Monthly Archives: October 2006
October 31, 2006
Motovation sliders
Yamaha FJR1300 Street NO CUT Frame Sliders 03-05
October 27, 2006
HJC CL-15 Orbit helmet
October 19, 2006
Trip checklists
Here's a Zip archive with ODT and PDF versions of my packing checklists, with sections for general trips, camping trips, etc.
- October 19, 2006
- Broke out details of various kits onto second page
- October 7, 2006
- Expanded to two pages
- Detailed list for first aid packs, first aid kit, organizer
- September 27, 2006 - v62
- August 1, 2006
- major restructuring based on WFO-5 experience
- removed CLOTHING group
- added meds, mouthwash, q-tips to PERSONAL CARE
- added many items to TANK BAG
- added items and reorganized RIDING GEAR
- group heading check boxes now usable
- .doc version removed from archive
- Added revision number and modified date to footer
- July 24, 2006
- added case to bike cover entry
- added sunglasses to TANK BAG
- added CamelBak and snacks to GEAR
- added trash bag to Sahara vest
- added cable ties to TIRE KIT
- Zip now contains .odt, .doc, and .pdf
- July 19, 2006
- added bike cover to GEAR
- removed MISCELLANEOUS from bottom left
- expanded GEAR and CLOTHES
- July 13, 2006
- added eye drops and sunscreen to tank bag
- moved FOOD from its own section to the end of the camping section
- renamed old FOOD main section as MISCELLANEOUS, filled with only lined entries
- June 6, 2006
- Original list
October 12, 2006
Flat tire
I had to be in my company's Santa Ana office at 8:00am for an all-day group meeting, which went better than I expected. On the way home, I was pushing to make it home in time to take Carole to LAX for her trip to Spokane. Carole was flying with Debbie to visit Cindy, who's been in the hospital for a few weeks.
On the way home from the Santa Ana office, I like to take the 5 to the 91 to the 605, to maximize my time in the carpool lanes. I was on the 91 when the bike started wobbling - classic symptoms of a flat tire. I left the carpool lane over the double-double yellows to make the first exit, at Valley View, and stopped at a gas station just north of the freeway on the southeast corner of Orangethorpe.
Sure enough, the rear tire was half-way down. I phoned home to let everyone know my situation, then assessed the situation. I have a tire repair kit, but I normally only pack it on long trips, so it wasn't with me today. I asked the mechanic working in the gas station's service bay if he knew where I could buy a plug kit, and he generously offered to let me use his plugs and tools. He even hooked up a long compressor hose for me to use. Very cool.
I filled the tire with air to locate the leak, and found a nice 1/4" cut dead center. I used the first tool to clean out and expand the hole — it was built for work on car tires, which made it especially easy to use. I peeled a plug off the card, and threaded it into the insertion tool. It went into the hole just right.
I left the tails dangling, filled up the tire again, and waited a few minutes to make sure the air pressure would hold. I went back to the mechanic to ask for a tool to clip off the tails, and he offered a set of wire cutters — not what I would have chosen to lend out for the job, but it did make quick work of the job.
I returned all the tools to their original location, put the plug card back into its box, and put the left side bag back onto the bike. Cleanup was limited to dipping my hand in gas station's window washing bucket.
Everything held for the remaining trip home, but I missed Carole by about 20 minutes. My son Justin wound up taking her to the airport.
October 7, 2006
Widder electric vest and gloves
I ditched work a little early for a ride out to Widder in Ojai to pick up an electric heated vest, and maybe some gloves.
The ride to Ojai was uneventful - a stretch of bad traffic on the 101 by the 23 slowed me down, but otherwise it was okay. Pat Widder picked out the right size for me straigtaway, and I went with the BMW-style thermostat harness, to go with my new Powerlet. I tried on a pair of medium-size gloves, and they fit just right - just a little snug.
Afterwards, I rode to the Chart House in Malibu for a nice sunset dinner with Carole. The full moon was rising as we left for the drive home.
Things I need and/or want - general
- Challenger Series Isolation Ear Phones
- Custom earplugs
- Russell Day-Long Seat: S3 solo, leather insert, heavy-weight suspension, one-day ride-in service, coated nylon rain cover.
- Grips
- Grip heaters
- Datel voltmeter. Received; to be installed.
- Exhaust heel guard
- SpeedoHealer - (specs)
- SmarTire - remote tire pressure system (Toecutter swears by it)