Before we set out on our motorcycle ride to El Granada yesterday morning, I suggested to Don that we change the name of our bike gang from the Safety First Bike Club (as I've been calling it) to the "Naked Bike Gang" because that is the only thing our motorcycles have in common. His is an elegant Italian bike that looks like it should be in the Smithsonian. Mine is a dual sport that looks like it should be bouncing over moguls on a dirt trail. (I just consulted Wikipedia and a "naked bike" is defined as a bike that is stripped down to its most fundamental parts.)
Although we were fully clothed, I did make a spectacle of myself very early in the ride by dropping my bike at the corner of 25th and Geary. Not sure what threw me off balance from a dead stop, but I was trying to open my face mask without taking my left hand off the clutch. Don gallantly pulled into a driveway and got my bike upright. No damage this time thanks to my new hand guards.
The trip to El Granada was so quick (about 25 minutes), that we kept going down the coast to Half Moon Bay, up over the hill on 92 and down Canada Road to Buck's Restaurant in Woodside. It was fun to introduce Don to a bit of Silicon Valley culture. Woodside is home to people like Apple CEO Steve Jobs and Oracle CEO Larry Ellison and this restaurant is a wacky museum of oddball art and collectibles hanging from every inch of ceiling and wallspace -- blimps, surfboard, squash racket, a case of harmonicas, 6 foot Statue of Liberty...and wall to wall green alligator carpeting. Legend has it that this is a meeting place for tech industry entrepreneurs and venture capitalists, but they must have put us in the kid section, because I didn't see any deals going down. After our breakfast of burritos and home fries, I took backroads back to SF and Don hopped on 92 back to the East Bay.
Strangely enough, the Buck's menu was titled Naked Lunch options...
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Sunday, April 11, 2010
"Brake In" Period
I asked Don to take a look at some black goo that was seeping from my motorcycle at the rate of one drop per ride. He diagnosed it as grease from the kickstand and not a problem, but thought the chain seemed loose and I should take the bike in for adjustments. While there (Mission Motorcycles in Daly City), I asked if hand guards would cut down on the frost bite I was experiencing on early morning rides. Thicker gloves for my birthday had not made a difference. Four hours later -- the chain tightening had been estimated at 15 minutes -- I left with a properly adjusted chain, new front brake pads, and WARM HANDS! The hand guards were not designed for my bike (although the color was a good match), so I gather the guys in the back room enjoyed kludging a solution.
Four hours is a long time to spend pacing between the showroom and the service center, but I heard some interesting stories -- about trucks backing into parked bikes, a motorcycle cop who spent his days and nights patrolling the projects on a dual sport that was a larger version of mine, a guy with a large bandage on his bald head, another guy with his arm in a sling and a damaged bike outside ... hardly anyone seemed there for an oil change or a tune up. Meanwhile, an overhead TV showed stunt riders doing handstands and other tricks while spinning their bikes with the front wheel in the air.
I bring my bike to Mission Motorcycles because the people are so friendly. They describe themselves as bike enthusiasts, and it shows. I always feel a bit intimidated pulling away after getting the bike serviced. It's not like a car dealership where you can anonymously drive off. There are always a few biker dudes smoking out front as you put on your gear and prepare to ride off. Inevitably, something trips me up and someone has to offer advice or assistance. This time the bike wouldn't start because the kill switch was off... And so begins my second year in the saddle.
Four hours is a long time to spend pacing between the showroom and the service center, but I heard some interesting stories -- about trucks backing into parked bikes, a motorcycle cop who spent his days and nights patrolling the projects on a dual sport that was a larger version of mine, a guy with a large bandage on his bald head, another guy with his arm in a sling and a damaged bike outside ... hardly anyone seemed there for an oil change or a tune up. Meanwhile, an overhead TV showed stunt riders doing handstands and other tricks while spinning their bikes with the front wheel in the air.
I bring my bike to Mission Motorcycles because the people are so friendly. They describe themselves as bike enthusiasts, and it shows. I always feel a bit intimidated pulling away after getting the bike serviced. It's not like a car dealership where you can anonymously drive off. There are always a few biker dudes smoking out front as you put on your gear and prepare to ride off. Inevitably, something trips me up and someone has to offer advice or assistance. This time the bike wouldn't start because the kill switch was off... And so begins my second year in the saddle.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Above the Clouds
It was stormy last Friday and rain is predicted for tomorrow, but it was gloriously clear and sunny on Sunday (yesterday), and the Safety First Motorcycle Gang (Don and I) held our first ride of the season: a trip across the Golden Gate Bridge and up a winding two-lane road to the top of Mt. Tamalpais. We passed many bicycle riders on the way up, but they had the advantage on the way down, approaching speeds of 35 mph and negotiating the tight turns more easily than I could on the motorcycle.
