Ah, the dilemma... when to put it up for the winter?

[Nickds7]

I'm never putting it up for winter. No snow here, just rain. Actually started pouring right before I left work today. I'll live.

[adouglas]

Well, looks like I'll be riding another week at least.

I wanted to install my new Jardine fender eliminator before putting the bike away, and the $#*()# cheap fasteners the big K uses tripped me up. I couldn't get one of the turn signals unscrewed and wound up mangling it. So I had to remove it the hardest way possible, with a hacksaw and a file.

Fortunately I had a metric hex-head screw of the correct size in my miscellaneous box.

In between everything, it took most of the afternoon and there was no way I'd be able to ride the bike, plus do all the winterization before dark.

But I did get that kit installed, and it's a nice piece of kit. I'll post pics and comments in another thread.

[Sailariel]

I have no intention of putting my bike up for the winter. I have a heated garage/shop and plan to ride when the roads are clear. Worked fine last winter and we had a lot of snow. We also had a lot of days when the roads were clear and dry. I ride my bicycles during the winter as well. Did you know that you can get studded tyres for your bicycle? We have a guy who rides a Ural sidecar rig year round around here. He sports studded tyres as well.

[adouglas]

Salt, sand... even when the roads are clear...

No thanks.

[backinthesaddleagain]

Great day of riding in RI today, hit some back roads along RI/CT border, weather was great, the only problem was the smelll of the cow farms. Don't give up on the riding season yet. One of my best days riding in a while!

[Greg_E]

I spent the day tearing the bike apart to get at all the idiocy and try to remove it

Now I need to wait for parts that I can't even order until tomorrow

[Hedge36]

Originally Posted by Greg_E

I spent the day tearing the bike apart to get at all the idiocy and try to remove it

Now I need to wait for parts that I can't even order until tomorrow

I feel your pain. Argh.

[Anthony_marr]

Originally Posted by adouglas

Yeah, but you're in Canada.

It starts snowing there in what, August?

I intend to ride all winter, and I am in Canada. Well, Vancouver BC anyway , which sits right on the Pacific coast, benefiting from that mild oceanic climate - pretty much same as Victoria, but far warmer than Toronto or Montreal, seldom dipping below breezing. The wet season is from late October to mid-April. Normally we get about 3 short snow dumps around January, which clear up within a week (last winter was an exception, with LOTS of snow). Normally it's about 80% wet, 20% dry, or on average 1 dry day a week. Well worth keeping the bike on the road.

The problem is finding a dry place to park the bike the 6 wet days of the week. I have a good heavy-duty cover, but I want at least the ground on which the bike stands to be dry. An open carport is the baseline.