Warm Up 2018

Its almost officially spring in the Central Valley. The temperature is coming up, the sheep are getting shorn, and motorcyclists are coming out of hibernation.

Not me of course, I rode all winter thanks for Pilot Road 4 tires on my VFR, and a Joe Rocket Survivor suit.

But I digress. *Other* riders are coming out of hibernation. Just like every other year there's the safety Nazis making posts that nobody will heed about taking it easy because the roads aren't clear and you haven't kept your skills sharp all winter. Just a thought, they might get more attention paid to them if they reached out to the squids and crotch rocketeers instead of vilifying them. I'm no safety Nazi, but I do appreciate the consequences for my actions (tickets, crashing, etc) and take steps to mitigate the damage (see yellow dork suit above).

The first real group ride of the season last week was pretty cool, if short. Six riders showed up for it. It was invite only so we had a small but skilled group, all ATGATTing, and all riding fast well-kept machines. Our intent was to go check out the hills and see how the roads are; to take it easy because we don't know the conditions out there. Well if you read my "Lies Motorcyclists Tell" story you probably know what happened next when six crotch rocketeers on top end machinery get out on the open road.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztXXB5r85QQ - SalemCBR's video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iO-tM6NiHcs - My video

Funny thing is that I was riding the smallest displacement bike out there. As Cutback would say though: "modern 600s are so god damned fast there's no difference on the road". Funny thing about group rides; plenty of people are willing to haul ass when they're following, few are willing to lead. I find myself in the lead occasionally and always start feeling super self conscious (am I going through this corner fast enough to satisfy the followers?).

This year I was due for new leathers. My four year old Sedici leathers are really showing their age (and price point). I decided to follow the crowd and plunk down some coin on a 1-piece from Comet Racing Leathers. Unlike the other guys (looking at you Native-D and SalemCBR) I wasn't willing to be a shill and become a brand ambassador, although I'm perfectly willing to use their discount code.

In case you can't tell I like to mock other YouTubers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SmgPo0Uz-k

Its been years since I wore a 1-piece (seriously, like 2011 my first onesie was a Frank Thomas) and I'd forgotten what its like. New leathers are stiff and hard to get into at first, then if they fit right they crunch your balls when you're standing, but fit like a second skin once you're in position on a supersport motorcycle.

The motorcycle gods approve of acts of charity so I'll probably hand down my Sedicis to a less fortunate squid. One could say that's part of my outreach work to turn squids into proper canyon-carving/trackday riding/ ATGATTing Crotch Rocketeers. For every one that I fail to bring the Gospel of Keith Code to, I will succeed with two others.