I know, I know, it's January 6th, 2014. Yes, this is December's blog. Yes, it's late.
So where to begin?
First, riding in the cold. The coldest ride of last year was 16 degrees. On the cold rides, most all of me stayed reasonably comfortable except my hands. I'm seriously considereing heated gloves! I purchased a really thick neck warmer and honestly, that's warmer with the half helmet than the full faced helmet is. But then you have to deal with goggles. Seriously looking at a three quarter helmet with a visor. Finally, when you ride in the cold, you do get respect! Especially if there's snow on the ground!!
Second, two up riding. Lynda got her first ride on the back of my Harley on Christmas day. Then we went on the Battley Cycles Winter Lights ride. Finally, we went on the MC Hog Polar Bear ride on New Year's Day. She's a good passenger, leaning with me and never leaning proactively or worse, in the opposite direction. Comet, my 1996 Harley Super Glide did very well with a passenger. She sports a carbureted 1340cc Evolution engine. I was a little concerned that two people might noticably affect the bike's pick up and acceleration, but it did not. Even the handling was not altered as much as I was expecting. Breaking? Now that's another story!
Thirdly, holidays. If you want stuff for your bike or stuff for riding your bike, the holidays are a great way to put a dent into that wish list. I'm sure that it's the same for riders of other brands; I got tons of Harley stuff, from a new bell to boot gaiters to a high visibility vest to payments on a jacket that I had laid away. While asking for new pipes might be a bit presumptuous, some of the other items, like boots or gloves, are a great idea.
And about that stuff. Boots, jackets, etc., I spent the summer riding with the big, bad biker look. Sleeveless denim vest and my bare arms in the wind. It was a lot of fun, and likely I'll get some riding like that in this year too. But I also picked up a summer riding jacket with pockets for the protective padding. For daily riding, it's probably best to have a bit more padding and protection, especially in an area with the kind of traffic we have.
Finally, I have amassed thirteen thousand miles on my Harley, five thousand of which is from this year and is mine. Had the bike not been taken out of commission for two solid months, it would have been higher. I ride as often as I can and it truly has made my life more enjoyable.
In fact, having the bike made 2013 one of my favorite years, as years go. If you have ever thought you might like to ride, stop thinking and get out and do it. You will never regret it! Believe me!
Happy New Year!
Monday, January 6, 2014
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Back in the saddle!
After almost two months in the shop, Comet is back up and running. She looks like she was never in an accident and rode beautifully. The one difference? They couldn't get a black tag bracket so they asked if I minded a chrome bracket. It's a Harley, so Chrome was more than welcome. And so it was that my first modification was performed! That first ride home was exhilarating. Lynda drove me to Battley Cycles to pick up the bike on a Saturday, which meant hotdogs and soda for their weekend. Summer was gone and we were in the last gasps of autumn. Which meant that weekend outdoor picnics at the dealership would likely be coming to an end.
I missed writing all through October. Why? I don't know. I felt spiritually disconnected until I was riding again, and perhaps this affected my writing pace.
One of the things that I've noticed is how hard it is to tune out the surface noise. I don't mean ambient noise, but the surface noise of the mind. My mind is constantly thinking, evaluating, speculating, and commenting on what is going on, or on some matter in the past, or perhaps some future event. A near constant din of inner monologue. Most of the time, this is okay, but when I am trying to connect to the divine, to the spiritual, I want mental calm and peace. I need the inner monologue to subside so that I can actually enjoy the silence and meditate.
When I'm on the bike, however, the inner monologue subsides and I have calm. Mental and spiritual calm. Time to simply be. How often do we do that? Just be. So often, there is a multitude of things pulling at us and demanding our immediate attention. When I ride, those things are gone. It is just machine, man, and the open road under God's blue heavens and Mother Nature's green earth. It doesn't get more spiritual than that.
I was back on the bike to enjoy the beautiful colors as the leaves changed and then eventually fell away. The process is not complete, but there is a lot more space between the branches than not and the usually green scenery around me is a mix of browns and grays. My rides home are dark, as the days are shorter. The mystery of the woods is a mystery no longer as I can see at a glance what is normally hidden by the veil of leaves. With the veil lifted, I can see the many bare trees, the creek beds and in some instances, the homes built way on the other side of the wood. The skies are magnificent as they always are, but the sun sits a little differently in them during the winter months.
