365 Group
When last we left our hero he had been grounded by the wife...
All this past weekend, in one form or another I worked on the wiring of my bike. It was badly worn and I haven't seen a mess like this in years. It was all still factory but years had taken their toll. Most of the insulation had simply dried out and began to fall apart. So little by little, with a whole lot of electrical tape and even some duct tape, I put it all back together. The thing about the wiring on one of these old bikes from the 70's is, it's usually short runs and crammed into some very tight places. If your fingers are slow to maneuver like mine well it takes a whole weekend and a couple of forceps. Looking it over, I did a pretty good job if I do say so myself. Even being outside in the cold. I had the charger going on the battery all along and when I got it all back together I thought I'd fire it up and see if anything went to smoking. However, it turned out that I needed a new battery as well. After checking around I found one at the "evil empire" for just under $40.00.
After letting it charge Saturday night, it did the trick and my old antique fired off and I wasn't grounded any more.
I rode around my local area to road test my repairs and after satisfying myself that I had everything all patched up I topped my tank off and settled in for the night.
This morning was a nice 40 degrees or so and I loaded all my work junk, fired up, checked over the lights and everything and headed for work. The ride was a nice but real quick one. Still haven't figured that out. Seemed over before it started. Traffic in town was it's usual looney self. With the Monday morning makeup artists and coffee drinking cell phoners and all those school buses that tend to sneak up on ya.
The morning turned out really nice and not too cold. I pointed this out to everyone at work while I listened to why they hadn't ridden theirs in. there were lots of excuses. Every one did say that they were glad my wife had saw fit to un ground me.
The ride home was a nice lazy little trip and I sent my time planning my last trip of the year. I'm pulling out Wednesday evening and heading to my moms for Thanksgiving dinner then on down south to maybe Mena and the park.
I've even talked to a couple of people that say their interested in making the trip. So we'll see if anyone shows up. Usually I do this trip by myself so it wont be too upsetting if they don't make it.
Hopefully this will go off with out a hitch and I'll end this riding year on a happy note.
Now that I'm not grounded again I got to remember to behave myself. The annual Polar Bear ride is coming up.
Hope to catch ya on the road
Monday, November 24, 2008
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Grounded
365 Group
Hump day… Wednesday morning.
The morning was cool, about 30 degrees or so, but it promised to warm up and be an acceptable afternoon. I had planned to work today and head for Deer this afternoon and visit the folks and get a therapeutic ride in. My back has been giving me lots of problems since the weather has started becoming cooler. Usually a nice long ride helps me to acclimate and makes the pain at least tolerable.
Like I was saying it was a gorgeous morning as I bounced down the driveway. The traffic was about average, not too heavy. I ran along to the foot of slaughter mountain in an early morning fog that kind of put me in mind of flying, like when you go through the clouds. It was so nice and if some “idjot” didn’t plow into me it would make one of those nice daily memories to think back on.
All the way across to town it was intermittingly foggy and really nice.
Coming into town and traffic I made the light and roared up 412 to try and put some distance between me and the traffic that was held up by the light. The bike was running like a dream and I made the next two lights just as they changed and was really able to put some space between me and traffic. (That’s always a good feeling) I hadn’t seen another bike all morning and as I came up to the light at Powell street there was a bike waiting at the light. I wondered who the rider was and as I slowed up to a stop I recognized the bike as one I saw most everyday. I never have found out who rides it. It’s a female. I have never saw her with out her leathers and full helmet so It’s safer to say “it’s female” and not have to worry if I’ve erred in relation to age and all that. Anyway as I stopped I eased up along side her and was very aware of the stares from “saner” people in cars. Looking around I noticed that she was experiencing the same thing. I kind of laughed and as the light was starting to change she turned and we slapped hands and then the light turned and we roared off. Still don’t have a clue as to who she is. People looked at us as if we were kind of “simple” and that made it that much better.
