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Triumph Trophy
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Triumph Trophy - General Chat
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November-the cruelest month
15 Aug 22, 17:56 pm
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Topic: November-the cruelest month (Read 4889 times)
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Emerson
Trophy Member ‐
48
Topic Author
Emerson
Trophy Member
Topic Author
Posts: 48
Bike: 2017 Trophy
City / Town: Santa Fe NM
November-the cruelest month
on:
Nov 30, 2017, 02.20 am
Nov 30, 2017, 02.20 am
Here in the Middle West part of the United States there is a cruelty to the riding season, the ultimate tease, letdown, and depression leading to feelings of longing over the endless winter: October is to me clearly the best month to ride, and the season ends abruptly when the calendar shows the eleventh month. I had weeks off work, timed with the anticipation of the Indian Summer, and rode my beautiful new TTSE incessantly through several states, accelerating through entry ramps, watching shadows stretch long in the lingering late afternoon light over the freshly plowed fields, my head and spirits in the clouds and fog of early AM blasts following the shorelines of Lake Michigan. I never missed a shift or had a sore butt, and averaged at least 44mpg (and as high as 52mpg)even going wide open and ballistic down tollways and interstates, enjoying the music of my iPod and music of the road, all sound and no sound, thoughts of home left at the exit of my driveway, language stripped away leaving communion with machine and nature - all the while grinning like a madman in my helmet, my spirits flying. More sunsets, more fields, more backroads, more life. The cows in the field nodded in my direction, inviting me to live eternally in these halcyon moments with them. I genuinely flirted with the temptation.
And then, the first week of November. An endless sky of grey. Rain, broken up by periods of lighter rain, all the while my Trophy like an eager puppy (or new crush), waiting for my thumb and toes and fingers to get her engine running.
Winters are dark times made worse for the genuine longing I have to ride, a sort of death each fall as the promise of the following spring seems to never come. The Trophy, while steps away in the garage might as well be the distant lover I'm fated to pine over. November, you ARE the cruelest month.
Readers of this post, how do you survive this barren season? Friends residing closer to the equator, feel free to brag but do it with sunshine in describing your twelve month season.
“In the end, today is forever, yesterday is still today, and tomorrow is already today.”
Verdun95
Trophy God ‐
2838
#1
Verdun95
Trophy God
Posts: 2838
Bike: Trophy 1200 SE
City / Town: by CDG Airport
Country:
Re: November-the cruelest month
Reply #1 on:
Nov 30, 2017, 08.13 am
Nov 30, 2017, 08.13 am
You're a Poet my Friend
An old biker must be a good rider
Traveller
Trophy Member ‐
18
#2
Traveller
Trophy Member
Posts: 18
Put your effin' phone down!
Bike: '17 TTSE
City / Town: Savannah GA
Re: November-the cruelest month
Reply #2 on:
Nov 30, 2017, 11.15 am
Nov 30, 2017, 11.15 am
Pretty good read there! I'm in Savannah GA so we can ride all year and I do. I think July is the cruelest month, too effin' hot!, especially on the TTSE with the fairing, mainly take the Road King on real hot days if I'm not going too far. I'd say I feel your pain, but I don't. I can only imagine, I'd move, lol.
It's only funny until somebody gets hurt,
then it's Hilarious!
nervouswreck
Trophy Master ‐
771
#3
nervouswreck
Trophy Master
Posts: 771
Bike: 13 TTSE
City / Town: SWFL
Country:
Re: November-the cruelest month
Reply #3 on:
Nov 30, 2017, 11.22 am
Nov 30, 2017, 11.22 am
Well RWE that was a deserving description of November. How do I handle the dreary months? It is easy I am retired and spend five to six months in Southwest Florida. So sorry my friend, but I have to finish my coffee and get ready to ride today. Hang in there.
Last Edit: Nov 30, 2017, 11.27 am by nervouswreck
tdragger
Trophy Master ‐
602
#4
tdragger
Trophy Master
Posts: 602
Bike: 2015 Trophy SE
City / Town: Fredericksburg
Country:
Re: November-the cruelest month
Reply #4 on:
Nov 30, 2017, 01.04 pm
Nov 30, 2017, 01.04 pm
There's a prevailing myth that southern states enjoy a 12 month riding season. Not necessarily so. July and August can be unbearable. The joy of riding seeps out and away as fast and prolific as the sweat off your body. While we do not have to worry as much about road conditions, the heat can kill just the same. Cooling tech has not caught up with the years of heated gear.
-------------------------------------
15 Triumph Trophy SE (2019 Iron Butt Rally, 2022 LDX Rally)
16 Triumph Trophy SE (2021 Iron Butt Rally)
IBA #609
thumper
Trophy Pro ‐
139
#5
thumper
Trophy Pro
Posts: 139
Naty von Ozirisz 1997-2011
Bike: '15 Trophy SE
City / Town: So Cal
Re: November-the cruelest month
Reply #5 on:
Nov 30, 2017, 01.34 pm
Nov 30, 2017, 01.34 pm
@ Emerson,
Your poetry is beautiful--it must come from sitting in the house for months at a time, dreaming about the next riding season.
In fact, reading your post is starting to depress me.
I think I'll go for a ride to clear my mind.
(hang in there!)
Last Edit: Nov 30, 2017, 01.40 pm by thumper
ATGATT--Because if you crash, the world is your belt sander
ZShyster
Trophy Pro ‐
332
#6
ZShyster
Trophy Pro
Posts: 332
Bike: Triumph Trophy SE
City / Town: Elmhurst, Illinois
Country:
Re: November-the cruelest month
Reply #6 on:
Nov 30, 2017, 01.56 pm
Nov 30, 2017, 01.56 pm
Emerson,
Buck up, it is a beautiful day in Northern Illinois today, and we are probably going to have 3 or 4 more this week. Fortunately, I am retired, so I am about to throw my leg over my steed and head west from Elmhurst, Illinois. Maybe a burger at Sam's in Byron, or a Bratwurst in Wisconsin.
If you are not retired, maybe it is time to call the boss and plead for a day off.
Owning a motorcycle in these parts can be frustrating, but our brothers north of us have it much tougher, as do many of our very hardy brothers in Europe.
Your prose is beautiful, but a good jacket, a balaclava, and a pair of over pants can keep you riding in dry weather above 35 degrees in relative comfort. Don't give up so soon. My goal every year is to ride into December, and get back on the road in early March.
I hope to see you on the roads of northern Illinois soon.
Ride safe.
ZShyster
OK_Trophy
Trophy Pro ‐
235
#7
OK_Trophy
Trophy Pro
Posts: 235
Bike: 2016 Triumph Trophy
City / Town: Enid, OK
Country:
Re: November-the cruelest month
Reply #7 on:
Nov 30, 2017, 02.53 pm
Nov 30, 2017, 02.53 pm
Here in NW Oklahoma the worst months are January and February (usually). This November has been pretty decent, weather-wise, and hopefully December will be okay too. I don't mind (too much) riding when it is super cold but sometimes we get ice storms and such and it is just too dangerous to be out on a big top-heavy bike like the TTSE. By early March the chances of ice are pretty much gone and the bike gets a lot more use.
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