Up here in the North it gets a little nippy come 1 January. But I'm hearing about an upcoming Polar Bear Run on New Years Day. Just wondering if this is done around the country in the freezing weather, or it's just a local thing. I've lived on both coasts, and haven't really seen it any where else, but then again I might just have missed it as usually I'm absorbed with football on New Year's Day. I'd kind of like to hear about your experiences, and thoughts regarding the winter ride.

 

Yup, we have one here in Portland Oregon, its usually very well attended if its not snowing or freezing rain. One year the weather was really bad, it only had one bike show up, a trike lol....

 

We have been doing them here in Louisiana for several years. Last year it was in 40's, the year before in the 60's and had nearly 100 bikes. We cheat and have the warmer weather. We pretty much ride 12 months out of year. We need to have a Devils ride in the middle of July here. Summer riding here is miserable. Heat and humidity don't even go together.

 

I hear ya, I'd rather ride in the cold than the heat and humidity. So I'm guessing these things are all over?

 

I've done a "brass nut run" charity fundraiser for a few years, usually on Jan 1. I think this is a western-states thing, because dry air means the roads may be safer even when the temperature is below freezing. It's not a long ride, but long enough to test out new gloves, heated grips, heated gear, balaclavas, etc. that we often get for Christmas.

 

The 96th annual Crotona Midnight Run happens in NY sometime in February.

http://www.ramapomc.org/RMC_Events_f...mc_crotona.jpg

 

Too much salt on the roads here.

 

Salt and now the calcium chloride cocktail plus tons of snow. We'll likely have a polar bear ride in May...lol

 

I am not sure they still do it, but 10 years ago or so they did one in annapolis Md...I didn't go (because i have sense)..it was cold and snowy that day..if I remember rightly, there was not a real ride, just folks riding to the dealer from wherever they come from...

 

Pretty normal around here. Have a 100+ mile loop planned.