Just before my turn off at work I have to go over the Railroad tracks. This is definitely a bump in the road. I usually kind of stand up on the pegs as I cross it it’s that bad at about 45 mph. This morning when I hit the tracks My bike just shut off. No warning or anything. Like you just turned off the key. I had enough speed that I was able to roll on into work and park. I got the shift change done and went out to see if I could figure out what broke. Thinking back I remembered that there had been a problem with the head light wiring and so I started with that. Tinkering with the wiring I managed to figure out what was wrong and even got it to start. I had called my buddy Luther for his input as he had helped me with the earlier headlight problem. Luther was going to come and follow me home and if needed we’d load the bike into his truck.
All through out the day I kept tinkering with the bikes wiring but with out any tools I wasn’t able to do much.
Finally quitting time came and Luther pulled in and I showed him what I had discovered as far as bad wiring and described what I had in mind as far as repairs.
The bike started up and I got out into traffic and headed toward home. I will say that I felt a real comfort each time I looked in my mirror and saw Luthers truck behind me. Friends like him are a truly a gift from God.
A couple of miles from home I pulled over feeling bad about having Luther interrupt his afternoon to help me as the bike wasn’t giving me any problems. I explained that I had an order called in at the café in Goshen and would be stopping there and that the bike was acting like a new one and thanked him for all his help so he could get on back to what ever he had to do. Luther said ok and to holler if I had any more trouble.
I headed into town thinking about a Cheese Burger with everything and a quick fix for my bike and a prayer of thanks for Luther friendship. At the gas station/café I went in and got my burger and when I got back out my bike was broke again. I went over everything that I had done earlier in the day and nothing.
Again, I gave Luther a call and he came to my rescue. He brought some tools and we took the critter apart and got into what had gone wrong. After much tinkering I got it started. However there wasn’t any lights. By this time I was cold and it didn’t matter. Luther said he would follow me and I could use his head lights. I loaded up and took off. The moon was out early and was full against a very clear sky and in addition to quite a view, provided me with a lot of light. Like I said I had gotten mad at myself for being such a bother and when I got on the road I let the Hammer down so to speak. Not too much speed. Just that I didn’t wait around. Luther followed me and I made it to the house without any further trouble. I thanked Luther with a feeling that it was no where near the payment he disserved for the help he had been. As I said before he is truly a gift from God in his friendship.
I figured to catch a ride to work tomorrow and Friday and start on the bike sometime this coming weekend. That sounds like a plan, now don’t it?
I caught a ride to work with my wife the next morning and ended up having a barrel of fun with the guys at work. The all came out and asked where the bike was or why I was being brought to work. I just couldn’t resist and told each that I had messed up and my wife grounded me. Took my bike away until she felt that I had learned my lesson. The truly funny part of it all is, everyone just accepted that my wife had gotten involved and that she was the reason I hadn’t rode to work for the first time in a very long time. No one even asked any questions or anything, just accepted it. Thinking about it now, I’m still chuckling. It’s just too funny to me.
Well tomorrow is Saturday and I hope to get the repairs made and finish this little story.
Sooooo, as someone once said “that’s my story and I’m sticking to it”.
Hope to let everyone know how this story ends real soon so I can catch ya on the road.
Hump day… Wednesday morning.
The morning was cool, about 30 degrees or so, but it promised to warm up and be an acceptable afternoon. I had planned to work today and head for Deer this afternoon and visit the folks and get a therapeutic ride in. My back has been giving me lots of problems since the weather has started becoming cooler. Usually a nice long ride helps me to acclimate and makes the pain at least tolerable.
Like I was saying it was a gorgeous morning as I bounced down the driveway. The traffic was about average, not too heavy. I ran along to the foot of slaughter mountain in an early morning fog that kind of put me in mind of flying, like when you go through the clouds. It was so nice and if some “idjot” didn’t plow into me it would make one of those nice daily memories to think back on.
