Picture: In the absence recent motorcycle related pictures you are invited to enjoy this fantastic photograph of my incredibly adorable grandson. Photo Taken March '08.
The forecast for a cold front came in on schedule. Thirty degrees and windy, no ROMEO lunch ride today. A bit too nasty for even the most hardened old man.
A Rant
In a never ending quest to find comfort while riding I ordered some handlebar mitts from Cabela's http://tinyurl.com/yz6xtz. The cost was $20, shipping $6, pretty good deal. The mitts were exactly as pictured and had I paid more attention I could saved myself some money. These things are huge, they go from elbow to head light. Problem is there is no provision for mirrors. Apparently ATVs don't have mirrors. No sweat, I'll just use the handy return label and return them to Cabela's.
It's a nice 40 degree morning so I pack everything on the REB and figure I'll drop off the package at the UPS store on my way to the YMCA. This is when things get interesting. I guess the clerk was new cause there was a manager type telling her everything to do and I don't have a problem with that, everyone has to learn. I have to sign stuff, give out my e-mail address, phone number, paid with a credit card, more signing, etc. Cost me $10 to mail the dang things back. Now I've spent $16 to look at a $20 item. All my fault, just ranting here. I sure wish things like were carried locally. Seems everything you need you have to mail order it and it isn't always as cheap or handly as it appears. END OF RANT
Picture: That's me and the REB with our toy.
Louie and I were going to meet at the toy run this afternoon but by the time I arrived there were so many bikes already that we had no chance of riding together. I was lucky to find him in the sea of black leather that made up the mostly Harley riding participants.
Salina Journal Article: November 20, 2006 |
Bikers make a run for children More motorcycle riders turn out for this year's toy run |
David Clouston |
They weren't sure of the reason -- the sunny, calm weather Sunday helped, certainly -- but more motorcycle riders than last year turned out for the 20th annual Salina Toy Run. A column of 307 riders, led by Salina Police vehicles clearing traffic, roared away about 1 p.m. from the Mid-State Plaza parking lot, toys strapped to their bikes. The riders and their passengers made about a half-hour circuit through town, down Ninth, Crawford, Ohio and Cloud streets, before spilling into the parking lot of Emmanuel Christian Center, 1325 E. Cloud. Each year, the event gives riders a reason for some fellowship as a group, and local charities that receive the toys get a boost. "What I like is it doesn't just bring out the Harleys; it brings out everybody," said Tammy Trepoy, wife of one of the event organizers, Jim Trepoy. She said about 245 riders participated last year. Indeed, the lead rider, Salinan Andy Stierwalt, was straddling a 1500 cc Kawasaki Nomad decked out patriotically with three large United States flags flying from the rear and two smaller flags attached to the handlebars. There was a set of real deer antlers adorning the front of the bike. Stierwalt, like most of the other riders, was decked out in a black leather riding outfit, topped off with a set of cartoon holiday reindeer antlers. He paused to show off an earring attached to one side of the antlers -- it read "Jesus is the Reason for the Season." "(That) is what does it for me," Stierwalt said, smiling at the message. He said he rode his bike in the downtown Parade of Lights Saturday night with a Nativity scene replacing the antlers. Stierwalt on Sunday was representing a Masonic-affiliated motorcycle riding club, Widows Sons of Salina. He said he usually rides in three or four toy runs throughout the region during the holidays. The events give riders a reason to gather and the riders bring toys that are donated to local charities. "I ride my motorcycle all the time," he said. But participating in events to benefit children is special. "That's a blessing for me," he said. It's not uncommon for riders to come to the Salina Toy Run from as far away as Hays and Wichita, said Brenda Henderson, one of the riders with the local Harley-Davidson motorcycle owners association. She and her husband, Joker, a representative of the Christian Motorcycle Association, helped with the preparations at Emmanuel before the riders arrived. Many towns around Salina have their own toy runs, such as McPherson, Hays, Junction City, Hutchinson and Wichita, Jim Trepoy said. Joker Henderson said one year that Wichita drew as many as 2,100 riders. The hundreds of toys collected from this year's event were donated to Ashby House and the Domestic Violence Association of Central Kansas. The small mountain of toys donated Sunday included stuffed animals, toy cars, dolls, blocks, balls and games. "If we didn't have these gifts, most of the families we work with wouldn't have a Christmas," Camey Presler, a DVACK representative, said.
