Lysistrata back on the road
February 12, 2007

Well, I haven't posted much in the last month or so cause I realized that it's unlikely anyone but me (of the people likely to read this, that is) understands much of my chess posts, and as such, I found myself uninterested in writing constantly about something that nobody else might even be a little interested in. So, time for a change of subject.

The battery on my bike died a few weeks back. I had just finally taken it out to ride after all the snow we've had this year, and accidentally put my fork locks in the position that activates my taillights. Why there is such a position escapes me entirely, but when I ride regularly I remember to make sure the tail light isn't on. My several week snow-forced hiatus from riding was largely responsible. The taillight was on for about 7 hours, and the battery didn't have enough charge to start the engine thereafter. I tried the next day--then for the next week, almost daily, just in case it suddenly got it in its cells to have a wee bit more charge. No luck.

So last week I went and bought a battery charger. Dangerous, scary things, battery chargers, but I managed to reinvigorate my battery without blowing myself up or splashing myself with corrosive liquids. I immediately took it out for a short ride whereupon the usual jackassery of other motorists took on a new dimension as I was almost run over a median at 45mph by a lane-changing jackass who didn't even have the courtesy to look startled as I smashed and held my horn button. The accident was averted, no thanks to the other party, but my desire to ride that day had passed.

Today I took her out and had no near-death experiences. I mention this because it is very significant. Most places in the US are dangerous to be on a motorcycle, but Colorado has more than its share of distracted and/or blind drivers, so every time I ride out of my parking lot, I have to dodge vehicles. In fact, Colorado has the worst driving population I've seen in the many states I have visited and lived in. Why I choose to ride here, I'm not sure, but it's clearly a suicidal tendency.

At any rate, today there were no near-misses, no SUV driving soccer moms yakking away on their cell phone while cutting across multiple lanes of traffic to murder me. Nothing. It was a peaceful, if cold, ride. Delicious.


There are 2 Comments for Lysistrata back on the road

Try two months of no posts, buddy. I keep checking in and looking at your header and the corresponding posts and thinking "Motorcycles: check. Chess: check. Life: well, maybe he'll write about that soon..." Nice post, though. I look forward to reading the April installment. As to the worst drivers, I seem to recall someone being in my car in downtown Chicago, clutching at the door frame and turning green. And I was only driving like that to fit in. I get my payback for that sort of driving whenever I get on my bicycle in the city. I have to dodge things all the time, as well as keeping an eye out for the opening of the doors on a parked car, and all sorts of other hazardous goodies. I've been hit or sideswiped many times at this point. And don't even get me started about cell phone drivers... Anyway, glad you're back on the blog and that you had a nice ride.
from Moon Topples about 1 year ago
I've been checking regularly, too. So, it was nice to see something new. I seem to recall the worst drivers in Colorado are all those darned California and Texas transplants, not Coloradans or us mild mannered Midwesterners. Glad the bike is back in commission. I'm jealous you have weather nice enough for a ride...it's going to get all the way up to 17 today.
from eljay about 1 year ago

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