Ride to Winthrop

Ok, I am starting to feel like I really like to abuse myself. I was, until this summer a casual rider but this summer is different, I've put very close to 1,000 miles on my trike in the last 10 days. My husband says, "hey baby, let's go on the Sun Mountain Lodge lunch ride." I wasn't too sure, we had come through there last week and it seemed like it was a long ways from home. Well, I was right, 360 miles round trip FOR LUNCH. To add to the enjoyment it rained on and off all the way home then after we got close to the freeway it started to rain in earnest so the run home on the freeway was shortest but also the wettest. Now, don't get me wrong, the other folks we went with are all friends and it was a fun ride, but I'm realizing my butt can't take over about 300 miles in a day. Not to mention the lunch could best be called adequate for a gourmet price. Oh well, our fearless road captain tried, you cannot control restaurants unfortunately and I doubt they will benefit from our patronage again.

Ride to Republic and boy was it hot.

Well, spent the fourth of July weekend on the road. Went on a group ride with the HOG group to Republic, WA. Over 300 miles in one day and once we reached Eastern Washington the temperatures began to rise. This was my first long trip on the new trike and she performed beyond my expectations. Fast, powerful, comfortable and more. Everything Harley promised. I kept my spot at the back of a group of 20+ bikes, for those of you who have ridden in the back like that it's a bit like being part of a slinky, group is tight, loose, tight. The speeds varied from 60 or so to 80 plus to keep the group a reasonable length. At one point out in the flats I passed a truck and glanced down at the speedometer, I was doing nearly 90mph. I was hoping for a road trip that would test the trikes limits and I think I very nearly did. Lots of twisty, turns and I didn't get tired or feel like I was fighting the trike through the corners, and we were taking them at the upper edge of sensible for the situation. I contemplated why those who have ridden a two wheeler for years sometimes struggle with cornering, well cornering on a trike is very different from a bike and I suspect they waste time trying to ride like it's a bike.
Loads of fun and I am looking forward to going straight back over to Eastern Washington this Sunday on a lunch ride. By the way, pulling passes, no problem, one of the passes on the way over is 4800 feet, no issues there. All in all my trike is definitely proving she is also a touring bike with a vengeance.

Cold Weather and repairs

Living in the Pacific Northwest definitely has it's drawbacks. The weather has not been conducive to riding unless you are hardcore, put on all the gear and go. Well, by the time I resemble the goodyear tire guy, I can't really have fun. So, sunny days, jump on and ride, it can be pretty chilly but I draw the line at ice on the road, and it is cold and icy most mornings when I leave for work.
Repairs, just a couple of minor ones, the little knob on top of my parking brake came off, turns out it is a tension adjuster for the parking brake, not sure why it needs to be adjustable, but there it is, so for the moment the brake is resting on the passenger footrest. The trunk fix recall is going to get done at the same time,so no more leaks either.
Being an early adopter of a new product is always a challenge, but also lots of fun as folks say pretty much wherever you go, "it's very pretty but what kind of bike is that" when I tell them it isn't a conversion and is a dream to ride, they get very interested.