2000 Miles - Part Three
Or, Does This Bike Make Me Look Fat?
Lunatic Fringer Ross found this pic of me going 5mph through Deal's Gap on the Barcalounger on the way back from Georgia.
I think it makes me look old and fat. It's more the jacket than the bike really, fancy new Cortech purchased at She Rides so that if it was cold on the way back I wouldn't freeze to death again. There was a guy behind us that had let us pass, and sever hours later he caught up to us again on the freeway, and followed us off at a gas station to "meet the chick on the FJR". I found this humorous, and it was kind of a theme, you get more props as a girl on a big fat bike than on a little sporty one.
Anyway, this was all several weeks ago, and many of the details are lost already. It was a fun trip though. Not sure I want to ride long distance again for a while, at least not without the proper equipment, but at least for now the Cortech might get some use if I can get my hands on a dirtbike and go ice racing this winter. Woo!
Here's what I posted to the Lunatic Fringers when I got back:
Haaarr... yeah, never made it to a coffee shop for internet access last night.
Did some errands and cooked up the only thing in my house: grilled cheese and tomato soup. That gallon of milk is doing something scary. (Richard and Harm know about my butch fridge situation. It contains nothing but condiments and beer, (although they're fancy condiments, and really good beer) along with the occasional take out container and tupperware containers of leftovers from Harm. I bought a gallon of milk a couple weeks ago, and that turned out to be a huge mistake.) Also ended up drinking 3/4's of a bottle of wine which put me straight to sleep.
The ride back was great in comparison to the ride down in the rain. I was seriously doubting any future long distance trips on Thursday, and it wasn't because of the bike. The Monster was actually totally comfortable. The only thing that was really sore were my shoulderblades. The airhawk probably saved it, and if I would have planned better and had my leathers, I probably wouldn't have been so miserable in the cold. If nothing else, it forced me to buy better gear. I love that coat, although the fact that it's puffy, and the squeaky boots make me think I should be hauling a snowboard around instead of getting on a bike.
I kind of expected Deal's Gap to suck so it wasn't really much of a letdown. Wasn't wanting to go fast on the Barcalounger anyway, although by the time I got back to the Mil I was pretty comfortable riding it and pushing it around on tip-toes. I wouldn't balk at having to ride one again for sure, but I don't think I really want one either. I don't think I'd ride it enough. Something medium sized would be good. Had the realization at some point on the way back that it's the first inline four I've ever ridden though, everything else has been a single, twin, or the viffer.
127 was a super nice road through TN and KY up to Lexington, along with whatever that "straight" road was that was supposed to get us to the freeway outside of the city. It's too bad it was too dark by then to see it.
For all the Lewis Black fans, Jay and I ended up at the Cracker Fuck Barrel for dinner. I swear walking into those places makes my eyes burn.
Monday morning I headed up 421 to Indianapolis, splitting between Cincinnati and Louisville, and I'm really glad I did. Nice and curvy through Kentucky, lots of zen riding alone on the Barcalounger. I was a little nervous about riding alone on "not my bike", but it really ended up being pretty cool. I say that I hate people, or am not really a people person, but for some reason really love the random conversations you get into with random people when you're on a bike (which can be good and bad).
The second half of 421 kind of blew though, and by the time I hit Indy I just wanted to get home, and realized I needed to get home in time to pick up my leathers before Alexa (http://www.spyderleatherworks.com - she fucking rocks. Seriously, she's the bee's knees, and she's got a super hot daughter that races in CCS. If you need leathers worked on, send them to her.) headed out of town.
Anyway, much love and thanks to the Vocaire's for the lodging, pancakes, and salsa, and to T for trailering the Hawk down for me. I was really glad to get to ride it a little bit there. I dunno, I'm happy doing a couple cooler runs and then just socializing, although yeah, moving the location and hitting less crowded roads would be cool too. I'm super happy Babs was able to make it, and if Richard, Harmony, and T all end up in Charlotte in a couple years Keener, y'all will have a lot more of like minded souls in the neighborhood.
I'm off of Monsters now, and back into the Hawk. Maybe it's all the track time spent on one, but it just feels... right. I mean, the Monster was super fun and all, and I'd still think about robbing a laundromat to buy the S4 when Richard gets it, (uh, I still want to talk you into trading for the 325 and some cash) but I want to keep the Hawk. So, the SleeperHawk project begins.
