Chaos Manor

Tomorrow is the first shakedown ride with the Knobbies Only group. Obviously a few items still need to be done before the bike is ready. This is where the magic happens. Over time I have built up a nice work space that is compact and organized.

A place for everything and everything in its place! Sort of ...

Everything does have a place but in the rush to get ready it may not always get back there. Plus, there is always more than one project in progress at any given time so things are scattered hither and yon.
Still, things get done in a timely fashion. Parts get into the proper bins and tools go back to the right drawer.

Truth be told, this is the most important part of the shop. Without Pepsi, nothing would ever get done!

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When things go bump in the night (or day)

The thing about the TransAm Trail is that there are quite a few places where I could get myself into trouble and have no way to walk out or call home for help. AAA is not going to come and jump start my bike or bring me gas.

Should it be something simple I would expect to figure it out and find a way to deal with it. However, if it were something like a broken leg (or worse) I might want a way to signal for help.

SPOT is a satellite communicator that will send messages where a mobile phone would not get coverage. It also has a gps built in so that it not only relays the message but also the location. Press the SOS button and the cavalry is on the way.

Unfortunately these devices have gotten rather a bad reputation for being misused. Stories are here and here. If stupidity was a virus 90% of the population would be wiped out tomorrow.

There are two SPOT models. The Messenger pictured above and the Connect. The Connect lets you post to Facebook and Twitter as you move along. I will say no more about that!

The Messenger has two basic functions "I'm screwed, I need help please" and "I'm really fucked. Hurry!!".

It also has a couple of nice to have features. I can send out an "I'm OK" email message. It also has a gps tracking service that sends out a heart beat every 10 minutes with the location. Combined these make a nice Plan B to make sure I'm not laying at the bottom of a canyon bleeding slowly. If the heart beat location had not moved in an hour or two AND I had not sent out an "I'm OK" message to indicate I was stopping for lunch or for the night then it would indicate a problem. And an indication as to where to find the body. ;)

Even though my whole life revolves around technology I generally hate gadgets. This one, used judiciously, seems like it might be useful. I'll let you know how it comes out.

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Wake-up Call

If you haven't read my last post stop and read it here.

I've thought about Joe's experience a lot in the last few days. I admit it was a little like a cold shower in the middle of a hot date.

However, it hasn't dampened my enthusiasm. I'll go over some of the points that I think are relevant. Comments about Joe's riding are meant to be critical examination and not at all derogatory.

1. He missed the high line which looks as if it would have put him on solid rock. I am guessing that his rear tire caught that fracture line and threw off his balance. The fact that his buddy rode through without incident indicates that the area was passable.
   Some days you're the tree, some days you're the bear.
2. He didn't have the brake and clutch covered. This is mentioned by others in the comments. This might have meant locking the front wheel and dumping the bike rather going off the edge. 
3. No steering dampener. This might have helped hold the front end in place.
   Perhaps the biggest advantage is that it prevents a lot of fatigue on the trail. Coupled with his recent sickness this could have made a huge difference in being able to pick and hold lines in tough terrain.

So what does this mean for me?

When I went across country last time, and especially when I did the off road riding on the White Rim Trail, my attitude was that it was going to be a long trip and to just relax and take it easy. This is going to be an even longer and harder trip so the advice is even more important.

To that end:

1. I'm going over all my plans in greater detail. What is my Plan B? and C?
2. I tend to be happy-go-lucky but when I'll be a long way from help and riding solo I'll need to be a little more careful. If I took the same spill Joe did, and wasn't able to crawl back up to the trail, who would ever find me?
3. Physical training - I've been working out but I've upped my goals quite a bit. This might be the single most important component for success!
4. A lighter, simpler bike. I'll be taking everything off my bike that I can. Less is definitely more. And the more firmly it's clamped to the bike the better.
   One of the problems with the last two trips is that I had the de rigueur metal panniers. In really rough stuff they tended to sway a bit. Like an out of synch pendulum they would be zigging when the rest of the bike was zagging which made for some very stressful riding. To get up Murphy's Hogback I had to take them off an carry them to the top.
5. DBAJ (dee-badge) - Don't Be A Jerk! This is my usual mantra when out on a solo adventure ride. Now more than ever!

