The Countdown has begun!

Well folks, we're inside of 30 days until blast off and we're getting amped for the trip. At this point we are doing anything and everything we can to stay healthy, get our bikes and gear in order and make any last minute adjustments. I know the clock is ticking and I don't feel fully prepared yet. Little things like XXL rubber gloves for all rainy day long rides. Some of this stuff I can get locally but others I need to order. Today I bought a pair of AlpineStar 101 boots to have an alternative to my high Sidi's. I should have those within the week.

The bike is going in for a valve job (8,000 miles) next week and a fresh set of donuts. I have just over 7K+ on this original set of Dunlops and I expect I'd need a new set by the time we got to Sturgis, hardly the place to line-up to buy fresh rubber.

I've had three great days of riding this week, if you count my junket down to Rehoboth, MA last Saturday for Potsie's 50th birthday celebration. That ride was ALL highway and I made great time. Yes, I got off to a slow start, having to stop in Nashua at a Dunkins' to pee. I didn't think I could hold it for five more minutes, let alone another 2:15! But, once "the pause that refreshes" was taken care of, I ripped right along.

Traffic on 128 and 95 South suck MOST of the time. Coming home was much quicker. There I was, farting along at 75 mph in the center lane when an H-D bagger passes going 85-90. Well, we all know that there is safety in numbers so I cracked it wide and caught up, hanging back a safe and respectful distance. It certainly made the ride home more interesting!

I was lucky all week in dodging the rain drops. Now that I have this nice rain suit, I hate to take it/them out of their perfectly folded bags. Silly, yes, but I'm not pulling over, pulling them out, putting it on for just a few drops. I can put up with soggy clothes closer to home. Each day we've enjoyed a few summer showers, today while the sun shined. These quickly pass, along with the ominous rumbles of thunder. I saw a NICE bolt of lightning strike in Milford by South River Road as I gassed up at the Penguin Mart (no, no penguins for sale there!).

Tomorrow looks like another great day to wheel the bike out and enjoy the air. As it will be July 3rd, our orifice closes early tomorrow, for the Independence Day holiday. Have you noticed that no one calls it Independence Day anymore? Everyone's running about wishing me a Happy 4th of July. To me, it loses the original meaning of this day. It's as if I wished you a Merry December 25th. It's just not the same. People suck.

Once again, I got crap for not writing. I wrote last week but it was pure dreck and after an hour of re-writing I said "F it" and pushed the Delete key. Sometimes you just have to do that. Start over. The only theme that I did want to salvage was that of goalsetting

The thought had occurred to me that the four of us going to Sturgis this year (Führer, Poet, "Doc" - only for his own anonymity, and Rocket) would not be going if not for Ken's putting a metaphorical tent stake in the ground and stating (in no uncertain terms) that "We are going to Sturgis in 2008." What he did was the first step in good goalsetting. He defined the goal. He gave us a target. He gave us a date. He gave us the time to think about it, to plan for it and in many ways, to take some of the many small steps necessary to make this a reality.

I realize that this is the primary reason that the four of us (AKA "The Stumbleweeds") are going to Sturgis this year. If he had simply said that we were going next year, we never would have gone. So much was accomplished in the intervening years that made this goal achievable. Let me start with the obvious, for which this blog is named.

In 2007, I bought the VTX 1300R with Sturgis in mind. I bought all new camping gear, with Sturgis in mind. Etc., etc., etc. Since the start of last year I have been acquiring, spreading out my purchases, mentally preparing for this trip. A friend asked if my wife had a problem with me taking two weeks to go on a solo journey. The answer is no. She, as I, recognize this as a unique opportunity. I won't repeat it soon or maybe ever. Who knows. For you, the case may be that you need to warm up your honey for a getaway like this.

If you want do anything, set the goal and begin planning. Setting the goal is so much more important than even the planning as you may opt to be flexible in your plan. For us, this means no reservations and letting the miles add up where they may. As Poet says, this is when adventure happens.

Click on the link in the title and go read about goalsetting. Create your own "bucket list" of things you want to do and get on the road to accomplishing those goals. Maybe, for fun, in the future (post-trip) I'll publish my own bucket list here. What's on your list?

Or, click on the comments button and submit your thoughts. If they're clean enough, I'll publish in an upcoming blog. Only a couple more posts to go before we leave. Perhaps I can squeeze in one or two, at most. I'll do my best to take copious notes during my trip and to shoot lots of pictures. I fear that when I return, the first couple of posts will be filled with nothing other than pictures of topless, tattooed biker chicks. Well, so be it.

A low, slow wave,

Joe Rocket

"Go West, Young Man!"

That famous quote has long been incorrectly attributed to former Amherst, NH resident Horace Greeley.

We had a planning meeting this past Tuesday night and took Joe Regan's advice to take the ferry 'cross the lake, thereby skipping The Windy City. For those interested in joining us, here's our route:



View Larger Map

For some unknown reason, the small map you see here does not show our ferry trip across Lake Michigan. If you click on the link that says "view larger map", it does. Hmm, maybe that means it will come down to a coin flip.

Presently, we're torn between making ferry reservations and casting our fate (along with our cell phones) to the wind. We'll see.

The new Mustang seat is a joy to my buns. I had no idea that it would resolve the suspension issues I thought I had. The new seat is made from such thick, dense foam that it soaks up almost all of the road shock on rough surfaces. That, along with the extra-wide seat and back rest, give me a very comfortable ride. I haven't had it on any long rides yet but I suspect that the back rest will be its saving grace.

The new lights work well too. I was a little leery of going with the OEM Honda lights but, they were the only ones that would fit around the Honda 'shield. Or, I would have had to go with caliper lights, with no guarantee of service. The lights throw out just enough additional light to make rural riding that much more safe. No more unseen road hazards (like that dead lump of porcupine we hit one night outside of Manchester, coming home from Hampton Beach).

Anyway, I think I have most of my gear now. I need to get some additional bungees in case my load needs to be restrained. You can't just dump your load all over the highway now! My Joe Rocket Phoenix jacket will keep me cool and looking cool, along with the TechWick gear from EMS.

I'm ready for a test-ride soon and may make a run north soon, loaded for bear, to squeeze in a practice camping trip. I'll need to make sure I have all I want to pack on the Sturgis ride, sans the extra clothes, in an attempt to balance the load.

Come five short weeks from now, I'm outta here. Gotto go now, I have plenty of real work ahead of me and I need to finish a very important work presentation for next week. I'll be thinking of this trip the whole time.

A low, slow wave,

Joe Rocket

Slow Your Roll

I'm tempted to write that headline with an exclamation point but that's the old me. I see this article as less of an admonition and more of a statement. I'll explain, as I've been thinking of this topic, at least peripherally, for a little while.

A couple of weeks ago, I heard about a new beverage being sold in Southern states called Drank. It's a play on words for the hip hop drink of grape soda and alcohol. Seems that the hip hop stars of today need to mellow out a bit, to keep from shooting one another.

Last week, I brought my bike in for service and had my teenager follow me to the dealership, for a ride home. I noticed how cautiously, carefully and S-L-O-W-L-Y he drove, in comparison to my riding style. Several times I had to wait for him to catch up. That's when it dawned on me. What's my hurry? Maybe we all need to slow down or Slow our Roll?

For years, I've tried to do anything and everything as fast as I can. Somehow I saw that as a sign of efficiency/quality. I've always felt superior to slow thinkers, slow drivers, slow service providers. What a dick! I'll admit to a need for speed and there is nothing more exhilarating, to me, than blasting down an open stretch of road. But what I'm referring to is the feeling of the need to get somewhere as fast as possible, especially when you're boxed in on the interstate with thousands of other vehicles. And we've all seen the uber-idiots in their Mercedes, or other high-end sedans, self-importantly speeding down the highway for no apparent reason. I don't want to be that guy.

