Two-Wheeled Tourist

Food Review: Greek Castle (Lewis Center, OH)

2012-03-03T15:05:00.001-05:00

In my search to find a proper, decent Greek food place in Columbus, I am failing quite miserably.

Just for kicks, I decided to give Greek Castle in Lewis Center (US 23) a shot. It is located in the same plaza as Wal-Mart and occupies the exact same space that housed a Charley's Grilled Subs about a year ago. (The family that owned that franchise moved south to Grove City and reopened the restaurant there.)

I decided to try out a standard gyro sandwich with a side of fries. As for the sandwich, the gyro meat was freshly shaved and very flavorful. However, it had more sauce than I liked and juices were was dripping everywhere. That made finishing the pita-based concoction a bit of a napkin adventure. I did like the fries as they were freshly cut and fried with the skin still on them.

Here's the food. I'm glad I didn't take a pic of the actual restaurant. I'll explain that next.

Although I can give props to the taste of the food, this would definitely NOT be a place I would take my friends out to for lunch. Restaurant sanitation, bathroom conditions, and environment were deplorable. The women's restroom toilet was clogged with toilet paper and couldn't flush, and it could've used some warm decor that was, at the minimum, Greek flavored. Even the wall paint was so shoddy that I could still tell that they place used to be another restaurant. I would've thought that there was someone else who could be out mopping or wiping down tables. Was the only person who was in the store at the time the only employee?

I'm not a restaurant expert nor am I in the food industry, but there are certain criteria that you would expect to see as a paying customer - good upkeep and cleanliness, great tasting food, and a friendly/comfortable environment to enjoy said food.

Greek Castle is located at 8641 Columbus Pike in Lewis Center. Open 7 days a week. For this place, I strongly encourage take-out and an open mind.

My social challenges of working in the motorcycle world.

2012-02-16T15:06:00.000-05:00

It's been a rough couple weeks for me at the motorcycle store so I'm going to rant now.

I'm not a fan of being snubbed or ignored while trying to provide customer service on a sales floor. Despite my background in long-distance riding and my knowledge of many a model of motorcycle, it is usually the tendency for quite a number people who walk in to automatically gravitate toward the first male employee they see, regardless if I am the closet person in proximity to them. In ironic fashion, I find myself snubbed in subjects involving parts/accessories for sale, which is my main department. Of course, my co-workers will usually direct those questions back to me, but I wish I didn't have to depend on them to get the attention.

On average, it will usually take me about 1-2 minutes in a conversation (if I can keep their attention long enough) to convince a person that I actually know what I'm talking about. When the store's busy, that's time I really don't want to waste on establishing my credibility. There are times where I just don't even bother - if the boobs have a voice then there's a problem, right?

This is a fight I will never win out here, especially in the Midwest. The only thing I can do is continue to be a stand-out in this crowd of comformity and overbearing, old-fashioned ideals of women as the "bitch in the back." Although this image is not as prevalent as it was, say 20 years ago, it's still quite noticeable in places like Central Ohio, where bikes don't ride more than a few blocks, cruisers are still the predominant body style of machine, and women are required to be pretty and have a high tolerance for alcohol to be welcome.

And just to add to the conversation, here are some of the many things that irk me when it comes to the image of women and motorcycles:

The over-usage of idea that motorcycling is an "empowering" tool for women. I hate the word "empowered." It's an implication that I've already been automatically written off as incapable of performing the job that I am currently doing. That word is never used for the males in our species. I mean, how many times will you ever hear "this empowered man is riding a motorcycle?" Regardless of how much freedom and latitude that we as American women have gained, our language will always be a reminder that we can still be considered part of a lower status in certain contexts.
Not all women like or want a cruiser-style motorcycle. Unfortunately, quite a number of women are cajoled straight into cruisers by male riders (who sadly don't know any better themselves) when there are multitudes of makes and models out there worth trying out. Quite a number of female riders prefer standard/dual-sport style bikes because of their lightweight, upright position which is usually more comfortable than the laid-back position of cruisers that place all a rider's body weight on the lower back.
In response to #1, I can't stand it when a person realizes that I do ride a motorcycle and the automatic supporting question is, "Do you ride a Harley?" That's like someone automatically assuming that I'm a teacher because I have an English degree. A more appropriate question would be, "What kind of motorcycle do you ride?" And then expect to be surprised.
Riding a motorcycle does not automatically turn me into a lesbian. It can be an assumption/stereotype in some areas of the nation that a woman who enjoys riding her own motorcycle is gay. Married, single, straight, or gay, women who choose to ride do it for the sheer enjoyment of the sport. Strength and sexual orientation do not go hand in hand; there are weak individuals from both sides.
Riding a scooter does NOT make me any less of a motorcyclist. Choosing to use an automatic transmission does not exempt me from following the laws of the road, knowing how to maneuver a two-wheeled vehicle in an emergency situation, using the brakes, or putting my foot down at a complete stop. It requires just as much gumption to operate a scooter, or should I say, automatic motorcycle, on the road as one with a manual transmission.

