Well, it hasn’t stopped snowing long enough to get any
spring riding in. The 10 inches we got on April 3rd is still slowly
melting in my front yard and more snow is in the forecast this week. It’s not
the dead of winter that shapes us cold climate dwellers, it’s the prolonged
agony of spring. Thankfully the April sun is strong and fighting the good
fight.
The motorcycles remain dormant in their cocoons but the bicycles
are out, wheels turning through the snow and ice, and meltwater. I’ve been bike
commuting to work about twice a week, conditions permitting. The coldest
commute was in February, 15 degrees in the morning, 20 in the afternoon. It’s
not far, about 3 miles but it gets me outside for about an hour each time. An
added benefit is that I get to keep a close eye on the pavement conditions.
If you can tolerate the cold, riding a motorcycle would be
totally doable. It takes about 3 days after an April snow for the roads to
clear up. The biggest deal breaker being meltwater that has refroze. That and
damp roads in the morning. Since about mid-March, I’ve noticed far less salt on
my bike, it was only an issue when riding just after a snow storm when puddles
of brine covered my path. When the roads are dry, I think riding a motorcycle
could be done safely. (It would require some mindful navigation and warm gear.)
I feel like I’ll be unearthing the Yamaha soon, but until
then my bicycle will continue to be in light rotation.
- Ride North
April in Minnesota