Thanks Joe for the wake-up call. I'll buy you a beer in San Francisco when I get there.

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When the TAT bites back!

This is a video of a very hard crash on the TAT.



This is a link to all the rider's comments after the event. Read them all, there is much to learn.

It wasn't a Disney ending but it wasn't as bad as it could have been.

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TAT - The Bike

The bike for the trip will be a 2002 ATK 605 DSES

This is it coming out of winter hibernation.

In case you're wondering what an ATK is I refer you to Greg Cifu's excellent history of the ATK brand and a picture of his bike that is inspiring me.

The bike is based on a Rotax 600cc air cooled 4-stroke engine. If you look closely you will notice that it has a most unusual asymmetrical frame. I'll have more pictures as I assemble the new bits to be added. Keith at American Dirt Bike is sending me new parts to make the bike even more robust and reliable.

These pictures show that it plays well in the dirt and can hold it's own on single track trails. It's big but all that torque is great when the going gets tough.

More to come as progress is made.

Honda CL72 Scrambler For Sale $25

The title and the pictures say it all. This is going to the metal recycle bin in a couple of days but I thought I'd give it one last chance to survive if somebody wanted to rescue it for parts.

• VIN: CL72-317153
• Engine: CL72E-317176
• The engine is stuck
• The tires are rotted
• The chrome is bad
• There is no paperwork other than a receipt for your $25
• No, I will not break it down for you and send you bits or pieces. It's all or nothing.
• I will hold it for a couple of weeks if you pay for it NOW. If you don't pick it up I'll keep the money and take it to the metal bin anyway.

CL72E-317176

CL72-317153

Why does NYC hate its cops?

When I first came to NYC in the '60's I was just like Stevie Wonder, “New York City. Just like I pictured it.”* It didn't take long for the picture to change.

I was walking through the Bronx with a friend and as we stopped for a light I said “Hi” to a cop standing there and remarked that the weather looked like spring was finally here. As my friend and I walked away he asked “What the hell was I doing talking to a cop? You don't ever talk to a cop!”

In the '70's I remember NYC as a place where law and order had broken down. In the subway you put your back to the wall and scanned left and right, left and right. Once on the train you were regularly treated to gangs coming through, doing whatever they wanted. In many neighborhoods you walked fast and didn't look back.

Last week a motorcycle rider was killed in the Bronx when he ran into a police cruiser while trying to outrun the cops. Tragic but who was really to fault? Online, many exclaimed that the police deliberately ran him down. It had to be the hated police, it couldn't be the rider's fault.

I read the same news accounts and came away with a different view. Think of speeding toward a rail crossing. The lights are flashing, the train is blowing its horn, but the cops are on your tail and if you make it you'll be free. In the movies the outlaw hero makes it and the evil cops are stuck in frustration.

In the real world it's very different. The cop probably was trying to use his cruiser to block the getaway path and the rider took the chance that he could beat it. Since it wasn't the movies the end wasn't so happy. I wasn't there, I don't know the true facts. Neither were the cop bashers. I have to wonder why so many were so quick to jump to the defense of a person exhibiting criminal behavior in one of the most dangerous and crime ridden neighborhoods of NYC and so quick to condemn the cop trying to control the situation.

My guess is that a lot of the people weren't around in the '70's. My guess is that they don't live in the Bronx. My guess is that they know few, if any, cops personally. I'll also guess that if they were robbed, or burgled, or had their own motorcycle stolen they would call the police and not their friends. Very likely they would be online complaining about why the cops weren't doing more to make the neighborhoods safe and capturing the people responsible for such crimes.

Cops are real people trying to do a miserable job. There are good ones and bad ones. Some days they can do no wrong, on other days they make mistakes. They aren't helped by people who view them as an occupying force.

When was the last time you were on a street corner and said “Hi” to a cop?

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* "Living for the City" is a 1973 hit single by Stevie Wonder for the Tamla (Motown) label, from his Innervisions album.

Getting ready for the TransAmerica Trail (TAT)

This summer I'm going to do another of those things I've wanted to do. I'm going to ride the TransAmerica Trail from end to end. And I'm going to do it solo. On a weird bike.