But it is the change in the seasons that ads another dimension to the spiritual. It is easy to see why ancient myths arose depicting the annual death of a nature goddess who would be reborn each spring. But a thoughtful look reveals not death, but the shedding of her summer regalia in order to prepare for the coming year's mantle of greenery.
And with the winter months come the winter celebrations. Harvest and Yuletide, and the new year. With the celebrations will come the preparations for celebrating Christmas, with all lights and tinsel. And of course the occasional snowfall. The lights and the crisp cool air make for a magical, whimsical time. The malls and the stores are decorated and a feeling of good will comes to many, who are suddenly moved to a more charitable mood with the joy of the holidays.
Eventually, the holidays will be over and we will be in the dead of winter. But only for so long, as spring will come crashing through soon enough. Life will find its way back to the world and color will return to the trees and the ground.
Ride through it as much as you can. Take it all in. Be mindful of it. Appreciate it while the time is here. The winter months are a time of reflection and peace. What better time to ride?
I missed writing all through October. Why? I don't know. I felt spiritually disconnected until I was riding again, and perhaps this affected my writing pace.
One of the things that I've noticed is how hard it is to tune out the surface noise. I don't mean ambient noise, but the surface noise of the mind. My mind is constantly thinking, evaluating, speculating, and commenting on what is going on, or on some matter in the past, or perhaps some future event. A near constant din of inner monologue. Most of the time, this is okay, but when I am trying to connect to the divine, to the spiritual, I want mental calm and peace. I need the inner monologue to subside so that I can actually enjoy the silence and meditate.
When I'm on the bike, however, the inner monologue subsides and I have calm. Mental and spiritual calm. Time to simply be. How often do we do that? Just be. So often, there is a multitude of things pulling at us and demanding our immediate attention. When I ride, those things are gone. It is just machine, man, and the open road under God's blue heavens and Mother Nature's green earth. It doesn't get more spiritual than that.
I was back on the bike to enjoy the beautiful colors as the leaves changed and then eventually fell away. The process is not complete, but there is a lot more space between the branches than not and the usually green scenery around me is a mix of browns and grays. My rides home are dark, as the days are shorter. The mystery of the woods is a mystery no longer as I can see at a glance what is normally hidden by the veil of leaves. With the veil lifted, I can see the many bare trees, the creek beds and in some instances, the homes built way on the other side of the wood. The skies are magnificent as they always are, but the sun sits a little differently in them during the winter months.
But it is the change in the seasons that ads another dimension to the spiritual. It is easy to see why ancient myths arose depicting the annual death of a nature goddess who would be reborn each spring. But a thoughtful look reveals not death, but the shedding of her summer regalia in order to prepare for the coming year's mantle of greenery.
And with the winter months come the winter celebrations. Harvest and Yuletide, and the new year. With the celebrations will come the preparations for celebrating Christmas, with all lights and tinsel. And of course the occasional snowfall. The lights and the crisp cool air make for a magical, whimsical time. The malls and the stores are decorated and a feeling of good will comes to many, who are suddenly moved to a more charitable mood with the joy of the holidays.
Eventually, the holidays will be over and we will be in the dead of winter. But only for so long, as spring will come crashing through soon enough. Life will find its way back to the world and color will return to the trees and the ground.
Ride through it as much as you can. Take it all in. Be mindful of it. Appreciate it while the time is here. The winter months are a time of reflection and peace. What better time to ride?
Friday, August 30, 2013
Biker down!!
Last night, the daily ride hit one of those bumps on the road. I say on the road, because that is where the bump occurred, but not the source of the bump. That was a Toyota Prius. On the ride home, I was rear ended by the driver of said Prius.
This is a good example of simple carelessness and probably a habit that more of us have than we would like to admit. It happened at a three way intersection and I was turning right. The light was red, and the car ahead of me stopped. He waited for the traffic to clear and made his right turn. I moved up and looked to make sure traffic was clear before I made my own turn. A car was coming doing about fifty, so I waited. After he cleared, I was about to take off when I felt the impact from behind. The bike lurched forward and fell down on the right side.
What happened? The man behind me did exactly the same thing that I had; he pulled up and checked to see that traffic from the left was clear. Where our actions differed was that while I looked right again before taking off, he did not. He assumed that I had already taken off and proceeded into the intersection while still looking left.
