6.28.2013

Never Ride Faster Than Your Angel Can Fly

One of the first patches I bought for my Harley Owners Group vest said, “Never Ride Faster Than Your Angel Can Fly”.  I don’t know what it was about that patch, but it spoke to me.  Mostly because it reminded me of my mother and the thought that she would always be riding with me…she is my guardian angel.
On several occasions while riding the Interstate I’ve said to her, “Mom, fly faster” as I laid on the throttle hard in an effort to eat up the miles.  The adrenaline rush and complete sense of freedom felt when blasting down the highway is almost indescribable.   It’s definitely a thrill…but it can be scary too.  Especially when something you don’t anticipate causes your sphincter to pucker-up tighter than a baby eating sour candy.  Anyone who’s ridden awhile knows what I mean because all riders experience a high “pucker factor” moment, at least once.
While my mom can fly really fast, she shouldn’t have to.  I think that’s the real meaning behind the patch.  Speed can be dangerous.  As bikers, we inherently know this is true but many times we just don’t take the time to think about it.  This video from Australia made me pause for a moment and think about speed and just how important it can be.




We should all pause from time-to-time to think about our riding habits and how they not only affect our safety but the safety of those around us. The great thing about motorcycling is what we ride, where we ride, when we ride, and how we ride is a personal choice.

So let’s make educated choices…and Live Free and Ride Hard!

6.24.2013

Ride Report...Back In Time

(Continued from Twisted Sisters or Curvy Cousins…)

After having a wonderful Father’s Day meal at the Bonsai Japanese Restaurant in San Angelo and helping my three-year-old granddaughter learn how to use cheater chopsticks, I packed up the bike and helped my wife pack her car. With temps in the mid-to-upper 90’s I knew it would be a warm ride so I used a little secret I learned during my Iron Butt ride in May. I soaked the top half of my shirt in cold water and opened all the vents on my textile jacket to generate some nice evaporative cooling. We pulled out of my daughter’s driveway at 3:15 pm.


We made a quick gas stop about 20 minutes out at Alsup’s on US HWY 87. The sun was shining and the sky was dotted with clouds. It was an absolutely beautiful day to be riding a motorcycle. I didn’t waste much time before pulling the camera out of my jacket to take some photographs…views from the saddle if you will. I have to snap quite a few photos to ensure I get something usable because it’s difficult to frame a photograph while riding at 70 mph and holding a camera upside-down in your left hand (especially when you’re right-handed). I’m sure it looks crazy, but that’s what I have to do to capture the moment.

Riding through this part of Texas is like being in a time machine. In the late 1700’s and early 1800’s before the establishment of cities like San Angelo, Eden, Menard, and Mason, this area was well within the southeastern boundary of Comancheria…home of the Comanche Indians. The Comanche’s were known for their superior horsemanship skills and fierce warrior spirit. Given the landscape and the area’s history, you could almost feel their presence. If you looked really hard, you could see them sitting silently on their horses waiting to attack from the top of one of the many bluffs found throughout the area.

As we turned south on US HWY 83 in Eden, TX I thought to myself, “Damn this is fun!” You just don’t feel the same connection to your surroundings when you’re in a cage. I enjoyed cutting through the air on my “iron” horse and feeling that same sense of freedom that the Comanche warriors must have felt when they first rode into the area on horseback. This is what motorcycling and the open road are all about. But wait, the Comanche Indians never experienced traffic jams.

The speed limit on most of US HWY 83 is 70 mph so you can make your way from point A to point B much faster than riding a spirited Comanche pony. Unless of course you are stuck behind your great-grandfather out for a Sunday drive doing 48 mph. It’s frustrating being stuck in a traffic line on a hilly two-lane road in the middle of literally nowhere. I don’t know how long I waited before I could safely pass, but it seemed like an eternity. As I blew past gramps doing 90 mph, I gave him the international salute of friendship. Okay, I didn’t really give gramps the finger (I’m not that kind of biker) but I might have shot his tire if I’d had a bow and arrow J. I waited another million years for my wife to safely pass before resuming the speed limit. Cruising at 70+ mph is nice.

I waved bye to my wife as I made my way onto TX HWY 29 just south of Menard, TX. She stayed on US HWY 83 making a beeline for Interstate 10 and a “faster” route home. I guess she doesn’t appreciate small towns, history, or back roads as much as I do  J.

Alone and unafraid (well maybe a little afraid) I continued my adventure down TX HWY 29 expecting to see a band of Comanche warriors around every turn. I felt a little safer as I neared Fort Mason in Mason, TX. Established in the mid-1800s as a Calvary outpost on the edge of the frontier, Fort Mason helped protect area settlers from the Indians. It served its purpose well and the area flourished as settlers begin to feel comfortable moving farther and farther from the post. My ride from Menard to Mason went quickly with lots of scenery and nice smooth blacktop.

