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15 hours ago
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Monday, February 12, 2007
Slowwwww
It has been a very slow couple of weeks for riding. I think I have gone soft. Two years ago (the rainiest year in 100 years for Cali) I didn't have a car and I road rain (mostly rain) and shine. Freezing and sweating. I put 20k miles on my motorcycle that year.
I have now gone soft. If the morning isn't warmer than 55* in the morning, I just don't want to ride! I have also turned somewhat girlier in that I don't want to have to pack a nice set of clothes to change into once I get to work. I also like having my hair nice and done in the morning, not always wearing a braid. I also have put on a few pounds, and my leather chaps are right at the point where they are almost uncomfortably to tight. No chaps means colder riding, and as I have already explained, I'm soft.
Superbowl Sunday was the last I road. I needed some specialty yarn and road a total of 50 miles just hitting yarn shops. Then I just cruised as the day was SOOOOO nice! It was warm, but not hot. Perfect weather for a light leather jacket, or even just a t-shirt (if you are so inclined). Just the kind of day when you feel like you can just ride forever.
So not a lot of riding = not a log of riding posts. It has also been on-and-off rainy for the past week. Storm clouds have been a threatin'.
I am determined to make up for this lack of riding, as soon as it warms up and clears up!!!
In other motor related news, I was in an accident Tuesday night. I am perfectly fine, but my car is dinged up. Someone changed lanes into me as we were getting onto the freeway. Working on getting it repaired. Just want you all to be careful out there!
I have now gone soft. If the morning isn't warmer than 55* in the morning, I just don't want to ride! I have also turned somewhat girlier in that I don't want to have to pack a nice set of clothes to change into once I get to work. I also like having my hair nice and done in the morning, not always wearing a braid. I also have put on a few pounds, and my leather chaps are right at the point where they are almost uncomfortably to tight. No chaps means colder riding, and as I have already explained, I'm soft.
Superbowl Sunday was the last I road. I needed some specialty yarn and road a total of 50 miles just hitting yarn shops. Then I just cruised as the day was SOOOOO nice! It was warm, but not hot. Perfect weather for a light leather jacket, or even just a t-shirt (if you are so inclined). Just the kind of day when you feel like you can just ride forever.
So not a lot of riding = not a log of riding posts. It has also been on-and-off rainy for the past week. Storm clouds have been a threatin'.
I am determined to make up for this lack of riding, as soon as it warms up and clears up!!!
In other motor related news, I was in an accident Tuesday night. I am perfectly fine, but my car is dinged up. Someone changed lanes into me as we were getting onto the freeway. Working on getting it repaired. Just want you all to be careful out there!
Friday, January 26, 2007
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Car Pool Lane
I love the carpool lane. I feel just the tiniest bit safer having those four solid yellow lines separating me from traffic. I really like it when there are two yellow lines, four feet of pavement, and another two yellow lines. That gives me almost a five foot barrier between me and other traffic.
One thing I don't like about the car pool lane are those *&#$ing idiots that jump over the four yellow lines into or out of the carpool lane. DON'T DO THAT!!! You want to piss off a motorcycle person, do that right in front of them. Here you are riding along and suddenly there is a CAR PULLING IN FRONT OF YOU! There isn't a lot of wiggle room in the carpool lane either. My big problem is that I try to leave a bit more stopping distance when in the carpool lane, and people desperate to get in take that extra room as an invitation to jump the lines and get in front of me.
Another problem I have is solo riders in the carpool lane. I'm not talking about Hybrids, I mean those that don't have permission to be in there at all and are to save time. In my head, if you are willing to risk a $341 fine to get somewhere faster, what other laws are you willing to break to get there faster? Multi-task by talking on the phone? Change lanes without signaling? CUTTING OVER THE FOUR YELLOW LINES TO AVOID MISSING YOUR EXIT?
I'm done. I have just seen and had too many close calls these past few months with people illegally entering, exiting, or riding in the carpool lanes.
One thing I don't like about the car pool lane are those *&#$ing idiots that jump over the four yellow lines into or out of the carpool lane. DON'T DO THAT!!! You want to piss off a motorcycle person, do that right in front of them. Here you are riding along and suddenly there is a CAR PULLING IN FRONT OF YOU! There isn't a lot of wiggle room in the carpool lane either. My big problem is that I try to leave a bit more stopping distance when in the carpool lane, and people desperate to get in take that extra room as an invitation to jump the lines and get in front of me.
