Friday, December 6, 2013

Uraling in the Snow

Uraling in a Snow Storm

As I hinted in my last post, we finally have winter in Minnesota. It snowed several inches and is now in the single digits. When it was time to leave for work, I emailed my boss to let him know I would be late. I needed some playtime in the snow. I took the long way through the neighborhoods, in parks, and around lakes (they aren’t frozen enough yet to ride on). The Ural is very fun in the snow.

The snow let me test out my new Duro HF307 tires. I am disappointed with them compared to the Heidenau K37 Snowtex. I will buy the K37 snowtex next time. The rear slid a bit more than I would like with the Duro, and it had much less traction on ice and hard packed snow. It made me wish I could put studs on, but MN law prohibits studs on the road. Luckily, I have 2WD. I understand now why the HF307 is a third of the price of the K37 snowtex. I had really hoped they would be better though. This is my fifth winter tire, and I would put it in the middle of the pack.

Uraling in a Snow Storm

On the upside, the Duros are quite fun for donuts and other sideways sliding shenanigans.

Below, is a behind the scenes photo my GoPro captured while I was taking the above photo. I had it set to take phone photo every few minutes, and the timing worked out to capture me taking a photo. Funny.

Taking a picture of the ural in the snow

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Visitors from Alaska

rmachida at minnehaha falls

This past weekend, we were fortunate to have Richard Machida and his wife Bridget visiting from Fairbanks. They had come down to Minnesota to spend thanksgiving with Bridget’s son.

The photo above is Richard taking a photo of the partially frozen Minnehaha Falls in Minneapolis. The photo below is the Ford Parkway Bridge connecting Minneapolis and St. Paul over the Mississippi River which is partially frozen.

ford parkway bridge over frozen mississippi river

They stayed the weekend at our place. I had a fun time showing them around Minneapolis. We did most of the touring in their rental car. It would have been a bit cold for Bridget on the Ural. It wasn’t quite cold enough to take them out on a frozen lake yet either. Another couple weeks and we should be good.

It was nice to catch up from our visit last summer. Richard, you’re both welcome to come back any time.

You can read about Richard’s experience in the Twin Cites on his blog here. He took some nice photos including one of me on the Ural: http://blog.machida.us/2013/12/minnehaha-and-st-anthony-falls.html

 

PS: It’s been snowing since Richard left MN. It’s also predicted to get down to –15F in the next day or so. It seems he left a little AK behind. :-)

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Stuck Axle on Ural and a Hefty Repair Bill Inbound

Ural Axle and U Joint Repair

With the recent snow, I thought it would be a good time to put on my new tires. I was looking forward to seeing how they would do in the snow. When I got home, I eagerly went to work. It would be simple. Just put the Ural up on the center stand, remove the castle nut and cotter pin, loosen the pinch bolt, pull the axle out, and take the wheel off. It should be a ten minute job, but 90 minutes later the wheel was still on and I was a tired sweaty mess.

The axle was stuck. It wouldn’t come out. I sprayed it with various lubricants. I tugged on it. I whacked it with a BFH (big hammer). It only moved about 1/8 of an inch. Damn. I even had to get my phone out to watch a video on YouTube to make sure I wasn’t crazy on how easy it should be. Yup, just pull it out easily. Ugh.

Yesterday, I took it to the local shop. I didn’t think it’d make it 100 miles to Scrambler. I figured they would be able to get it off easily and put my tire on. I was shocked they wanted $126 to swap a tire and I was bringing the tire! 1.5 hours by their shop rate. Arg.

They ran into the same problem I did, but they took the 2WD u-joints apart so they could whack it with a bigger hammer than I used. It moved about an inch.

The mechanic also pointed out my sidecar u-joint was shot. I said “I don’t see what’s wrong.” He grabbed it and gave it a shake and it moved around a lot. “It isn’t supposed to move like this" he said. Oh…

They didn’t have an axle in stock, so they were going to take one from a new unit to get me back on the road unit while they order a replacement. The u-joints they said they could get from Napa. I get my air filters there too. It’s from a tractor.