Perhaps this bothers me more than most female motorcycle operators because, frankly, I do not fall into the normal stereotypes of a female on a motorcycle. I ride more miles in a month than most men out here in Ohio do in a year. I ride every month of the year in every possible, non-icy weather situation. I ride several states over, not the nearest bar. I ride solo most of the time, but you're more than welcome to follow me. Tank tops are not part of my riding wardrobe, and the only curves I care about are the ones I carve on the road.

If that's you, just remember you're not alone. We're too busy having fun to publicize it.

Life, love, and the privilege to play hockey.

2012-02-10T21:50:00.000-05:00

Since I'm at the hockey rink several times a week, I often see younger hockey players practice while their parents watch. Some of them are quite enthusiastic and even cheer for their kids during mundane scrimmages or drills.

Sometimes I'd even hear a positive comment or two directed at their kid, something like "You did a great job out there." or "I like how you fought for that puck and didn't give up on the play."

When I think about my own childhood experiences in hockey (or anything else for that matter), I find that interaction between parent and child to be quite strange and awkward. All I remember was the lack of compliments despite my successes, the non-existence of affection that was usually replaced with a surplus of insults and discouragement. This pattern continued throughout my younger years and it has only been by my move across the country a couple years ago that their nagging and complaining has finally diminished to just very deep and painful memories.

Now, besides the motorcycles that are obviously one of the loves of my life, I've enjoyed watching and reading about hockey for as long as I could remember, which was pretty strange for a young Asian girl growing up in the suburbs of Los Angeles. Perhaps it was the equipment, the cool uniforms, or the finesse of the players as they would glide across the ice with ease. Or maybe it was that damn Disney movie. Regardless, it was a sport that hooked me once I scraped up the $15 to buy myself a street hockey stick and ball and strapped on those rollerblades nearly a decade and a half ago.

After I played roller hockey casually on an empty cement slab surface next to the roller hockey rink at Wilson Park in Torrance for a short period of time, I felt ready enough to give organized play a shot. I begged my parents to let me give roller hockey a try at that same rink. Of course they refused, because "girls shouldn't play dangerous sports," a very ironic statement since I was forced to take martial arts at the time. I harassed them until they buckled, mentioning it at every moment I could, even getting to the point in which I filled out the waiver form myself and put it on the table for them to sign. After I finally got through the paperwork after a couple weeks, it continued to be an uphill struggle just to get ready to play. My father griped and complained while we were at Sport Chalet choosing my first shin pads, gloves, helmet, and elbow pads while my mother stayed in the other corner of the store staring at fitness clothes, trying her hardest to not have anything to do with this new, unconventional endeavor.

Even at the age of 11 I was wondering why it was so difficult to do something fun. I had lots of friends that played all sorts of sports and did all kinds of extracurricular activities during the school year and throughout the summer, going to art classes, summer camps, and fun vacations out-of-town. However, they were all boys. So it was really because of my lack of male parts that I was steered into some level of complacency. Although coming to that obvious conclusion was simply too simplistic for such a traditional family, because wanting to be a part of Girl Scouts was out of the question too - just way too "white" and "American" for their tastes. They emphatically over-justified their paranoia by saying that they were "restricting me for my own good." I was convinced that if I didn't continue to fight them, I would be nothing more a dazzling star locked inside a box.

Strangely enough, they did stick around to watch my very first roller hockey game in 1996 (I think my father was too lazy to go out and do something else in the meantime), and it would be one of the last ones that I played in that they would ever choose to see. I played defense, a familiar position from my only season playing soccer (which was a sport I was forced to play because I was "fat" to their standards). I managed an assist, a tripping penalty, and countless falls in that game. Tired and sore, I was pretty thrilled afterward and looked forward to the next week. Not my parents, though; they were quite disappointed that I couldn't skate as fast as most of the kids out there who had been playing for years.

So in the car on the way home, my father berated me for "even trying to play" and my mother continued laughing at the fact that I fell down at least once a shift, naming her particular favorites from memory. For a woman who couldn't ride a bicycle or drive a car, she certainly had some choice words for my lack of skating ability.

I replied to them proudly, "I'm proud of what I did today and I'm going to keep playing hockey."

That earned me a slap in the face from my father once we got home. At least his hand didn't have dish soap because that stung the eyes, much worse than the giant gaudy gold ring on his finger. But I continued to play and improve my skills season after season. I think they kept signing my papers every season in hopes that one day I would eventually quit, so at least I can be grateful for that.

I took the first opportunity I could to switch to goalie from defense in 1999, and thanks to a very understanding hockey coach, I was able to practice playing the position despite pleas from my mother to stop "for the health of my growing breasts" and from my father to "do something else that I was actually good at." Goaltending made me enjoy hockey even more, and I continued to work at perfecting my craft from week to week, taking advantage of every possible opportunity to play on evenings and weekends.

Because of my consistent level of play and quick improvement, I was invited to play goalie in a roller hockey tournament in Hawaii. However, I was denied the chance to go because I was the only female player on the all-boys' team and, according to my parents, traveling with that many males (and staying in the same hotel rooms as all the moms) in a single group was "dangerous" and "corrupting." In ironic fashion, my team proceeded to win the tournament championship without me. At that moment, I knew it was the final straw. I was even more determined to leave this absurd environment of fabricated limitations, work hard at improving myself in the sport, and prove that hockey was going to take me places.