I spoke to an old friend this week about my pending ride to Sturgis. He's made this journey several times and is a font of good information. He reflected on one ride when they had started the journey with a nearly 700 mile day. On the last day of their ride out, they found that they only had 200 miles to cover. He said that they made a point of stopping frequently to enjoy the view, explore and just relish the beauty of their environs. Sounds like this is a good philosophy for everyday living.

Working in New York City will do this to you. For years, I adopted the fast walk, the rush-rush mentality of "get it down quicker" and rushed through my everyday life. I couldn't wait to get up, get out, get to work, get it done and rush home. Whew! I'm tired just thinking of how I used to live. I've been in NH nearly 10 years and the realization has finally dawned on me that I'm losing my old habits. Sure, some of it is age, maturity, call it what you will.

I can remember actually running through the halls of Newport News (where I was a Production Manager). Back when I was called "The Kid" by the likes of Bill Willett, our CEO. I can't imagine what a tool they must have thought I was, those men, then the age of me now, watching me tearing around the building. It's not like I was getting paid by the job. But I was an eager beaver, the "little bulldog" racing about, working on the Penske file. See what I mean?

I'm glad this dawned on me before the Sturgis trip. I want to soak it all in, document my ride, shoot lots of photos and take a lot of notes. I've decided to not blog during the ride as I don't want to lug a laptop to worry about losing or damaging. I want to travel lighter, physically and mentally. This could be a turning point in my life, a life-changing experience, if I allow it to be or, if I don't speed past it on the highway. I plan to slow down, chew slowly and savor the experience.

Maybe this could become a more than a personal lifestyle choice. I could take a cue from Arlo Guthrie's famous song Alice's Restaurant, and start a movement. It could be called the Slow Down for Progress Movement and all you have to do to participate is to sit still. We'll bring back sit-ins, Transcendental Meditation and Tai Chi. And maybe we can all finally learn to surf, legalize marijuana and rediscover the Grateful Dead. Yeah, I'm gonna do this.

They say that if you knew you only had 24 hours to live, you would live your life differently. We all took note of the death of journalist Tim Russert, who died suddenly at age 58 of a massive heart attack. I wonder how he might have spent that day differently, had he known it was his last.

Take a cue from this. Slow down, smell the roses (or the lilacs and the occasional manure truck). This is your only life. Don't rush through, just to get to the end.

A low, slow wave,

Joe Rocket

I've never done this before!

Hi,

I'm doing a quick post from work to tell you my initial impressions of the Mustang seat and the lightbar I added to my bike yesterday.

Holy cow. What a difference an aftermarket seat makes. I had put a Corbin on my Ninja, stupidly just before I sold it but, this makes my current bike a whole different bike. All of the road bumps that I felt are gone. The new seat soaks up all that shock. The back rest is superb and is fully adjustable. I sit higher and now have a perfect view over my windscreen.

The lights are cool too. I was making my way home last night around 9, coming down a very dark, tree-lined street. The auxiliary lights hit the pavement about 15-18 feet dead-center in the road. You can see everything in front of your front wheel. I don’t know how I did without these.

I'll give a full report later after I've had a chance to put some miles on.

Today is a good day to skip work and ride. What are doing reading this then?

A low, slow wave,

Joe Rocket

Email

I love the headlines from Spammers. I wish I could do that as a career. How much fun would it be to sit in a room all day writing ridiculous headlines for atrocious and dubious products/companies? You know, I'm thinking there are comfy couches and an espresso machine, laptops and WiFi. Oh wait, that's college.

AOL does a good job of blocking SPAM (along with a good amount of legitimate mail) but one got through today that made me chuckle:

"Why some people never let ED spoil their life. Here is there secret." First of all, who's ED? What if your name was Ed and now you have this limp dink affliction named after you? Well, the headline led to a cartoon which reminded me that I need to work on my song.

A few weeks back I traveled to Orlando for biz. I managed to squeeze in a little time for fun and had one day to visit with Hughie and get out on his new boat. The weather in Orlando is always sunny and warm. That is, until you just have ONE day to go boating. Then it rains like a Mother-F'er but only after you gone to all the trouble to get the boat out onto the lake. I'll spare you all of the details but two.

I'm driving(?) the boat at pretty high speed on an empty lake when the rain hit. It started gradually and I gunned the engine trying to get out from under the storm cloud. The harder it rained the faster I went. Soon, the rain was blinding me, stinging my face as we attempted to hide behind the short windshield. The rain came at us sideways and I eventually cut the engine before I ran it aground or killed a kayaker. We stopped and put up the small "bikini" top, about as big as one on a Jeep, for a modicum of shelter from the downpour.

Later in the day, the heavens opened up yet again, more fiercely than before. By now, my god-daughter had joined us to get some skiing in. The three us huddled as best we could, under the dash, when eventually a long stream of water ran off the top and down the back of my shorts. It was at that moment I knew I had to write a Country song entitled "It's Raining Down the Crack of my Ass".

Listen, I have to go to work now (you remember work, don't you?) but I'll return soon to post about motorcycling. My new seat arrived and I need to dodge some rain in the next few days to get my bike serviced, light bar installed, etc. I'll comment on the new Mustang seat as soon as I can. I still need a bike cover and one or two more things.

Have a great day.

A low, slow wave,

Joe Rocket

Dry goods

I sure miss the waterproof Givi bags that I had purchased for my previous bike, the Honda VFR. They were designed to custom match that bike when it was last re-designed for the 2002 model year. The leather bags on the VTX are no comparison. A light rain, a mist, an exhalation and everything inside is now wet.

Of course, these bags were never meant to hold off a deluge. Conventional wisdom is that, when it rains, bikers duck for cover. Usually under a convenient overpass where they can have a smoke and meet new friends. I guess that's old school because I've only had to do that one time in my life. The occasion was my first bike trip to Nova Scotia and we got caught somewhere south of Portland, ME, with nary a bridge in sight. By the time we found one, my brakes were so wet, they failed, causing me to use my feet as outriggers to keep my Ninja upright. Yikes! Scared the crap outta me but earned me points with the "hardcores" for not dropping it.



With a two week trip on the near horizon, I needed a better solution to keep my tightie whities dry. No, not Monkey Butt powder, even though I will bring that along. I'm talking about dry bags. Good old compression sack-type dry bags like one uses when kayaking. I sauntered, strolled, stepped (I did NOT sashay) over to EMS today to see what they offered. It's very convenient having their store adjacent to my office building, which makes them a "preferred" vendor. They had four different types/brands to offer and I almost settled on the wide-top ones that looked like a perfect fit for my side bags. Problem is, they just didn't look waterproof enough.

If you have 100 miles to go before bed and it's raining like a mother, guess what? So, I bought the very heavy-duty vinyl coated bags and will wrestle them in and out, as needed. I haven't decided what's going where yet but, my tour pack (thanks to Klimas' Almost New store) has a good cover and I presume my bed-roll and most of my clothes will be stored there. No idea how much I'll be able to fit on my bike until we do a dry-run.

I may have to utilize the "Jerry" method. This involves packing all of your crappiest, rattiest old underwear and T's and tossing them out along the way, once they begin to stink. You therby arrive home bearing a lighter load than with which you departed, with the exception of the DSB. We're shooting for a camping trip soon so this will give me a chance to load and unload my bike a few times as I try to cram all this junk into the limited space I have available. I know I've said this before but, I'm afraid all this stuff I'm buying for this trip is going to sit it out on the floor of the garage! I don't want to look like this guy:



Anyhow, I'll report back on my predicament once we get a date set for our first camping trip. I'm going to try to bring it all (with the exception of two weeks worth of clothing).

For the faint of heart, I hope you didn't get too offended (or aroused) by that mannikin above (yes, look closer).

Also, I will report back on the "MUST HAVE" list soon. I had some good feedback so far but can always use more. Please click on the comment link at the end of this post and send me a comment or your suggestions for the thing or things you don't ride without. My favorite, so far, was from Pinkie, who recommended bringing your own TP along on a long ride. Or, barring that, I suppose I can always "borrow" a old shirt from Jerry...Peace out everyone and

A low, slow wave,

Joe Rocket

Live Free and Die

Just a quick post tonight on the merits of wearing a helmet.

