I'm able to ride to work three days this week. Lately it's not been a matter of weather that's led me to commute in my car, it's been a matter of errands while at work that require a car as well as simply being too tired to ride. I tend to get up pretty early and sometimes I'm just not awake enough to ride safely.
That's one of the biggest tenets of motorcycle riding ... riding within your limits. It not only means staying within a reasonable speed for your skill level but also within your own physical and emotional limits. Don't ride angry. Don't ride tired. Don't ride distracted.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
Routine ride to Silverton
Saturday had great riding weather so I got in some time on two wheels with a there-and-back trip to Silverton. There were quite a few other bikers out and about, so I wasn't the only one. There was nothing noteworthy about the trip other than getting stuck behind a couple of blue-hairs in a Miata going 40 mph with the top down in a 55 mph zone.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Where's Lacomb?
The weather was ride-conducive so I grabbed my atlas and looked for a low-elevation destination that's never been visited by moi. I chose Lacomb, Oregon, nestled at the base of the Cascade foothills northeast of Lebanon.
The ride through Molalla, Silverton, Stayton and Scio was old hat so I didn't engage my Zumo GPS until just south of Scio. The roads were of the two-lane country variety and were in great shape, passing through farmland and dotted by small hills. Although patches of road were still wet from recent rain, the sky was mostly cloudy but rain-free.
Lacomb is a community rather than a town per se, at least I didn't see any indication of it. There is a small BP gas station and store, so I stopped for a Snickers. Their selection was minimal, however, so I had to settle for a Reses Peanut Butter Cup. The guy working there seemed very surprised that I had taken a day trip all the way from Sandy. I got to ride through an historic covered bridge near Lacomb as well so that was another first.
The ride back was fine, although I had to pass some slow people that were going 10-15 mph under the speed limit. It boggles the imagination how they can think it's safe to do that. I got home safely, however, and very happy. There's nothing like time spent on two wheels to put a smile on your face.
The ride through Molalla, Silverton, Stayton and Scio was old hat so I didn't engage my Zumo GPS until just south of Scio. The roads were of the two-lane country variety and were in great shape, passing through farmland and dotted by small hills. Although patches of road were still wet from recent rain, the sky was mostly cloudy but rain-free.
Lacomb is a community rather than a town per se, at least I didn't see any indication of it. There is a small BP gas station and store, so I stopped for a Snickers. Their selection was minimal, however, so I had to settle for a Reses Peanut Butter Cup. The guy working there seemed very surprised that I had taken a day trip all the way from Sandy. I got to ride through an historic covered bridge near Lacomb as well so that was another first.
The ride back was fine, although I had to pass some slow people that were going 10-15 mph under the speed limit. It boggles the imagination how they can think it's safe to do that. I got home safely, however, and very happy. There's nothing like time spent on two wheels to put a smile on your face.
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