The Legend of the Ride Bell

An Article about the Ride Bell found on many bikes.

(source: www.volusiariders.com)

Here are some pictures from Google Images: (they come in different shapes and styles)

The Gremlin Bell

Many of us have heard the story about Evil Road Spirits. They are little gremlins that live on your bike. They love to ride, and they’re also responsible for most of your bike’s problems. Sometimes your turn signals refuse to work; your battery goes dead, the clutch needs adjustment, or any of several hundred things that can go wrong. These problems are caused by Evil Road Spirits. Road Spirits can’t live in the presence of the bell, because they get trapped in the hollow of the bell. Among other things, their hearing is supersensitive, so the constant ringing of the bell and the confined space drives them insane. They lose their grip and eventually fall to the roadway. Have you ever wondered how potholes are formed? The bell has served its purpose. If you pick up a bell of your own, the magic will work, but if your bell is given to you, the power is doubled, and you know that somewhere you have a special friend helping to look after you. So, if you have a friend who doesn’t have a bell, why not give them one? It’s a nice feeling for the recipient to know you care. The bell, plus a good preventive maintenance program by the bikes owner, will help eliminate Evil Road Spirits.

Polishing the Bell
It has been a tradition among some of us for a long time to attach a brass bell to our motorcycles to remember our brothers and sisters who have gone down riding. It’s a small thing, but the reason a brass bell is chosen is that, as we ride, it gets dirty and tarnished. Every time we get down to wash and polish it, we are reminded of friends lost, and our thoughts turn to the meaning of being in the wind. As we ride and hear the bell ring, we know that our brothers and sisters are riding with us, and how easy it would be to join them with a single mistake. And maybe, just maybe, the next time a situation comes up; they will be there to help us...as long as we remember them by polishing the bell.

Of Gremlins, Gravel Monsters, and Great BBQ!

Hi…My Name Is “K” and I have a BBQ problem! As most of you know our trips have a culinary destination, which wouldn’t be so bad if I didn’t have a navigator who is co-dependent and a conspirator in planning. So we usually end up "stuffed to the gills" trying to mount up to head home.

We’ve wanted to go to Lockhart for awhile but you know how it is…it’s one of those “I’ll get there sooner or later" destinations in your backyard. It’s kind of like the New Yorker that has never bothered to see the Statue of Liberty. So we were watching a late night Travel Channel show about BBQ and low and behold they featured Lockhart. “That’s it we’re going!”

Now that name may not mean much to the average person reading this blog but to Texans, Lockhart is the BBQ Capital of Texas by a 2003 resolution of the Texas Legislature.

There are 4 main BBQ places in town and we want to eventually sample each one.

Kreuz Barbeque Founded circa 1900(pronounced Crites, long i)

Blacks Barbeque Blacksbbq.com Founded 1932
Chisholm Trail Barbeque Founded 1978
Smittys Market Founded (unknown, probably the newest)

This is a basically simple trip…Oh wait a minute…this is supposed to be a simple trip. However, the simple things end up a little more complicated or hazardous than we’d like. Not to worry, nothing major happened, just a couple of OOOPS moments. You know, Gremlins the malevolent creatures that tortured WWII aircrews. They hide your gear, make things difficult, get you lost, make your bike breakdown, etc… We had our run in on this trip.

It’s my own fault “S” bought a Ride Bell to ward off these endearing creatures, but I’m so anal I couldn’t find the right spot to strap it on the bike. To break it down, the trip went something like this…

I made a u-turn and put my foot down on loose gravel and slipped but thankfully didn’t tip "S" or the bike over.

On the way home, “S” Lost one of her gloves so we had to backtrack and find it in a construction zone.

At one point, I felt “S” jerk and the bike shook, so I slowed and yelled back what happened. I received a sheepish “nothing” reply so off we went. I later found out “S” learned that even one inch of open visor can let rocks in. Apparently, a pebble pinged off of my helmet into her visor and homed in on her nose like a cruise missile. The sheepish reply was because her eyes were still watering.

Later we stopped for water and a map check. I went in to buy more water and an ice cream sandwich. I looked out of the store window just in time to see “S”, water bottle in hand tipped up into her face shield. Water gushed out of the bottom of her helmet as she involuntarily coughed! It’s one of those moments you wished for a video camera.