All the way across to town it was intermittingly foggy and really nice.
Coming into town and traffic I made the light and roared up 412 to try and put some distance between me and the traffic that was held up by the light. The bike was running like a dream and I made the next two lights just as they changed and was really able to put some space between me and traffic. (That’s always a good feeling) I hadn’t seen another bike all morning and as I came up to the light at Powell street there was a bike waiting at the light. I wondered who the rider was and as I slowed up to a stop I recognized the bike as one I saw most everyday. I never have found out who rides it. It’s a female. I have never saw her with out her leathers and full helmet so It’s safer to say “it’s female” and not have to worry if I’ve erred in relation to age and all that. Anyway as I stopped I eased up along side her and was very aware of the stares from “saner” people in cars. Looking around I noticed that she was experiencing the same thing. I kind of laughed and as the light was starting to change she turned and we slapped hands and then the light turned and we roared off. Still don’t have a clue as to who she is. People looked at us as if we were kind of “simple” and that made it that much better.
Just before my turn off at work I have to go over the Railroad tracks. This is definitely a bump in the road. I usually kind of stand up on the pegs as I cross it it’s that bad at about 45 mph. This morning when I hit the tracks My bike just shut off. No warning or anything. Like you just turned off the key. I had enough speed that I was able to roll on into work and park. I got the shift change done and went out to see if I could figure out what broke. Thinking back I remembered that there had been a problem with the head light wiring and so I started with that. Tinkering with the wiring I managed to figure out what was wrong and even got it to start. I had called my buddy Luther for his input as he had helped me with the earlier headlight problem. Luther was going to come and follow me home and if needed we’d load the bike into his truck.
All through out the day I kept tinkering with the bikes wiring but with out any tools I wasn’t able to do much.
Finally quitting time came and Luther pulled in and I showed him what I had discovered as far as bad wiring and described what I had in mind as far as repairs.
The bike started up and I got out into traffic and headed toward home. I will say that I felt a real comfort each time I looked in my mirror and saw Luthers truck behind me. Friends like him are a truly a gift from God.
A couple of miles from home I pulled over feeling bad about having Luther interrupt his afternoon to help me as the bike wasn’t giving me any problems. I explained that I had an order called in at the café in Goshen and would be stopping there and that the bike was acting like a new one and thanked him for all his help so he could get on back to what ever he had to do. Luther said ok and to holler if I had any more trouble.
I headed into town thinking about a Cheese Burger with everything and a quick fix for my bike and a prayer of thanks for Luther friendship. At the gas station/café I went in and got my burger and when I got back out my bike was broke again. I went over everything that I had done earlier in the day and nothing.
Again, I gave Luther a call and he came to my rescue. He brought some tools and we took the critter apart and got into what had gone wrong. After much tinkering I got it started. However there wasn’t any lights. By this time I was cold and it didn’t matter. Luther said he would follow me and I could use his head lights. I loaded up and took off. The moon was out early and was full against a very clear sky and in addition to quite a view, provided me with a lot of light. Like I said I had gotten mad at myself for being such a bother and when I got on the road I let the Hammer down so to speak. Not too much speed. Just that I didn’t wait around. Luther followed me and I made it to the house without any further trouble. I thanked Luther with a feeling that it was no where near the payment he disserved for the help he had been. As I said before he is truly a gift from God in his friendship.
I figured to catch a ride to work tomorrow and Friday and start on the bike sometime this coming weekend. That sounds like a plan, now don’t it?
I caught a ride to work with my wife the next morning and ended up having a barrel of fun with the guys at work. The all came out and asked where the bike was or why I was being brought to work. I just couldn’t resist and told each that I had messed up and my wife grounded me. Took my bike away until she felt that I had learned my lesson. The truly funny part of it all is, everyone just accepted that my wife had gotten involved and that she was the reason I hadn’t rode to work for the first time in a very long time. No one even asked any questions or anything, just accepted it. Thinking about it now, I’m still chuckling. It’s just too funny to me.
