It's cold, wet, dark. There is a storm and wet blobs of snow come down. My spotlights poke reproachfully into the white gunk. It is a quarter to eleven as in '22.45 .XNUMX '. I am tired and alone on the road and twenty minutes from home. And I have to pee a lot. The water is up to my lips, but before I have found my cold person in hiding in this misery behind five layers of textile? I don't want to think about it and accelerate a bit.
Someone is waving a lantern. To prove the nonsense of the system there is a fully equipped alcohol and paper control team at 22.45 in a wet snowstorm. The officer tells me in an accusing tone that in any case I was speeding. I can easily access my papers. I give her my wallet and shout over my shoulder: “Of course I was going too fast. I have to pee! Be right back!"
It takes a while before everything is nicely stored again. The law enforcement officers are all back in their van with double-glazed windows. The side door is open. Due to my unique, 'supersize me' format due to a five-layer appearance capped by my Difi thermal overalls, there is no chance that I can reach it. So I stay a little bent next to the van.
The officer still remarks that my toilet break lasted very long. ”Dabbling through five layers of clothing and then getting a refugee crawling back with cold fingers is hard to hear! If you could have done that faster you would have had to walk along. I think you also have fewer cold fingers. "
The agent becomes assertive. A somewhat older male colleague gives me my wallet back and asks me kindly “But why are you on a motorcycle in this bad weather? A bet or something? Childbirth. Quarrel at home? ” I point out. ” No, it is not. Nothing to worry about. It got a little later than I thought. That thing out there is just my car. Handy with traffic jams and so on. ” The officer raises a bushy eyebrow and says: "In this weather I would rather be in a traffic jam."
The agent reports that the breath test prescribed in the scenario has not yet taken place. The older officer kindly asks: "Have you been drinking?" "Not yet, but if you have a drink for me now, please." Go carefully and have a good trip. "The officer corrects him:" But this gentleman was driving too fast and he hasn't blown yet. "
The Chief Watchman gives his puppy a fatherly look. “A motorcyclist who is on the road in this weather or who is very stupid or very experienced. And if this one had been very stupid, he would have killed himself much earlier. So he didn't drink and only drove too fast because he had to pee. ” I put on my helmet and put on my gloves. As a goodbye, I just press my horn button. The double Stebel Nautilus horns give their highest illegal roar of 142 dB (A). Beautiful. Home.
1975, With the motorcycle club a weekend in February with the Laverda GT 750 to stVith, cold, rain and after the border at Verviers snow, down the main road and let the now soaked gloves at Spa warm up and the exhausts, the few Hondasas again p4 Run pits with the help of aerosol moisture removers obtained at each pumping station. Finally, when we arrived at the campsite in stVith, setting up a tent turned out not to be an option, even entering the site was only possible with motorbikes in a horizontal position (snow falls softly).
Eventually all took place in the attic of the cafe where the various pickups went well.
The next day back where we looked up like a mountain: first we had to get rid of a snow cover on the motorbikes, had to push some motorbikes, which was a sport in itself on the slippery road, in the end, except for one stranded motorbike, everyone had returned home.
Never do it again, but something that is still remembered as yesterday.
See, and memories like that are very rarely created these days!
Youth….? Of today? Can you win the war with that? @?
Late shifts in the winter and then indeed home at 22.45 pm. How recognizable. If it starts snowing in the afternoon just after you get to work, you think it won't be too bad. But if at five o'clock all those office workers go home and get that freshly fallen snow in place while it just keeps on snowing, it gets slippery. And when you are relieved by the night shift at half past ten and hear that even the main road is almost impassable, you don't have time to get cold. Just the thought of accelerating was enough to make my rear wheel swerve to the side. And then a driveway of almost a kilometer is very long. And once we have arrived on the N65, it appears that snow shovels can slide away a bit, but that there is still a large muddy mess on the road. I slithered home at walking pace in the driest track. Just over twenty miles. But that sometimes took me as long as usual. And seldom have I been so hot. Every slip made me sweat more. Came home completely and the next day just back to work on two wheels. Luckily it didn't snow anymore. Or the time we agreed to test drive a few engines in the Coentunnel. Buddy with a sidecar and this gentleman on his two wheels. Because the architect also drove a motorbike, he had asked the foreman if he could arrange a few motorbikes in addition to buses, cars and trucks to test whether all the cabling worked. When we said yes, an exact date was not yet known. That turned out to be January. And of course there was a lot of snow then. Mine lay on its side three times that day. Fortunately, it went at a walking pace, but I never had to pick it up that often.