They finally got the axle out and the wheel off. The wheel bearing is shot as well which I had suspected. Time to use the spare wheel. I should hopefully get the Ural back later today. *fingers crossed*

The repair looks like: new rear tire, new tube, new rear axle, two new u-joints on 2wd axle, and a new wheel bearing. Yikes! I am not looking forward to the bill. I hope this is the extent of my mechanical drama this winter. It’ll be my fifth winter of riding in the snow on the Ural! I hope it means I’ll have some good luck mechanically.

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Ducati DirtBike

This isn’t very practical, but I still want to ride it. It reminds me of the R1 I saw turned into an ice racing bike a few years ago.

YouTube: MotoCorse Presents: Ducati 1199 TerraCorsa

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

SV650 and Fall Colors

SV650 with Fall Colors

The falls colors are in fine form, so I took the scenic route home last night to spend some time admiring them. It was a cold ride both ways with the temps in the mid 30s. I took the windshield off; it was too noisy. I like like clean quiet air more than the minor wind protection I was getting.

The weather-guessers are predicting snow for the next several days. I hope they are wrong. I want to stay on the SV a bit longer before switching to the Ural for the winter.

Friday, October 25, 2013

Another Hardy Soul

SV650 and Triumph

I didn’t expect to see any motorcycles in the ramp, but yesterday, I met another hardy soul. He was riding a very clean looking Triumph. I call him hardy because the temp when I left the house was 29F. It was a cold 12 miles for me. He said he only rode four miles and wearing minimal gear. The SV isn’t nearly as warm as the Ural, so I had my heated coat cranked up. The lack of wind protection makes a big difference.

If you look closely at the photo, you can see I’ve been experimenting with a small windscreen. It cuts the wind slightly, but it is way to noisy. I don’t like it.

It snowed a few inches just north of me last weekend. I’m not sure many more weeks days I can enjoy the SV this year, so I am riding it every chance I can.

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Watching Motorcycle Racing with Friends

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This past Sunday, I spent the day watching the final round of World SuperBike and the Australian MotoGP. My friend Ray has a new workshop with lots of space for bikes, people, and a nice TV. The weather was cold and rainy, so I was the only rider. I took the Ural since it is much warmer than the SV.

20131020_162024

It was a fun time watching with so many other interested fans. Normally, I watch on the couch at home. More people is definitely better. The MotoGP race was quite good. If you haven’t seen it and have the means, take the time. It’s worth it. They did something they’ve never done before, mandatory pit stop for a dry race. Bridgestone didn’t have tires that could go race distance, so they deemed it unsafe to ride more than 10 laps of the 19 lap race on one set of tires. It made the race very interesting.

Saturday, October 19, 2013

New Battery for the SV650

DSCN4165

The new battery for the SV650 arrived. If you remember, I had to get a jump last week since it wouldn’t start. After pouring the acid in and putting the new battery on the charger for the night, I swapped it into the SV. Everything seems back to normal. On the plus side it also starts a lot easier. I had intended on replacing the battery this spring, but got lazy about it. I think I will order a new battery for the WR250R since that is of the same vintage.

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

September RiderCoach Night

September RiderCoach Night

For most months in the summer, a local driving course is opened up to MMSC RiderCoaches to ride. It is a fun time riding and chatting with other coaches from the area. The course is at DCTC in the south metro. It is a one mile long driving course with about 17 corners depending on how it is configured.

September RiderCoach Night

The last one for 2013 was a few weeks ago in September. Due to conflicting schedules, I haven’t made many this year. This was my first of 2013, so despite some spitting rain, I went. 

September RiderCoach Night

There weren’t many others that showed up. I’m guessing due to the weather. I think we had less than ten people. There were some interesting bikes though.

September RiderCoach Night

Several guys tailored older bikes they had restored to the track to play with them.

