Cold on the motor this morn

I once saw a rider ahead of me, catch a June bug in the forehead
(after it missed his windshield), and he nearly got knocked out. I
have a friend called "Rock", for a reason. It missed his windshield
and near cracked open his skull. A rock kicked up by a truck, hit my
windshield so hard that it sounded like a gunshot. I have had stuff
smash into my helmet so hard that it knocked my head backwards. Birds
have bounced off Joe's windshield, while he was riding with me.

The biggest insect I ever hit with my chest was a dragonfly at around
60 mph. I thought it was a bird at first. The most painful was a honeybee
in the neck at 35 mph. My girlfriend on the back pulled the stinger out
while we were on a straightaway. Rocks have never caught me above the
knee, but that's bad enough. I'm sure it would be lights out to catch one
on the noggin. I have ducked and missed many items and animals flying
through the air at me without a windshield as I'm sure all riders have. I
would have one for sure if I rode more long rides or rode in colder
climates.
Here in Houston it never gets too cold to ride without a windshield.

 

Yep. Road Glide, for one. Tends to have a bit of an updraft, coming
from under the fairing. When stopped after an hour or two on the
highway, I have to scratch my nose for several minutes, it gets so
itchy.

Of course, I could just get my moustache trimmed more often...

 

I guess no discussion of windshields, bugs and such is complete for me
until I post this picture:

http://pmilligan.net/RoadGlide/RainbowLake/pics/IMG_2046.JPG

That was taken during a 750 mile day trip up to northern Alberta, late
in the season (explaining the balaclava - it was frickin' cold!). The
rest of that story is at http://xidos.ca/Bikes/RainbowLake .

I agree with you about the extra strain on a long day, riding without
a windshield. I don't find it to be a show-stopper though -
especially if I put a t-bag or something on the passenger seat and
lean back into it. But I definitely appreciate the Road Glide more
for long trips. It's nice to have 2 bikes, each for different
purposes.

 

Yep. Road Glide, for one. Tends to have a bit of an updraft, coming
from under the fairing. When stopped after an hour or two on the
highway, I have to scratch my nose for several minutes, it gets so
itchy.

Of course, I could just get my moustache trimmed more often...

....but then the beard would fly up in there. Can't win I guess.

 

I guess no discussion of windshields, bugs and such is complete for me
until I post this picture:

http://pmilligan.net/RoadGlide/RainbowLake/pics/IMG_2046.JPG

That was taken during a 750 mile day trip up to northern Alberta, late
in the season (explaining the balaclava - it was frickin' cold!). The
rest of that story is at http://xidos.ca/Bikes/RainbowLake .

--------

Looks like you ran into a ton o' bugs. I guess there was no windshield
on that trip. Them buggers can be hell to get off glasses too.

OT... why is it OE sometimes puts the > symbol ahead of existing
messages when replying and sometimes not? It can make for some
confusion attributing remarks to the correct party. My settings have
the checkbox checked to put the > on the existing lines.

 

I've unchecked the "reply to messages in the format in which they were sent"
as a test for consistancy with the > insert. Worked on this reply.

 

Not that I've noticed, since my jacket has a zipper with a flap over
it that buttons down. Usually if something flaps, it's painful. I
had one jacket with a collar that flapped so hard on my neck, I looked
like I had a hickey. I don't have that jacket any more.
While we are on the subject, riding my own bike gives me pleasure
enough. It's the freedom and joy of riding.
If I ride behind Joe, I'm usually petrified with fear, or I fall
asleep and our helmet knock together. There's sex for ya. ;-)

 

More birds have hit Joe's bike more than any rider I know. I don't
know what the deal is. And usually they go sailing after impact and I
have to duck and/or dodge them, while riding a couple of lengths
behind him.
I can relate both the dragonfly and the bee. I had one dragonfly slam
into my bare arm at 70 mph and it literally knocked my right arm off
the handlebar.
Then once before I got smart and started wearing a helmet all the
time, a wasp smacked me in the forehead, as I was making a sharp left
curve, while going up Kimberlain mountain at PK. Wouldn't have been
so bad but there's one hell of a drop off to the right and I was
really leaning into the turn (scraping pegs), while doing about 25
over the posted limit. I made it but I was shaking by the time I got
to the top of the mountain.

