Biker's Code

A rider posted the Biker's Code on Facebook (thanks Lidz!). I haven't read it in a hot minute, but it's time for a double dose.

Biker's Code


I ride purely, and only, because it is fun. I ride because I enjoy the
freedom I feel from being exposed to the elements, and the vulnerability
to the danger that is intrinsic to riding. I do not ride because it is
fashionable to do so. I ride my machine, not wear it. My machine is not
a symbol of status. It exists simply for me, and me alone. My machine is
not a toy. It is an extension of my being, and I will treat it
accordingly, with the same respect as I have for myself. I strive to
understand the inner-workings of my machine, from the most basic to the
most complex. I will learn everything I can about my machine, so that I
am reliant upon no one but myself for its health and well-being. I
strive to constantly better my skill of control over my machine. I will
learn its limits, and use my skill to become one with my machine so that
we may keep each other alive. I am the master, it is the servant.
Working together in harmony, we will become an invincible team. I do not
fear death. I will, however, do all possible to avoid death prematurely.
Fear is the enemy, not death. Fear on the highway leads to death,
therefore I will not let fear be my master. I will master it. My
machines will outlive me. Therefore, they are my legacy. I will care for
them for future bikers to cherish as I have cherished them, whoever they
may be. I do not ride to gain attention, respect, or fear from those
that do NOT ride, nor do I wish to intimidate or annoy them. For those
that do not know me, all I wish from them is to ignore me. For those
that desire to know me, I will share with them the truth of myself, so
that they might understand me and not fear others like me. I will never
be the aggressor on the highway. However, should others mess with me,
their aggression will be dealt with in as severe a manner as I can cast
upon them. I will show respect to other bikers more experienced or
knowledgeable than I am. I will learn from them all I can. I will not
show disrespect to other bikers less experienced or knowledgeable than I
am. I will teach them what I can. It will be my task to mentor new
riders, that so desire, into the lifestyle of the biker, so that the
breed shall continue. I shall instruct them, as I have been instructed
by those before me. I shall preserve and honor traditions of bikers
before me, and I will pass them on unaltered. I will not judge other
bikers on their choice of machine, their appearance, or their
profession. I will judge them only on their conduct as bikers. I am
proud of my accomplishments as a biker, though I will not flaunt them to
others. If they ask,I will share them. I will stand ready to help any
other biker that truly needs my help. I will never ask another biker to
do for me what I can do for myself. I am not a part-time biker. I am a
biker when, and where ever I go. I am proud to be a biker, and I hide my
chosen lifestyle from no one. I ride because I love freedom,
independence, and the movement of the ground beneath me. But most of
all, I ride to better understand myself, my machine, the lands in which
I ride, and to seek out and know other bikers like myself.

Author
Unknown-

Route 66...well sort of

A title of Pop's Diner would be more appropriate. So we had a meet and greet for the Riders in OK group; only 11 riders made the effort of meeting up at Pops. The 6 of us who rode out from Lawton logged about 280 miles. That's what I call a decent ride!  Had to take I-35 to help cut down on time (it was already a 2 hour ride one-way).

 

So we took the back roads up to I-35.

 

Pop's was CRAZY busy. And, since we couldn't agree on what to do, we waited forever on a table. Next time I will remember to back a granola bar. Yeah... my priorities before leaving the house were 1) coffee, 2) workout, and 3) check tire inflation (yes, I learned my lesson).

 

These two Lawton riders' bikes almost make me want to buy a chopper...I think I'd look like a dope on one, though. The bike on the right has some pretty bad-ass detail (see album).

 So after we ate, OKC and Lawton riders went separate ways. We caught I-40 (never been on this hwy) and rode out to Hinton. Finally got to see the other half of Hinton. I liked the first half better. With some more time, we could have taken the back roads to Hinton, too. But, time was fleeting. Had some riders who hadn't been out this way before so I had to take them down into Red Rock Canyon State Park. From I-40 and the hwy going through Hinton, you'd never guess such cool landscape existed.

Even got to ride through Apache's Rattlesnake Festival. I need to mount a camera holder on Blueberry somehow so I can take pictures while I ride (sounds safe, doesn't it?). We rode through Binger, Fort Cobb, and some other places where I usually would have wanted to stop, but, yeah...

