Sunday, January 28, 2007

~ It's A Great Day For A Ride ~

When I got up this morning for church, at the crack of dawn, I looked out the window and saw a spectacular sunrise. The sky was painted in pink and Pikes Peak and the surrounding mountains were gorgeous. Right away I had a feeling this would be a special day. My first thought was to quickly get dressed, grab the camera & tripod and get a few photos. Then I got ready for church.


Once ready for church, the sun was up and the sky was a beautiful blue. I love the morning sky. Ususally by afternoon there is a haze over the mountains and the sky isn't crystal clear anymore. On the way to church I had my husband stop so I could get a picture of the peak in the bright sun. This way you can see the difference of the pink mountains and clear mountains.



After we got home it was decided that the roads were clear and safe enough to get out on, Yaaah whooooooo!!! Biker Bill pulled his bike out, turned the key and ... it wouldn't start. He had to hook his battery to the charger for 45 minutes. I pulled my bike out , pulled out the choke and at first it didn't want to start. It would almost kickover. I realized I had my brights on and turned them down, turned off the bike and let it set for just a few minutes. We thought we'd have to hook mine up to the charger after his. But I tried again with the light on normal and it started up. I let it idle for just a bit. After about 5 minutes of idling I walked around my bike to make sure there were no leaks or too loose parts. All appeared fine.

Then I decided to check my tires, since my bike had been sitting in a very cold garage for over a month. I checked the front tire and the tire gage wouldn't even move. My first thought was that the gage was broken. Bill suggested checking the back tire and it worked like a champ! That's when we realized the front tire was so low it wouldn't register on the gage.



Biker Bill pulled out the air compressor and I put air in that puppy, lol. It turned out the back tire was about 5 pounds low and I took care of both. That's when I got to thinking about what I learned in the Motorcycle Safety Foundation course. "T-CLOCK" came to mind and I racked my brain trying to remember all we are suppose to check before going out on our bikes. I asked Biker Bill and he couldn't remember them all either. Later I looked it up and here they are:

T - Tire Pressure

C - Controls

L - Lights

O - Oil

C - Chassis

K - Kickstand

I found the following checklist for doing the T-CLOCK check on your bike. Go to here for the checklist. It's very well written.


Once all was charged up, aired up, idled up, geared up, and ready *laugh* we hit the road and then gased up, lol. We had an errand at the north end of town at the mall. We were very watchful for gravel and large potholes. For the most part, the roads we rode were in pretty good condition. We took Powers, to Woodmen, to Lexington, to Briargate and to the Chapel Hills Mall. We did come across a few potholes of concerned, but easily manuvered around them. We did expect the roads to be worse then they were. We got to the mall and took care of business. We saw about four motorcycles on the way there.

Above is a very happy Biker Bill and his new ride, a 2000 Suzuki Intruder 1500. Now it's getting onto 4pm and it's starting to get noticably chilly and time to head home. We decide to head back by Acadamy Blvd, as it should be quicker. But surprisingly, it has twice as many potholes and more gravel to contend with. Once again, we manuveur around all obstacles. We have one quick stop at the grocery store and then arrive home safe and sound. It's now pretty chilly and we're glad to be home.

So it turns out to be a very successful day for motorcycle riding and there is high hopes to get out again tomorrow, as Biker Bill has a scheduled day off. One thing I have learned is to keep a better eye on my tire pressure. It does appear that my front tire has a slow leak. It will need to be replaced this spring, as the tread is wearing a bit thin on the front, too.

Wishing you adventures in your part of the world,

Biker Betty :)

22 comments:

Giest said...

woo hoo! glad to hear that you could finally get out for a ride! things look pretty clear down there, from your pictures at least. it will be sometime before Selene can hit the road again, temps are still way below freezing. that's okay though, i'll live vicariously through you. ;)

stay warm, stay safe.

American Scooterist Blog said...

I think I must've been living in a cave. I never knew people had come up with all these neat little ways to remember to check one thing or another. Growing up I sort of got used to doing "the walkaround". Sometimes just letting the bike idle and looking and listening.

Great site by the way

The Roadbum

Anonymous said...