New Hampshire is one of the few states that allow motorcyclists to ride without a helmet. A few members of our little band of hooligans occasionally ride lidless, when the spirit moves them. No one comments or rags them about this. WTF, we're all adults.

I got word today that Box had an accident on Sunday that totalled his ride. He's okay and he credits this to his choice of wearing a helmet that day.

It seems that he was following a panel or box truck on Rt. 101 Sunday afternoon at around 4 PM. It was a sunny day and he was returning from a ride west of here. As the truck slowed to make a turn, Box throttled back and reduced his speed as well.

From the side-street, presumably the one the truck was turning into, some cager decided that this was his perfect opportunity to run the stop sign and enter onto the main road. As he cut across Box's lane, he panicked and stopped. Box leaned it hard to the right but he didn't make it all the way around him. He hit the car broadside, flew over the bars and smacked his head three times on his way across the top of this car, landing on his back.

His comments verbatim: "A helmet might not save your life at 80 mph, but it just might save your life at 30-40 mph". How insightful.

I was thinking of this as I rode home tonight. Up ahead, I saw a car approaching from a side street on my right and wondered what the driver had in mind. As I approached her, I watched as she breezed past the stop sign and looked to her right. Huh? Shouldn't she have looked left towards me, assuming she was just about ready to pull out? What ever happened to Left-right-left? Look twice, lady, and save a life!

I was past her before she had a chance to gaze left. I relaxed a bit and released the grip I had on the brake lever. Another close call.

Please be careful out there, ride defensively, wear a hat. All that. These people are trying to kill you.

A low, slow wave,

Joe Rocket

PS - Do yourself a favor a click on the blog link above.

Yeah, I know.

Zero. Zip. Nada. That's what you've gotten from me in the past ten days. Zilch.

Yeah, I know. You're busy too. And you expect me to rise above the crap I deal with on a regular basis and tell you something good. Hmmph!

Last Saturday was a great day to ride and a few of us made it over to Naults in Manchestie for their Open House. It was supposed to launch at 10AM with food, prizes and a live band (Mama Kicks). We arrived around 11:30 expecting to see it in full swing, coming to a head, such as it were. Nope. The early morning rains must have put a damper on Mama's scamper cause they were nowhere to be seen. Nor was the food vendor. Ah, what now? We examined all of the new and used product and Bosco tried to get me to upgrade to the VTX 1800 from Honda. Um. Hmm. Nice bike but not this year. Maybe not ever.

Finally the band arrived, the food started to cook, we all grabbed our FREE Naults/Honda t-shirts (Jerry and Jay will use theirs to polish their bikes, no doubt...). When we'd had our fill of laying about on a beautiful day, the band decided to finally play and we made our exit to Blowin' Smoke to enjoy a heater and some good conversation. We parted company soon after and made our way home. A short ride, a free meal and some wind in our hair and sun on our faces. Some more than others.


Sunday I fell out of bed before 5AM and raced to the airport for a dash to Orlando, FL, ostensibly for business but mixed with some pleasure too. Friend Hugh relocated two years ago to sunny Winter Garden for his career and has since enjoyed the sun and fun. Recently he purchased his first boat, a very nice ski boat, to be used on the many lakes in his area. We had a little time on the boat Sun/Mon and then it was time to work.

I donned the suit and tie and crafted my best trade show sincere smile. Unfortunately, the show was lightly attended and my smile fell on deaf eyes. Bleh. At least I got see some cronies from the "good old days" in NY. The guys were in rare form and I laugh when I think of one's comment about how Afghanis "don't respect women like we do". Shortly thereafter, we met the buxom cocktail waitress and the irony of that comment was as apparent as her mighty cleavage.

My last-flight-out on Southwest was delayed in-bound due to heavy weather in the Atlanta region. We boarded for Manchester at 10:30 PM and flew into the teeth of the storm. Folks, it nearly became a Vomit Comet. Urp! People were green. We pitched and rolled and I swear I heard prayin'. Maybe it was me. We made it through, landing at 1:15 AM, checked bags retrieved and in the door at 2:15 AM. More bleh.

Today felt a bit like a hangover. After a healthy start, my energy waned as the day passed slowly. And here we are again.

This weekend is Memorial Day and I will do my best to honor the Veterans and those who have died in their service to this country. The weather is going to be perfect for a ride or three days worth of rides. I'm going to try to squeeze in a couple of short ones, in between my other commitments, familial and otherwise.

Have a safe and happy weekend and get out there and ride. I'll be back soon with more of the misadventures of Joe Rocket. Sturgis is about 9 weeks away and I really need to get a jump on some of the shit I've been putting off. Hope to see you on the road.

A low, slow wave,

Joe Rocket

Happy Mother's Day!

Hello everyone and Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms out there. I saw a few Moms today and a whole lot of bikes out on the road. We had a "pitcher" perfect day for our ride. The temps were a little cool early on but the rising sun warmed us nicely and we sped along enjoying the bright sunshine.

Our destination was Pitcher Mountain in Stafford, NH. I'd hiked this in the past and found it to be a fairly quiet destination. The guys huffed and puffed while the gals strode along at a quicker pace. Once at the top, we enjoyed our packed lunches, along with the 360 degree panorama. The swarming blackflies that we had encountered at the base lot were less bothersome at the peak, thanks to a steady breeze.

Here are a few shots I took from the summit:









Admittedly, not the best shots I've ever taken, or taken from this location, but the color was low and everything still looks brown and lifeless. If you click on these pix you will get a better resolution, making them easier to see.

We split up on the way down. Some, pausing to stop at the door-less outhouse; others taking the more direct route down. Matt, Bill and Richard sped towards home while the rest of us headed north for a bit before following suit.

All in all, a nice day, breezing along the back roads of NH. It sure beat yard work!!!

A low, slow wave (to your mother),

Joe Rocket

What a difference a week makes!

168 little hours....Sorry to paraphrase Phoebe Snow but, what a difference a week makes. The leaves popped, the grass is growing, the rain has stopped (for now) and the temps are climbing. Suddenly I feel some enthusiasm for the potential of this riding season. Or maybe that's just the pollen affecting my brain.

Admittedly, it's been pretty crappy here, weather-wise. This weekend could be the start of something BIG. This weekend is Mother's Day and the weather on Sunday looks to be good. Hopefully the forecast will hold. Did you remember Ma or your children's mother? If you're good to her, maybe she will let you ride on Sunday.

It was another crazy week for me, what with a trip down to New York City and all. Last week it was a two-day run to Rochester, so this week's trip paled in comparison. Still, sitting on yer ass, speeding down the highway to the Nexus of the East Coast Universe is stressful. Thankfully I had my Tom Tom Rider, affectionately known to us as "Chad", along for the ride. Nary a missed step, except for user error, when I programmed my destination as E. 30th Street instead of E. 39th Street. Oops! But I caught my error minutes before I would have reached my erroneous destination and it was a minor delay.

This was a business trip that turned into an opportunity to see some old friends. I won't bore you with all the details but I parlayed one cancelled meeting into an opportunity to see some buddies. If you know me, then you should know that I don't give up easily on friends. I'm as loyal as an old dog (yes, I'll admit to having sniffed a crotch or two!). I'm glad I was able to see people that I like, with whom I've shared good times.

Tonight I saw another, in downtown Milford. She is a sweet, older woman who befriended my wife years ago when they worked together. She has a heart of gold and every time we see her, I light up. She is such a good person, so full of love and compassion. I want to find an appropriate way to show her how much she means to me. People like her are in very short supply and need to be cherished.

Sorry to go off on a tangent but, it's late and I should be sleeping. I could almost go for a nice, hot pot of coffee but it's nearly 3AM.