In the end, all was well. The bike sustained damage to the rear fender, lights, and to the pipes, but it was ridable and none of the casings appeared cracked. I'll be taking the bike into Battley Cycles for a thorough inspection next Tuesday to be certain, but overall the extent of the damage doesn't seem too great. The Prius had a nice big chunk taken out of the corner. No injuries, happily, to either myself or the driver. Two bikers, one trucker, and a lady who witnessed the accident stopped along the way to make sure that everything was alright.
So the lesson? The driver missed an important step in looking to see if the lane was clear, which was to look back to where he was going before proceeding. I'd like to say it was unique, but I've seen it done many times over the years. Take the time and don't hurry through traffic. Don't rush yourself through intersections. Take your time, be cautious, and drive or ride safely. I was okay, but it could have been worse. A pedestrian would not have fared as well as I did. School is back in session, so there are more small pedestrians about right now than there were last week.
Ride free and true! And safely!
This is a good example of simple carelessness and probably a habit that more of us have than we would like to admit. It happened at a three way intersection and I was turning right. The light was red, and the car ahead of me stopped. He waited for the traffic to clear and made his right turn. I moved up and looked to make sure traffic was clear before I made my own turn. A car was coming doing about fifty, so I waited. After he cleared, I was about to take off when I felt the impact from behind. The bike lurched forward and fell down on the right side.
What happened? The man behind me did exactly the same thing that I had; he pulled up and checked to see that traffic from the left was clear. Where our actions differed was that while I looked right again before taking off, he did not. He assumed that I had already taken off and proceeded into the intersection while still looking left.
In the end, all was well. The bike sustained damage to the rear fender, lights, and to the pipes, but it was ridable and none of the casings appeared cracked. I'll be taking the bike into Battley Cycles for a thorough inspection next Tuesday to be certain, but overall the extent of the damage doesn't seem too great. The Prius had a nice big chunk taken out of the corner. No injuries, happily, to either myself or the driver. Two bikers, one trucker, and a lady who witnessed the accident stopped along the way to make sure that everything was alright.
So the lesson? The driver missed an important step in looking to see if the lane was clear, which was to look back to where he was going before proceeding. I'd like to say it was unique, but I've seen it done many times over the years. Take the time and don't hurry through traffic. Don't rush yourself through intersections. Take your time, be cautious, and drive or ride safely. I was okay, but it could have been worse. A pedestrian would not have fared as well as I did. School is back in session, so there are more small pedestrians about right now than there were last week.
Ride free and true! And safely!
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Harley Davidson: Please help out! America needs you!
That's right, America needs Harley Davidson! Not because we're all going to need a bike in the next year or so, and not because Harley is the backbone of US manufacturing. But because of what Harley Davidson stands for: Made in the USA American pride. Yankee ingenuity, American industry, and the American worker.
And there's a good reason. Harley was battered and beaten down by foreign competition in the sixties, seventies, and early eighties and was in danger of going under for good. The story of their decline and resurgence (they control 57% of the US motorcycle market. Not just cruisers, not just 1000cc+ bikes, but the entire market) is the stuff of legends. They kept the candle burning for the American motorcycle industry while literally all of the rest had gone under by the end of the 1950s. Indian, America's oldest manufacturer by two years was one of the last to go, dying out in 1953 and the name purchased by a succession of foreign and domestic owners and affixed to British, Italian, and Taiwanese bikes, and later to American built limited production bikes so expensive that they had no impact whatsoever on the market.
Harley, on the other hand, weathered it all, and was supported precisely because they were American. Even during the AMF years when their product was inferior, they were supported because they were American. When they took the company back from AMF and built new bikes, people gave them the chance because they were American. People also recommended buyinng your motorclothes there. Why? Because they were American.
But somewhere along the line, something changed. The bikes are still proudly made in Milwaukee, but the huge selection of motorclothes that Harley Davidson sells is made in China. When our garment industry is in literal tatters, how do you justify this, Harley Davidson? Remember when you were supported just for being American? And not just by customers, but also by the federal government?
Please, Harley Davidson, I ask that you use only USA supliers for your motorclothes and accessories. Your brand is proof that American industry can not only come back, but it can come back and dominate! Once you had reorganized, you asked that the government lift the protections that they had extended to you. That was awesome! Unprecedented!
