Today I Rode

[MaeLyneS]

[quote author=dazco link=topic=11486.msg57053#msg57053 date=1296054349]
Thats how i felt when i got the speedmaster after not having owned a bike for many years. I went to the dealer top pick it up after not having even sat on a bike since the 80's ! You can imagine the kind of "can i ride" questions I had. But within a few miles i felt like i never stopped.
[/quote]

Though my layoff was nothing compared to yours, I fully understand the emotions and even the fear you went through. I was afraid that I could no longer do it. But it all came back quickly. I do have to polish up my skills again.

[quote author=Rocky link=topic=11486.msg57062#msg57062 date=1296069161]
I'm arriving at the party a little late, but congrats on getting back in the saddle.
[/quote]

Thank you, Rocky. It sure feels good. I love to ride.

[quote author=Gromit link=topic=11486.msg57088#msg57088 date=1296138717]
That's great news!
[/quote]

Thank you Gromit. Now if the weather would just warm up a little so I can ride!

 

[otherwise]

Great news MaeLyne and well done to you. A forced layoff from riding feels like forever, but it makes the return that much sweeter.

 

[dazco]

[quote author=MaeLyneS link=topic=11486.msg57122#msg57122 date=1296221509]
Though my layoff was nothing compared to yours, I fully understand the emotions and even the fear you went through. I was afraid that I could no longer do it. But it all came back quickly. I do have to polish up my skills again.
[/quote]

for me it wasn't really fear as much as just wondering if it would all come back immediately or what. There was fear for a brief moment tho..... the steering on the speedy was really weird at first, and when i pulled out of the dealer's lot i had to pull onto a major street that was packed with cars and with that heavy steering it WAS a bit un-nerving ! On a side note that was one thing i never understood....why have i never heard this from anyone else with a speedy or america? For me the steering literally felt like someone tied a 200 Lb lead weight to the forks. i actually thought there might be a defect at first. Then i went to take my DMV test since my bike license had long since expired, and i could not for the life of me pass it ! i had to practice at the DMV on sundays when it was closed a number of times to get to where i thought i could pass it and then took it again a month or 2 later. And even then i barely passed. To the day i sold that bike after 4 years of ownership i still felt it was hard to handle at low speeds. But it was the bike, not me, and i learned that instantly when i got the Tbird ! It weighs 200 Lbs more yet i can do full lock turns at walking speed while reading a book all day long. The speedy was a pretty good handler once you get going, but at up to maybe 3-5 MPH it was a bear ! I could have passed the test while sleeping on the Tbird. Ok, ok, slight exaggeration. :ya2:

 

[MaeLyneS]

[quote author=otherwise link=topic=11486.msg57142#msg57142 date=1296248361]
Great news MaeLyne and well done to you. A forced layoff from riding feels like forever, but it makes the return that much sweeter.
[/quote]

Thank you, Otherwise. And you are right; the return to riding is really sweet. I love it! :ya2:

[quote author=dazco link=topic=11486.msg57143#msg57143 date=1296250038]
for me it wasn't really fear as much as just wondering if it would all come back immediately or what. There was fear for a brief moment tho..... the steering on the speedy was really weird at first, and when i pulled out of the dealer's lot i had to pull onto a major street that was packed with cars and with that heavy steering it WAS a bit un-nerving ! On a side note that was one thing i never understood....why have i never heard this from anyone else with a speedy or america? For me the steering literally felt like someone tied a 200 Lb lead weight to the forks. i actually thought there might be a defect at first. Then i went to take my DMV test since my bike license had long since expired, and i could not for the life of me pass it ! i had to practice at the DMV on sundays when it was closed a number of times to get to where i thought i could pass it and then took it again a month or 2 later. And even then i barely passed. To the day i sold that bike after 4 years of ownership i still felt it was hard to handle at low speeds. But it was the bike, not me, and i learned that instantly when i got the Tbird ! It weighs 200 Lbs more yet i can do full lock turns at walking speed while reading a book all day long. The speedy was a pretty good handler once you get going, but at up to maybe 3-5 MPH it was a bear ! I could have passed the test while sleeping on the Tbird. Ok, ok, slight exaggeration. :ya2:
[/quote]

Dale I understand what you are saying. The Bonnie without the hack handles like a dream. With the hack, it is cumbersome. Even though I am certainly not the most skilled rider, the bike is a factor.

