December 2012, The Motorcycle Times – 18
full throttle RUSSELL WILSON Contributing Writer, TMT
Choose Sheridan for professional motorcycle training that gives you the skills and experience to safely and knowledgeably navigate our roads and highways. We are one of the largest motorcycle programs in Canada, and our dedicated instructors make the difference! Their enthusiasm for motorcycle riding and your safety creates a comfortable, personalized learning experience. Courses offered: • M1 Exit (includes the M2 test). • M2 Exit (includes the M Test).
For more information: 905-845-9430, ext. 2690 (Oakville/Mississauga) 905-681-4611, ext. 2690 (Burlington/Hamilton) 905-459-7533, ext. 5190 (Brampton/Mississauga)
sheridanmotorcycle.ca
Driving about town in this cold, dark and blustery weather and seeing the odd biker braving the elements made me start to question why I wasn’t out there myself. Not a real ‘biker’? Is it a novelty? And worst of all, am I a ‘weekend rider’? I’ve always had these questions, since I consider myself a very avid, if not obsessive biker when I see other riders out in what I consider garbage weather. What’s their story? No other means of transportation? Economics? Maybe, they’re simply that fanatical about the biking experience? I stare at them with curiosity, intrigue and of course a million questions. This is the time of year, when in Windsor Ontario at least the weather can be simply brutal one day and very nice the next. The cause appears to be the fact that we’re surrounded by water, and thus our weather patterns can change quickly, causing our weather to differ greatly in relatively short periods of time. I like to think it’s simply that the town is screwed up in more ways than one. But I digress. I could live in London Ontario and go through spring and summer quicker than it takes to put away the bulky jackets and break out the ‘old man’ attire; you know, the khaki shorts, buttoned dress shirt and strap heeled sandals. Snow in July (no, not really, but it sure comes early. I wonder why my travel agent doesn’t have that brochure….. I was out riding the other day (yes, the weather was nice); my first ride in about a week or so, and it felt great to get out and experience the freedoms biking allots oneself. Of course, I had to dodge a few Buicks, a pedestrian with a walker, and the bad drivers in those steel cages (did I mention to become a Windsorite one has to give up all common sense when perched upon four wheels?). Digression; now there’s a name for a column... Meteorologists are generally predicting a mild winter, though more snow and colder weather than Canada got last year. I remember riding at least a few times every month last winter. As long as the temperature was at least about 50 degrees F and the roads weren’t covered in salt dust I tried to get out. I’m hoping the predictions are off (weather men aren’t exactly known for accuracy) and I can do the same this season. I find during the winter months I’m starving for motorcycle literature and information of any kind since I can’t readily ride. I’ll search the television
Digression
for motorcycle shows, movies (no matter how bad, i.e. Stone Cold), and visit the book store to read multiple bike magazines (free of course as long as you don’t walk out the door with them, or spill your coffee). I like to keep my ear to the ground so to speak during this time of year to see how different cities, locations, demographics are anticipating winter with regard to riding. Like I already mentioned, here in Windsor we’ve come to expect milder winters than the rest of Canada, so we are always prepared for that nice day we can thumb our collective noses at the calendar and go for a quick excursion to the coffee shop, etc. I’ve heard in London the weather won’t allow one to ride shortly after the first oil change……ah digression. To be in California. Talk about dreaming! They have the privilege of riding twelve months out of the year. That’s every month. Every year! While we fret about trickle chargers and gas stabilizers they cruise along, their only worry to pack a cardigan (who wears those?) for the cooler evening temps. Although, they do have their economy, political structure, severe homelessness and bad comedians. So maybe we’re not so bad off after all. I remember many years ago, when we were in the process of setting a record low (sixty below zero). This was when we actually got snow that arrived in December and left with the in-laws. I was working at my sisters’ store when I heard this rumble. It was about ten in the evening and I said to myself, ‘that can’t be a bike in this weather’? I ran to the door and peaked out and couldn’t believe what I saw. I biker with a snow mobile suit on riding down the street! I figured he had to be on crack, drunk, insane, or a republican. I remembered my mother telling me to be empathetic for those less fortunate so I didn’t laugh aloud. One good thing about the winter season is that all things motorcycle related (at least in our part of the world) are cheaper. It’s a great time to shop, compare, haggle or even dream. The shops are glad to have you, and repairs can be cheaper also, due to that ‘supply and demand’ thing. Winter. Winter. Man I hate it! Makes you question yourself, your gear, your bike, where you live, where others live, their gear, and their bikes. Digression. Now there’s a season I can relate too.
We Deliver the news that matters to riders, because we ride too. Subscribe FREE today at: themotorcycletimes.ca