Monthly Archives: January 2009
January 23, 2009
Audio mixer
Using some plans posted on the FJR Forum, I built an audio mixer using some parts from Radio Shack. The mixer uses resistors to allow two audio input to mix into a single audio output.
I ran cables under the tank and seat, from both my Zumo mount and from the right side of handlebar where my V-1 mounts. A small coiled M-F audio cable attaches to the output jack of the mixer, and pokes out a few inches between the seat and the tank. I run my headphone cord inside my jacket, and plug in to the female jack down by the tank. There's plenty of slack, so I can stand on the pegs without a problem.
January 13, 2009
SPOT Satellite Messanger
With no shortage of hints, my wonderful wife Carole got me a SPOT Satellite Messenger for Christmas. I used the Fire Eagle discount code to get a free year of full service, including tracking.
My personal SPOT shared page is here.
January 11, 2009
The Bu
It was such a nice day, I had to go for a ride. I told Carole I'd be back around 10:30am with breakfast burritos from Lucky Boys in Pasadena - one of her favorite breakfasts.
It started out a little cold, so I put on my Widder, but by the time I got the Santa Monica I had turned it almost all the way down. I did not have my V-1, and there were lots of LEOs on PCH, so I could only go a little above the posted limit. A lot of other riders had the same idea, and the weather in Malibu was fantastic.
I turned north at Las Posas, and realized I was cutting the schedule close - Lucky Boys makes breakfast late on the weekends, but I thought 11am was my limit. I pushed things a little, and made up some good time, but construction at the 101 and 405 slowed me down a lot - even with some judicious lane sharing.
The high speeds also cut into my gas mileage so much that I had to stop for gas. I got off the 134 at Cahuenga, and called Carole while I pumped, telling her to phone in the order to Lucky Boys. I got there at 11:08, and they were just packing up the order, so it was still nice and hot when I got home.
I made sure to show Justin when I took off my Widder, so he could mock me about being cold.
January 4, 2009
A little ride for the new year...
A combination of work, refereeing, illness, and a knee injury has kept me off the bike almost totally for about five weeks now. I had hoped to get in a bunch of riding over the holiday break, but my deep chest cold was so bad they even sent me home from apheresis. My SPOT has been sitting on my mantle since Christmas day waiting for its initiation.
I've been feeling better the last couple of days, so when the day dawned cool and sunny, I decided to hit the road. I didn't want anything long or too technical — just a nice ride for about an hour or so. Justin has been teasing me about not riding, so of course I asked him to join me.
We did a quick little tour: up the 210 to the 118, down the 5, back on the 134/210. About 58 miles, about 50 minutes. I was a little too cold for my recuperating sinuses, but I managed to make it home in one piece.
I had the SPOT mounted horizontally, and a few of the waypoints didn't make it to the share map. I'm going to try it vertically next time, which should help according to the user's manual.