Calgary Winter / Gravel / Ridin Start times /

[kennydude]

Okkk

So heres the thing. you guys may have read in the other posts, i am the new proud owner of a Suzuki C50. Its in indoor storage at the dealers right now.

So anyway, the dude was saying that usually people come in and get their bikes they buy around mid march, or april. I am super stoked to get it.

here is the question -
Calgary is guaranteed to snow again - as it does. My garage wont be built till mid summer. I will be buying a cover made specifically for the bike, so it will be covered outdoors. Will this greatly affect my bike being outside for now?

second - There is a standard amount of gravel on the ground - I took a tumble on the gravel on my old bike last year, pulling over to do up my helmet - as i forgot it was undone - and hit the ground. no real damage to my old bike, or me - just ego - will the amount of gravel affect me severely? i am pretty certain i was ridin last year at around March or April, but really cant remember. -

Mainly i dont want to hurt my bike - as stupid as it sounds (belive me - i know - so please dont label me a squid too soon) id rather heal an injury than pay for bike repairs hahah - you know how it is.

dont get me wrong - im not a stupid rider (cept for the helmet incident - a while ago). i belive ill be fine on the bike.

This question is geared more towards riders in Calgary, or people who have the same situation with weather (possibly snow until may, gravel on the ground)

keep in mind id really like to ride it
you guys have any opinions to pick up dates?

hey also, i dotn know if ive mentioned it before (itd be rude if i didnt) but i - and im sure the other noobs on this site - really honestly appreciate your input on all things we ask.

THANKS!

later!

[big_ry_ry]

i'm not in calgary but I live in buffalo so I figure we have close weather patterns. My bike is in my garage but when I lived in my apartment I had to store it. I think mid april is a good time as snow is ending and there will nice days ahead. Riding is different, I would wait untill there has been a good rain. It pushes the gravel away and also takes care of the salt residue from the plow trucks. For a couple of weeks gravel will be an issue mainly on the shoulder and watch for gravel build up on turns. Main roads should be fine and side streets you wont be powering your bike...well i hope..

As far a the bike being left outside I don't think it will hurt it put a long cover on it, not a plastic cover(condensation) and make sure there are vents, and if you can lift the bike off the grounds so your tires are not on the same spot(i have heard of flat spots that never round out) Any other questions feel free to ask!

[adrielm]

I'm in Edmonton, and road gravel can be a problem. Going straight and staying in car tracks are fine, but going into a turn if you cross out of the tracks you can end up on a bunch of gravel. As long as it's the day, you can see the gravel and know when to behave. It's harder to see at night, which is fine by me because our spring nights are usually still pretty cold anyways.

Until the city gets out and sweeps that crap off the roads, I only ride during the day. . .usually

[ofblong]

I have learned to just go slower around corners/turns that are prone to and you know and most likely have gravel on them. Basically just take it slower. I prob wont start riding till end of april mayish because thats when all the pot holes will finally be filled in. I dont want to get pulled over for suspected drunk riding because im weaving in and out of the pot holes trying not to get swallowed up by one.

[High_Side]

I've been riding my new bike in Calgary for the past few weeks but only for short blasts outta town on the highway. I still think that it is a little risky riding around town (but then it always is more risky riding in this city...) with all of the gravel that is still out there.

Be wary of keeping a nice new bike out in the weather, cover or not! Some covers will dull the finish of your paint by moving in the wind even if they seem like they are of high quality. A good work around is to pick up an old metal garden shed in the Bargain Finder that you can slap together to store the bike until the garage is built. I used a $50 garden shed at my first house (with a wooden floor that cost a few hundred $$$) for several years and my bikes looked like new. Now they are garage queens that live under a blanket, but you do what you need to do at the time.

Cheers,

High_Side

[ofblong]

I've been riding my new bike in Calgary for the past few weeks but only for short blasts outta town on the highway. I still think that it is a little risky riding around town (but then it always is more risky riding in this city...) with all of the gravel that is still out there.

Be wary of keeping a nice new bike out in the weather, cover or not! Some covers will dull the finish of your paint by moving in the wind even if they seem like they are of high quality. A good work around is to pick up an old metal garden shed in the Bargain Finder that you can slap together to store the bike until the garage is built. I used a $50 garden shed at my first house (with a wooden floor that cost a few hundred $$$) for several years and my bikes looked like new. Now they are garage queens that live under a blanket, but you do what you need to do at the time.

Cheers,

High_Side

lol mine live under a couple of old sleeping bags .