Maiden Voyage '04

[RebeccaV]

What a difference a day makes! Yesterday I woke up to an inch of snow on the ground and it snowed off and on all day.

[RebeccaV]

Today – 40 degrees and the roads are dry. Which means….I should really go for a ride! A shake-down ride, really. Get some new gas in the bike, ride in my new gear for the first time, and put on a few miles after some repairs and maintenance.

I adjusted my own valves for the first time last week, and was delighted that the bike actually started and ran. That’s a good sign. I have new steering head bearings and a new battery, and vive la difference! I didn’t realize that the old ones were so bad. My new Joe Rocket Ballistic Pants and Aerostitch Darien jacket are stiff, but WARM. I went a few blocks then turned around and took off a layer.

Then, out for a little ride. I’ve got to admit, I’m a bit rusty after four months of not riding. Now, we just need some real riding weather. Preferably before the Blitz to Branson in three weeks!

Reporting from the no-longer-frozen tundra,
bg

[knary]

Finally, she's free!
:clap

congrats on getting out and about. I can't imagine going four months between rides.

[lorazepam]

Good for you BG. Great to hear them run again isn't it? We should be in the upper 40's low 50's this time of year and it just isn't happening. When it does, it rains pretty hard. Here is a shot taken at Grant's Birthplace. I feel fortunate to have the great riding that abounds in the Ohio Valley.

[Rich]

From the looks of the whitecaps, you have the same wind we have in ND today, it is gusting up to 30 MPH. But I got in a few miles too, it feels great, doesn't it? Glad you made it out.

[Cliffy777]

All right then. Good for you - PLUS (kinda like DANG) you adjusted your own valves and what not. Real good for you.
Just think, I was riding on the other side of that big lake (well, bout fifty miles east of the shore...) I'll look for you next time!
Man, it was 42 when I rode home from the store tonight (8:30 pm) that is the warmest temp for riding in months! felt like taking my liner out of my jacket.
Hurray for Spring...Hurray for Boxergrrlie

[BMWRich58]

What a difference a day makes! Yesterday I woke up to an inch of snow on the ground and it snowed off and on all day.

Same here in Chicagoland,snowy morning,rain by noon.
Today sunny and 45*!!!!

[Cliffy777]

Hey Rich and BG - shove the sun my way will ya?

[BMWRich58]

Her's a little smaller version from the side

[GSAnderson]

Same here...3 inches of snow yesterday morning..in the 50's today. Rode to work. I feel like a whole person again.

[bmwrtgirl]

I was out and about today too! I was able to put 100 miles on the bike today. I even came home in the dark and had to turn the widder down a little. I declare my riding season officially started.

Branson here I come!

Tracy:clap

[Rich]

Originally posted by Cliffy777
Hey Rich and BG - shove the sun my way will ya?

It's coming, buddy, hold on!!!

[BradfordBenn]

Way to Go BG!:clap

Go for a ride for me, I am jonesing a ride real bad right now. It is almost perfect riding conditions in Vegas, and my bikes are in Indiana.

Drat:cry :cry :cry

Is it April yet?

[RebeccaV]

Originally posted by knary
Finally, she's free!
:clap
congrats on getting out and about. I can't imagine going four months between rides.

It was a long four months and it does feel like being set free. It's nice to be able to share the experience with folks who understand!:bliss

[kbasa]

first ride of the year
once again i feel alive
cranky I am not

[YeOldCrier]

Sunny and warm, about 40 degrees.
Rode to do a few errands, get gas for tomorrow's YB
breakfast mtg. and alsu to check out the valve adj I did
yesterday. Yes VV, I also checked the float bowls for H2O!
Ride to eat, eat to rde......

[Rich]

Originally posted by Cliffy777
Hey Rich and BG - shove the sun my way will ya?

Yo Cliffy,

32 degrees today, not a whole lot of sun, I finally figured, who needs sun to have fun. You just gotta do what you gotta do. 175 miles later, hey, it was a great day.......

[Greg]

Originally posted by KBasa
first ride of the year
once again i feel alive
cranky I am not
What :dunno
First ride TODAY?

[kbasa]

Originally posted by Greg
What :dunno
First ride TODAY?

Nah. Just firing up some bike haiku for the frozen ones.

dave

[RebeccaV]

Winter's back big time
It's nineteen degrees out now
Glad I got to ride

[Cliffy777]

C'mon boxergrrlie - get on out there and fire that Baad Beemer up. Boxer twins LOVE the cold. Nineteen is plenty warm enough, just ask the Kook. Heck, he strips down to his vest when the temp is that high.
What are ya, a girl? Oh yeah...sorry...
It got cold as bejabbers here as well. It was 40 something Sat morning so I rode in without my liner. By the time I headed home the temp and dropped A BUNCH and the wind was blowing like crazy. Man, did I miss my liner. I went wah-wah-wah alll the way home. Sunday was really chili, but better days are ahead!!

[kbasa]

boxergrrlie
geezer




Funniest thing I've seen today.

[RebeccaV]

Originally posted by Cliffy777
What are ya, a girl? Oh yeah...sorry...

:rofl :stick :rofl

Just think - soon we'll be complaining about how *blippin'* hot out it is!

[lewlei]

Already had a couple of 'Hot' days down here in Florida. Time to move north - - - maybe Alaska this summer :brow

Lew, on the move . . .

[Cliffy777]

Sounds like Lew is livin' out my idea of a fantasy post-work life. Slidin' around these United States where and when he pleases. Mmmm-mmm good.

[lewlei]

Yeah, that's what you work all them years for . . . hopefully

Gonna ride the Tail of the Dragon next week - - weather permitting (meaning no snow or ice on the road).

Lew

[BradfordBenn]

Winter Away
Bike Ready
Brad Ready
Work Travel
Drat
:(

[Ironhorsecowboy]

hey Lewlei, the tail of the dragon is should I say slick right now according to local weather folks. Maybe in a week or so all will be well for some hi speed twisties. A storm passed through here this weekend and left some of that white stuff and temps went to the mid 20s with 30 mph winds on Sunday. It will warm up mid week back to the 60s late afternoons if the weather folks got it right. Temps in Cherohala and the 321 are always 10 to 15 lower in the mountains and those shady spots. Just check the road closings before you head out. IHCB

[lewlei]

Ironhorse - - thanks for the info. I grew up driving the canyons west of Denver and know just what you mean - - especially the shady spots. Do they sand these roads like out west when it snows? That stuff hangs around on the corners long after the snow is gone (as does the ice in the shade). I'm hoping that by next week the warm weather will have made it rideable.

Lew