Winter Project: Solo Wide Seat

For the longest time I've wanted a Solo Wide Seat but the ones I could find weren't what I wanted & usually cost around $400 - 500. So I figured I have 3 months til next years riding so why not try to make my own.

Researching seat pan shapes I figured I could make a pan to fit my AirHawk seat cushion. I started out making a template for the overall shape and went from there. So far I have cut out the seat from a sheet of 16 gauge steel sheet. I started shaping and hammering out the beginning form.

Season Finale

A week before Thanksgiving and this weekend was sunny & 65. I rode about 100 miles yesterday & today.

Cold wet weather is predicted for the next week. I'll keep the Sporty ready to ride because there will always be a random warm day to head out for a ride.

Short Season is Here...

For the most part I've been riding to work when it's clear. The ride in is nice but the ride home is pretty chilly. Luckily I don't live far from work so by the time the cold starts to sink in I'm home.

Trick or Treat...

It was a perfect Halloween day. Sunny & warm. So I rode around the 'Burg and some local back road twisties.

Last Night's View...

Since I headed out kinda' late I decided I might as well hang out and watch the sunset from a mountain view. Apparently I wasn't the only one. There must have been about 50 folks from all over that stopped at the over look I was at.

It was worth the chilly ride home...

Fall Colors Part 2...

I wasn't planning on riding anywhere today. Yesterday I just rode around the 'Burg for about an hour just to get out of the house.

I did my morning walk, a few chores around the house and by 1 I was bored. So I packed up the Sporty and headed out. It's no big surprise where I ended up. It may be boring to some but I just can't go there enough.

Especially this time of year with the cooler temps and the bright fall colors.

Fall Colors Ride Video

It took a few days to get this one done. Edited the clips with Final Cut Pro & it took some time to get the hang of it. I used 2 GoPro cameras for this ride. A new HD camera for the main video & my old wide angle for the cut away shots.

Ken & I rode from Front Royal to Sperryville on a perfect day. Lots of bikes, international visitors and the fall turn is about 50%.

I definitely got my money's worth from my Shenandoah National Park season pass this year. There's still good riding weather, my pass doesn't expire until October 31 & I have hit Skyline at least 15 time this year.

Enjoy...

Fall Colors Day 2... A Lot Better

Today it was my turn to ride up to meet Ken. Again it was a chilly morning but my noon it was almost 80. Clear blue skies all day long.

This time we hit 55 West to Front Royal for the ride to Sperryville. Another first, the entrance to Skyline had all lanes open with two Park Rangers in each booth to keep traffic from taking too long. More bikes than yesterday and a lot of people from over seas.

Today the colors seemed brighter, I believe it was because the sun was in front of us and Front Royal is a little farther north. What ever the reason it just looked more colorful than yesterday.

Fall Colors Day 1... Almost There

Ken & I hit Skyline after I went to Waugh's to pick up a shirt for the XLF swap with a guy in Kingston, Ontario.

The day started off pretty chilly but warmed up nicely. We rode from the 33 entrance up to Sperryville. Lots of cars & bikes (the busiest I've ever seen) Big Meadows was packed to the rafters.

We had such a great ride we decided to do it again tomorrow.

Never ending ride...

The last few weeks have been amazing. Clear blue skies and now cooler temps make for perfect riding. Today was no exception. I ended up going about 250 miles.

Fall is just around the corner...

I think I'm going to try and see how many times I can hit Skyline this year.

It was another perfect day in the mountains. The trees are just starting to turn and it was damn cool up there.

I'm sure getting my moneys worth out of my season pass. I'm pretty sure I have 15 trips this year and there's still plenty of good riding weather. All there is left is to make the run when the fall colors are in full swing.

Somedays are Better than others...

Yesterday I rode about 150 miles around Spotsy back roads.

Today was cool & clear. So it was off to the mountains.

There were a lot of riders and cars on Skyline today. The temps were cool and the sun was bright, not a cloud in the bluest skies of the year.

Blue Skies...

I rode about 150 miles yesterday around the Colonial Beach area. Some nice roads but the scenery kinda sucked.

Today had clear deep blue skies so where else but Skyline. It may be a broken record but I really do love riding that road.

I started from the Ruckersville entrance and headed north to Front Royal. I stopped to fill up and instead of heading back through Orlean I rode Skyline back down to the Sperryville interchange and rode 522 back to Culpeper and then back home to the 'Burg.

All told it was about 250 miles.

All 105 Miles Today...

Weather was cooler so I went out for an all day'er.

Rode up to Front Royal and took Skyline (again) all the way down to the end then back home. Lots of bikes out there today and the traffic was light. The Loft Mountain section I was all but alone. I met a couple of guys from Frederick, Maryland that were headed home the slow way. All the way up the Blue Ridge Parkway & Skyline.

Today's ride was about 325 miles today.

Where to go...

Woke up this morning and hit the road. I figured what the Hell and hit Skyline Drive. As I headed west I left the sunny skies over the 'Burg and rolled in to heavy cloud cover.