I walked out and sat down next to her opening our Ice Cream sandwich, calmly looked at her and stated something along the lines of “Tried to drink with your helmet on Huh?” She turned beet red “You saw that?” Yep! Classic!

All's Well That Ends Well!!!

We chose Black’s as our first choice as it is supposedly the oldest BBQ restaurant continuously operated by the same family since 1932. However, Kreuz’s restaurant has been in operation since 1900 but not by the same family. And so the BBQ Wars have raged on since at least 1932.

A word to the wise, don’t ask for BBQ Sauce at Kreuz’s…Black’s has it but they don’t like the idea that they had to start offering it…LOL

Black's was great! I had Pork Loin and Turkey; “S” had Brisket and Sausage. The brisket was melt in your mouth tender, and the Pork Loin and Turkey was moist. Now the Sausage was in a league of its own. Often Sausage is so finely ground that it gets a texture kind of like spam. However, Black’s does it right! There are chunks of meat in the casing and the spices were perfectly balanced. Yes, we shared! One down, three to go!

Oh and one other thing! Even Jackalopes can't resist good Texas BBQ!

Lesson’s Learned:

1.) Eat at least a small Breakfast. (We wanted to save room for BBQ.)

2.) 183 South and the County Roads surrounding it are flat and not pretty.

3.) Watch where you put your feet down after a U-Turn Gravel is slick as ice.

4.) Keep your visor closed on rural roads.

5.) Gremlins know if you’ve been given a Ride Bell and haven’t put it on. (See Ride Bell Explanation)

6.) Most importantly, don’t try to drink out of a water bottle with your helmet on. !8-D

“The mayor has more important things to worry about than a bunch of nude people at a biker rally...”

...was the quote from the Austin Mayor’s office regarding reports of lewd and lascivious behavior at the Republic of Texas Motorcycle Rally, (R.O.T.). Someone delivered a large number of pictures showing nude bikers, mobile stripper poles (with strippers), “Did I mention there were mobile strippers?” “K”. All the while, local law enforcement patrolled the area.
Want to see the whole story go to- http://www.kvue.com/video/index.html?nvid=258007

Yes, there were freewheeling breasts, yes there was lots of motorized “hot dogging”(mechanical and biological), and indeed there was some alcohol consumed at the (R.O.T). “Oh yeah, did I mention the mobile strippers?” “K”.

It was our first R.O.T.! Bikes galore! Tattoos aplenty! We joined “S’s” sister and boyfriend to take part in this gathering of motorcycle enthusiast. We drank beer, wandered around the exhibits, bought a back roads map of central Texas, listened to local bands, and all the while soaking up the intense biker atmosphere. Check out the official photos of the rally at http://www.rotrally.com/Pages/Public/Media.asp

We wandered over to the “Wall of Death” show. A large tin can of a building where motocross bikes sped up the walls, centrifugal force keeping them and riders glued to the wooden slatted walls. The audience, peering down into the pit, was asked to hold a dollar bill between their fingers. Then a guy on a go-kart raced around the pit walls gaining height with each revolution to pluck the dollars from our fingers. It’s a living.

As the sun set, we joined the carousing and cavorting crowd as they moved towards the main stage to see the Charlie Daniels Band. They were great! His voice is still sharp and crisp. We danced and sang right along.

“K” insisted on having meat on a bone, (aka turkey leg) while “S” enjoyed another version of something on a stick, a corndog!

“S” knew it was time to go when the parade of half naked men and women motorcyclist varoomed down the center of the Expo Center and she looked over at “K” and he had Mardi Gras beads hanging from his baseball cap.

“Pole strippers? Yes, there were nude 60-year old pole strippers with hanging boobs and sagging asses! Enjoy, “K” “S”.

After all was said and done, the dust and the smoke cleared, the rowdy bikers returned to being your dentists, accountants, and lawyers. While some of us remain just two geeks on a bike.

