Yawn...

A parade of storms just after a spring blizzard that produced insane white out conditions. We may never see summer again...

Back On The Road

She's back with me and she was sorely missed. I actually pulled her out of my buddies shed on March 22nd. We had temperatures of 25C+ which is damn well unheard of so I had to go for a ride. I didn't get as much as I wanted, but it was still great.

First full ride of the season.

The temperatures are more seasonal now and my ride to work this morning was a little cool at 5C. Still, no matter, it was nice and calming. As much as I would love to ride everyday, this summer may be a bit different. I picked up a bicycle and I may do more riding to work on that. The price of gas is getting a little out of hand at $1.36 a liter and I don't think it's going to get any better...ever.

It takes me 30 minutes to pedal to work and it goes hand in hand with everything else I've been doing to make myself a better person and get in shape. I'll give it a shot and see how it works out, no harm in trying right? At least the bicycle will pay for itself.

Two wheels of a different kind.

Still going...

More still...

And so it starts...

Last Run

I had a really good last run with a couple of guys a couple of weekends ago. Put on just over 300 kms of straight riding. I'd never been riding with them before and didn't know what to expect. We rode from Saint John to Sussex for a stop and then it was non-stop to Moncton. A few stops in Moncton at some shops and then a quick stop for gas. After that, it was a straight out run all the way back to Saint John. No stops for coffee, cigarettes or bathroom breaks...straight out run. It was great and something that I always love. It gives my mind plenty of time to wind out and break down things that have been clogging up the works.

That was the last run for both of them. Stablizer had already been put in their tanks and the bikes were to be stored that very evening. It was pretty much the last run for me as well. I lose my heated parking spot at the end of this month and I'll have to move her to a friends house for storage. I hate thinking that my bike will be so far away, but at least I know she'll be safe.

My plan is to get her there this coming weekend, but it looks like Mother Nature is tossing in the usual curve ball. Tomorrow is supposed to be bringing 25-35 cm of snow and 30-40 km/h winds. I'm really hoping that it doesn't stick around, but it doesn't bode well. I don't need to be trying to resource a trailer to move my bike.

November Riding

Well, the first snowfall was October 30th. Couldn't have been happier to have the Jeep when we visited my parents that weekend. It didn't stick around long considering the whole day was snow or rain or both. Fun driving through it all with the Jeep though. Winter is going more fun this year then it ever has been.

Right now we are having some very unseasonal November weather that's keeping our temperatures in the teens. It's making the rides to work very nice, but there isn't a lot of recreational riding going on. I have to keep things limited due to a very limited front tire. Not a whole lot of rubber left there and I'll definitely have to spring for a new tire in the...spring...

Nice to see

Being able to ride home with just my hoodie at the end of September is real nice. Easily over 20 C at 9pm.

Getting there

Well, I think it’s about that time. I just have to pick up an oil filter so I can change the oil and I’ll have my rolling therapy machine on the road once more. I should be able to get that done this coming weekend and may very well be riding to work the next week.

I Have Become Hermit…

Avoider of the white death.

People are beginning to think I’m dead or have just simply vanished, but I have not. I’m just really really tired of all this snow and I would very much like for it to all go away.

I hit up the annual bike show the weekend past and even that was a bore. Same stuff as last year. After one tour of the place I was ready to go home. Not only that, but I’m finding that there’s nothing out there (bike wise) that really interests me. I’d still like to have a Sportster 48, but as “cheap” as it is I can’t justify the cost.

I guess I’m “stuck” with my baby. Which is no complaint at all, considering that I think it’s the last great cruiser made by Honda anyway. What’s up with all the Fury model crap they are putting out? Turns my stomach.

Well, at least we are more then half way out of the dark. Soon enough I’ll be putting that battery back in and cruising down the road. For everyone else feeling the same as I do, hang in there…it’s almost over.

Stress Relief

It’s been a depressing and maddening week due to weather and other problems, but one ride makes it all go away.  It doesn’t even matter that it’s a ride to work in –2C (28F) with 50kph (31mph) winds.  The coldest windiest day on bike is far better then the warmest day in car.

