No, these are definitely not bicycle racers, but this is one of the very few photos I have of bicycles to illustrate this story about bicycle racing.
If you have the time and inclination on Saturday, August 7, your services as a motorcyclist are in need. Here’s an email Alan forwarded me.
For the last few years, I have worked various bike races with my motorcycle (moto), sometimes carrying a race official or photographer. The Moto organizer, Dale, is short 3 or 4 motos for the Boulder Ironman 70.3 on Saturday, Aug. 7.
The Ironman gives motos a wear & tear fee of $85 for working the race. In past years, we’ve gotten really cool shirts, too!
If you want more details, or are ready to say ‘Yes!’, please email me at ctoomer@comcast.net or call me at 720.219.1161.
Thank you,
Chris
Chris Toomer
Colorado District Ride Coordinator, CO GWRRA
Chapter Treasurer & Webmaster CO-J, Aurora, CO
ctoomer@comcast.net
This could be a fun and interesting thing to do. I did it once and it’s still a story I tell. One big difference between that race and this one is that it was cold then, and there was snow blowing as I led the racers down the road. That won’t be the case this time. Also, I was riding lead and this looks like they need bikers to carry passengers in their respective capacities.
So anyway, just throwing it out there. Helping get the word out.
Biker Quote for Today
Turning on your lights and siren after you lose a drag race is just poor sportsmanship.
This carburetor problem with the Concours has been going on too long now. I tried adding Lucas carb cleaner and that helped a lot, but not enough. I finally decided it was time for Joel to do whatever is needed to truly fix it.
It has turned out to be a bigger issue than Joel was expecting.
Joel tells me the wear on the bottom edges is causing problems.
About the time I was looking to get the bike back from him I got a series of texts instead. This photo is one of two he sent along.
In his text he said, “Some of the issues with the bike. These are the carb slides. Nearly half worn. It’s on all 4 carbs are the same.” (sic)
Me: OK. The bike has a few miles on it. No problem to fix I trust.
Joel: Would have to replace all 4.
Me: Is that doable in the next couple days?
Joel: It’s not something a dealer would stock. Might be able to get used ones from Steele’s salvage.
Me: Would those be good? Do they need to be replaced?
Joel: I’m trying to use them. Still stumbles between 1800 rpm and 2500 rpm. Runs fine other than that.
Me: So what are you recommending? I got a new rear tire on the V-Strom as insurance. I could take that on this trip.
Joel: They need to be replaced sooner or later. Not enough time to order a new set. Let me try a few more times and we will see tomorrow how it runs.
Me: OK. Keep me posted. Thanks.
So “tomorrow” came and went and I’m still waiting to hear from Joel at this moment. I’ll update this post as the situation develops.
UPDATE
OK, Joel says it will be OK, though it will need those slides replaced at some point. I’ll know for myself when I get back from this trip. And I guess I’ll be riding the Kawi.
Biker Quote for Today
I ain’t perfect but I can still ride a motorcycle. For an old man that’s close enough.
This chain has served me well but now needs to be replaced.
When I got a new tire on the V-Strom the guys at the shop told me the chain was pretty stretched and needed to be replaced. That was no surprise–I’ve had this particular chain for a long time–but it got me thinking. How in the heck does such a large mass of metal stretch? I mean, do the many individual pieces that make up a chain actually get longer?
I decided I would do some research.
One of the first things I encountered was a whole other question: Do new motorcycle chains stretch?
Heck, I wasn’t thinking at all about new chains, I was totally focused on older ones needing replacement. But apparently new chains do “stretch.” That is to say, when a chain is assembled, all the pieces are more or less in place but once they are on a bike and experiencing stress they all sort of fall into functional place and that can result in the chain being a little looser. It is recommended that you do an adjustment after the first several rides with a new chain. Then you should be set for quite a while.
But that’s not the same phenomenon as an old, worn chain.
In the case of an old chain, it turns out it really isn’t the individual pieces getting stretched so much as worn. A chain has all these links that are joined with pins. The pins are projecting through round holes in the links and they are what allows the chain to flex. What wears is the pins against the holes, so these initially round holes get rubbed away so that they are no longer completely round, but become elongated.
That enlarging of the holes effectively allows the entirety of the chain to become just a bit longer. Mind you, we’re talking only a fraction of an inch over the entire length of the chain but it is enough to make a difference. If you want a detailed explanation here’s a good video.
Now, I know the V-Strom needs a new chain and sprockets but I figured all along that would have to wait until after I get back from the upcoming OFMC trip. I hope that is not going to be any kind of problem because it’s looking more and more like I may be riding the V-Strom on the trip. I was hoping Joel would have the Concours ready in time but that is starting to look doubtful, although I’m still awaiting the final word from Joel. I’ll go into that issue in my next post.
Biker Quote for Today
My motorcycle had a small oil leak. And thanks to my lack of mechanical skills, it now has a giant oil leak.
Looking down from up high on Douglas Mountain Drive.
I mentioned this road on Monday and promised more info right away, so here we are: Douglas Mountain Drive. I was jazzed enough by this road that I went out a couple days later and rode it again, this time with my regular camera and my GoPro camera.
As before, I headed up Golden Gate Canyon Road. It was a great day to be out riding, with a lot of heat in the city but much cooler up higher. Plus, there was not a bit of traffic in front or behind me so I could cruise at my own easy speed.
I reached the well-marked turn to the left to go up Robinson Road and made the turn. A sign warned of road work ahead and there was, but just minor shoulder work and the flag man flipped his sign to send me right on up. All clear after that.
The road does enough serious climbing that I figured I would need to ride it in the other direction some time. You go on up and over a crest and then, what a surprise, you’re in an alpine park that is a neighborhood. Who knew so many people lived up here?