Biggest thing I ever had to contend with, was a deer. I still have
the scars and a 3" titanium screw in my leg bone, to prove it.

Yeah, usually nice weather but the traffic is awful.

 

And yet you can still smile about it.

Awh, it's just nice to have 2 bikes. Did you get that RG fixed?

 

Biggest thing I ever had to contend with, was a deer. I still have
the scars and a 3" titanium screw in my leg bone, to prove it.

Yeah, usually nice weather but the traffic is awful.

-----

Not many deer around here to contend with. I understand there were
more deer incidents in Texas over the last few years than any other
state. Often they result in a human fatality. Glad to hear you beat the
odds though I'm sure at a painful cost. Traffic on my commute is not
bad usually. Bad weather and accidents can make for much longer
commutes but luckily are not that common.

 

Thanks.
You can read about my deer encounter (and Joe's) here, if interested:
http://rogue-rider.blogspot.com/ Look under the title: "Run Away,
Deer".

Yes, deer are really a problem here in Texas, especially in the hill
country area which stretched from the north around Olney, to past San
Antonio in the south. I've lost some good friends to deer vs
motorcycle accidents. Nearly lost a few more. That's one reason I
don't ride at night any more, even though it was daylight when that
deer hit me.

I guess it probably depends on the area and time of day/night. One of
the worst places I have ever ridden, is San Antonio.

 

Thanks.
You can read about my deer encounter (and Joe's) here, if interested:
http://rogue-rider.blogspot.com/ Look under the title: "Run Away,
Deer".

Yes, deer are really a problem here in Texas, especially in the hill
country area which stretched from the north around Olney, to past San
Antonio in the south. I've lost some good friends to deer vs
motorcycle accidents. Nearly lost a few more. That's one reason I
don't ride at night any more, even though it was daylight when that
deer hit me.

I guess it probably depends on the area and time of day/night. One of
the worst places I have ever ridden, is San Antonio.

-----

That deer hit you hard enough to break your leg and you still kept
control. That is the sign of an experienced rider. Congrats! Seems safer
in city traffic. At least cagers are somewhat predictable.
I don't know why my replies aren't adding > before the original message
so I'm using ----- to mark the end of the original post.

 

Yeah. Lots of spit and wiping!

Sometimes (as now) I have to post from Google Groups. I've heard that
Google inserts some characters in its posts that cause OE to screw
up. That's probably what's going on.

 

Since the riding season is nearly over and I'll need a hobby for the
winter, I'm proceeding reeeeeeeal slowly, so I don't get done before
Spring.

If I really set myself to it, I could be riding it again by the
weekend, but I'll give the entire bike a thorough going-over since I
have the time. Then the Sporty and then the Street Bob too.

I don't know how you Southerners manage, not having each winter free
to fix/maintain your rides!

 

Yeah. Lots of spit and wiping!

Sometimes (as now) I have to post from Google Groups. I've heard that
Google inserts some characters in its posts that cause OE to screw
up. That's probably what's going on.

 

That's what it's come down to, after over 30 years, huh? <g>

 

It happens with Thunderbird too. I notice it mostly with Bjay's posts.
Dunno how that webtv apparatus formats things, but it's interesting to
sort out sometimes.

 

Almost got taken out by a flock of those stupid field birds coming back
from college station once, and cranes seem to like to fly along side me.

Took one of those big ass tobacco chewing grasshoppers right between the
knuckles of my pinky and ring fingers. Stung a little, made a helluva mess.

In the summer, it's hot.

 

Yeah, not surprised to hear that. I think the problem is pretty much
restricted to OE.

 

Thanks, my studying and practice paid off on that one.
As for cagers, about the only thing predictable about them is that
they ARE unpredictable.

That'll work. Maybe it's google that's screwing things up...