Bocch
11-21-2005, 07:15 AM
It is November 20th, cold weather becons and snow is in the forcast. I only started riding in October and need to ride more! How will I ever do this? I search Beginners website. I see, I think, that most riders are in hibernate mode. Could be I just lack the knowledge to find where the local NY/NJ area riders are riding this time of year.
I go to the Riders Education website and find a link to the local Polar Bear Grand Tour website. This club has rides thru the cold winter months. Did I say cold? The first 2 weeks of this club's rides saw temps into the 60 degree mark (and me vacationing in Vegas, go figure). Anyway, it's Nov. 20th, temps in the mid to high 40 degree mark. The ride destination is near me in Port Jervis NY. I get out of work on time and I am riding, gosh darnit!
Did I say temps are in the mid 40's? Did I also mention clear blue skies? Do you know why the weather is so nice? Cause I just got my "winter" leather jacket. I am wearing this jacket anyway (gosh darnit!)
I use the backroads half the way to go to Port Jervis. Why? It's more scenic then using route 23. I am enjoying the scenery and the weather. I fight the urge to daydream while riding the bike but I am losing the battle of slowing down and enjoying the ride. I can't help it, the cars getting stuck behind me must think I am deficient. A motocyclist going the speed limit or slower!?
I soon jump on route 23 going north in Sussex where route 23 turns more scenic and has smooth twisties, wide shoulders, clear views, probably the nicest section of route 23. If you like enjoying scenery that is.
The closer I get to Port Jervis the more motorcyclists I see. I then realize, all I am seeing are Harley clubs. Oh Chit! Did I get myself into an experienced type of club? An exclusive type club? Are these Harley guys gonna shoot me for showing up on a 650cc Suzuki? Well, stupid me contiues to go to the Cornucopia in Port Jervis. The Harley clubs I pass did extend the courtesy wave to me so maybe it will not be so bad?
I ride thru Port Jervis, I notice that some Harley clubs have stopped at some local eateries. All the big bikes parked in a row, all polished and shined for a show, I mean tour.
I wonder if they had to practice parking this way?
I arrive at the Cornucopia. Bikes all over the parking lot and mostly Harleys. Wait! Its a mix of bikes. Some are BAH's and some are GWH's. When I looked at my little suzuki I was thinking that these people must think it's a toy. I look for a corner of the parking lot to
park my little bike. Now what do I do?
Turns out that there is nobody to tell or guide you what to do. I only know I am suppose to log my mileage with somebody. I go inside and see the officers of the club. I guess I will ask them? I find, the hard way that there is a member fee. I am told to pay next week.
OK, I guess you expect me to do next week's ride. OH chit! what did I get myself into? Why am I so unsure of next week's ride? What the heck happens if the temps are in the 30's? I do not have the winter gear that other's have. Do I need a bank loan to gear up? What? What? I decide to see what other experienced riders are wearing. I see mostly, chaps. OK, I need to find chaps. I did not see electric heated anything. I go check bikes.
Wow! These gold wings are cadilacs! They have more MC gadgets then a cadilac no more then what a lexxis has! Hell, I can see why they ride thru the winter, there is NO suffering with the cold. The mc is strictly a comfort, a joy to ride! Yes, I am saying to myself,"someday, when I grow up, I too will have a bigger bike."
Well, this is my FIRST time to see what mc's are on the road so now it's time for me to learn by observing. I look. I liked the Triumph that was there, very much. Looks nicer in person then in the pictures in Backroads. I also see 2 Harley 883's. The one softail I see, sort of black, I really like a lot. That bike I could see myself on. It was simple and unassuming. I like that, not drawing attention to myself kind of bike.
Then, I watch as the different clubs leave the lot. They leave as a club, very organized. I then ask myself. "What happens if I pull a stupid move leaving the lot?" I mean, I am an entry level rider, I could just drop the bike. It's not like I am with anybody from this website that understands rookie rider mistakes. I am in the midst of motorcyclists that have thousands of miles under their belts. I can imagine that if I drop my bike in front of them that I will banned from the Polar Bear rides. Instead of them waving hello to me on the road they will make the sign of the cross, the kind of sign that keeps evil away. So, I wait and watch. I see 2 BA-Trikes. I see one of the riders set up their little toy poodle in the back seat. Cool! The dog is wearing goggles, a cap, it's own leather jacket-harness. The dog is not afraid. As a matter of fact, if I understand dogs correctly, I think the dog is thinking c'mon,c'mon lets go!. I watch as this rider with dog leaves. The dog looks very comfortable and I realize that this dog also has more experience then me!
With most of the riders gone from the lot. I decide to leave to go home, cause nobody is around to watch incase I do a stupid bike thingie.
