Softail Gets a New Home....

Haven't posted in a while. Same old, same old, getting bored with disc golf so I haven't played much.

I finally pulled the trigger on a new shed for the Softail. I still keep the Sportster in my room. I'd keep the Softail in the house too but it won't fit through the door.

Winter is coming and even if you cover your bike with tarps the constant sudden temp changes causes condensation on the bike under the tarp. That kills chrome faster than anything. The plan is to set up the shed as a work area. I'm installing some lights, shelves to take advantage of the high roof area and putting some peg board up. Hopefully have a lift table in there next year when it's time to put on some new tires.

Blue Skies, Cool Day...

I wasn't planning on a long ride today. But once I got going I ended up riding to Warrenton then taking 521 to Orlean and Hume. Then it was to Front Royal and south on Skyline.

Skyline was just about perfect today. The Fall colors were just starting to come in. It got pretty cool up there today but it was nice. The sky was a pure blue today.

Taking Care of my Baby

I haven't been up to much lately. But the winter is coming so it's time to do some maintenance on the Softail.

Changed the oil, primary & transmission fluids...

Afternoon Ride

I took off late today but before I knew it I was on Skyline Drive. It was perfect weather for a ride up there. It was pretty cool up there I' glad I brought my jacket.

1st Tournament in Forever

I was getting bored and hadn't been stupid enough to enter a disc golf tournament so I rode down to Ashland to the The Village Disc Golf Club and entered the River City Open.

The Village is not one of my favorite courses. There are very few birdie holes for a 840's rated player and this course can really throw your ass on the bogey train and take you directly suckville with no stops.

My goals were to actually finish both rounds and not DFL.

The morning round wasn't too bad. We started on 17 and started off with 2 pars. I almost had the birdie on the just about impossible #18 but I ended up with par which felt like a birdie. I did manage one Duce but a few missed par putts and a double bogey on 4 pretty much ruined that round. But it wasn't the worst score I've had here.

The afternoon round was going to be the tough one and it was. It felt like a disc golf death march. I was already tired from the morning round and the heat kicked up a notch during the afternoon. To the point I was sweating so much it looked like I was caught in the rain.

But I didn't fall apart like I usually do. I did have a couple of bad holes but I didn't DNF and I didn't DFL.

BYOB is Now OPEN!

The last week was very exhausting helping Dave get BYOB Garage ready for opening day. A lot of moving equipment around, organizing tool boxes and getting everything looking good.

BYOB Garage owner Dave Ellis and his wife Angela. 

The garage will be a local dealer of Amsoil products.

I arrived early to help out with last minute things and got the Sporty loaded on to a lift for a fluids change and overall mechanical inspection.

Not long after Tom rode in to work on his handle bars and replace a blown tube in his front tire.

I am really excited about the concept of this garage and I hope it catches on. It's so much nicer to be able to work on an elevated lift and not be all sore and cramped from sitting on the floor all day.

Finally got a Round in...

It had been over a month since my back surgery and decided to head out to Loriella and get some exercise. I waited until 5pm and it had cooled off a little bit but it was still a hot day.

I rode the Softail out to the park. I just had to wear jeans over shorts for the ride for safety reasons. I bungee corded the DG bag to the rear seat and off I went.

The good thing about sucking at Disc Golf is if you take a month off you can still shoot about the same as if you never took a break.

Started off with a bird and I was doing ok even though I was on a bogey train. I threw a laser shot straight at the chains on #10 and misse by about 4" Then was hole #11 I hit the first tree and kicked in to the next county. At least I didn't give up and was able to just about par out.

I had brought my cooler bag with some water and Gatorade and was able to cool off after the round with the ice cube sheet I had in the bag keeping everything cold and after 3 hours in the saddlebag it had hardly melted. So I put it on my head to cool off before the ride home.

First Softail Ride....

I haven't been playing much disc golf lately. With my recent back surgery and the excessive heat I'm not that interested in that.

What I am interested in is riding again.

The new bike has really gotten me excited about riding and going longer distances again. The Sportster is a great bike. It's fast & nimble but my body can't ride it for long rides. My last Skyline Drive ride by the end of the day my legs and hands were numb. I would normally go about 50 miles or so and have to take a break.

The Softail has changed all that. Today's ride was so comfortable. My legs did get a little tired but that was from the new riding position. I could have done 100 miles in a stretch easy.

I did have a close call today. At my first gas stop as I was getting ready to fill up the tank I stand the bike straight up as I lean over so I can see the fuel going in the tank so I don't overfill. My left foot must have been on some oil because it slid out from under me and the bike started to go over. I dropped the gas nozzle and with everything I had pulled and strained the bike back up again. I have no idea how. But my foot that slid grabbed clean pavement at just the right spot before the point of not return. I would have fallen under it but it didn't come to that.