Hi Betty - Thanks for visiting my Photo Hunt.
Blogger gets a double boo outta me this morning. One for having limited beta, the other for not displaying all your photos :(
It did however show the one of your filling your tire. You've got the loveliest hair!
Waving at ya from New York

Allen Madding said...

Glad y'all got to get out and ride a bit this weekend. My experience Friday was much like yours. I got home at 6pm and the hours from 4pm on were colder and colder...brr

ride safe

Jose said...

Our riding weather couldn't be better. It's still a little cold but nothing our leathers wont't take care of.

Great to hear you could ride.

Biker Betty said...

Hi Giest
Thanks for stopping by. Yea, we were very happy to get out yesterday. We wimped out today, it's just a bit colder then we want. I can't wait for the first warm day to hit and not sure this year when that will be. Due to these weather patterns, I don't think we will get out much till summer, but you never know.

You stay warm too.

Hi Roadbum,
There must be acronyms for just about anything, lol. It can help me remember things better. Thanks for stopping by and for the compliment. I've visited your blog and yours is really great too. I have placed a link to you on my sidebar.

Hi Frances,
Thanks for stopping by. The photo hunt is so much fun. I love seeing what everyone comes up with each week for the theme. I do hate it when Blogger acts up. Sorry all the photos didn't show. Thanks for the compliment. I enjoy reading your blog.

Hi Allen,
Today did turn out to be a bit colder then we would like and the wind is starting to kick up, so no riding today. Eventually we will be better geared up for colder weather. It does take time to accumulate the stuff, lol.

Hi Jose,
That last post of yours was down right balmy. That was a great photo. Glad you're getting nice weather. I will come to your blog to warm up, lol.

Thanks everyone for stopping by and have a great day,
Betty :)

Anonymous said...

So glad you were able to get out and ride! Love the pictures of your view! How awesome!!!

American Scooterist Blog said...

Biker Betty, I think you might enjoy reading my reply to you over on my blog. You really had a meaty point to make. It gave me a chance to take some latent thoughts and try to lay them out on the table. I hope you have the chance to read my response to a strong insight which you gave me to work with. Feel free to respond again with whatever thoughts you have.

The Roadbum

FRIDAY'S CHILD said...

Those photos are really beautiful especially the first one.
Thanks for the visit.
Friday's Child
http://lifran.blogspot.com/

Pamela said...

I thought about a pilot walking around his jet b4 take off...
then thought about that music from TOP GUN... and listened to it in my head while I read the remainder of your post.

(:

OldLady Of The Hills said...

You are a brave soul Betty...I know youprobably don't think of it that way at all, but I believe you are very brave and I appreciate how careful you are....Love your pictures and those safety tips are really great!

About The "star"...they don'y want to make it easy and the point of sewnding emails is to remind them aqbout Larry Parks. They know exactly who he is, make no mistake. Been down this road before, my dear. BUT, the more they hear about it, the better....the other things will fall inbto place. Thanks so much for your concern.

Erin said...

Betty,
I love the photo of you next to your bike, crouched down and smiling :) It made me smile :D Anyway, thanks for stopping by my blog- I agree, I have to write sometimes something so that if I don't I go nuts (and that sometimes drives hubby nuts when I have to write after midnight for example LOL!!)
Come back sometime, Betty! :)

Girls Can't WHAT? said...

Great pictures - thanks for sharing!

Irene said...

Hello,Biker Betty,
Lovely to see you. Thank you for stopping by my blog.It is so amazing what wonderful people I meet while blogging. You are one of them!
I love your courage and determination! I have my driving license and a car, but I'm petrified every time I get in, so I don't drive!

I love the morning air, and the morning skies. The air is thinner, younger, lighter, invigorating. I particularly like your photo of the dawn over the mountains. Lovely mountains. I used to do mountaineering as a Venture Scout. I suppose I may go back to it some time!!
Be happy and enjoy yourself and your family.

Biker Betty said...

Hi Dawn,
Thanks for stopping by and hope all is going better these days.

Hi Roadbum,
As you know, I did make it back to read. That is a great post.

