| Author | Message | ||
     Zane |
"you'll find it between shit and syphilis." Best laugh I've gotten in a week.... | ||
| 86129squids |
I managed to finagle New Year's Day off, might do a NYD ride. It'd be good for my soul and spirits, fo sho. My poor old Beemer needs to get out and about for a while... gotta beat this head cold beforehand, though. REAL close to pulling the trigger on another beater to get around, either Vern's son's Tahoe or a local Nissan hardbody, plus I'm starting a new job, after training, by the middle of next month. This is the time of year to be mindful of the lessons past, and the opportunities coming. Have a safe and happy New Year, youn's. | ||
| Ourdee |
Head cold? I picked up $163.12 in meds today. this one bit me Friday before Christmas. I finally gave up on home remedies today, I'm worn out. Pharmacist said it looks like I'll be getting some sleep. That's fine as long as I wake up without the sickness. So, if my posts are loopy this week, tell me to go back to bed. | ||
| 1313 |
Crusty For The Win!  | ||
| Crusty |
Headlines It snowed last night. We got a hair over an inch. I’ll go out and spread some salt on the driveway in a little while. I bought my ticket for the Daytona TT. I’m in Row 349 Seat 15. They’re going to let me camp in the infield on both Wednesday and Thursday nights for free. Death comes in threes. An old friend, Jack Demarest, died unexpectedly on the 26th. Then Tina, a woman who belonged to the Fitchburg Noontime AA meeting picked up after having a year of being clean and sober. She died of an overdose. Then Susan, a close acquaintance of a friend of mine, died from acute alcoholism a couple of days ago. Alcoholism really sucks. Unless treated,it destroys the alcoholic and ruins the lives of everybody who cares for them. The forecast temperatures for New Year’s Day keep dropping. This morning, both Intellicast and Channel 12 are predicting a high temp of 14º F (-10º C). It won’t be my coldest New Year’s Day ride, but it’ll be colder than all but one. Now, all I have to do is figure out a destination. I don’t think it’ll be a long ride this year. I read a great line this morning. “Media bias. Everyone loses when the truth is buried.” Ain’t that the truth. It doesn’t matter if the media is biased to the left (like CNN) or the right (like Fox News); we’re the poor suckers who are taking it up the old chocolate whiz way. I bet that William Randolf Hurst isn’t just turning in his grave, he’s known by his cohorts as “Whirlagig Bill” Spring is coming! The Winter Solstice was on December 21st. The days are getting longer. I’m looking forward to nicer weather and rides for pleasure. (Message edited by Crusty on December 30, 2017) | ||
| Ourdee |
I'm sorry for your loss. | ||
| Tootal |
Sorry to hear about your friends. We're at that age unfortunately. I remember when I needed a suit for weddings, now it's for funerals. | ||
| Pwnzor |
John, we're sorry for the loss of your friends, please know you are in our prayers each day. Celebrate the life, while you mourn the death. Dedicate your New Year's Day ride to them. My pegs went down when my brother died, and I've never put them back up. | ||
| 86129squids |
What Matthew said. Here's what my little desk calendar had to say yesterday... "In the time of your life, live- so that in that wondrous time you shall not add to the misery and sorrow of the world, but shall smile to the infinite delight and mystery of it." William Saroyan I've missed a few years having that neat Page-A-Day on my desk, guess I better go ahead and hit up Amazon for 2018. Much as I'd love a New Year's Day ride, the temps here will be well below freezing if not in the teens, and I'm fighting one hell of a head/chest cold. Dangit. Everyone, have a safe and happy New Year's Eve tonite! | ||
| Zac4mac |
I have been lucky to have had two friends that were closer than brothers. That are gone now, but never forgotten. In fact, they never say no to a ride anymore...  Happy New Year to all youns Z | ||
| Crusty |