Which brings me back to my original statement. America needs you. Your example stands as a beacon of hope to other industries in our great country. Everyone wants a little something Harley Davidson. We love your clothes and T-shirts, even when we aren't riders. We love seeing Arnold on a Fat Boy in T2. Forget that Yamaha in T1! We collectively love your bikes and your style. Your motorclothes are not cheap. In fact, you tend to be on the pricy side. If it's made in the USA, it's well worth it. But when the denim riding vest I bought has a "Made in China" label on the inside and your four hundred dollar jackets have the same, I must tell you that I'll stop after the vest and get my jackets and other garments elsewhere.
So bring it back! Make your motorclothes in the same country you build your bikes; ours.
Ride free and true!
And there's a good reason. Harley was battered and beaten down by foreign competition in the sixties, seventies, and early eighties and was in danger of going under for good. The story of their decline and resurgence (they control 57% of the US motorcycle market. Not just cruisers, not just 1000cc+ bikes, but the entire market) is the stuff of legends. They kept the candle burning for the American motorcycle industry while literally all of the rest had gone under by the end of the 1950s. Indian, America's oldest manufacturer by two years was one of the last to go, dying out in 1953 and the name purchased by a succession of foreign and domestic owners and affixed to British, Italian, and Taiwanese bikes, and later to American built limited production bikes so expensive that they had no impact whatsoever on the market.
Harley, on the other hand, weathered it all, and was supported precisely because they were American. Even during the AMF years when their product was inferior, they were supported because they were American. When they took the company back from AMF and built new bikes, people gave them the chance because they were American. People also recommended buyinng your motorclothes there. Why? Because they were American.
But somewhere along the line, something changed. The bikes are still proudly made in Milwaukee, but the huge selection of motorclothes that Harley Davidson sells is made in China. When our garment industry is in literal tatters, how do you justify this, Harley Davidson? Remember when you were supported just for being American? And not just by customers, but also by the federal government?
Please, Harley Davidson, I ask that you use only USA supliers for your motorclothes and accessories. Your brand is proof that American industry can not only come back, but it can come back and dominate! Once you had reorganized, you asked that the government lift the protections that they had extended to you. That was awesome! Unprecedented!
Which brings me back to my original statement. America needs you. Your example stands as a beacon of hope to other industries in our great country. Everyone wants a little something Harley Davidson. We love your clothes and T-shirts, even when we aren't riders. We love seeing Arnold on a Fat Boy in T2. Forget that Yamaha in T1! We collectively love your bikes and your style. Your motorclothes are not cheap. In fact, you tend to be on the pricy side. If it's made in the USA, it's well worth it. But when the denim riding vest I bought has a "Made in China" label on the inside and your four hundred dollar jackets have the same, I must tell you that I'll stop after the vest and get my jackets and other garments elsewhere.
So bring it back! Make your motorclothes in the same country you build your bikes; ours.
Ride free and true!
Monday, August 26, 2013
Snowball fights are happening right now in hell. Harley has changed the climate with twin cooling.
Three new Harley Davidson models have arrived for 2014 with an extra little gadget in their lowers. They don't look much different, and without close inspection, it might slip past your notice. But the change is there, and it's a biggie. Liquid cooling. What's that you say? Liquid cooling? Nah, that's just on V-Rods, and those aren't "true" Harleys anyway. Liquid cooling. That's exactly what I said, and those V-Rods are true Harleys anyway.
There was a time just a few short days ago when it seemed that hell would freeze over before you saw liquid cooling on one of the MoCo's vernable V Twin engines, but that all changed on August 19th. Hell is undergoing winter. Of course it was inevitable, in spite of the best efforts to stave such a change off. Tightening environmental regulations and the need to continually increase engine performance in order to stay ahead of the game demanded it. And with Victory and a newly resurrected Indian on the scene, Harley Davidson can no longer wave the flag and claim to be the only choice for an American motorcycle.
I find it particularly well timed. Indian just went to the trouble to introduce a new bike and took out a very ambitious add campaign to let everyone know that "Choice has come to American Motorcycles." The new Indian is meticulously designed and it's Thuderstroke 111 was styled to look like a modern version of the old Indian L-head (flathead for those of you who unfamiliar with the term 'L-head'). The new bike was rolled out at the Sturgis Motorcycle rally about a week ago. All this, and then Harley releases new high output twin cam engines and the new "Twin Cooled Twin Cam" engines. Harley's 'Project Rushmore' included not only liquid cooling, but major ergonomic changes to their 2014 bikes, new braking systems and new lighting systems, along with their new Boom! Box infotainment system for their big touring bikes. Indian fired a shot across the bow and Harley returned fire with six powerful shots just to let Indian know that the MoCo is very much a moving target with teeth of its own and not some sleeping giant. And lest anyone think that this is a quick response to increased competition, these changes are reflective of several years of research and development, not an overnight gimmick.
