Topic: 25 Rides in 2025, Frank's New Years resolution that we can all enjoy.

[RAFster122s]

Saw video of lady earlier in Minnesota where it was -26F tossing a boiling cup of water from her insulated mug into the air where it instantly froze in a mist of fine ice particles  looking a lot like snow.  I have done that stunt myself when I lived in central Ohio during a cold weather spell with -20 to -30F air temp.

It was 28F here this morning and we might see 26F tonight...too dang cold for the desert.
I know, it is warm here compared to other areas but you are acclimated to hot weather the cold hits harder at higher temps.  Just like I wouldn't recommend anyone come from winter temps in the northern states or provinces into the desert where temps are 70-80F...you could have a health event and end up hospitalized.  Saw someone posting wanting to borrow 30F of warmth from Florida...I don't think they have it to give...

[Terry in Australia]

Well it's "Australia Day" today, where all the "First Nations" people protest at what they call "Invasion Day", Palestinian immigrants protest about Gaza, Israeli immigrants protest about the Palestinians, and white supremacists protest about all of the above, while the rest of us just try to enjoy a long weekend before going back to work on Tuesday, to pay our taxes which our government then uses to provide welfare payments to the above groups. 

Regardless, it's a nice looking day outside, so I'm going to go for ride #5. I thought I'd better post ride #4 that I did last Sunday first though. It was another hot day so I left a bit earlier so I'd get back before it got too hot. The Sporty had a couple of broken spokes, and the K0's battery was still flat, so I took the green Kawasaki again. I filled the bike again and was amazed that on my previous ride I was averaging around 60 MPG (Imperial gallon = 4.5 litres) which was good.

As it was already getting hot, I opted for a slightly shorter (85 mile) ride, that I've done a couple of times in the last year. I rode out thru Wallan, up my favourite back roads to Romsey, then turned left and rode to Monegeetta to the old convenience store where I used to buy my lunch when I worked at the Defence site nearby, which I think has been closed down now, which is a shame.

KZ750 Sunday 19 January 2025 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

I rode on towards Sunbury, and stopped again at the old bluestone church. Not sure if it's still operating because it was Sunday morning and no-one in sight. Heathens.....

KZ750 Sunday 19 January 2025 3 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

The bike runs great, as you'd expect from a bike that has only done 14000 miles in 48 years, but I don't think I'll keep it, as I'd like to throw some money at some of my other bikes. Anyone want to buy a beautiful old bike that's only been ridden to church by a little old man?

KZ750 Sunday 19 January 2025 4 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

Okay, going over to the storage facility to swap batteries between the Kawasaki and the K0 to see if I can take the K0 for ride #5. Happy Australia Day, please pick up your protest sign at the door........  

[BenelliSEI]

“Well it's "Australia Day" today, where all the "First Nations" people protest at what they call "Invasion Day", Palestinian immigrants protest about Gaza, Israeli immigrants protest about the Palestinians, and white supremacists protest about all of the above, while the rest of us just try to enjoy a long weekend before going back to work on Tuesday, to pay our taxes which our government then uses to provide welfare payments to the above groups.”

Terry…. Happy Australia Day! Thanks for a really good laugh and you have a great long weekend! I had to plow the driveway for the 5th time this winter. Be a while before I am going o be riding again. You stay safe! J.

[Kevin D]

Very nice Terry, nice day, nice ride, nice bike, nice photos….. that’s a winning combination.

[Terry in Australia]

Thanks guys, well I did go for ride #5 yesterday, but not on the bike I'd hoped to ride. I took the lead/acid battery that came out of the K0 home last week and charged it back up, and yesterday swapped it into the KZ750, and installed the Motobatt in the K0. I fired it up and checked the output, but nada. I didn't want to waste time fault finding, so looked around at my motley "collection" and looked at the Triumph Rocket III.

Now I don't remember when I rode it last, but it was several months ago. I'd recharged the now 9 year old black Motobatt battery that had finally gone flat last year before my last ride on it, and considering the age of the battery and the R3's 2300cc engine, I wasn't sure if it'd start, but surprisingly it fired right up, woohoo! Better still, it still had a full tank of fuel, so I rode it to the gas station and just pumped the tyres up. It was quite a pleasant day, so I was quite comfortable, even though the Rocket does produce a lot of heat on the right side betwixt the headers and my right leg, which is nice in winter, but not so much in summer. Anyway, I headed up the freeway before getting off it to ride some quieter "B" roads.