New Year’s Day, 2018 Well; it’s late afternoon on New Year’s Day. I went out for my annual ride on the Roadster and the temp matched the coldest I’ve had to deal with on New Year’s Day on a motorcycle. That was in 2009 and I was riding my 2008 XB12XT. It was 10º F (-12º C) when I set out. The big difference is that in ’09, I rode over 50 miles, while today, I only rode about 7 miles, total. I guess I’m getting softer as I get older. I saw one other bike while I was out. It was a guy on a Harley Dresser, and he was as bundled up as I was, and we both waved to each other. I’ve noticed that when the temperatures fall below freezing, everybody waves, regardless of the make or model bike they’re on. I was thinking about going someplace interesting, but I don’t know the area well enough. Dondi had suggested going to the Mushroom House and taking a picture of the bike there, but it’s too far away in temperatures like we’re having. Plus, when I did the ride in ’09, I went to take a picture, and the cold killed the camera. I’m kind of hesitant about bringing my camera out in this weather. When I moved to Cincinnati, I thought I was moving to a warmer climate. I mean, the average Daily high for January 1 is 39º F (4º C). Today, I think it might have reached 14º F (-10º C). Well; maybe next year, the temp will be 25º above average. Then it would be my warmest New Year’s Day ride. Or, better yet, maybe I’ll be back in Australia with a bike to ride. Then I’ll really set a mark for my warmest ride. In any event, I got my ride in for this year. Now I’m going to focus on riding to Daytona for the TT in March. That’ll be sweet (unless the weather turns to shit…). | ||
| Ourdee |
I shoveled the drive for today's ride so that I could make it back up. Then got a call that the Mother-n-Law needed some electric heaters. So, I threw a couple in the Jeep and ran them down there. That is when I found out all the roads around me were white and packed down. Doesn't make any sense to risk Lil Red on what would turn out to be less than a mile long run. I wussed out. I did get to have my son home for Christmas. Took him to the airport Sunday. | ||
| Damnut |
Got me New Years day ride in this year and it was my coldest ride to date. Did about 25 miles running some errands. Didn't see any other motorcycles out there and the 3 guys that said they would go with me wussed out last minute. (Side note, Check out the new black bits on my SX)   | ||
| Hootowl |
Your bike appears to have alerted on something  | ||
| Ourdee |
 | ||
| Damnut |
Had to point them up to get it out of the garage. I had my mother-in-law's car in there on 4 jack stands for a new starter so that wasn't going anywhere. It was a really tight squeeze between the garage door pillar and her rear quarter but I got her out with about a quarter inch to spare on each side. | ||
| Ourdee |
I lived with my Grandparents in the 11th grade. Grandma shared a one car garage with me and my bike during the winter. It was always a tight squeeze. She always did more than she had to. | ||
| Crusty |
Babbling In The Cold It’s hard to write about motorcycling when it’s so cold that just going to the supermarket is a major event. I only go out on the bike when I have to in weather like this. There is good news on the horizon, though. I just looked at the extended forecast and the temperatures are going to rise to average for this time of year after this weekend. That’s 38-39º F (3.3º C). After the past few days, that’ll seem almost tropical. I really want to hit the quarter car wash; there’s salt on the bike. I don’t want to do that until the temps go up, though. I once hit the car wash with my old FLHS and water got in both the choke and the throttle cables and when I went to ride it the next day, I had one hell of a time getting the bike to start. Once I got it started, I had to let it sit and idle for a long while until the heat from the engine melted the ice in the throttle cables. I’m really looking forward to the Daytona TT. I hope the weather in Florida is cooperative. Some years, it’s like paradise and some years it’s miserable. I’m hoping for nice. I remember one year, I was sitting in the stands of the Short Track wearing all my riding gear (except the helmet) because it was so cold. Another year, I was sitting in those same stands watching practice in the afternoon in a T-shirt and sweating. I’m going to have to get another sleeping pad. one of the two valves on my present pad has gotten so bad that I’m afraid to open it, ‘cause I don’t know if I’ll be able to get it to close. I’ll probably get another of the same pad; a 3 1/2” thick REI self inflating pad. Other than the one bad valve, it’s been a really good item. It’s put up with a lot of abuse, and it’s pretty comfortable. Maybe this year, I should throw that housewarming party that got put off so I could have a camera run up into places that cameras should never have to go. It would be fun to get a bunch of friends together at Chez Crusty. Being the kind of weirdo that I am, I’d invite people from the different forums that I frequent and it would be interesting to see how they all mix. Jay Hawley, who started the American Thunderbike Club, once had some Moto Guzzi people come to one of the monthly gatherings at his house in Princeton, Massachusetts. We all got along fabulously. I remember talking with a guy who had a Rosso Mandello and really admiring his beautiful bike, while he was checking out my S3-T. Guzzi people are a lot like Buell people in a lot of ways. Then again, there are Sportster people who love Buells, and some of them build some pretty high performing pushrod engines. And everybody loves motorcycles (among the people I’d invite). I have a charcoal grill, and we could burn a few Delmonicos for dinner.Or, if I’m broke, there’s always Hot dogs and Burgers. I have an interesting day trip planned over some beautiful roads that will highlight some of the neater places that are within a couple of hours. Maybe in July… I’ll have to think about it some more. | ||