So I continued to play roller (and eventually ice) hockey throughout high school and my nine months of community college, accepting invites to local tournaments and even getting the chance to play with some of the most skilled players in the area. My parents would begrudgingly drive me to these tournaments, drop me off, drive away, and not return until I called them. After they picked me up I would have to smash my hockey bag in between the loads of clothing that my mother purchased at the nearby mall/outlet store while I was winning a series championship, having an awesome tournament run, or besting a personal goaltending record. It wouldn't have been a good idea to ask them to help me pay for some of those tourneys; the entire budget went toward the car's gas and filling up my mom's closet with new wardrobe.

Once I was finally accepted to USC, I jumped at the chance to play goalie for the university's women's hockey and men's roller hockey teams. It wasn't a D1 NCAA scholarship school (or even ACHA-level for that matter), but I reached that dream of finally playing hockey in college. And I proved that I was able to play at the club level throughout my entire three-year tenure at USC despite a knee injury, a couple major ankle sprains, and a few other issues. While I was still there, I also continued playing for other tournament teams and staying active on the ice.

The honor of wearing this jersey was many years in the making, and the lack of support from my "family" just made the reward even sweeter.

My college career has long been over, but what matters in the end is that I'm still playing the sport I love after all these years. I have had the opportunity and honor to play with ex-pros and Olympians, play against international teams, end up on a morning television segment about women's hockey, land in USA Hockey Magazine, and even interviewed for a radio segment among other things. In addition, I have an extended family who actually cares about me, and I earned my biggest fan and equipment manager, my husband. And he has also watched nearly every game I've played as long as we've been together.

Every time I lace up the skates, throw that goalie cut jersey over my head, slide my helmet on, and step out onto the ice to guard my net for any team, whether it's a high-level tournament or just another weekly recreational league game, I will be always reminded of my triumph over the unnecessary adversities that were the definition of my childhood. Regardless of the score on the board, I have won the right to play this wonderful sport and will continue to cherish this privilege for as long as I am physically able to do so.

If I had to regret anything from the past, it would be not being able to fight back from this adversity any sooner and doing what I could to find others who believed in my dreams. I did what I could to excel within the parameters that I had, but I am thoroughly convinced that a proper support system would have been of great benefit. I feel sorry for my parents, as to this day that they are unable to identify my talents and encourage them to grow, but it's all their loss as they'll never know what I have accomplished.

If you're a young person reading this blog post, I personally encourage you to follow your passions, even if your worst enemies toward your goal are the people you think "love" you. You only have one shot at this life, and the pain of regret can carry on for years on end. Don't let it happen to you. If you have dreams, reach for them. The people who matter in your life will be the ones that stick around throughout your entire journey and beyond.

A strange time to be super busy...!

2012-02-04T21:19:00.001-05:00

January was quite...busy? What happened here?

Unlike last year where I had way too much time at home to think about things (thanks to my former employer's desire to be more economical with my paycheck), this year I'm finding myself happily knee-deep in motorcycle industry-related work. As a result, I'm not churning away at my blog like I traditionally have been during this time of the year.

To add to the bonus, we've had a freakishly mild (and relatively snow-less) winter out here in central Ohio. Thanks to that and a surprise influx of customers anticipating good riding days, I've found myself working quite a bit more at the motorcycle store and planning/scheduling bike events for what seems to be a warp speed course to the spring "riding season." Ice-less days and temps over 30°F have reduced car usage this season to next to nothing so daily commuting on the motorcycle has remained relatively normal. If only every winter in Ohio was like this EVERY year...I might actually like living here.

This was definitely NOT what winter looks like in Ohio right now. It was raining right after this short snow dump. Seriously.

So yeah, I'm not completely gone from the radar!!! Mind you, there's quite a few motorcycle journeys slated for 2012 so stay tuned for that. Eleanor's aiming for 150,000 miles on the odometer for this year and she's well on her way to that goal. She and I have pulled off more than 3000 miles since November alone, which is far from my traditional California numbers but a lot more than what most "riders" in this area will achieve in the warmth of summer. I'll be throwing in more out-of-region food reviews and other random rants as well. I'll be able to, eventually, free up more time in the schedule to contribute to the online fodder of this blog.

Don't forget, you can always follow some of my misadventures on my "alternate channel," my Twitter feed @2wheeledtourist. That's updated anytime during the day or if I find something strange to share. You can also see my tweets to the right of this blog entry in the Twitter window.

I'm still here, just running around with a smile on my face. And my head on fire.

Food Review: Mazah Mediterranean Eatery (Grandview Heights, OH)

2012-01-08T14:21:00.002-05:00

Let's start 2012 with a food review, shall we? Of course I wouldn't turn down an offer to try something new...

I was invited to test out the Mazah Mediterranean Eatery (1439 Grandview Ave., Columbus, OH 43212) by one of my blog readers. I was quite shocked (and yet not surprised) to hear from her that "nobody at work wanted to try this place because they were afraid they wouldn't like it."

Come on, that's always going to be a consequence of trying something new. Well, to all you guys who passed her up on that offer, you missed out on some good stuff! (Pointing and laughing off-stage.)

Mazah's simplistic exterior is friendly and inviting. There is outdoor seating on warmer days.

