Category Archives: Rides

Ol’ Yeller to the rescue!!!

That’s right, the old beast came through on the year’s biggest ride!

I had the Repi all prepped and ready for this year’s Friendship Ride… lines bled, parts lubed, and even some old parts replaced… followed up by a good scrub and polish. Well, “the best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry”, and come Saturday morning the battery decided it was done. I guess nine years of starts was all it was able to take. Time was running out, didn’t know what to do. Should I continue on with the Repi, knowing that I would have to be push started after each stop and face the ridicule from all my battery tending friends? Oh, HELL NO!!!!

I quickly pulled the cover off Ol’ Yeller, dusted off the parts that were dusty. Wiped down all the gruff from the previous rides, checked the tire pressure and when I went to start it up… nothing. Damn, I had unplugged the tender to use for some other, at the time “necessary” electric device and forgot to plug it back in. No worries, I knew that the battery was good so with a quick jump from the wife’s car, we were on our way.

That’s right, no prep, no fancy new parts, no clean and polish, just wake up, shake the bugs off and go. I did require a little help on my first stop/start, but after the first leg Ol’ Yeller was starting and stopping like the best of them. Still had to endure a day of ridicule and jabs from the mob, but I held my head up high with the fact that my oldest, slowest, most outdated bike still took care of business. I just love this thing, and I’m probably the most comfortable on the bike after owning and riding it for the past 21 years.

Here’s to old friendships that never let you down.

Friendship Ride
http://friendshipride.com

Biker Friendly
http://bikerfriend.org

Fresno Flats Historic Village and Park
http://www.fresnoflatsmuseum.org

#FPRacingUSA #RaceTech #PenskeRacingShocks #GalferUSA #BridgestoneTires #DrivenRacing #D.I.D.MotorcycleChains #Vortex #MicronExhaust #MaximaRacingOils #TripageLED

Rides

Friendship Ride August 5, 2017

Friendship Ride August 5, 2017

It was a pretty small group this year, the usual suspects, some new riders and some friends I haven’t rode with in a long time. It was good to lead a small pack for a change as it seems I do get a little more stressed when I need to keep a large group together. It was nice to run our own pace and not worry too much about the schedule.

Fresno Flats Historic Village and Park seems to be everyone’s favorite place to finish the ride. Cool shade and a steady breeze kept us all pretty comfortable after our day. As usual, Becca from One Sweet Table had all the goods ready for eatin’. The BBQ pulled pork and chili beans, dogs, salads and fresh watermelon never disappoint. We were talking about maybe changing it up a bit next year, but you’ll just have to wait and see.  🙂

It’s not the number of riders that makes this ride so special to me, it’s spending time with friends, family and meeting new riders that share the same love for our awesome mountain roads.  Thank you all so much for sharing this with me.

Until next year my friends, ride safe.

Friendship Ride
http://friendshipride.com

Biker Friendly
http://bikerfriend.org

Fresno Flats Historic Village and Park
http://www.fresnoflatsmuseum.org

Rides

Friendship Ride 2016

Friendship Ride 2016
What a great day. Took another trip with an awesome group of riders this year. A bit smaller than what we are used to, but all good friends having a great time enjoying our awesome mountain roads. Wildfire smoke was at its lowest in years, traffic was smooth and flowing and the temperature was nearly perfect.

We ended the ride again this year at the Fresno Flats Historic Village and Park where Ian and Becca had ready some tasty BBQ pulled pork and chili beans. Michele and Skip got there early to set everything up and Michele also provided some awesome side dishes. Thanks to Elaine for providing the delicious chocolate chip cookies again this year, such a treat after a big ride and a big meal.

This ride never disappoints. What a great venue for spending the day with friends and family. Looking forward to years to come, riding with friends and remembering those that have left us too soon. Thank you to all those that have stood by me all these years. I could not do this without your help, you are truly appreciated.

Until next year my friends, ride safe.

Friendship Ride
http://friendshipride.com

Biker Friendly
http://bikerfriend.org

Fresno Flats Historic Village and Park
http://www.fresnoflatsmuseum.org

Rides

Seems like old times

Seems like old times
I needed to scrub in the new tires, so I took Ol’ Yeller out to some of its old stomping grounds. I can’t help but think, if it could smile, it would be from ear to ear. Can’t believe it’s been 17 years and 72,000+ miles since I brought it home. Many great adventures so far during our time together and hoping for many more to come.

#FPRacingUSA #RaceTech #PenskeRacingShocks #GalferUSA #BridgestoneTires #DrivenRacing #D.I.D.MotorcycleChains #Vortex #MicronExhaust #MaximaRacingOils #TripageLED

Rides

Friendship Ride 2015

Friendship Ride 2105
Wow, another great year. We were all treated to cooler than normal temperatures, however we did have to deal with another year of smoke due to the nearby Willow fire. Our path was speckled with burnt brush and tress along the roadside, left behind by the few large fires we’ve had this year. Our last stretch bringing us right by the still raging fire, the support teams and onlookers parked along the road.

We changed it up this year and ended the ride at the Fresno Flats Historical Park. Unfortunately, a few of us were witness to a little mishap (not one of ours thankfully) as we made our way back back into town, but we were able to collect all the riders and get them to the BBQ where we all enjoyed good food, cold drinks and great company. It was great to see such a big range of riders again this year, and I enjoyed checking out all the rides during the few stops we made.

Thanks again to Ian and Becca for the awesome BBQ, to Michele for getting there early and setting everything up, as well as providing a lot of awesome side dishes. Thanks to Elaine for the wonderful chocolate chip cookies which have became a favorite over the years. Thanks also to Randy, Seth, Alan and all the support riders that make this ride so special year after year, without you I’m sure we would have lost a few by now.

This ride marked ten years since we lost Mike. I’m thankful for our time together and for this ride that brings so many people together each year. It seems Friendship Ride has become more and more a memorial ride for others that have lost someone close to their heart. A venue to share their memories of those that they lost. It’s easy to forget the important things while we’re busy living our lives. Sometime we need to take a break, hold close the ones we love, and take the time to remember those we have lost so as they will not be forgotten.

Until next year my friends, ride safe.

Friendship Ride
http://friendshipride.com

Biker Friendly
http://bikerfriend.org

Rides
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