The TAT is the brilliant work of Sam Correro. It runs from Tellico Plains, TN to the Pacific Ocean at Port Orford, OR. Roughly 4000 miles. If you go to the TAT website and look at the pictures you'll see just how rough it can be. However, I think it should be 6 weeks of pure bliss.

This will be one of a series of cross country trips starting back in the '70's when I rode a Honda CB77 Super Hawk from Boston to San Francisco. The bike had clip-ons and a racing seat. I wore jeans, an old Army field jacket and a Bell helmet. I was as cool as Steve McQueen when I wasn't frozen like a Popsicle.

White Rim Trail, Moab UT

In 2007 I rode my Transalp on the old US-50 from Ocean City MD to San Francisco with time out to ride the White Rim Trail in Moab UT and the Sierra Nevada in Calif. I left my trusty bike with a friend and flew home.

Somewhere in Baja California Sur, Mexico

The following year I flew back and Marty and I spend 3 weeks wandering around in Baja looking for Fortune and Glory.

You go that way as fast as you want to!

2010 was the year to set a land speed record at Bonneville. We didn't make it but came damn close.

3 feet deep and running fast.

In 2011 I attempted to ride my CB1100F across country on US-6 but a major storm Irene flooded out the Susquehanna River to the point where the water was deep and fast. I was stranded for two days and then turned back. The wheel bearings were shot from repeatedly being submerged in the muddy water.

2012 was going to be another attempt to ride US-6. I was going to take the CB1100F and Beth was going to ride the CB900F. Unfortunately it never got past the planning stages because they kept extending my contract at work. I either have lots of money or lots of time but never both at once.

So, this is the year for the TAT. Come hell or high water. I'm getting the bits together and will chronicle the preparations as they come along. Then I'll post along the trail with shots of the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Cheers.

Common Sense vs The Nannies

Hugh Pickens writes in about the detrimental effects of mandatory helmet laws (at least as applied to adults): "Elisabeth Rosenthal writes that in the United States the notion that bike helmets promote health and safety by preventing head injuries is taken as pretty near God's truth but many European health experts have taken a very different view. 'Yes, there are studies that show that if you fall off a bicycle at a certain speed and hit your head, a helmet can reduce your risk of serious head injury,' writes Rosenthal. 'But such falls off bikes are rare — exceedingly so in mature urban cycling systems.' On the other hand, many researchers say, if you force people to wear helmets, you discourage them from riding bicycles causing more health problems like obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. Bicycling advocates say that the problem with pushing helmets isn't practicality but that helmets make a basically safe activity seem really dangerous, which makes it harder to develop a safe bicycling network like the one in New York City, where a bike-sharing program is to open next year. The safest biking cities are places like Amsterdam and Copenhagen, where middle-aged commuters are mainstay riders and the fraction of adults in helmets is minuscule. 'Pushing helmets really kills cycling and bike-sharing in particular because it promotes a sense of danger that just isn't justified — in fact, cycling has many health benefits,' says Piet de Jong. 'Statistically, if we wear helmets for cycling, maybe we should wear helmets when we climb ladders or get into a bath, because there are lots more injuries during those activities.'"

Bikers at the movies

High Tech 3 Stooges

We the people ...

The Downside of Liberty

For hippies and bohemians as for businesspeople and investors, the extreme individualism of the ’60s has been triumphant. Selfishness won.

A must read article from the New York Times is here. The all-about-me generations shouldn't complain when it's not all about them. It's really all the same.

How to rebuild a British engine

Biker arrested for (what)?

The story from the Dallas news station is here.

You're not special

Somebody with common sense and straight talk.

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MotoCrossing a GP Bike!

I like to get air on my dirt bike but this is a little insane.



Thanks to Hermann for this.

Caine's Arcade

Next time you're feeling like what you're doing just isn't working out and you're thinking of quitting come back and watch this video again. We all get by with patience and a little help from our friends.



Thanks to Mary for bringing this to me.

Buenos Ares to Santiago

El Paso de Agua Negra in the Andes between Argentina and Chile is supposed to be one of the most beautiful roads in the world. These short videos make me want to go there soon.

Flying is still fun!

FinnAir seems to get it that flying doesn't have to be a drag.