By the time I got to the drive the clouds were covering the road and the temp dropped down to about 70. Heavy fog and mist made it even cooler. Saw a black bear take a dump on the side of the road and about 10 deer walk past me on a break.

But it was a great ride. That's the great thing about Skyline. Every time is different.

I guess it is true...

Bears do shit in the woods.

Ken & Jose make today's ride

Ken & Jose made today's ride on Skyline. It's the first time for Jose since coming back from being stationed in Saudi Arabia. Even though he traded in the Sporty for an EG Classic we decided to let him tag along.

Some riders get bored with Skyline but I never get tired of such an easy going ride through some of the most scenic roads in Virginia.

All Day Ride...

The weather was mid-80's today. It was a welcome break from the blast furnace heat of the past few weeks. By the time I got up in to the mountains it cooled down so much I had to put on my jacket & gloves.

How hot is too hot?

Went for an errand ride around town yesterday. The temp topped 100+. It was one of the rare rides where it was actually hotter riding down the road than it was sitting at a light. You hope in the back of your mind that if you go faster the air will cool down just a little bit. But that was not the case.

If you want to experience it for yourself then go outside on the hottest day and then have someone blow hot air on your face with a hair dryer. Also you need to get a pair of ovens on high with the doors open on each side.

Then you might get close to the heat that was going on.

Finally Went for a Ride

It had been a while since I went for a ride since the Deal's Gap trip.

Honestly, after 1600+ miles I really didn't want to go on an all day run. But the weather cooled off just enough and I headed to the mountains today.

Up on Skyline the air was crisp and cool enough to need a jacket.

It was a great day for a ride.

On the Way Home...

Four days of riding The Dragon, back road twisties & the mountains of the Cherohala Skyway. I left out early to get a good start. The ride home was over I-40 west to I-81 to make stops to get my last 2 HD Virginia Tour stamps.

The first stop was Christiansburg, Va then a short ride to Roanoke for the final stamp & the 17 bonus tickets.

The ride home was fast and easy. Unlike the heat of the ride down the weather was cool & comfortable. Even with taking rest/gas stops about every 100 miles I still made it home well before dark.

Over all I rode about 1700 miles.

XL Forum Dragon Run

US 129 at Deal's Gap, N.C. is called "The Tail of the Dragon". There are 318 curves in 11 miles. This year XLF Group came in from all over. I came in from Virginia. Bruce came in from West Virginia. Joe & his group came in from Michigan. Dan from Indiana, Linda from Charlotte area. Georgia & Pennsylvania were also there.

Operation New Drive Belt...

The group headed out to ride the Cherohala Skyway and see if Smokey Mountain HD has a new drive belt for Bud.

Along the way we detoured a nice back road to see Bald River Falls.

We rode down to the SMHD shirt shop and they confirmed that the main dealership had the belt in Marysville.

By the end of the day it was a 300 mile round trip.

Rested up & Ready to Ride

Today was a relaxed day riding local twisties and goofing around.

One of the riders in our group, Bud, broke a

drive belt and the nearest replacement is Smokey Mountain HD in Marysville, TN. If the Dragon wasn't blocked it would be a 45 mile ride. So the plan is to ride the Cherohala Skyway over to the HD shirt shop in Tellico Plains and have them call to see if they have it in stock.

Takin' it Easy Today

Bruce made it in just after I did. The place we're staying is right on The Dragon. Unfortunately there is absolutely no cell service of any kind. The ride in yesterday took a little out of me. I ended up riding The Dragon and some local roads to find out where my cell could get some signal.

Long Hot Ride...

12 hours of searing heat but I was able to get to Deal's Gap Motor Lodge just before 8. I would have made it sooner but it took me a while on my 2 detours to get my tour stamps.

Ready for the Dragon Run

I'm all packed up and ready to head to Deal's Gap for the 3rd time in four years. The weather is predicted to be a hot one. I'll be stopping by Lynchburg & Danville HD to get my tour stamps. Hopefully I'll make it before it gets dark.

Waugh's Big Damn Bike Show

I decided to enter Waugh's bike show today. It's one of the only bike shows that instead of paying to enter you get a $10 Waugh's gift card. So a least you can get a free oil filter later on.

There were 16 Sportys in my group. From pristine stock to a cherry '59.

I didn't place this year, the first time my sporty did not win anything. It reminded me of why I hate entering bike shows. It's not that I didn't win but the sitting around for 5+ hours waiting for the judging.

XLF Dragon Run '10

Starting to get ready for the end of the month ride to Deal's Gap N.C. to ride U.S. 129 the Dragon. We are expecting about 25 - 30 people to show up for this one. Some from as far away as Michigan.

I even designed a patch for the ride organizer for everyone that shows up.

NOVA Stamp Ride

Headed up to Whitt's HD in Manassas & Patriot HD in Fairfax today. The morning started off nice but by the time I made it to Fairfax it was a scorcher.

There were a lot of riders out today. But even with the heat it was a fun day to ride.

So far I have 13 stamps in my Virginia HD Tour book only 4 to go. The last 4 will be later this month. Lynchburg & Danville will be on the way down to the XLF Dragon Run. Christiansburg & Roanoke will be on the way back.