The view was spectacular at the top -- similar to what you see looking out the window of an airplane, with a layer of clouds below. A tourist from Dijon offered to take our photo and Don struck up a conversation in French! I can't improve on Don's trip report, so I'll just provide a link to his blog. 
The view was spectacular at the top -- similar to what you see looking out the window of an airplane, with a layer of clouds below. A tourist from Dijon offered to take our photo and Don struck up a conversation in French! I can't improve on Don's trip report, so I'll just provide a link to his blog.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Fog City
It was supposed to be a beautiful day on Saturday, and I knew it would be, if only I could make it through the fog and up to Skyline where I was meeting Alix to see her "new" 2005 Ninja 250, which had been lovingly souped-up for racing by its previous owner.
The fog was so thick in San Francisco that pedestrians I passed on Sunset Blvd. were huddled under umbrellas as they waited for the bus. Water was dripping off my helmet, which I wore visor up so I could see out. I did not feel safe at freeway speeds on the slick roads and without a visor, so I slowly made my way down Mission Street through Daly City, which becomes El Camino. Eventually (in Millbrae) the sun burned through the fog and started to dry out my leather jacket. The ride through the Redwoods was great once I turned off 35, which was already backing up with traffic heading for the pumpkin patches in Halfmoon Bay
Visiting Alice's Restaurant, the biker hangout on Skyline Boulevard, was quite an experience with Alix because she likes to stir things up. Never mind that the regulars who frequent the parking lot across from Alice's were decked out in full leather regalia and had elaborately decorated Harleys with 5X the horsepower. She would say, "How do you like my bike?" and you could see them momentarily at a loss for words before quickly warming to her obvious enthusiasm for her new sport.
The fog was so thick in San Francisco that pedestrians I passed on Sunset Blvd. were huddled under umbrellas as they waited for the bus. Water was dripping off my helmet, which I wore visor up so I could see out. I did not feel safe at freeway speeds on the slick roads and without a visor, so I slowly made my way down Mission Street through Daly City, which becomes El Camino. Eventually (in Millbrae) the sun burned through the fog and started to dry out my leather jacket. The ride through the Redwoods was great once I turned off 35, which was already backing up with traffic heading for the pumpkin patches in Halfmoon Bay
Visiting Alice's Restaurant, the biker hangout on Skyline Boulevard, was quite an experience with Alix because she likes to stir things up. Never mind that the regulars who frequent the parking lot across from Alice's were decked out in full leather regalia and had elaborately decorated Harleys with 5X the horsepower. She would say, "How do you like my bike?" and you could see them momentarily at a loss for words before quickly warming to her obvious enthusiasm for her new sport.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Goodbye Dali
It was time for my 4,000 mile motorcycle service, so I used the occasion to have my brake lever replaced. After gently dropping the bike twice (during what has literally been the bike's break-in period), the lever had become so curved it was difficult to reach. Don, a glass-half-full kind of guy, described it as something out of Dali. My new brake lever is less artistic, but more functional, and I took two city rides yesterday to celebrate the easy riding -- one of the rides was around Lake Merced where Ty will be competing today in his third cross-country meet.
Noticing all the barriers blocking streets in our neighborhood, I realized that the Nike Women's Marathon/Half Marathon would be passing nearby so I walked out early on Sunday morning hoping to see Amber in her first race since Cole and Wilson were born in mid July(?!?). There she was among the elite runners (about 8 miles into the race at 8 AM), looking fit and joyful as she chugged up the hill through Seacliff on her way to Ocean Beach.
Noticing all the barriers blocking streets in our neighborhood, I realized that the Nike Women's Marathon/Half Marathon would be passing nearby so I walked out early on Sunday morning hoping to see Amber in her first race since Cole and Wilson were born in mid July(?!?). There she was among the elite runners (about 8 miles into the race at 8 AM), looking fit and joyful as she chugged up the hill through Seacliff on her way to Ocean Beach.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Alice's Restaurant
The "Safety First" Biker Gang (Don and I) rode to lunch at the famous biker hangout in the Redwoods made famous by the Arlo Guthrie song from the 60s "You can get anything you want at Alice's Restaurant..."