The first time I wanted to drive up the sidewalk but it slipped on the curb. The second time was on the building site. There the trucks had all driven potholes that were full of ice and snow, so you couldn't see the ice underneath. When I wanted to get off my foot slipped and you go flat. The third time on my way from the construction site to the Coentunnel was also on one of those destroyed construction roads where a curve was smoother if I could make on two wheels. But apart from a bruised ego, there was no further damage and that's how you get winter stories
A healthy ego will recover. What remain, those are the stories
What beautiful stories! I enjoy it because it is so recognizable. Nowadays I drive if it is below zero (ALS) indeed with a difi overall. Biven zero you sweat your heart out in such a thing.
But in the past I also sometimes arrived with - 15 and less well dressed with the MZ at an uncle and aunt in Nijverdal that I could no longer get off the bike. I let myself be attacked against the wall and could no longer move. Fortunately my cousin heard a thump. They had to get me off the bike with three men. My cousin still tells this story regularly, but he also started motorcycling himself.
I still drive in winter, but slipperiness is a killer. I'm not that flexible anymore.
Rolf
We did it. And have become a little more sensible.
Great story, luckily the Christmas tree was still standing, such a story is part of it.
Now a little bit of snow or also handy to find that spray can from last year
Salute
Hans
It's 06-01 2021. It feels like October 2020 and I once had a lot of attention with a Christmas tree that I brought home in the sidecar. Let the spring come.
In my early years on a CB350F from Steenderen to Hengelo (O) at winter temperatures.
No gloves, because that was for wimps, spiekerbox and leather jacket.
Stopping every 5 kilometers to warm my hands on the muffler, frozen cuticles ... thought I was going to die ...
Once home as a cowboy off your bike, spent hours in the shower to get some temperature in your bugger, a good glass of Glennlivet and under the wool ..
I vowed never to do this again.
Of course I was just on my moped again during the winters ...
That tough approach left me with all kinds of parts that will seriously hurt if it just seems to be getting colder
On a Black Bomber (cb450) in the evening from Zutphen to Neede. -10c. Occasionally on the side, with the light off, some gases to recharge the battery. Then I had some light again for the next few kilometers. Dynamo thingy.
Newspapers under my fat coat. Two pairs of socks with a pair of plastic bags crammed into my boots.
Wind and snow and not a soul on the road. When I get home I want to put my foot on the ground, but my leg reacts too slowly, so that I lie on the street with all the mess.
My father heard me coming and helped me and the thing back up.
Warm up in the garage and then to the fireplace. Not immediately to the fireplace because that hurts yours.
Nice time. 🤔
I agree with you. With a jaw left in memory of pain. Because what did fingers and toes do when they thawed!
In the time that I did everything on the bike there was no other choice, so not even with snow and ice, a rope around the rear wheel as a snow chain has regularly helped me, whether it was very smart I don't know, but it always went well and proud when you drop by the motorcycle shop at 17.00 PM and the mechanics are waiting for you, heard me arrive, the first customer that day, great time !!!!
The mechanics have also changed!
On the way from Arnhem to Zutphen where an 8-hour working day was waiting. It was winter, it was freezing, and the workhorse was a Laverda SF, delivered from factory with drum brakes, black Bosch headlight and open chalices. Partly due to a recommended electronic ignition, the Laverda started immediately that day with a minimal push on the start button, every day. The dark hollow sound of the pounding 2-cylinder finds its way between the high facades of my street, the passing Laverda was the sign for many residents to get up. In my mind I speak to my Laverda a few words of encouragement, shake my covered Davida head once and thought this is going to be a cold one. The ride went carefully to Velp, Rheden, Dieren and Brummen, the Gallery did not exist then. Still hung behind a sprinkler that gave you salt in your mouth. It wasn't easy for the cars either, frozen windscreen washers, motorists scratching their windows on the side of the road and saw a motorcyclist passing by on an Italian. I start at the slightly rising foot of the concrete Ijssel bridge. The road surface started to shine more and more on the bridge, the Laverda drummed familiarly but I started to pinch it. I was already too far, I could not go back, I saw cars that also had trouble conquering the bridge, cars started to slide, cars slid against the crash barrier and I was driving in between on a two-wheeler, an SF on ice. I got incredibly hot, my breath caught and gave myself the command, keep driving, don't brake, don't move, don't steer, keep driving, don't brake, don't move, don't steer, keep driving, don't brake, don't move, don't steer. With a very straight anxious look and along a ruler I let the Laverda roll over the beijsselde bridge and we get to the other side together, time stood still there for me on that bridge. Experienced with a very special motorcycle, a Laverda 750 SF from 1972, which can now be seen and completely refurbished at the Motor workshop in Deventer, really.