After riding the K0 and KZ750 for the last few rides, the Rocket was like a big lounge chair, very comfy. It's also a huge bike, and so it took me a little while to get used to it again. An "Adventure Rider" on a BMW F650 in all of his BMW branded finery pushed past me at a set of lights and ignored me while blipping his throttle, so I took great pleasure in blowing him away at the lights, maybe he thought I was riding a Harley? Regardless, he kept a respectful distance behind me before I forgot about him. Even after almost 16 years of ownership, blowing away ignorant posers doesn't get old. 

I rode off into the countryside, and thought the view would be a nice backdrop for my dusty bike.

Rocket III Sunday 26 January 2025 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

I was walking back to it and a local in a 4WD stopped to ask me if I needed any help. I explained that it was fine, I just stopped to take a pic, and he made a face. Hmmnn, I wonder if he thought I said "Piss"? Anyway, I rode on. I rode past a brewery/whiskey place in the middle of nowhere, and promised myself that I'd stop there next time and do some tasting. I stopped at a gas station to buy a cold drink, then rode on to the old Monegeetta general store (closed down, I think) to stop for a smoke and a drink. It was getting warm.

Rocket III Sunday 26 January 2025 2 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

Anyway, it was a nice 90 mile ride, I'm still surprised that the old Motobatt battery is doing well, and the Rocket is still a lovely thing to ride. With luck, the K0 will be back soon, and now that my Ducati is only a couple of weeks away from being on the road, it'll be added to the "2025 Rides" fleet.

Ducati Saturday 25 January 2025 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

[jgger]

Great job Terry, 5 rides and we aren't even out of January yet! Not only that but you are the only one posting rides so far. I wanted to get out and would have, except for the rain. The rain came just in time to keep the rest of So Cal from going up in smoke, so that is a good thing. I guess mudslides will be the next big thing here.

[Kevin D]

Hey Terry, what is that red rocket ship across the street from the Triumph?
It’s about the size of a porta-potty.
Wherever We Go suggests the same thing.
A gal crawling through a portal?
Phone booth?
Billboard?

[Terry in Australia]

Ha ha, it’s a mailbox Kev, the old general store was also the post office at one time.

Edit: Sorry Kev, I was looking at that on my phone. That's a telephone box. Don't know if there's still a phone inside, I'll check next ride out that way.

[BallAquatics]

Well put me down for my first ride of 2025!  Was planning to go tomorrow, but the sun was shining and the wind wasn't blowing, and I just couldn't help myself.....

Just an easy 50 mile shake down ride on the back roads.  Started out great, but then I had some sputtering and it turned out to be a stuck float.  You can see the puddle under the bike in the photo.  Started turning the petcock on and off and all was well until about 10 miles from home and had to go on reserve.  I sort of expected that when I left the house so no biggie.

Forecast says it's going to be warmer tomorrow.  I'm hoping to sort the float in the morning, gas up and do another ride tomorrow!  I experienced lots of grit on the roads and still some snow in the shady spots.



I can't remember the last time we had snow on the ground for 3 weeks!  Last year, I didn't even shovel once.  Climate change has sure made a difference since I was a kid.  We would always have plenty of snow before November 15, the first day of hunting season.  Then it would stick around all winter long.  It would get so deep we would build forts and all sorts of stuff.  For the past 15 or 20 years we hardly get enough at any one time to completely cover the grass.

Now I'm not complaining mind you... just saying!   

[Terry in Australia]

Well done Dennis! We’ve had a few “42 Degrees and sunny” days here, but they’re metric degrees, so 100+ degrees F, the other end of the spectrum. I somehow have 3 more weeks of annual leave to take before the end of the year when I retire, so I thought I’d take next week off, get the Ducati registered and ride the wheels off it, but it’s going to be in the 90’s from Sunday right through to the following weekend.

I mentioned this to my boss and reminded him of all my medical issues (tall tales and true from my legendary past, as Walt Disney used to put it) and he said I could work from home, so I’ll take the following week off instead, I’d rather be sitting under the cooler’s vent than sitting on a bike when it’s that hot.

