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I took a ride the other day. Just wanted a little space to clear my mind. It was going to be quite hot in the flatlands, so I decided to head up to Big Bear, maybe catch a drink at Chad’s Place.

The ride started out simple enough, but as I made my way up to the foothills, my mind started to wander.

Roll on throttle…

Panman and I had lunch the other day at the Menace Sports Grill and Bar, and I spent a little time talking to Loren Minnis, owner of Menace Motorcycles. Loren is an old school builder, and being a long time FLH rider our conversation quickly turned to ride-ability.

Loren is funny, and he told us about a bobber that he had built that was great on the local roads. “Man, I could pull a wheelie all the way down the block.” Turns out he had entered the bike into a custom bike contest some 60 miles away. Without further ado, he saddled up the new bobber while his wife rode her Streetglide, and they hit the Southern California Freeways.

Loren says it was the damnedest thing. As he is trying to ride down the freeway, the lurch from the 103 motor compresses the saddle seat and pushes him back, and his feet no longer reach the pegs. He has to turn down the throttle in order to bring the seat back up and allow his legs to reach the pegs again. Then when he turns the throttle, once again the seat compresses and he can’t reach the foot pegs.

” I was holding on with white knuckles jerking back and forth on the throttle, and my wife kept looking at me wondering what the hell I was doing.”

Then he told me the funniest thing I think I’ve heard. “It was like riding a stallion with a hard on!” The vision of that just cracks me up.

Temperature is starting to cool as I start my run up the mountain. This is nice.

Roll on throttle…

I think I just about have my kit together for Sturgis. Looks like I am running Lone Wolf. That’s cool. I’m not afraid of the dark, and it seems I ride alone alot anyway. This is going to be a good trip. I just hope I haven’t structured my schedule to tight. Plenty of things I want to see, and people I told I will meet. Oh well, it will work out just fine. If not, I’ll just ride.

The road is starting to wind more as I make my way up the mountain. I love twistys! And although still warm, this is decidedly cooler than down the hill.

Roll on throttle…

I received the TCB Braking System from Mark Lipski. Next weekend Panman and I will put together a head to head test on the system vis-a-vis two ’08 Ultra’s, one with ABS brakes. I have a pretty good idea how I am going to set up the test. I just hope that I can get good film for a youtube video. Should make a good story.

There are the campgrounds, and the air feels really nice now. Going to be a bitch when I ride back down the hill. Maybe I should just stay up here! Yeah, like that is going to happen.

Roll on throttle…

We started a new section on the website titled “Women Riders”. Maybe a little premature, we haven’t yet locked down a woman editor. How’s that for planning? Got a lot of promises, but so far not much in commitments. Maybe I should put out a request on Twitter? Hmm, that’s something to think about. Oh yeah, that’s all I’ve been doing on this ride!

Approaching the town turn off now. Chad’s Place is just on the other side of the lake from here. Good, I need a beer!

Roll on throttle…

I’m going to stop by in Denver on my way to Sturgis and see my old friend Randy (EZ). EZ and I rode together in the late ’70′s. We had a lot of fun together. Then I joined the Navy and we just kind of drifted apart. We haven’t seen each other in going on 30 years now. It is going to be great to get together for a few hours and spill a beer. Man, I am really looking forward to this trip.

There we are, Chad’s Place is just up the street. With all this junk rolling around in my head, I really am going to need that beer. I hope I can pay better attention on the way down the hill!

Roll on throttle…

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