered with 2 pairs of thermals, a pair of jeans, and my nylon rain pants along with some insulated hunting boots. Up top I wore 2 pairs of thermals, a cotton sweatshirt, Columbia Bugaboo ski jacket, some generic ski gloves, a balaclava and full face helmet. The ride was uneventful as very few people were on the road. The only places I got cold were my hands and feet (after around 10 miles), and a small spot on my neck where I couldn’t close the top of my jacket. As a year round rider, its nice to know I can ride in some low temps without much trouble.
    Photos: too cold :)
    Map: http://tinyurl.com/94nwqa

  35. Name: Professor Matthew W.
    Temperature: 32°F
    Distance: 10.5 miles
    State: FL
    City: St Augustine
    Date: January 21, 2009
    Time: 11:15 PM
    Scooter: 2007 Vespa GTS
    Your CWC story: I know this is not a top contender but it is Florida so I made due with the weather I had available. 32 degrees is freezing. I also did it on state highways so the wind chill was subtracting from that temperature pretty good. I should have taken the time to put on my lap apron though.
    Photos: none
    Map: none

  36. Name Quinn Yost
    Temperature: 16 start, 20 end
    Distance: 22.2 miles
    State: IL
    City: Des Plaines – Chicago
    Time: 8:20 – 9:50
    Scooter: ’05 Vino 125
    Your CWC story: Once again, I had to travel downtown for work. Not wanting to get the big one (Scarabeo 500) all salty, I took the little one instead. Spent far too long sitting in traffic on the way downtown. Instead of taking my usual surface street route (something down to washington, then race the green trains into the city) I took higgins to milwaukee. Not the brightest choice of roads to take at the tail of rush hour.

    Winter Gear: 2 layer coat, snow pants, gloves, balaclava.

  37. Name:
    Richard, Cordova

    Temperature:
    23.3°F @ Sandia Crest

    Distance:
    11+ miles @ 23.3°F

    State:
    New Mexico

    City:
    Sandia Crest

    Date:
    January 24th, 2009

    Time:
    01:50pm MST

    Scooter:
    2008 Vespa S150

    Your CWC story:

    Great 54+ mile club planned ride on January 24, 2009 to Sandia Crest (elevation of 10,678 ft.) just outside Albuquerque, New Mexico. The ride started in Albuquerque at 59°F the temperature dropped a staggering 36°+ as we climbed the up the mountain. It was slow going for the last five miles, as it was windy and the road visibility dropped to about 10 ft. so I was limited to 10-15 miles per hour for the last two miles but it was worth it, and the best part was that a Scarabeo 100cc made it to the Crest!

    Photos:
    http://tinyurl.com/b3a9ym
    http://tinyurl.com/ajvfpk

    Map:
    http://tinyurl.com/b3sgs2

  38. Name: Michael Morrissey
    Temperature: 28°F
    Distance: 10.3 miles
    Location: Portland Oregon
    Date: January 26, 2009
    Time: 6:30 PM to 7:40 PM
    Scooter: 1979 Vespa P150
    Your CWC story: I was getting kind of bored with my breadloaf bus, so today I rode the rickety yet trusty old Vespa to work. I wasn’t even thinking it would be cold, but this evening was really chilly. I work in deep SE portland, and live in NE Portland. I went about 4 and a half miles out of my way on the ride home to run in and get some hippy food at New Seasons at 33rd and Alberta. There was ice and some snow outside still. I saw a red motorcycle at one point also riding, which made me happy. The food was worth the extra distance traveled on the old putt putt.
    Route: Deep SE, up 82nd to Fremont, New Seasons at Alberta and 33rd. Back out Killingsworth to my house in NE.

  39. Name: Jim Rogers
    Temp: 13 degrees
    Distance: 11.3 miles
    State: Kansas
    City: Wichita (the mistake on the plains)
    Date: 2/4/09
    Time: 7:55 am
    Scooter: SYM HD200
    Story: I commute every day possible (within reason) to and from work. Problem is the distance from home to where I park downtown is almost exactly 5 miles. A couple of cold days I thought I might make an extra loop to qualify for the CWC, but had chickened out when my fingers got cold. Today I did it by taking an extra loop along the river before I parked the scooter. Fingers were cold, but otherwise was a great ride.