Surprise Dance on Finnair Flight to celebrate India's Republic Day


Finnair A340 Angry Birds flight to Singapore


A group of Flight Attendants do a surprise dance for their colleagues.


Can you imagine any of the US airlines having this much imagination with the exception of SouthWest?
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Wiring Diagram - 70's style

Siberia cross-country

Makes my problems with the flooding in Pennsylvania last fall look very small indeed.

Thanks Herman.

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The adventure continues ...

My friend Marty was in town so we decided to go dirt bike riding. Unfortunately the forecast of Sunny 45F turned into rain and sleet. For lack of anything better to do we decided to go buy a motorcycle. A CB900F to match my CB1100F.

After lunch we connected with the seller in NH and arranged a meeting. The bike was close to what I expected and a price was agreed upon. We loaded the bike into the back of my pickup and were back on the road. So far, so good.

I dropped Marty off in Boston and headed back to CT on the Mass Turnpike. It was late and I was tired but the rain had quit so I was looking forward to an easy ride home.

I usually stop in Sturbridge to get gas because it is usually ~20¢ cheaper than in CT. Because I was tired and was listening to the Willie Mays' biography audiobook I drifted past the exit. $6 down the drain I thought. I also noticed the truck pulling slightly to the left. Something to check into in the morning.

At the Rt 32 exit it all came apart. The left front tire went flat and I limped into the Park & Ride lot across from the exit. The spare tire wouldn't release from the hanger but that turned out to be moot because it was flat anyway.

I was stranded. Or was I? I had a motorcycle on the back of the truck and it had turned surprisingly warm (40F). The small matter of no helmet or license plate were only technicalities that probably wouldn't interest anyone at 11:00 at night.

Getting a 530 pound bike off a listing pickup in the semi-darkness was certainly an experiment in terror. Slowly, carefully, itsy bitsy tiny moves and it was down. And just then a State Trooper pulled into the parking lot. Hmmm. Those technicalities were suddenly a little more prominent than I expected. I figured that I would just wait it out until he/she came over to ask what I was up to. Turns out they didn't care. They were "cooping", which is to say sleeping for an hour.

After they took off I zipped up my jacket, put on my work gloves, and took off for home. This was pretty uneventful. I didn't freeze but I was definitely shivering along the way. 22 miles of mostly clear roads that I took at a moderate 45mph for fear of a spot of ice. The hardest part was arriving home and tippy-toeing down the snowy driveway. I parked it and ran in to turn the electric blanket to HIGH.

The next morning I looked out on my new purchase and decided that all was well with the world. I would just go back to the pickup, take off the tire, get a new one mounted, and bring the pickup home.

Of course this was but a dream. First the jack handle broke. A nice man offered the jack from his Prius but that proved to be futile. So off to Harbor freight 12 miles away to buy a jack.

Back with the jack the truck went up into the air with ease but now the wheel wouldn't release from the hub! I tried kicking it. I tried moving the steering wheel back and forth. I tried driving around the parking lot with no lug nuts. Nothing.

So time for a call to AAA. The guy came out with a BIG hammer and he couldn't get it loose. Up on the back of his truck it went and down to the Goodyear dealer who called and told me that it would be $400. WTF!! I was waiting for him to tell me that the headlamps needed a quart of light juice while it was in the shop.

When I balked he said that it was a mistake, "Sorry, I was looking at the wrong screen. It's only $268 for two tires." Much better. I'm supposed to pick it up in an hour. I wonder what the final charge will be.

Epilog:
$142 for the new tire, mounting, and tax. Reasonable. Add in the $6 I lost by not getting my gas in Sturbridge and the $150 savings I negotiated from the CB900's asking price shrinks to only $2. Oh well, that's life!
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How To Understand Women Now In Paperback

Thanks Dave!

No Words Necessary!

Two ways of looking at things

Some people save money for a "Rainy Day Fund". Waiting for the inevitable disaster to strike they put money aside to be ready to ride out the storm. I prefer to think of it as an "Opportunity Account". When opportunity knocks I'm ready for action.

