Its been over 2 weeks sense I started this blog and I'm just now writing about the second day of my ride to houston. Sense being here in Houston I have been working with my brother The Tile Guy and staying with my family and my excuse for not writing is that my brother line of work is crazy hard and after laying tile day and night writing just got forgotten. It's not really a good excuse, writing about motorcycles and the people that ride them is something that I need to do.
Day 2: started at 730am, not counting checking the oil, water, tires and lubing the chain the night before, something I do after a long run, even if I was dead tired.
I had checked the morning news and after seeing the radar, I knew that Id likely run into some rain.
I cleaned the road grim and bugs off my face shield and gave it a good coat of rainx
After kicking the tires and checking all the straps holding the saddle bags, duffel bag, and tank bag it was time to fire up the big rex. Its almost as if it is alive and cant wait to go, a small turn of the ide screw with the left hand, a little choke and the big rex wakes up readly to roll.
It looked like I would evade most of the rain. So I decided on my light rain jacket, worn under my Frank Thomas mesh type vest. Note: Wearing this thing on the outside is like riding with a parasale attacked to your body, but it works ok under, for lite rain and in the cold it helps keep you warm.
I know there's lots better gear, I'm hoping that my gear, or lack of it will be a toppic of interest.
I have 2 12volt sockets one on each side of the hughe ZRX fairing, ha, ha, one powers my HTC cell phone the other a rader dector that is more for looks than use on a long trip
I hooked up my head set (earbud type from compusa ) crammed the earpiece's as far into my ears as possible. I squeezed my head into my HJC helmet then hooked up the mic (I use velcrow to hold my mic in place) This system works good to a point, more on my gear and the setup of my bike in another post.
I give the rex another minute to warm up then were off.
I start out slow, rolling onto I-10 (30 miles east of Alabama) I thought it was going to be partly cloudy weather, but what I was looking at, was turning out to be mostly cloudly, with heavy looking clouds. But no rain at the moment ,the temperture cool, and the traffic mediam and flowing nicely just a tic slower that my favorite cruzing speed of 80 ,( for long trip I run stock gearing ) and the bike is in it's zone, humming along at 4600 rpm, "right at the bottom the go now curve", instant passing speed is just a thought on a ZRX at that speed..
I like to ride around 80 miles an hour, sometimes a little faster and sometimes a little slower, being sure im not the fastest guy on the road, I just try to blend in, rolling past the traffic never blasting through it, that is unless I feel the need to be in a differant spot because someone is driving in a way that may harm me. There will be a post on Stupid things I see people doing while driving.
Id been riding about 45 minutes thinking I just might get lucky and the rain cloulds would start burning off. I started feeling pelits of rain hitting my helmet and hands through my open finger riding gloves ( cheap weight lifter gloves from Walmart, Special note: these gloves will turn your hands black when they get wet enough).
My first thought way to keep on riding but I deciced sense there was an exit coming up Id pull off and put my rain gear on.
It never fails with me that I pick an exit with construction or the gas station is miles away not blocks, I guess I just have a nack for it. After a small detour I was under the canopy of a mobile station. I was still fresh and didnt need to use the restroom I still had over a half of gas. It still looked to me the rain wasnt going to be that bad. I decided on putting my real rain jacket on ( Tour Master ) but not the Rain Pants, thinking of the last time I woar them I think I lost 20 pounds, It was like being in a sonna.I put all of my Electronics and my wallet in Ziplock baggies, tucked them into the tank bag and off I went.
Back on I-10 the rain stopped but only for the next 20 minutes then it started raining and raining
See part 2 in my next post
If you have the bug, and you have a story to share, or an answer to a question, we want to hear from you. Questions like, Who is the oldest guy you know still riding, Or the most miles on a currently running bike. Best places to ride, Your dream bike, Bad drivers, Bad weather, Bugs, Track days, Race tracks, Bike nights What was your first bike, Riding impressions, Service tips, Travel tips, Best gear. This blog is all about motorcycles and the experiences we have riding them
No comments:
Post a Comment