Monday, February 25, 2013

Riding in the wind

So I've rode the bike in the rain many times now. Hard rain, soft rain, warm rain, cold rain.
Pictured: Not Me. Photo (and good article) from LeslieKays.com
But until today I never really rode in the Wind. Capital W. The Bonneville is not a big bike, but my voluminous saddlebags and windshield really increase the surface area. After getting home I found out we're in a severe weather warning: "25 to 35 mph with gusts in excess of 50 mph." I'm not sure if it was that strong earlier, but the wind off Belton Lake was memorable. I'm definitely glad that I got a new front tire on Thursday.

The stock Metzler had finally worn close to bald and I had intended to get a ContiGo to match my back tire, buuut the good folks at Grove Cycle had a Michelin Commander II in the right size lurking on the shelf. It was a bit more expensive, but they were able to put it on immediately and I got to hang out at the shop with some Vietnam veterans. There are so many Veterans' riding clubs, maybe I'll find one wherever Sarah and I settle down.

Odometer: 12295

Monday, February 4, 2013

Riding Tunes

This past week has been great for riding home in the afternoons. The mornings may be cold or misty and unpleasant, but I'm glad I have the motorcycle when it's time to go home.

unique odometer milestone
I don't have a radio on my bike, but often songs spring to my mind unbidden while I ride. Maybe they come from the circumstances, weather, or things I pass on the road. Here are some examples:

When it rains:

"I've been stranded in the combat zone
I walked through Bedford Stuy alone
Even rode my motorcycle in the rain..."

When I pass an El Camino:

"Storming through the party like my name was El Niño
When I'm hangin' out, drinking in the back of an El Camino..."

When it rains harder:

"Scratch my back with a lightning bolt,
Thunder rolls like a bass drum note.
The sound of the weather is Heaven's ragtime band."

After a while without riding:

Self-Explanatory

Oddometer: 11412