Harley has called the liquid cooling 'precision cooling' in its press release, though when I picked up a 2014 catalog the other day, liquid cooling was specifically mentioned. Thus far, the reaction from Harley's customer base has been positive, which undoubtedly pleases the MoCo. The changes appear seamless, not altering the look of the engine or the styling of the bikes, though it is unclear how they will integrate this technology on bikes that don't have engine guards and lowers. Liquid cooling is specifically for the heads, and specifically the exhaust port, which is the main source of heat buildup. This will allow for higher compression ratios which will also allow the engine to run cooler. This will be a huge boon to people who do long distance touring.
The new changes from Project Rushmore should make further inroads into Harley's lineup. Whether it will be a sweeping change or a trickle down change remains to be seen. For now, the twin cooled twin cam engine has only debuted on three models, all of them high end, one of them a trike. The other changes are more sweeping in nature, particularly the new lighting systems.
With the architecture of the current twin cam engines being nearly sixteen years old at this point (the Twin Cam 88 was introduced in 1998), it is very likely that a new engine in around the corner, though what form that new engine will take is a matter of conjecture. Harley is very conservative, so it will certainly be a 45 degree V Twin with some amount of air cooling. Whether or not it will be overhead cam, a true twin cam engine (with two cams per cylinder bank rather than a single cam for each cylinder) or a pushrod engine remains to be seen, though given the continued viability of pushrod engines demonstrated by GM, who's pushrod engines are thriving, and Harley's conservative bent, I'd bet on pushrods.
All of these changes are exciting, though I do hope that motorcycles don't go the way that cars have in terms of being able to work on them (you can't). Only time will tell, of course.
Ride free and true!
There was a time just a few short days ago when it seemed that hell would freeze over before you saw liquid cooling on one of the MoCo's vernable V Twin engines, but that all changed on August 19th. Hell is undergoing winter. Of course it was inevitable, in spite of the best efforts to stave such a change off. Tightening environmental regulations and the need to continually increase engine performance in order to stay ahead of the game demanded it. And with Victory and a newly resurrected Indian on the scene, Harley Davidson can no longer wave the flag and claim to be the only choice for an American motorcycle.
I find it particularly well timed. Indian just went to the trouble to introduce a new bike and took out a very ambitious add campaign to let everyone know that "Choice has come to American Motorcycles." The new Indian is meticulously designed and it's Thuderstroke 111 was styled to look like a modern version of the old Indian L-head (flathead for those of you who unfamiliar with the term 'L-head'). The new bike was rolled out at the Sturgis Motorcycle rally about a week ago. All this, and then Harley releases new high output twin cam engines and the new "Twin Cooled Twin Cam" engines. Harley's 'Project Rushmore' included not only liquid cooling, but major ergonomic changes to their 2014 bikes, new braking systems and new lighting systems, along with their new Boom! Box infotainment system for their big touring bikes. Indian fired a shot across the bow and Harley returned fire with six powerful shots just to let Indian know that the MoCo is very much a moving target with teeth of its own and not some sleeping giant. And lest anyone think that this is a quick response to increased competition, these changes are reflective of several years of research and development, not an overnight gimmick.
Harley has called the liquid cooling 'precision cooling' in its press release, though when I picked up a 2014 catalog the other day, liquid cooling was specifically mentioned. Thus far, the reaction from Harley's customer base has been positive, which undoubtedly pleases the MoCo. The changes appear seamless, not altering the look of the engine or the styling of the bikes, though it is unclear how they will integrate this technology on bikes that don't have engine guards and lowers. Liquid cooling is specifically for the heads, and specifically the exhaust port, which is the main source of heat buildup. This will allow for higher compression ratios which will also allow the engine to run cooler. This will be a huge boon to people who do long distance touring.
The new changes from Project Rushmore should make further inroads into Harley's lineup. Whether it will be a sweeping change or a trickle down change remains to be seen. For now, the twin cooled twin cam engine has only debuted on three models, all of them high end, one of them a trike. The other changes are more sweeping in nature, particularly the new lighting systems.