| Ratbuell |
I honestly wouldn't sweat the salt; it won't hurt anything on these bikes. Plastic bodywork; powdercoated aluminum alloy metals; there's nothing to deteriorate or rust. It'll be ugly...but nothing will suffer other than your sense of style  I've ridden my Uly in salt and snow for years and - honestly - have YET to wash that motorcycle. That's what riding in the rain is for. | ||
| Crusty |
Just a quick addendum; I just bought my ticket for the Atlanta Short Track race on April 7. Now, I just have to find a campground close to the track (They don't allow camping). | ||
| Tootal |
Except Crusty rides a Sportster. Your party sounds like one of mine back in the 90's. I was VP of the local BMW car club so I had the yuppies along with guys from work and then the guys from ABATE, mostly HD riders. It was an interesting evening. Our club prez was in commercial real estate. He used to wash and wax his inner fender wells! My shop steward and mentor in the die shop was Big Bill. He was 6'6" and 280 lbs. The strongest man I've ever met. Oh, did I mention he was a black man? The only black man at the party. So the club prez walked up to Bill and said, "you must be Bill." Bill smiles and says, "what was your first clue?" Of course the prez, being in sales, says, "cause your so big!" Bill busted out laughing! Then there was Pibb. He was a mechanic for a company that sent him all over the U.S. He didn't like flying so he had a trailer, full of tools, behind his old shovelhead Harley. He rode to wherever the job was. At the party he was a little toasted yet rode my brothers unicycle all over the back yard. Definitely cheap entertainment! That's just one person from each group that sticks out in my memory. In the end it was a great time and everybody got along great. Good people come in many forms! | ||
| Ratbuell |
ah, yes. Sorry. I looked at the RX photo and didn't read who posted it... | ||
| Crusty |
Moving right along, I found a free campground about a half hour northwest of the track for the Atlanta Short Track. It's the Pine Log Mountain Wildlife Management Area. It looks like just a place to set up the tent for free without even drinking water available. Here's a link that describes it: https://freecampsites.net/#!111986&query=sitedetails There's also an Army Corps of Engineers campground that's closer to the track. It's the Payne Campground on Allatoona Lake. It has all the amenities; water, bathrooms and showers. COE campgrounds are nearly always first rate, but they're not free. In this case, they want $22.00/night. Here's the link to the COE site: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/map_of_Payne_Ca mpground_Allatoona_Lake/r/campgroundMap.do?contrac tCode=NRSO&parkId=71343&selectedSiteRb=82815 If it wasn't so far from the track, I'd just go over to TWoS and spend the night there. Actually, I think I might just do that anyhow. I really like Two Wheels of Suches. It's my favorite campground. | ||
| Ourdee |
Budget for Que. | ||
| Pwnzor |
John, Our home will always be open to you, even if you just want to stop over for a night. Hot meal, hot shower, friendly dogs. Hell, maybe I'll dig the bike out of the garage and ride it somewhere! | ||
| Buellish |
John,if you don't stay with Matthew or me there are several campgrounds near the track. http://www.allatoonalake.org/Camping/lake_allatoon a_camping_map.html | ||
| Crusty |
Today's Pertinent Thought I hate Colonoscopies. | ||
| Ourdee |
What are you doing? Reading my mind? I just finished the first 32 ounces of MiraLAX® with 4 little pills. About an hour till I start on the other 32 ounces and 2 more pills. Supper will be lime jello. First thing in the morning..........hate hate hate. | ||
| Etennuly |
 you guys must be some kind of ass holes!! BTDT. Is it better to be you? Over night flush and a few hours of discomfort, or the Dr who has six more ass holes lined up to peer into in the next couple of hours? I only hope they chose this occupation for the money. But I do appreciate that they do what they do. | ||
| Buellish |
A colonoscopy made me the man I am today!  |
