Begin Bike Season in WI - Frozen Snot Ride 2007

Started off today at 7:30am, still a bit dicey on the roads with some ice coating the streets. But the sun was out and the temperature was moving in the right direction.

First real ride of the season. Took some photos fore your viewing pleasure:
Frozen Snot Ride 2007
Hope you all enjoy the pictures, nice Indian in mint condition!

Beautiful Day to Ride!

That is a lot more bikes than I saw around here today. Is there a regular gathering like this in Milwaukee? I live about 1hr away but would like to join sometime. Do you stop at a breakfast place with all those folks or just gather? 23 more questions and I will be done....

The photos are real nice on your site, especially the ones up on the snowmobile trails. Is there a good place to start on those trails?

Saw two motorcycles and a "bigger" scooter on the streets today. Roads really are not ideal for riding up here in Edmonton. Residential streets still have a bit of ice on them and the puddles from melting are darn near small lakes. I'll take my time getting out and about. Better to be safe and dry then any of the other options.

Oh yeah, I forgot about the sand on the streets as well. Gotta watch out for that too.

today was the first time i've been out for more than 100 miles this year as well (as long as i don't count the 70 degree january outing to Max BMW, cause, well, that was just ridiculous) and it felt really good.

i did have the biggest scare/slide of my 3 yr riding career though. i've been fortunate as i've never crashed a bike, but today, executing a left turn out on to a two lane highway about 1/4 mile from my house my rear tire (cold) slid out from under me and the left cylinder hit the pavement lightly at about 10 mph and i sorta "bounced" back up a bit. a combination of proper throttle application and weight shift actually, somehow, miraculously (i STILL can't believe it worked i mean!!) managed to right the bike and send me happily on my way without an actual crash. the sorta thing that makes your hand shake for a few minutes. two joggers on the side of the road gave me a stare as this happened like "did he mean to do that"??? hahha

I spent the day getting my bike prepped.....
thanks manic for the new tires

everything is back on and more

GeoBeemer said:

That is a lot more bikes than I saw around here today. Is there a regular gathering like this in Milwaukee? I live about 1hr away but would like to join sometime. Do you stop at a breakfast place with all those folks or just gather? 23 more questions and I will be done....

The photos are real nice on your site, especially the ones up on the snowmobile trails. Is there a good place to start on those trails?

Click to expand...

GeoBeemer, this ride (Frozen Snot Ride, apparently in it's 7 year) is something I just heard about from http://www.sport-touring.net website (region 4 is Midwest). Semi-organized rides open to anyone that likes to ride on two wheels. Coffee meets and greets are called (mostly non-chain type coffee shops) and usually discussion about whether the ride will be long enough for meal stop(s).

As to the photos in Northern WI snowmobile trails, a good friend of mine lives in Northern WI and it's his back yard. He's ridden the snowmobile trails (winter time) and is familiar. Boulder Junction, WI - Eagle River, WI - Land O Lakes, WI area (triangle of good area about 4.5 hours north of Milwaukee about 3.5-4 hours north of Madison has some great riding. Get a detailed map of WI and look for those twisty highways and you can find some interesting ways to get there. If in a hurry can slab your way up for a couple of hours and then just take some very scenic highways.

Hwy 32 leading up to Three Lakes, WI is pretty, Hwy 55 can be a great trip - if it goes along a river or through forest or reservation can enjoy the natural beauty of Wisconsin. The Great River Road along the western border of the state is an excellent choice too.

You can pick up some good maps from the Ranger station and ask locals (gas station - store) about good roads to ride. More often than not they'll steer you in the right direction. Plenty of rustic roads, State and National Park roads too. Good places to check are also http://www.advrider.com or http://www.motorcycleroads.com (short list) or other motorcycle websites http://www.i-bmw.com or http://www.k-bikes.com

Hope this helps answer some of your questions.