With the architecture of the current twin cam engines being nearly sixteen years old at this point (the Twin Cam 88 was introduced in 1998), it is very likely that a new engine in around the corner, though what form that new engine will take is a matter of conjecture. Harley is very conservative, so it will certainly be a 45 degree V Twin with some amount of air cooling. Whether or not it will be overhead cam, a true twin cam engine (with two cams per cylinder bank rather than a single cam for each cylinder) or a pushrod engine remains to be seen, though given the continued viability of pushrod engines demonstrated by GM, who's pushrod engines are thriving, and Harley's conservative bent, I'd bet on pushrods.
All of these changes are exciting, though I do hope that motorcycles don't go the way that cars have in terms of being able to work on them (you can't). Only time will tell, of course.
Ride free and true!
Sunday, August 25, 2013
The church of the road
Church, temple, synagogue, mosque, hall, and numerous other words describe our places of worship. I grew up in a Catholic home in the United States, so for me, the word, "Church," is the one that first comes to mind, so that's the one I'll use.
The word itself comes from the Greek Kyriakós oíkos, meaning house of the Lord. It eventually became Church as it migrated into Germanic languages, Old English and then into modern English. It is the most common place to go and worship on Sunday for the majority of Christians in the west. Typically, such buildings are seen in the light of being holy ground or exceptionally sacred in some way. Clergy, regardless of the denomination, are usually specialized clerical professionals. Meaning that their sole 'job' is being a priest or pastor. People gather and listen to what the priest, pastor or guest speaker has to say and often there is an expectation of donating money and some element of commemoration of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. Some of these commemorations involve rituals that invoke the real presence of Christ (which brings about a spiritual transformation of the common elements of bread and wine) while many are simple commemoration with no deeper meaning. During the course of the service, the speaker, whatever title the hold, tells the congregation how to live their lives, how to apply the scripture to their lives, or will expound on some passage and reflect on its impact in our lives. At the end, the vast majority of attendees go their separate ways and are no different for having been to church than they were the night before. For many, the act of attendance is a social/familial obligation. The clergy will tell you that you are mandated to attend, citing some scripture or another, and will follow that up by telling you that you are obligated to tithe or donate money in the amount of some minimum percentage of your income. The spiritual penalties for ignoring such obligations vary from one denomination to another.
While I do attend church on Sunday mornings, there is another church that I attend daily. That church is the church of the road. What kind of church is this, you ask? Let me tell you about it.
It is a true "house" of God, for God is not contained in one building but is everywhere one may go. God's presence is felt every minute of every day, but His majesty is seen most powerfully in the skies above, both in the daylight and under the starlit skies. No cleric need be concerned with performing a ritual to invoke His presence; He is simply there. Our Heavenly Father, who's spirit infuses all things and surrounds all things, binding them together and connecting them.
The very ground we ride on is itself holy, for it is itself divine. The Catholic Church likes to call itself, "Mother Church." But no organization (led by a bunch of old men, no less) can truly be our mother. Mother Earth is the physical structure of this church, domed by the sky above. She bears us up as we ride along, she takes us high enough to touch the sky itself and takes us deep and low where we can contemplate her mysteries. She is our mother church, and she is ever guiding us and teaching us. She nourishes us as a human organization can only dream of nourishing. She is the Mother Church.
The Bible states that Jesus is our high priest, and being unlimited by space and time, the 'priest' is always celebrating His glorious mass. His sermons change from day to day, and His lessons are most often subtle, requiring us to actively engage in the celebration to understand them. It is in loving and caring for one another that we most intimately encounter Him, and our time on the road challenges us to do this in new ways each and every day.
People gather in the Church of the Road. Everyday. And just like regular church, the vast majority are there out of some obligation imposed upon them by something outside of the spiritual. Just as in regular church, many people form their cliques and wall themselves off from others, only interacting with their fellow churchgoers as necessary. Just like in regular church, many people miss the celebration that is inherent in attending.
The Church of the Road asks no tithe of its members. It imposes no obligation on you to attend. Jesus needs no salary, so He's a fairly undemanding high priest. Because our Heavenly Father needs no money, He has no doctrine of exclusivity. Everything comes from Him anyway, so requiring people to follow in one doctrine or another is pointless to Him. He asks only that His children are kind to one another and to His bride, the Mother Church, which is the very earth herself. Jesus as priest shows us the way to love and to care for others, acts of kindness and love of others being the only sacrifices He asks.