September RiderCoach Night

This two-stroke race bike above was pretty impressive. I tried to make a short vid of it, but it didn’t turn out.

The few laps I did were enjoyable. It was nice to burn off some energy in a safe environment. The track started getting greasy with the rain, and I still had to ride home. No room for crashing by leaning over too far. I had a nice time, but didn’t run many laps.

I’m looking forward to the first event in 2014.

Sunday, October 13, 2013

MSF Thank You Card and Coin

MSF Thank You Card iRETS 2013

I was surprised to see a package waiting for me yesterday. I didn’t remember ordering anything small enough to fit in the small padded envelope sitting in the mailbox. The fact that is said MSF on it confused me even more. Inside, I found the above card and small commemorative coin. The coin has “40 Years Motorcycle Safety Foundation 1973-2013” on one side and “August 15-16, 2013 Indy MSF International Rider Education Training System Conference” on the other.

MSF Thank You Card iRETS 2013 MSF Thank You Card iRETS 2013

The inside impressed me the most however with all the hand-written signatures. It was a really nice touch. All those people (16!) must have spent a day signing all the cards to send out.

MSF Thank You Card iRETS 2013

Thanks MSF. I have a great time at the IRETS conference in Indy. I hope I can go to the IRETS in 2014.

A hand-signed thank you card with a motorcycle on the front, this is one of my favorite thank you cards so far. What’s yours?

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Dead Battery on SV650

Dead Battery on SV650

I had a bit of a shock when I left work the other day. I walked to the SV650 and put my back in the trunk. When I tried to start it, the headlight was very dim and it didn’t start. It made that sad “whirr whirr” noise when it doesn’t quite have enough juice to start. I’m all too familiar with this noise thanks to the Ural and Super9. Dang!!

I took my tools out and started taking off the seat to get to the battery when a friend walked over to see what I was doing. I was hoping I could remove the fuse for the headlight and get the bike to start. The fuse is one of those really small ones, so I had to use a pair of pliers to get it loose. My fingers couldn’t get a solid grip on it because it was so small. With the fuse removed, I tried again. It didn’t start. My dream of getting home ahead of traffic were melting away just like I was beginning to melt in my Roadcrafter with all this messing around. Time to take it off.

DSCN4150

My friend asked if I needed a jump, and offered to go get his car. Awesome! He even had jumper cables. It took him a few minutes to walk to his car and drive it over which gave me think about why this happened. Yes, I used my electric coat on the way to work like I have been doing for several years, and just like I used it nearly every day on my trip to Alaska last year. The battery is almost five years old. I’ve also been lazy about putting the bike on the tender like I normally do each night. I hope it is just the battery and not the charging system.

My friend arrived and I pushed the bike over to where he parked. He got the jumper cables out, and I hooked them up with the car off. Red and then black on the car, and then red and black on the bike. I turned on the choke, pulled the clutch in, and pressed the starter button. Please work. It fired on the second try! Success! I left it running while I put my tools and gear away. The choke kept it at 3000 rpm which is in the charging range.

DSCN4151

I thanked my friend profusely for rescuing me, and then started the ride home. I made it home without trouble. I was even able to stop and restart the bike several times in the driveway. The battery charged to full on the tender over night; it seems fine now. I have a new battery on the way.

Do you carry tools to get to your fuses and battery? Have you used them to try it?

Monday, October 7, 2013

Start Seeing Deer

A co-worker recently told me of a great ride he had last week along the St. Croix river while admiring the fall colors and enjoying the crisp fall air. He said:

“The ride was amazing, but the last 10 miles home were terrifying! There were dozens of deer right at the edge of the road and in the middle of the road. I had to ride at 30mph to avoid hitting them. It was scary.”

I have a similar experience on my return trip from Indianapolis with the deer right on the edge of I-94. I slowed way down to give my headlight a chance to see them. I even saw a deer in the city on my way to work last week. A motorcycle rarely wins with a deer.