Well tomorrow is Saturday and I hope to get the repairs made and finish this little story.
Sooooo, as someone once said “that’s my story and I’m sticking to it”.
Hope to let everyone know how this story ends real soon so I can catch ya on the road.
Monday, November 10, 2008
A good day
365 Group
November 10, 2008
This morning was a cool one.
Reports varied as to the actual temperature with rain in the forecast. Safe to say it was somewhere between 30 and 45 degrees.
I decided to have another cup of coffee and let the sun get a little more up. My headlight has developed a habit of working when it wants to. When I finally got out it felt like about 35 to me. After much kicking and fussing about my old bike fired to life and I looked once again toward making a quick run to work before the rain started.
Bouncing down the driveway I realized that I could probably ride down my drive to the street in my sleep. It’s like I have every rock and bump memorized. Funny how you come to know things that well. Waiting at the street for traffic to pass I had another thought about my chain and sprockets and how I need to replace them. I keep hoping that things will improve and I can devote some time to fixing all the little stuff.
Easing out between vehicles I get that rush I always get when I take off each morning. That feeling of being alive. (If I could bottle it I wouldn’t ever have to work again.)
As I slid up to the highway I saw that everyone in northwest Arkansas had overslept. Traffic is almost literally bumper to bumper. This should make for a “great” ride. Once I finally got out and moving it wasn’t so bad. I found a niche at about 65 mph and everyone just sort of floated along. Nobody really seemed to be in too much of a hurry and the idiocy of the morning road was noticeably lacking.
My run around the foot of the mountain was pretty much over before I had a chance to think it over. The only thing really notable about it was three deer were running across a field toward me as I road by. I remember doing a quick scan of both sides of the road to see if there were others and then just watching them run. It was one of those things that you really don’t often see when you have the time to just watch and enjoy.
As I pulled up to Butterfield Coach Road I had to wait again to get an opening in traffic. Most everyone that went buy looked like they were a card carrying member of the Zombie nation. Just going through the motions of a Monday morning. A few looked at me with disbelief and waved. I couldn’t help but chuckle to myself. They’ll just never know.
As I eased into main traffic in town I couldn’t help but be surprised at how well everyone was behaving. There wasn’t anyone along my route jumping stop signs or tearing down the center turn lane… I even made all the traffic lights. (This has got to mean something!!) This morning was truly one for the record books. I didn’t see any of the usual bike crowd that I normally see on my way to work and I wondered if I had the record again.
As I turned off at work I noticed that there was a crowd standing on the dock like something was going on. Looking around as I pulled in I didn’t see anything that would draw a crowd. I figured everyone decided to go smoke at the same time and let it go. Later I found out that they were waiting to see if I would ride in or come by car. That tickled me. Most of them ride a bike and actually live within a few blocks of work.
I got my morning paper work done and looked out at my bike and decided to take the rest of the day off. Sounds kind of frivolous but I hadn’t done something like that just because I wanted to in a long time.
My relief showed up and I kicked “tilley” to life and pulled out to see if the traffic was still behaving.
I started out of town and the next thing I knew I was running down Hwy 412 toward Huntsville. It was such a nice ride that I toyed with the idea of running over to Eureka Springs and grabbing lunch then heading home. But as my luck goes I passed a pickup that was running his windshield wipers and that brought me back to reality. It was cold and rain was in the forecast. As I have gotten older I still don’t mind riding in the cold or the rain or both. However, If I don’t have to, I don’t. So I headed toward the house.
If the threat of rain hadn’t been in the picture today would have been a good day for riding. I really enjoyed running down the back roads toward the house. As I came into town it was really getting dark and I figure I timed it just about right to not get wet.
Stopping at the café in town I got a Biscuit and sausage and a coke and headed on to the house. My luck held. I made it home with enough time to unload my junk and take it in and put my charger on the battery and cover everything up before the rain started.
