Gotta Go To Moe’s

After a week of rain, we got to spend Memorial Day on the bikes. And the destination was a quick decision.

If you’re into beer, Moe’s rules the roost in the Western Massachusetts area – and dare I say the Northern and Western Connecticut area as well!  With a great selection of craft beer and many awesome routes to ride there, Moe’s has established itself as one of our favorite “quick” destinations. I say quick because while we all (Melisa, Todd, Kim, and myself) would love to stay all day, it just doesn’t make too much sense to drink and ride – whether in moderation or excess!  There is just something about Moe’s, I guess you need to go to know what it is. It is ambiance. It is friendliness. It is the tap list. It is the fact that when it’s crowded it still feels quaint. It is that we recognize everyone that stops in for a drink, yet we know none of them. It is the realization that on a bright sunny day when you should be riding, you are instead inside Moe’s drinking, and yet it all just feels right.

Photo by Todd M.

Sorry Cheers, but not everyone needs to know your name.

Memorial Day 2013

Website: www.nocoorslight.com

Address: 10 Railroad St., Lee, MA

Phone: 413-243-6637

Ride hard, ride safe, and enjoy every mile.

Best (or Worst) Fuel Economy Ever

When does 43 MPG equal 0 MPG? When she can’t roll on her own. There is nothing fun about grabbing clutch to downshift and having no clutch. I case you’re counting, this is two flatbed trips in less than a year. Is it time to invest in my own Condor Loader?

Ride hard, ride safe, and enjoy every mile.

Practice Safe Checks

Make sure you make your proper safety checks before you ride. I luckily noticed this one this morning before heading out for an all day ride. Needless to say, the only ride Bea went on was to the dealer. She got a new tire today, and thankfully we were able to push our day ride until tomorrow. The crack went through the tread and 3/16 of an inch through the rubber. Who knows how long it’s been.

Ride hard, ride safe, and enjoy every mile.

365=6,332

April 7th marked two milestones in my riding life. First, it was the 15th consecutive month of riding. Not too shabby a feat here in the northeast. But most importantly, it signaled the one year anniversary of Bea. And in that year, I clocked 6,332 miles. I know, I know, it’s not at all about the miles clocked and it’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey. And for the most part I agree. But the miles are important because it means there were plenty of destinations. And plenty of destinations means a year of wonderful journeys and memories.

Do I hope to clock more miles than 6,332 in my second year? Absolutely. But I’m not counting. More miles means more memories. And more memories means more hours spent on the road with Melisa, Todd and Kim, and my entire riding family. My goal this year? Teach my dog to be the best passenger possible.

Bea then…

And Bea now… Oh how far she’s come.

Ride hard, ride safe, and enjoy every mile.

Lucky Number 13

Went on a ride today… this makes 13 months and counting in the northeast. Not too shabby. I stopped to take a pic at a site where I first shot my original bike (Betty) for a photo project. I would love to revisit all those settings for some new pics.

Ride hard, ride safe, and enjoy every mile.

12 Months and Counting…

I know it doesn’t sound like much for some, but I have been able to ride 12 consecutive months up here in the northeast. Starting in February of 2012, and currently through January of 2013. Last February was unseasonably warm and led to an earlier start to the riding season.  I have ridden in it all: rain, snow, sleet, hellishly hot, and viking cold… And this winter has been pretty darn cold, but I have fought putting her away for the winter. Even if I only get out once or twice in the cold months, at least I can scratch the winter itch.

Ride hard, ride safe, and enjoy every mile.

A Quick Winter Ride

Had the opportunity to take Bea out for a quick jaunt today down to the dealer. Although the temps were in the 30′s, it didn’t seem nearly as cold as I expected it to feel. I did dress for the occasion, but I forgot to turn the heat on before I started my ride. Needless to say, the cold was refreshing. My only complaint is the ease with each my full-face fogs in the winter (and rain). Not too sure how to solve that. I’ve been fighting it for years.

I’ve also been reading a great deal about how Harleys perform better in the cold than they do in the hot weather. Let’s just say, I’m a believer. The bike responds better. The performance is better. And the sound… well… it’s beastly!

Below is the most recent pic I have. I took it today when I got home. The tour pack is the newest addition. A Black Friday deal at TSI made it all possible. I don’t  know what I look forward to more… the ease with which I can pack and unpack on trips, or the fact that Melisa can now sleep on the back of the bike and I won’t have to fight her for the radio.

 

Ride hard, ride safe, and enjoy every mile.