Speaking of the good stuff, we began with the small sampler appetizer that consisted of hummus, fava bean dip, three bean salad, Mediterranean potato salad, two pieces of falafel, and rice. The sampler was quite flavorful and each part of the plate carried a distinct flavor that had us scooping all sorts of goodness onto pieces of pita bread. The light and tender texture of the Mediterranean potato salad was definitely a change of pace from the stereotypical rib-sticking supermarket counterpart that usually overdoses on mayonnaise. If this is the "small" sampler, I wonder what the large one looked like as this could've easily satisfied three guests.

Starting from the bottom and going clockwise (Med. potato salad, fava bean dip, three bean salad, hummus). Falafel in the middle on top of a bed of rice.

Of course, my Greek food fans will ask about the falafel, which very tasty and obviously made from scratch in the restaurant. As falafel is a popular menu item in Greek restaurants, this place makes sure that you'll remember that succulent flavor. From my limited experience on eating at Mediterranean-style restaurants in Ohio, this is one of the best falafels I've had in the state so far.

For my main course, I went for the beef shawarma with sides of baba ganoush and tabouli. My friend went for the lamb kebob with the same sides. Both meats were placed on top of a small bed of rice and cooked to a tender, well-done texture. The beef had a nice blend of spices to it and the lamb was tasty and easy to cut (which isn't a very easy task to do).

Beef shawarma platter ($10.50)

Lamb kebob ($15.95). Okay, you can stop licking the screen now.

If you're looking for a casual dinner with friends or a great place to eat for a date (the $19.95 couples sampler - which includes one entree - is a great way to start a conversation), this restaurant fits the bill. Its small and intimate setting echoes the simplicity of their flavorful dishes. Prices range from $9.50-15.50 for a dinner-sized entree and $4.95-7.95 for a sandwich so dinner's definitely not going to break the bank. Weekends may have you waiting for a seat so I'd recommend a reservation for larger parties of 6 or more.

We finished our meal with a small and sweet baklava, a traditional Mediterranean dessert. It wasn't dripping in honey like other bakalavas I've had in the past, so it was flakier and tasted a lot lighter.

On an additional note, I was very satisfied with the customer service, bathroom cleanliness, and the friendliness of the staff. My only real issues was that the menus would definitely benefit from additional photos of the entrees. If I wasn't already familiar with Mediterranean food it would've been a bit challenging to choose between the kebobs and the shawarma, or for the absolute newbie, what is stuffed inside of grape leaves.

Mazah also offers numerous selections for those who are vegetarian, vegan, or prefer to eat gluten free. There's also a featured alcoholic beverage/cocktail menu that changes frequently with new concoctions.

Special thanks to Denise from Central Ohio Sheltie Rescue for discovering this great local place to eat right in the heart of Columbus. And if you have some ideas for new places to try out either in Ohio or for those cross-country motorcycle trips, shoot me an e-mail or place them right in the comments box.

For more information about Mazah, check out their website at http://www.mazah-eatery.com/ or 'Like' them on FB at http://www.facebook.com/MazahEatery.

Dirty motorcycles have character. Make yours filthy. (And Happy New Year, too.)

2011-12-31T13:39:00.002-05:00

You'll see them at every powersports convention: super clean and shiny bikes with not a single scratch, ding, dent, or imperfection, out for display for the world to ooh and aah over. The shine attracts a crowd faster than the mini taco sample table at a Costco. And yet, despite the beauty of new paint and accent lines, the reflective properties of layers of wax and detail spray, they're still a blank canvas with no expression.

When I see the newness of these polished creations, the first question that comes to my mind is, "How much time did that person waste to make those rims shine like the top of the Chrysler building?"

Now I don't imply that I'm not a clean person. I do bathe frequently and wash my hands after using the bathroom and before preparing food. However, there comes a revelation to quite a number of motorcycle riders that there's really no point to keeping a bike clean when you're using it every single day. When I put on the gear and jump on my machine, I've just put on my play clothes. And when you play outside, you're bound to come back with a few specks of dirt. Spend enough time outside and there's usually no energy left to hose off the machine and give it a good bath...or any motivation to do so.

A rider attached to a motorcycle is the start of an exciting story of exploits both near and far. As I understand that there is a sense of pride in having a clean machine to jump on, there is also an overwhelming allure to leaving the comforts of the garage and venturing out into the world and all its obstacles both on the road and with the weather.

So how many stories can your motorcycle tell? I think about that first glowing splotch on my windshield when I struck a firefly entering Minnesota. When I see the gash on the right hardcase I think about the green Jaguar that decided that it needed part of my lane on the 105 West freeway near Hawthorne, CA. There are stickers from places such as Chicago, Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota, and Ontario, Canada that line my bike like an unofficial passport. There's that scratch on the front fender from a bird plinking off of it en route to Sandusky, OH. The list goes on and on. For me, there is an intangible value of a bike that goes beyond its engine and its accessories - it is the unspoken worth of where the bike has been and where it will go in its lifetime.

As 2011 comes to a close today, I take a couple steps back and admire the stickers, scratches, tarnished rims, carcasses of insects that line the front of my beloved FJR1300AWC, and the over 121,000 miles that we have ventured together in the last 4.5 years. As I write this, she sits out in the rain in a futile attempt to make itself more presentable before I take it puddle hopping down a street. Again.