As I sat munching on the biscuit I thought about the morning and how much I would have loved riding over to Eureka and having lunch. I thought about the Deer and the traffic and just how much fun it all had been. I guess that’s one of the main reasons I ride. It’s fun!
Right at 60 miles
Hope to see ya on the road
November 10, 2008
This morning was a cool one.
Reports varied as to the actual temperature with rain in the forecast. Safe to say it was somewhere between 30 and 45 degrees.
I decided to have another cup of coffee and let the sun get a little more up. My headlight has developed a habit of working when it wants to. When I finally got out it felt like about 35 to me. After much kicking and fussing about my old bike fired to life and I looked once again toward making a quick run to work before the rain started.
Bouncing down the driveway I realized that I could probably ride down my drive to the street in my sleep. It’s like I have every rock and bump memorized. Funny how you come to know things that well. Waiting at the street for traffic to pass I had another thought about my chain and sprockets and how I need to replace them. I keep hoping that things will improve and I can devote some time to fixing all the little stuff.
Easing out between vehicles I get that rush I always get when I take off each morning. That feeling of being alive. (If I could bottle it I wouldn’t ever have to work again.)
As I slid up to the highway I saw that everyone in northwest Arkansas had overslept. Traffic is almost literally bumper to bumper. This should make for a “great” ride. Once I finally got out and moving it wasn’t so bad. I found a niche at about 65 mph and everyone just sort of floated along. Nobody really seemed to be in too much of a hurry and the idiocy of the morning road was noticeably lacking.
My run around the foot of the mountain was pretty much over before I had a chance to think it over. The only thing really notable about it was three deer were running across a field toward me as I road by. I remember doing a quick scan of both sides of the road to see if there were others and then just watching them run. It was one of those things that you really don’t often see when you have the time to just watch and enjoy.
As I pulled up to Butterfield Coach Road I had to wait again to get an opening in traffic. Most everyone that went buy looked like they were a card carrying member of the Zombie nation. Just going through the motions of a Monday morning. A few looked at me with disbelief and waved. I couldn’t help but chuckle to myself. They’ll just never know.
As I eased into main traffic in town I couldn’t help but be surprised at how well everyone was behaving. There wasn’t anyone along my route jumping stop signs or tearing down the center turn lane… I even made all the traffic lights. (This has got to mean something!!) This morning was truly one for the record books. I didn’t see any of the usual bike crowd that I normally see on my way to work and I wondered if I had the record again.
As I turned off at work I noticed that there was a crowd standing on the dock like something was going on. Looking around as I pulled in I didn’t see anything that would draw a crowd. I figured everyone decided to go smoke at the same time and let it go. Later I found out that they were waiting to see if I would ride in or come by car. That tickled me. Most of them ride a bike and actually live within a few blocks of work.
I got my morning paper work done and looked out at my bike and decided to take the rest of the day off. Sounds kind of frivolous but I hadn’t done something like that just because I wanted to in a long time.
My relief showed up and I kicked “tilley” to life and pulled out to see if the traffic was still behaving.
I started out of town and the next thing I knew I was running down Hwy 412 toward Huntsville. It was such a nice ride that I toyed with the idea of running over to Eureka Springs and grabbing lunch then heading home. But as my luck goes I passed a pickup that was running his windshield wipers and that brought me back to reality. It was cold and rain was in the forecast. As I have gotten older I still don’t mind riding in the cold or the rain or both. However, If I don’t have to, I don’t. So I headed toward the house.
If the threat of rain hadn’t been in the picture today would have been a good day for riding. I really enjoyed running down the back roads toward the house. As I came into town it was really getting dark and I figure I timed it just about right to not get wet.
Stopping at the café in town I got a Biscuit and sausage and a coke and headed on to the house. My luck held. I made it home with enough time to unload my junk and take it in and put my charger on the battery and cover everything up before the rain started.
