Winter white causing the blues

 When the sun comes out it's pretty. If I remind myself this too will pass, I get by. There is no denying, however, I'm at my wits end with this current Southern Alberta winter. I realize March brings snow - heaps of powder at times, but it's cold. It's been cold. A lot.

 

 So I find something to do in the garage now and again.

 New instrument panel with blinky lights and a new tach tach:

We'll get thru this...

Long way to the Dentist

 I logged 160+ km today, going to work at sunrise then a few hours later back past my house into Bragg Creek to the dentist, only to return to work and home at days end. A long day In most respects but the riding a welcome reprieve and some mental masturbation.

 

 Sunrise:

Hump day

 Normally my week starts on Tuesday comprising of an atypical 4 day work week; shaking the 5 day week foundation of earners in hard working Calgary. Unfortunately this is truly hump day for me, with my presence required this past Monday for some extra toil at my desk.

  

 I managed one picture on my bike commute today. An excellent ride for sure.

 

GSXR part 2

 There's lots you can do with motorbikes and this is a good example. Some mods like suspension, seats, and exhaust get overlooked or just a slight nod of approval. With light hearted intentions, I presume there's a startup business potential here!

Beer and handle bars

 

   I can't say I'm really familiar with Suzuki  GSXR bikes but I know what they look like. With fat sport bike back tires, tree trunk forks, and carbon fiber air dams these machines churn out serious power. Add to that clip on bars - no wait, this GSXR doesn't have clip ons; wide motocross bars casting the riders shadow further a field sit atop a reworked triple tree replacing the clip on bars to the delight of the Gixers custom minded owner for a much more 'gentle' riding position, a novel and well executed transformation.

 

 I like the look. On a beer run yesterday my neighbor and I rode to Turner Valley to have a quick glance at the carnage and reconstruction of a major blacktop artery that connects Turner Valley to Black Diamond post 'flood of 2013'. More time could have been spent looking at the jaw dropping high water mark but I was itching for a beer.

 

 Returning to Bragg Creek and stopping at the saloon I had a better look at the Renthal bars on the GSXR. Great idea no doubt in my mind. Now I think I should have hung onto that bullet proof 1984 FJ 1100 and not balked at its "humping a football" riding position I was eager to get away from.

Mosquitos

There are lots of the little suckers right now. Big Mosquitos and these miniscule ones with a potent sting!

 I admit I may have emulated their annoying flight pattern on my ride to and from work yesterday, much to the chagrin of the cagers around me! Buzzing up close to bumpers before sidestepping to the next lane and carrying on around them.

 

 I rode along side a nice sounding bright yellow 650 Yamaha sport bike for a while on my way through town, whose rider showed interest in the Buell, not surprised by its 1200 cc largess motor - maybe because I popped the wheel off the line ahead of him, a little juiced on adrenalin and too much coffee at work. Brought that front wheel almost a hurdle height off the blacktop!

 The rider slipped away to his exit and I traveled on, onto the highway and out of town towards home.

 

ATGATT

All the gear all the time. My only trepidation on my ride home in a very very heavy rain storm was the lightening I was seeing up ahead in the near distance. Barely out of town and in crawling traffic, albeit for only a few extra minutes, I was dead center in a warm deluge of rain, and apposing traffic sent curling walls of water from the adjacent lane over myself and the caged commuters slowly escaping with me. I was pleasantly surprised as the caged crowd moving in my direction kept respectful distance from me, although they may have felt my stupidity for riding in such a storm might rub off on them therein giving me plenty of room.

 

 With all the gear from thinning crown to feet my disposition remained tempered and my confidence sound as a pound; only the lightening and threatening reports of hail hastened my pulse and could have chipped away at my resolve.

 

 Unfortunately snap shots of the torrent up to my rims was not to be documented  ; my phone is not deluge proof.

 

The low slung and drenching cloud I left behind:

My pants:

The road ahead:

All the gear makes all the difference.