Greg Sterosky is the Service Writer for OCD Custom Cycles & Auto Repair. He lives in Albuquerque’s North Valley and commutes to the shop in Santa Fe, NM 53 miles away nearly every day even in the Winter. This displays a real passion for motorcycling with some discipline and endurance thrown in.
“Greg, give us your background in the motor sports industry?”
Have been in the industry for just shy of 33 years. Spent most of it as a technician. About half of that specializing in BMW motorcycles.
“What drives you to commute to work even in the Winter when it is bitter cold?”
I simply and truly prefer to be on two wheels. I actually hate the cold but I hate NOT riding more.
“Did you decide one day to commute or did it gradually evolve? Is there a philosophy involved?”
I have evolved many philosophies around it. Simply put, since I was 18 motorcycles have been my primary transportation.
“Tell us about your gear and if it works.”
I recently purchased a Aerostitch R3 suit. It is the nicest road suit I have had and I wanted one for a while. It works well. It is unlined so layering is important in cold weather but I am looking forward to using it year round. I finally have a suit designed for the daily/year round rider.
“Do you have to have a certain mindset?”
I suppose so. Motorcycles to me have always been not only transportation but recreation and, corny as it may sound, a very personally spiritual thing to me.
“What are the perks and the draw backs, if any?”
Sadly the simplest answer about perks is, “if I have to explain you wouldn’t understand”. Peace, relaxation and at the same time exhilaration. Have to say the only time I am happier than being on a motorcycle is when I am with my wife. Drawback lately has been time, the time it takes to get suited up when it is very cold.
“Any safety concerns and have you ever had an accident?”
Never had an accident while commuting. As far as safety that is sort of a mindset. Especially in traffic,
my mindset is that everyone in a “cage” can see me and is trying to kill me. Sounds terrible but it has kept me safe.
“What is your weather limit when you declare, OK, today I am going to drive the car?”
Honestly, if it is cold enough for precipitation to freeze on the road and there are credible reports that it is going to rain or snow, that’s it.
“Give us commuting story.”
At one time I had a 70 mile one way commute in Missouri. I was riding home west to east after we closed early due to tornado warnings. I was staying ahead of the storm but was briefly pelted wit ping pong ball size hail, the cagers (cars) were pulling of the road. The last 15 miles was south to north and I encountered high winds and heavy “horizontal” rain. I couldn’t see with the visor closed on my helmet so I opened it. Then the rain hurt, so I put my left hand up to shield my face. Riding one handed leaning into the high wind, horrible visibility, I wasn’t sure but thought I saw something move on the road ahead, it was a tree falling. When I made it home it was sunny. Talk about unpredictable weather.