Anyway, glad to see some ride posts that aren’t mine, and hopefully you’ll get some more rides in soon. 1 down, 24 to go!

[Kevin D]

Ha ha, it’s a mailbox Kev, the old general store was also the post office at one time.

Edit: Sorry Kev, I was looking at that on my phone. That's a telephone box. Don't know if there's still a phone inside, I'll check next ride out that way.

It’s a good thing that I’m here and that pseudoportapotty (PPP) is far away from here or I may have already used it, and considered it an unusual local custom.

There are no pay phones around here any more, a historical artifact.

[Kevin D]

Allright Dennis! Is Blue your most trusted Honda, or maybe the closest to the door?
I’m seeing 39f and sunny of course, but no thoughts of riding for me.

[RAFster122s]

Was surprised a year or more ago to find a payphone outside a restaurant in downtown Tucson. Was odd to see it and it was in good nick, looking rather fresh and new-ish. Took a photo but I would be hard pressed to locate it. It was likely in warm spring or fall (or maybe summer) weather as I sat outside waiting for a table and was in the car rather than on the motorcycle. Restaurant is El Charro, great place that's been there since 1922. Excellent food and they air dry their carne seca on site.
We have had rain here today and few brief light showers yesterday, colder today and only reached 45F.
Sorry, I am not riding in this weather. I have had several rides this year but none that qualified for distance. Probably 12-14 rides of 35-38 miles or less going into Marana for food, fuel, etc.
Been streaming online rather than taking the 55 minute ride to church in Sundays as weather has been cool and I haven't felt well. My right thumb injury in November has not healed correctly and sometimes even the short rides make it ache for hours. Seeing Orthopedic hand specialist on Tuesday. Thumb has been x-rayed couple times since injury and appears normal. May have a tiny bit of heat in the joint attachment of the ligament, feels like it to me, but one hand maybe more sensitive than the other. Dr Shapiro will get it sorted out, whether it requires a hydrocortisone shot or what kind of treatment it requires yet to be seen.

I cannot handle 45F rides, dont have heated gear or gear suited for freezing temps while riding without wearing insulated underwear and then that is a problem when you arrive and need to be inside as the sweating then sets you up for hypothermia in a ride anywhere else. Even with wicking insulated(s) they don't wick well enough for me.

Rode to corner intersection near me between rain showers yesterday and got a spicy bratwurst from German Food Station food truck, ran by lovely couple from Germany. Max and Andrea make some good food. I am glad to be able to enjoy their food and support them from time to time.
The sour kraut is homemade and delicious atop a spicy brat with German Mustard.

[BallAquatics]

Thanks Terry & Kevin.  This year the weather has been brutal around here.  If memory serves, I think I had several rides by this time last year...

Allright Dennis! Is Blue your most trusted Honda, or maybe the closest to the door?

Blue is certainly solid as a rock.  I've got 51 years of history with the bike and we have been through a lot together.

That said, it's the National Cycle fairing that give Blue a leg up on the other bikes when the temps are on the cool side.  I'm not a fan of heated gear, but I do have some light weight merino wool that I use for my base layer.  Some nice Oxford winter gloves, Klim jacket, and Hood K7/AAA jeans and I'm pretty comfy down to around 40F.  I'm not ATGATT yet, but I'm getting close.  Here's the video that sold me on the Klim...

I really love the Klim Marrakesh jacket.  It is a summer mesh jacket that is super cool in hot weather, but Klim has a system that makes it suitable for cold weather too.  It comprises of a light weight down liner which you cover with a very light wind breaker and then top it off with the jacket.  It sounds like it would be bulky, but it's not.  I used to wear a Revit! 4 season jacket that wasn't as warm and much more bulky.

At any rate, when the temps get up to 40F, I'm good to go.  Forecast is saying 48F today with showers developing late this afternoon...

[Trevor from Warragul]

There are no pay phones around here any more, a historical artifact.

The ones in Australia are free, so you often see them being used by people who can't afford a cellphone. Great idea, and nice to see a huge company like Telstra offering this service.