Our state safety coordinator sent out this infographic, and I thought it was timely and worth a share. It’s the motorcycle-deer crash stats for ‘91-‘12:

motorcycle-deer crash stats for ‘91-‘12.

They also had some safety tips to share for both motorcycles and cars.

Motorcyclist Safety Tips:

  • Avoid night and low-light riding periods (dusk and dawn) when deer are more active.
  • When encountering deer, use both brakes to stop. If riders cannot stop in time, swerve carefully and slowly around the deer if there is space.
  • If a collision cannot be avoided, keep head and eyes up to improve chances of keeping the bike up.
  • Wear protective gear, especially a DOT-approved helmet.

Motorist Safety Tips:

  • Buckle up, drive at safe speeds and pay attention — be especially cautious during dusk and dawn when deer are more active.
  • Don’t veer for deer — swerving can cause motorists to lose control and travel off the road or into oncoming traffic. Bringing a vehicle to a controlled stop and hitting a deer is safer than swerving.

Ride safe!

Friday, October 4, 2013

New Winter Tires for the Ural (HF307)

Duro HF307 for Ural Winter Tires

With the temperatures getting colder, I decided it was time to order this year’s winter tires for the Ural sidecar to facilitate my year round riding. The Heidenau K37 Snowtex I have on now are proper winter tires with the snowflake printed on the side. They’ve worked great for the last two years, but are now pretty worn out. This will be my fifth winter riding, so I guess it is fitting that the Duro is also the fifth tire I’ve tried for winter riding (Uralshina, Duro HF308, Kenda K335, Heidenau K37 Snowtex, and now Duro HF307).

Duro HF307 for Ural Winter Tires

Above, you can see the K37 Snowtex on the left and the new HF307s on the right. If the K37 Snowtex worked so well, why did I switch? Cost. One K37 Snowtex is about $180. I found a deal on the HF307 which put them at $65 a piece. I bought three HF307s tires for just under $200 shipped. It was a pretty easy choice once I looked at the money.

Duro HF307 for Ural Winter Tires

The Heidenaus were very difficult to get on because they were so stiff and barely cleared the rear swingarm and drive shaft. The Internet promises me the HF307s will be easier to install. We’ll have to see how lazy I am this weekend before I can find out. I’ve been admiring them in the garage for a week now. hehe.

I wrote about the K37 Snowtex a few times. They worked really well in the snow, but I couldn’t justify the price difference. I hope the Duros work as well as people say they do, and last longer than the crappy K335s.

 

K37 Snowtex posts:

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Dogs and Motorcycles

Dogs and motorcycles seem to go together. I’ve seen several different ways our canine friends ride and managed to get photos of a few of them.

Riding on the tank seems to be a popular option. My friend on YouTube has a whole series of videos with his dog Yoshi riding on the tank of his dirtbike. You can see his videos here: http://www.youtube.com/user/YoshiTheShiba

Below is a small dog riding on the tank of a Ninja at First Thursday last month. He was strapped in by his harness.

Dog on Motorcycle

Another one I’ve seen a few times, but only managed to barely catch with the camera once is the small dog in a backpack. The little guy kept looking away every time I pressed the button though.

Backpack Dog

Sidecars and dogs seems to be the safest way to haul a dog around on a motorcycle. It’s a common reason folks tell me they want to get a sidecar too. 

Sidecar with Dog

One of my favorite shots of my friend’s dog. His dog loves to go for rides almost as much as we do.

IMG_7731

Do you have any nice photos of dogs and motorcycles?

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Go Grandriders Motorcycle Documentary Coming to Minneapolis

The trailer for this film was making the rounds on the Internet a while back and now the documentary is showing in Minneapolis next month. It is about a group of 17 Taiwanese with an average age of 81 who decide to ride around Taiwan on a thirteen day motorcycle trip. If you are not in Minneapolis, check the gograndriders.com website below to see where you can see it in your area. I plan on seeing it. See you there.