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Picture: The three amigos ham it up for the camera
What have I gotten myself into now? Last week after the ROMEOs arctic lunch ride Richard and Louie stopped off at the local Suzuki dealership kick some tires and Richard came across a flyer for Suzuki's 'Ride of a Lifetime' promotion. What it boils down to is three friends submit information about themselves and some pictures and if they are selected Suzuki will outfit them with motorcycles and gear for a 1100 mile, 5 day ride. Of course they tag along shooting for commercials, etc. The dealer convinced Richard and Louie that they would be good candidates, all they had to do was come up with a third rider..........me. And since I have such "technical expertise" and a camera I got tapped to put the package together. http://castingcall.suzukicycles.com/ if you are interested. So that is what we did today. After lunch at Taco Bueno we rode to Coronado Heights http://www.naturalkansas.org/coronado.htm and I snapped a few shots. Then it was off to Marquette, via the twisty Falun road, for ice cream and to go over the entry form. Of course you can't go to Marquette without making a call on Stan the Man at the Kansas Motorcycle museum http://www.ksmm.us/. They had some new bikes and are in the process of building on so they can add more.
Picture: Abilene, KS boyhood home of Dwight D. Eisenhower, 34th President of the USA.
Abilene is about 25 miles from Salina and most of it due East. The temperature was 40 degrees at 10:45 when five of us meet at Wendy's for the ride to lunch at Mr K's Farmhouse. Richard said, "let's meet on the South side of Wendy's so the building will block the wind. That was a good plan as the wind was steady out of the North at 30mph. Twenty plus miles on a beam reach with the bikes leaning (make that heeling) at what felt 30 degrees brought us to Mr K's. One other ROMEO was there, John only lived two blocks away but, bless his heart, he rode his scoot to lunch. That made Six total and another that had driven and was having lunch with his wife but stopped by to visit. It was a day for smaller bikes, I was on the REB, Neil had his KLR, Louie on the DR200 , Richard on the scoot (no wife this ride) and Evan on the only big ride his V-Star.
Picture: I used the Auto Zone brand.
I think I have solved the howling front brake problem on Dubya. After much research on the W650 Yahoo group I came across a reference to some "brake pad isolation shims". Little thin stick on metal coated shims that attach to the back of the pad and are supposed to prevent the vibration that causes the howl/squeak. BUT, I also sanded the heck out of the pads with a sanding screen, now I'm not 100% sure which fix worked. If the howl comes back I'm guessing the pads are the cause and I will look for a replacement. I also greased and cleaned everything and bled the brakes all for the third time. After an eight mile stop and go town ride this afternoon there was still no noise so I've got my fingers crossed (hard to type that way).
Picture: A little too windy to ride.
I took my wife to the airport in Wichita this morning so she could fly to Atlanta to meet daughter #3. They will then drive to Virginia to #2's home where they will attend grandson #1's first birthday party on Saturday. No, I didn't stay home just so I could go riding. In fact it is darn lousy riding weather here is Mid-America, USA today. One of those 40/40 days, 40 degrees and 40 mph wind. Maybe I'll get out for a bit this evening if it stops blowing.
Sweet Jesus in Heaven, I know there are folks working at Walmart that really need a job and most of them do a good job, but please Lord if I ever set foot in that place again could you have someone shoot me!
Pictue: What the hell is Paul doing?
Seven of us meet at Taco Bueno for the 120 mile ride to Hanover, KS and lunch at Ricky's Cafe. Three scooters, four bikes and eight people including a first timer. Although a long way from retirement, my brother-in-law, Bob, took his first ROMEO (Retired Old Motorcyclist Eating Out) ride. I think he had a good time because I could see his grin in my rear view all the way there.
