Spring, and Riding Season

Spring is almost here, and I'm declaring that it's officially riding season. As a year round rider, you wouldn't think that would mean much to me, but really, it's a great feeling to be able to pull the liner out of my jacket for the first time in months. Temperatures here are working their way into the mid 60's, and even the low 70's every once in a while. Aside from the fact that I won't have to feel quite so much like the michelin man when I get dressed to ride, that means that I get to start thinking about riding for more than just utilitarian purposes. I actually have a day ride in the works right now for next week, so expect an entry about that soon. 

Riding around today, I saw bikes everywhere. I even saw what I think was an old Honda Elite 80, probably a 20 year old scoot, being ridden two-up down a country road. Really, I'm not sure why I enjoy seeing other bikes on the road so often. It's not like, if I were driving a Honda Civic, I'd enjoy seeing all the other Civics out. There's just something about days when the riders are out in force... I guess it's nice to not be quite so unique every once in a while. 

Blue Skies Shining on Me

I just finished watching the documentary "Long Way Round" about Ewan Mcreggor and his friend riding around the world on motorcycles, and it put me in the mood to take a trip. Luckily for me, it was a balmy 58 degrees today. Erika and I took the oppertunity to take a ride down S.H. 9 to Lake Thunderbird for the afternoon.
The ride was nice, though a little on the windy side, as you can tell by the photo to the left. It seems like the wind has more effect on me with a passenger, or maybe it's just harder to compensate with the extra weight. I'm not sure. It was still a pleasant ride though. We visited a few boat ramps and docks, took some pictures, and really just enjoyed the stint of nice weather. Unfortunately, Erika deemed it too cold for swimming. The weather is supposed to be in the fifties and sixties for at least the next week, so I'm hoping to fit in a drive down highway 77 to Stillwater sometime next weekend. I'd really like to take a longer trip somewhere soon, perferrably an overnight, but I don't want to go alone, and I can't think of anyway to pack the tent and other camping gear without covering the pillion seat. I guess I'll just have to keep trying to talk Erika into buying herself a bike suitable for highway speeds. Until than, there are plenty of docks and lakes and whatever else to drive to within an hour or two of here.


p.s. I apologize profusely for the cheesy title...

Winter Wonderland

The weather report for this weekend is .5-2 inches of ice. Here in Oklahoma, this doesn't happen very often, and the world pretty much shuts down when it does. Luckily, the majesty has it's big brother and sister (my roommates cars) to cuddle up with and stay warm.

I, on the other hand, spent the evening freezing my butt off taking pictures of our newly freezer burned street.


These are definitely not good two-wheel conditions. Admittedly, I'll drive in rain and wind, sometimes against my own self interest, but when It's like this out, I stay home. ( I know, some of you are saying I'm a weakling and that little dusting of ice is nothing... but this is Oklahoma, and here that only happens once or twice a year, so we have very little tolerance, or practice, for driving on it. Cars aren't out right now either. )

Beau Bear, on the other hand, can't get enough of the weather. I imagine the big fur coat helps some. Maybe we should all start wearing fur coats on our bikes. I wonder how they'd do for abrasion protection, or aerodynamics...








p.s. It was 55 degrees yesterday. Welcome to Oklahoma.