Watch the Trailer here: Go Grandriders Trailer

  • Event:2013 Taiwan Film Festival

  • Date: October 19, 2013, 12:00 P.M. ~ 5:00 P.M.

  • Location: St. Paul Student Center, 2017 Buford Avenue St. Paul, MN 55108 Map

  • About Taiwan Film Festival:

    • Taiwan Film Festival expects to bring you and your friends to have a better understanding from different aspects to recognize and appreciate the beauty of Taiwan through Taiwan movies.
  • Sign-up: http://tolib.org/signup (FREE)

  • About this event(Taiwanese and Chinese pronunciation with English caption are provided):

    • Go Grandriders 12:30 PM - 2:10 PM
    • A Year in the Clouds 2:50 PM- 4:30 PM

     

    Official Description of “Go Grandriders” from gograndriders.com

    “On average, they are 81 years old but possess dreams only 18-year-olds would have. They would tell you, through life-long experience, “Miracles do happen as long as you continue to dream!”

    In Go Grandriders, a group of 17 senior citizens, many of them learn how to ride a motorcycle for the first time, embark on what may be the most daring adventures of their lives: a 13-day-entirely-on-motorcycle tour around the island of Taiwan. Among these 17 Grandriders, two have had cancer, four need hearing aids, five suffer from high blood pressure, eight have coronary disease, and every one of them has symptoms of joint degeneration. However, at the youthful age of 80 plus, they dare to ride on scooters and feel the land they have lived all their lives.

    Challenges officially begin when they decide to hop on their scooters: fighting objections from family members, taking driver license test at an old age, aching bodies and every possible poor weather and road conditions along the 1178-kilometer (732-mile) journey. The day prior to the start of the journey, the captain suffers from ulcer and declining red blood cell count, how will he lead these Grandriders to the goal they have aspired to achieve?

    The trip brings harrowing escapes (riding on narrow coastal highway with gusty wind and a steep cliff on one side, and intimidating big trucks speeding by on the other), pure exhilaration (including a gleeful romp in the waves when riders reach Taiwan’s beautiful east coast), and somber reflection (as riders recall their youths fighting in the Sino-Japanese War).  Defying society’s expectation, the Grandriders’ journey will inspire and delight audiences both young and young at heart.”

    *Image from gograndriders.com

  • Wednesday, September 25, 2013

    Disability Plate on a Motorcycle

    Disability Plate on Motorcycle

    I saw the above scene a couple weeks ago and at first I thought “wow, what a rude scooter owner to park in a disabled spot.” Then I looked closer, and I saw it had a MN motorcycle disability plate. I was confused. In all my years looking at motorcycles, I’ve never seen one before.

    I spent some time on the State website to learn a bit more about disability license plates in MN. According to Statue 168.021 a motorcycle can be licensed. If the owner already has a disability plate on another vehicle, they can apply and automatically get one for their motorcycle. Neat.

    168.021 PLATES FOR PHYSICALLY DISABLED PERSONS.

    Subdivision 1.Disability plates; application.

    (a) When a motor vehicle registered under section 168.017, a motorcycle as defined in section 168.002, subdivision 19, a one-ton pickup truck as defined in section 168.002, subdivision 21b, or a self-propelled recreational vehicle as defined in section 168.002, subdivision 27, is owned or primarily operated by a permanently physically disabled person or a custodial parent or guardian of a permanently physically disabled minor, the owner may apply for and secure from the commissioner (1) immediately, a temporary permit valid for 30 days if the applicant is eligible for the disability plates issued under this section and (2) two disability plates with attached emblems, one plate to be attached to the front, and one to the rear of the motor vehicle, truck, or recreational vehicle, or, in the case of a motorcycle, one disability plate the same size as a regular motorcycle plate.

    I read further in Statute 169.345 to what qualifies as a disability to get the eligible plates. The list is pretty long, so if you’re interested check it out. There are several on the list I think could still permit someone to operate a motorcycle safely such as “because of disability cannot walk 200 feet without stopping to rest”.

