First Ride of the Season

I got out this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, for the first ride of the season. I'm always a little nervous when I first start on the first day, but the moment the bike starts rolling forward, all the joy comes back in a flash. I feel guilty having so much fun! What an amazing bike the VFR is. I only managed to ride about 90 miles over the two days, and there is lots of sand along my favorite routes, but it was still excellent. In fact, being forced to pay attention to all the debris is part of the fun.

I have had my head buried in my job the last three months, but pretty soon they are going to see a lot less of me. Heck, might make us all happier. :smile:

 

I get so stressed out at work all week that I can't wait for the weekend so I can get out for some VFR therapy. I was out Saturday and Sunday (today), even though it was a bit on the warm side for me (low to mid 70s). It just drains away the stress like nothing else. I could have stayed out all day long, but unfortunately had to get back after about four hours each day. There is just no better way to spend some time than being out on the bike. I really cannot get enough of it.

 

Agreed.:thumbsup:




Still have to worry about cagers though. One almost pulled out in front of me Saturday night. I don't know how they don't see me at night. I've got two headlights, two added super bright fog lights, and two running lights...yet this moron in a Ford Explorer pulled all the way into the right lane of traffic heading into the left lane before looking left at a blinking stop light late at night. I was in that left lane just entering the intersection. Talk about a pucker moment. Front tire skid about a foot since it's ready to be replaced.

 

Do you get to ride most of the year? I could have gotten out a couple of weekends ago, but I just didn't have my act together. But it would have been tough before that, given all the snow we have had this year. Or else I am just a wus!

It is therapy. It is also a bit addictive!

 

Caution is definitely the order of the day. Between the debris and cagers not paying attention, you really have to be attentive. For now, that is fine. Later I will want to be able to concentrate more on my technique and less on everyone else.

 

It's been a bad winter for riding all over the north. I only got out once this February and once in January. Not at all in December. Last year I road multiple times in February. Just depends on how much snow you get. This year we had snow on the ground for almost all of December and January so the roads never got clear enough to be safe nor the temps warm enough to prevent unexpected freezing of run off if the temp dropped later in the day.

 

We don't get too much snow, but it does get icy a bit too often. I really enjoy riding in cold weather, so I get out all winter, unless there is snow or ice on the roads. I have heated gear for the really cold weather. The down side of riding in the Winter is all of the sand and grit all over the roads from the spreaders. And even on nice days, when it's cold there is often ice in the shadows, and the shadows always seem to be in the corners. Makes it a bit dicey, providing a few too many pucker moments. It's worth it, though.

 

I would love to ride all year, but some years--like this year--we get a lot of snow. Some day I may get a small, used dual sport that I can live with dropping on occasion, and try meeting my need to ride. The alternatives are curling up in a fetal position for the months of January and February, or killing some poor unsuspecting soul at work whose foolishness with just be inane if I wasn't in withdrawal.