Proud member Of The 365 Group
(I rode mine today)
Today was a trip. The ride in was great! Weather was warm, in the 60's and clear. The ride back was a different story. The weather channel said we were in Tornado conditions and that the afternoon would be wet and windy. Man they were right, it seemed that in the blink of an eye the skies turned black and the wind picked up. I had an appointment with an Eye Clinic after work and several of my friends offered to loan me their car "because it's going to rain". I know they mean well but I'd have to bring their car back and still ride home.(sometimes you just have to shake your head) As I headed out to my appointment I was thinking this may not be too bad. There are a few car washes that I could roll into if things got too bad. After my Eye exam I was thinking that if I can make it out of town before anything starts falling I'd have it made. I hammered down once out of town and I got 99% lucky. I made it most of the way home before the rain hit. The last 5 or 6 miles were a total down pour. The Rain drops felt like someone was shooting me with a BB Gun. Cross winds were so strong that I that I had to work at keeping in my lane. I was literally blown all over the road. I was lucky in that I have some pretty decent rain gear. However, (as usual)I was'nt wearing it. But like I said nothing was falling when I left.
I rolled in to one of my local gas stations to top off for tomorrows ride and the lady working there took a look at me and smiled and told me again that I was an "Idjet" . She knows me and is used to seeing me ride in all kinds of weather. An older woman customer in the store just shook her head. "Don't you have a car?" She asked. Well, yes, I have a car. I haven't driven it in a year or so but I have one. The way she asked was like she was trying to find some reason that would force me to ride in this weather. Like no one would actually choose to ride a bike. I guess some people just cant understand that the weather goes with the ride and here in North West Arkansas the weather can and does change often.
Believe it or not...I'm having fun.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Proud Member of The 365 Group
( I rode mine today)
These last few days have been great riding weather. I have managed to get in some extra miles on my way home each day and even take a few pictures.
The best part of the last day or two has been seeing other bikes out on the road. I may be wrong but I feel that the more bikes the more the automobile drivers will notice and maybe not run up my tail pipe. That has been happening a lot lately. I look back and there they are. So far the Lord has saw fit to keep me going safely and I give thanks for that.
I met a man a couple of days ago that described himself as a technically homeless biker/truck driver. He explained to me that he sold his home and car and was out on the road most of the time. He was riding an old 850 Suzuki and had taken a break from the rode at a gas station on the outskirts of Fayetteville. As I pulled in he started to smile and told me he was Glad to see someone else on an older bike. We chatted for several minutes and it reminded me of when I was first out on the road by myself. You didn't see too many bikes and you would always stop to see if help was needed. (far cry from today) Anyway, I was good to meet another soul with the same interests. I have noticed that we are getting to be fewer.
Today I woke up to a cold rain and all the arthritis pain I could handle. so I just made a short trip to the store and laid around and planned out a couple of trips for later when it does warm up. I had a chat with the boy out west and he seems to be still rearing to go on a fishing/riding trip when his tour is up.
To quote a line from Peter Fonda in the movie Wild Hogs, "ride hard or stay at home".
( I rode mine today)
These last few days have been great riding weather. I have managed to get in some extra miles on my way home each day and even take a few pictures.
The best part of the last day or two has been seeing other bikes out on the road. I may be wrong but I feel that the more bikes the more the automobile drivers will notice and maybe not run up my tail pipe. That has been happening a lot lately. I look back and there they are. So far the Lord has saw fit to keep me going safely and I give thanks for that.
I met a man a couple of days ago that described himself as a technically homeless biker/truck driver. He explained to me that he sold his home and car and was out on the road most of the time. He was riding an old 850 Suzuki and had taken a break from the rode at a gas station on the outskirts of Fayetteville. As I pulled in he started to smile and told me he was Glad to see someone else on an older bike. We chatted for several minutes and it reminded me of when I was first out on the road by myself. You didn't see too many bikes and you would always stop to see if help was needed. (far cry from today) Anyway, I was good to meet another soul with the same interests. I have noticed that we are getting to be fewer.
Today I woke up to a cold rain and all the arthritis pain I could handle. so I just made a short trip to the store and laid around and planned out a couple of trips for later when it does warm up. I had a chat with the boy out west and he seems to be still rearing to go on a fishing/riding trip when his tour is up.
To quote a line from Peter Fonda in the movie Wild Hogs, "ride hard or stay at home".