    I was glad I saw the plate and took a picture of it. It encouraged me to stop and learn more about options for disabled folks. I’m happy to see Minnesota offering the disabled parking privileges to those on a motorcycle who need them.

    Have you seen a disability plate on a motorcycle before? Does your State offer them? Let me know in the comments below.

    Sunday, September 22, 2013

    Sidecar Rides for Kids

    Sidecar Rides for Kids

    Kids love sidecars even more than dogs do. My friend Rick volunteers at a local block party giving free rides in his sidecar each year. He usually manages to find a few three-wheelin friends to join him. I had a fun time last year, so when he asked this time I was happy to accept.

    Sidecar Rides for Kids

    The block party fills the entire parking lot of a local church. They have all kinds of family-oriented fun from ring toss, to fire trucks, hay rides, and the sidecar rides or as the kids like to call them “motorcycle rides”.

    Sidecar Rides for Kids

    Last year, it was just me and my Ural since Rick’s FJ rig was down for repairs. You can see it up front in the above photo. You may remember me posting a video from riding in it back in 2011. You can watch it here: FJ1200 Sidecar Ride.

    Sidecar Rides for Kids

    We were also joined by another Ural shown in the center of the pic two above and in front just above. It was much too clean. The owner joked that he thought it was dirty and had an urge to wash it before he came. I didn’t see any dirt on his. Mine still has mud on it. hehe.

    Sidecar Rides for Kids

    The three of us loaded up with kids each trip, usually only taking one each, but could sometimes squeeze in two small kids. We had a couple helpers getting helmets and eye protection on each of the kids, so they were ready to go when we pulled in.

    Sidecar Rides for Kids

    We rode in formation slowly around the neighborhood. It was a sight. The kids loved it; they were giggling and laughing the whole way. We all had a good time. Looking forward to next year.

    Thursday, September 19, 2013

    Indianapolis MotoGP 2013 (and the ride home)

    Indianapolis MotoGP 2013

    Last month I was in Indianapolis to watch the MotoGP races. I normally watch the races on MotoGP.com, but seeing them in person is a much richer experience as you would expect. My tickets let me into the event Friday, Saturday, and Sunday just like last year. You can read about my trip there last year here.

    SV650 at Indy MotoGP 2013

    I like to get there early to avoid the crazy traffic later in the day. On both Saturday and Sunday it was pretty empty around 8am. Nice and easy to find a parking spot. Suzuki had the space near turn 2, so all Suzuki owners got free trackside parking. Nice! Sunday was pretty empty except for a nice Vstrom from Canada. I tried not to drool directly onto his bike.

    Indianapolis MotoGP 2013

    Instead I made my way inside the Suzuki compound to drool on the demo models instead. I like the look of the adventure model, but wouldn’t buy it. I don’t like the bags. I have my own. I don’t need more cluttering up the garage. I thought for sure I would have bought a vstrom by now, but maybe next year.

    Indianapolis MotoGP 2013

    Suzuki had a pro photographer taking photos of owners and their bikes for free. I really liked how this one of my SV650 turned out. Thanks Suzuki!

    Pro Photo of SV650 at Indy MotoGP 2013

    The moto midway is inside the track and filled with all kinds of events to keep you busy throughout the day. Lots of shows and vendors are setup. I already posted up the fun I had watching the stunt show.

    Indianapolis MotoGP 2013

    Indianapolis MotoGP 2013

    Yamaha was giving free riding lessons to little kids. It was funny to watch them ride around their little track of hay bales.

    Indianapolis MotoGP 2013

    In the Yamaha tent they had all their new bikes on display just like Suzuki, Ducati, and Honda. This Super Tenere had an interesting accessory… a winch where the topcase should be. Ride into a swamp and pull yourself out? Seems like it might be a bit hard to balance while using it. hmm.