I stopped a Waugh's to pick up a lay down license plate frame and chrome dash extension. They were having a "Christmas in July" sale and every time I reach in the bag to get my discount I always get the 10% one.

I stopped at Blue Run Grocery just before Skyline and bet a couple of bikers and talked bikes & rides for a while.

It was another 90° degree day today but once I hit altitude I had to put my jacket on...

It was a great day for a mountain ride. I never get tired of riding Skyline.

The day was cooling off and I wasn't ready to head home after an all dat ride. I rode through the 'Burg and going past the train bridge I noticed the light and shadows would make a great pic.

I was the first long ride since the heart attack that I wasn't completely sore and worn out. It was a great day.

New Horse in the Stable....

I walked in to Classic Iron about 2 weeks ago just to look around and get some ideas on prices.

Then as I'm leaving I spot her...

2008 Heritage Softail Classic, Copperhead Pearl/Red Hot two tones and only 3250 original miles. Not a scratch or ding. Even the chrome is perfect and the price was just right.

After some figuring, research and stress on buying a second bike I pulled the trigger and brought her home today.

What a sweet ride! Totally different from the sporty. Smooth, quite and very comfortable. I still will be riding the sporty but now I have a true long distance bike.

I had to take the windshield off. I never have like using those things and added a little extra insurance...

Tool Box or Shrine?

I decided to redecorate my room moving all my Harley stuff around my new tool box. I ended up pretty much making a shrine to my Sportster.

At least i have a new spot for my show trophies....

Repurpose a Relic...

I had this MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) book and wall rack I saved from the dumpster at work. It was in the old darkroom and when we went to digital all the chemicals and materials were removed.

The damn thing was hanging in my room for about 10 years and I finally found a use for it...

I painted the back plate black and the wire rack orange and cut some custom graphic and I now have a wall mounted HD Service Manual rack. Hung it on the wall next to my new HD tool box.

Blue Skies Are the Best

When the high is going to be mid-70° range and there is not a cloud in the sky Im going to do something. I didn't feel like playing a round so I started up the bike and headed north. Before I knew it I was in Warrenton and was getting hungry so I stopped at Firehouse.

I continued north and ended up in Front Royal to hit Skyline from mile 0. There was a very long line of traffic at the gate but luckily I had my season pass and cut to the front of the line. The cool temps kicked in as I climbed up the mountain and took my first break at the top.

I can't get enough of Skyline on a day like today. The weather was perfection and Spring was in full green mode.

Considering the line at the entrance the actual traffic was not bad at all. The only problem was tourists stopping at a sharp curve to photograph a couple of bears. Which I have no problem with but don't stop in the middle of the road on a blind curve. It tends to be dangerous on a busy day.

Another reason I love Skyline so much....

I rode from mile 0 at Front Royal down to the 33 interchange at mile 64. I ended up riding about 225 miles today. I held up pretty good. I didn't get and kinks until I got back in to the 'Burg.

Tool Box is Done...

The great tool box reorganization is complete. Got a lot of great deals capped off with the Craftsman 4 drawer roller box for $55 after sale prices and discounts. All I had to do was cut some custom graphics and I have a Harley Davidson tool box.

I think I have the wrench situation under control. I still have another complete set of box ends in my other tool box. The chrome short wrench set was sent by mistake instead of the 7mm wrench I ordered but I'll learn to deal with it.

Top compartment, ratchet box ends, orange drawer polished chrome extended box ends and the bottom drawer has the short chrome box ends and regular box ends. (Metric & Standard)

Afternoon Ride....

Clear blue skies was all I needed to hit the road and get some miles in. Rode north to check out Quantico Harley Davidson since they changed ownership and checked out the new bikes. I'm pretty sure that a new Softail Classic is going to be my next ride.

On the way home I stopped by the National Marine Museum. It's one of the best museums around.

Can't Have Too Many...

Spring is here which means only one thing...

Time to get the Sporty ready to ride. A byproduct of that is I start checking out Craftsman Club for any deals on tools and I found a couple of great deals.

I only buy Craftsman and when these came on sale I was all over it...

When I went in to pick the wrenches up I noticed a HD tool box on sale from $99 to $79. I check on my phone and the Club price is only $59 that's less than standard 3 drawer red/black box. Plus I got another $15 off making the final price $44 so that was an impulse buy.

I got it home and quickly made some custom graphics to add...