Ottawa Tires

Posts Tagged ‘winter’

Winterizing a motorcycle is an important task often ignored by even the most avid motorcycle riders.

Motorcycle winterizing is simple and can be accomplished for cheaply.

If you plan to park a motorcycle outdoors be sure to cover the vehicle with a tarp to protect it from water damage.

Store the motorcycle with a full tank of gas to prevent room for water to buildup in the tank.

Take the motorcycle in for a tune-up and inspection before parking it over the winter to ensure there will not be any lasting problems that may develop with the vehicle in the cold temperatures.

When taking a vehicle out again in the spring, check for cracks in fluid compartments, or flat tires.

Everything from headlights to brake cables can fail on a motorcycle in lasting, wet conditions.

Some motorcycle parts will have to be special ordered on older bikes or custom motorcycles.

Motorsports shops often have a special offer on “dustoff” inspections to make sure a motorcycle is in shape for riding after the winter.

Services at those times are less expensive than usual and only happen once a year.

Adequate riding clothes and accessories should be purchased ahead of a planned motorcycle trip so riders know they have comfortable and safe gear while on their bike.

Motorcycles can encounter wear and tear damage all year long. It is a good idea to have an actively used motorcycle inspected several times a year.

Even planned wear and tear like stone chips or running through tall brush may cause unexpected problems to a bike.

Probably the last thing on your mind right now is sitting on the patio in your favorite chair, the sun shaded by your table umbrella, sipping a mint julep. Instead, you are wondering when you will be able to get around to winter-proofing the house to keep the heat in, if your snow blower will be able to make it through this season and where you left your snow tire chains. It may be dismal right now but in a few (long) months the sun will be rising late again and your patio will be begging for your company.

There are few joys comparable to a summer morning lounging on your patio set with a bloody mary, the cicadas buzzing and Spike lolling in the grass. Make that picturesque scene reality and take advantage of the amazing deals that are to be had on patio furniture during these bleak winder months. Many popular patio furniture shops online are slashing their prices during these off months and many big box retailers like Sears, Home Depot and Target are trying to make room for winter products by offering half off, or more, for their summer patio furniture, chairs, tables, and other accessories.

It may be hard to even think about it now, but you can save a lot of money if you order your patio furniture in the off season and store it until summer. A simple trick I’ve learned is to buy in the off season and store the furniture still in its box in a safe, slightly heated area of your home. Be careful not to store any glass like a glass patio countertop or end table in your garage or cold basement during the winter as the freezing temperatures could cause it to crack or even shatter. Keep your recently purchased furniture safe from the elements and theft and it will be waiting in its box, like new, ready to be unpacked and set up once the snow clears.

The beauty of many online patio furniture shops is that they often have a warehouse full of materials that they are trying to get rid of before the new season selection arrives so they can often have almost unheard of deals. Besides be able to get great deals on last season’s patio furniture, online shops save you the trouble of having to trudge out in the snow to the store and drag your parts home. Order online and the parts will be delivered to your door and ready to be stored until the season ends.

For those who have already purchased new patio furniture make sure to protect it during the winter remember that heavy snow accumulation on a patio table can put pressure on the glass and break it. Strong winds can also take down tables, chairs and other furniture so either make sure your furniture is safely secured or you disassemble and bring it inside to keep it like new. The warmer season is really just right around the corner. Keep your head up and start shopping for your new patio furniture online to give you something to look forward when you are staring out your window at the newly accumulated five inches of snow.

Although the winter is coming, the girls are still not wearing a little thick coat, which will make them look fat and clumsy. Actually I also prefer to wear the light autumn dress in the winter but for I can not stand coldness. I tired but never succeeded. I remembered that once I decided to wear the autumn dress in the winter, as soon as I opened the door, the cold weather halt my steps. If I went out, I was sure that the weather would freeze me to death. I changed my dressing at once. 

