How to stay sane during the off-season

Bye, bye bike for the next five to six months... (but hopefully sooner). How to survive?

In case jetting off to someplace warmer where you can ride isn't in your budget -just like us at FXCHD- here's some ideas on how you can stay sane when you're off you bike:

• Winter is pretty - get outside!! You already love to be outside riding your motorcycle... maybe try renting a snowmobile and get a hobby to keep you occupied and outside during the winter months.

• It is officially Snow Shoveling Season -which really is good exercise (you could burn 300-400 calories in 30 minutes). Just be sure to do it safely: follow these tips from Insidehook. You'll be fit in no time!

• Watch as many motorcycle movies and television shows as possible. 21 Days Under the Sky, Easy Rider, On Any Sunday, Sons of Anarchy, etc., etc. Living vicariously through others is one way to escape the winter blues.

• Bank your Time Off: if you're lucky enough to work where you can save up your paid vacation till you want to use it (as opposed to being told when you get vacation), bank 'em up. And/or you can get a part-time seasonal job to save up- that way you can take even more time off during the summer riding season. 

• Do any engine upgrades now and take advantage of the down-time. You'll have fun turning your bike into a beast and will be ready to unleash it come spring-time.

• Plan your next motorcycle adventure: start doing research now, choose your destination, where you'll stay, the roads to get there and what you'd like to see. But remember to leave enough 'wiggle room' to allow for exploration.

• Socialize! Join your local H.O.G. Chapter -our NNY Harley Owners Group always has stuff going on, even in the 'off' months.

Sure spring is months away, but the next Riding Season starts now!

5 Tips to help Bikers Survive Winter

You think it's cold where you live? Come to Northern New York and we'll show you cold (this morning it was -11°F)!!

I love, love, love the summer months -long days in which to ride my 2004 Dyna Super Glide, warm weather to ride in, BBQ's on the back deck after washing my bike, then sitting by the fire pit for a lovely evening before getting up and doing it all again.

So winter for me really starts when I put my bike up for Winter Storage.... which was just before Halloween this year...... Sigh.

And I am not alone. Many others suffer from PMS during the cold winter months (that's Parked Motorcycle Syndrome), the same as I. 

In light of this, I've gotten together with my co-workers at FXCHD and we've created this list so that you might survive the cold chill without losing your mind.

1. Stay Warm: Which can be a tough one but doable. Block drafts
   
   from coming in your house and change the furnace filter. Dress in layers when outside. Wear lined boots with good, thick socks. Oh, and a good hat with flaps to cover your ears.
2. Celebrate the Holidays: And I'm not talking about just Christmas and New Year's. I'm talking about Thanksgiving, Ground Hog Day, Valentine's Day and St. Patrick's Day. Really throw yourself into it, and by the time
   
   Easter rolls around you know you've made it through.
3. Stay active: I mean more than just shoveling and snow blowing, which is inevitable here. I mean doing a project that keeps you occupied, like an engine upgrade on your bike. Or jig-saw puzzles, or taking your dog for a walk and/or take up snowmobiling (remember to dress in layers). Bear in mind
   
   the Biker saying: Keep Moving Forward.
4. Stick it in your Ear: Being off the bike means I'm stuck in my car for the duration. Fortunately my car has Sirius XM and is usually set to Octane. It's a chance to listen to new music and update my MP3 player for when I am back on my bike. And Grant Random keeps it real with his insights & comments (he definitely has a Biker mentality). 
5. Remembering the 7 "P's": Proper prior planning prevents piss
   
   poor performance. Look at the riding season and plan ahead. Going to a rally? Book your stay now rather than wait till the last minute (even three months out you're likely to have a hard time finding a place to stay). Take a look at which route you'll ride to get there. Make out your packing list now and update or upgrade your gear as needed (especially since shops tend to have sales on Riding Gear during the off season).

The good news is that by the time Winter officially starts (December 22), it's nearly half over for us. Another plus, wintertime in Northern New York is quite beautiful.