P.S. Did I mention that there were mobile strippers and not all were 60+. I think we’re getting an RV spot next year. “K”

Side note:
We have a very animated mayor in Austin, check out other stories related to Mayor Wynn. We love him! Who else would call the last round of trivia at Mother Egan’s Irish Pub on Tuesday nights!
http://www.kvue.com/news/top/stories/030508kvueMayorWynn-cb.2618c644.html

Fully Dressed!

Equipment Modifications complete:

So after much grief for spending hours upon hours searching the Internet for the best quality at the best price from “S” I finally settled on saddlebags. I purchased the Ameritex Futura bags from JC Whitney (photo from JCWhitney website). They are synthetic which is good for clean up and won’t rot like leather. I purchased the XX size so they are fairly large. Although the XXX bags have a cell phone pocket on each side, I thought they might hit the exhaust on the right side of the bike, which in itself is another issue. The XX are wide and deep enough to hold plenty of stuff to keep us going on a pretty decent trip.

They are detachable and have three quick release buckles for each side allowing for easy removal while traveling. Next on the list were Saddle bag supports to keep them from rubbing the rear swing arm and tire. It also gives you a place to tie the bags off so they don’t flap around in the wind.

Other modifications included passenger peg extensions and floorboards. The C50 passenger pegs are up high and "S's" legs were folded back at an awkward, uncomfortable angle. This cuts off blood flow to her lower legs and causes cramping on longer rides. It also causes the tailbone to support most of the passenger’s weight which fatigues the back. The extensions lower the passenger’s feet by about 3 inches and moves them forward about 2 inches. The floorboards will give her more room to move her feet around in different positions helping to eliminate the onset of cramps and fatigue. Which translates to less stops along the way.

“S” was on a solo adventure to Anaheim, CA when I installed these items so I hope the extensions and the backrest make her more comfortable. I’m really excited to have her test them out on our next ride. She’ll have to give her report after we get back from vacation.

Where I purchased the parts

Ameritex Futura Saddlebags – JC Whitney
Saddlebag Supports – JC Whitney
Floorboards (note the floorboards are actually for a 1981 Honda - Gold Wing) – JC Whitney $64.99
Peg Extensions – Waynesville Cycle
Backrest – Cruiserbackrest.com
Sissybar Bag (this was a great deal) – Wal-Mart $35.00.

A note about these stores: I’m always leery of sending money to online stores and I suggest that if you are going to make a purchase do some research on many of the online motorcycle forums. Caveat Emptor!

That said, I can’t say enough about JC Whitney, Cruiser Backrest, and Waynesville Cycle. All three of these vendors were quick to ship and I had parts in hand within 3 days of ordering.

Installation wasn’t too bad, everything lined up fairly well. I also took this opportunity to adjust the rear suspension. I noticed on our last 2-up ride that the rear end kind of wallowed around turns and just felt mushy in general. I purchased a 63mm suspension wrench. I had to remove the side panel from beneath the seat then both seats. That was not a problem because I had to remove the pillion in order to install the saddlebag mounting system anyway. Then I had to remove the batter box. I didn’t disconnect it I just removed the screws and pulled the box up high enough to clear the shock wrench. The factory ships the bike with the rear shock at mid- position #4 and I moved it up two notches to six. That should give us plenty of spring pre-load to carry the two of us plus luggage.

I can’t wait for the next trip! Which there is still debate over. We don't know if we should go on our hunt for BBQ or search for ghosts.

Can you tell me how to get...how to get to...

Sunny Day

Sweepin' the clouds away

On my way to where the air is sweet

Can you tell me how to get, How to get to Hico, Texas!


View Larger Map

TO HICO from AUSTIN:
We headed out 183 N

then 281 N to Lampasas

Just outside of Lampasas take

FM 1690 N to Izoro through Pearl to Purmela

At Purmela take FM 1241 N

You end up on 281 N just outside of Hamilton

Continue on 281 N to Hico

FROM HICO to AUSTIN:

Going home we made a little mistake, but it was the best mistake I had made in a while. We ended up at a Y sitting in the middle of cow pastures and rolling hills. Because we stopped there to take pictures of the old fence and barn, and to be honest, take a leak behind a bush, we missed a summer rain storm down the road.

We headed E on Hwy 6 towards Iredell just before you get to town take FM 1238 S to Cransfill Gap

Then we headed W on Hwy 22 back to Hamilton then because it was getting dark we headed S on 281 to 183 S in Lampasas to get home quickly.


