Random Thoughts

Man, half way down the canyon this morning I realized I forgot a huge thing yesterday.   Hell, maybe the the most important on the list.   Sunglasses.   What was I thinking?

You got a pair that you love?   The pair I wear I’ve had 3 pairs of over the last several years.   Only lost one pair, and the others just got too scratched up to see through so I replaced em.   I don’t know the name of em, but when I see em in the dealership I snatch up a spare pair if I’ve got the money.

They have strong hinges and I’ve never had to do that thing where I stick a toothpick in where the screw worked out to keep em going.   The shade is just right – not too dark and not too light.   They’re tall enough they deflect a lot of wind.    I hope I can keep finding pairs of these over the years.

For clears, I got some ones I really like for fathers day.   Transitional lenses, and although not dark enough for my taste during the day, they’re killer at night.   By panoptyx, before they got bought out by 7eye:

I have terrible night vision.   I don’t know why, but cheap clears at night just fuck with my head.   Like I can’t process the info thats getting thrown at me.   Plus, to be honest I don’t want to die at night because I didnt see something.   Your reaction time is so much shorter at night, so I’ll always stick with more expensive clears than regular glasses.    These have the eye cups which are nice when you take the windshield off.    I don’t get watery eyes so bad and have to stop from the wind.    Ive had these for a few years, and they’re solid.    Hats off to whoever you are now….   I like how you make glasses.

I really want a third pair.   For rain.   I’ve been eyeing those pugz goggles you see in Maverik’s and 7-11’s.    They’re cheap, but I gotta think for rain glasses they’d be the best investment in the world.   maybe I’ll get a pair for 13 bucks and  have my kids hit me with the garden hose as I run up and down the street.   They’d love that.     Thats real life beta testing yah?    Ya gotta think it’d work.

I have a few other pairs in my little hutch in the garage I keep my bike treasures.    I got old maps in there, bungee cords of varying sizes, spare sunglass cases, I think a few toothbrushes and tools, and 2 more pairs of sunglasses that somehow I horse traded over the years with other bikers.    One of em are expensive Vuarnet’s with these deep ass eye cups.  I don’t know where he got them, but the lenses are great and you could eat a small bowl of cereal out of those eye cups.   Great in the wind.   Maybe good in the rain.    I should give those a second try, maybe tomorrow.    I also got a cheap pair that  I keep when I missplace my good ones, and they’ll always be there when I get too impatient to keep looking and I just wanna get the bike out of the garage.

I think tomorrow I’ll talk about long ride saddle bag must-have’s.     Most of what I need I’ve committed to memory, and about half of that I don’t bring because I get ants in my pants or just plain forget.    Maybe my wife is right….   Maybe, but I’ll be damned if I ever admit that to her.

You got a preference on what kinda shades you wear when riding?

Man, I’ve been in a writing funk for months.

I just decided, right now that I’m going to write a blog post every night till I get it back.     This is the first.

I’m not sure why.    To be honest, life has never been better, but I dare should say when i’ve been more involved and working.   I’m in a spot now where, when this next goal is over, I’m going to take some time out and get me a ride in.   I just can’t right now.     Too many people are relying on me and a weekend off isn’t happening.    All good.   I’ve had the opposite before.

See you tomorrow.   Motherfuck, I’ll get my mojo back.   Even if just writing about it gets me to riding somewhere, smoking a fat cigar under the stars with my bike pinging and cooling down next to me.

I had a Danny Gray seat on my last bike.   It was a great seat.

Sold the tour Pak from my street glide and bought a Danny Gray Speedcradle.   Did a hundie on it today, and I gotta take my hat off.    2 thumbs up for Danny Gray.   I posted a pic of it yesterday.

I’ve had a chance to start getting this bike down on paper.    What I like, and what I don’t like.     The don’t likes are damn few.      The only thing I miss is a bat wing stereo, but  It’s overshadowed by the view I never had before on the street glide.