Another problem I have is solo riders in the carpool lane. I'm not talking about Hybrids, I mean those that don't have permission to be in there at all and are to save time. In my head, if you are willing to risk a $341 fine to get somewhere faster, what other laws are you willing to break to get there faster? Multi-task by talking on the phone? Change lanes without signaling? CUTTING OVER THE FOUR YELLOW LINES TO AVOID MISSING YOUR EXIT?
I'm done. I have just seen and had too many close calls these past few months with people illegally entering, exiting, or riding in the carpool lanes.
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Easy Rider Show
What a wonderful show! I decided to go on Sunday with S & T. T and I met up with S just off the 55 Freeway, then we jumped onto the 91 to the 57 to the 10. Traffic wasn't bad, the wind died down a bit and was going easy on us.
Oh, I did smell the Chino fire when I was on the 55, and my eyes were burning a little from the smoke. Didn't smell it on the 57/60 interchange, which I found strange.
Anyway, got to the parking area ($8 a bike this year!) and had to go through the metal detectors. I of course set it off and this young kid turned red when he saw he would have to wand me. The wand kept going off around my boob area, and I could see the kid turning more and more red. He asked if I had any metal, and I said just in my bra. This kids face was about to explode! "You know," I said, "my underwire?" He turned away and I grabbed my vest and wallet. The guys in line behind me were just laughing!
The show was really good this year. My friend Tay (www.tarrera.com) was there with the Custom Company he helped on Biker Buildoff, Super Co Customs. He showed me a piece Brad Pitt had commissioned, and it was looking really good. Tay said ever since he did those pieces for Biker Build-off back in August, he got 10,000 hits on his website that evening, and now has a 6 month waiting list. That guy is busy!
I did find a patch, finally. All the "girly" patches are either pink or a butterfly or Harley branded. The patch I found is black with white tribal swishes and a white rose in the middle. I got a big one to put in the center of my vest. I'll take a pic tonight and post it tomorrow.
Funny story on the patch. I had laid out my vest to try the different patches on it. When I found the one I want, I asked the lady how much. She turned to the board and said $25. I counted my money and told her I had $24. I didn't think she even heard me. She pulled out this big thing of glue and started coating the back of the patch to center it on my vest. She laid it down on the vest and started moving it around, then stopped and looked up at me. She asked, "You were kidding about the $24, right?" Wrong time to ask lady! "No", I said. "You can't, like, borrow a dollar?" I looked around me and both T and S had disappeared, probably for food. "From who?" I asked. She looked down at the temporarily glued down patch. I then overheard the other lady in the booth telling a customer something like sewing is an additional $5. I then said I would just take the patch and not bother with sewing. The lady still looked horrified, and said she had to ask her manager. I guess she got the okay to sew it on for $4 instead of $5 because she took my money and sewed on the patch. Just the look on her face when I didn't have the extra dollar was great!
I know guys are probably board at this point. Koodos to you if you have stuck with me this far, you will be rewarded. Here are pics from the show. Sorry guys, I missed taking a pic of the girl that was flashing her panties. I know, I know, maybe next time.
He made me take a picture of the side where it said Honda.
Enjoy! Keep the tires warm and the engine hot.
Oh, I did smell the Chino fire when I was on the 55, and my eyes were burning a little from the smoke. Didn't smell it on the 57/60 interchange, which I found strange.
Anyway, got to the parking area ($8 a bike this year!) and had to go through the metal detectors. I of course set it off and this young kid turned red when he saw he would have to wand me. The wand kept going off around my boob area, and I could see the kid turning more and more red. He asked if I had any metal, and I said just in my bra. This kids face was about to explode! "You know," I said, "my underwire?" He turned away and I grabbed my vest and wallet. The guys in line behind me were just laughing!
The show was really good this year. My friend Tay (www.tarrera.com) was there with the Custom Company he helped on Biker Buildoff, Super Co Customs. He showed me a piece Brad Pitt had commissioned, and it was looking really good. Tay said ever since he did those pieces for Biker Build-off back in August, he got 10,000 hits on his website that evening, and now has a 6 month waiting list. That guy is busy!