Anyway, as I was saying, the weather's improved, I have a day of riding planned and I'm getting excited about the season, again. I think I've been on two rides so far this year and, if you read last week's missive, am not commuting to work on the bike, either. But I'm pumped about this weekend and can't wait to get out in the wind and sun. I'm sure that I will want to order that new seat. I also need a bike cover for the trip and am considering one of those mini covers that just cover the top half of the bike. It would roll-up a lot smaller and I am starting to get concerned about how much I can pack on the scooter.

So, come Monday, I'll be on the phone ordering a new seat, a bike cover and maybe a few other necessities. Catalogs are starting to pile up around here. I've decided to "rough it" on my current bike rather than shoot for the new bike, the FJR 1300. There's something to be said for riding all the way to Sturgis and, doing it less than "perfectly equipped" will add to the level of adventure. Just wait until I try to pack all my crap on this bike and I realize I have to leave half of it at home! I figger I can get by for two weeks on two pairs of jeans, five t-shirts, a pair of 'dwares and some socks. And just maybe some body spray to cover the funk.

I'll try to write an update following Sunday's ride. The late hour is taking it's toll on my mental processes and I'm slowing down. I just realized that I wasted 10 minutes looking for a dumb photo to add to this post. Yeah, I thought it was funny and then lost all my momentum. Right now I need to crawl back into some sweet dreams and let my mind unwind.

I've got more trips planned for next week and am looking forward to the first one I can pull off on my bike. With gas prices rising again, even motorcycling is getting expensive. A friend remarked on the cost of her recent fill-up, which shocked her. I'm sure it was an all-time high for her. Biker chicks rock. Girls with tats rule. Biker chicks with tats just make me drool. See? My mind is turning to mush. I gotta go.



A low, sleepy wave,

Joe Rocket

Life Behind 'Bars

Editorial note: The gas prices below were corrected following my initial posting. Kudos go to "Eagle Eye" Shane, for his aggressive proof-reading and fact-finding style....

Dear readers and riders,

Another hectic week has passed and my work and writing have suffered, as a result. I'm numb from the pace and know that the next few weeks will bring more of the same. I enjoyed a short work week as a result of two personal days out of the office. Thursday/Friday saw us dashing across MASS and NY states in the car.

After two days of highway driving, I can tell you that I would prefer to avoid the blandness of the interstates as much as possible on our Sturgis ride. The sterility and sameness will make any highway riding a boring part of the trip. Perhaps it's just the industrial Northeast that looks this way or, will it suck until we get West of Chicago?

On the Mass pike, we got boxed in by a long line of tractor trailers who hogged both lanes for a good 10-15 miles. As a result, our average speed through that section was probably 50 mph. Eventually we were able to pass and break free of the congestion but none of those 18-wheelers were about to pull over for a car trying to go 75-80. There's no way they would have moved over for a motorcyclist.

Traffic overall, was heavy for this trip. And gas prices outside of NH were astonishing. Unless you were willing to purchase the no-name brand gasoline, expect to pay close to $4/gallon. We stopped on the NY State Thruway and I refused to put in more than $10 (at $3.75/gal.), enough to get us to our destination. When we reached Rochester, the price was worse, at $3.87/gal. for my preferred Mobil brand. WTF????? That's $.40 more per gallon than we pay here. And I thought we had it bad already!

Today is another wash-out for riding. As I write this, sitting on the couch and watching my favorite Italian princess Giada DeLaurentis cook (and jiggle), the rain outside is pouring down. This is the remnant of the Midwest storm that trounced Arkansas. The realization set in yesterday that this season is going to be a short one. That is, unless we see warm weather all the way through November. With less than 90 days until we depart for Sturgis, I'm hesitant to service my bike or even make the purchases I'd planned to customize it for the ride.

The folks at Mustang Seat offer a 30-day return policy but I can't even imagine getting out more than a few times, in that amount of time, at this point in the season. Even if the weather cooperated, I've been driving a co-worker (who lost her license) to and from work. This wasn't a concern through the winter months but now I'm ready to ride on the occasional nice day. But I can't, thanks to her. She tends to dress in shorts or skirts and open toe shoes/sandals. Plus, she doesn't own a helmet and my old one won't fit. I'm trying to gently encourage her to find other options but I think they are very limited. So, all the miles I put on my bike last year commuting to work, won't happen this year.

So, here I am, not riding for fun or work, thanks to the vagaries of the weather and personal obligations. So much for being a nice guy.

I'm off to NYC this week to meet with, among others, Martha Stewart. Well, I don't know if we will get to meet the domestic diva herself, but I have a meeting with her minions. After that, a quick trip to Orlando, before month's end, for a trade show.

I'm afraid that riding season will "sneak up" on me. It's here but it's not here, y'know? And then, if we're lucky, it will be sunny and warm (or hot) every day and I won't be ready for it. So, what to do? Soldier on, I guess and make preparations to get to Sturgis. We have a planning meeting soon for the four horsemen. Perhaps we can negotiate route planning and come up with an alternative to the current direct (interstates) route.

In preparation for the trip, I'm getting a physical this month. Yes, I'm seeing my cute doctor again and will let her investigate every orifice. I want a clean bill of health for the trip. The weight issue has stagnated and I need to start exercising. I wish that Poet would send me his workout regimen as his results have been transforming. I don't know that I have the wherewithal to get up at 4AM and head outdoors for a long walk/jog/run. But I have to do something. I've plateaued and I'm back to all of my bad (eating) habits. You know, beer, chips...Today will be my last day of freedom and I will attempt to get back on the good foot. Tomorrow.

I'm hoping that some of the readers from other states will comment on their current riding conditions. I'm fortunate that readers have stumbled across (StumbleUpon) this blog and have read it. I'd like feedback from riders outside of New England. How is it in California? Texas? How about Arizona? How is the riding there, this time of the year? I'm hoping that within five years, I can find a new home, with better weather which will allow me to ride year-round or close to year-round. I know a lot of us think about this, so let me know what you are experiencing and your favorite local riding spot.

My apologies for the gloominess. It's a weather thing. See me when the barometer is rising and we'll tear up some asphalt together. Oh yeah, and Happy Cinqo de Mayo!

A low, slow wave,

Joe Rocket

Speed vs. Comfort (or What best represents me?)

Hi kiddies. Just a short post as it's late on a dull Saturday night and I've decided to have a nightcap and listen to some tunes. It's funny how dark some of the music of our youth is. I guess it depends on who you are and "when" your youth was. A little Alice Cooper is wafting from the speakers. Some of you may be of the Pat Boone generation while others are more firmly in the Ramones/Iggy Pop/Sex Pistols/Tubes vein, like me. And, if you're younger than me well, F off then!

I found time today to take another look at the FJR 1300 and I plan to take it for a test ride this week. The issue here is, what's more important, Speed or Comfort? Better half commented on the fixed riding position with my feet tucked back on the pegs. This is contrary to my roomy floorboards and Kuryakyn billet pegs, which allow me to lie back and watch the road from an almost reclined position.

Two totally different bikes (VTX versus the FJR) with different attitudes. It comes down to speed, comfort, niceties like a fuel gauge, ABS brakes and a power adjustable windscreen. Hmm. I like the goodies. I like the technology built into the Yamaha and I know I would be ripping power wheelies with a pocket full of lead.

I'll admit that the VTX is perfect for 90% of the riding that I do, which is backroads. The biggest shortfall is on the highway. Maybe it comes down to finances; what I'm willing to invest in the VTX in the short term, to fix what I see as shortcomings as opposed to what it would cost to me get out of my bike and step up to a new ride.

Or maybe it comes down to identity. Do I really see myself as a cruiser guy? I don't know that I ever have. Jesus Christ! What do I do with all this black leather??????

I'll give you a ride report later in the week. I'm going to head out tomorrow with my favorite biker granny to see if we can find some sweet roads and a few laughs. Tires? Smoke 'em if you got 'em.

