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7.52 Miles

Here’s a prime illustration of how much, or little, I’ve ridden my motorcycle over the past few months since moving to San Francisco: 

Last November 1, on the one-year anniversary of my moto ownership, my odometer read 18,103.  Yesterday, on our Homoto ride down Hwy 1 and through Woodside, 133 days later, my odometer passed 19,103.  Simply put, it’s taken me nearly four and a half months to ride 1000 miles!  This equates to a whopping 7.52 miles per day.

Of consistent yet short-range use of late.

It’s not that my big red two-wheeled machine goes neglected; I’m on it regularly.  Except for a couple of weekend excursions and one round trip to Sacramento, however, the bulk of my moto use has been in and around San Francisco itself.  While a motorcycle is an enjoyable and practical way to navigate the city, naturally the mileage does not accumulate.  This is a far cry from last spring in Los Angeles, when I logged 3,000 miles in six weeks!

Nonetheless, yesterday’s approximately 100-mile journey was some good exercise, for my engine rather than my body, that is!  It’s always enjoyable to get out on the scenic roads, at least until the rain starts coming down!  Riding north on Hwy 280 in a downpour was the less-than-enjoyable part of the day.  Fortunately, the hearty burger and fries at Sullivan’s gave me the energy to deal with it and get back to the city in one piece.

Now, with spring upon is, let’s see how long it takes to log the next 1000.  Thanks the today’s ongoing rain and overall wetness, it looks like the next 7.52 will have to wait.

 
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Posted by on March 14, 2011 in Motorcycle, Restaurants

 

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At The Speed of Cold

36 and 188.  These are my mileage totals on two wheels this past weekend, for bicycle and motorcycle, respectively.  When I’ve said it really doesn’t feel all that cold here in the Bay Area, I amend this now to say it might not seem so when walking or standing still.  When moving at 30 mph on a bicycle, it’s another story.  Up this to 80 mph on a motorcycle, and, well, let’s just say the story turns downright frigid.

The Tiberon Loop: 36 miles total from The Presidio

The “Tiberon Loop” is a popular, somewhat challenging and not-too-far-away route for cyclists in need of a quick jaunt out of the city.  I’m happy to have rediscovered it on Saturday, after having ridden it several years ago.  For a total of 36 miles from The Presidio, it’s a decent workout of relatively short distance.

Mines Road, heading southwest from Livermore, spans far greater distance.  This is certainly an excursion for which, despite seeing one cyclist, I recommend throttle over pedal.  Yesterday was the first Homoto Motorcycle Club ride of 2011, and it was by far, for me, the coldest motorcycling I have done to date.  With gloves inside of more gloves, my hands seemed to remain painfully frozen.  And at highway speeds once we were out of the twisty canyons, moments came and went in which my entire body quivered.

Nevertheless, Sunday was clear and sunny, unlike the fogged-in grayness of Saturday.  It was terrific to finally get out once again for a long, scenic, albeit freezing motorcycle ride after such little throttle activity in the past month.  As I wrote after our December group ride to Dillon Beach, there’s such a wonderful variety of country roads to explore so close to San Francisco, providing the momentary feeling of being somewhere far away.  This time, amid cliffs and rolling green hills, I saw images of England, Scotland and France.  Perhaps the extremely narrow, winding, varyingly paved road we were on had something to do with it, in addition to the breathtaking scenery.

188 miles of motorcycling make for a satisfying day, no matter the temperature or terrain.  Thankfully, and unusually, I rode my motorcycle every day of last week, though just within the city.  Yesterday was “for real.”  And seeing as I’ve now logged a mere 500 motorcycle miles since November 1, rides like this one are obviously few and far between.  As such, they’re a welcome event when they happen.

By pedal and by throttle, winter temperatures drove the weekend.  I definitely know a little more today about traveling “at the speed of cold.”

A welcome yet frigid day on the motorcycle!

 
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Posted by on January 10, 2011 in Cycling, Motorcycle, Transportation

 

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