Monday, March 24, 2008
PROUD MEMBER OF THE 365 GROUP
(I rode mine today)
These last few days have been better for riding, weather wise. I have been trying to get some repairs and tuneups done to make it even better. I keep finding little things that I've let go through the winter that I am now trying to take care of. My biggest problem seems to be in finding a shop to do the repairs that I cant. Seems that everyone in the business only wants to do the quick stuff like oil changes and tires. I'm not finding any of the shops that seem to be willing to take on my carbs or starter so I guess I'll have to take a couple of days off and get into them myself.
Today was a nice ride. 27 degrees when I left the house this morning and around 60 this afternoon when I came back in. I'm seeing a few more bikes out now that it has started warming up. Mostly newer bikes. I don't see too many bikes of my preferred vintage running around and I guess that's why I have trouble finding someone to work on them. I think that the most just don't know the older non computer stuff. Anyway, looks like shop time coming up in my near future.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
3/19/08
Today was another kick start day.
Everything is still soaked with the big rain we had over the last two days. As I loaded up for another ride to work this morning I noticed that the rain had stopped and that the temperature had dropped badly, 39 degrees as I headed out. As I said it was a kick start morning but everything fired off and as they say in the Biker magazines "knees in the breeze".
I would like to put in a plug for a full face mask that I bought a while back. As there are so many around I'm not going into brand and all that. It has turned out to be an excellent wind break on these cooler mornings. If you ride in cooler weather I suggest that you invest in one.
This afternoon the sun showed up and everything warmed up a bit and made for a nice ride home. It was the kind of afternoon that I could have just kept going for a while. It is suppose to be warm for the next few days. Maybe I can get in a few more miles and look over local road conditions.
I took a look at my other bike and again realized that I badly need some time in the shop. Hope to be able soon. Starters and junk like that just don't jump on themselves. (not to mention the list of to do's for my wife's bike.) So much to do...
Everything is still soaked with the big rain we had over the last two days. As I loaded up for another ride to work this morning I noticed that the rain had stopped and that the temperature had dropped badly, 39 degrees as I headed out. As I said it was a kick start morning but everything fired off and as they say in the Biker magazines "knees in the breeze".
I would like to put in a plug for a full face mask that I bought a while back. As there are so many around I'm not going into brand and all that. It has turned out to be an excellent wind break on these cooler mornings. If you ride in cooler weather I suggest that you invest in one.
This afternoon the sun showed up and everything warmed up a bit and made for a nice ride home. It was the kind of afternoon that I could have just kept going for a while. It is suppose to be warm for the next few days. Maybe I can get in a few more miles and look over local road conditions.
I took a look at my other bike and again realized that I badly need some time in the shop. Hope to be able soon. Starters and junk like that just don't jump on themselves. (not to mention the list of to do's for my wife's bike.) So much to do...
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Spring is coming
This morning was a hard rain. So hard that my bike was flooded, literally. The starter button wouldn't connect. I was kind of tickled. One of the things i like about riding an old 'antique" is the kick starter. Half way through the first kick and she banged off. It was pretty much the usual trip to work. A little warmer and just a tad damp.
The rain (mostly hard rain) lasted all day. Such is springtime here in N.W.A. always wet and windy.
The ride back home was, no other way to put it, nice. The looks from the people in the cars at traffic lights. the hard driving rain and deep water made for a skills sharpening trip.
I made it home with one skin and don't remember seeing any other bikes so I think may have had the monopoly on riding today.
Tomorrow is suppose to be the same as today so it should prove to be interesting.
The rain (mostly hard rain) lasted all day. Such is springtime here in N.W.A. always wet and windy.
The ride back home was, no other way to put it, nice. The looks from the people in the cars at traffic lights. the hard driving rain and deep water made for a skills sharpening trip.
I made it home with one skin and don't remember seeing any other bikes so I think may have had the monopoly on riding today.
Tomorrow is suppose to be the same as today so it should prove to be interesting.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
warmer weather
Proud Member of the 365 Group
(i rode mine today)
These last few days have been great for my daily ride to work. mornings have been in the 40's and 50's (felt like a heatwave) and afternoons have been in the 70's. Work doesn't seem to be such a bad thing at this temperature.
Also this warmer weather will allow me to do some needed repairs to my "DODGE".
Have a few little things that need replacing and repairing. On a bike that's 31 years old I guess that's to be expected.
Just seems to me that some of this stuff would have lasted a little longer? After all the bike is just now getting broke in.
(i rode mine today)
These last few days have been great for my daily ride to work. mornings have been in the 40's and 50's (felt like a heatwave) and afternoons have been in the 70's. Work doesn't seem to be such a bad thing at this temperature.
Also this warmer weather will allow me to do some needed repairs to my "DODGE".
Have a few little things that need replacing and repairing. On a bike that's 31 years old I guess that's to be expected.