As I sat munching on the biscuit I thought about the morning and how much I would have loved riding over to Eureka and having lunch. I thought about the Deer and the traffic and just how much fun it all had been. I guess that’s one of the main reasons I ride. It’s fun!
Right at 60 miles
Hope to see ya on the road
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Pickle
365 group
I have been planning my “last trip of the year” for a few days. Trying to figure out where to go and keep with in my self imposed guide lines is getting harder and harder to do.
I usually try for someplace in my part of the state that I haven’t been in a while. One that has lots of good roads to ride and when possible, a place that one or more of my old friends lives.
This trip was shaping up to be an “I don’t know?” kind of run. As I have pointed out before it is getting cooler and that’s one of the reasons I confine these trips to my part of the state. Should I have trouble, well lets just say that I don’t want to set in the cold beside the road any longer than I have too. (I think that’s called getting older.)
So anyway, I’m working out the details and should be heading out soon. The next couple of weekends maybe?
I have to get in the shop real soon and do some much needed minor maintenance on my bike. Seems the head light has gotten almost as lazy as I am. I need to grease the greasy places and oil the oily spots and just generally look the bike over. Kind of hate to get about 300 miles down the road and have the discombooberator rod come apart. That’d be embarrassing.
The good lord has allowed me to make it this far on two wheels. I’m hoping that he sees fit to keep me riding for sometime to come.
So with that all said I’m heading out to the shop and visit some with my friend Luther and see if I cant get all ready for my last trip of the year.
One last thing, Keep in mind some wise motorcycle words of wisdom that I heard long ago that still fits today.
“I don’t want no pickle…I just want to ride my motor sickle!” Arlo Guthrie
Hope to be back on with my trip before too long. Maybe even a picture or two.
I have been planning my “last trip of the year” for a few days. Trying to figure out where to go and keep with in my self imposed guide lines is getting harder and harder to do.
I usually try for someplace in my part of the state that I haven’t been in a while. One that has lots of good roads to ride and when possible, a place that one or more of my old friends lives.
This trip was shaping up to be an “I don’t know?” kind of run. As I have pointed out before it is getting cooler and that’s one of the reasons I confine these trips to my part of the state. Should I have trouble, well lets just say that I don’t want to set in the cold beside the road any longer than I have too. (I think that’s called getting older.)
So anyway, I’m working out the details and should be heading out soon. The next couple of weekends maybe?
I have to get in the shop real soon and do some much needed minor maintenance on my bike. Seems the head light has gotten almost as lazy as I am. I need to grease the greasy places and oil the oily spots and just generally look the bike over. Kind of hate to get about 300 miles down the road and have the discombooberator rod come apart. That’d be embarrassing.
The good lord has allowed me to make it this far on two wheels. I’m hoping that he sees fit to keep me riding for sometime to come.
So with that all said I’m heading out to the shop and visit some with my friend Luther and see if I cant get all ready for my last trip of the year.
One last thing, Keep in mind some wise motorcycle words of wisdom that I heard long ago that still fits today.
“I don’t want no pickle…I just want to ride my motor sickle!” Arlo Guthrie
Hope to be back on with my trip before too long. Maybe even a picture or two.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Cooler weather
365 Group
These last few days of October have turned off major cold in the mornings. 25 degrees on one.
Looking at the weather channel on T V gave me a good grasp of how silly one would be to ride a motorcycle in weather like this.
Speaking of silly and stuff like that. A couple of years ago a friend of mine had bought an old Shovel Head and was itching to get it on the road. It was in the dead of winter and I really felt for him. A new toy and he couldn’t play with it. At work I teased him about it, Pointing out that he lived in town and could always ride it the mile and a half to work, that he could bundle up and take it for a run around the block, Things like that. One Saturday morning he calls and says I got to go to Huntsville, lets go for a ride. I remember asking him what time it was and what the temperature was. About 5:30am and around 25 or 26 degrees, why? Knowing he didn’t ride much in cooler weather I suggested that we wait until the sun came up and took the chill off and then get out for a ride. Ok he replied and I hung up and rolled over and went back to sleep.