If I were to offer a suggestion to start the new year, it would be to keep up the good work with your filthy two-wheeled beast. Pile the miles. Explore the world. Step outside of your comfort zone. Take your chances and discover what you and your bike can do together.

To all my readers, best wishes and great rides for 2012 and beyond. May your motorcycle proudly display every type of road (and off-road) grime imaginable and speak of your crazy adventures through them.

Is heated gear absolutely necessary? Your call.

2011-12-27T17:00:00.002-05:00

I thought about revisiting the topic of heated motorcycle gear after my umpteenth ride to work today in wet sub-40°F conditions. My commute to work and back is about 52 miles round-trip, or the distance one-way from Los Angeles to Mission Viejo on a good day. As much as I would like to be cruising that distance in the warmth of the West Coast where it's 75°F and sunny on the beach on Christmas Day, I'm not in luck at the moment. To compensate for the riding "season" that exists in the Midwest, I ride every opportunity that is given to me and not wait for the next perfect day to come around (those rarely happen here, by the way).

I have a single basic rule about riding conditions: the bike is parked when conditions get icy or snow sticks to the road. How I determine this is has been fodder for another blog post, but other than that issue, cold conditions are not a problem during a ride as long as they are properly managed.

The story of my motorcycle life after October in Central Ohio. Good grief.

I've been asked about different types of remedies for those days when it's a bit nippy out there but you want to get out and ride. Regardless of whatever method you use to keep warm on the motorcycle, there are a few basic rules to follow:
1. Cover all holes where air can enter while the bike is moving.
2. Layer appropriately to allow for adjustment to colder/warmer temps.
3. Stay dry. Moisture will reduce the warming effects of your gear.

What's more important? Warm hands or a warm core?
The circulatory system is the human body's natural source for warmth. In simpler terms, it's like a miniature pipe system that spreads warm blood throughout the body. Alternatively, if your blood is cold, then you will feel cold. This is why scarves cover the neck, the location of the major carotid arteries, in the winter while water-soaked bandannas wrapped in the same area aids in the cooling process in the summer.

With that being said, a heated vest/jacket liner helps maintain warmth in the chest area (the center of blood circulation) keeping it at a more comfortable temperature. In turn, the warmth from the center will radiate to the rest of the body. The hands (and feet) are merely end points of the circulatory system. Although having heated gloves will help with localized warmth, a warm core will benefit the entire body and greatly reduce discomfort as a whole. If given the choice between a heated vest/jacket liner or a pair of heated gloves, the former will be more beneficial during extended trips.

Many long distance riders (including myself) consider the heated vest/jacket liner an integral tool in any journey, regardless of time of year. When riding a motorcycle cross-country one should assume a 30-60°F fluctuation in temperature over several thousand miles. Additionally, the windchill factor can turn what is comfortable at standing temperature unbearable at prolonged exposure at highway speeds. For example, a cool 70°F night travelling at 75 MPH feels like 58°F. Does that extra layer sound good right about now? (Sound a bit harsh? Click here for a windchill calculator.)

What is my tolerance for "cold" and do I want to ride in it?
As I've written (and complained about) in previous blog entries, my definition a "fair weather" rider is a person that willfully chooses to depend on numbers and the weatherman to decide when to enjoy their motorcycle ride. In most normal situations, a simple change of the gloves, jacket, or adding an additional layer is enough to compensate for a 10-20°F drop in temperature. Don't know how you'll react in cold? You won't know until you actually try it. For alternatives outside of electric gear, here's a previous blog post on the subject.

How much is motorcycle heated gear?
Good quality heated gear and all its components can be a bit pricey, with a basic jacket/glove setup starting at a couple hundred dollars. You can even get heated pants, socks, and soles too! Several known makers of heated clothing are Gerbing's, FirstGear, and Aerostitch.

Am I the type of rider that can benefit from heated gear?
Like any accessory that's available on the market, heated motorcycle gear isn't for everyone. If your commute is short (I define that as less than 10-15 miles in one direction) and it's something you'll do occasionally, proper layering and windproof materials will get you there without too much trouble. With time and understanding of your needs during a ride, heated gear may become a future consideration. The extra warmth will benefit a rider at any distance, but your decision to invest in it is all up to you.

How to suck at parenting. Effing badly.

2011-11-29T12:56:00.001-05:00

In the last few years, society has been introduced to the many uses of the word "FAIL." Many examples of this from the point of view of child-rearing have made it to websites such as http://parenting.failblog.org and spread among e-mail to those with a sense of humor. As funny as many of those are, demeaning a child and then continuing to belittle them into their adult years is a common practice many know all too well. I myself am a survivor of those issues, and like anyone that's lived through traumatic experiences, they've left their scars.

Bad parenting extends far beyond outright lack of thought that makes Internet fodder for discussion. In many cases, the little negative things, what is said and done with repetition throughout a lifetime, can make an impact on a child long into their adult years. Although some of these thoughts may be trivial to some, leaving youth like me with way too much time and advanced critical thinking skills for their age to fester in these issues for years is just plain wrong. So, in lieu of venting to a therapist, here's a few things I've learned as the child of emotionally abusive parents.