I leave without problems, I leave without anybody waving goodbye. I leave unassumingly,not drawing attention to myself, kinda like that black Harley softail I saw in the lot.
:chopper:
I go to the Riders Education website and find a link to the local Polar Bear Grand Tour website. This club has rides thru the cold winter months. Did I say cold? The first 2 weeks of this club's rides saw temps into the 60 degree mark (and me vacationing in Vegas, go figure). Anyway, it's Nov. 20th, temps in the mid to high 40 degree mark. The ride destination is near me in Port Jervis NY. I get out of work on time and I am riding, gosh darnit!
Did I say temps are in the mid 40's? Did I also mention clear blue skies? Do you know why the weather is so nice? Cause I just got my "winter" leather jacket. I am wearing this jacket anyway (gosh darnit!)
I use the backroads half the way to go to Port Jervis. Why? It's more scenic then using route 23. I am enjoying the scenery and the weather. I fight the urge to daydream while riding the bike but I am losing the battle of slowing down and enjoying the ride. I can't help it, the cars getting stuck behind me must think I am deficient. A motocyclist going the speed limit or slower!?
I soon jump on route 23 going north in Sussex where route 23 turns more scenic and has smooth twisties, wide shoulders, clear views, probably the nicest section of route 23. If you like enjoying scenery that is.
The closer I get to Port Jervis the more motorcyclists I see. I then realize, all I am seeing are Harley clubs. Oh Chit! Did I get myself into an experienced type of club? An exclusive type club? Are these Harley guys gonna shoot me for showing up on a 650cc Suzuki? Well, stupid me contiues to go to the Cornucopia in Port Jervis. The Harley clubs I pass did extend the courtesy wave to me so maybe it will not be so bad?
I ride thru Port Jervis, I notice that some Harley clubs have stopped at some local eateries. All the big bikes parked in a row, all polished and shined for a show, I mean tour.
I wonder if they had to practice parking this way?
I arrive at the Cornucopia. Bikes all over the parking lot and mostly Harleys. Wait! Its a mix of bikes. Some are BAH's and some are GWH's. When I looked at my little suzuki I was thinking that these people must think it's a toy. I look for a corner of the parking lot to
park my little bike. Now what do I do?
Turns out that there is nobody to tell or guide you what to do. I only know I am suppose to log my mileage with somebody. I go inside and see the officers of the club. I guess I will ask them? I find, the hard way that there is a member fee. I am told to pay next week.
OK, I guess you expect me to do next week's ride. OH chit! what did I get myself into? Why am I so unsure of next week's ride? What the heck happens if the temps are in the 30's? I do not have the winter gear that other's have. Do I need a bank loan to gear up? What? What? I decide to see what other experienced riders are wearing. I see mostly, chaps. OK, I need to find chaps. I did not see electric heated anything. I go check bikes.
Wow! These gold wings are cadilacs! They have more MC gadgets then a cadilac no more then what a lexxis has! Hell, I can see why they ride thru the winter, there is NO suffering with the cold. The mc is strictly a comfort, a joy to ride! Yes, I am saying to myself,"someday, when I grow up, I too will have a bigger bike."
Well, this is my FIRST time to see what mc's are on the road so now it's time for me to learn by observing. I look. I liked the Triumph that was there, very much. Looks nicer in person then in the pictures in Backroads. I also see 2 Harley 883's. The one softail I see, sort of black, I really like a lot. That bike I could see myself on. It was simple and unassuming. I like that, not drawing attention to myself kind of bike.
Then, I watch as the different clubs leave the lot. They leave as a club, very organized. I then ask myself. "What happens if I pull a stupid move leaving the lot?" I mean, I am an entry level rider, I could just drop the bike. It's not like I am with anybody from this website that understands rookie rider mistakes. I am in the midst of motorcyclists that have thousands of miles under their belts. I can imagine that if I drop my bike in front of them that I will banned from the Polar Bear rides. Instead of them waving hello to me on the road they will make the sign of the cross, the kind of sign that keeps evil away. So, I wait and watch. I see 2 BA-Trikes. I see one of the riders set up their little toy poodle in the back seat. Cool! The dog is wearing goggles, a cap, it's own leather jacket-harness. The dog is not afraid. As a matter of fact, if I understand dogs correctly, I think the dog is thinking c'mon,c'mon lets go!. I watch as this rider with dog leaves. The dog looks very comfortable and I realize that this dog also has more experience then me!
With most of the riders gone from the lot. I decide to leave to go home, cause nobody is around to watch incase I do a stupid bike thingie.
I leave without problems, I leave without anybody waving goodbye. I leave unassumingly,not drawing attention to myself, kinda like that black Harley softail I saw in the lot.
:chopper: