On October 7th, riders from Two Wheel Forum, Wide Open Sportbikes and Detroit Sportbikes.com got together for a good "almost" end of the season ride. The guys from WOS lead the train and boy do they have a good twisty route. We enjoyed some very nice twists and turns. Even better was the weather. The ride out to the meeting spot was a chilly, 40 degree freeway ride but after we got the ride started, the temps jumped into the 60's. The sun was on our side that day. We rode about 60 miles before it was time to stop for lunch which, well, was McDonalds. But it was food and I was starving having skipped breakfast that day. After lunch, some of the group split off and headed home, and some of us stayed to take a couple more laps around some of the twistier sections we visited earlier. Yes, I stayed to ride. It's not often enough I get to get out that way and ride like that. I was having fun behind a Honda Super Hawk. Man those are nice. 996 cc's of pure v-twin sex. If I wanted to even try to keep up with him out of a corner, I had to have my gear choice perfect, my rpm's up and my throttle on early. And I don't think he was trying that hard either. hehe. Was a blast, for sure.


























To make October even better, Jen and I got to take a ride together on my birthday. We had invited a couple other riders, but due to threatening weather, they thought better. We watched the weather closely and saw the huge pattern of rain covering our area, but we really wanted to do this together, so we were determined. The ride we had planned was a short one anyway. We decided on riding up to Lake Orion for lunch and see some of the changing colors on the way.

With no rain at the time, we aimed for Clinton River rd. Before we got there, a light rain started, but didn't last long, and that was the worst precipitation we would see. We followed Clinton River to Van Dyke. After a turn north, we quickly jogged over to Shelby rd., which angles nicely to 23 mile rd. One left and follow the sweepers to Dequinder in order to find Parkdale. Heading west on Parkdale is fun, since it is a somewhat curvy road, for being in the city and it is the best way to get to Rochester. Once in Rochester, we took a quick stop just to fill up the tank and I wanted to make sure the 42 degree temps weren't bothering Jen. With the colder weather and the drizzle that was in the air, I did worry about that.

With everything being good, we continued our northwest trek towards Lake Orion. From the gas station we headed up Rochester rd. for a shore mile or so until we came upon Orion rd. This was maybe the perfect road for the day. Traffic wasn't heavy at all, and the road just rolled along like a wave in the ocean. Some rare elevation changes for S.E. Michigan and just bending enough to make it fun with out scaring (I hope) a loving passenger. While they were wet, the colors were changing right on time for late October. Some golden yellow mixed with burning red all dripping like a fire refusing to be extinguished.

We arrived in downtown Lake Orion and found our destination spot to eat. C. J.'s it was. We arrived right around noon so seating was no problem. Found a nice spot in the corner where Jen could people watch, I could see the plasma (hey, it was sunday and it is football season), and we could really enjoy the atmosphere. I loved the bluesy music playing at the perfect volume. No, Jen didn't care for it of course, because it doesn't twang, but it was my birthday, right. LOL! Oh and I forgot to mention the XBOX at the table with some pinball for entertainment. Yes I whooped up on Jen, but she swears she let me win since it was "my birthday."

The food was very good. I had a sausage melt sandwich and Jen enjoyed one of her favorites, the patty melt. Throw in some crinkle fries and a lemonade and I was stuffed and ready to go. So we walked our lunch off a little and found a nice little gazebo and park area. That is of course where we found the banzai ducks. They came at us like we were the cattle and they were rounding us up. They were looking for food that we were disappointed to say, we didn't have.

After that, we hit the road back to home and to our kids. It was a great day that got finished with laziness, football, World Series baseball and cheesecake. Here are a couple of pics we got that I can share. You'll even get to see what a 31 year old gut looks like in leather. Sounds kinda kinky, doesn't it. :D

Yea, it's been a while. There have been some good rides and good times had, and I haven't shared a bit of it. I probably should be punished and maybe I have been. It sure seems when I let the blog slip, my life slips. When I neglect my story, my life reflects the same neglect. So I'll set some of it straight today.

First, I have that video from the day in September that I went down. I feel so much better about my riding and I think you can see it in the video. I feel smoother, and maybe even a little faster. It felt good doing that after hittin the dirt like I did. So check out this "Smokin" hot production. Scot from DSB on his '03 GSX-R1000 manning the camera and me on the little fizz.

Check it out!

At the end of September, Detroit Sportbikes revisited North Territorial for a group ride. We had a nice turn out, with the threat of rain in the air. No rider from the north side of town, Flint, Grand Blanc and such, chanced it though. They missed a great day of riding.

Even though it is a twisty route, with all the debris left from the previous nights rain, and the number of bikes, the pace was kept down. We made it well enough with only a minor incident along the way. The Fizzer and I were riding behind a guy on a Kawasaki ZX-11. That bike is a pig of a machine and it showed in some of the turns. One of the turns had some slippery debris on the outside of the lane. His front tire ran through it and with the weight of the bike working against him he slid right off the road. He did a great job of keeping all plastic and metal off the ground and proceeded to bury the front end in the mud. Which was fine, because even after he got off, it just stood straight up. That bike just refused to get scratched that day.


In the mud....






Outta the mud...





Most important, everyone made it to Wolverine Food & Spirits to enjoy the next best part of the group rides. Food and camaraderie. Here are some more pics from the day. You can see these and more here in the DSB Gallery.

The meeting spot. Still a bit wet...

Mid ride break...

Getting to Wolverine...

That last pic, the guy so happy is Scot. Smokin on the DSB forums. He's the audio/video guy that is patient enough to ride behind me and get me on video. But his patience is soon to be tested, because on October 10, he became a proud daddy to a little Smokin Jr., Bryce. Congrats to Scot and his family!

Some more good stuff from October to share, but I'll give that to ya another day, soon.

Ride on, ride safe, and ride hard. But just make sure you ride!

Wow, it's getting chilly outside. Actually gotten some riding in, too. Always a good thing. Jen managed her first DSB group ride. The August group ride was set to begin on Harsen's Island and follow the Lake St. Clair shore line back south to Hooters in Roseville. This is the same route that Jen and I take together, so it was a great opportunity for her to join us.

A group of us met for the ride up to the island right by our place. The sky was gloomy, but the rain wasn't falling. Could we be that lucky? Our mini convoy consisted of Jen and I, 4 or 5 other sportbikes, 2 Harleys, and Deanna (from an earlier post) on her little Honda. We took the fast track to the freeway and made our way north. The rain started to dribble some on our way up, but nothing too bad. With two stops for gas and other things on top of leaving our meet spot much later than planned, we ended up getting to the island at 1:00. Yes, DSB rides start at 12:30. With the group waiting for us, it was a fairly quick exchange of hellos then we were on our way.

We rolled around the island heading for the ferry. So far, the weather was still holding back for us which allowed 18-20 bikes to cruise comfortably while enjoying a little scenery. After crossing to the mainland, we headed south for an nice mostly uneventful ride home. Would have been even more enjoyable had the rain stayed away all day, but that would've made it too easy. Finally, DSB had a 2006 group ride in the wet. We really had been lucky up to that point. Bottom line, we got soaked. Visibility really started to suck and I was so happy to feel it lightening up. Then to see the Hooters sign come into view, oh so sweet!

Hooters was a fun time, as always, no matter how cold and wet we were. And the fact that we only had a 1/4 mile to get home after that, was extra special. Big respect to all the riders, and Jen for braving the conditions.

This past thursday, I was able to get out to play in the curvy stuff. Met Scot, from the DSB forum, down in Saline where he would lead us to the twisty pavement. We found our way onto Case road, which is a fun road. Then headed over around Clark Lake. This is where the story takes a little turn.

I managed to blow a tight right hander, thinking it was more of a sweeper. My entrance speed was higher than I am comfortable with in the twisty stuff. Instead of looking through the corner, hanging off the bike as far as I could and just lean till I made it through like I should have because the bike was capable of it, I instinctively squeezed the front whoa! lever. Yes, this is a no no when cornering. It stood me straight up. Instead of trying to lean again, I thought my best chance was just to slow as much as possible and shoot for the soft stuff. At least that's what happened anywyay.

I slowed alot. Was even suprised how long I kept it up while in the grass. But I did go down. I'll say this, I was all geared up and ready to go. I was fine, other than a little banged up fairing and tweaked brake lever, the bike was fine. Calm my nerves for the next couple of miles and make sure the bike was ok, and we were good to go. I even went ahead of Scot and let him record me hitting the curves on Case rd. a couple more times. Which I was really happy to be able to be comfortable doing right after taking a spill. Hopefully I'll have a link to the video of me riding after the mishap. A big positive is that I didn't get caught on camera doing my little off-roading trick. That would've sucked even more.

Well, here's to good times, good rides, and good people. Ride safe! But have fun doin' it.