Every time you go out on the road, you are in church. The Church of the Road has no set schedule; you get the sermon of the moment each time you attend. Sometimes, the sermons are uplifting and joyous, as we ride beneath the sun, the moon, and the stars under the clear skies. Other times, the sermons are hard lessons, bringing us challenges to our patience in the form of inclement weather and other motorists who drift into our path.
Each service is unique. Each service speaks to us in a new and unique way. Just as going to church with a focus on social convention and fashion can distract you from why you're actually there, so too can driving encased in the shell of your car. Just as a person in a fancy suit can still fully participate in the celebration, however, drivers of cars can too. But the Church of the Road is best experienced in a 'come as you are' fashion, on two wheels, be they motorized or no, or on foot. Convertibles, T-Tops, and targa roof cars are a very happy medium.
So come to church! If we meet, I will extend to you a warm greeting and will be happy to share in the celebration with you. I hope that you will return the courtesy!
Ride free and true!
The word itself comes from the Greek Kyriakós oíkos, meaning house of the Lord. It eventually became Church as it migrated into Germanic languages, Old English and then into modern English. It is the most common place to go and worship on Sunday for the majority of Christians in the west. Typically, such buildings are seen in the light of being holy ground or exceptionally sacred in some way. Clergy, regardless of the denomination, are usually specialized clerical professionals. Meaning that their sole 'job' is being a priest or pastor. People gather and listen to what the priest, pastor or guest speaker has to say and often there is an expectation of donating money and some element of commemoration of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. Some of these commemorations involve rituals that invoke the real presence of Christ (which brings about a spiritual transformation of the common elements of bread and wine) while many are simple commemoration with no deeper meaning. During the course of the service, the speaker, whatever title the hold, tells the congregation how to live their lives, how to apply the scripture to their lives, or will expound on some passage and reflect on its impact in our lives. At the end, the vast majority of attendees go their separate ways and are no different for having been to church than they were the night before. For many, the act of attendance is a social/familial obligation. The clergy will tell you that you are mandated to attend, citing some scripture or another, and will follow that up by telling you that you are obligated to tithe or donate money in the amount of some minimum percentage of your income. The spiritual penalties for ignoring such obligations vary from one denomination to another.
While I do attend church on Sunday mornings, there is another church that I attend daily. That church is the church of the road. What kind of church is this, you ask? Let me tell you about it.
It is a true "house" of God, for God is not contained in one building but is everywhere one may go. God's presence is felt every minute of every day, but His majesty is seen most powerfully in the skies above, both in the daylight and under the starlit skies. No cleric need be concerned with performing a ritual to invoke His presence; He is simply there. Our Heavenly Father, who's spirit infuses all things and surrounds all things, binding them together and connecting them.
The very ground we ride on is itself holy, for it is itself divine. The Catholic Church likes to call itself, "Mother Church." But no organization (led by a bunch of old men, no less) can truly be our mother. Mother Earth is the physical structure of this church, domed by the sky above. She bears us up as we ride along, she takes us high enough to touch the sky itself and takes us deep and low where we can contemplate her mysteries. She is our mother church, and she is ever guiding us and teaching us. She nourishes us as a human organization can only dream of nourishing. She is the Mother Church.
The Bible states that Jesus is our high priest, and being unlimited by space and time, the 'priest' is always celebrating His glorious mass. His sermons change from day to day, and His lessons are most often subtle, requiring us to actively engage in the celebration to understand them. It is in loving and caring for one another that we most intimately encounter Him, and our time on the road challenges us to do this in new ways each and every day.
People gather in the Church of the Road. Everyday. And just like regular church, the vast majority are there out of some obligation imposed upon them by something outside of the spiritual. Just as in regular church, many people form their cliques and wall themselves off from others, only interacting with their fellow churchgoers as necessary. Just like in regular church, many people miss the celebration that is inherent in attending.
The Church of the Road asks no tithe of its members. It imposes no obligation on you to attend. Jesus needs no salary, so He's a fairly undemanding high priest. Because our Heavenly Father needs no money, He has no doctrine of exclusivity. Everything comes from Him anyway, so requiring people to follow in one doctrine or another is pointless to Him. He asks only that His children are kind to one another and to His bride, the Mother Church, which is the very earth herself. Jesus as priest shows us the way to love and to care for others, acts of kindness and love of others being the only sacrifices He asks.