More pics of the Hico trip coming soon!

First Ride Two Perspectives

Driver's Perspective-

It was time, we had a plan and a destination. We decided to ride down to my old National Guard Post for their annual Muster Day. I prepped for my first ride with a passenger. When I say my first ride with a passenger, I don't mean first ride with "S" and I didn't mean first ride on this bike with a passenger, it would be my first ride with a passenger ever.

So yes, I was concerned with our safety. I checked over the bike...did a short safety brief...oh wait...forgot my helmet...damn it. I guess you could say I was a little too focused making sure that "S" was taken care of and that her first ride was going to be an enjoyable safe ride.

Skid lid and jacket...check...keys...wait...damn it...no wait...got'em, off to "S's" house. So we geared up and "S" hopped on back, all Harley Leather with fringe and a big grin under her face shield. So we ease out of her parking lot and out onto the road.

The V-Twin rumbled as we putted up to the stop sign. I put the blinker on asked if she was ready and after a thumbs up I pulled out onto the road. vrrroooOOOMMM (shift 2nd) tap on the back of my helmet, "Sorry," "S" exclaimed! vrrroooOOOMMM (shift 3rd) tap..."Sorry!" vrrroooOOOMMM (shift 4th) tap..."Sorry, Again!" I'm chuckling because every time our helmets smacked together I'd hear that sheepish little sorry from "S".

So we drove around the neighborhood to get acquainted and then out and onto Loop 1, Mopac towards Camp Mabry. I noticed that I was being pushed forward and my hips were somewhat immobile in the saddle as "S" clutched me with her knees and leaned into me. (Note to self, need to get that Sissy Bar, quick!)

When we got to the base, the line to get in was backed up so we decided that baking in a mile long line was not what we wanted to do. So off we went to the Hula Hut for some grub and ice- cold tea. We turned onto Exposition Blvd. and started south towards Lake Austin Boulevard.

I didn't remember Exposition being this hilly. Hmmmm...I need to make a little adjustment to my clutch work when leaving the traffic light on an incline. Ooops, bogged the take off. The ride to the Hula Hut went off without a hitch, until I missed the parking lot on the right so we headed down Lake Austin(Lake Austin Blvd. is a beautiful winding, hilly road along the Lower Colorado River) to find a place to circle back. Really hilly now. Hold brake, rev a little, ease out the clutch....damn stalled it. Got it on the second try, though. (At least "S" understands clutches and the difficulty of a smooth takeoff from such a position, she drives a standard, herself.)

After lunch we rolled down Enfield to 15th street towards downtown. I turned on the access road at IH-35 and down to 6th street. We eased down 6th the rumble of our exhaust reverberated off the buildings. God, I love that sound! I could see our reflection in some of the large plate glass windows as we cruised by...this is too cool. Right on Congress towards the Texas State Capitol. There's nothing like the view of the Texas Capitol, heading north easterly up Congress, except doing it from atop a bike.

Then we went back out to Mopac and eventually turned northwest and up loop 360. We crossed the Loop 360 Bridge (voted the Second Best Texas bridge to cross in 2008 by a Ride Texas magazine poll) which affords a great view of what Austinites call Lake Austin, which is really part of the Lower Colorado River. (We can't call it Colorado River when it runs through Austin, now can we?)

I decided to take her to one of the best little stretches of road in Austin called Spicewood Springs Road. This little piece of blacktop heaven is 3.4 miles of stables and rural country road on the north side of Loop 360 that hasn't succumbed to the developers. It is a road covered by an arboreal canopy and meanders along Bull Creek.

There are several low water crossings that when it rains is no place you want to drive but when it is running under the road you are almost on water level with the babbling creek. It is absolutely beautiful! It's only 35 mph and it affords a prime opportunity to just cruise along and enjoy the scenery. "S" indicated later that this was her type of ride.

After close to 30 miles, we turned for home with a short stop at the Arboretum Barnes and Noble for an iced Chai tea and a little relaxed reading. Got to let "S" stretch out those legs, every once in a while and what better place than a bookstore for my librarian. All in all....a banner day!