I did find a patch, finally. All the "girly" patches are either pink or a butterfly or Harley branded. The patch I found is black with white tribal swishes and a white rose in the middle. I got a big one to put in the center of my vest. I'll take a pic tonight and post it tomorrow.
Funny story on the patch. I had laid out my vest to try the different patches on it. When I found the one I want, I asked the lady how much. She turned to the board and said $25. I counted my money and told her I had $24. I didn't think she even heard me. She pulled out this big thing of glue and started coating the back of the patch to center it on my vest. She laid it down on the vest and started moving it around, then stopped and looked up at me. She asked, "You were kidding about the $24, right?" Wrong time to ask lady! "No", I said. "You can't, like, borrow a dollar?" I looked around me and both T and S had disappeared, probably for food. "From who?" I asked. She looked down at the temporarily glued down patch. I then overheard the other lady in the booth telling a customer something like sewing is an additional $5. I then said I would just take the patch and not bother with sewing. The lady still looked horrified, and said she had to ask her manager. I guess she got the okay to sew it on for $4 instead of $5 because she took my money and sewed on the patch. Just the look on her face when I didn't have the extra dollar was great!
I know guys are probably board at this point. Koodos to you if you have stuck with me this far, you will be rewarded. Here are pics from the show. Sorry guys, I missed taking a pic of the girl that was flashing her panties. I know, I know, maybe next time.
Very cool Woody. The forks had wood sleeves on them, and the rest of the wood is wood paneling. I loved the look of this bike.
I just love the look of this bike. The mat black with red and white accents, and the whitewall tires. Even the pinup girl on the side and the pinstriping.
A custom design by Chica of Chica Customs. T couldn't believe this was a Honda VTX 1300, his motorcycle.
He made me take a picture of the side where it said Honda.
Here is a copper motorcycle Tay did some engraving on. I love the color and simplicity of the tank. Not the comfiest looking ride.
And last, and by no means least, pics of Harleys leaking oil in the parking lot. There were several others, but I ran out of room on my memory stick.
Enjoy! Keep the tires warm and the engine hot.
Friday, January 05, 2007
More Warrior stuff
I was at Mission Motorsport last night. My tires are bald beyond bald and then needed replacing like a year ago. My uncles both chipped in and got me new tires for x-mas. I road over last night to get them installed.
That is a quick story. All day it had been threatening to rain. Predictions we fluctuating from a 10% chance to a 40% chance. All day, no rain.
So I get home and rush inside to change into motorcycle gear to take my bike over to Mission. As I am walking back out outside I noticed a slight drizzle, not even a drizzle, more like little tiny mist-lettes that had escaped. I pulled out my bike and went across the street for some gas. When I pulled out from under the canopy at the gas station, the drizzle was still light, but there was just enough to coat everything in wet.
I road down Alicia to jump on the freeway. The entrance is a long sweeping curve, and it was slick with rain and oil. I was leaning into the curve doing about 40, and started to feel my back tire slip out from under me. I gently, oh so gently grasped the brake as I slightly straightened up. I felt the tire grasp so I leaned over again. Started slipping. I had to drift over into the other lane as I widened my turn. I actually went a foot into the shoulder before I could straighten up out of the curve. SCARY SCARY SCARY! My heart was in my throat and my knees were shaking against my gas tank. I probably did only 50 on the freeway until my exit, and took all my turns on the surface streets in 1st gear. Thankfully I made it to Mission without going down.
So while at Mission I took a gander around at all the pretty machines. And there it was. A 2006 Warrior, blue with the silver flames that hadn't sold yet. It was just sitting there, gleaming. There was a sign stuck to the headlight. SALE $9,999!
Nu, uhu! No way!!!
It was so hard to leave that sight. Poor Alexia was sitting out in the parking lot awaiting tires and getting wet and I am dreaming and drooling over another bike. It's not her fault she was designed with a chain drive and that is the biggest reason that I can not love her as completely as I would like.
Sigh. I will have to work extra hard at cutting out all the extra spending fat this year and save all my nickels and dimes (as penny's appear to be losing favor) and hope to get this bike next year.
Hmmmmm. Maybe LA Cyclesports can beat that price. I'll have to go check!
Bye!