My nap was short lived as at about 6:15 he calls back and says “I’m at Hindsville waiting on ya.” Finally becoming awake I asked him if he was joking and what happened to waiting on the sun and all that. His reply was simple. The sun will be up by the time you get here…unless it’s too cold for you? With a chuckle and a loss of all common sense I uttered the phrase “don’t move I’ll be there in a few minutes”. Slipping into my road gear I was racked with the giggles and actually looking forward to getting out and tearing down the road. If for nothing else to see if he had really ridden over or was joking me.
I fired “Miss Tilley” up and bounced down the driveway. I turned onto Hwy 45 and like the truckers say, “let the hammer down on it”. It’s only seven miles to Hindsville and I was in a hurry to see if he’d ridden or was just yanking my chain. Sliding into Hindsville I have to admit I was a little surprised. There he set, big grin and all on that Shovel Head. I pulled up beside him and asked what had gotten into him and all. His reply was to the point. I wanted to ride. Thinking about it as he fired up I said ok. He didn’t hear me and said what? Again the giggles hit and I shouted “catch me if you can” and pulled out. The trip over to Huntsville was only twelve miles, and I pushed my bike so he’d have to work at keeping pace, so it was a quick trip.
After we finished his business he asked if I had anything planned for the day.
The only thing I had going on was a trip to the Animal Shelter to look at a pup my wife had fell in love with. I mentioned this and he said well, lets go.
We made good time back to Springdale and the Shelter. People at traffic lights were pointing at us and shaking their heads or grinning. (It was a blast.)
After looking at the newest addition to my family and playing with her for a few minutes it was time to leave. In the parking lot Stan said that he better head back to the house and go pick up his boys. He pulled out and headed toward home and I headed toward a café for a biscuit and a cup of coffee.
As a result I don’t pick on my friend about his riding as much as I did. Now It More than ever.
Anyway… I slipped into my snowmobile suit and put all my work junk in a bag and out the door I went. The air didn’t feel too bad cold as I was strapping everything in place and even as I kicked the old gal to life. Thinking to myself this might not be as bad as a few of the days last winter, I took off down my driveway. The ride was cool but not actually uncomfortable. My hands were the only thing that really got cold. I did have an experience that I’ve never had before on this trip. My twist grip froze or something and I only had about a quarter of turn in it. I found this out as I leaned out to pass a car. I run in my lower gears and worked with it all the way to work. Thinking that if I get too rough with it the cable might break I worked it back and forth and did everything I could think of to get it back to normal. Nothing helped. I have a good mid range to my transmition so I just tooled along in 3rd gear and made it to work. Later in the day as it warmed up I went out and checked on it and the grip worked just fine. Either it froze or something had gotten in the system and then fell out. Either way, we’re back to normal for the ride home.
Where I work a lot of people ride a bike. Usually there is about 11 parked around the jobsite when I get there. Today mine was the only one. Man, was I going to have some fun ribbing those guys about them being “Bad Assed” bikers.
Today was a good day. The ride in was a good one and the temp came up and made the ride home a better one.
Riding in cooler weather isn’t for everyone. I really don’t knock a person that feels it’s too cold to ride. A person should always ride the bike for themselves. However for those riders who do…we know. We are truly a legend. Mostly it’s in our own minds but, we’re a legend.
Hope to see ya on the road
These last few days of October have turned off major cold in the mornings. 25 degrees on one.
Looking at the weather channel on T V gave me a good grasp of how silly one would be to ride a motorcycle in weather like this.
