Ride Like the Wind

Having been out of town for most of September, and with winter approaching, I
went out for my usual 70 mile ride along Turnagain Arm in spite of the rain
clouds. It was a dark and stormy 5:30 pm. The wind was blowing out of the arm
pretty good, but it was hardly raining so everything was OK. It's a little
exciting to have a wind gust stand you back up while you're taking a corner but
I wasn't having any real trouble staying in my lane. The water looked really
cool as the wind created a lot of small waves and blew enough spray up to make a
fog above the water. The ride was not boring. Didn't see any other bikes out,
although I had seen two returning just as I was heading out.

I didn't realize just how hard the wind was blowing till I passed a vehicle. We
were going about 50 mph with the Connie in 6th gear doing 3000 rpm around 50 mph
when I pulled out to pass. I twisted the throttle but the bike kind of sat
there and moaned. I thought maybe my fuel petcock diaphragm was going out or
something but I managed to slowly pass the guy. There was no oncoming traffic
so I didn't bother to downshift. I did downshift when making my next pass and
had plenty of power so I knew I was plowing some pretty good headwinds. The
winds along the arm are predictable. There will be a headwind on the way out
and a tail wind on the way home. The rain was just waiting for me to get out of
town so it wasn't long before I was getting blown around on some pretty wet
roads.

Girdwood, my turn around point, was dark. Cars were at the pumps, a couple came
out of the pizza place with pizza in hand, but the electricity was out. More
evidence that it was windier than normal. I turned around and headed for home,
now with no wind at all in spite of the fact I was doing 70 mph. It was nice
listening to the engine sing instead of wind whistling around my helmet. Made
it home safe and sound.

Robert, good write up on your trip.

I know that wierd sensation of hearing the engine without
helmet wind noise is.

On the way home last fall, we had gusts to 60 MPH, with winds
blowing around 30 - 40 MPH. It is wierd to be riding home on
a portion of road at 45 MPH, slowly passing the actively
rolling tumbleweeds.

Thursday, I was drenched to the bone. It started raining as I
mounted and accelerated to a hard downpour. It let up just as
I turned off the main road onto my side street. Mesh gear
does little to keep the rain out. I was sloshing in my boots
up the side walk.

With the right rain gear, motorcyclists (Concours in particular) can keep
going when cars pull off the road due to wind or visibility.

Rain suit, rubber boots, kayak paddler's neoprene gloves.

I just remembered to check the weather report - winds along the Turnagain Arm
tonight are 40 to 60 mph, gusting to 85. Winds tomorrow during the day will be
50 to 70 mph, gusting to 100. Tomorrow night will be 40 to 60mph, with gusts to
75. It's times like this that I'm glad I don't own a Ural. I'll ride again
tomorrow if it isn't raining as winter is just about here.