There’s no snow sticking so I’m not giving up my riding season just yet and that fairing is just the thing to keep the cold from seeping through my leathers.  It doesn’t keep all the wind off my hands, but I can make it to work with plenty of feeling left in my fingers.

It’s Been Wet…

and that’s an understatement.

The rain started last Thursday evening and hasn’t stopped.  It’s been either misting or down pouring with strong winds every day since.  It doesn’t look like we’ll get relief until Wednesday and even that’s iffy.

It’s been a crappy fall (I believe I’ve mentioned that), but there is some beauty around.

Fall = Suck

The change in the season has brought too many changes and too many problems.  Any time I get to myself now I spend on bike, as long as it’s okay with Mother Nature.  We are having a typical Maritime autumn with cold temperatures and gale force winds.  There was barely enough time to see the leaves change before they were blown away.

As usual, I be pushing my riding season as far as I possibly can with hopes that the new fairing will make things more bearable when the temps drop below freezing.  I can already notice a difference during my ride to work with my hands being mostly protected and the wind taken off my chest.  Definitely no regrets on that purchase.

Really, it’s just the same shit happening all the time.  There’s too much crap going on for me to be in a good mood to post anything.  Winter is just around the corner which means I won’t even be able to use my bike to cool off or escape.  I think I’ll probably just let this go dormant until something happens to make me the person I used to be…

ciao for now.

A New Love

Seems like every year there’s a new piece of two wheeled machinery for me to fall in love with.  This year is no different, but we’ll get to that shortly.  It all started two days ago at the Harley Davidson Test Our Metal test ride at our local dealer.

The day didn’t start off the best.  During the pre-ride scout, one of the ride leaders dumped a test bike and suffered a bit of rash.  That took the Sportster 1200XR out of the test ride instantly.  Not sure what happened to cause the dump, but a newly sealed parking lot probably had a lot to do with it.  He made out fine though.

That delayed the ride by quite a bit and by the time they actually got back from the scouting run, it started to rain.  Wet roads means no rides as apparently their insurance doesn’t cover them when it’s wet out.  So there was a lot of waiting.

The first ride didn’t get out until early afternoon and I was bound and determined to get as many bikes out as I could before they closed up for the day.

First bike: 2011 883cc Sportster Superlow

I didn’t like the standard controls and after a while my right knee was whimpering to get stretched out.  It felt like a small bike, a really small bike.  Also, I don’t know if there was something wrong with this particular test bike (very possible) but it was jumpy as shit.  Every other bike I rode that day had a smooth throttle, but this one was have epileptic fits every time I would let off and increase on the throttle.

It’s a really nice looking bike, easy to handle and takes corners well, but it’s definitely not for me.  If it had forward controls, it would have been a lot more comfortable as the bars were in the perfect position.  But that’s not hard to change, the mount points for forward controls are right there at the front of the frame…all you need is money.

Second bike: 2011 1250cc Night Rod Special

The only reason I took this one out was the fact that it was the only bike left on the second ride.  I had the black and red one out for a ride last year and it killed my lower back.  I’ve been on a regular workout routine for the last year and my back has gotten a lot stronger, so I was able to survive this stretch rack of a bike.  This thing is still crazy powerful and the odd growl that it pumps out is rather appealing.  It’s fun, but I’d never be able to ride it for a long time.  At the end of the ride I was happy to step off, but smiling from the rush.

Fourth bike: 2011 1600cc Super Glide Custom

You’ll see why I skipped the third bike in just a bit.

Super Glide?  I didn’t like it.  It just felt like a plain old bike and I wasn’t a big fan of the seating position with standard controls.  Plus it felt much fatter then it actually looked.  Crazy pick up on this thing though and no lack of power with the six speed tranny.  Too bad the ride was too short with not enough straight aways to take advantage of it.

Odd note: During the ride I reached up to adjust the left mirror and the whole damn thing came loose.  Not only that, but the signal light below also came loose because they’re attached.  It wouldn’t have been so bad if it wasn’t for the vibration point on the bike.  About 1/3 of the way up on the throttle, the whole bike vibrates like a runaway dildo and all I could do was watch the mirror and signal bounce around.  So yeah, not the bike for me.