Speaking of silly and stuff like that. A couple of years ago a friend of mine had bought an old Shovel Head and was itching to get it on the road. It was in the dead of winter and I really felt for him. A new toy and he couldn’t play with it. At work I teased him about it, Pointing out that he lived in town and could always ride it the mile and a half to work, that he could bundle up and take it for a run around the block, Things like that. One Saturday morning he calls and says I got to go to Huntsville, lets go for a ride. I remember asking him what time it was and what the temperature was. About 5:30am and around 25 or 26 degrees, why? Knowing he didn’t ride much in cooler weather I suggested that we wait until the sun came up and took the chill off and then get out for a ride. Ok he replied and I hung up and rolled over and went back to sleep.
My nap was short lived as at about 6:15 he calls back and says “I’m at Hindsville waiting on ya.” Finally becoming awake I asked him if he was joking and what happened to waiting on the sun and all that. His reply was simple. The sun will be up by the time you get here…unless it’s too cold for you? With a chuckle and a loss of all common sense I uttered the phrase “don’t move I’ll be there in a few minutes”. Slipping into my road gear I was racked with the giggles and actually looking forward to getting out and tearing down the road. If for nothing else to see if he had really ridden over or was joking me.
I fired “Miss Tilley” up and bounced down the driveway. I turned onto Hwy 45 and like the truckers say, “let the hammer down on it”. It’s only seven miles to Hindsville and I was in a hurry to see if he’d ridden or was just yanking my chain. Sliding into Hindsville I have to admit I was a little surprised. There he set, big grin and all on that Shovel Head. I pulled up beside him and asked what had gotten into him and all. His reply was to the point. I wanted to ride. Thinking about it as he fired up I said ok. He didn’t hear me and said what? Again the giggles hit and I shouted “catch me if you can” and pulled out. The trip over to Huntsville was only twelve miles, and I pushed my bike so he’d have to work at keeping pace, so it was a quick trip.
After we finished his business he asked if I had anything planned for the day.
The only thing I had going on was a trip to the Animal Shelter to look at a pup my wife had fell in love with. I mentioned this and he said well, lets go.
We made good time back to Springdale and the Shelter. People at traffic lights were pointing at us and shaking their heads or grinning. (It was a blast.)
After looking at the newest addition to my family and playing with her for a few minutes it was time to leave. In the parking lot Stan said that he better head back to the house and go pick up his boys. He pulled out and headed toward home and I headed toward a café for a biscuit and a cup of coffee.
As a result I don’t pick on my friend about his riding as much as I did. Now It More than ever.
Anyway… I slipped into my snowmobile suit and put all my work junk in a bag and out the door I went. The air didn’t feel too bad cold as I was strapping everything in place and even as I kicked the old gal to life. Thinking to myself this might not be as bad as a few of the days last winter, I took off down my driveway. The ride was cool but not actually uncomfortable. My hands were the only thing that really got cold. I did have an experience that I’ve never had before on this trip. My twist grip froze or something and I only had about a quarter of turn in it. I found this out as I leaned out to pass a car. I run in my lower gears and worked with it all the way to work. Thinking that if I get too rough with it the cable might break I worked it back and forth and did everything I could think of to get it back to normal. Nothing helped. I have a good mid range to my transmition so I just tooled along in 3rd gear and made it to work. Later in the day as it warmed up I went out and checked on it and the grip worked just fine. Either it froze or something had gotten in the system and then fell out. Either way, we’re back to normal for the ride home.
Where I work a lot of people ride a bike. Usually there is about 11 parked around the jobsite when I get there. Today mine was the only one. Man, was I going to have some fun ribbing those guys about them being “Bad Assed” bikers.
Today was a good day. The ride in was a good one and the temp came up and made the ride home a better one.
Riding in cooler weather isn’t for everyone. I really don’t knock a person that feels it’s too cold to ride. A person should always ride the bike for themselves. However for those riders who do…we know. We are truly a legend. Mostly it’s in our own minds but, we’re a legend.
Hope to see ya on the road
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