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Comment by Crash on August 23, 2011 at 2:00pm

Rain = mud! Nothing better than a good thunderstorm on the trail. This shot taken in the laurentians after a sudden deluge.

Comment by Richard Lilley on September 8, 2010 at 10:55pm

Just thinking about Al's first ride too.
Reminded me of my first solo ride.
Worked all summer (up in Hudson's Bay as helper on my Dad's Norseman, he was a bush pilot) and bought myself a brand new British bike in the fall, a James 150, two stroke, dark grey.
You had to wait until it was almost empty so you could fill the tube attached to the gas cap with oil, and dump into the tank when you filled up.
Otherwise you didn't get the mixture right.
My dad had been telling me how the gearshift worked, and all the controls etc., but I hadn't ridden it yet, had no licence, (I was only fifteen at the time).
One Sunday morning with dad driving and me on the back, we went into the country, and found a pretty much deserted old farm with a twin track gravel lane way.
My dad stopped the bike, got off, and sat down in the grass on the bank at the side of the lane way and said" OK, ride it.
Hoo Boy! Was that a fearful moment!
Anyway I got on, put it in neutral, and pulled in the clutch to be safe just as dad had showed me, and kicked it into life..
He nodded and I popped it into first gear, slowly let the clutch out and gave it some gas. What a sensation of unbridled power, and the freedom ahead. I could smell it!
Tried the brakes a few times, to be sure I could stop if I needed to, and flew down the lane in first gear, probably doing a good 15-20 MPH.
EXCITING!!
Got stopped and turned around and repeated this a few times, got braver and tried second gear.
Wind in the face-wonderful!
Geared down, then back up, then back down, I was starting to get the hang of it!
This lane way wasn't conducive to the safe use of third gear speeds however so I didn't chance that just yet.
That fall, and most of next spring, I did a lot of riding in Hydro right of way fields, waiting for my 16th birthday in May so I get my beginners licence and take her out on the roads legally.
Had a lot of fun that summer, took a lot spills due to inexperience, but never got seriously hurt.
Eventually moved up to an AJS 650 twin, that drank real high test gas and went like a rocket.
Rode that for several seasons until a lady shopper took me out at plaza I was passing on Markham road.
That was a serious accident, still have a trick back because of it.
Rode a few dirt bikes up at the cottage for a while, but stayed off the road bikes, then our family started to materialize and I thought I better give up all that foolishness, because I had mouths to feed etc.
Well, the the family is all grown up now, and I'm back at it again, riding my Burgman 650 twin.
Loved all my rides, but the thrill of that first ride will never be forgotten as long as I live. Or the way my dad taught me to fly (or crash),on my own.

Comment by Rob on September 8, 2010 at 9:40pm

Great story AL. Takes a brave man to tell a tale like that.
BTW .. how long did it take to get the diesel smell out of your beard? LOL

Comment by Richard Lilley on September 7, 2010 at 11:03am

The driver probably didn't even have his helmet done up would be my guess. I've seen plenty of that foolishness.
Riding around with his straps hanging loose, both on bicycles and motorcycles.
If he was lackadaisical enough to allow his passenger onto the bike with no helmet..., what does that tell you about his regard for the rules and laws and safety.

Comment by Rob on September 6, 2010 at 1:57pm

From yesterday, one with no helmet and one with a helmet that came off in the spill:
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/cbc/100906/canada/canada_saskatchewan_sa...

Comment by Rob on September 2, 2010 at 3:56pm

The riders that crack me up are the ones all dressed in protective gear but wearing a tiny brain-bucket on the back of their heads. Goodbye to chins, faces, ears and foreheads if they're lucky and the thing stays on in a crash.

Comment by Richard Lilley on August 24, 2010 at 4:41pm

Dress for crash, not the ride.
There is a reason they're call "accidents".
It's because you didn't plan on doing it.
I hear skin grafting is mage painful!

Comment by Judy Lynn on August 23, 2010 at 8:17pm

Just wonder how many of us wear the proper clothing when riding? I see a lot of people out there wearing t's shorts and sneakers, even sandles, not what I call safe gear. Yet there are some people that like to make fun of you if you wear all the proper gear. Well I say to bad for them as I plan to protect myself the best I can.

Comment by Richard Lilley on July 11, 2010 at 11:35pm

No place for your knees to grab.
You get used to it, you just sort of squeeze the "hump" where the engine is with your feet, use the push steering technique, and lean into it.
Keeping an eye out for loose gravel, sand, diesel oil spills, road kill etc., of course.
Hate wearing polarized sunglasses on the bike.
They take the shine out of oil slicks, makes them hard to spot.
But I don't even think about the tank not being there to squeeze now.
Been riding the Burg for 5 years.

Comment by Rob on July 11, 2010 at 12:13pm

Is there someplace for your knees to grab?
Loose sand is my nightmare too.

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