Girlie Motorcycle Blog

It’s that time of year when many of us start reflecting on the past 12 months that are coming to a close.

In 2009:

1. I’ve learned a thing or two
2. I went to Kentucky
3. I found out why Pimmie is so awesome
4. I said Goodbye to an old friend
5. I Introduced Duc748 to a new one
6. I like it better when you don’t think you know everything
7. I further fortified the idea that you can find friendship in unexpected places
8. I’ve unlearned a thing or two
9. I was still working out my group riding demons
10. I found out that your friends will still try to rope you into doing “dumb” things
11. I have come to terms with my un-technical side, I can’t fix anything and don’t care to
12. I didn’t wash my bike
13. I found out that waterproof boots are what I’ve been searching for my entire life
14. I began excitedly hatching a plan for a fall trip in 2010
15. I got a new bike that made me really appreciate the Triumph
16. I didn’t ride nearly as much as my imagination wanted me to
17. I was happy to have Novos here
18. I have been really happy for other people
19. I saw some pretty excellent giant fiberglass vegetables, crustaceans, men and other assorted foods and animals
20. I have loved that you’re still here reading and I thank you
    

What comes next?

I can’t wait to see what is in store for 2010. Will it be a year of big changes, lots of road trips and good times with friends? I sure hope so.

This post is nothing without you:

• What are your riding plans for 2010?
  New bike? Big trip?
  Let’s hear it!

“All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost; the old that is strong does not wither, deep roots are not reached by the frost. From the ashes a fire shall be woken, a light from the shadows shall spring; renewed shall be the blade that was broken, the crownless again shall be king.”  -J.R.R Tolkien

My first introduction to using handlebar muffs was back when I did the Crotona Midnight Run in 2007. My dear friend Bill lent me his muffs to use that night. He has again imparted them on me for this winter.

Muff Mama

Because I don’t have heated gloves, I’m left to monkey around with winter gloves and heated grips on the Speed Triple. When I wear my winter gloves, I can’t feel the heated grips very well. I also find that my feel on the bars and levers is a bit more vague. Using the muffs allows me to use my heated grips and wear my regular leather riding gloves.

The Parts Unlimited muffs I am using do a good job of providing an extra layer of wind protection even at highway speeds. And they remind me of giant ovenmitts which ups the silly factor

Caveat:

• Depending on the material used to construct your muffs, while moving – the wind can collapse the body of the muff. This can make it difficult to get your hand back into the opening if you took it out.

I have brushguards on the triple that help to keep the muff a little more rigid upfront. In my previous go-round with the muffs, I used them with the brushguards on the outside. I think the guards make it easier to get my hands back in while in motion. Your mileage may vary depending on how rigid your muffs  happens to be.

So, until I spring for some Gerbing gloves, muffs it is.

Triple Muffy

[edit - 12/21/09]
A few people have asked – The model I am using are Parts Unlimited Snow Paws from their ATV catalog.

This morning I walked down the driveway in the misting rain and Kenny said “be careful,” from the front door. As I rode away, I thought to myself that it isn’t something I hear very often from him. 40 miles later, I reflected on his words as I found myself trying to pick up my dropped Triumph.

I haven’t been on a bike hit the deck in 11 years now. Garage wall, yes but the ground, no. Thankfully this was one of those dumb maneuvers that happened at about a 1/2 mile per hour. I was pulling around to the other side of a gas pump island. I was really moving too slowly with the bars turned too tightly. The bike didn’t want to do anything other than tip over. And that’s exactly what it did. It started to tip gently to the right and I put my foot down. It became clear in short order that I would not be able to hold it up. It was at the point of no return. Rather than kill my back, I just let it go. I stood there next to it, turned the key off and in my typical, deadpan delivery I said out loud, “well, that stinks.”

The gas station attendant sauntered over and helped me upright the bike. My face was burning with embarrassment as I thanked him. In the span of the next 5 minutes my brain flooded with a million thoughts. Most of which circled around – “This guy must think I’m an idiot.”

In that moment, you wish you could somehow manage to convey everyone watching that – no, this isn’t your first day riding a motorcycle, that more often than not you pretty much know what you’re doing and of course that it didn’t happen just because you’re a woman. That was the one that stuck with me on the rest of my ride. Did he think I was a dunce or did he think I was a dumb girl? Not that it really matters one way or the other.

After picking the bike up I walked it the remaining 5 feet to complete my aborted turn and filled up. When I took my gloves off, I saw that I had somehow bent my fingernail back pretty far down into the bed. There was a Rorschach test of blood spreading under the nail. The gas station attendant smiled and brought me a nail clipper. How convenient, a full service station!

Obviously nothing happened to me other than me feeling like a complete dick. Let’s get to the important stuff – What happened to my bike?

I bent my rear brake pedal quite a bit. Luckily it bent in such a way that it wasn’t dragging. I also bent my brake lever. I hadn’t noticed right away though, so it’s not so bad.  When the bike hit the ground it also put a very small scuff on the engine. Being all black, it’s GLARINGLY obvious to me to see the silver shining through.  But if I saw it on someone else’s bike, I wouldn’t look twice. You know how that goes. Everything was fine with me and the bike. It started on the first push of the button so I continued on my ride.

When I got home, I walked in and told Kenny that I’d tipped the bike over. He gave me the funniest “really?” like he thought I was kidding. He, being the gem that he is went into the garage and got some pliers and pulled my brake pedal back into a usable place. Later in the evening he also got me some BBQ grill paint to fill that tiny little engine scuff in. I guess he knew the scuff would eventually make me nuts

So there you have it. A very unspectacular fall. If they’re gonna happen, that’s the best way.

Let the Mockery Commence!

Bent Brake Pedal

Small Engine Scuff

Mostly Un-bent Brake

Let’s Hear From You!

• Got any embarrassing tip over stories?

According to Triumph, they have never made a pink motorcycle. Since the year 2000 they have however made Nuclear Red motorcycles. Which if you’re playing along at home look decidedly… pink. Something about that strikes me as very Seinfeld-y.

Jerry: “It’s not a purse! It’s European!”

2002 Nuclear Red Triumph Speed Triple

Triumph’s website boasts: “The Speed triple is tougher than ever and determined to defend its rightful position as the definitive factory streetfighter.” That sounds pretty butch, pretty manly to me. And in our very scientific research we’ve already determined that there is no such thing as a girl’s bike. So with that I ask you, especially you blokes -

• Would you buy the “pink” Triumph?