Snowing again...

As I sit, the snow continues to fall. We're expecting another 3-7" of snow only to be topped off with some rain and potential ice. I guess the bike will be sitting in the garage for a few more days.

On an up-note, this means we're one day closer to the "sane person's" riding season. I know most of you lock your bikes away in early to mid-November and there they sit until Spring. I'm not one of those but I'm also not completely crazy (just a little). Though I've heard of bikers in the area out riding in blizzard conditions. Now that's just plain crazy!

Oh well, back to the snow...

Ian

Nice, but not biker related...

I had a great surprise tonight. My wife and I were on our way home from the grocery store when my cell phone began to ring. To my great surprise, it was my 17 year old son. He told me he was on his was on his way home from band practice and was wondering if I'd like to go out for a coffee.

I'm sure you can imagine what was going through my mind at that point. Something's happened, car accident, girl troubles, who knows what. I simply asked "Everything OK?" His answer was a relief. He indicated that he just wanted to hang out with the old man as we haven't had much time alone lately.

I'm pleased to say, that's exactly what we did. We hit Starbucks and grabbed a coffee and just talked. What a great surprise!

Enjoy your evening!!!

Ian

Biking Problem...

I was accused of having a biking problem this weekend. This was a direct comment to a post from a friend of mine. Now I know he was joking but I guess he's right. If truth be told, I suppose I'm addicted.

Riding is one of the most relaxing things I do. After a long day of work, I can think of no better way to unwind than by putting a few miles on the bike. Why does it relax me, clear my head? Well, the steady drone of the engine just has a soothing effect on me. Objects flying by at a high rate of speed is equally relaxing. The need for total focus on everything I do, everything going on around me, results in removing all other thoughts from my mind. In the end, I'm at peace with myself.

Do you have a riding problem? If you're in a cold weather climate, do you spend the Winter wishing you could just jump on your bike and go out for a few hours? I do, and have been craving the time on the road.

I try not to miss a warm day in the Winter. Now warm is a relative term, and a moving target depending on the time of the year. December through March, 42 degrees is enough for me. I'm often asked "What about the salt and sand? Aren't you worried about them ruining the bike?" Well, no, I'm not too worried about it. As I recently told a friend, that's why God made water, so I could wash my bike off after a Winter ride. I bought the bike to ride it, not to look pretty. That it looks pretty is just a bonus.

All right, enough rambling, I'm just missing my riding time...

Ian

Winter Ride, again!

Well, the temp hit 43 degrees on Friday and I hadn't ridden since late December so off I went. It was a short ride, but it was a ride! I fired up the bike, put on about a dozen layers, jumped on and hit the road. I had brought the camera with me, hung it around my neck, set it to video and started recording. I figured I'd include it on my Youtube channel. Well, I'd like to say I got a great video to share but alas, either by belly is a little rounder than it used to be or I was leaning back while I was riding. I'd like to say it was the former but I'm not sure I can... I got some great shots of the trees! Nothing useful though. There are pictures on my Facebook and Myspace accounts.

Well, I guess I'll have to work on the belly this winter and perhaps pick up a camera mount for the bike.

I've done a ton of updating on the site over the last week and will be doing more over the next couple of weeks so make sure you stop by and check it out. We even added a chat room!

Ian
www.coolbikerides.com

It hit 60 and off we went!

It reached 60 degrees yesterday and we registered the new bike. You guessed it, we went for a little ride last night! It was nice to get our and 'stretch my legs' a bit on the new ride! I love the power in that thing. One gripe, the custom lights include low profile blinkers (nice) but they have smoke lenses. I will have to change these so I don't get killed!!!

The ride was short but sweet. Probably the last one for a little while.

See you at the Springfield Motorcycle Show next week!

Ian

Went for another ride!

The temp hit 49 so off I went! I put on some thermals and some leather and then I pulled the cover off of the bike. I stayed in town but had a really nice ride. The rain we received this week did a really nice job of cleaning the sand off of the roads. I cruised by my folks old place and then went around the lakes.

We received a bit of bad news this weekend. I've been coaching youth sports for roughly 12 years. During that time I've worked with a lot of kids including my own. There's one young lady who has been very special to me. She came to me as a "special needs" child my first year coaching girls softball with my daughter. I had met her through the schools and she had opened up to me the first time she'd met me which I guess was very rare at the time. She was attending a school designed to work with kids in her position. Well, this young lady turned out to be one of the top players in our league and she fell in love with the game.

From that point forward, her folks insisted she play for me as she responded well to my coaching style. Her success in softball really seems to have helped her make some adjustments in her life. This young lady is roughly 12-13 now and I had the chance to coach her for 5 years. The only thing special about her these days is her softball skills and the place she holds in my heart.

Her father passed away on Christmas Eve at the age of 43. I got to know he and his wife pretty well during those 5 years. They are really good people and they always put their children first which I respect a great deal. This fellow was 43 years old and has left behind two beautiful daughters and his wife. What a shame to have passed so young.

During my ride yesterday I passed their house. I though about stopped but simply passed. I ended up turning around and heading back to let the family know my wife and I were thinking of them. I only got to see the two girls and the oldest was really having a tough time. I wish there was a way to remove this child's pain!

Anyway, sorry to get depressing but I wanted to share this with everyone. Please keep this family in your prayers, I'm sure they'll need it...

Ride safe!

Ian

Quotable quotes

I was looking at a custom bike recently and when the owner was asked what his inspiration was he said "it's not an inspiration, it's an addiction" which leads me to one other quote that we have all heard regarding riding and why we do it...."if I have to explain it, you wouldn't understand."

Hope you had a Merry Christmas and here's hoping we all have a great New Year.....for riding!!!