However the women in my office all wore the high heel shoes, which made me suffer from a lot of troubles. My feet had some serious chilblains. As long as I wore the high heel shoes, they hurt me. But I could not wear cotton padded shoes, which did not suit the office.

Later I found that one of my colleagues often wore UGG Boots, which were fashionable and light. Even if we wore them in the office, it would not make us lose face. The best thing was that UGG boots were made of the pure wool, so wearing them were very warm and comfortable. Besides if I did not want to wear them in the office, I could change then into our high heel shoes. So on the road to work and home; we would be very warm and fashionable. In the cold winter, nothing would be more wonderful than to be warm and fashionable at the same time. UGG boots attracted my attention.

After work, I bought two pairs of UGG boots without hesitation. They were better than my colleague’s because they were the latest. Some weeks later I found that my chilblains had disappeared, which was in my imagination. Wearing so warm UGG boots, how could the chilblains exist? Later I introduced UGG boots to my friends. They all thought highly of it.

It is a happy thing to share the good goods with the others. So I hope all people can get warm from UGG boots. You should not miss them.

Winter camping can be an amazing outdoor experience. There is truly nothing like camping in a sea of beautiful, fluffy snow. But if you’re planning on going camping this winter, you’ve got to take a lot of extra precautions to make sure you’re staying safe and warm. Before you head out, make sure that you do plenty of research on the best places to set up camp. Once you’ve narrow down a location, there are a few other things you should keep in mind. Check out my tips and suggestions below.

Winter driving can be treacherous, even on cloudless days with no snow in sight. Black ice can become blended in with the asphalt, creating a huge risk and danger to those who are driving. So before you take your car out on the road, here are a few tips you should always keep in mind when driving in winter conditions.

1 – Always prepare your car. Know what weather conditions you’ll be facing once you hit the road. Make sure your car is properly fitted with snow tires and tire chains if necessary. Make sure your fuel tank is full, your wipers are ready, your battery charged, and that you have no leaks.

2 – Take supplies with you. You never know what the road can bring you. It’s a good idea to have a winter emergency kit on hand just in case of anything happens. Make sure you always carry a phone with you, along with a charger, in case of emergency. Keep some non-perishable food with you along with water. You should even take an extra set of clothes and a blanket. Even if you don’t plan on driving out of the city, emergencies can happen everywhere.

3 – Clean the snow and ice off of your car. Clean off the whole windshield, your hood and the top of your car. Don’t forget to clear your headlights and rear lights. By doing all of this, it creates a safer environment for yourself as a driver, and for other drivers on the road.

4 – Drive slow and steady. Avoid sharp turns or quick stops. Give yourself double the room between cars, as you would during normal weather. If you do start to slide, don’t panic, hit the brakes or jerk your wheel. Turn the wheel steadily in the opposite direction that you’re sliding. Slowly press on the brakes. If you don’t have anti-lock brakes, press on the brake pedal gently, let up, and press again until you come to a stop. For those with anti-lock brakes, simply press the brake pedal gently until your car stops.

5 – Don’t use cruise control. You need to be in control of your car at all times. If you are going over an overpass or a bridge, be aware that these areas are more incline to be icy.

6 – Use low-beam headlights when driving, because they make you more visible to other drivers from both the front and the rear.

7 – If you have rear-wheel drive, weigh down the rear with sandbags to give you more traction.

With winter fast approaching, the threat of snow begins to grow. While snow can be incredibly beautiful – who isn’t awestruck by a fresh snowfall? – it can also be dangerous to drive on. Snow itself is wet and capable of causing hydroplaning, while a fresh snowfall can cover a layer of black ice, which could send your car careening into a ditch, or worse, another car. There are ways to reduce your risk of getting into an accident or, if you find yourself in one, ways to handle it safely.