A low, slow wave,

Joe Rocket

Perfect riding day

Today was a perfect day to ride. Sunny, warm, dry, the kind of day you could pack on the miles...But I didn't ride today. Today I was a suburban slave: raking, mulching, washing, fixing, charging, seeding. Ah, the joy of home ownership!

Lucky for me, I have friends who are kind enough to rub in the fact that they were riding today and I was not. This morning at 11:15, bent over the mulch pile we all heard it. At first, it sounded like a distant plane. As it got closer my wife made some comment about a train, even though the nearest tracks are a mile or more away. And then I instantly knew what it was. A large group of motorcycles, headed our way.

As they roared around the corner to our street, I smiled a big grin as the insidious leader of this foray, Ultra Bosco cruised up the street bearing a smug, smarmy smile. I waved to some, flipped off others and laughed out loud as the bikes continued to pile into our neighborhood. I lost count after a while. It seemed like everyone in the club made it out today for a ride.

After they rounded the cul de sac the leader of this fiasco pulled up at the end of my driveway. They enjoyed the fact that I was hard at work, sweating in the warm sun. My son ran into the house for my camera so I'll post the few shots I took here.

New friends-


Old friends-














New riders with new bikes:


All of them sparkling prettily in the spring sunshine...



I hope you all had a great ride today. I'm considering having a bumper sticker made that says "My other bike is a rake." Well, we gotta do what we gotta do. When the lawn comes in and the gardens are in full bloom, I'll have my biker friends over to enjoy the fruits of our labors. And you know what? No matter how bad I ache tomorrow when I wake, I'm pulling on my boots and hitting the open road.

This is going to be a great season, a great year. I'm excited that we have new friends to join us as we explore every nook and granny in New England. I'll see you out there my friends.

A low, slow wave,

Joe Rocket

THEY'RE COMING TO TAKE AWAY, HA-HA!

If it doesn't get nice here soon, I'm going to FLIP OUT!




Okay, I realize that when men come from the "funny farm" they don't arrive in a short bus. More likely an ambulance. But I saw this in Nova Scotia last summer and still think it's funny. Funnier than an ambulance.

So who's daft now? Go ask Pat Joller in California.

A low, slow wave on a Thursday morning, on the way to a wet weekend...

Joe Rocket

Slooooow start!

All,

I feel listless, tired and uninspired. I've got little to say, for once! The slow start to the season is bringing me down. Last week, we had a small taste of what it means to ride again and then nothing at all this past weekend, due mostly to the temps, the drizzle and familial obligations. Ah yes! The never-ending battle between the "real world" (family, yard work, chores, etc.) and the open road (smooth roads, fast curves, scenic by-ways, flirtatious bar wenches). Come on! Permit me just a few indulgences!

On a whim, I stopped at the Yamaha dealer tonight on the way home from work, to see if they had the FJR 1300. I just wanted to SEE it. Our local shop is small and has limited inventory and I almost didn't go the 1/4 mile out of my way, on the assumption that they would not have this bike in stock. Well, they did. It was there, all glossy, shiny black in it's newness. The side (hard) bags were not on yet and they had a sold sign on it. Boo! Hiss.

After I raped it with my eyes, the sales guy asked me if I needed anything. A towel for the drool, I suppose (or Crumpet's spanky hanky!). To my happy surprise, it was not sold, the sign was there to protect it from errant feet and the inevitable scuff marks. He pulled it forward for me and I carefully swung a leg over it. Aahh! You know that moment of relief, when you get to sit after standing for a long while? This was like that. A nearly audible sigh escaped my lips.

Wow. Very nice. I didn't bother to ask the kid to run through the specs. I saw most of these online and know this is a killer bike. It looks big, in person, bigger than I expected. I was surprised by the protruding dual, stainless steel exhaust cans. I suppose they are hidden when the hard bags are in place. But, after having a bike with underseat exhaust, anything else looks like ancient history. I wonder how far you can lean this thing? I'd like to see that test in a bike mag!

It has a low seat that I can easily touch down (flat-footed) from, given my 30" inseam. Shorter guys will need smaller bikes, sorry. I would guess this bike is good for riders 5'10" and above.

I felt guilty and didn't tarry. I didn't want to fall in love with it, even though it was too late for that. I just had to "steal a kiss" and be on my way. Perhaps if I were in a better place and could take the hit on my new bike, I'd trade. I don't know. Now I feel all mixed up inside.

I want comfort on my trip this year but I think that I may have the slowest bike in our little foursome. I miss the speed that I got out of my VFR, which was reasonably quick, for a middleweight sport/tourer. Yes, it was a bit uncomfortable on long trips, but this bike is different. Big, roomy, comfortable, adjustable seat, power adjustable windscreen, 1300cc of inline four power, all 145 horses and ABS to haul them to a halt. Fast. Black. Naughty. God, I feel dirty! Like I just cheated on my bike with another bike. This is the bike my mother warned me about...

More to come, and many sleepless nights as I ponder the possibilities. Yes, Pinkie, I called you for a reason. Time to upgrade to a nice,(almost)new VTX 1300. It's been ridden slowly (sort of) and well-cared for. Call me.

A low, slow wave,

Joe Rocket

50 Ways to Save Your Life

Folks,

I don't normally "cut and paste" but I haven't posted all week and I saw this and thought it was a useful reminder. Most of you "cruiser dudes" probably don't read MotorCyclist magazine anyway, due to it's focus mostly on sportier bikes...

Enjoy -

Joe Rocket



50 Ways to Save Your Life
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit. --Aristotle
writer: The Motorcyclist Staff

The best bike in the world is scrap--or soon will be--unless you learn how to use it. The most powerful piece of high-performance hardware is between your ears. To help you program it with the right information, we've assembled 50 potentially lifesaving bits of street savvy. Some you'll know, some you won't. All are worth remembering, because when it comes to riding motorcycles on the street, the people over at the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (www.msf-usa.org) have the right idea with their tagline: The more you know, the better it gets.




1. Assume you're invisible
Because to a lot of drivers, you are. Never make a move based on the assumption that another driver sees you, even if you've just made eye contact. Bikes don't always register in the four-wheel mind.

2. Be considerate
The consequences of strafing the jerk du jour or cutting him off start out bad and get worse. Pretend it was your grandma and think again.

3. Dress for the crash, not the pool or the prom
Sure, Joaquin's Fish Tacos is a 5-minute trip, but nobody plans to eat pavement. Modern mesh gear means 100-degree heat is no excuse for a T-shirt and board shorts.

4. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst
Assume that car across the intersection will turn across your bow when the light goes green, with or without a turn signal.

5. Leave your ego at home
The only people who really care if you were faster on the freeway will be the officer and the judge.

6. Pay attention
Yes, there is a half-naked girl on the billboard. That shock does feels squishy. Meanwhile, you could be drifting toward Big Trouble. Focus.

7. Mirrors only show you part of the picture
Never change direction without turning your head to make sure the coast really is clear.



Mirrors only show you part of the picture.
8. Be patient
Always take another second or three before you pull out to pass, ride away from a curb or into freeway traffic from an on-ramp. It's what you don't see that gets you. That extra look could save your butt.

9. Watch your closing speed
Passing cars at twice their speed or changing lanes to shoot past a row of stopped cars is just asking for trouble.

10. Beware the verge and the merge
A lot of nasty surprises end up on the sides of the road: empty McDonald's bags, nails, TV antennas, ladders, you name it. Watch for potentially troublesome debris on both sides of the road.

11. Left-turning cars remain a leading killer of motorcyclists
Don't assume someone will wait for you to dart through the intersection. They're trying to beat the light, too.

12. Beware of cars running traffic lights
The first few seconds after a signal light changes are the most perilous. Look both ways before barging into an intersection.

13. Check your mirrors
Do it every time you change lanes, slow down or stop. Be ready to move if another vehicle is about to occupy the space you'd planned to use.



