Ch, ch ch, changes

I am no longer posting to this blog. To find out where I'm riding and how much fun I'm having while I ride, visit my new blog, HardRider

Riding in the Cold

Friday after work it was as nice at it has been for several weeks (low 40's, sunny). I went home and jumped on the Road King for a spin. Satuday was a bit windy and cooler but I rolled out, jumped on the interstate and headed down to American Falls, about 24 miles one way. A bit nippy at 75 but hey, that's riding in s.e. Idaho. Today I was hoping for more but still down in the twenties and it was snowing like hell a little while ago. We shall see. Meanwhile, my most recent batch of home-brew, a dark brown ale, needs to be racked to secondary fermentation and I have other things to keep me busy. Spring can't be too far off can it?

Biker, Bikerpoet, and ....Brewmeister?

Last night I uncapped the first bottle of home-brew I've ever done. Its a "special bitter" ale and tastes somewhat like "Red Hook". Nice amber color, strong hoppy taste and it opened with a pleasant "pfffft" so I knew I had good carbonation. I bottled five gallons, but I'll probably give a lot of it away to friends. In fact, although I love good beer, I will probably make more beer than I will ever come close to drinking myself. Home brewing is, I believe, a social networking hobby. Brewing friends got me started by sharing their products and I will be doing the same. I will start a batch of dark ale tomrrow. From cooking to opening the first bottle takes three to four weeks.

Since the roads are too icey for riding Imight as well be doing something productive and home-brewing kinda fits my personality and my personal life philosophy; relax, don't worry, have a beer.

Riding season begins? Well, maybe not.

I hadn't ridden for almost a month and I was getting a bit crazy, going out to the garage and staring at my bike, sitting in the saddle and making motor noises.The streets have remained snow packed and icy since well before Christmas. On Thursday and Friday it warmed enough to melt most of that ice and on Saturday at about midday I rolled out and rode for a couple of hours. It was wonderful. Cold but satisfying. The temperature was about 30-31 degrees for most of the ride and when I hopped onto the interstate and climbed up to 70mph it was a "bracing" experience. With my insulated overhauls and boots I was fine. I was hoping to go longer today but, alas, more snow fell overnight and the streets are unsafe again. Sigh!

My goal is still to ride here in SE Idaho in all 12 months of the year. I need only to ride next month to reach that goal, but I still want to ride NOW!

Happy New Year!

It's been almost a month since my last post. Chalk that up to general sloth and a depression brought on by crappy, unridable winter weather. The bike hasn't been out of the garage for at least three weeks now. Snow packed and icy roads prevail in my neighborhood and I'm not overly anxious to go down. I do get out to the garage several times a week to sit in the saddle and start her up. Wouldn't want her to think I don't love her.

Anyway, Christmas was great. Santa brought me a beer brewing set up and as I write five gallons of Special Bitter is bubbling merrily in the back bedroom. I've been wanting to brew my own for some time and I was excited to receive this gift. I shall use it wisely, always keeping in mind my friends who might otherwise be reduced to drinking some form of "lite" or worse yet, Coors.

I've enjoyed my few days off but tomorrow it's back to work for me. I wish all of you a Happy 2008 with many road trips to come.

My Wish for You in 2008

May peace break into your house and may thieves come to steal your debts. May the pockets of your jeans become a magnet of $100 bills. May love stick to your face like Vaseline and may laughter assault your lips! May your clothes smell of success like smoking tires and may happiness slap you across the face and may your tears be that of joy. May the problems you had forget your home address! In simple words ............

May 2008 be the best year of your life!!!

Biker Babe of the Week

Dear Santa,

Uglicoyote has been a good boy this year. Could you please bring him something that looks just like this. He promises to ride with care.
(I'm talking about the Bike! Boy, you guys sure have nasty minds.)

My Kind of Tree

It took a little while, but with the help of some bros, I finally got my tree up.

Weather still ridable, sort of.

There's a skiff of snow rolling round out there this morning but it supposed to be clear later in the day. I'll go for a ride if it clears up a bit. I haven't ridden since last Monday as weather and some hauling needs have kept me in the cage and i was out of town for three days. I'm starting to exhibit withdrawal symptoms; shaking, irritability, depression, making strange engine noises, etc. Of course some of that could be the tequila.

Another Day, Another Ride

I continue to marvel at the fact that we are still having ridable weather at this late date in November. Last year at this time we had ice and snow. The bikes were in the barn. Today I wnet for a great ride with four friends and it was beautiful. Cold, but sunny and calm, near perfect riding weather. With regular stops to warm up, I could have ridden all day. I hope this keeps up.