Britbike forum Forums Events - meetings / rallies / rides Three state mountain ride forum 2012 TSMR AAR

I thought Floyd stole all your electric gear at last years OSMR

It's SOOOOOOOO much more physical than street bike riding... SWEATING is a big problem, breathable mid layers are key. I wear medium weight plastic (polyester) long underwear, polar fleece pants and jacket, Primaloft bibs, and Primaloft/Gore-Tex jacket. Sorel boots rated for -100F. Primaloft/Gore-Tex gloves, electric hand warmers are on most every sled now. Even groomed trail touring, you work more than on a bike. Riding at 0F is a TREAT, engines run great, snappy response, plenty comfortable. -20F is still fine while riding, but when you stop for a break, there is little dawdling, I've ridden at -40F (because we had to, we were 300 miles from the truck) and it was hard to keep the face shield/glasses from frosting up. The helmets are special, painter's respirator type face peice with tubes venting outside, http://store.ski-doo.com/product/570954/447521/_/Modular_2_Helmet
200-300 mile days are the norm, 462 personal high mark. Mine is an 800cc two stroke twin, 143 h.p and weighs just under 500 lbs.. top speed of 125mph Great practice to keep your reflexes SHARP for mowersicklin!

Who grooms 200 miles of trails?

Between Maine Vermont and NH there are thousands of miles of groomed trails. In NH the state pays local clubs to groom the local trails. This is supported by the $75.00 (last time I checked) fee to register your sled every year.Not sure how its done elsewhere. The problem was (is) there's no reciprocity between states regarding registration, you had to pay each state if you wanted to ride. And it's real easy being in northern NH, to end up in Maine or Vermont, the reason being "the trail is always snowier on the other side of the boarder" Just one more reason why I gave it up and decided to spend my winters in the garage fettling instead!

Okay....I'm sorry but there's just something fundamentally wrong about riding around at 100 mph on snow in sub zero temps....ranks right up there with that fishing on ice stuff.

Geeze......give me the good ole sunny South any day. :bigt


Hugs.....Gordon in NC who lives on the sane side of the Mason Dixon

Lots of snow happens in West by God Virginia Gordon

True...but only because the good Lord hates that state.

Gordon....

Lots of nice roads to ride though.

LOL, no, no, no... Ice fishing (we call it ice drinking) is the same as drowning worms from a jon boat, except you can bring along a gas grill and recliner.

One of my fondest memories is when we brought along my 13YO Nephew, riding a one lunger. After blazing down a particularly straight, heavily wooded section at 55mph, when we stooped for a break, he proclaimed "THAT WAS JUST LIKE VIRTUAL REALITY!!!" :bigt He's now a First Lt. in the USAF

Don't forget New Brunswick and Quebec.. My personal favorite is called "Piston Alley" because it's so long (23 miles) and so wide, long sweeping curves, rolling hills (it's a Provincial Park road in the summer) that people hold their hot-rod sleds WFO for miles and miles, blow up engines ther routinely. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XPRXsiGoGw

This is one where my track exploded at 100+mph... felt like a hand grenade under my ass, I coasted 1/4 mile, it went every which way but straight.

Happy Thanksgiving to all the folks I've had the pleasure of meeting at the TSMR! 57F and GORGEOUS ride today!

Back at ya Howard.....your friend in NC, Gordon

Some images here: https://app.photobucket.com/u/gsx800ho/a/5224042a-08a8-4ce9-9cd8-2b7b07a529dc