1. Never tell a child that Santa doesn't exist by the time they reach the age of four. Allow kids to imagine, dream, and find the happiness in the little things. Sure life is pretty much crap after the age of 20 (actually that's not true, but don't tell my parents that), but for goodness sake, let them wait until they're 20 to realize that, because it's something they'll have to deal with for the rest of their lives. By the time I was six, Santa was dead, the Easter bunny was a product of pagan marketing, boys are out to rape me and stick their fingers in my hooha, and I was expected to die of something by the time I was 50. Thanks, Mom and Dad. I feel better about my next birthday.

2. Never tell a child that they are incapable of accomplish feats by virtue of their gender. That is a lie. If I had to summarize this experience in my life, it would be the day my folks scolded me for carrying a 20lb. guitar amp three blocks from church back to school for my 8th grade teacher because nobody else stepped up to volunteer. The memorable quote was, "Why didn't you ask one of the boys to do it? You're not supposed carry heavy things. Girls don't do that." I then told them to screw themselves and, fast forward a few years, went on to play college-level hockey and ride large touring motorcycles all over the United States. Thanks to that "careless behavior" I have been labeled as a "liberal rebel" and a "failure" by those who have given birth to me. No worries, I'll share my accomplishments with people who actually care about me!

3. If you're wrong about something, take the higher road and just apologize already. Never in my life have I ever heard my parents apologize or admit fault for anything. And I mean everything, including missing my birthday multiple times and taking me out to dinner to what turned out to be a timeshare sales event. Don't hold back on admitting that, yes, even the almighty parent can be wrong once in a while. Your kid will appreciate your honesty and your strength of character. They seriously will. Who knows? They might even want to still speak to you when they're older, even if you boycotted my wedding ceremony and then continue to invalidate my marriage via e-mail because it wasn't officiated by a Catholic priest. Better a traffic court judge than a pedophile, I say.

4. Leave "stupid" and "ignorant" out of your list of descriptive words for your child. Keep your comments constructive.* My dad used to emphasize my apparent stupidity on a daily basis and my inherent inability to "find things in front of my nose" and punctuate his thoughts by throwing the closest object to his right hand at my face. I was very fortunate none of those objects were sharp or were related to firearms, although he would often times, verbally wish he could have used said items. Note to self, try to avoid the use of weapons on your children, unless it's a play sword fight where the kid wins. My brother wasn't so lucky in that one, and seriously, who the hell puts a gun in a sock?

*NOTE: Easiest way to get me reeling? Find me a copy of How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk and I can give you a visual of how I want to shove this book down my parents' throats.

5. Empathize with and acknowledge a child's feelings. Believe it or not, children actually have them. I've stopped counting how many times I've heard the statement, "Shut up, I don't care how you feel." For many years, I've kept myself very emotionally quiet, which at times backfires into a lot of anger and resentment. It also has, for better or for worse, shaped my philosophy behind everything I do: I strive for perfection because I am fearful someone's going to continue to insult my ineptitude. The by-products of this, however, seem to work in other people's favor. So I guess I'll continue doing a good job.

6. If one parent is doing something abusive, physically or mentally to a child, stand up for the child. I will never forgive my mother for allowing my dad to belittle me and my brother for the years I stayed in that house. In many cases, she would side with him and try to convince us he was right. You're just as guilty by allowing the crime to happen as the perpetrator. She wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed by any means, but there's things that just require common sense and not a lot of intelligence.

7. It is okay to ask for help. I grew up with my parents always saying, "Never ask any questions. Never ask for help because it only makes you look weak." So you've basically told me that if I can't solve a problem that a panic attack is in order? This is the part where I am thankful for my extended, "adopted" family that yanked me out of that situation and gave me the space to figure myself out. I have since then come to the conclusion that "family" and "blood" don't mix for me. By all means I'm removing the biological factor out of any family relations; there's no mandatory obligation to obey anyone because of the similarity in red bodily fluids. Treat me badly and you're out of my life. 'Nuff said.

8. Be glad your kid didn't grow up to be a slutty, drugged-up alcoholic. I will do my own celebration in that avenue because I am very proud of that. I have to admit that I did have a cookies-and-cream milkshake after going to the gym to lift weights and playing a hockey game the night before indulging in my sweetened dairy product. Sorry. No really, I am.

9. Hypocrites have no place in a family setting. Kids are pretty smart at identifying a double standard. They want If you're an upstanding "Christian" that focuses on respect and serving "God," then don't tell me that "you beat up gay people," "Koreans are the devil," "and white people will badly influence you with their American ways." And you know what? I wanted to do that book report on Martin Luther King, Jr. because I thought he was alright. I'm also sorry he was an African-American to boot. Running a household under the mantra, "Do as I say, not as I do" only creates an unstable platform of mistrust that children will want to escape as soon as possible, assuming that they have the inner strength to do so. I am one of the lucky few.

10. Allow your kids to grow up and be proud of their success. So I survived my conception phase twenty-seven years ago. Guess what? I'm a lot more than a grouping of cells now! Please refer to the aforementioned first sentence on idea #8. And Mom, trying to ground me while I have a driver's license and while you don't know how operate a vehicle backfires very quickly. Please stop treating me like I'm still an egg and accept the fact that I'm an adult.

