It was a beautiful day down here today.

[SeaCat]

We're talking absolutely beautiful. The sun was shining and the temps were right at 68 degrees. The wind was out of the north at maybe 10 MPH.

So what did I do? I grabbed my gear, fired up the bike and off I went. That's right, I went for a ride.

It wasn't too long, only 20 miles but it was both a fun and a learning experience. (I went to the local Honda Dealership for my Tach. Cable.)

I fired up the bike and eased it around the car until it was pointed in the right direction. I flipped down my visor and eased out the clutch a bit more while opening up the throttle a bit. I was in forst to the end of the road and stopped at the main entrance. I checked traffic and off I went smoothly accelerating through the gears up to 50 MPH. Two miles later I caught the traffic light just right and banked south on another main road before opening it up again and hitting 50. I was in medium traffic and having fun. I was watching the traffic and the lights ahead of me. When the lights changed I was finding me checking the mirrors even as I grabbed the brakes and downshifting.

I made it to the dealership in good time and hit the turn signal well in advance. I checked my mirrors as I came closer and seeing a car behind me I flashed my brake lights several times before grabbing the brakes. (This give them a heads up.) I dropped speed until I was comfortable while downshifting. As I reached the entrance I let go of the brakes, pushed the bars and gently eased on the throttle. No problems and a very smooth turn if I must say so myself.

I picked up the cable I had ordered and back out to the bike to find one of the salesmen looking it over. We talked for a bit as I stashed the cable in the cargo box. He informed me he remembered not only selling that particular model of bike but also riding one. We talked about the bike and my plans for it. (He liked my ideas.) He asked how I liked riding it and I was honest when I told him I loved it. He then surprised me, he asked if I was doing anything right then. I didn't and told him so while wondering why the question. Then he offered me a short test ride on a new Honda Shadow 750. I readily agreed.

The Shadow was confortable to sit on. It's a shade narrower than my bike due to it's engine design. It's also a couple of pounds lighter, not much but ever pound counts when you're balancing the bike. I fired it up and was surprised at how loud it was compared to my bike. I played with the clutch for a minute getting the feel of it then eased the bike to the edge of the road. I watched traffic for a bit then took off. I put ten miles on the Shadow and found it to be very comfortable. It was stable and handled well. I had one problem with it though. My bike would eat it for lunch off the line without trying. My bike also out accelerates it at speed. (On the other hand it was a very comfortable ride at speed, it seems to ride softer than my bike and isn't quite as willing to turn.)

I returned the Shadow to the dealership and told the guy what I thought. He smiled and agreed with my assesments. I then climbed onto my bike and took off with a smile on my face. About a quarter mile south I did the U-Turn and headed back north, right into the wind. It was during this ride that I noticed something. I was thinking about the traffic conditions and not about my bike. When I had to stop I stopped, when I had to turn I turned. I was shifting lanes as needed, hitting and canceling the turn signals without thinking about it. In other words my attention was now where it truly needed to be. This is a good thing, it means I'm getting more comfortable with my riding. It means I can concentrate more on what's important, the traffic and conditions around me as I ride.

Cat

 

[rgraham666]

Sounds wonderful, Cat.

 

[SeaCat]

What makes it even better waas I received a call from a certain Jewelry Store yesterday. They told me a special order item had come in.

As I was riding home I stopped in the strip mall where this store was. I went in and picked up the bracelete I had ordered. Now this was a special bracelete, it's called a Basket Bracelete and is made by one store on Nantucket. I had ordered this several months ago for my wife and it finally came in.

With this in my coat pocket I went next door to a Hallmark Store and picked out a smallish Teddy Bear. Once I had paid for it I fitted the bracelete around it's neck and walked out. I placed the bear in my cargo box and took off for home.

When I got home I put the bear inside my helmet and headed inside. After putting the helmet on the table I shrugged out of my coat and hung it up. As I was doing this I asked my wife to grab my helmet, bag it and put it in it's usual spot on top of the Hutch. I watched from around the corner as she picked up the helmet and the bear was left sitting on the couch.

My wife set my helmet back on the couch and picked up the bear. Oh she freaked out and was loving life when she saw the bracelete.

My Valentines Day was outstanding.

Cat

 

[rgraham666]

I'm not surprised.

 

[SeaCat]

I'm not surprised.

Hey I had a blast riding and made an impression on the wife. What more could I ask for?

Rob think about this. Maybe I can explain it.

I'm out on my bike. I'm clicking through the gears without thinking. I see a local bus up ahead and I know it's going to be stopping every now and then. Instead of dealing with it I check mirrors and look to my left and shift lanes. The light ahead changes from green to yellow and I'm glancing in the mirrors even as I grab the brakes and downshift. I click through the gears as I slow, the engine grabbing smoothly with no jerks and I find yself second in line at the light. I'm in first gear and I'm watching the car behind me coming up, I'm ready to move if he closes too fast but I'm not stressing.

The light changes and I ease out the clutch while watching the cars around me. My feet come off the pavement and I'm winding out first when the car on my left changes lanes without hitting his lights. I had seen his head bobbing so I didn't even twitch, I just backed off the gas a hair and watched him move in front of me. I open it up a bit and shift through the gears even as I watch the cars around me.

I keep a good distance from the car ahead of me. This gives me a chance to see and react to changes in the road. I'm dodging things like raised Manhole Covers without a problem, I just push the bars and swerve while staying in my lane. No problems and no big deal.

I'm coming up on the turn from this main road to another. The speed limit is 50 MPH on both. I check mirrors and shift lanes without thinking about it. I come up on the turn with my signals on and hitting the brakes while downshifting. I'm not even thinking as I watch my mirrors and approach the turn. I hit the turn and crank on the throttle, leaning the bike and catching it right. I'm looking ahead and I see the area that is a bit lighter, I hit the throttle a it heavier even as I push the bars a bit more and dodge what turns out to be some sand. Life is good and I'm having fun.

I come out of the turn and crank through the gears. The wind is now directly against me and I can feel it. It's pushing me back while trying to push the bike to the side. I lean into the wind a bit and keep going. (Man I need to get me a windshield.)

I'm on the home stretch. I have two lanes of traffic on my right and it's still 50 MPH. I'm dealing with people blowing through lanes and cutting me off. I'm not even thinking about it. I'm letting my body and my bike move. I slow down and I speed up without thinking. I dodge this ass hole as they jump three lanes to hit the left turn lane and I swerve around the bus. I'm not even thinking about it, I'm just doing it.

I come up to my turn off. I signal long before the cut off and grab the brakes as I swing into the left turn lane. I check traffic and see I'm clear. I hit the turn in third and down shift in the truly short stretch before the stop sign. I check both ways and putt off the line, the speed limit here is 20 MPH though no-one follows it. I shift into second and head for home.

I have to pull in on the left side of my car. My neighbor has decided she needs not only her parking space but part of mine. I pull in and spend a couple of minutes moving the bike around before it is in the spot I want it to be in. I shut it down and climb off.

I head inside as she comes back out to her car. She sees me in my leathers and carrying my helmet and sticks her nose in the air. I'm smiling and ignore her. I had a great ride and she isn't going to ruin it for me. (Although I'm going to ruin her day tomorrow. I'm going to repaint the parking lines and will then demand that she stay inside her parking spaces.)

Cat

 

[Pure]

it's sunny, but the snow along the roads is in five foot running piles, and on the ground is over a foot. the temp is a balmy 35 degrees in the sun.

on the good side: no flies or mosquitoes.