    Indianapolis MotoGP 2013

    One of my highlights for the weekend was watching the electric motorcycles. They put in lap times similar to Moto3, and were nearly silent. When they went by, you could hear the chain noise, and the tires rubbing on the track. A very neat experience. I want to ride one!

    Indianapolis MotoGP 2013

    Here are some Moto3 riders practicing their launches at the end of a warm-up session on the back straight. It was very common after the session had ended for them to stop on the last lap and practice their starts.

    Indianapolis MotoGP 2013

    This is where my MSF ticket had me sitting. It was a very nice view of turn 1 and the front straight. The shade was also nice. Not a lot of people yet for Moto3.

    Indianapolis MotoGP 2013

    From the same spot turn 2,3,4 were easily visible. I watched the Moto3 and Moto2 races with the MSF RiderCoaches. We had nearly the whole section reserved.

    Indianapolis MotoGP 2013

    In between the Moto2 and MotoGP races, I was able to meet up with @Reyzie. We’ve only interacted on Twitter, so it was nice to put a face with the name. Nice meeting you!

    For the MotoGP race, I sat with @Todkapuz as I did last year. He had an extra ticket, and the views from the SW Vista are very nice. We had a fun time together on Saturday and Sunday. A shame he has to live so far away in FL.

    Indianapolis MotoGP 2013

    A pic of MotoGP coming through turn 3 for the first time.

    Indianapolis MotoGP 2013

    MotoGP riders coming through turn 4 for the first time. Amazing how loud they were as they accelerated into turns 5 and 6.

    Indianapolis MotoGP 2013

    The races were a great time just like last year. I had fun with all the different events and meeting some new and old friends. I’m looking forward to going again in 2014.

    After the races, I went straight back to my bike and prepared to leave to try and beat the mob of traffic out of the city. I was greeted with a new keychain holder stuck into my seat by Suzuki. Thanks! I’ve been using it since. I like it.

    Indianapolis MotoGP 2013

    I had hoped to hop directly on the freeway near the race track, but the local PD had other ideas. Instead of letting vehicles go directly to the freeway like last year, they refused to let us turn that direction and forced us into the city center. Ugh! My GPS wasn’t very useful since it kept telling me to turn around. For miles, they had the road blocked off. I just kept riding until I recognized a major street. I easily wasted 30 minutes trying to get back to I-74.

    I had entered the waypoint for my house into the GPS, and I had intended on riding until I was tired and then stopping for the night. That didn’t happen.

    Around 8pm, I had talked to my wife and mentioned to her the GPS thought I could get home before midnight. She was excited and said she’d wait up for me. I took the most direct way home instead of the slow fun route I had originally planned.

    Around 10pm, I started getting sleepy and cold. I stopped to put on some more clothes, and to take a quick nap at a rest stop along I-94. After 15 minutes, I was ready to go again. I still thought I could make it. I was wrong.

    I-94 across Wisconsin is a dark and relatively cold place at night. The traffic really thins out after midnight as well. My little headlight wasn’t enough, so my speed was reduced until other vehicles caught up to me and there was more light. It was rather scary seeing deer stand right on the side of the road.

    The pattern of stopping for a quick nap and to put on more clothes continued all the way home. At the last stop I had already put on everything I had to wear: two pairs of pants, two t-shirts, a long sleeve shirt, and my fleece. The last thing I had was a Suzuki magazine which I opened up and put inside the chest area to cut the cold breeze.

    It was in the 90s after all during the day, so I was dressed for heat. The little valleys were quite chilly and damp to ride through. With no sun for warmth it was a cold dark ride. The fact I was so sleepy probably wasn’t helping keep me warm either. A windshield would have been nice.

    I arrived home just after 2am CST. I had called my wife hours before and told her not to wait up. I had ridden 665 miles in just over 12 hours. A new record for me most miles in one day beating my previous 613. It was a long, fun day.

     

    Full Flickr Album of 65 pictures here.