 

[CarlS]

Dale, I have a friend with a Speedmaster and he has the exact same problem with it as you did. I have put some miles on my daughter's Speedy. While I do not have trouble at low speeds maneuvering, it does feel awkward and heavy. I attributed it to the feet forward riding position; but may well be the geometry of the Speedy.

 

[The Seeker]

Great news Mae Lyne!!

Glad to hear you're back in the saddle!!

 

[MaeLyneS]

Thank you, AJ. I am really happy to be able to ride again, if only for short trips.

 

[dazco]

[quote author=The Seeker link=topic=11486.msg57243#msg57243 date=1296486435]
Great news Mae Lyne!!

Glad to hear you're back in the saddle!!
[/quote][quote author=CarlS link=topic=11486.msg57167#msg57167 date=1296316884]
Dale, I have a friend with a Speedmaster and he has the exact same problem with it as you did. I have put some miles on my daughter's Speedy. While I do not have trouble at low speeds maneuvering, it does feel awkward and heavy. I attributed it to the feet forward riding position; but may well be the geometry of the Speedy.
[/quote]

It may be, but i think when it was new it was even worse because the headstock needed to break in. Because the day i took deliver it was crazy in that regard. Later it felt a lot better tho still low speed stuff was always tough. Not sure if the stiffness when new and my later feeling it broke in was a break in thing tho or just me getting used to it.

 

[CarlS]

I know that I felt that I had to be super careful when doing low speed maneuvers like parking and U-turns. But part of that, I attribute to it not being my bike! I would have been just as cautious if it had been another Bonnie. But it is definitely awkward and the bike is out of its element in low speed maneuvering.

 

[Simmer]

Great going Mea Lyne!! I am so happy to hear you are doing well and able to ride. We are at 15˚ this morning and a little slick to be riding. Take care.

Dave :y18: :y18:

 

[MaeLyneS]

Thank you, Dave. I certainly do NOT want to trade weather with you. Brrrr!! It was 78 here yesterday. Are you at a high elevation? That is cold!!!

 

[Dschief]

Congratulations Mae Lyne! Glad to hear your back on the bike!! How soon before you are taking Carl around in the chair?

 

[MaeLyneS]

Hi Dave and thank you. Actually he rides monkey for me alot. Whenever we go somewhere and just take my bike, he rides monkey.

Carl was telling me it is a bit chilly up your way.

 

[Dschief]

It was actually very nice here yesterday, about 62 deg F. Unfortunately, I was in PA yesterday, and it was 36 deg F with ice and snow.

 

[MaeLyneS]

That's a bummer. It was 78 F here today.

 

[dazco]

Mae Lyne, don't tease the poor guy !!! Oh what the heck....spose ta be 80 here sunday. :ya2:

 

[Rocky]

Yeah, you warm weather guys sure know how to tease us cold weather guys :ya2:
Oh well, it's only -12C(10F) here :wink:

 

[CarlS]

Rocky, that is not fit for human habitation! :y114:

Dale, that is my kind of temp! :y115:

 

[MaeLyneS]

[quote author=dazco link=topic=11486.msg57448#msg57448 date=1296789774]
Mae Lyne, don't tease the poor guy !!! Oh what the heck....spose ta be 80 here sunday. :ya2:
[/quote]

Dale, that is my kind of weather. My body just does not like cold weather. The cold really causes me to ache.

[quote author=Rocky link=topic=11486.msg57451#msg57451 date=1296815518]
Yeah, you warm weather guys sure know how to tease us cold weather guys :ya2:
Oh well, it's only -12C(10F) here :wink:
[/quote]

Rocky, I could not stand that! It is hard for me to believe I lived in Michigan for 15 years. But I was a lot younger and my body had not been banged around so much. I think I was designed for the tropics.

 

[Rocky]

[quote author=CarlS link=topic=11486.msg57466#msg57466 date=1296823915]
Rocky, that is not fit for human habitation! :y114:

Dale, that is my kind of temp! :y115:
[/quote]

Yeah Carl, I agree with you. That's why I had to double-insulate my igloo this year.