You Never Saw Me

You never saw me at all. I was on my motorcycle, riding home to my family after working all day. You were in your black Mercedes sedan, with deeply tinted windows.

With windows that dark, it's a wonder you can see anything going on outside your vehicle. I get the impression, however, that you don't concern yourself too much with what's happening out here.

When you pulled into the roundabout, you scarcely cast a glance in my direction. The conversation you were having on your cell phone was obviously much more important than the well being and safety of other drivers, or me.

As your expensive European sedan loped into the intersection, right in front of me, you were blissfully unaware. Fortunately for me, I was watching my surroundings a good deal more intently than you were watching yours.

In fact, I survive my daily two wheeled commute by watching out for the likes of you, and being prepared to take evasive action.

So when you pulled out in front of me, I was able to stop.  Did you hear the chatter of my tires on the pavement as I came to a stop?  You seemed unaware of the peril you had placed me in.  You simply slid on by.

I resumed my trip home.  Because of my own watchful eye, you'll go on to menace other drivers . . . and riders . . . like me.  And I'll go on watching out for you.  

Adventure (Motorcycle) Girl

This young woman took the "long way around"

See the story on Advrider.com.

Parked motorcycles, again. . .

Mrs. Rat and I had big plans for the weekend, including a get-away on our motorcycles. Hers, pictured left . . . A Harley Davidson Super Glide. Mine, on the right, a Honda St1300A. But the motorcycling gods did oppose us. First with rainy and cool weather. Second with my wife having her arm in a sling,after effect of bursitis in her shoulder. We're sad to leave the bikes parked at home, and instead take the cage. But, we agree that it's Better to let the shoulder heal and live to ride another time.

I really am a dufus!

A friend of mine called me up the other night and asked if I'd
come help him fix his scooter.  He owns a Chinese piece-of-crap
scooter which had been sitting all year.  He finally got it up and
running, and was hoping to ride it to work the next day.  He
discovered the front brake lever went all the way to the grip with no
resistance.  He called me up for help with his brakes.

I headed over to his house.  Weather was nice so I decided to hop on
the ST1300 to ride over.  Bike had been sitting for a while. 

When I went to start my bike, there was a definite hesitation while it
cranked before it started.  It was enough of a lag for me to notice.
But it eventually started, and I went on my way.  He lives a mile from
my house.

Over to his house, working by flashlight in his driveway, discovered
his brake fluid was dark and sludgy at the master cylinder.  Bled his
brakes and resuscitated them.  He was grateful.

We said our goodbyes, he went into his house and I went back to my bike.

Total darkness.  Key in ignition, dash and headlight on.  Press the
start button...nothing.  Key off and back on... Still no worky.

"Oh no!".  My battery must have been too weak to start me up twice
without ample charging time in between.

Well, heck, I should be able to bump start this motor.  Paddling my
feet and trying to shoosh the bike along a dark suburban steet.  Pop
the clutch and ... Nothing.

I tried this several more times.  No dice.

I called my friend (rather than waking his whole fam by knocking on
the door).  He came back outside, agreed to help me push start the
bike.

We tried a few more times, with no luck.

I had the easy job.  He was huffing and puffing and sweating by the
end of it.  I felt bad for him.  We called off the push starting
effort.

We stripped off the seat and side cover to expose the battery.  Nick
moved his car around to facilitate giving me a jump start.
Bike started right away.  Put it back together and rode home.

It wasn't until the next morning that I realized my bike never needed
a jump start.  I hadn't hit the switch.  The switch was off the entire
time I was pushing that bike - he was pushing that bike.

What a doof!  I forgot a lot during my two month hiatus.  I even forgot FINE-C.

It wouldn't have happened in broad daylight when I could see the
switch.  It may not have happened if I hadn't been so tired.  It
wouldn't have happened if my battery hadn't seemed jittery at the
start of the trip...it lead me to the wrong conclusion.   But it
happened!  Duh!

Think I've confessed this dumbass moment to my friend?   Not yet

Bike at the Conference Center

I'm happy to be on two wheels today, after such a long absence from riding. I'm the only bike at an after-work conference. And the only attendee wearing motorcycle boots and leather jacket in a business suit setting.

Boot Search

Cycle Outfitters in Indianapolis is a great place to buy gear. Though I haven't been able to ride, I am still in the market for some new riding boots.

So I paid them a visit, and tried on several pairs of boots.

I would've tried on the River Road "Engineer Boot" if they'd had them in black. They looked so good on Arnold in "Terminator 2" that I can't resist them. Even though I doubt they'd make the transition to sport touring. Some attire only belongs on a cruiser.

There weren't many choices. A few "tennis shoe" looking things which barely covered the ankles. A few truly gawdy cruiser-style boots with buckles and fringes. A bevy of dirt-bike style boots, which I'm really not going for.

I settled on the Tour Master Solution 2.0 Waterproof boots. The size 12 seemed a little to tight across the ball of my foot, so I looked for a larger size. A 12.5 fit the ball of my foot, but was sloppy and loose at the heel. What I really need is a 12 Wide, which of course, the manufacturer doesn't make.

Another odd thing about the Tour Master boot was the way the heels were shaped. The inside of each heel seemed shorter than the outside. This made the boot slant inward, and gave me a slightly knock-kneed stance. If I noticed it walking around the store while trying the boots on, I'd surely notice it -- and probably suffer for it -- if I were to wear the boots for any length of time.

So, unfortunately, I left empty handed. No boots for me this time.

Too Sick To Ride

Motorcycles are fun, and this blog has always been about enjoying motorcycles, and doing so safely. Without boring you with the details, let me say that this year I've been too sick to ride most of the time. It pains me to leave that new-to-me ST1300 sitting idle in the garage for two months of prime riding season. Then, In the past two or three weeks I have felt well enough to ride a handful of times. There is little joy in it for me now, but I cling to the hope that things will get better. It's best that I focus on recovery, and not on the loss of the season. Gotta stay positive.