That is a quick story. All day it had been threatening to rain. Predictions we fluctuating from a 10% chance to a 40% chance. All day, no rain.
So I get home and rush inside to change into motorcycle gear to take my bike over to Mission. As I am walking back out outside I noticed a slight drizzle, not even a drizzle, more like little tiny mist-lettes that had escaped. I pulled out my bike and went across the street for some gas. When I pulled out from under the canopy at the gas station, the drizzle was still light, but there was just enough to coat everything in wet.
I road down Alicia to jump on the freeway. The entrance is a long sweeping curve, and it was slick with rain and oil. I was leaning into the curve doing about 40, and started to feel my back tire slip out from under me. I gently, oh so gently grasped the brake as I slightly straightened up. I felt the tire grasp so I leaned over again. Started slipping. I had to drift over into the other lane as I widened my turn. I actually went a foot into the shoulder before I could straighten up out of the curve. SCARY SCARY SCARY! My heart was in my throat and my knees were shaking against my gas tank. I probably did only 50 on the freeway until my exit, and took all my turns on the surface streets in 1st gear. Thankfully I made it to Mission without going down.
So while at Mission I took a gander around at all the pretty machines. And there it was. A 2006 Warrior, blue with the silver flames that hadn't sold yet. It was just sitting there, gleaming. There was a sign stuck to the headlight. SALE $9,999!
Nu, uhu! No way!!!
It was so hard to leave that sight. Poor Alexia was sitting out in the parking lot awaiting tires and getting wet and I am dreaming and drooling over another bike. It's not her fault she was designed with a chain drive and that is the biggest reason that I can not love her as completely as I would like.
Sigh. I will have to work extra hard at cutting out all the extra spending fat this year and save all my nickels and dimes (as penny's appear to be losing favor) and hope to get this bike next year.
Hmmmmm. Maybe LA Cyclesports can beat that price. I'll have to go check!
Bye!
Thursday, January 04, 2007
More Easy Rider
Just found out my friend Tay (Terrera) will be at the Pomona show.
You can check out his work here:
www.Terrera .com
I met him in a Jewelry class I took at Saddleback College. I knew he was good, I just didn't realize how good, or how well known until I went to his Open House for his new studio in August '06. Excellent open house, bad day to have it. I think it was the hottest day of the year in Orange County, something like 106*F. Even at the ocean it was still HOT! Tay had to push back the open house by several hours until evening so people wouldn't spontaneously combust from the heat.
Someone else who will be there is Pete "HOT DOG" Finlan. The guy that painted my helmet last year. Which reminds me, I never posted pictures of my helmet. BAD ANGI! Well I will have to do that right quick, as soon as I figure out why my home computer monitor is not displaying a picture anymore. Anyone know anything about video cards?
You can check out his work here:
www.Terrera .com
I met him in a Jewelry class I took at Saddleback College. I knew he was good, I just didn't realize how good, or how well known until I went to his Open House for his new studio in August '06. Excellent open house, bad day to have it. I think it was the hottest day of the year in Orange County, something like 106*F. Even at the ocean it was still HOT! Tay had to push back the open house by several hours until evening so people wouldn't spontaneously combust from the heat.
Someone else who will be there is Pete "HOT DOG" Finlan. The guy that painted my helmet last year. Which reminds me, I never posted pictures of my helmet. BAD ANGI! Well I will have to do that right quick, as soon as I figure out why my home computer monitor is not displaying a picture anymore. Anyone know anything about video cards?
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Easy Rider, Easy Rider
http://www.easyridersevents.com/
I am very excited to go. I have no money this year to buy any goodies, but I like this show because of all the beautiful custom bikes, all the custom parts you can get for your ride, and all the lovely leathers, patches, and other gear you can get.
I might get a few bucks from my stash and get a patch or two. I would love to have a jacket or vest completly covered in patches. My only complaint is that any girly patches are usually pink or harley branded. Ugh!
I am very excited to go. I have no money this year to buy any goodies, but I like this show because of all the beautiful custom bikes, all the custom parts you can get for your ride, and all the lovely leathers, patches, and other gear you can get.
I might get a few bucks from my stash and get a patch or two. I would love to have a jacket or vest completly covered in patches. My only complaint is that any girly patches are usually pink or harley branded. Ugh!
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