Just seems to me that some of this stuff would have lasted a little longer? After all the bike is just now getting broke in.
Actual Mortorcycle story
Proud Member Of The 365 Group
(I rode mine today)
The ride is a 1977 kz750 twin
12/13/07
Last night was a trip!
(I rode mine today)
The ride is a 1977 kz750 twin
12/13/07
Last night was a trip!
After two days it finally let up on the rain where I could ride home. The temperature being down in the 30's made it take a couple of hours to get the bike started.
Had to jump it off a car and use what seemed like a gallon of starting fluid and it still seemed like it took forever. Once I got on the road it wasn't too bad,kind of nice actually.
Hwy 412 as usual was packed with idiots. I did have my wife Cat following me to keep people from running up on me (if she didn't run me over then all would be OK)
Like I was saying it was a nice ride... up to where I turned off on to Guy Terry Road. Just as I was making my turn on to Guy Terry my head light went out. After a quick stop to determine that I couldn't fix it there I explained to Cat that I would ride on using her head lights and the moon light to see by. I also had a flash light that I was going to turn on when I met someone. For those of you familiar with this area you know that this particular piece of road is crooked and steep at times and filled with bumpy attempts at road repair. Not too bad in the light, sucks after dark or as in my case no light. But I had done things like this before in emergencies and you can do OK with someones headlights.... unless you lose your mind and take off like you had good sense in these matters. I started off and it wasn't too bad. However once I got accustomed to the situation I was jammin down the road like I always do and couldn't understand why Cats headlights weren't helping all that much. It finally dawned on me and I slowed wayyyy down. This would last for a quarter mile or so then I'd get a look at the speedometer and it would say 60 - 65 and I'd have to slow down again. Seems that I would get comfortable and forget???
The whole trip usually takes me about 30 minutes with the traffic and traffic lights and all that. This time however it took a little longer. Counting my stop to check the lights and everything else, by my watch it took 43 minutes. ( now since all major events need a Boswell I pulled into a local Gas station/ Cafe and went in and ordered a couple of sandwiches and visited with the locals)
I was talking to a friend later and asked Cat to describe the trip and she said it was "harrowing", that she was afraid that someone would run into me.
I don't recommend riding without lights except in an emergency. however...there is something to be said for tearin down the road at about 70 mph in the dark and wondering if your going to hit a piece of truck tire laying in the road or someone is going to pull out to pass... I think it's called adrenaline mixed with a major dose of stupid
Anyway that's my story and I have Boswells to prove it so I'm stickin to it.
Hwy 412 as usual was packed with idiots. I did have my wife Cat following me to keep people from running up on me (if she didn't run me over then all would be OK)
Like I was saying it was a nice ride... up to where I turned off on to Guy Terry Road. Just as I was making my turn on to Guy Terry my head light went out. After a quick stop to determine that I couldn't fix it there I explained to Cat that I would ride on using her head lights and the moon light to see by. I also had a flash light that I was going to turn on when I met someone. For those of you familiar with this area you know that this particular piece of road is crooked and steep at times and filled with bumpy attempts at road repair. Not too bad in the light, sucks after dark or as in my case no light. But I had done things like this before in emergencies and you can do OK with someones headlights.... unless you lose your mind and take off like you had good sense in these matters. I started off and it wasn't too bad. However once I got accustomed to the situation I was jammin down the road like I always do and couldn't understand why Cats headlights weren't helping all that much. It finally dawned on me and I slowed wayyyy down. This would last for a quarter mile or so then I'd get a look at the speedometer and it would say 60 - 65 and I'd have to slow down again. Seems that I would get comfortable and forget???
The whole trip usually takes me about 30 minutes with the traffic and traffic lights and all that. This time however it took a little longer. Counting my stop to check the lights and everything else, by my watch it took 43 minutes. ( now since all major events need a Boswell I pulled into a local Gas station/ Cafe and went in and ordered a couple of sandwiches and visited with the locals)
I was talking to a friend later and asked Cat to describe the trip and she said it was "harrowing", that she was afraid that someone would run into me.
I don't recommend riding without lights except in an emergency. however...there is something to be said for tearin down the road at about 70 mph in the dark and wondering if your going to hit a piece of truck tire laying in the road or someone is going to pull out to pass... I think it's called adrenaline mixed with a major dose of stupid
Anyway that's my story and I have Boswells to prove it so I'm stickin to it.
Since this is a new blog and a whole new deal for me you will see the (f) on all my stuff. (f) = faction... fictional account based on actual facts. You will see this on all my posts because sometimes it just plain sounds better all fancied up...don't ya know!
John
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