Lunatic Fringer Ross found this pic of me going 5mph through Deal's Gap on the Barcalounger on the way back from Georgia.
I think it makes me look old and fat. It's more the jacket than the bike really, fancy new Cortech purchased at She Rides so that if it was cold on the way back I wouldn't freeze to death again. There was a guy behind us that had let us pass, and sever hours later he caught up to us again on the freeway, and followed us off at a gas station to "meet the chick on the FJR". I found this humorous, and it was kind of a theme, you get more props as a girl on a big fat bike than on a little sporty one. Anyway, this was all several weeks ago, and many of the details are lost already. It was a fun trip though. Not sure I want to ride long distance again for a while, at least not without the proper equipment, but at least for now the Cortech might get some use if I can get my hands on a dirtbike and go ice racing this winter. Woo!
Here's what I posted to the Lunatic Fringers when I got back:
Haaarr... yeah, never made it to a coffee shop for internet access last night.
Did some errands and cooked up the only thing in my house: grilled cheese and tomato soup. That gallon of milk is doing something scary. (Richard and Harm know about my butch fridge situation. It contains nothing but condiments and beer, (although they're fancy condiments, and really good beer) along with the occasional take out container and tupperware containers of leftovers from Harm. I bought a gallon of milk a couple weeks ago, and that turned out to be a huge mistake.) Also ended up drinking 3/4's of a bottle of wine which put me straight to sleep.
The ride back was great in comparison to the ride down in the rain. I was seriously doubting any future long distance trips on Thursday, and it wasn't because of the bike. The Monster was actually totally comfortable. The only thing that was really sore were my shoulderblades. The airhawk probably saved it, and if I would have planned better and had my leathers, I probably wouldn't have been so miserable in the cold. If nothing else, it forced me to buy better gear. I love that coat, although the fact that it's puffy, and the squeaky boots make me think I should be hauling a snowboard around instead of getting on a bike.
I kind of expected Deal's Gap to suck so it wasn't really much of a letdown. Wasn't wanting to go fast on the Barcalounger anyway, although by the time I got back to the Mil I was pretty comfortable riding it and pushing it around on tip-toes. I wouldn't balk at having to ride one again for sure, but I don't think I really want one either. I don't think I'd ride it enough. Something medium sized would be good. Had the realization at some point on the way back that it's the first inline four I've ever ridden though, everything else has been a single, twin, or the viffer.
127 was a super nice road through TN and KY up to Lexington, along with whatever that "straight" road was that was supposed to get us to the freeway outside of the city. It's too bad it was too dark by then to see it.
For all the Lewis Black fans, Jay and I ended up at the Cracker Fuck Barrel for dinner. I swear walking into those places makes my eyes burn.
Monday morning I headed up 421 to Indianapolis, splitting between Cincinnati and Louisville, and I'm really glad I did. Nice and curvy through Kentucky, lots of zen riding alone on the Barcalounger. I was a little nervous about riding alone on "not my bike", but it really ended up being pretty cool. I say that I hate people, or am not really a people person, but for some reason really love the random conversations you get into with random people when you're on a bike (which can be good and bad).
The second half of 421 kind of blew though, and by the time I hit Indy I just wanted to get home, and realized I needed to get home in time to pick up my leathers before Alexa (http://www.spyderleatherworks.com - she fucking rocks. Seriously, she's the bee's knees, and she's got a super hot daughter that races in CCS. If you need leathers worked on, send them to her.) headed out of town.
Anyway, much love and thanks to the Vocaire's for the lodging, pancakes, and salsa, and to T for trailering the Hawk down for me. I was really glad to get to ride it a little bit there. I dunno, I'm happy doing a couple cooler runs and then just socializing, although yeah, moving the location and hitting less crowded roads would be cool too. I'm super happy Babs was able to make it, and if Richard, Harmony, and T all end up in Charlotte in a couple years Keener, y'all will have a lot more of like minded souls in the neighborhood.
I'm off of Monsters now, and back into the Hawk. Maybe it's all the track time spent on one, but it just feels... right. I mean, the Monster was super fun and all, and I'd still think about robbing a laundromat to buy the S4 when Richard gets it, (uh, I still want to talk you into trading for the 325 and some cash) but I want to keep the Hawk. So, the SleeperHawk project begins.
posted by 2ndaryHighway | 10:10 AM
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