Before hitting the road, you should make sure you car is properly stocked with emergency items. These include, but are by no means limited to: blankets, ice scraper, space heater, jumper cables, warm clothes, a toolkit and bags of sand (to weigh down the car for better traction). Inside the car proper you should have a means of contact, be it a cell phone or a pager, your insurance information in the event of an accident, and if possible a GPS. By having all or most of these items, your holiday road trips will be much safer and you’ll be prepared for any emergency.

If bags of sand for traction are not an item you would like to keep in your car, investing in a good pair of tires designed to handle the wet and icy roads that are commonplace during the winter months is a great way to add some extra protection and keep you safer. These special tires “grip” the road, preventing your car from slip sliding out of control when you hit a patch of ice or your attention is diverted and you have to slam on the breaks. When the winter months have passed, however, be sure to replace them with normal tires, as excessive use on dry roads can cause serious damage.

In the end, proper preparation can make driving in the harshest conditions a far safer and less daunting experience. If you can possibly avoid driving in the snow or other inclement weather you should do so, as abstaining from even putting yourself in a situation where you could get into an accident is the best way to go. Whatever path you take, be careful, and have a happy holiday season.

Tips for Surviving the Brutal Minnesota Winter

Anyone who has lived in Minnesota knows that I can get brutally cold very fast. Even with little snow on the ground the wind chill can get dangerously low in the middle of winter. There are many things to keep in mind during the winter to stay warm and to stay safe but here are a few of the top tips for comfort, warmth and survival.

Put snow tires on your car. Especially if you are driving 2-wheel drive vehicle, outfit your car or truck with special snow tires to make sure you don’t get stuck in the winter or worse, in an accident. Snow tires will give you greater grip on those icy roads as well as give you more strength to kick your car out of heavy snow banks or slushy parking spots. If you’ve got 4-wheel drive that doesn’t mean you don’t need snow tires so no matter what car you drive you could benefit from them. Another thing to consider is the right car light for your ride to make sure you can see in even the worst snow storms or blizzards. Your safety is key.

Bundle up and prepare for the worst. In Minnesota the temperatures can drop fast so make sure you are prepared when you leave the house for the day with hat, gloves or mittens, a scarf and a heavy jacket. There is nothing worse than be unprepared and finding yourself without the proper winter attire in Minnesota. Assume for the worst and remember to wear layers that you can strip off or add on as needed to ensure your comfort and warmth.

Winter seal your house. If you have drafty windows in your house or apartment simply sealing them with custom window sealer or a wrap can keep the cold air out and the warm air in. Make sure you fully and securely latch all doors and windows so that small bursts of cold air can’t get into your house. Make sure to air out your home every now and then to re-circulate the air and keep your home free of lingering germs or stale air. Follow these tips and you are sure to have a much more bearable winter.

Winter is not a friendly weather, at least not to the drivers. Often you need to endure the cold and driving in such a cold places is not pleasant journey at all. There are a few things you need to keep in mind when driving in such a cold place with snow and blizzard. The most important thing is to be sure that your vehicle is in good condition with every parts being checked for serious damage and being repaired. Brakes need to work excellently and the tires need to be changed according to which is most suitable. You should be very careful when driving in cold region as your part do become numb and which might create a problem for you in controlling your vehicle.
Drive slowly as it is more slippery than usual. Keeping a safe distance from other cars will minimize the risk of getting into an accident. Do not drive in really bad weather that deters your visibility on the road. You need to be able to see when you are driving but there are times when the snow is heavy or it is raining, you can’t see a thing. This is a sign you should stop or if you are close to being home, get home immediately. Speed should be extremely slow and you should take proper care as to maintaining distance between two cars on the road, as your body parts might not react as quickly as they should have because of the numbness due to the cold.
If you get stuck in an emergency situation, be sure to have a cell phone with you so you can call someone you know or get a mechanic to the scene to help you out. If all fails, stop a car and ask for a ride to the nearest workshop or to someone you know to get help. Don’t stay in the car and don’t try to repair it yourself as you are putting yourself in danger. Sometimes, you might not have coverage for your phone and when this happened look for the nearest public phone booth available.
There is no need to panic when you are in such situation. It might sound difficult but if you know what to do, you can get through it just fine. Always remember that safety is most important so never do something that is harmful or expose yourself to danger.
If you’re new to a state with snow and you haven’t driven in it before, it’s important that you try out the side roads before you take the plunge and hit the main roads. Snow can be easy to drive in once you get used to it but like anything, if it’s new to you, it’s going to be tough. If you find yourself having troubles driving in the snow, you may want to look at the car you’re driving or you simply could make a huge jump and simply move somewhere were the snow is mild.

