Our run of beautiful Saturdays came to an end yesterday; thunderstorms and an all-day rain kept us from riding. However, we got our bike fix by going to look at the 2022 Triumph Scrambler XE and the Rocket 3 GT, both bikes we hope to own one day once we have the garage space available. And on this visit to the dealership, the sales guy told us we could test ride the bikes, whereas on his initial visit, Bill was told they don’t allow for test rides (then how do you sell a bike?). But we were informed test rides are allowed for the Triumphs. So one sunny day, we’ll head over for the test ride and probably the purchase of the Rocket as our pattern so far has been ride and buy.
As for this week’s ride, we have Sunday as a backup and, despite the cloud cover, we ventured out in hopes the rain was gone and the ride was on. The temperature was a lovely 75 for the ride, and the street was rider friendly—no boat trailers in sight and only 2 other vehicles on the road besides mine and three Canadian geese. As we arrived, we noted the cricket players again on the school grounds but, being the delinquent rebels we are, we continued past and went to our new location.
I started with U-turns at either end of the street upsetting the geese, especially the one who tried to sit in the middle of the road. After four or five passes, the geese had enough and scampered over into Bill’s yard. Apparently these three were on the outs with the rest of the gaggle because they no sooner arrived in the yard than they were flying out, chased off by the others.
If you’re wondering if I rode or watched birds, the answer is both. As I was gearing up, I looked up and saw a falcon circling above. When I stopped to chat with Bill and he told me to go ahead and turn down the street and circle back through the court (my first solo ride on a public street), we stopped to watch the falcon circle around and land in a tree next to another falcon. Then two more appeared. And a few minutes later, we noticed larger raptors circling, most likely ospreys. I was excited to see these birds because on Friday I had seen the local bald eagle soaring aloft on the thermals, enjoying the beautiful day.
As for the ride, I continued to U-turn at the end of the street, then head over to the court to circle back. Bill set up my slalom—regular, not offset—which I had no problem with once he set the last cone further over to the right so I could better turn around. Then I worked on getting a feel for my brakes. I stopped, Bill set out a cone, and I stopped again right before the cone, then a few inches past the cone. When I came into my stop shaking my head because I knew I had overshot it by at least the length of the bike, Bill removed the cone. He explained that my objective was not to stop before the cone; I was working on getting a feel for how the brakes work. My next stop was smooth and quick, and he held up a small twig that he had placed on the side of the road to mark where the cone had been; I had stopped two inches in front of it.
The best part of the day was when we returned to my parents’ garage and Bill got out the R NineT. We set out to cruise the Sunday morning quiet neighborhood. I again stalled the bike on take-off as the cant to the road is such that I am caught between wanting to brake to stop rolling back, getting the clutch out, and working the throttle—I need a LOT more practice with hill stops. But I managed to keep up with Bill, enjoying the cool breeze washing over me as we rode about. And what I really loved was that we kept riding—nearly half an hour of cruising as we ventured onto a fairly busy road to cruise through the upscale neighborhood.
Bill got away from me as we headed back into my old neighborhood as he went at the stop sign and I had to wait on three cars. Of course he waited for me to catch up, and I did, discovering along the way that I liked being trusted on my own with the bike to make the correct choices. When we returned the bikes to the garage, Bill jokingly told me he had doubled the miles on his, going from 10 to 20. I was thrilled that he had the opportunity to ride as it had been several weeks since his last abbreviated cruise. After all, he’s the reason we have these motorcycles, and he’s my inspiration for riding. But I want him to have the joy and escape riding brings; he more than deserves it.
Flutterby Biker 