[2199]

Cycle Canada Article, Director\'s Cut

Hey Guys
The clip I sent in to Cycle Canada was printed in the January issue and hit the stands last week. They had to shorten it quite a bit to fit on the page. Here's what the original looked like, with pics.

Swinging a hammer in Nova Scotia just wasn't keeping the toy box full so I swapped my slicks for knobbies and headed North.

Most Nunavumiuut have the same reaction when they see a WR 400 scootin' across the frozen tundra of Baffin Island on a crisp January night ~ ko-razy. Well, the way I see it, it's simple mathematics. Take 1 Road racer ~ divided by the love of Cape Breton over the lack of jobs there ~ add the number of times you chose fresh rubber over groceries to make the next regional at Shubenacadie ~ multiply by -30C to the power of Arctic $$$ ~ and the answer is clear. "2 tickets to Iqaluit, Nunavut please. A window seat for me and an aisle for my new friend in blue over yonder."

 

[2199]

Re: Cycle Canada Article, Director\'s Cut

Initially I had no plans of riding year round but a quick hop from a semi-low roof into a snowdrift changed everything. Instantly I understood why the igloos I built in my parents' backyard didn't look like the ones in the magazines. That drift was like concrete; I barely left a footprint in it. That was my first experience with the dry, wind packed snow of the Arctic. I decided to top up the anti-freeze in my bike and try a little free-style mogul riding after work. Sa-weeet, the bike sailed over the drifts with the knobbies breaking the surface just enough to get some decent traction. As I got braver and picked up the pace a bit I had my second Arctic snow experience; it is not all created equal. Early soft-spot-recognition became an important ingredient of 2 wheel tundra travel. After a few weeks of experimenting I was averaging only 1 trip over the bars per day. Now that may sound like one-a-day too many, but you can pretty much get used to anything, so I bought a nice soft crossbar pad and started racking up the frequent flyer miles.
For the most part winter riding up here is exactly the same as summer riding down south with a few minor exceptions. The bike is always squirming and sinking and never really settles down to where you feel safe, and if you get a flat, break down, or crash hard and can't make it back to town.....you freeze to death, but aside from that it's exactly the same. As long as you look waaaaay down the road it's a blast and you can pretty much avoid the snow angels (Arctic result of a perfect flying W).

 

[2199]

Re: Cycle Canada Article, Director\'s Cut

I made one of my most memorable impressions in the snow in April/2001 during the first half of a 320 km return trip to a neighboring community. It began with an incorrect trail obstacle ID at near top speed. Just before contact I realized that the little dark spot in the middle of the trail (misdiagnosed as a pinched Husky loaf) was actually the tip of a large boulder that had melted through the snow. No time to stop or change direction - lean back, pull hard on the bars and stretch that throttle cable. Oh well, it wasn't a total waste of effort; at least the front wheel cleared.

 

[2199]

Re: Cycle Canada Article, Director\'s Cut

A couple of good ol' fashioned loop-the-loops and then my 3rd Arctic snow lesson: with enough height and velocity you can leave a pretty good dent. The bike was dinged up a bit but a few quick repairs made on the spot thanks to my Emergency Arctic Wilderness tool kit which consisted of a pair of vice grips and a......... place to put them, and we were back on track.
At one point I had to drag the bike into a small emergency shelter and used engine heat to delay the human popsicle process, but aside from that it was a great ride!

 

[2199]

Re: Cycle Canada Article, Director\'s Cut

Clear blue sky, sun splitting the icebergs, a brisk -25C, and best of all - no bugs! It also went into the books as first time the trip has ever been made by motorcycle. I'd like to thank my 2-snowmobile support crew, Ken and Leo, who actually let me rest in Kimirut long enough to eat lunch before heading back to Iqaluit.
If you're wondering what the trail is like, check out this website http://nsc2003.eastlink.ca/ posted by Nunavut Productions. They organize an annual snowmobile race between the two communities.

 

[2199]

Re: Cycle Canada Article, Director\'s Cut

During my 4 years of riding in the snow I've experimented with various tire/stud combinations, synthetic engine and fork "fluids" that look more like jello than liquid in February, polypropylene underwear, and duct tape brands that barely remove skin when you peel it from your face yet still reduce frostbite. A modular helmet dramatically increased my top speed, which was limited by low visibility and frostbite.