Scan 12 seconds ahead for potential trouble.
14. Mind the gap
Remember Driver's Ed? One second's worth of distance per 10 mph is the old rule of thumb. Better still, scan the next 12 seconds ahead for potential trouble.

15. Beware of tuner cars
They're quick and their drivers tend to be aggressive. Don't assume you've beaten one away from a light or outpaced it in traffic and change lanes without looking. You could end up as a Nissan hood ornament.

16. Excessive entrance speed hurts
It's the leading cause of single-bike accidents on twisty roads and racetracks. In Slow, Out Fast is the old adage, and it still works. Dialing up corner speed is safer than scrubbing it off.

17. Don't trust that deer whistle
Ungulates and other feral beasts prowl at dawn and dusk, so heed those big yellow signs. If you're riding in a target-rich environment, slow down and watch the shoulders.

18. Learn to use both brakes
The front does most of your stopping, but a little rear brake on corner entry can calm a nervous chassis.

19. Keep the front brake covered--always
Save a single second of reaction time at 60 mph and you can stop 88 feet shorter. Think about that.

20. Look where you want to go
Use the miracle of target fixation to your advantage. The motorcycle goes where you look, so focus on the solution instead of the problem.



Check your mirrors every time you change lanes.
21. Keep your eyes moving
Traffic is always shifting, so keep scanning for potential trouble. Don't lock your eyes on any one thing for too long unless you're actually dealing with trouble.

22. Think before you act
Careful whipping around that Camry going 7 mph in a 25-mph zone or you could end up with your head in the driver's side door when he turns into the driveway right in front of you.

23. Raise your gaze
It's too late to do anything about the 20 feet immediately in front of your fender, so scan the road far enough ahead to see trouble and change trajectory.

24. Get your mind right in the driveway
Most accidents happen during the first 15 minutes of a ride, below 40 mph, near an intersection or driveway. Yes, that could be your driveway.

25. Come to a full stop at that next stop sign
Put a foot down. Look again. Anything less forces a snap decision with no time to spot potential trouble.

26. Never dive into a gap in stalled traffic
Cars may have stopped for a reason, and you may not be able to see why until it's too late to do anything about it.

27. Don't saddle up more than you can handle
If you weigh 95 pounds, avoid that 795-pound cruiser. If you're 5-foot-5, forget those towering adventure-tourers.



Stay in your comfort zone riding with a group.
28. Watch for car doors opening in traffic
And smacking a car that's swerving around some goofball's open door is just as painful.

29. Don't get in an intersection rut
Watch for a two-way stop after a string of four-way intersections. If you expect cross-traffic to stop, there could be a painful surprise when it doesn't.

30. Stay in your comfort zone when you're with a group
Riding over your head is a good way to end up in the ditch. Any bunch worth riding with will have a rendezvous point where you'll be able to link up again.

31. Give your eyes some time to adjust
A minute or two of low light heading from a well-lighted garage onto dark streets is a good thing. Otherwise, you're essentially flying blind for the first mile or so.


32. Master the slow U-turn
Practice. Park your butt on the outside edge of the seat and lean the bike into the turn, using your body as a counterweight as you pivot around the rear wheel.

33. Who put a stop sign at the top of this hill?
Don't panic. Use the rear brake to keep from rolling back down. Use Mr. Throttle and Mr. Clutch normally--and smoothly--to pull away.


34. If it looks slippery, assume it is
A patch of suspicious pavement could be just about anything. Butter Flavor Crisco? Gravel? Mobil 1? Or maybe it's nothing. Better to slow down for nothing than go on your head.


35. Bang! A blowout! Now what?
No sudden moves. The motorcycle isn't happy, so be prepared to apply a little calming muscle to maintain course. Ease back the throttle, brake gingerly with the good wheel and pull over very smoothly to the shoulder. Big sigh.



Hedge your bets at intersections.
36. Drops on the faceshield?
It's raining. Lightly misted pavement can be slipperier than when it's been rinsed by a downpour, and you never know how much grip there is. Apply maximum-level concentration, caution and smoothness.

37. Emotions in check?
To paraphrase Mr. Ice Cube, chickity-check yoself before you wreck yoself. Emotions are as powerful as any drug, so take inventory every time you saddle up. If you're mad, sad, exhausted or anxious, stay put.

38. Wear good gear
Wear stuff that fits you and the weather. If you're too hot or too cold or fighting with a jacket that binds across the shoulders, you're dangerous. It's that simple.

39. Leave the iPod at home
You won't hear that cement truck in time with Spinal Tap cranked to 11, but they might like your headphones in intensive care.

40. Learn to swerve
Be able to do two tight turns in quick succession. Flick left around the bag of briquettes, then right back to your original trajectory. The bike will follow your eyes, so look at the way around, not the briquettes. Now practice till it's a reflex.

41. Be smooth at low speeds
Take some angst out, especially of slow-speed maneuvers, with a bit of rear brake. It adds a welcome bit of stability by minimizing unwelcome weight transfer and potentially bothersome driveline lash.

42. Flashing is good for you
Turn signals get your attention by flashing, right? So a few easy taps on the pedal or lever before stopping makes your brake light more eye-catching to trailing traffic.

43. Intersections are scary, so hedge your bets
Put another vehicle between your bike and the possibility of someone running the stop sign/red light on your right and you cut your chances of getting nailed in half.

44. Tune your peripheral vision
Pick a point near the center of that wall over there. Now scan as far as you can by moving your attention, not your gaze. The more you can see without turning your head, the sooner you can react to trouble.



Everything is harder to see after dark.
45. All alone at a light that won't turn green?
Put as much motorcycle as possible directly above the sensor wire--usually buried in the pavement beneath you and located by a round or square pattern behind the limit line. If the light still won't change, try putting your kickstand down, right on the wire. You should be on your way in seconds.

46. Every-thing is harder to see after dark
Adjust your headlights, Carry a clear faceshield and have your game all the way on after dark, especially during commuter hours.

47. Don't troll next to--or right behind--Mr. Peterbilt
If one of those 18 retreads blows up--which they do with some regularity--it de-treads, and that can be ugly. Unless you like dodging huge chunks of flying rubber, keep your distance.

48. Take the panic out of panic stops
Develop an intimate relationship with your front brake. Seek out some safe, open pavement. Starting slowly, find that fine line between maximum braking and a locked wheel, and then do it again, and again.

49. Make your tires right
None of this stuff matters unless your skins are right. Don't take 'em for granted. Make sure pressure is spot-on every time you ride. Check for cuts, nails and other junk they might have picked up, as well as general wear.

50. Take a deep breath
Count to 10. Visualize whirled peas. Forgetting some clown's 80-mph indiscretion beats running the risk of ruining your life, or ending it. -MC

Thanks, but I'm not ready yet!

My younger brother had a heart attack a week ago today. At age 47, he is too young for this sort of nonsense. In retrospect, his age was a big advantage in his surviving this medical crisis. I'm not going to go into the causes of his illness but I do know that one factor was stress.

As we spoke tonight, I laughingly blurted out that it was time for him to get a motorcycle. He agreed that life was short and that maybe he would look into this. After I hung up the phone, I realized this is exactly what he needs to alleviate some of the stress in his life.

Another friend, an old friend, a good man, is in the process of getting a divorce. His world has been turned upside down and he struggles to keep his family together while being forced to sell his home, so he can pay off his cheating wife. He too, is at a crossroads in his life. A motorcycle is just what he needs to meet a better class of people.

They say you never see a motorcycle parked outside a shrink's office. I'd bet there's some truth to that.

We are the free, the feral, the untamed, the unwashed. But we're also eloquent, thoughtful, generous, kind and considerate. I'd do anything for my brothers and I know they would always be there for me too.

It's important to me to have the time, the freedom and the free will to go where I want, when I want and with whom I want. I need a little inner space to be myself, to explore this side of me. I can be domesticated but I can't be tamed. Call that anti-social if you will, I prefer to think of it in terms of being in touch with one's id, devoid of the social niceties and political repression foisted upon us by pressure groups trying to force conformity and their own world-view.