Case at point: Last summer I met a guy who had a KZ750 in very good condition. It had been sitting for a few years and had the usual sticky brakes and dirty carbs but it was complete down to the tool kit and was cosmetically beautiful. A KZ is a mild mannered street/road bike as opposed to a GPz which is the sportier model of that time. It has plenty of power but the ride and handling are more relaxed.

He was interested in getting it running so he could sell it and by a new Sportster. I tried to tell him that the Kawi was a better bike than the Sportster would ever be but that was what he wanted. I suggested that he bring it over and I'd help him get it running. Nice as it was I wasn't interested in buying it and made a low-ball offer to that end.

Yesterday I'm sitting in my living-room reading a book when the doorbell rings. There he is with his wife. They were out walking and stopped by to see if I was still interested in buying the bike. At the price I had offered I couldn't say no. If I decided to resell it in the spring I could make some money. Or I could make another attempt at riding cross country on the CB1100F and have Beth ride the KZ750. Or some friend will want a bike and I can let them have it for a bargain price.

All this because opportunity had knocked (rung the doorbell actually) and I was prepared to act. Even after all the Christmas presents and expenses I had enough set aside to be able to jump on the deal that came my way.

Now they only question is: Where am I going to put it?
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More Manuals

Eric in Reno sent me the Honda Common Service Manual and the Honda Common Tool Manual here. I have posted them here. A nice compliment to the electrical and fuel manuals I posted earlier.

The service manual has much information relative to many Honda models and other brands. It also has some especially good sections on trouble shooting in each section. For instance, if you've ever wondered how to perform a leak down test you'll find it in section 3-3.

The tool manual shows the factory tools for special jobs. Although some of these tools are rare and hard to find, seeing a picture of the tool and how it is used can help in making your own tool to get the job done. I'm certainly a testament to how using a wrong tool can mess things up. Usually at great expense!

Warning - The service manual is HUGE and will take a while to download. I suggest starting it and then going off to set the valves you've been putting off.

Thanks to Eric for this.

Couldn't have said it better

 

Gift cards are the ultimate in lazy shopping. Either put some effort into it or skip it altogether!

Except for Victoria's Secret of course.

What Dreams Are Made Of

This why the Italians have Sophia Loren and we have Sarah Jessica Parker. What would you rather have, a Ferrari or a Ford Taurus?

Honda Carburetion and Ignition Manuals

I've scanned in the 1975 and 1986 Honda Carburetion and Ignition Manuals. You will find them here. This is one of the best ways to get acquainted with the basics for all motorcycles. Just in time for Christmas presents.

Warning: These are BIG files and may take a couple of minutes to download depending on your internet speed.

'Tis The Season

No comment necessary! This guy is my hero!

Dorks-R-Us

It's not hard to be amused by this one. And I think we'd all agree that the world is a better place with these two morons locked in a steel cage. Look closely and you'll notice that the second rider is already heading for the lake even before the "map" hits him square in the face. Photoshop and an over eager stunt rider?

Still, points to South African VW for having a sense of humor (or is that humour?).

World's Smallest V-12 Engine

From Herman, himself a Master Machinist:

Facinating to watch this engine transpire from raw material to working engine.



I am in total awe at the skill and craftsmanship, not to mention the patience. To know that people capable of such things still exist in our world of instant crap truly inspires me.

I'd like to have dinner with him to discuss the project and some of his design choices. How marvelous that would be.
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Dog

Interesting video from Amy.



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Name This Car - NY Times Edition

Back in April I found a sad little car, posted a couple of pictures, and asked what it was. Peter commented that it was a Subaru 360.

Now the NY Times has an article on the little machine that disparages it from every angle. Perhaps the best comment is the quote from the Consumers Reports article, “It was a pleasure to squirm out of the Subaru, slam the door and walk away.”

Here's some of the original TV ads for the car where they extol it's virtues as "cheap and ugly." At least the girl is cute if the car isn't.



However, Subaru may have the last laugh. 66 mpg is better than any Prius and gas isn't getting any cheaper.

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True Love

Ledermann Racing Team - "It takes two" from True Biker Spirit on Vimeo.

If you love someone, set her free; if she comes backs she's yours, if not, it was never meant to be.

However, if you're on a sidehack rig, go back and get her!

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Bring Back The Transalp - Again ...