 

[2199]

Re: Cycle Canada Article, Director\'s Cut

The most drastic improvement was the installation of my Moto-Ski designed by a biker in Alaska, (who no doubt also belonged to the frequent flyer club). I haven't made one trip over the bars since installation, that I didn't deserve.

 

[2199]

Re: Cycle Canada Article, Director\'s Cut

For a little summer fun I toss on a paddle tire and a PFD beat everyone to the cottage by taking that seldom used shortcut across the lake.

 

[2199]

Re: Cycle Canada Article, Director\'s Cut

At 40 and a half, I'm no spring ptarmigan, but I still ride whenever possible. -20 beautiful, -30 padded shorts help soften that factory brick of a seat, -40 if the cable's out I'm gone. I even managed to snap my rear shock and pro-link this summer so at least I think I'm still going fast. I am forced to drive my snowmobile on occasion though since 2 up bike riding doesn't work well in snow, and the girl in town does like to get out of the igloo once in awhile.

 

[2199]

Re: Cycle Canada Article, Director\'s Cut

I've had lots of adventures riding in Nunavut, both good and bad. The worst landed my scooter and me on the Discovery Channel after spending a frosty January night in a snow bank due to 'inclement' weather and a less than average sense of direction. I can't thank those Iqaluit Search and Rescue guys enough, Jimmy Noble in particular. (Even though he insisted that the bike was not going to be rescued, just me.) He was the one who actually found me and set me on defrost.
I later learned that it was the bike that led to my rescue. There are hundreds of snowmobile tracks heading off in all directions around Iqaluit and Nunavut Emergency Services had no idea where to start looking. Eric Doig, (Manager of NES), simply said, "There's only one motorcycle tire track out there. Find it, follow it, and Tim will be at the other end." And Jimmy did and I was.

 

[2199]

Re: Cycle Canada Article, Director\'s Cut

This prompted the purchase of my most valuable piece of Arctic riding equipment from one of my new favorite companies, Garmin.

 

[2199]

Re: Cycle Canada Article, Director\'s Cut

Thomas Wolfe wrote, "You Can't Go Home Again". Maybe not, but with a heated, handlebar mounted GPS, at least you know you're heading in the right direction.

Peace Out

Tim

 

[2199]

Re: Cycle Canada Article, Director\'s Cut

p.s.
For the record, I haven't forgotten my southern roots. In fact I spent all summer last year, yes both days, doin' it in the dirt.

THE END

 

[461]

Re: Cycle Canada Article, Director\'s Cut

Awesome story, congrats on having it published.

 

[Guest]

Re: Cycle Canada Article, Director\'s Cut

Damn cool stuff Mr T. You got more nutz than me, that's for sure. It gets that cold out and I am hiding inside, dreaming about a nicer day!

 

[461]

Re: Cycle Canada Article, Director\'s Cut

So, the Rooster re-appears. Good to hear from you bud. I'll be headed up your way the middle of Jan. Won't be doing any riding, need to go see my Mom, she's not doing so well. Found a lump attached to her lung and pressing on her vocal chords, close to her heart. Doesn't look good. Anyway...stop being a stranger.

 

[Guest]

Re: Cycle Canada Article, Director\'s Cut

Wow, Brian, so sorry to hear about your mom. this stuff can be beat, my mom just whipped foliculr lymphoma, so I will keep you and your mom in my thoughts.

I don't mean to be such a stranger around here, just keep getting caught up in other stuff.

 

[461]

Re: Cycle Canada Article, Director\'s Cut

Thanks, appreciate it. She will start the chemo and radiation therapy in about a week. They're still doing the bone scan, MRI, Cat Scan and mamogram. Had all that sceduled for two different days. She's actually holding up pretty good. What's the weather like up there? Pretty hard to use snow for a reason not to ride with guys like the T man hanging around huh? Catch you later.

 

[Kyron]

Re: Cycle Canada Article, Director\'s Cut

Daummmm is all I can muster

 

[Kyron]

Re: Cycle Canada Article, Director\'s Cut

That and how come the picture of the "girl has to get out" wont come up???????????????/