  40. Name: Jen Stich
    Temperature: 12°F
    Distance: 11.7 miles (of 22, see below)
    State: Rhode Island
    City: Westerly
    Date: 5 February 2009
    Time: 11:45pm
    Scooter: 1979 P125X
    Your CWC story: Living very close to a state line presents one with unique opportunities regarding the CWC. I designed a figure 8 loop for my ride, with my house in the middle. I figured if I felt too cold, I could return home after completing the Rhode Island portion and still have a viable entry.

    After the 11.7 miles in RI, I felt fine and crossed the state line to ride 10.3 miles in CT.

    Was wearing a stupid amount of clothing, which served me well. Weak spot was gloves. I had only my ordinary riding gloves with liners and a hand warmer packet in each glove. Hands became uncomfortable around the 20 mile mark, but I knew the end was near.
    Photos: none
    Map: http://www.tinyurl.com/dff7uf

  41. Name: Jen Stich
    Temperature: 12°F
    Distance: 10.3 miles (of 22, see above)
    State: Connecticut
    City: Pawcatuck
    Date: 6 February 2009
    Time: 12:05am
    Scooter: 1979 P125X
    Your CWC story: Living very close to a state line presents one with unique opportunities regarding the CWC. I designed a figure 8 loop for my ride, with my house in the middle. I figured if I felt too cold, I could return home after completing the Rhode Island portion.

    After the 11.7 miles in RI, I felt fine and crossed the state line to ride 10.3 miles in CT.

    Was wearing a stupid amount of clothing, which served me well. Weak spot was gloves. I had only my ordinary riding gloves with liners and a hand warmer packet in each glove. Hands became uncomfortable around the 20 mile mark, but I knew I was only a couple of miles from home at that point.
    Photos: none
    Map: http://www.tinyurl.com/cl693y

  42. Name: Will Stogner
    Temperature: 0°F
    Distance: 20miles
    State: ohio
    City: Cincinnati
    Date: Jan 16 2009
    Time: 8-9am
    Scooter: 2007 Blur
    Your CWC story: Just going to visit my parents. Riding home from their place to work at the Tax Place. Had on kackies, leather pants, underarmor for my legs with some merrel boots. Then a leather armored coat, flannel and long sleeve shirt. A baklava and hypo hands. The only thing that got cold was my neck. Need to find a better baklava. I rode all winter and greatly enjoy riding. Have heard from some why are you riding it freezing out there. I enjoy the riding and find it to be awesome when you find the right clothing for this amazing season. I rode pretty much everyday but this was the one day that I remember my baklava not really working to well.

  43. Name: Starr Markham
    Temperature: 12 F
    Distance: 26 miles
    State: NC
    City: Raleigh/Durham
    Date: 1/17/2009
    Time: 8:45am
    Scooter: ’67 Li150
    Your CWC story: Just stumbled across this, I know the deadline has passed, but perhaps honorable mention? FYBO weekend Jan 16-18: Drove the ~26 miles there and back each of the three days. The temperatures stayed below freezing the entire time except for a brief moment Saturday afternoon when it reached a toasty 33F. Although ride is less than 30 miles each way, avoiding interstate highways makes the trip almost and hour each way. Including the rally rides, I was about 8 hours in sub-freezing temperatures over the entire weekend. The coldest was the Saturday morning drive over: 12F.

    The parts guy at a motorcycle shop gave me a pair ATV/snowmobile handlebar muffs. They helped a lot, but my fingertips still were very cold. Hand signals were challenging with the muffs sort of flopping around when I removed my hand. Several layers underneath a textile armored jacket and pants that come with a waterproof quilted lining kept the rest of me warm.

    I had a little trouble starting the scooter Friday night, but got smart after I got home and put a small ceramic space heater in my shed. I let it warm up the engine case for an hour or so before the ride on Saturday and Sunday. It made a big difference

    My friend Lynn was crashing at my place and made the trips as well, but she had no complaints with heated handgrips. Everyone driving a scooter at the rally deserves honorable mention too: It was FREEZING!
    Photos: The photos aren’t mine, thanks to Zed and Lynn. http://tinyurl.com/cs9fkq http://tinyurl.com/d7h5w4
    Map: http://tinyurl.com/d2txmc

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