Hi,
Thanks for the warning on the laces. I'll watch for that. I have both pull-on (tall) and lace-up (tall and not-so-tall). Don't have any that are "just" over the ankles except a pair I use as dress shoes, so I rarely wear them.
Thought you all might appreciate a story about being the oldest in a group of riders and riding the only bike in that group that was made in the last century. If you hate stories about individuals who follow their own style and 20 year old BMW motorcycles, stop reading now.
Last Saturday I went on my first group ride with a group I found on-line.
I've been practicing and noticing improvements from practice and advice I've gotten here and on other sites. While I love the bike more and more I am also learning that the worst part of it is the nut connecting the saddle to the handlebars! I'm often rolling my eyes at myself... oh, well. I finally felt confident enough in myself and the bike to try riding with others so I gear up and head out. I already knew the ride was going to be mostly streets, which I was comfortable with and I also know the route and location. I've driven those streets many, many times through the years.
I show up at the meeting spot.
I roll up (we met at a gas station) and the back wall is solid sports bikes. Mingling about are children! I mean youngsters less than 30 or 40 years old.
I have a good internal laugh.
I turn off the bike but I'm still on it as I talk with a couple of the nearest guys, one of them I later find out is the ride organizer. He seems to reluctantly welcome me. While I'm talking the other guy says, "You're leaking oil or something...". I look down and see fuel dribbling from the right carb. I say "Oh yeah, I have to turn this off...", as I reach down and turn off the petcocks. Since my feet were on the ground and not the pegs, it missed my boot this time. It's happened before and I've been managing it by turning off the fuel before arriving or at least a few seconds before shutting down and then parking the bike on the center stand. I noticed that parking the bike on the side stand virtually guarantees it will leak.
One of these things is not like the others...
I park the bike at the end of the row. By the time I get it up on the center stand it's not leaking and the embarrassing evidence has evaporated. I try to casually mingle with the youngsters. I felt like an immortal giant mingling with a bunch of kittens. And they act just as friendly; nice and welcoming, so I start to relax. I end up talking to a few even though I feel totally out of place.
Oh yeah, You blend!
Got the coat second hand. Now I think it's a bit big on me. Oh well, it was also cheaper than new.
The group organizer comes over to me and shakes my hand and welcomes me. He has a look at my motorcycle, "BMW, huh? That looks fun."
"Oh it is. I'm enjoying it."
He says, "It looks like a cartoon bike". I laugh. He laughs.
30 minutes later we're all on the road. There ends up being about 15 of us.
It took me a bit to get my bearings. There are more things to manage in a group, but I'm quickly right in the last 3 of the group where it's less complicated. I keep up just fine. MSF, DVD and online advise flowing through my head. One of those things I got recently online was to keep the revs around 3000. I was not doing that before. This day, in traffic, that advice was very helpful. I notice several of the other riders making mistakes that I've been warned against. We all stick together except when the group is cut up by lights, etc.
These guys seemed very organized. I guess using their phones and headsets they could communicate with each other. The main group members seemed to have specific jobs and certain riders were meant to stay towards the front, middle or rear of the group. There was always a "sweeper" who followed last to make sure no one got left behind. For example when I lost my original sweeper, who had to go to the bank, another rider dropped back to take his place. She insisted I move ahead so she could follow. If some of us got caught at a light, she could tell the leaders to slow or stop so our smaller group could catch up.
One time she pulls up next to me at a light. We start talking. She suddenly says, "Gee, my bike's getting hot or something". I notice her touching her leg and the side of the bike that's facing me. I say, "That's probably heat from my bike. These things sticking out are the heads and the bike is cooled by radiating heat from all these fins". "Really? Hey, I think you're right. It's not hot on the other side". I laugh internally.
Out of the way! 60 hp comin' through!!
By the way, what do I do about the rusty headers? Is that normal? Will they fail? Should I replace them?
We reach the location, Griffith Park Observatory and after parking the group is free to wander around. I've taken off and stowed my coat, helmet and gloves. Since they all know each other they sort of break up into a few small groups. I'm kind of on my own but I see several of them walking by, leaving the parking lot with their heavy gear.
I ask, "What's happening now? Why are you taking your helmets and jackets?"
One says, "Because we don't want them stolen."
Another says, "Because we don't have those", pointing to my panniers. I smile internally and enjoy my freedom; wandering around carrying nothing but a bag of trail mix and my bottle of water.
We end up leaving about an hour later. Within minutes we are going back down hill but my motorcycle is sputtering and dieing. No. Now it's dead. I have the clutch in and am coasting down the hill. Rolling my eyes at myself, I reach down and turn the petcocks back on. I give it some throttle and hit the ignition. The bike wakes up and no one is the wiser (please don't tell anyone about this!
) We end up having lunch nearby and then breaking up to head home. Before we all leave the parking lot most of them walk over to me and say good-bye, shaking my hand. Even some of the guys that I did not even get to talk to much. Very nice of them. It's a long solo ride for me through the city. It's about 4:30 and the sun is low. I know the city very well and I ride home picking a longer route. I'm alone. It's easy. I'm happy.
Just thought I'd share that. Forgive me if you've heard it all before.