Another attempt to petition Honda to bring the Transalp back to the U.S. is here.

I like my TA and intend to keep it. However, I don't see myself ever buying another one. Or anything like it. I think movements to bring the TA back are dead on arrival. Possibly 1 out of every 20 people who sign the petition will actually buy one. Probably more like 1:100.

The new ones are even more street oriented than the '89 and hence less interesting. Suzuki sells a few V-Stroms, Triumph and BMW are doing well with the Tiger and GS 800, but not on any scale that would interest Honda. I think they are smart enough to realize that the market is too limited for another entry. Considering the costs of EPA and DOT certification, plus parts and training, I don't see it ever happening.

Call me a cynic but doesn't the website seem a little too glossy for a grassroots effort? Is it all about the Transalp? Or just about the advertising?

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Size Matters

Owning a pickup means that everything you own is either wet or stolen. I loved my Buick Roadmaster Custom Cruiser station wagon but the price for good ones is going up by leaps and bounds.

So now a 1976 Chevy Suburban will soon be in the driveway for towing duty. With a 454 big block engine it will tow anything on wheels. Stopping at the gas station should be a thrilling experience.

The RED plaid upholstery is a real bonus. And the faux wood-grain dash is pure Detroit.

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Bike Show Sunday

In case you happen to be in Brazil on Sunday this looks like a great show in Sao Paulo.

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Gas Can

The new gas cans you buy at Auto Zone or WalMart all have the new safety cutoff valve that is impossible to use by anyone with only two hands. In a word, they suck. Another hit from the Nanny State who wants to make sure we don't hurt ourselves. How long before we find only Play School plastic hammers at Home Depot?

However, there is help from VP Racing Fuels. Their racing fuel jugs are even easier to use than the old red containers. The big hose can bend into the tank for no-spill fills. And the separate breather port allows air intake so you're not standing around waiting for the gas to gurgle out.

But wait, there's more! Street Side Auto is selling them for only $20.99 plus $7.99 for the Deluxe Tube. That's about $15 cheaper (jug+hose) than I've seen them for sale locally. I ordered two of each and got FREE FedEx shipping that arrived two days after my order. Too bad these guys don't sell motorcycle parts, the service is great.

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Touring Europe in 1953

Here is a great remembrance of a motorcycle tour of Europe in 1953. I won't even try to comment as the story is much better than my poor words.

Read all the way to the end. The bit about the father in his '70's and the red bike doing the ton is priceless!

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When too much is just right

Visiting the barber museum is an exercise in futility. No way can you see at all or appreciate it all. Certainly not in the limited time we had to enjoy it. We'll be back!!

It should be on everybody's list of things to do.

Racing Problems

Getting to the track is the hard part sometimes. These guys are not having a good time!

Think you're having a bad day?

I have to admit I've never seen a bike break in half like this on a race course. It seemed like a pretty straight forward sliding fall until the bike started doing pirouettes in the air.

At least the rider was safe and ready to ride another day, on another bike.

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Another free magazine from Roadgear

I don't know how they do it but here is a free subscription to Sport Rider courtesy of our friends at Roadgear.

Click here for the form.

On the ill fated trip across country last month that was aborted by the flood my gear was Roadgear and for once I didn't have a wet crotch!

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On the road again

No data links while I was in Yosemite. Finally back to civilization. More tomorrow.

Flood Pictures

US 6 Flooded

The pictures from the trip are here. Keep in mind that I was more interested in escaping the flood than taking pictures of it. Luckily I had a waterproof camera (Pentax W-30) that could take pictures in the rain.

Brake calipers and the crud that washed out from them

Here is a picture of the brake calipers that had to be taken apart and rebuilt. The water and mud had taken a toll and I've ordered new parts to make them safe.

I'm flying to San Francisco this afternoon to complete the trip. It's clear and sunny. I have high hopes this time. While I'm out there I'm going to write up an account of the trip as the explorers of old once did. I'll post it here in the days to come.
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Home

 
I'm home, safe and dry. The bike took a beating with the mud and water crossings in the flood. I made it to Jay's and then Beth came and got me with the pickup.

I'm gathering the pictures I took and will put them up tomorrow with a complete story. 

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