I think I’m done comparing.    I love this road king.

It handles so nice.    I drive a mountain canyon every day on the way to and from work, 30 miles.     It begs to roll into a turn.

It also begs to get into higher RPM, which I’m getting used to.

I love this bike.

My older brother called me today at at around 10 minutes after 1.   He was driving back from phoenix, and called me to tell me to meet him at his house, he had my bike.    I was pretty stoked, counted down the minutes.   what man doesn’t get excited to say a Harley Davidson is coming is way?     Maybe you’re more stoic than me.

I’m not sure most people would understand.  You build a bike…. a pretty special and fast bike that hauls ass and is your design, from cams and crank to paint job.   I’m not sure i’d turn that over to anyone.

Here’s the bike.   It’s in the garage now, took the kids for a ride, washed her up and said goodbye to the cage till november.    I can’t wait to take her down the canyon to work tomorrow morning in the cold.

My old bike was fast, but this girl is faster.   Around 3500 RPM she starts to get demonic.   Doesn’t like to idle, but open her up and its clear where she wants to be.    Add in that 6 speed baker and I’m a happy man.     I’ll put her to use.

Sunday was a great day.    I still haven’t gotten over her.    This is one sick engine.   I need to take her touring next weekend.

My brother left for Arizona this morning, and he’s bringing back my Road King.   I wished I could have gone and rode her home, but with work busting out a new software in 2 weeks, I didn’t even ask because I have too much to do.  I can’t hold a thought in my head thinking about it.   Having her in the garage, sitting next to it and examining every inch.   Popping a beer, washing her down, fiddling around and turning a few screws.   The weather is still pretty cold up here in the mornings, but fuckit.   I won’t be caging for a while now.    Man, I can’t wait.  I’m hoping monday, but maybe tuesday.

I’ve ridden this   bike.   shes a 1999, fuel injected FLHRC Road King Classic.   Custom Paint, Custom wheels, Custom brakes, handlebars that look like they belong on a brahma bull they’re so wide.   103 Cubic Inch Engine.   S&S cams, ported heads, stroker crank, roller rocker arms.   Rhinehart exhaust.   Baker 6 speed tranny.   Starts cold, and those cams lope long and hard.   The kind of bike you start and go eat breakfast, then when she’s warm she begs you to run her with your wrist twisted low, because that’s where she was meant to be. This bike begs to run. My street glide was quicker, but this bike is faster by a long shot. She’s loud, deep blue, and built right.

I feel like a man in an arranged marriage, waiting for the day.    All I know, is no matter what, its the start of a beautiful relationship.     Theres things to see, places to ride, and fun to have.

God I can’t wait.   First ride with be a 2 nighter, dialing her in.  I don’t know that I remember all the little things that a saddle bag has to have in it. Round up my maps, my ipod, that grungy toothbrush holder that served me all those years. What a killer problem to have!     Man, I’m this close to being back in the saddle.

Hey!  that reminds me of a song!

“Around here, we don’t look backwards for very long. We keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things, because we’re curious…and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.”
– Walt Disney

I just like that quote.   I’ve always liked Walt Disney.   I’d almost rather go to see his history building there, when you first walk into the park then ride pirates of the Caribbean (even tho its pretty close.  Pirates is pretty cool, and my kids love it).

I am starting to plan rides.   Pour over maps.    Calculate mileage, Find Gas Stations, KOA’s, Motels, and places I can just crash for the night.   I haven’t ridden since last October.    next weekend, I’ll have a bike again.   A permanent one.   A hulluva fast one.

I’m really fucking curious as to what’s out there.

This fucking blog is about to get back to what it’s intended for.

Will be here may 5th. Road King. 103 screamin’ Eagle engine. Baker 6 speed tranny. Heads are ported. Rhinehart Exhaust. Custom paint and wheels. Lots of torque, Lots of horses. Man, I am counting the days. I’ll make a full report from the road. it’s time to ride.