So if you're a parent and reading this, just remember - with enough luck and attention to detail, you are less likely to be one of those parents who has a child that "lives 2500 miles away and never calls." My parents on the other hand, have made the willful decision to walk out during the best parts of my life because I didn't turn out the way their blueprints said I should have been.

I place a very well-known quote on the bottom of my blog that my folks had actually said to me in "constructive" critique of my first self-published Internet pages: "This website makes you looks stoopid!" (That's how my dad would say 'that word,' accent and all.) Their insults have continued to fuel my desire to rise above my adversities. As blunt as it is, I've got better things to do than listening to you, like making myself a better person and improving the world around me.

You know, I figured myself out MUCH earlier than that...

2011-11-04T17:02:00.002-04:00

While I was in college and training to become a high school language arts teacher, I was paired up with a master teacher who specialized in a niche of education that I was going go deal with being in metropolitan Los Angeles: English language-learners. This teacher, unfortunately, was frustrated with my departure from traditional direct teaching and drills and my emphasis on real-world relevancy in lessons. As I found this to work well with the students I was assigned to, she found it to be a time waster and ineffective and made sure I knew about it. I think it was because the kids were lively and practicing their speech actively (It was a language course, wasn't it?). After a few weeks, it became obvious that she wanted me out.

I think I broke the straw on the camel's back when I made a reference during an open discussion about movies (the first X-Men movie had come out at the time) that the actor who played Wolverine, Hugh Jackman, was a very talented Broadway singer in a show called "The Boy From Oz" and did more than rip people in half with claws on screen. That "wastage of time" made her livid, and I got an earful at the parent-teacher conferences later that week.

From her verbal tirade, I took home a very shiny gem of wisdom:

"I don't think you should start teaching until you're 26 because you don't know what to do with yourself. I can't even leave you alone with my students."

She then continued to complain about near everything she observed me doing during class, all the way down to my leather boots and the casual jacket I wore when it was just a little too cold in the room. In that one instant, she no longer was my peer in the teaching profession. I understand there's a difference between criticism and complaining, but I was pretty much just getting yelled at. I couldn't keep my composure for very long and pretty much sat there and took the abuse with tears streaming down my face, hoping she'd eventually finish.

For several years after that verbal exchange, I would get a chill down my spine whenever I would see the soundtrack to "The Boy From Oz" in the store or any reference to the musical. It was amazing how long that incident scarred me far beyond the scope of my teaching profession. Although they were words, they were words that were delivered so harshly that I honestly thought there was actually something wrong with me. And in response to it, became one of my personal missions to never berate or verbally bully a student to the point of mental submission.

Why do I write about this now? I am nearing the end of my age of 26 years, the same age that my so-called "teacher" told me was the magic number when I would be ready to "settle down and be a proper adult." Since that incident happened I managed to, professionally, have a three-year run as a teacher in an inner-city school with many wonderful memories and adventures in the classroom. I've completely changed careers, finding a passion in the motorcycle industry and spending much of my spare time around two-wheeled transportation with a smile on my face. I'm happily married to someone that is supportive of my endeavors and shares many of the same interests that I do. If I waited until now to even enter a classroom, I would've wasted my later 20s in the same miserable situation as the obviously bitter person that had screamed at me back in 2006. In that sense, I have triumphed and gone above that negativity long before I ever got trapped in it. I think I've finally convinced myself that this mental struggle is really over...

By the way, I started listening to that CD again today. That Hugh Jackman sure does sound pretty good right now!

Sound solutions for long-distance motorcycle trips.

2011-10-28T17:45:00.002-04:00

There comes a point in a motorcyclist's riding when he/she needs to drone out the noise of the road and add music to the journey. Regardless of where the music source is coming from (MP3 player, iPod, GPS with audio, etc.), there are many solutions for blasting the tunes while you're rolling down the highway on your bike.

1. In-helmet speakers. These come in a thin wafer shape and sit inside of a helmet's ear ports. Since they do not directly go into the ear, they are acceptable under most traffic laws. Here's an example from Aerostitch. Online stores such as HelmetAudio.com also provide options for listening inside your helmet. Related products include in-helmet communication devices with integrated FM radios, Bluetooth, and auxiliary audio inputs such as the Scala Rider G4 by Cardo.

2. Ear buds. These provide excellent sound isolation and in some cases double as earplugs. However, your ability to hear ambient sounds can be reduced. Check your local/state laws permitting the use of in-ear audio devices while riding. If using these, I recommend the soft earbud-style that include interchangeable silicone cups of various sizes, such as SkullCandy or JVC Riptydz. An even advanced option is custom-made earplugs with integrated earphones such as those from EarFuze or Hearing Dynamics. I don't recommend the stock earphones that come with iPods; they just fall out!

3. Bike mounted speakers. Some examples start with the simple, handlebar mounted Kuryakyn Sounds of Chrome speakers to the very involved Quadzilla fairings by Hoppe Industries made for both American and metric cruisers. This is one of the more pricey options for playing audio on a motorcycle, especially for us riders that don't own a two-wheeled car.

Regardless of which listening method you choose, please use common sense when using audio devices on the road and stay aware of your surroundings. Happy riding!

