Author Topic: duck in the snow  (Read 8298 times)

Offline DRxBMW

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duck in the snow
« on: January 18, 2012, 08:42:56 PM »
Ha, news channel had a story on how Seattle was suffering traffic woes from a whooping two inches of snow.

yada,yada, I know, the white is rare but still. Gee, you think the Pacific Northwest was Houston,Texas for God's sake.

For the record, my house still has zero snowfall so far. Saturday we might get 6 inches or more.

Gary
Williamsport,Pa

1994 K 75 ABS "custom"
2005 F 650 GS

Offline frankenduck

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Re: duck in the snow
« Reply #1 on: January 18, 2012, 10:02:01 PM »
Meh, the amount of snow we've gotten this year is nothing.   I've lived here all of my life and the real problem in the snow is the hills.  However, being a local and knowing my way around, I can pretty much get anywhere in the Seattle area taking roads that aren't too steep.  The transplants and idjuts who try to take their "normal" routes aren't going anywhere or, if they do, end up playing bumper cars.  Local news reported tonight that bodyshop work is already up 70%. LOL.

The other major problem is that since it snows here so little that many people don't have a CLUE how to drive on snow and ice.  They don't understand simple concepts like gaining momentum before a hill and think that spinning their tires as fast as possible is somehow helpful. I've been skiing my entire life and lived in a few snowier places so I've got tons of experience driving on snow and ice.  Doesn't phase me one bit.  I went out and ran some errands today.  No big deal.

We also tend to warm up during the day and melt a bit so the next morning's refrozen road surface can be VERY icy.  It's not like colder places where it never gets over 25 during the day and the snow stays fairly dry.

Also, given that we get very little annual snow, the cities and counties don't have a lot of equipment on hand so that only a few major streets get any attention.
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Offline motodude

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Re: duck in the snow
« Reply #2 on: January 19, 2012, 01:17:32 AM »
They're totally clueless in The Peoples Republic of Portland too.  I grew up in AK and learned to drive, driving on ice.  I know exactly what you mean about getting a run at the hills.  The morons around here slow down for them.  I guess they don't teach applied physics in OR.

Hell, I've ridden my K75 in six inches of snow.  Up hill and down.  I don't recommend it, but it can be done.

Tom
'95 K75RT
'90 K75RT
'87 K100RS Motorsport
No, I am not cool.  Yes, it really is the journey.

Offline DRxBMW

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Re: duck in the snow
« Reply #3 on: January 19, 2012, 08:25:56 AM »
They're totally clueless in The Peoples Republic of Portland too.  I grew up in AK and learned to drive, driving on ice.  I know exactly what you mean about getting a run at the hills.  The morons around here slow down for them.  I guess they don't teach applied physics in OR.

Hell, I've ridden my K75 in six inches of snow.  Up hill and down.  I don't recommend it, but it can be done.

Tom

I'm hip,70& of cage drivers are clueless about winter driving skills. Comical, unless your behind them.

ABS does help, rare I ride non ABS when it's really nasty. IOW, I've fallen down on ice before,don't ask. 

Gary
Williamsport,Pa

1994 K 75 ABS "custom"
2005 F 650 GS

Offline BobZ(IL)

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Re: duck in the snow
« Reply #4 on: January 19, 2012, 09:03:24 PM »
Had a hell of a time getting across the flatlands of Indiana today following drivers absolutely paralyzed with fear on snowpacked roads that were not slick.
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Offline motodude

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Re: duck in the snow
« Reply #5 on: January 20, 2012, 01:53:55 PM »
I'm hip,70& of cage drivers are clueless about winter driving skills. Comical, unless your behind them.

Not always comical when you're in front of them either.

Maybe to get a "snow and ice" endorcement, one should have to spend a couple of years ice racing (the original drifting).

Tom
'95 K75RT
'90 K75RT
'87 K100RS Motorsport
No, I am not cool.  Yes, it really is the journey.

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