60k

Took a ride for lunch last week and passed the 60k on the odometer on the way home. I've been watching the odometer, waiting to hit 60k. Not really sure why, another milestone I guess.

All the anticipation was anti-climatic. Just another ride, along a very familiar route - nothing special, nothing spectacular. Other than reaching 60k.

Guess this means it's time to change the fluids and check the bike over in a little more detail than normal.

Next mark 70k or 75k? We'll see how it goes as I get closer...

first ride...

my son had a writing assignment at school last week to write about a time he was nervous... i don't know that i would have ever guessed it was his first motorcycle ride. here's his story...

"One time I was scare was the first time I rode a motorcycle. I was in a ton of gear, a helmet, I had jeans on and a jacket. You couldn't even recognize who I was. My mom had a camera taking video of me. My dad on the bike, he was waiting on me. I got on and my mom smiled. My dad said are you ready. I said yes. Then the bike started. As we went down the drive way and my stomache went in. When we got home my dad said good job. I am no longer nervous about riding a bike."

the mentioned video of the first ride:

we've enjoyed many great adventures since then and are looking forward to more.

been a while...

...since i've posted!! in spite of all good intentions to keep more up to date, it just hasn't happened. sometimes just because i was busy riding. and sometimes just because i got wrapped up with life. anyway, lots to catch up on so let's get started...

while there have been a lot of great rides this summer, one of my favorites is a short ride i took with my wife right after the fourth of july. it started when some friends, previous neighbors, came in town for the fourth. our sons were best of friends when they lived next door. they were heading home, a few hours away, after the fourth and we offered for their son to stay a couple extra days so the boys could hang out together. as it turned out, our son ended up going with them. that left us a couple days to ourselves - sweeeet!!!!

it got better when my wife suggested we go on a ride. and even better when she suggested we stop at waffle house for breakfast!! after a delicious breakfast, we headed out for the ride.

we headed up the back roads towards oxford. my plan was ride to oxford, through roxboro and end up in yanceyville, where we'd stop for ice cream and my wife could get a break from sitting in the seat too long. the weather was great and we were having a good time.

when we got to roxboro, i scrapped my original plans and decided that would be a good place to stop for ice cream. i was looking for a mom-n-pop type of place but we settled for cook out. by the way, even though cook out has a walk-up window, they don't have any seating - reminder for future reference!!

after ordering some shakes, we found a wall to sit on while we enjoyed our drinks.

our view from the wall...

one of my favorite pictures of us...

once we finished off the shakes, we headed home. took a slightly different route and got to explore some roads i'd never been on. real pretty roads that i'll have to explore again soon.

turned out to be a great day for a ride and an awesome time with my wife.

memorial ride...

took a ride two weeks ago to attend a memorial service for a fellow rider. actually, he was more of a mentor to me. although he may not have known that since i just kind of adopted him as a mentor.

i met him six years ago when i was training to become an instructor and he was one of the trainers. i learned a lot from him during the training and even more in the following years. his evaluations while i was teaching were always an opportunity for me to learn more, to improve. he also gave me the courage to try new techniques or something different while i was teaching, as long as it was safe, effective and efficient. sometimes what i tried didn't work out quite the way i expected (worse). instead of hearing negative comments, he would ask if i learned anything - even if it was only not to try that again.

even after his passing, i am still learning from him... on the ride out to the memorial, it started to lightly rain. normally i wouldn't have stopped but i decided since i was going to a service, i should at least arrive dry. i pulled off at an underpass to put on my rain jacket, opened my saddlebag only to find no rain suit. i decided that i would at least zip the outer shell onto my jacket. it isn't waterproof but it would help keep some of the wetness away. after fighting with the zippers, getting the jacket on, i look down the road ahead and see the sun shining and the rain has stopped. i decide to remove the shell and take my chances. it was ninety degrees. i figured i would rather be cool and wet rather than hot(ter) and (relatively) dry.

i wasn't so lucky on the ride home. it poured most of the way home and i got soaked. it rained hard enough that i had to slow down to about forty. there were several accidents in the other direction, luckily none in our direction. the only stop i made was for gas. because the temps were still fairly warm, i wasn't cold while riding. i decided against waiting to see if the rain would let up and took off after topping off.

as i was riding the last miles home i was replaying my situation in my head. why was i riding in the rain without my rain suit?? two lessons came out of this. both of which i attribute to my fellow rider. first lesson, if you have saddlebags, you should never ever ride without a rain suit packed away. i always have my rain suit packed, never travel without it. if i ever use the rain suit, i dry it out and pack it back into the saddlebags immediately. second lesson, no matter how sure you are that your rain suit is packed, check one more time before you leave!!

thank you for everything bob. you will be missed...

ride to work…

took a ride to work the other week – to annapolis!!! it was nice to get out for a longer ride in decent weather.

i headed out on sunday after a quick turn around from returning from the beach. as fast as i was unpacking from the beach, i was repacking for the ride. i could have taken a little more time but i wanted to get on the road and to my destination before it got too late.

