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#1 | Road salt, the signal of the seasons end datum

Wed Dec 11, 2019 12:56 pm

I was up this morning in the kitchen getting ready for work and could hear a large vehicle driving down the road. The salt truck had come. I'm in Carroll County Maryland. We got a light dusting, nothing was sticking on the roads but they covered the street with salt. For me, that signals the end of the season. I don't mind riding in the cold (thanks to heated gear) but I don't like getting salt all over my bike and then having to freeze my fingers off to clean it off. I'll be hoping and praying for a good, warm rain to wash the roads clean of the corrosive stuff. Maybe I'll be able to sneak a ride in before it turns really cold here. Until then I'll occasionally go out to the garage and look at my bike longingly, throw a leg over it and sit on it, and dream of Spring.

these members like the post: duccrazydave, Dave H, Mr. 36654, Stefan S. and BusBoy11

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#2 | RE: Road salt, the signal of the seasons end datum

Wed Dec 11, 2019 3:49 pm (Last edited: Wed Dec 11, 2019 3:49 pm)

I think they've been applying brine for at least a month in Iowa.

Lee
2016 R1200RS
Iowa, USA

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#3 | RE: Road salt, the signal of the seasons end datum

Wed Dec 11, 2019 4:47 pm (Last edited: Wed Dec 11, 2019 4:52 pm)

Zitat von Davidnapo im Beitrag #1
Until then I'll occasionally go out to the garage and look at my bike longingly, throw a leg over it and sit on it, and dream of Spring.

In St. Louis, I can pretty much run all year, though in my dotage, I'll admit to adding a heater to the garage when I need to rinse off the salt.... The enjoyment of being able to see full turns through a bugless visor and leafless trees, somehow makes up for the hassles of extra layers of clothes.

That said - and perhaps you've seen this video - why throw just a leg over the bike when you can spend a little quality time interacting with your bike's center of gravity..... Here's a link. Winter workout

�A good man always knows his limitations.�

these members like the post: duccrazydave and trippyowl

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#4 | RE: Road salt, the signal of the seasons end datum

Wed Dec 11, 2019 5:10 pm

That's pretty impressive but it makes me wonder how many times the bike fell over off camera.

these members like the post: duccrazydave and Ray B

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#5 | RE: Road salt, the signal of the seasons end datum

Thu Dec 12, 2019 8:18 pm

Yeah, here in NJ when the salt/brine comes out thats when I also put the bike away. Been able to ride longer into the end of the year though which is nice. Unfortunately, riding season also starts later in the beginning of the year to compensate.

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#6 | RE: Road salt, the signal of the seasons end datum

Thu Dec 12, 2019 8:34 pm

Zitat von hyperm3 im Beitrag #5
Yeah, here in NJ when the salt/brine comes out thats when I also put the bike away. Been able to ride longer into the end of the year though which is nice. Unfortunately, riding season also starts later in the beginning of the year to compensate.

The 28-weeks of February Grey is what I truly hate. Then, it's the daily tease of March and the last few pesky snow/sleet storms in April.

Old Forum Orphan

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#7 | RE: Road salt, the signal of the seasons end datum

Thu Dec 12, 2019 9:57 pm

Road salt does not stop me riding the bike. I don't wash it off either and my bike is entering the 4th winter. It does not seem to be suffering too badly and I am a firm believer in keeping a good patina on a bike to reduce oxidation.

My beef with the road salt being used now is the use of sticky additives such as molasses. Yes, it reduces the amount of salt needed and reduces wash off. Thing is, I ride in the Forest of Dean and Wales where there are sheep roaming around unfenced pastures. They love this sticky, salty snack and congregate in the road

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#8 | RE: Road salt, the signal of the seasons end datum

Thu Dec 12, 2019 10:27 pm

Zitat von wessie im Beitrag #7
Road salt does not stop me riding the bike. I don't wash it off either and my bike is entering the 4th winter. It does not seem to be suffering too badly and I am a firm believer in keeping a good patina on a bike to reduce oxidation.

My beef with the road salt being used now is the use of sticky additives such as molasses. Yes, it reduces the amount of salt needed and reduces wash off. Thing is, I ride in the Forest of Dean and Wales where there are sheep roaming around unfenced pastures. They love this sticky, salty snack and congregate in the road

Do you even get snow where you live?

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#9 | RE: Road salt, the signal of the seasons end datum

Thu Dec 12, 2019 11:04 pm

Yes. But it rarely lasts long this far south nowadays. The little that does fall causes major panic and schools are closed just for 2 or 3 inches.

Flooding is our main problem as the rain (or snow melt) that falls on the mountains in more than half of Wales flows down a river that splits my home county.

Every now and then we get a very severe winter. Most recent ones have been 1947, 1962 into 63 (my first winter) and 1982. In '82 we had several feet of snow at Easter and down to -25C. I remember digging my way to the shed so I could feed the few sheep we kept on the smallholding.

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#10 | RE: Road salt, the signal of the seasons end datum

Thu Dec 12, 2019 11:25 pm

Zitat von wessie im Beitrag #9
Yes. But it rarely lasts long this far south nowadays. The little that does fall causes major panic and schools are closed just for 2 or 3 inches.