I have goals and dreams which are mostly about living my life the way I decide to. I want my life to be memorable, to me and others around me. I want to laugh with my friends and have fun.

Life's too short to settle for a crappy one. I'm going to ride as long as I can, knowing that this lifestyle is a healthy part of who I am.

Follow your dreams..."'cause if you don't know where you're going, any road will take you there".

A low, slow wave,

Joe Rocket

First ride, 2008

The Open Road Beckons.......




















First ride 2008: Impressions

Sunny, cold
Tires low
Manny & Jay
Bad drivers elicit thrown crackers
Snow melting, falling through sunny sky
Frost heaves 6, front fork 0
Bump, thump, Whoa!
Hang on.
Loud pipes, growly twin
Old friends, new acquaintances
Twisty, turny river road
Snowy fields glisten
Warm sun, cold hands
Tom Turkey napping
Hot coffee, spicy chili
No gas
Late for Whizzer, Bye Jay
Stop for smoke
Purple haze
Hurry, now late!
Gas, home
Hidden smile
Repeat as necessary.

Damn Sexy

I don't care what you think, I still say this bike is DAMN SEXY!

Are you listening?

I'm just wondering if anyone has used the FineTune application that sits on the left side there (go ahead, scroll down to look). If you click on it, you can listen to a playlist I picked out just for you (yes YOU). See? You don't think I do anything for you but I do.

Anyway, there's two different playlists there and I was about to add a third one when I realized I CAN'T REMEMBER ANOTHER PASSWORD! Holy shit. I don't know why I need so damn many passwords. Every friggin' site has its own protocol. Is it six letters and a number or eight letters. My brain RAM is full. I'm going to start carving these into the top of my desk at home. If you break into my house, you can have all the crap on my PC. How's that? Jesus!

So, this may be the end of playlists or I'll have to start over with FineTune. I like this program because it's (say it with me) FREE. I actually found songs there that I can't BUY on iTunes. Hmm. So, I'll try again or, get some vitamins or whatever will help me unclog my brain.

Also, I think we might ride (oh yeah, this is a motorcycle blog, innit?) tomorrow, Sunday. It is forecast to be in the high 40's and it will be warm enough to pull the cover off and put all the parts back together today. I'm going to try to rendezvous with Jerry midday. Not sure who else has their scooter out yet, besides Manny.

So, here we go. Back on two wheels again. Jeez, I sure hope everything still fits...

A low, slow wave,

Joe Rocket

A sturdy stool

Yes folks, at my age, all I want out of life is a good sturdy stool!

This is a shameless plug for a product I bought today at EMS. It's called the Tri-light stool and it is manufactured in Orono, Maine. If you click on the title (tired of hearing that YET?) it will take you to the manufacturer's site.

I was looking at some triangular seated camp seats, or stools, last year at EMS. They were too large to pack on the bike and I didn't like the way that third section snuck up on me, if you know what I mean. The guys in the crowd certainly will. It was a bit like riding a Western saddle.

Anyway, I was goofing off during the day yesterday and I wandered next door to EMS. I saw this small collapsible camp stool and had to have it. My only trepidation was the weight limit (200 lbs) but, I tested it and it did not groan audibly once. The legs are tubular steel and it has a nylon connector in the middle.

Here are a couple of shots I just took. That pica stick (who can tell me what it's used for?) has measurements up to 12" but the overall length is closer to 13".



I know that I can drop this into my saddlebags or bungee it to any part of the bike for a trip. It's light and durable and it will keep me off the ground. The next shot here is the opened stool. It is very easy to deploy.



The absolute best part of this nifty little camping chair is the price. I bought this for $20 at EMS. I grabbed the only one in stock but I bet you can find it online. The mfr. also offers links to retailers so poke around until you find it.

I'll do a test evaluation after its first real use. My teenager predicts that I will forget that it doesn't have a back and I will tumble ass over tea kettle. We'll see.

Stay tuned for more EXCITING product reviews.

A low, slow wave,

Joe Rocket

The advantages of deerskin

Click on the title to visit Lee Parks Design web site. Lee is a friend of a former co-worker and he was kind enough to spend time on the phone with me a few years back as I was trying to get ideas for self-employment. I haven't made that leap yet but his advice has stayed with me and I truly believe I am moving closer to that goal.

Check out his gloves and stuff. They make the nicest deerskin riding gloves for motorcyclists. I see that he will be at Americade this year and maybe, if time permits, we can finally meet in person.

Maybe I can get a new pair of gloves to go with this stylin' chapeau....



Here's that link again, for the anonymous user who can't follow directions:

http://www.leeparksdesign.com

Now go get yourself some deer hide.

Joe Rocket

Happy Easter/Pulpit Rock Hike

From Wiki:

A rock formation called Pulpit Rock (originally the Devil's Pulpit), is located in the northwest part of the town on New Boston Road and is the feature of the town-owned Pulpit Rock Conservation Area.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
We managed a short hike today as the man-child has been working since early this AM. We were so THRILLED when his alarm went off at 5:30 AM, an hour earlier than planned. The whole family was up and we two got out of bed to find out what was going on.

After a groggy start and much coffee, we dragged off in search of adventure. The parking lot at Pulpit Rock Conservation area was glassy with ice and it made for a fun start to our hike. The trails to the waterfalls were mostly packed granular but there was a good amount of ice on them as well.

The bridges that traverse the many small streams were covered with 2+ feet of snow, worn to a narrow, icy ridge. How comforting to stroll across these and know that a good soaking is only a misstep away. Somehow, I managed not to fall in.


We made our way to the falls and enjoyed the solitude and quiet whooshing sounds of the water in motion. There were lots of icicles and ice-covered rocks. A few spots of sun shone in so I could capture these:





It's almost time to roll the motorcycle out of the garage and fire it up for the first time of the season. It's been on a charger all winter and, as I sit here writing this, the thought occurs to me that I have not seen the key to the VTX since I covered it! I sure hope I didn't leave it in the ignition. Most likely in one my jackets. Ah well, it will turn up.

Anyway, the weather is slowly turning warmer and more and more riders/bikers are being spotted out and about (oot and aboot). Yesterday, it was a BMW K1200S rider on a bumblebee yellow and black model pulling out not far from Second Wind BMW. I'm sure he was either test-riding or stopping in for a bit of gear.

Friend Manny "claims" to have had his Harley-Davidson V-Rod (AKA The MAN-Rod) out for a 30 mile jaunt recently. He also reminds everyone he knows that, "Yes, it is for sale." It's just one bike in his collection...

Apologies to the friends who attended this month's T3 (Third Thirty Thursday) event which took place this past week. I was returning from a road trip and arrived too late to join you. But I was there in spirit, even if my sad, solo dinner that night came courtesy of a road-side Taco Bell instead of a higher quality mexican restaurant. I heard about the band but no one mentioned the food. Was it that bad? Was Shorty's better than the new Casa Blanca restaurant? I'd like to know and will endeavor to get there soon, mariachis or not.

That's all I have for today. The season should be starting soon and I will have something motorcycle related to write about again. It's been a long winter but spring is officially here, even if it doesn't look much like it, from my vantage point. I'm looking forward to riding again, lots of new roads, some camping, lots of fun and time spent on the road with you, my fellow riders. It looks like it will reach 50 degrees here by 4/1 but then we have some April showers to contend with. Are you getting wet?

A low, slow wave,

Joe Rocket

Tow job

I mentioned this in an earlier blog but I'll mention it again as I think it is important and a great value. Get a towing option for your bike this year. I know there are several different ones out there and some of you may be covered by your car insurance or AAA.

If you are a member of AMA (and why wouldn't you be?) the cost for MoTow is $25/year. Short money for peace of mind. Yes, I got responses back from several who have, or think they have, better policies. Great. Good. As long as you have one.

