Cubby Hole in Richmond, IL (thumbs up on the breakfast)It was a tough call to make this morning. Ride into Wisconsin with some other riders or sleep in.
The alarm went off at 6:30 followed by the snooze button. The alarm went off again. I am still tired due to getting four and half hours of sleep since I worked a wedding the night before in Racine. I decided that I can always sleep in the afternoon while watching the Bears blow another game. (Hey, the Bears won)
I am to meet with riders from the Sport Touring site at 7:30 for breakfast. I roll in at 7:40 to find five of the riders almost completing their breakfast? Service couldn't be that fast at the Cubby Hole could it? Sure enough, I had my ham and cheese omelet in less than five minutes and it was good.
Gearing Up After a Full Tummy (notice how sunny it is)The plan was to meet up for coffee in Delafield Wisconsin at 10:00. Since the food service was fast, we are able to get out on the road earlier than planned. We took Route 12 north to where highway 67 /20 , and 12 meets. We continue North on 67 into Eagle. From there, we ventured onto the Kettle Moraines marked roads.
I have been wanting to ride this area for some time now. This is where my first group ride was with STN earlier this year. Although I am still learning new skills while riding, I truely was a freshman out on that trip. I had mixed felling about some mistakes I made while riding. Part of the problem then was taking the corners to fast and trying to keep up with experienced riders. That is where the old saying kicks in, "Ride Your Own Ride".
The Kettle Moraines is very scenic with twisty tight roads and constant rolling terrain. You really need to pay attention to the warning signs as you ride. The pace today was quick spirited but by no means were we speed demons.
Overall, I felt a little more confident with that section of the ride. I still have some work to do. I think part of me is not confident in relying on the bike to get me low in the corners. It is not so much the bike but it is more of the bike slipping out due to leaves, tar snakes, loose gravel..... the unknown but yet, I still have the urge to take the corners with speed. When I make a smooth corner, it feels like a coaster with smooth turning.
My only close call today came when I was not aware of how sharp a corner was. There was an incline in the wooded area with the road moving out to a 90 degree right.... a curve if you will. As I am approaching, the sun hit me in the eyes and did not see the warning sign. I started to turn and the next thing I know, a car was coming from the other way, in his lane and I was not expecting it. It shouldn't have bothered me but the direction of the car was telling me that I need to start turning NOW as it was perpendicular to me. As I cleared the car, I immediately looked through the rest of the turn and accelerated to keep the momentum of the bike turning. I think this was the first time I actually got off my seat and really leaned the bike into the corner so I could make it. I think the words in my head was "Holy Shit!!!" I made it but had to catch my breath. When we stopped, I talked to another rider who had the same issue on that same corner with the sun.
Welcome to Delafield...Nice Town
We made it to Delafield but I could only stay for a few minutes. I did the usual. Shook hands. Kissed babies on the forehead and signed autographs. Then I snapped a few pictures and headed back home.
While returning home, I came across high winds. I was unaware there was an advisory in place. I was taking a beating at higher speeds on the highways. I am getting use to driving in these conditions but it is not fun.
Imagine you are walking outside and someone comes by and unexpectedly knocks into the side of you. As a result, you stumble to the side but not enough to make you fall over. That is what it is like on the bike with the wind gust. You just get pushed around, not knowing when it is going to happen next.
I was passing an 18 wheeler. Ironically, it was an orange Haley Davidson trailer. At the time, I kept getting knocked with wind on my front left side. I wanted to pass the truck since it was a four lane road. We are going down a hill and he is picking up speed, over 70 MPH. I can't go much faster because the winds are just brutal. Just as I sneak out in front, I get hit from behind on my right side with a wind gust. It scared the crap out of me because that was the first time I felt it from the north.
For some reason, I can look past the danger and chalk it up to experience. Let's hope I can get one more decent ride in this year.
I have been wanting to ride this area for some time now. This is where my first group ride was with STN earlier this year. Although I am still learning new skills while riding, I truely was a freshman out on that trip. I had mixed felling about some mistakes I made while riding. Part of the problem then was taking the corners to fast and trying to keep up with experienced riders. That is where the old saying kicks in, "Ride Your Own Ride".
The Kettle Moraines is very scenic with twisty tight roads and constant rolling terrain. You really need to pay attention to the warning signs as you ride. The pace today was quick spirited but by no means were we speed demons.
Overall, I felt a little more confident with that section of the ride. I still have some work to do. I think part of me is not confident in relying on the bike to get me low in the corners. It is not so much the bike but it is more of the bike slipping out due to leaves, tar snakes, loose gravel..... the unknown but yet, I still have the urge to take the corners with speed. When I make a smooth corner, it feels like a coaster with smooth turning.
My only close call today came when I was not aware of how sharp a corner was. There was an incline in the wooded area with the road moving out to a 90 degree right.... a curve if you will. As I am approaching, the sun hit me in the eyes and did not see the warning sign. I started to turn and the next thing I know, a car was coming from the other way, in his lane and I was not expecting it. It shouldn't have bothered me but the direction of the car was telling me that I need to start turning NOW as it was perpendicular to me. As I cleared the car, I immediately looked through the rest of the turn and accelerated to keep the momentum of the bike turning. I think this was the first time I actually got off my seat and really leaned the bike into the corner so I could make it. I think the words in my head was "Holy Shit!!!" I made it but had to catch my breath. When we stopped, I talked to another rider who had the same issue on that same corner with the sun.
Welcome to Delafield...Nice TownWe made it to Delafield but I could only stay for a few minutes. I did the usual. Shook hands. Kissed babies on the forehead and signed autographs. Then I snapped a few pictures and headed back home.
While returning home, I came across high winds. I was unaware there was an advisory in place. I was taking a beating at higher speeds on the highways. I am getting use to driving in these conditions but it is not fun.Imagine you are walking outside and someone comes by and unexpectedly knocks into the side of you. As a result, you stumble to the side but not enough to make you fall over. That is what it is like on the bike with the wind gust. You just get pushed around, not knowing when it is going to happen next.
I was passing an 18 wheeler. Ironically, it was an orange Haley Davidson trailer. At the time, I kept getting knocked with wind on my front left side. I wanted to pass the truck since it was a four lane road. We are going down a hill and he is picking up speed, over 70 MPH. I can't go much faster because the winds are just brutal. Just as I sneak out in front, I get hit from behind on my right side with a wind gust. It scared the crap out of me because that was the first time I felt it from the north.
For some reason, I can look past the danger and chalk it up to experience. Let's hope I can get one more decent ride in this year.
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