Flooding is our main problem as the rain (or snow melt) that falls on the mountains in more than half of Wales flows down a river that splits my home county.

Every now and then we get a very severe winter. Most recent ones have been 1947, 1962 into 63 (my first winter) and 1982. In '82 we had several feet of snow at Easter and down to -25C. I remember digging my way to the shed so I could feed the few sheep we kept on the smallholding.

So essentially you dont see as much salt/brine on your roads as we do. Its basically always freshly sprayed throughout the winter here.

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#11 | RE: Road salt, the signal of the seasons end datum

Thu Dec 12, 2019 11:32 pm

Zitat von hyperm3 im Beitrag #8
Zitat von wessie im Beitrag #7
Road salt does not stop me riding the bike. I don't wash it off either and my bike is entering the 4th winter. It does not seem to be suffering too badly and I am a firm believer in keeping a good patina on a bike to reduce oxidation.

My beef with the road salt being used now is the use of sticky additives such as molasses. Yes, it reduces the amount of salt needed and reduces wash off. Thing is, I ride in the Forest of Dean and Wales where there are sheep roaming around unfenced pastures. They love this sticky, salty snack and congregate in the road

Do you even get snow where you live?

We do get some snow but it's rarely here for long and as Wessie says causes chaos but we suffer more from ice on the roads. Because we are surrounded by sea the air is more moist and unlike larger countries where the freezing weather sets in for months on end our weather fluctuates between cold and sunny weather to warmer wet conditions so we get wet roads followed by freezing conditions. This repeats over the winter so the roads are gritted on a regular basis reacting to the ever changing weather conditions.

R1200GS TE

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#12 | RE: Road salt, the signal of the seasons end datum

Fri Dec 13, 2019 12:30 am

Zitat von hyperm3 im Beitrag #10
Zitat von wessie im Beitrag #9
Yes. But it rarely lasts long this far south nowadays. The little that does fall causes major panic and schools are closed just for 2 or 3 inches.

Flooding is our main problem as the rain (or snow melt) that falls on the mountains in more than half of Wales flows down a river that splits my home county.

Every now and then we get a very severe winter. Most recent ones have been 1947, 1962 into 63 (my first winter) and 1982. In '82 we had several feet of snow at Easter and down to -25C. I remember digging my way to the shed so I could feed the few sheep we kept on the smallholding.

So essentially you dont see as much salt/brine on your roads as we do. Its basically always freshly sprayed throughout the winter here.

We won't see as much salt as you, no doubt, but we have very changeable weather due the effects of the Gulf Stream. We can go from "warm" and moist air from the SW at 10C to freezing air from the NE at -5C in a few hours. This leads to a lot of frosty mornings where damp roads have frozen overnight, leading to salt being used. If you are unlucky, you ride into a weather front where rain from the SW falls onto frozen roads before the gritting trucks have gone out. This has happened to me a few times on my commute.

Are you beginning to understand why the weather is such an important topic for the British?

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#13 | RE: Road salt, the signal of the seasons end datum

Fri Dec 13, 2019 3:14 am

Zitat von hyperm3 im Beitrag #10
Zitat von wessie im Beitrag #9
Yes. But it rarely lasts long this far south nowadays. The little that does fall causes major panic and schools are closed just for 2 or 3 inches.

Flooding is our main problem as the rain (or snow melt) that falls on the mountains in more than half of Wales flows down a river that splits my home county.

Every now and then we get a very severe winter. Most recent ones have been 1947, 1962 into 63 (my first winter) and 1982. In '82 we had several feet of snow at Easter and down to -25C. I remember digging my way to the shed so I could feed the few sheep we kept on the smallholding.

So essentially you dont see as much salt/brine on your roads as we do. Its basically always freshly sprayed throughout the winter here.

Now, tell them about our anti-skid........

Old Forum Orphan

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#14 | RE: Road salt, the signal of the seasons end datum

Fri Dec 13, 2019 3:54 pm

Zitat von wessie im Beitrag #12

Are you beginning to understand why the weather is such an important topic for the British?

My grandmother was from London. She used to go back and rent a flat every summer. Every other year our family would go and visit. No offense, but the weather sucks there. I dont remember ever seeing the sun. I would have no desire to ride a bike there.

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#15 | RE: Road salt, the signal of the seasons end datum

Fri Dec 13, 2019 4:40 pm

Zitat von hyperm3 im Beitrag #14
Zitat von wessie im Beitrag #12

Are you beginning to understand why the weather is such an important topic for the British?

My grandmother was from London. She used to go back and rent a flat every summer. Every other year our family would go and visit. No offense, but the weather sucks there. I dont remember ever seeing the sun. I would have no desire to ride a bike there.

London is grim and I would not want to ride there in any weather.

We have had blue skies today and a bit of weak sunshine so I went for a ride in the Cotswold Hills this morning. A little chilly and breezy on the top of the hills, just 6.5C (43.7F). Snug in my heated waistcoat, heated insoles and bar muffs. Some nice views, a close encounter with a red kite and a bit of spirited riding where traffic allowed.

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