I don't anticipate any problems on the way to Sturgis this year but I DO plan to anticipate them (all) in advance. Good planning = POM (peace of mind).

And I promise not to go all "hinky" on my riding partners but rather to "go with the flow", as long as the flow is @ 80 MPH.

The new issue (April) of the AMA mag The American Motorcyclist arrived today with 99 riding tips. Can't wait to devour this issue. Get your own free subscription (and that membership) at http://www.amadirectlink.com/

This weeks rain will devour the snow. A rider was spotted in Milford this weekend. Was it you?

A low, slow wave,

Joe Rocket

S'no Problem!

Maybe we should all just trade our bikes in for snowmobiles and call it a day.

Happy Saturday, or at least it is while I am writing this post. Another weekend, another snow storm. This is like the itch you can't scratch. We are so close to the start of the season here and yet, the snow contines to pile up.

I was in Boston for a good part of the week, attending a work conference. I ended the week with lunch at a small Italian restaurant. Within minutes of sitting, I heard the familar rumble of a V-twin. I looked up and there was Burly Earl, astride his white (WTF?) H-D. A few minutes later a sport bike. A few more and here comes a BMW Dual Sport. I swear, by moving south by 20 miles, we could extend our riding season by a few months!



Click on the link above (in title) to see a very cool video and potentially the solution to our problem. As I sit here and wonder how others cope with the same problem, I allowed Mr. Google (just Goog, to me) find me some answers. Here are a few of the pictures I found:





Thank goodness there are enough insane people in this world to keep it interesting.

That's all I have for today. I just wanted to share the link and these photos. I'm going to turn my attention to the latest issue of MotorCyclist magazine (www.motorcyclistonline.com) and a nice, hot cup of coffee.

Enjoy your weekend and don't hurt yourself shoveling!

A low, slow wave,

Joe Rocket

Best source of music for My G-G-Generation

If you are of a "certain age" (and you know who you are) then you will appreciate this site I am about to lay on you: http://concerts.wolfgangsvault.com/

Wolfgangs Vault (www.wolfgangsvault.com) is the brainchild of Bill Graham,the pre-eminent concert promoter of the 60's and 70's. From the site:

Wolfgang was Bill Graham, the man whose genius for bringing performer and audience together shaped the rock concert as we have come to know it. Born Wolfgang Grajonca in Berlin in 1931, he escaped Nazi Germany to grow up in a foster home in the Bronx and anglicized his name at the age of 18. Bill Graham, who would come to be known as the midwife of the modern rock concert, was smart and forward-thinking, an opportunist and a listener, fair and ferociously demanding, and he remembered his roots: in the 1980s he opened a small San Francisco club and named it Wolfgang's.

This site allows one to stream live concert audio from some of the best live rock shows of that period.

It's free, just give them your email address and a password and you're in. You can thank me for this later.

Joe Rocket

Let's Go Tripping!

Road tripping, that is. Man, I can't wait. I can almost taste the smell (?) of exhaust, gasoline and rubber. Today's downpour is eating away at the huge snowbanks and washing off the roadways. I'd settle for another few days of this if it meant I could ride by this weekend.

My little roadtrip to CT and NY this past week put me in the mood. I saw more than a few guys out on their scooters. The temps were in the low 50's and I was heartened by the sunny days and clean roads. The trip was fraught with frustration but had some high points as well.

For one, I was out of the office, which is always a good thing. I like to travel and feel quite claustrophobic when I get stuck in the office on a regular basis. I intend to fix this!

The frustration lies in working on a project, facing hurdle after hurdle, finally to run into a brick wall at the end. I had to do some fast adjustment to the situation (road hazard!) and move on. I was a tad PO'd but I've since moved on. Some of that anger was borne out of fear and disillusionment but I recovered and am moving down the road.

I tossed the the question out last to see who would be the first to get their bike on the road this year and several took this as a challenge. Maybe tomorrow will be the day. I need to check the weather, pull the charger off and put the stock seat back on. Of course, when I tore this all apart late last year, I put bolts all over the place. I sure hope I can find all the parts!

The roads here are a mess, with deep fissures in the pavement, large upheavals of tar, thanks to the frost "heavies" and sand everywhere. If I do get out soon, it will be a short, slow ride.

Here's a shot of me and my buddies, taken last year:

Yeah, we look great in tight leathers!

Okay, so that's not really us and we ride more traditional cruiser-style bikes these days. But that shot gives me hope for a long riding career and many more miles behind me.

It's about time to start planning some of the early rides of the season. Shorter, closer to home and definitely in a southerly direction. I guess we missed Daytona Bike Week again. I'll have to save that for another year. What else is coming up? Is there a big ride happening soon in the Mid-Atlantic states? Hatteras??? Let me know if you hear of anything good and I'll post it here.

It is supposed to hit high 40's to low 50's here by late this week. So, maybe a week from today, I'll be out there, on the road again ("...I just can't wait to get on the road again..."). I guess Willie was right. Nothing better than that unfettered freedom that you find only on the road, away from your worries, cares and problems.

I'm long overdue for some two-wheeled therapy.

A low, slow wave,

Joe Rocket

This is what it's all about...Sturgis

I'm feelin' a bit "unda the weathah", under by about four feet of snow! By now, I had hoped to be telling you about some upcoming rides but the local weatherman is not cooperating. I have a friend working over there at WMUR now and I may need to have him lean on the "weather-boys" a little bit...

But fear not, Spring is on its way. The Vernal Equinox is less than three weeks away. The weather this week is trending warmer with some "In like a lion" rainfall to help wash away the snow. I'm doing some traveling this week so I will be able to check out some of the states just south of us. I'll report back on any bikes spotted. I did hear one sport bike in the Boston area tearing down the highway but I was parked out of sight of the road and couldn't make out what it was. It sounded like an inline four, though.

I have a whole list of stuff to talk about but, it seems too soon. I can't wait for the season to start so I can post some ride reports and photos, interspersed with my trip plans. I can't wait for the start of camping season too, so I can test drive all my new gear. I hope to be able to share those gear reviews with you all.

On the commercial side of things, the Google ads on this site are there as a curiousity. If you see an interesting ad, click on it and go see what they have to offer. Since November, I think I "earned" a grand total of $7 (I'm rich!) but I didn't bother to fill out a tax ID form so I'm not getting that in any event or, until I do so.

I put the hyperlink to the Official Sturgis Rally in the title (just click on the title headline) so you can see what we have in store for us. I think that the official countdown is 154 days (from today) but, we plan to leave in advance of that date so we leave in about 20 weeks or so. I am sure we will do a lot of riding before then.

Last night, I flipped through the Kuryakyn Metric catalog for some billet and chrome goodies. Lots of nice stuff in here and it pays to spend the extra dough if you plan to keep your bike for a while. You can download the 2008 catalog right from their site. Here's the link to their home page: http://www.kuryakyn.com/index.asp. At the very least, I want to add a light bar from them.

The seat has been picked out but I'll hold off on that purchase until I can put it on the bike and properly test it.

On a positive work note, my company has decided that "dress down" is the new standard of work wear, which means I can wear jeans and riding boots to work every day, should I choose to. That will give me a little more flexibility and should allow me to ride the scooter to work most days. It's a PITA to throw outer gear over work clothes and to bring shoes, etc. This will be a nice benefit, come spring.

I guess that's all for today folks. I'm not much in the mood, I have a work assignment hanging over my head, that I've been dabbling at all afternoon, and I can't quite get psyched yet about the start of the season. The locals here know that after snow comes mud season, followed by road repair (for all the potholes and damage from frost heaves). Somewhere around June the DPW will get around to sweeping all of the sand off the roads, that they dumped all winter.

For the guys and gals in my crew, don't forget about T3 on 3/20. We'll have this at a new venue this month so make sure you read the emails on Yahoo or look at Da Flugel's calendar. I'll see you soon.

A low, slow wave,

Joe Rocket