Third bike: 2011 1200cc Sportster 48

Meet my new love.  H-D?  You listening?  You hit the nail on the head with this piece of machinery.  It’s lean, it’s low, it’s barebones, light and a great sized engine to power it along.  It only weighs 257kg wet (567lbs), so it almost feels like you are tossing around a bicycle…a really fast bicycle.  It’s a feet and fists in the wind riding position with a little tiny seat to snuggle your ass in.  And you better snuggle your ass in nice and tight, cause this bike is going to try and slide you out of it.  I lost track of how many times I slide off the end of that seat when I cranked the throttle.  It just goes and wants to keep on going like some over anxious little pony.

The two big wheels made this bike track like a dream and corners were easy to dive into, easily scraping those ridiculously long feelers.  The only “problem” is the small fuel tank, you won’t be doing long long stretches on this bike with a measly 7.9L (2.1Gal), but I wouldn’t change it for the world.  It gives the bike such a minimalist look and suits it so well that I wouldn’t mind taking that frequent break to fuel up and stretch out.  Besides, the tank is where the bike gets it’s name from.  First year of the peanut tank.  I would gladly have this bike in my stable and it would be my daily ride…it would also result in me having a few speeding tickets…but I’d smile and accept it.

Best description for this bike?  An adult BMX.  Seriously…I love this thing.  Joey you listening?  Top of the Xmas list here!  Ha, one can dream.

Where have I been

It's been a hell of a summer, really.  The weather around here has been great...hence the minimal posts.  August has been a whirl wind of "if it's nice...GET YOUR ASS ON THE BIKE!"

Other things have been sitting on my mind as well, including making one major change in my life.  I was all ready to head back to school, but nerves got the better of me and I backed out.  We just have way too much debt for us both to be in school.  Maybe we'll be a little more solid next year and I'll be able to do something I want, instead of something I need.  Also...my work schedule changed...and I'm not too fond of it.

Two weekends ago was my riding club's national rally in Halifax.  We packed up the bike and headed out early on a Friday morning.  You couldn't have paid for better weather then what we had.  And you couldn't have asked for a better time.  We met lot's of new people and I slept in a tent for the first time in...shit...I can't remember.  Suffice to say...a long ass time ago.  I got a few pics that I'll toss up.

We got lost on the way down, due to my own stupidity and instead of learning from it, I got pissed off and just made things worse.  Oh well, I'm my dad through and through.  Guess I'll mellow out sooner or later.

Last weekend we took a trip down to a little island near the border (Deer Island).  It was a nice trip and the island, although small, was quite picturesque.  I'll have to do a solo photo trip down there.  Hard to stop and take pics when you are in a group ride.

In other news...CAN YOU BELIEVE IT'S SEPTEMBER TOMORROW?!  ugh...

Yes please

My weekend starts tomorrow and I sure as hell wouldn’t mind those temperatures.

 

Friday blues

Rode into work today with just a hoodie and my vest on.  I sure as shit don’t want to be sitting at a desk today.

Soggy

So it started off dry…

Then got really wet…

It got too bad and with the threat of thunder storms, we bailed before leaving the city.  We did get our pledges in and got the parade around the city done.

There was a decent showing even though the weather was threatening all morning.  Hopefully there was still a large amount of pledges collected.  Hate to see a cause like this suffer due to Mother Nature.

Tomorrow's Ride

Looks like we may get sprinkled on during the Ride for Dad.  Iffy weather like this usually makes for a low turnout which is really disappointing.  I’ll be there regardless…with my rain suit…that I probably won’t even wear.

Comfortable when it’s cool

The last few days have been on the cool side around here.  Temperatures have been in the single digits and morning commutes hover around the freezing mark.  Usually that would mean wrapping up and possibly the full face helmet.

Well, things have changed a bit since Selene’s new addition.  I can easily ride to work in the wind and cold with just my shorty on.  The fairing does wonders for cutting through the wind and keeping just enough cold away from my head.  I’m still a bit chilly when I get to work, but it’s nothing like I’ve been used to.

Memphis Shades fairing?  Sound investment.  Oh…and it looks cool too. ;)