More pictures are on Facebook!

Nothing special

So Riders in Oklahoma is doing another meet and greet this weekend! I cannot tell you how super duper overly excited I am!!!! Says the girl who never rides. Yes, that oughta be my new nickname. Or the girl who stays home. I've kind of traded in my time with Blueberry for time with a John Deere. I think I get that from my Granddaddy. He always did say he'd be happy to die as long as it was on his John Deere. Low and behold, he was found on his JD deader than a doornail. But, I digress.

And even with all my time spent on the mowing grass, I'm still not done. The best part? I can start my rotation over next week since the grass seems to be on steroids. Anyhow... This meet and greet will be up on Route 66. Looking forward to finally being able to post a route and pics.

My fence keeps growing

...yeah, I'm a hick.

 

and growing...

 

Back to motorcycles...

I'm sad to report that I've been a lazy rider. Not by choice, though! With work (Stone Turtle Ranch), school, an occasional hike, and the mailbox issue, I've been pretty busy. Looking forward to things calming down and being able to explore Oklahoma a bit more.

No more sloppy corners!

Not gonna lie, I kind of miss my blue sprockets...

 

Holy Cripes! My rims are dirrrrty.

Happy to have my Blueberry back and running like a champ (well, except for all those other parts I ought to replace...the benefits of owning a bike, eh?)!

Thank you squids...

...for giving riders like me a bad name.

Yes, I am in the ranting mood once again.

I'm browsing through one of the social networks I am on, only to find a couple of pictures of a totally trashed bike in my area. There wasn't an explanation to what happened only a comment that he watched his friend almost die and the bike is totaled.

So I asked what had happened and said that I hoped his friend had worn all of his/her gear. The response I got ticked me off.

His friend had been doing a wheelie at 80mph and had got cocky and pulled it up too much. His gear, you ask? A helmet. That's got to be some sucky road rash.

Honestly, I can't say I feel sorry for him. Not one bit. A) If you want to disrespect the power your bike has- do it in a controlled area, B) when you decide to do stupid things that could go wrong then you really ought to do yourself a favor and wear protective gear, and C) when you do decide to do moronic things, stop being a selfish prick and think of other drivers who may be endangered by your childish actions.

Meanwhile thanks to riders whose brains obviously haven't outgrown the teeny-bopper stage of their development, I get the dirty looks from cops.

So thank-you.

Got My Sprockets

As soon as they're on, I'll be back in the riding business! I hope to check out some new towns (and actually take some pics this time) soon. It's been a crazy semester! I still need to replace my pulse generator (or reseal the old one). Man, have I been lazy...

Torque won the battle

…Once again.

So I am patiently (okay, impatiently) awaiting the arrival of my new sprockets. On the last ride I determined that riding with the current ones probably stopped being safe a couple hundred miles ago. Yes, I am a squid. But, I couldn’t help it; My bike seduced me.

I had originally thought about going back to stock gearing and pitch, but I couldn’t do it. Okay, okay. I could have done it. I just didn’t want to. The sensible rider on my shoulder said to go back to stock.
That little hell-on-two-wheels demon on my shoulder screamed “TORQUE!”

*sigh*

Riding with the Ducs

I found myself in the company of two Ducati motorcycles this weekend. My sprockets are kind of shot so I just stayed in the back...way back. At least I don't have to drive down to Dallas to have my bike serviced (if I wanted the dealer to service my bike in the first place). I hear the Ducati shop in OKC closed. The only motorcycle shop that serves espresso, and it closes! The audacity.

Seems I always have an excuse to stay out of trouble (shot sprockets, low fuel tank, no rear brakes, new tires, etc).

Yes, I'm also a horrible bike cleaner (at least lately).

So I'm ordering some steel sprockets this go around and hope they'll last longer than my Driven sprockets. I'm kind of going to miss my blue chain... I'm also considering changing my gearing back to stock as well as going back to a 525 pitch, but...I don't know if I want to. I mean I haven't had an accurate speed reading in 1.5 years, I oughta be used to it by now, right?

Because some days I'm just too lazy to pack my own coffee.