Every year as many as ten million Americans, approximately 6 percent of the population, fall prey to this insidious disease. It quietly robs you of your energy, your zest for life and overall health. The “Winter Blues” which has also been called “The Hibernation Response” is actually a milder form of S.A.D. (Seasonal Affective Disorder) and usually temporary but no less painful. Because of unstable or high levels of melatonin and lowered levels of serotonin, we suffer mood changes, decreased energy and among other things, an inability to concentrate. Although it can affect anyone, SAD is more prevalent in the northern climates or in areas that experience a large number of cloudy days. Women are found to experience it 3 times more than men and it may be inherited.
It’s responsible for a variety of symptoms including overeating and oversleeping. I don’t know about you but I don’t need any more reasons to overeat and sleep too much! These symptoms are in sharp contrast to classic depression symptoms where sufferers experience an inability to sleep and loss of appetite. Feelings of hopelessness, low self-esteem, poor memory, a general lack of interest or even suicide are not uncommon with this disease.
Because of the shortened days of winter, we receive less natural light. This can raise the levels of melatonin in our bloodstream, making us feel sluggish or tired. Most of us are naturally less active in the winter and it’s likely no coincidence that SAD affects us at this time of year.
Though we can do nothing about the seasons, we can take measures to help lessen the effects of SAD. Be proactive and attack the disease by using some simple but effective steps to help ward off an attack.
Exercise
One of the best ways to stem the onslaught of this disease is to get exercise, first thing in the morning if you can. Studies have been done which show that serotonin levels in the body rise with increased activity and this increased production can last for several days. If you can, take walks at least 3 times a week. Take the kids sledding or skating, maybe even take up a new hobby, skiing for instance. The activity and exposure to what sunlight that is available will not only help with symptoms but with your overall health. If you can’t go outside to exercise, try finding a comfortable spot near a window or slider and exercise indoors. Nobody wants to stare at a wall while they’re sweatin’ to the oldies! The important thing is to remain active.
Diet
Diet is another important factor. You’ve heard it before: what you put into your body has a huge affect on the way you feel, physically and emotionally. Eat foods high in protein and low in fat. Cut down on the sugary junk food. Sure it makes you feel better while you’re eating it but are the long-term effects worth it? You don’t need to stop altogether but you’ll find that by eating less, you’ll crave it less. Slowly replace that ice cream with yogurt a couple times a week. Instead of munching down that bag of chips, try eating unsalted nuts while watching the game of the week. You’ll not only feel better, you’ll feel better about yourself because you’re taking an active role in your long-term health. You can also eat foods high in carbohydrates. These foods help by triggering insulin to be released into the bloodstream. This clears the system of all the amino acids except tryptophan which then goes to the brain where it’s converted to serotonin. Whole-grain breads, rice, cereal, fruit and crackers are all high in carbohydrates.
Light Therapy
Studies also show the use of light boxes to be effective. The production of melatonin in the pineal gland, located near the center of the brain, is actually stimulated by darkness – this aids in sleep at night. The introduction of bright light, even artificial light is beneficial because this production is suppressed by light. It works by having an intense bright light enter the eye where it hits the retina and is transmitted to the pineal gland. This increased light not only slows the production of melatonin, it increases the production of serotonin. Serotonin, like melatonin, is synthesized from the amino acid tryptophan. Tryptophan is found in foods that are high in protein which makes a high protein diet so important.
An increased serotonin level is beneficial in so many ways. It decreases sensitivity to pain by increasing the pain threshold. It helps you fall asleep at night and gives you a general sense of well being. Increased alertness and concentration as well as a (natural) decrease in appetite are other benefits.
There have also been studies to suggest that if we use light to wake us in the morning instead of an alarm clock, our body will reward us with better health and sense of well being. These devices, known as dawn simulators, gradually fill your bedroom with light, simulating the rising sun. You’ll wake up naturally refreshed and your eyes will already be adapted to room light. I know personally, I would rather wake up slowly, quietly and naturally than to be startled from my slumber.
Medicine
In the event that the self-help methods have not relieved the winter blues it’s developed into full-blown S.A.D., there are other avenues for the afflicted.
SSRI (Selective Serotonin Re-Uptake Inhibitors)
There are a handful of medications that operate under the widely held belief that low serotonin levels are at least part of the cause of S.A.D. These medications are part of a family of drugs known as Selective Serotonin Re-Uptake Inhibitors (SSRI). They slow the process of “using” the available serotonin in the body. This in effect, “rations” the serotonin and gives the body time to build up more.
SSRIs help the body use what small amounts of serotonin it does produce. With continued treatment, your natural serotonin levels begin to rise, and use of the medicine can be reduced or stopped altogether.
Seasonal Affective Disorder need not claim you as its victim. When winter rolls around and you begin to feel the effects of this disease, there are things you can do to help yourself. Your health and well being are your responsibility. With a diligence and an honest effort on your part, you can lessen its effects and increase the likelihood of having a great winter!

