Yesterday was Father’s Day and I hope every dad felt as special as I did. My lovely bride declared the weekend mine so Saturday we took a family day and went to a flea market and then to a motorcycle shop where I was treated to new riding boots and a cool sun shade that fits on my clear visor to I can still see at night but have glare blocked when riding into the sun. I was thinking how blessed I am to have a wife who supports my need for adventure. It reminds me of the line in the movie As good as it gets “You make me want to be a better man.” You can get a glimpse of her amazing talent at her BLOG Joy Dance http://www.robbieiobst.blogspot.com/ today in my lunch she left a note thanking me for taking the ride… “I am proud of the way you take care of yourself and the do the things that restore you.” I am a blessed man – It is good to be the dad.
We then went to church for what I expected to be the annual public beating of men. Not sure why it is that Mother’s day is the time for churches to praise women and Father’s day is the time to beat up men but that is the way it seems to be. We moved to this church last fall so this was our first Father’s day. The message was great. In fact when the post the MP3 the website I will be sending it out. I am a blessed man – It is good to be the dad.
Sunday morning I was surprised with another gift, a cabala’s sleeping pad for the trip. I am not a camper by nature and I was a bit worried about nine nights sleeping on the ground and this will help. After breakfast I loaded up and took off for a ride to who knows where. Along the way took some roads I have never seen and stopped at Echo Lake where I saw that the road up Mt. Evens was open. Mt Evens is one of the Colorado Fourteeners http://www.14ers.com/ which are mountains reaching at least 14,000 feet above sea level. Mt Evens is special in that is boasts the highest paved road in the Unites States 14,270 feet making it possible to drive to the summit. So I paid my 3.00 and off I went. The view was spectacular especially above the tree line. It is like another world. I wish I could say the bike and I had no problem with the lack of Oxygen but that would be only part true. The bike was fine… I was sucking wind like I just ran a marathon but it was well worth it. I couldn’t resist stopping at the store at the bottom of the road, if you can call 10,000 feet the bottom of anything to but a patch and t-shirt. I am a blessed man – It is good to be the dad.
To sum up…
· Blessed Man
· Good to be the Dad
Monday, June 16, 2008
Monday, June 2, 2008
Different strokes for different folks
When I ride I ride. My average day on the bike is at least 250 miles and the last several rides have been 400 + so it is not easy for me to find people to ride with. Most people when they speak of a ride are talking about 30 to 50 miles and call it a day. For me that raises the question… What’s the point?
I thought I found my peeps in the BMW Owners club, I do not own a BMW but they don’t care. They look like me – mostly 40+, the dress like me – everyone in riding gear (no jeans or leathers) and everyone wears a helmet and they ride like I ride – hundreds and hundreds of miles. I have been on several rides with these guys and other then them riding a little faster then I usually do it has been a good fit.
Last Saturday was I assumed to be no exception. I joined the group after breakfast in Morrison, CO and found the group planning he longest ride (about 400 miles over several passes) and recognized several people and bikes from previous rides along with some people I hadn’t ridden with before. All was well until we got off the main roads and into a mountain pass and the pace picked up to triple digits.
This is where my wife should stop reading.
Cresting a mountain pass at 110 does have its appeal but when my foot peg digs in on a long sweeper at 95+ I decided that I would meet up with the rest of the group at the next gas or meal stop and get back to my normal speed limit + 5 velocity. The truth is that these roads are beautiful and anything above 80 I get so much wind buffeting and vibration that I can’t enjoy the view so what’s the point. I learned some time ago in cars to keep the racing to the race track. For a while last Saturday I forgot that rule also applies to bikes.
I guess the lesson is avoid group think when riding and in life. To your own self be true.
The nice surprise was that a few of the BMW guys on full touring bikes (like my Yamaha) were hanging back and taking a slower pace so I had someone to ride with after all.
I thought I found my peeps in the BMW Owners club, I do not own a BMW but they don’t care. They look like me – mostly 40+, the dress like me – everyone in riding gear (no jeans or leathers) and everyone wears a helmet and they ride like I ride – hundreds and hundreds of miles. I have been on several rides with these guys and other then them riding a little faster then I usually do it has been a good fit.
Last Saturday was I assumed to be no exception. I joined the group after breakfast in Morrison, CO and found the group planning he longest ride (about 400 miles over several passes) and recognized several people and bikes from previous rides along with some people I hadn’t ridden with before. All was well until we got off the main roads and into a mountain pass and the pace picked up to triple digits.
This is where my wife should stop reading.
Cresting a mountain pass at 110 does have its appeal but when my foot peg digs in on a long sweeper at 95+ I decided that I would meet up with the rest of the group at the next gas or meal stop and get back to my normal speed limit + 5 velocity. The truth is that these roads are beautiful and anything above 80 I get so much wind buffeting and vibration that I can’t enjoy the view so what’s the point. I learned some time ago in cars to keep the racing to the race track. For a while last Saturday I forgot that rule also applies to bikes.
I guess the lesson is avoid group think when riding and in life. To your own self be true.
The nice surprise was that a few of the BMW guys on full touring bikes (like my Yamaha) were hanging back and taking a slower pace so I had someone to ride with after all.
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