Hi Friday's Child,
I enjoyed reading the letter from God. You did a great job redesigning your blog.

Hi Pamela,
It's funny you mention that. When I couldn't remember T-CLOCK I was thinking back to the days I was an aircraft assist. crew chief at Howard AFB, Panama. I looked around the motorcycle as if it were one of the aircraft as if it were a pre-flight inspection, lol.

Hi Naomi,
You're right, I don't think of myself as a brave soul. I just think of myself as a person who likes a little adventure in my life. There's risk in just crossing a street and here - working in a Subway fastfood place, lol.

When I got the email about the "star," I had a feeling they didn't want it to be easy. I just hope my email, with others, helps. You're doing a great thing there.

Hi Gretchen,
Thanks for visiting. You have a great site "Girls Can't What?" You've done some hard work there and I have a link to you now in my sidebar under "Special Interests."

Biker Betty said...

Hi Irene,
You snuck in as I was posting to some others, or you would have been in the previous post.

Thanks for visiting. You did mountaineering in the Venture Scouts? Wow!! I'm impressed. Where have you been? My son's troop was looking into having a Venture crew attached, but logistically it just wasn't going to work out. I was all ready to be one of the adult leaders for that. I was disappointed it didn't work out.

You must get in your car and start on the side roads. Get a feel and slowly work your way onto the busier streets. You can do it, I know you can.

Have a great day,
Betty :)

Biker Betty said...

Hi Erin,
I'm very sorry, I was scrolling up and down to read and comment on each poster and I accidently overlooked you. Please forgive me.

Yes, we are a lot alike. My husband hates it when I'm up late (and yes, sometimes past midnight) to post. I'm a night owl and have been trying to break it for years, lol. When I get that itch to post, it can drive me crazy when I can't right away. Thanks for the compliment. I really enjoy your blog, too. It great getting to know a fellow Blogging Chick.

Myra7775 said...

My husband is so jealous of the scenery. I just had to sit and listen to him give a speech on how ones bike is supposed to run better in the cold :) Glad you got to get out and ride. P.S. I borrowed your weather pixie.

Biker Betty said...

Hi Myra,

Nice hearing from you again. My motorcycle runs the same in the cold or heat. It's a great bike. I feel so lucky to ride all over my area and always see Pikes Peak. When I ride up into the mountains, the views of all the other mountains are gorgeous.

In the winter I don't get to get up there with the cold weather. It's either snowy or just downright cold. I don't have the neat heat wear that some have.

Isn't that Weather Pixie cute? Borrow away. I recently found her at someone else's site and borrowed her, lol.

Thanks for stopping by.
Betty :)

Anonymous said...

Betty I enjoyed reading about your riding day on Sunday. This time of year can be torturous for us bikers..."I want to ride but is just SO COLD!" - lol!

A fellow from my church was wanting to head up a ride right after church last Sunday but all of us big tough leather-clad biker dudes just couldn't get up the gumption to drag our faces through that frigid air. It is so funny how even the hint of a warm day brings us bikers out in droves around here. We're so thick you can't stir us with a stick!

Enjoyed the write up. By the way, you've got me wanting to go buy an air compressor now...yeeeeesh!

Biker Betty said...

Hi Sarch,
When I first got my motorcycle I would ride, short of snow, in just about any conditions just to get out. Now I've gotten a little selective, lol. When it get real cold, I do wimp out now. Plus I still haven't gotten used to the bulkiness of my winter gloves.

Hi Mitch,
Glad you could stop by. I think it is so awesome that Deb has now ventured out on her bicycle. I'm sure once the weather is nice enough, you both will be out on the trails again. This summer I hope to get my youngest son out on a bike. I recently found out about a trail that is suppose to be a lot of fun, but not too hard. This summer he aught to do better, since he's a year older and a little taller.

Have a great day,
Betty :)

Biker Betty said...

Hi DK,
We were lucky to get on the road this last Sunday. The rest of this last week it was way too cold and snowed twice.

I hope when everything melts, your bike trail is okay or easy to repair. As I told Mitch, this summer I hope to get my youngest son on a bike trail I recently learned about.

Thanks for stopping by. I really enjoy your blog.