See, that's a good story and the better kind of memories. Motor workshop in Deventer. Just remember
Somewhere in the early 70s with the BMW to East Berlin. Just to visit a couple of friends that I had met at the Grand Prix in (near) Karl-Marxstadt. It was the day before Christmas and in the GDR they still had winters. I hadn't counted on that. In addition, I had no thermal clothing. That was for wimps. I was numb to the bone marrow and indeed; urinating becomes an impossible exercise because you cannot grab the runner of the zipper. There was some lugging around with a tarpaulin and the engine was covered. Germans know how it should be done. Then I was asked if I was cold… ..
Boxing Day back. It was a little damp… indeed, a little wet snow. I couldn't stop so much that my fingers stayed warm. red traffic lights were ignored because I was banned from falling when I stopped.
Why is motorcycling so much fun again?
In response to your question. Because the weather is sometimes better! We've been there, we've survived, we've got the memories and the stories!
Anyone who rides a motorcycle in such weather is not a sissy. But maybe crazy and that is nice this time. You describe the atmosphere very nicely: “Coffee with Berenburg”. I looked up the latter: is that a kind of Jägermeister? Did you get that bladder infection on the bike? Sorry to be so curious: at my age (59) you try to prevent things.
Hello Dirk, being crazy is a blessing. I have already turned 66 and drink 'swinters alcohol as antifreeze AFTER the ride. . Berenburg is much less lost than Jaegermeisster, which makes the enamel spontaneously pop off the teeth. And with underpants, Helly Hansen thermal pants, jeans and textile motorcycle pants you don't have to worry about bladder infections, regardless of age or gender
Great piece! Reminds me of the Elephant hits together with the woman. The first time on the solo, the other 3 times with the team, never had serious bad luck, but that one time at minus 19 preheating the block with the petrol burner is still clear to me. That time also in one go home, 1 km. Once home, completely soaked, I went around the block to get that 975 on the counter in 1000 day… Yes, motorcycling in the winter, you have to be crazy for it.
In the summer I hardly drive anymore, I don't like it. Unfortunately, the real winters are a thing of the past.
Tip for the next ride A Husky Difi thermal overalls During an Elefantentreffen I saw that people wore nothing but a sweater underneath. And put the 1000 on the clock? That is an act of pure character, not madness! Driving in summer has become very busy. But all those good motorcyclists all ride the same pre-programmed routes. You can avoid them.
The cold was the biggest problem for the BMW boxer due to a worn starter motor in combination with 20w50 in the block, and that at minus 19. But after solid preheating, it started anyway. My dear wife in the bin was wrapped up in the blankets, and I was the engineer, hidden behind such a big knee blanket-like thing with hands hidden in huge steering sleeves. Like trousers, winter trousers from some dark brand, but they did. As a coat I had a Belstaff, lined winter wax coat with extra winter lining that you could take out, a skinned panda so to speak. That coat is really good, so good that it is no longer made. Halfway through the ride, however, there was wet snow mixed with rain, I could not drive more than 1km because all the water from the front tire sprayed over the left carburettor and cooled so much that there was no gas mixture in one cylinder. Once home it turned out that the unsurpassed Belstaff could not have stopped all that water after all, which is why I got soaked. I didn't have a rain suit then…. Such a Husky Difi is indeed great! I've seen them there too.
This year unfortunately no Elephants, there in Loh.
Ha! i just bought a new starter motor! At Wolf in Nijmegen. Those things are China Valeo Clones and they only cost 59 e incl VAT. Furthermore, I live with you in memory! And the layering system works fine even here in my study!
Hilarious.
Recognizable! 🙂
on the bmw still in the dark to bolsward, the eleven tour is being held,
arrived on time and first had a coffee with berenburg in the already opened pub
stood on the ice until midday on the canal, saw Mr. van neighbors pass by and got cold legs,
in the evening when I want to push the bmw off the stand again, it is already a lot colder, too cold, the return trip is accepted with the NS
to the toilet every ten minutes, shake off two drops, like that, a bladder infection is no joke
my last winter ride, yes i'm a sissy….
@ Hans. No, you are just sensible, but you should have done a little more layers below the belt! And with the current winters even that is no longer necessary!