Author Topic: How I spent my riding season (Read 181 times)

badinfluence63 · « **on:** December 24, 2011, 10:38:14 PM »

2011 came and went. I got a couple rides in early May. First week of May Karen and I went to Pigeon Forge w/ the sidecar bike. Last week of May we rode to Marble Falls,AR on the purple Ultra. And then this past November we took the sidecar bike to Kill Devil Kill,NC. That was my year. It was sucky in that the majority of the long rides were over early in the season but I inadvertantly dodged the Irene deal and I usually ride mostly in August.

Visiting Grave Digger Museum,Wright Brothers NAt'l park,NC Zoo, Dollywood,. Heres a few photos.

badinfluence63 · « **Reply #1 on:** December 24, 2011, 11:26:24 PM »

RonK · « **Reply #2 on:** December 25, 2011, 10:59:02 AM »

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Thanks for the pictures. That's a cool sidecar.

RonK

67fire · « **Reply #3 on:** December 25, 2011, 01:08:35 PM »

Bad, it's been about 30 years since I was last at Kitty Hawk, got any pictures of the tiny hill that they flew from?

Eric

Oldschool · « **Reply #4 on:** December 25, 2011, 01:13:09 PM »

Looks like you got some good riding in. How does that bike handle with that sidecar?

badinfluence63 · « **Reply #5 on:** December 25, 2011, 09:37:23 PM »

Quote from: 67fire on December 25, 2011, 01:08:35 PM

Bad, it's been about 30 years since I was last at Kitty Hawk, got any pictures of the tiny hill that they flew from?

Eric

Well I got a picture from the top of the hill right now and in a couple days I can post one from the bottom looking up:

badinfluence63 · « **Reply #6 on:** December 25, 2011, 09:39:14 PM »

Quote from: RonK on December 25, 2011, 10:59:02 AM

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Thanks for the pictures. That's a cool sidecar.

RonK

Hey RonK how you doing? How was your season? Everyone safe and hunkered down for the winter?

badinfluence63 · « **Reply #7 on:** December 25, 2011, 10:00:45 PM »

Quote from: oldschool on December 25, 2011, 01:13:09 PM

Looks like you got some good riding in. How does that bike handle with that sidecar?

Good now that I have 4 years experience on it. Always got to be alert except on long straight aways.

Speaking of long straight aways... I got to tell you a little story..on the way out to Kill Devil Hills and on the last stretch of I-64 East you're taken over this very long and barren stretch, seemed like 30+miles, called Alligator Alley. On both sides of the narrow 2 lane road...one lane going east and the other going west the swamp and wetlands on both sides come up to about 10 foot from the roadway and full of you guessed it...Alligators.

Now just before entering the Alley heading east there was a Shell station but I chose not to fill up because I thoughtand according to my calculations Kill Devils hills was just around the bend...I focked up. I get about 6-7 miles into Aligator Alley and my reserve light comes on. I don't know how many miles I have on reserve. I was surprised to see the light on at only 100 miles, I thought I had up to 135-140 miles before the light would come on.

I didn't start s**tting bricks until I'm another 10 miles into AA and no end it sight. I was starting to feel scared. Alligator alley is just one long desolet stretch heading east and one long desolet stretch heading west and I had no idea how much further I had to go or how much gas I had left. Long story short right when panic mode was being surpressed and I was waiting for the inevitable sputter of a dying motor I spot the end of the AA stretch and a little mom and pop no nname beater gas station..I was so happy and relieved. It took 4.75 gallons...whoo weee,lol. There would be no snax for the gators that day,lol.

RonK · « **Reply #8 on:** January 22, 2012, 10:30:22 PM »

Quote from: badinfluence63 on December 25, 2011, 09:39:14 PM

Hey RonK how you doing? How was your season? Everyone safe and hunkered down for the winter?

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Sorry, I didn't see your question. A lot of the summer was ATV riding or safety classes. I only got about 10,000 miles this year on my bike. Seems like I'm starting to enjoy NOT doing anything more and more.

RonK

badinfluence63 · « **Reply #9 on:** January 23, 2012, 01:26:16 AM »

Quote from: RonK on January 22, 2012, 10:30:22 PM

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Sorry, I didn't see your question. A lot of the summer was ATV riding or safety classes. I only got about 10,000 miles this year on my bike. Seems like I'm starting to enjoy NOT doing anything more and more.

RonK

No worries. Forums are sometimes a merry go round...you may miss the brass ring on the 2nd,3rd or even 4th pass but eventually you grab it,lol.

10,000 miles ain't to shabby commander. Whats you basic riding MO(modis operandi)? I only ask because some of my friends and who are my age and have been riding as long as I have but have been content with tooling around say NYC on there choppers with occasional day jaunts to like Rendezvous or Laconia and have yet to spend even a cuople days on the road never mind a couple weeks on the road.

I personally and from experience reccomend taking at least 1 week or more a year on the road on ones motorcycle. Why? Every day is an adventure. Once you get a taste you'll want more.

Camping has always been espoused as being the way to meet people while on the road but I have found that to be true in either the hotel bar of a local watering hole. Pick your poison. And the people you meet when you stop for what ever reason. There is still a modicum of comaraderie to be found on the road. There is also to many reasons to be strategically safe and proactive of being aware constantly of you're surroundings. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see when things are starting to feel wrong.

Maybe its the times I chose to be on the road for a couple weeks(Spring and Fall) but I am disapointed with the low numbers of bikes I see when on the road. I remember on one recent 3 week ride that by time we'd gotten to Zanesville from New Hampshire there had been sparse bikes on the road. Once we'd checked into the hotel, got settled in and started to look for a restaurant nearby we saw tons and tons of bikes in and around town. I was thinking thats what the majority of bike owners must do today...ride w/in the confines of there local stomping grounds. Better then not riding at all but I can assure everyone that does that, they are missing out on better times being on the road and seeing our great country and some of its fine people.

Hope you get a second wind.

kschilk · « **Reply #10 on:** January 25, 2012, 09:16:59 PM »

On the first day of my riding season, I got up...then I got dressed....then I went downtown and hung out in front of the drug store.

On the second day of my riding season, I got up...then I got dressed....then I went downtown and hung out in front of the drug store.

On the third day of my riding season, I got up...then I got dressed....then I went downtown and hung out in front of the drug store.

On the fourth day of my riding season, I got up...then I got dressed....then I went downtown and hung out in front of the drug store.

On the fifth day of my riding season, I got up...then I got dressed....then I went downtown and hung out in front of the drug store.

On the sixth day of my riding season, I got up...then I got dressed....then I went downtown and hung out in front of the drug store.

On the seventh day of my riding season, I got up...then I got dressed....then I went downtown and hung out in front of the drug store...

RonK · « **Reply #11 on:** January 25, 2012, 11:33:49 PM »

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Most of my rides are 100-200 milers near my home in CO or the r.v. park I stay at in AZ. Several times per month, more in the summer, I make some 250-395 milers in the varied country in CO. Those are the ones that vary from high mountain views and forests, to pastures nestled in wide canyons to following deep colorful rivers on winding two lane roads. Actually, most of my riding is on two lane. I only go freeway when in a real hurry or when no other choice.

No long trip this last summer, but this one coming, or next for sure, will be a trip up to New England to visit relatives. I haven't been that way for 35 years. It's funny, but the idea of going somewhere long doesn't have appeal now unless I imagine doing it on a bike. I just feel comfortable on a bike.

RonK

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