Polar Bear Ride 2022

2162 Views 27 Replies 11 Participants Last post by Gerard, Jan 17, 2022

Sidecar Bob

Discussion Starter · Dec 27, 2021 (Edited)

Its time to separate the real bikers from the wannabees again: The Polar Bear Ride

The rules are the same as they have been since I first posted them on this forum:
1) Participation in the CX500forum Polar Bear Ride is open to all registered CX500forum members.
2) Go for a ride of at least 1hr duration on either Dec. 31 2021 or Jan 1 2022 or both. (I usually head for somewhere that is at least a half hour from home, stop for a meal or to visit someone or something like that and then make sure I take more than half an hour to get back home).
3) Take one or more pics and post them in this thread.
4) Click the following link to Piper's Patches where you can order Polar Bear Run patches and year rockers (it looks like he has discontinued the pins)
Piper's Patches Canadian eBay store
Piper's Patches US eBay store

NOTE: In the event of a ban on unnecessary travel due to pandemic you can do the ride whenever the ban is lifted in your area.

Southern hemisphere note: Those of you in Australia might decide to call it the Thorny Devil Ride and those in South Africa perhaps the Springbok Ride but you would have to find your own sources of patches ;-)

Save

Reactions: 2

21 - 28 of 28 Posts

Sidecar Bob

Discussion Starter · #21 · Jan 14, 2022

It looks like a stock SilverWing seat and a taller than normal backrest attached to the trunk.
I used to think I'd like a backrest until I had one on the SW trunk I had on Eccles. I found I seldom sat against it and when I did it never felt right (maybe I was just used to not having anything there).
When I changed to a different trunk I didn't put a pad on it.

Save

Sidecar Bob

Discussion Starter · #22 · Jan 15, 2022

I finally got ahead of things enough to edit the video

Save

Reactions: 1

DouginEasternWashington

· #23 · Jan 15, 2022

Sidecar Bob said:
It looks like a stock SilverWing seat and a taller than normal backrest attached to the trunk.
I used to think I'd like a backrest until I had one on the SW trunk I had on Eccles. I found I seldom sat against it and when I did it never felt right (maybe I was just used to not having anything there).
When I changed to a different trunk I didn't put a pad on it.

I agree with not using a backrest is actually more comfortable. I’ll go one step further and say that not using the highway pegs and keeping my feet on the factory pegs is way better on my back when on long distance rides.

Save

Reactions: 1

Sidecar Bob

Discussion Starter · #24 · Jan 15, 2022

I'm not saying backrests aren't good for some people, just not for me.
Highway pegs are a whole other matter. I have arthritic knees so I absolutely have to have somewhere else to move my feet to if I'm going to be on a bike without getting off and walking around for a while every half hour or so.
I used to have pegs on Eccles when I drove it more often and farther but when I replaced the engine in 2018 I hadn't used the peg for a couple of years so I didn't bother putting it back. I didn't miss it until this year's Polar Bear Ride and then only because my left knee is still recovering from landing on it when I fell on a wet concrete floor a couple of months ago.

Save

Randall-in-Mpls

· #25 · Jan 15, 2022

DouginEasternWashington said:
I agree with not using a backrest is actually more comfortable. I’ll go one step further and say that not using the highway pegs and keeping my feet on the factory pegs is way better on my back when on long distance rides.

I've got highway pegs on Nimbus. I'll fold them out once in a while, but it's not a comfortable riding position.

Save

DouginEasternWashington

· #26 · Jan 15, 2022

I still have the highway pegs on the bike and will use them, I just notice my lower back will get sore when I use them. I think the highway pegs look nice and it is fun making them drag in the twisties.

Save

Sidecar Bob

Discussion Starter · #27 · Jan 15, 2022

I figured out a long time ago that the highway pegs need be located so that your knees touch the tank in the same place as they do when your feet are on the main pegs to be comfortable. I could never make that happen on Eccles but any change was better than none when the pain started. More often I would end up resting my ankle on the peg for a while.

Save

Gerard

· #28 · Jan 17, 2022

Yeah ,Seat is pretty comfortable and is Stock ,but Wife for last christmas got me the Seat cushion, by Saddleman if me remember correct. Bobs right about the backrest,I added the pad above the stock trunk one , getting it at the right angle for my back made a big differance and had to install some backing plates inside the trunk. Do like to have a few differant riding positions available on longer rides.

Save

21 - 28 of 28 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.

Top Contributors this Month