Bonneville America Forums Forums General Motorcycle Forums Rides, Rallies, & Events Polar Bear Run

I did this Polar Bear Run a few years ago. I guess it was probably 2008, well I don't have to work and it's supposed to be dry (below freezing in the early a.m.)I think it may be time to do it again.

Why not, eh Brent? Looks like a good time to me. Here, people do the Polar Bear Swim. I just can't imagine stripping down in the snow and jumping in that friggin' frigid river, yet hundreds do it every year. Unlike our swim, your ride sounds at least somewhat sane.

I always thought the Polar Bear "run, jump, swim" stuff was kinda cool. (No pun intended) A couple of different charities have done them around here for years. Chop a hole in the ice and put on silly costumes. But lately, it's kind of dumb. Groups are doing the polar bear thing in Oct. and Nov. Heck, the Law enforcement group did theirs a few days before Thanksgiving when the temp. was 62 degrees. People are just weenies nowadays and everybody wants to do the easy and get credit for it. I'm just sayin that it's kind of silly to brag about doing a "polar bear" thing in barely cool water.

They always do this on the 1st day of the year rain, snow or shine. I bet it will be crazy busy this year, since it is supposed to be dry. It's fun to see all the bikes, and heck it ends in pizza. How bad can that be?
They jump in the river here too. My band played a benefit for a guy last year who was doing the polar bear plunge for Special Olympics. I love to swim, but forget that.

Well, I survived the Polar Bear Run. We wisely turned around after a guy told us the next hill was all in shadow and very icy. I'm glad we did. Heard that five bikes went down in that area. Overall, it was a gorgeous day, (a balmy 35 degrees on my way home) with some weird firey ball in the sky that actually made it difficult to see. Here's a few pics I snapped with my phone.
Here are some shots before the ride at the Cycle Gear wear it begins.
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The guy riding this Norton, called it his "new" bike that he bought back in 1973. He rides it nearly everyday, and it has over 200,000 miles on it. It sounds perfect, but it is crazy rusty.


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Where we turned around because the ice was getting dangerous.
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The Parking Lot at the Pizza Parlor where it all ended.
Look at those apes.


This guy was very proud of his new restored Cushman.



The end of the day, on the hill I where I live. I was hoping that Mt. St. Helens would show in the pic because it was stunning all day.

Nice pics.... kinda "brisk" for me to be riding though. You da man!

Great pics, thanks for posting, looks like fun was had by all. Happy New Year,