As I turned onto US HWY 87 in Mason, I saw it…Dairy Queen. I could hear it calling my name. I stopped and ordered a Heath Blizzard (my second favorite DQ treat). They say small towns are generally more laid back than their big city counterparts are. That’s definitely true at the Mason DQ. Based on my wait time, I
figure they had to milk a cow and make the ice cream from scratch. I will say though, the Blizzard was fantastic. Before getting back in the saddle for the next leg of the trip I re-soaked my shirt. I knew in the hot dry Texas air it wouldn’t stay wet long but it would sure make part of the ride a lot cooler…and it did.

US HWY 87 between Mason and Fredericksburg, TX is a nice stretch of road with a few gentle curves and some rolling hills. I made good time and was in Fredericksburg before I knew it. They must roll-up the sidewalks early on Sunday because the normally bustling main street was a ghost town at 6:30 pm. I stopped for gas just south of town on US HWY 290 before making my turn onto Ranch Road 1376 for the short ride to Luckenbach, TX. I was planning to stop in for a cold libation and take a few photographs but I suppose fate had something else in mind. It turns out Shooter Jennings was performing a concert and the place was packed. The road into Luckenbach was blocked and the gentleman watching the entrance told me there would be a $20 cover to enter. Since I didn’t intend to stay for the entire show and I didn’t want to be riding around after dark with hundreds of intoxicated country fans on the deer infested back roads of Texas…I decided to turn around and head for home.


Although I was disappointed, I made the best of it. Farm-to-Market 1888 and 1623 were outstanding roads. I was very impressed with the short stretch of FM 1623 as it followed the winding Blanco River into Blanco, TX. Absolutely beautiful. Once in Blanco, I headed south on US HWY 281 with the intention of heading straight home. Again, fate had other plans. Somewhere along the way, I decided to stop at the Shade Tree Saloon for something to eat. It wasn’t exactly crowded but I waited forever for a burger…guess they had to slaughter the cow. The only consolation was the burger was delicious and I watched part of the Spurs game on TV. After filling my belly, I was back on the bike and ready to get home as it was quickly getting dark.

I don’t mind riding at night but my route would take me through an area known for its abundant deer population. Fortunately, I didn’t see many deer and the ones I did see weren’t too close to the road. I pulled into my driveway at 8:50 pm just as the last bit of light evaporated into the night. It had been a great ride.

Till next time…Live Free and Ride Hard!






More Views From The Saddle...To San Antonio








You can check-out my route as well as see the photos I captured with BubblerGPS Pro by clicking here.

6.18.2013

Twisted Sisters or Curvy Cousins…They’re Both Fun To Ride

I rode 450 miles this past weekend across the Texas Hill Country and into the Panhandle Plains.  I was traveling from San Antonio to San Angelo to spend Father’s Day weekend with my wife, daughter, and two grand-daughters.  My main goal was to make the trip as quickly as possible while soaking up the sights, sounds, and smells along the way.  A secondary goal was to test the photo function in BubblerGPS Pro. I’m happy to report I met both goals and had a wonderful Father’s Day in the process.

I left work a little early on Friday to try and beat some of the traffic out of San Antonio.  I got home, checked the weather forecast, loaded the bike, and checked the forecast again.  It had looked like rain all day and the weather radar showed what seemed to be a large front with rain moving slowly to the northwest.  I was a little concerned about running into a downpour but decided to make a run for it…I packed my rain gear just in case.

The skies started to spit rain just before I made it to Llano. I stopped for gas and wondered if I should put my rain gear on but decided against it.  It was “raining” enough to get my bike dirty but not enough for me to feel wet…moving through the warm Texas air at 70+ mph kept me dry.  I was enjoying the ride, just listening to tunes
and eating-up the miles.  Ranch Road 962 and State HWY 71 proved to be great motorcycle roads. Granted, they’re not the Twisted Sisters but they have some elevation changes and sweeping curves and you can definitely roll back on the throttle.  They were fun. I guess most roads in the Hill Country are related to the Sisters—curvy cousins maybe.

The one drawback to riding the back roads of Texas or maybe any back road is…bugs.  I don’t know how folks ride without a full-face helmet or at least a full-face shield.  Who knows how many bugs I would've eaten if not for my helmet? Just before I reached Texas Highway 87 I felt and heard a large “POP” on the right side of my head.  I thought to myself, “that didn't sound good” and at that exact moment I noticed the most terrible stench I think I’ve ever smelled.  I know why they call them “stink” bugs.  That awful smell (imagine 100 rotting corpses) lingered for several miles until it started to sprinkle again.  I’m not sure I know of a time I was more thankful for a little rain.

Having successfully ridden through the stink, I decided to reward myself with a stop at Dairy Queen in Brady, Texas.  I ordered and quickly ate a large ice cream cone.  DQ soft serve is one of my favorites and on a warm day it’s hard to beat. I rarely say “no” to a DQ cone…just ask my wife.   After finishing my ice cream and ensuring there were no lingering parts of “stinky” on my helmet, I mounted-up and made my final push for San Angelo. 