Every time you go out on the road, you are in church. The Church of the Road has no set schedule; you get the sermon of the moment each time you attend. Sometimes, the sermons are uplifting and joyous, as we ride beneath the sun, the moon, and the stars under the clear skies. Other times, the sermons are hard lessons, bringing us challenges to our patience in the form of inclement weather and other motorists who drift into our path.
Each service is unique. Each service speaks to us in a new and unique way. Just as going to church with a focus on social convention and fashion can distract you from why you're actually there, so too can driving encased in the shell of your car. Just as a person in a fancy suit can still fully participate in the celebration, however, drivers of cars can too. But the Church of the Road is best experienced in a 'come as you are' fashion, on two wheels, be they motorized or no, or on foot. Convertibles, T-Tops, and targa roof cars are a very happy medium.
So come to church! If we meet, I will extend to you a warm greeting and will be happy to share in the celebration with you. I hope that you will return the courtesy!
Ride free and true!
Friday, August 23, 2013
Shock preload
It's day 123 and last night, I made my first suspension adjustment: the rear shock preload. And what a world of difference it makes!
So what is preload? On most motorcycles, the shocks are adjustable. On a Harley, there are five adjustments. They come from the factory set at 1. All Harleys are set up to be optimal for the average rider, which in their view, is a male between 5'8" and six feet weighing about 180 pounds. A heavier rider or a bike that is carrying both a rider and a passenger can use up much of the suspension travel in a motorcycle's rear suspension, which on most cruisers, isn't all that great to begin with.
Enter preload. You can adjust the suspension to raise the base of the springs, thus slightly raising the ride height. That way, when a heavier rider sits down, the shocks don't use up all of their travel and bottom out. Some big touring bikes have air adjustable suspensions to achieve the same effect, as one sees on some Cadillacs and Lincolns, and such suspensions allow a much greater range of adjustment than the mechanical adjustors in most motorcycle shocks.
Well, I'm 6'4" and weigh 218 pounds. Throw on two saddle bags, one loaded with rain gear, a tool kit, a helmet and riding gear, and my bike is probably carrying something close to 230 pounds. Needless to say, I'm not the average rider. So I followed the owners manual and set it up from 1 to 2. Settings 2 and 3 are recommended for heavier solo riders and 3 to 5 are recommended for riding with a passenger. I opted to set mine for 2.
After setting it, I took the bike out in the neighborhood. Speed bumps had less bite, but it was this morning on my ride in that I really noticed the difference. The ride is now firm, but still compliant. The bike's handling is more crisp and precise, and bumps that were jarring now barely register.
So my next 142 hours should be more comfortable! And all without buying new shocks or taking the bike into the shop!
Ride free and true!
So what is preload? On most motorcycles, the shocks are adjustable. On a Harley, there are five adjustments. They come from the factory set at 1. All Harleys are set up to be optimal for the average rider, which in their view, is a male between 5'8" and six feet weighing about 180 pounds. A heavier rider or a bike that is carrying both a rider and a passenger can use up much of the suspension travel in a motorcycle's rear suspension, which on most cruisers, isn't all that great to begin with.
Enter preload. You can adjust the suspension to raise the base of the springs, thus slightly raising the ride height. That way, when a heavier rider sits down, the shocks don't use up all of their travel and bottom out. Some big touring bikes have air adjustable suspensions to achieve the same effect, as one sees on some Cadillacs and Lincolns, and such suspensions allow a much greater range of adjustment than the mechanical adjustors in most motorcycle shocks.
Well, I'm 6'4" and weigh 218 pounds. Throw on two saddle bags, one loaded with rain gear, a tool kit, a helmet and riding gear, and my bike is probably carrying something close to 230 pounds. Needless to say, I'm not the average rider. So I followed the owners manual and set it up from 1 to 2. Settings 2 and 3 are recommended for heavier solo riders and 3 to 5 are recommended for riding with a passenger. I opted to set mine for 2.
After setting it, I took the bike out in the neighborhood. Speed bumps had less bite, but it was this morning on my ride in that I really noticed the difference. The ride is now firm, but still compliant. The bike's handling is more crisp and precise, and bumps that were jarring now barely register.
So my next 142 hours should be more comfortable! And all without buying new shocks or taking the bike into the shop!
Ride free and true!
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