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Posts: 1204
Member Since: 06/28/07
Aug 3 09 1:42 PM
Date Joined: 06/28/07
alepel wrote: I'm certain that those of us who went to Elkins this year are still reflecting on the trip and the event. I lay down to go to sleep, and keep replaying bits of conversations, or parts of the ride, or things we saw...good memories, all! On this trip I dwealt with more twisties than I had ever experienced before. ......I began to realize as I was riding following Gary (guns90) that the twisties were becoming more and more automatic to me. I transitioned from one turn into the next without thinking. As I was following Gary it got into my head that I could turn sharper and sharper. ......So with each successive turn we went into and out of the more I "felt" my turns. Regrettably I never scrapped a running board, which was almost a disappointment in a way. It's coming though....I can feel it. It took me a bit to get back into the swing of the twisties, cuz I hadn't ridden much this year...then all of a sudden, I was "one" with my bike again. That moment of epiphany was like a glorious sun breaking through the clouds on a rainy day! I also worked on weight-shifting techniques in the turns. I used to want to scrape my boards, just once, for the experience...now I don't care if I ever do, I am just enjoying the ride! I took two days to ride down to Elkins. About 300 miles the first day and about 150 the second day. But coming home I rode the whole 450 miles in one day. Eleven hours to be exact and in some terrible downpours. But I learned that my stock T seat was reasonable comfortable, as long as I was making my gas stops every 100 miles. It was an eye-opening experience for me to travel that far and for that long. Yes it was slabway all the way home, but that had its advantages. Next year for Beckley I'm going to slabway all the way down and back and then enjoy the twisties when I get there. You really amazed me with that 11-hour ride home in less-than-ideal conditions, my friend! I know that this trip instilled some long-distance confidence in you, and I betcha you're going to be taking more long trips. I found that in really hot weather I've got to have an alternative to a leather jacket. I'm going to have to spend some of my children's inheritance and buy me a Tourmaster Air Intake II textile jacket. I may even do like I saw a few people doing at Elkins and carry two helmets. A full face modular and a 3/4. Love that wind in my face. I think it's important to be both comfortable and safe. If you're not comfortable, you are a distracted rider, which is unsafe. Get that jacket and a helmet and ride like the wind! I remember on the ride down to Elkins listening to the sounds of riding. I was able to separate the growling sounds to those of the wind coming through the Windshield around the headlight and the sound of the tires. In the past these sounds were just a growling in my ears but without knowing what was doing all of this. I also remember listening to the engine. I remember that after about 8 hours of riding on the first day that the engine ran exactly the same in the final hours as it did in the beginning. It sounded strong and dependable. I am truly impressed with the V-twin of the Tourer. I love the sounds you hear on the road...also all the smells. Riding is such a sensual experience - sights, sounds, smells, sometimes you can even taste the wind (like when you get behind a manure truck). Now this one is a tough one for me to admit. I found it difficult or maybe even impossible to stop and take pictures. I had my camera with me. A camera I specifically purchased so that it would be easy and convenient for me to carry while riding so that I could take pictures. But I didn't do that on this trip. It seemed to me that I was so possessed to "getting there" that I would not take the time to stop. It's not that I forgot to stop....I saw plenty of opportunties to take some really great photographs, but just didn't take them. I think part of the problem with this is that I lack the trust in my motorcycle to allow distractions from my "getting there". My mind says to me keep going, keep going, don't stop until you get there and then you can relax. Do any of you ever feel this way also? I am severely disappointed in you, Alain!! I expected at least 100 pics from your journey! But I know what you mean. Even when John has me ride in front so that I can stop and take pics, I rarely stop. The best thing I ever did was to add that camera mount so I can just click as I ride without feeling like I'm holding up the show by stopping. Even though John says it's fine to stop, I always feel like I need to rush and get back on the bike (that's my issue, not his). I was just so eager to get to the rally and meet everyone, I didn't take time to stop and smell the roses along the way. Admitting this, for both of us, is a good start, don't you think? I realized that my 10 year old tire that still has a lot of tread left on it, is showing it's age. It's got to be replaced soon. TEN years??? Even with tread left, that thing can not be safe to ride on. I realized that try as I might I'm never going to find that 6th gear. BWAHAHAHA - I think that goes for all of us!!!! I also realized that you can feel the decals on Dawn's gas tank. That young hillbillie is lucky I didn't cold-cock him! LOLOL! Decals...ridges...*sigh* And he's supposedly a painter. BAH! I realized that Frankie needs a push/push sticker on the door of his wood shed. That's some funny shizzit right there - we've told that story to sooooo many folks already! I realized the Ken (firefighterkp) is the only man I've ever seen who eats every piece of a prime rib and probably licks the plate when no one is looking. John cleaned his plate of the prime rib, too - I couldn't believe it!! I realized that when we're looking for the Honda Dealership, Johnnyhonda only wants you to think he is lost when he really knows where he's going, or thinks he does, kinda, sorta. We did get to see all of Elkins that day so that was good.....right? *snicker* How were we to know that "33" meant "OLD 33", or that there even WAS an "old 33"? Gee, were you bored at work, or smoking some wackybacky on your lunch break? This was like reading War and Peace!!!
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