The last 80 or so miles were uneventful…just nice riding.  US HWY 87 from Brady to San Angelo is relatively flat and straight.  Lots of farm and ranch land.  I looked to the heavens as I rode and was impressed by the way the late afternoon sun was dancing through the clouds.  It was overcast and a bit gloomy but I could see bright rays of light shining through to the ground.  It was almost as if God were saying “you’re almost there…I’ll show you the way”.  It was peaceful.  As I turned off HWY 87 onto Loop 306 I stopped to capture a photo knowing full well it would never do justice to the splendor before me. I arrived at my daughter’s house just a little before 8:00 p.m. knowing I was truly a blessed man.


More to come on my return ride...

Views From The Saddle...Going To San Angelo, TX





You can check-out my route as well as see the photos I captured with BubblerGPS Pro by clicking here.

6.12.2013

Biker Down…Two Words You Never Want To Hear

The Biker Down benefit I attended this past weekend at Gruene Harley-Davidson made me think about some of the dangers we face as riders.  Statistically, we’re 22 times more likely to be killed in a crash than someone in a cage[1].  While that number isn’t anything to dwell on it should cause us to pause and consider the choices we make while riding.
We all try to make good choices…but in retrospect some of them may not be the best from an overall safety standpoint.  Take riding in a sleeveless shirt for example.  In the heat of summer I frequently ride sans sleeves as do many I ride with.  It’s comfortable and hey, it looks cool (have you seen my biceps  J).  Problem is, if I ever go “Biker Down” it’ll most likely leave a mark. 

Ouch! I never really gave riding without sleeves much thought before seeing this video…now it’s something I’ll consider before I ride. Will I ride in just a sleeveless shirt again? Probably, but at least I’ll do it with a better understanding of the potential hazards.  For me, the bottom line is I need to  consider that what I wear when I ride could make the difference in becoming a statistic if involved in a “Biker Down” situation.

Now, I’m not proposing we all wear a suit of armor when we ride. I just think we need to make  informed choices. Personal protective gear is most definitely a choice and everyone has to make their own decisions when  it comes to balancing risk and comfort.  I can say without hesitation you'll never see me riding without a helmet in shorts and flip-flops.  

Living free and riding hard means the freedom to make our own choices and to live our lives to the fullest. Let's Live Free and Ride Hard...and pray that the ones we love never hear, "Biker Down".

Do you have an opinion on personal protective gear and the Live Free, Ride Hard philosophy? Let's hear it.




[1] Based on NHTSA 2011 Fatalities and Fatality Rates (http://www-fars.nhtsa.dot.gov/Trends/TrendsGeneral.aspx)

6.09.2013

SPOT-like Tracking for the Budget Conscious Rider

Has your significant other ever voiced concern with your motorcycle adventures? Have they told you they're afraid when you're gone because they don't know what twisty, lonely, back road you might wipe-out on...and then no one would ever find you? I'm sure most riders have heard this or something similar before. I know I have. It's only natural that our family and friends are concerned for our safety. Riding a motorcycle is an inherently high-risk activity, right? So what can we do to ease those fears? We make technology our friend.

Many hard core long distance riders use a SPOT gps-satellite tracking device. The SPOT tracker sends a signal to a satellite at regular defined intervals which can then be viewed in near real time on a map via the SPOT Adventure web page or a third party service known as SpotWalla. The problem with SPOT is that the device itself costs around $120 and there is a $50 annual subscription fee if you want to track and share your progress. While this isn't an unreasonable amount, it's more than many riders may feel comfortable with based on the type of riding they do. At this point in time, I'm not willing to spend that amount of money...especially when there's another less costly option.

That's where BubblerGPS and SpotWalla come in. You can use the GPS on your cell phone with the
BubblerGPS app and SpotWalla to track and share your progress when riding. The process is similar to SPOT minus the satellite. BubblerGPS queries your cell phone's GPS and records a way point at a user
specified interval between 5 and 15 minutes (for the paid version of the app). This way point is then
transmitted to SpotWalla. If you're outside your cell coverage area, BubblerGPS stores the way points until you have coverage. So how much does this cost? Well, SpotWalla is free and you can get a free version of BubblerGPS as well. The free version has some limitations but you can purchase BubblerGPS Pro for $9.99.

$9.99 wasn't a budget buster for me so I purchased the Pro version. I intend to use BubblerGPS Pro and SpotWalla to provide family and friends insight into my location when I'm out riding. The "SpotWalla Tracking Map" link in the "Where's Curt Now" section will be enabled whenever I'm out on a planned ride. It will show my progress and location in near real time based on the 5 minute interval I've set on Bubbler GPS Pro. You can see a sample of my last adventure/ride by using the "Where Did He Go" link in the "Curt's Latest Ride" section.

So far, I've been pleased with my BubblerGPS Pro app purchase and I hope it will give my family greater peace of mind when I'm riding. To learn more about SPOT, BubblerGPS, and SpotWalla just click on their hyperlinks. Now, Let's Live Free and Ride Hard!