On through the park and I came to a place where Robinson Road goes off to the right but the pavement goes to the left, now becoming Douglas Mountain Drive. A “Pavement Ends” sign could lead you to believe the pavement would end soon but that must apply to Robinson Road, up ahead, which goes to gravel immediately. If you’re not paying careful attention you won’t notice the change and wonder about the sign.
Douglas Mountain Drive continues on over a ridge and then you come to another “Pavement Ends” sign. This one is for this road but it really ought to read “Pavement Maintenance Ends.” I suspect the county decided to cease maintaining this road but it will be years before it totally degrades. Right now it is paved all the way, though in need of some repair. Not a problem, you just steer around the potholes.
And then it goes down. And down and down, at steep angles with hairpin curves. And great views. And look at all the houses built on the steep sides of the hills!
I stopped right where the two roads split and that’s when I turned on the GoPro. You can watch the video of the whole ride down to where it hits Colorado 119, the Peak-to-Peak Highway, just past where US 6 goes left to head to Idaho Springs. A nice ride.
I got to the bottom and didn’t really relish running down Clear Creek Canyon so I turned around and went right back up. That also gave me the opportunity to check out Centennial Cone Park, which is part of Jefferson County Open Space. The road to that branches off just a short ways up the hill. It looks like a very nice place but if you’re going to hike the whole loop it’s about 14 miles.
Then a nice ride down to Golden Gate Canyon Road and another cruise down the canyon with zero traffic in front or behind. And then into the heat of the city.
Biker Quote for Today
“I want to ride my motorcycle up the side of the Luxor to the light and vanish.” ? Criss Angel
I had a new rear tire put on the V-Strom on Tuesday and on Thursday I got it scuffed up just great. The RMMRC took a ride up in the hills–which means lots of curves–so there’s no further concern about it being slippery.
There were about seventeen of us originally so we split into two groups. So I was surprised when the first group out, which I was in, that there were only six of us. And then we lost one as we turned up Golden Gate Canyon.
The route as announced was to be up Golden Gate to the Peak-to-Peak, south to Black Hawk, then up through Central City to the Central City Parkway and over to I-70 just east of Idaho Springs, for lunch in town there. But we took a different route.
Gray started out leading but I’m not sure it was him who turned up this road I’ve seen countless times that goes off to the left part-way up Golden Gate. In recent times I had the idea in my head that I had ridden this road one time with Ron Coleman but now I’m not so sure. And if I didn’t ride this road with Ron then this was a first. And what a road!
I’m talking about Robinson Hill Road, which leads to Douglas Mountain Drive, which comes down to the Peak-to-Peak just 100 yards further on CO 119 past where US 6 coming up Clear Creek Canyon goes off to the left and 119 continues on toward Black Hawk. This road deserves a post of its own so check back in a few days.
We did not backtrack to Black Hawk just to go out of the way to get to Idaho Springs; we just took the right turn onto US 6 and ran on up the road.
Now the funny kind of thing with this odd recession or recovery or whatever we’re in is that people on the low end of the economic totem pole are finally getting more money for they labor. And that translates into a lot of places not being able to hire the people they need. We got to the restaurant in Idaho Springs and it was not open yet and had a sign saying they wouldn’t open until 11 a.m. because they can’t hire the staff they need to open sooner. Across the street the McDonald’s had a hiring sign saying they were pay $15 to $18 per hour. Dang, it wasn’t that many years ago I took a job as Public Relations Director for a consulting firm and I was paid less than $10 an hour. I don’t begrudge these folks their higher wages; if I have to pay more for a meal and that allows them to earn a living wage I’m glad to pay.
We did eat eventually and then did a familiar ride over Squaw Pass, took the cut-off down Witter Gulch Road and into Evergreen that way. One of the guys on this ride was Gray’s son, who was on his first motorcycle, which he bought just a couple months ago. He left us as we left Idaho Springs and that’s probably a good thing because I have to wonder if he would have managed on his big Beemer on the super tight-twisty Witter Gulch Road. Heck, he’s still learning to ride.
Through Evergreen and down to Kittredge and Idledale we got separated and by the time we came out of the mountains it was everyone for him/herself. Time to blast on home.
I’m still counting on taking the Kawi on the OFMC trip very shortly but nothing has happened yet on the carburetor issue. For insurance I got a new rear tire on the V-Strom a couple days ago.
Nice to have new rubber on the V-Strom. That insures I’ll have something to ride when the OFMC takes off soon.
I got this recommendation from both Bill and Dennis, that I get the tire at Let It Ride, on 8425 W. Colfax, and then take it next door to 1 Down, Four Up Motorsports, at 8427 W. Colfax, to be mounted. That worked out great. I called ahead about the tire and they had it in stock. I asked them to hold it for me and made an appointment so I could have it mounted while I waited.
Mid-way through the job, the guy (whose name I can’t remember–I really should make note of these things) asked if I wanted new rear brake pads because with the old ones, “there’s almost nothing there.” That didn’t surprise me; I had been thinking about that possibility. So sure, put on new pads. He said the front pads are fine.
Then as I was paying he told me they had adjusted the chain as good as they could but there was some stretching and really, the chain and sprockets need to be replaced. That didn’t surprise me either.
The ride home proved interesting then. Of course I was doing some swerving to scuff up the edges of the new tire but I wasn’t so busy with that as not to notice something else. A noise I had wondered about for quite awhile was not there.
This noise is something I’ve always thought of as maybe the chain slapping. I’ve tried adjusting the tension but never made a difference. I take it now that the shop did a better job of adjusting it than I did and at least for now that slapping–which is apparently what it was–is gone. At the very least, the noise is gone. So OK, that’s something to take care of after the trip.