Winter will soon be upon us; indeed, it’s starting to creep in on the northernmost parts of the country. Here are some ideas for you to consider to keep your home warm and inviting for this winter season.

It is a good idea to get your chimney checked well before you need to use it. Beware of flimsy work, check with your local Fire Department for recommended chimney inspectors if you are in doubt. If there are repair and maintenance works to be carried out, it will not be inconvenient as there is no need for a fire at this time of the year.

It can also even be termed ‘pleasurable’ to chop wood into kindling on a sunny day, but this is not so much the case in the wind and rain! Even if you only use your stove as a backup for power cuts, kindling is still necessary, no matter how dry your split logs are. If you do heat your home with a wood stove, then you should have your winter supply of wood already stacked, so that you can be sure that it is seasoned at least six months.

Other necessities to think about would include: batteries for your flashlight/ lantern, your clock, and radio. It is also handy to have a manual can-opener and canned compressed air with sealant (for emergency tire repair) and a bag of sand or salt for your driveway.

It’s best to order your winter heating fuel (oil?) in the summer months, but if you have held off, buy now! If your water runs on electricity, a couple of large drums of water would be good to have in store. Keep a container of anti-freeze indoors, to protect your plumbing, if need be.

Food stuffs are common sense, if you have no wood stove to cook on, then you will need to store foods that can be eaten uncooked. Get in: crackers, cereals, tuna, beans, tomatoes and soups in cans, dried fruits, powdered milk. Also store up any food or medications for very old or very young, such as formula or diapers.

Sunlight or light from a good high power flashlight pouring in through cracks around the doors will help you to spot where you should be adding weather-strip. This system may be ‘antiquated’ but it goes a long way to keeping the home warm. Heavy winter drapes are also old fashioned but effective in keeping in the warmth.

For those who struggle with heating costs, there is a government backed grant scheme. It is run by your local state department and is called LIHEAP, this stands for Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. Check it out on the Internet or in the phone book under each state listing if you think you qualify.

Preparing for winter is best done in summer or fall, but it’s never too late to improve your home’s energy efficiency and stockpile food and other essentials in case the power goes out or a blizzard decides to descend upon your neighborhood. Preparing now helps you avoid discomfort later!