repacking in a hurry didn’t leave me with the confidence that i had everything i needed. but if it came down to missing something critical, i could always pick it up on the road.

ride up to annaplois started on the interstate until richmond, then back roads the rest of the way. it was good to be putting some miles on the bike again. especially since i have a longer trip coming up towards the end of may. but thoughts of that trip were far from my mind as i was enjoying the scenery and the weather the eastern part of virginia was giving me.

i wouldn’t be quite so lucky on the way home. the temps were quite a bit lower and the skies were overcast. shortly after leaving, i was pulling over to put on my chaps and winter gloves. but those weren’t quite enough to keep the chill from reaching my bones.

the quick turn around on sunday and lack of planning was catching up to me now. in my hurry to hit the road i was so focused on leaving i didn’t bother to check the weather forecast. and now i was paying the price.

a couple times i did think about how much warmer i might have been had i been in my car. but i quickly came to the conclusion that i wouldn’t trade the warmth of my car for the freedom of the road. it seems cold riding is the theme on the rides this year.

it was great to get home and start to thaw…

check out the 2010 ride map – this one in blue…

bike shops…

saturday started with a stop at bikers boulevard with father-in-law. he’s rebuilding a couple bikes with the help of son and wanted to check out some parts – specifically an electronic ignition… within minutes they were showing him the exact part he needed.

we were perusing the store, about to leave, when one of the guys chased us down to talk to father-in-law about his shovelhead. before i knew it, they were looking for a kicker for his shovelhead. turns out they don’t make a kicker for his particular model – when they made the five-speed for his bike they stuffed it into a four-speed case, not leaving enough room for anything else.

listening to the two of them carry on about their old bikes was really interesting – i sure could learn a lot more from these two…

after getting home, my wife suggested taking a ride. i was all over that. we had planned to take the usual trip around the lake – a nice ride, but not too long.

shortly after heading out, after the few sprinkles of rain, my wife mentioned she was cold and her feet were bothering her. not wanting to end the ride so soon and not wanting to torture my wife, i suggested stopping at brewer cycles.

i’d never been there but heard good things about it. i was thinking that maybe if we could find her some new boots, she’s be willing to take a little longer ride.

when we got to brewer, i couldn’t believe how cold her hands were. sure, it wasn’t the warmest weather we’d ridden in, but i didn’t think it was that cold. i offered her my winter gloves, but they didn’t quite fit and she’d worry the whole time we rode home.

walking to brewer, i was surprised by the variety and selection they had – bikes, jet skis, clothing, helmets, accessories, tires. you name it, they have it. except footwear. well, they do have footwear, but it’s for dirt-biking.

we decided to forgo riding around the lake and head straight home. i did manage to talk my wife into a slightly longer ride home. which i really appreciated because i knew my wife would only get colder as evening drew closer.

it was great to be out on the road with my wife. i sure hope we can get more riding in together – although i will appreciate the ride we took this weekend since she probably won’t ride again unless it’s above the mid-eighties!!!

check out the 2010 ride map – this one in green…

time with the wife…

had a nice ride with the wife last week. recall the earlier post when daughter lost wife’s glove. well, the gloves finally came in and we decided to go pick them up.

being the knucklehead i am, i start heading out the door with car keys in hand. okay, it was early and i was still mentally asleep. mostly due to the fact that i was faced with another day of work and it would be easier to sleep through it!!

we get out to the garage and wife says she thought we were taking the bike. like a deer in headlights, i freeze. hmmmm, bike… it is a pretty day outside, what better way to spend it that riding around with the wife!!! why didn’t i think of that?? suddenly awake, i head inside and change into more appropriate riding attire…

we hop on the bike and head to ray price. but not without a stop at waffle house first. i think that’s going to be a recurring theme here – what’s better than riding and toppin’ off the tummy with some scattered hash browns all the way?? the waitress didn’t think i was serious and was surprised i finished off the whole plate.

with full tummies, we made our way to ray price. when ms. brenda presented the gloves daughter ordered for her, wife wasn’t real keen on them. no surprise there. so i encouraged wife to pick out another pair. ironically, the pair she ended up choosing is one pair we looked at and thought she wouldn’t like. go figure!!! not only that, wife ended up picking up another pair of lighter gloves for summer riding. in the end, wife ended up with two pairs of gloves and daughter got the pair we originally ordered for wife.

after staying at ray price much longer than i expected, we decided to head home. the weather was awesome and i could have spent the whole day riding around with my wife… unfortunately work was calling and i had to get back… with that, i faced the bike north and started riding off…

the thought of work must have put me back to sleep… as we’re approaching a split in the road, i’m in the lane for the most direct route home. wife leans forward and suggested the longer, scenic route home. nice idea… i do a quick head-check and jump over a couple lanes to take the other fork…

once the road slimmed down to two lanes, i rolled off the throttle a little and took my time getting home – enjoying the beautiful scenery and sharing the ride with my wife… it got me thinking about a few years down the road – when the kids are grown (out of the house) and we can spend more time together. just heading out at the spur of the moment. much like we used to do when we were dating. i miss those days. and i look forward to them again…