Pillion's Perspective-

I will admit it... I was nervous about our approaching first two-up ride, but I was definitely more excited than anything else. I had ridden before and enjoyed it immensely. In fact, I remember having an "Ah, Ha" moment the first time I rode. I finally understood why people rode these dangerous 1,000 lb machines. I could list a number of words that would in some way explain the feeling, but really you don't understand until you are on the bike.

Knowing what to expect was not my concern, in fact my only concern was that "K" was not going to feel comfortable with me hanging on to him at warp speed or worse he wouldn't like it at all.

There was something new, helmet, something old, sister's vintage leather Harley jacket with fringe no less, something borrowed, again my sister's Harley boots, and something blue, jeans. The only thing I was missing was the silver sixpence in my shoe, but with the way our economy is going, I had my ATM card, instead.

We headed out from "K's" apartment to my condo to return my car. You could tell that he was nervous, even though he kept reassuring me that he wasn't. But the fact that he forgot his helmet then misplaced his keys, spoke volumes. My guess, though, is his concerns were different than mine. My bet was that he was more concerned about our safety, than anything else.

Our plan was to hit Muster Day at Camp Mabry then a short ride. So, we headed out by way of a little "get acquainted" tour of my neighborhood. (Good idea, "K")

Riding with someone for the first time, always produces those awkward questions and thoughts in your head, "Where do I put my hands?, How tight do I hold on?, Am I crowding him?..." Then there is the whole adjustment to their driving, as well and how the bike handles... on and on things to consider. I knew from previous rides and riders that they really did not care for their pillion to be hitting helmets. (I really wanted this to work out and for us to be able to go on riding adventures together.) But I was trying to find my place on the bike , there were so many things to think about. Arrgh!

For example, I realized about 3 miles out on Mopac, that oops, I actually had about 3 inches of seat behind me, I was so scrunched up on "K," the poor guy. Then I decided that I needed to do a complete body check and research in my brain for anything that I recalled from previous rides.

• Head, "don't tap helmets", dang, I am trying not to.


• Arms, "don't hold on too tight", darn, I don't know know if he is still breathing


• Legs, "Force your weight to your legs when coming to a stop", ooops, 'tap' forgot about my head
  

Then we headed down to Camp Mabry for Muster Day, which also made me nervous because I was going to meet some of his Army buddies for the first time. Luckily, there was a huge line and we opted for food instead. I suggested the Hula Hut, it was close by and it was on Lake Austin Blvd. down on the river. Good food, relaxing atmosphere, but most of all it was on one of my favorite scenic roads in Austin. I have to tell you that I have changed my point of view since the bike has entered my life: on the bike it's not how to get to your destination the quickest, but what's the best, most scenic, interesting road to get you there. (My idea is the less we are on freeways and highways the happier I will be, and as "K" later said, "Those are only a means to the end.").

We arrived at the Hula Hut with grins on our faces. As we were removing our gear, there was a light banter between us checking to make sure the grins were sincere. In this banter, "K" shares with me that this was first time he had taken a passenger. I was like, "What?, I asked you about that." He reassured me that I had not. How could I forget to ask such a question? I remember us discussing it, but I guess I had failed to flat out ask if he had taken any passengers or pillions. Despite this interesting new understanding, we could tell that this was going to be a success. It was going to require some adjusting and some equipment like a Sissy Bar, but overall this was going to change our lives.

Trucks on Sticks?

Your first question may be... why "Trucks on Sticks"?

If you ever traveled the I-35 corridor from Austin to Dallas, you too, might have noticed that these Texans have a propensity for placing trucks, or more specifically 18-wheeler cabs, 20 to 30 feet in the air as an advertising gimmick. What “S” finds interesting is that Texas is the southern end of “Tornado Alley”, so why would you place a six-ton truck (this may be a slight exaggeration, but you get the idea) on a stick above innocent travelers where wild winds have been reported on a number of occasions. It just begs the question, Why?

(Image found on google.com, not necessarily one that can be found on I-35, but we will get you real examples from our touring.)

The main purpose of this blog is to chronicle our venture in two-up motorcycle touring. So grab your favorite beverage and spend some time with "K" and "S" as we cruise across Texas.