After a very blustery Saturday night, the weather was crisp and clear on Sunday morning as we set out on our adventure. The journey took us along the beach, through Daly City and Pacifica, along the reservoir and golf course in Hillsborough (my usual work route), but then into the redwoods after a brief stint on 92 toward Halfmoon Bay. This popular biker route was remarkably clear during our ride -- possibly because there was a 49er football game that afternoon -- so the only real challenge was avoiding tree branches that had fallen during the windy night.
We pulled into the biker lot at noon and walked across to the restaurant in our biker "armor." It's nice to go to a restaurant where almost everyone is wearing variations on the same fashion theme and sharing the picnic benches with their helmets. This is actually a family friendly biker joint that doesn't take itself too seriously -- menu items include things like Redneck Benedict and hamburgers named after different bike manufacturers. Don was disappointed that they didn't have an Aprilia burger. I later heard from Henry that Harleys park in front of the restaurant and "other" bikes park across the street. We were in compliance, but only because the Harley side was on an incline that didn't look suitable for parking.
This was our longest trip so far -- 80 miles round trip for me, which is exactly my work commute. I got back to SF in time to catch a few acts at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass event -- a huge concert in Golden Gate Park that is put on for free every year by banjo loving billionaire Warren Hellman. I also got to hear a few sets on Saturday because Ty's soccer game was in the polo field near one of the concert stages.
After a very blustery Saturday night, the weather was crisp and clear on Sunday morning as we set out on our adventure. The journey took us along the beach, through Daly City and Pacifica, along the reservoir and golf course in Hillsborough (my usual work route), but then into the redwoods after a brief stint on 92 toward Halfmoon Bay. This popular biker route was remarkably clear during our ride -- possibly because there was a 49er football game that afternoon -- so the only real challenge was avoiding tree branches that had fallen during the windy night.
We pulled into the biker lot at noon and walked across to the restaurant in our biker "armor." It's nice to go to a restaurant where almost everyone is wearing variations on the same fashion theme and sharing the picnic benches with their helmets. This is actually a family friendly biker joint that doesn't take itself too seriously -- menu items include things like Redneck Benedict and hamburgers named after different bike manufacturers. Don was disappointed that they didn't have an Aprilia burger. I later heard from Henry that Harleys park in front of the restaurant and "other" bikes park across the street. We were in compliance, but only because the Harley side was on an incline that didn't look suitable for parking.
This was our longest trip so far -- 80 miles round trip for me, which is exactly my work commute. I got back to SF in time to catch a few acts at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass event -- a huge concert in Golden Gate Park that is put on for free every year by banjo loving billionaire Warren Hellman. I also got to hear a few sets on Saturday because Ty's soccer game was in the polo field near one of the concert stages.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Completely Okay
Last week I logged over 350 miles on my motorcycle -- riding to work 4 days out of 5, which is a new record. You would think that practice would make me more perfect, but while meandering through a new neighborhood this morning (the Upper Haight), I dropped the bike -- while traveling zero miles an hour -- at the corner of Java and Masonic. There was a blind corner to my left and a downhill stretch to my right. As I was cautiously easing out for a right turn, a car came around the blind corner. I put on the brakes to let it go by and realized too late that the bike was leaning over too far to the right.
There did not appear to be any damage to the bike, but I was struggling to get it upright on the slight incline when a mother of two young boys (watching from across the street) asked if I could use some help. Without a moment's hesitation, I said "Yes!" After making sure that the younger boy didn't follow her into the street, she walked over and helped me hoist it up and asked if I was okay. I said I was "completely OK," just inexperienced as a rider. I felt glad for the boys that they had a Mom who so readily helped strangers and only slightly embarrassed as I rode off into the fog and overheard the older boy asking his Mom, "Was she completely OK?"
There did not appear to be any damage to the bike, but I was struggling to get it upright on the slight incline when a mother of two young boys (watching from across the street) asked if I could use some help. Without a moment's hesitation, I said "Yes!" After making sure that the younger boy didn't follow her into the street, she walked over and helped me hoist it up and asked if I was okay. I said I was "completely OK," just inexperienced as a rider. I felt glad for the boys that they had a Mom who so readily helped strangers and only slightly embarrassed as I rode off into the fog and overheard the older boy asking his Mom, "Was she completely OK?"
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