[willbird]

2-1-2025 ride number 1 for 2025. It was 29F but the sun was out. Did my usual 245AM to 1045AM voluntary Saturday workday and decided driving home to go for a ride. Noticed my clear face shield was scratched from me trying to wipe it with gloves. Rode over to Defiance, OH to McCarthy dealership and grabbed a new one. The sun vanished and lead colored overcast was the mood for the day. Then rode home by a different route that took me past where I gas up.

I suffered from the cold but settled into it and decided it would not kill me so what could be the worst that happened ?? LOL.

65 miles total.

Some "stuff" on the road especially at intersections, mostly gravel.


Bill

[BallAquatics]

Got my stuck float sorted and ride #2 is in the books!!!  A cool damp day with may wet areas on the pavement.  Temps were struggling to get to 50F, but just a light breeze and a great day for a ride.  Headed north from the house, then west on US 36 over to Piqua Ohio.  Passed through Westville, the home of Harvy Haddix, Lena, the home of A. B. Graham, Saint Paris, and Fletcher for 50+ miles in total.



The only point of interest was the covered bridge in Fletcher, Ohio.  Most folks at work so traffic was light.  The bike ran like a top.  I believe it's running just a tad rich, so when it warms up a bit I might change the main jets and do a full carb sync.  Can't complain about how it's running though.

Looks like the weather is going back down into the 30's so it might be awhile before I'm out again.....

[willbird]

it would take me 2.5 hours to make it to Fletcher, OH :-).

Bill

[jgger]

I finally got off my butt and got my first ride for 2025! I got tired of listening to my own excuses for not riding and the weather was good, so I summoned Eeyore and away we went. It seems like since going back to work that there is always something trying to rob me of a ride. Sunday was no different,  I had to go pick up a dishwasher I found on market place, but said screw it to installing it and opted for a ride up to Mount Baldy.

Starting temp at 2:15 was about 78°f and by the time I gassed up and did an air check it was 2:30  and the rest of the day was mine. I chose Mount Baldy because I wanted to see if there was much damage from one of the many recient fires. It did burn right down to Baldy Village and I was happy to see no houses in ashes. This fire was called the bridge fire and it ripped through a large chunk of the Angeles National forest,  which has some awsome roads to ride. Almost all the mountian areas i like to ride have been damaged last year, it is so sad to see. The biggest bummer is that Glendora Ridge rd is now off limits. This goes from Baldy Village to East Fork in Azusa Canyon, about an 18 mile trip through some beautiful country ( before it all burned ). One of my next rides should be either Azusa Canyon or Angeles Crest Hwy to check out the damage from the other end of where the rire was.

At any rate it was great to get out for a ride, finally, even though I didn't quite make 100 miles.

Start temp, 78°f
Coldest.       66°f
Home.          70°f

Distance.    99.5 miles

Some pics

[Terry in Australia]

Beautiful pics guys, and good to see you’re doing some rides. Those fires in CA were scary, are they still burning? I was watching all the Canadian and Mexican fire fighters there and was glad that they took the time to help.

[jgger]

The fires are out for now, the mud slides will be next if we get much rain. We were fortunate that the weather changed after the wind slowed down. Got 2 or 3 days of rain, then drizzle,  then fog, then more light rain. Not enough water to cause problems, but enough to quench the fires. A little ash and debris causing Santa Monica beaches to be closed............for cleaning and repairs. A friend of ours lost his house in Pacific Palisades,  so that sucks.

[lash]

Doesn’t look like I will get my first ride of 25 in the near future! Also adding to the frustration is now we have all the snow I could be out on the snowmobile, except I had a small chest surgery 3 weeks ago and knee surgery yesterday, so I am down for at least another 3 weeks. By that time it should be the messy part of spring for my salted gravel road. The motor gods seem to be all working against me!c

[Kelly E]

I don't know if I will get any rides in 25'. In 3 weeks I start targeted radiation infusion once every 6 weeks for 6 infusions. I'll be done around November. I might be able to get a few rides in the last couple of weeks between each infusion depending on how hard it hits me.
It sucks but if it works out I will get a few more years that I can ride.

[jgger]

Wow lash, a boob job and knee surgery in just 3 weeks. By the time all the white stuff is gone you can position yourself to be the high count rider.........again. Heal up fast.

Kelly, good luck with the treatments, I am praying that you kick cancers ass for good. If tou can get someone to cart you around in a side car I think it should count.

[denward17]

Good luck Kelly!