Screw the calendar, I'm riding anyway!

2011-10-24T18:02:00.004-04:00

For the last few weeks, I've seen the amount of motorcyclists on the road turn from a huge presence on the road to dwindling down to a couple machines very far and in between. There are times where I find myself to be the only motorcycle on I-270 on the way to work on cool mornings. Nothing has changed much; the days are getting shorter and temperatures have dropped anywhere between 10-20 degrees on average but are well above frost warning levels. For me and the other half, that just means pulling out the long-sleeved shirts, flipping the switch on the heated gear, and throwing on the insulated, waterproof riding boots. For everyone else it seems, riding "season" is over. And traditionally in Ohio, it ends the weekend before Labor Day regardless of how nice the weather is. Last year, that translated to thousands of riders willingly losing an extra month of summer-like weather because, let's face it, you can't ride past November...it just doesn't look right.

Are you kidding me? This is the time of year that we can be thankful for not getting scorched in 90 degree heat waves! The trees are turning all sorts of colors which is a sight to see in this part of the nation. And for those who ride year-round, it does provide a refreshing feeling that the "posers" are all gone for the fall/winter and won't show up until May. (You mean I won't encounter someone at the gas station who thinks I'm a whimp/astronaut/sissy/overdressed/Santa because I'm wearing ATGATT? Sweet!)

In a place where riding a motorcycle is more of a novelty than a form of transportation, I'll still be out there on my two-wheeled car until ice glazes the road and I can play shimmy hockey in my parking lot. Yes, even I have to draw a line somewhere, there's just no reason to do it at the moment.

Food Review: Piada Italian Street Food (Gahanna, OH)

2011-10-12T23:42:00.000-04:00

Yesterday's dinner was a trip to a very unique spin on Italian food.

We visited the Piada Italian Street Food restaurant on Morse Road in Gahanna to try out their signature Piada. A piada is basically a grilled item rolled into a flatbread along with a sauce, angel hair pasta (optional), and a whole variety of veggies and toppings. For my grilled item, I went for calamari. Chicken, steak, and salmon are some of the options as well. Matt took the option of having a pasta bowl made in the same fashion. For those looking for leafy greens, building a chopped salad with those ingredients is available as well.

Loosely, this is the Italian answer to Chipotle Mexican Grill with a lot fresher vegetable options. I enjoyed the fact that I had the option of fresh artichoke and mushrooms to throw into my meal. With very minimal pasta, the piada was very filling and probably would've been better without the additional carb filler. For refreshments, Piada features several flavors of Italian soda to break the norm of traditional Coke products.

Here's my calamari piada. The insides are lot more interesting.

Since this was the first time I've eaten here, I didn't get to try some of the additional sides and soups that Piada offers. I think I'll give the lobster bisque or the spinach and artichoke dip a shot on my next visit.

If you're looking for something that's unique and exclusive (so far) to the Columbus, OH area, I would suggest this establishment. At lunchtime this place is notorious for being super busy, but grabbing dinner was very easy for a Tuesday night. In fact, Matt and I were the only two sitting in the actual seating area. But if you're really in a hurry, they do take phone and online orders too.

At the time of this blog post's publication, Piada has three locations currently open with two slated to open by mid-2012. For more information, visit their website at http://www.mypiada.com/.

Has it really been a year already? Yup.

2011-10-03T18:54:00.001-04:00

Around this time last year, Matt and I were riding two-up on my FJR1300 en route to Chicago, IL on US-30. It was a bit different than originally planned; we were on one bike instead of two, our departure delayed several hours thanks to a careless hit-and-run taxi driver that turned Matt's BMW K1200RS into a pile of scrap. Despite that, we managed to make it to the Windy City (the 'burbs of Itasca to be exact) with a nail in the rear tire and a conked out GPS system that left us direction and music-less for half the trip. However, we survived that part of the journey, tied the knot in Downtown Chicago, and partied it like "real" adults at Dave and Busters with several of our closest friends.

For the normal couple, the accident alone would've just killed the entire event, but it just added to the memories and the adventures for us. Who said we were normal?

Being the strange couple we are, we'll be celebrating our first anniversary this week in Toronto, Canada. This time around, we'll have two intact motorcycles and time to go sightseeing in the city where we were originally going to hold our marriage ceremony in 2010. And in familiar, traveling blogger style, you might see a photo or two on my Twitter page (@2wheeledtourist).

And for all you nostalgic people out there, visit our wedding blog @ http://twowheeledwedding.blogspot.com/ to relive "that one thing in Chicago."

Fun and functional apps for the phone and office...

2011-09-20T17:56:00.002-04:00

Thanks to my current job, I'm in front of my computer for hours during a normal work day and on my Android smartphone when I'm in the service bay taking photos of bikes or searching for information online for the techs. In that time, I've been introduced to quite a few useful (and FREE) online services for both my phone and the PC that have increased (or if I'm at home, decreased) my productivity. Here are a few that some of my friends have directed me to that have become commonplace on all my machines.

Note: I own an Android so I'm not sure if some of these apps are available for iPhone.

Pandora Radio (web, iPhone, Android)

Pandora is a free application that plays all different kinds music based on your favorite artists and genres. Once you start up a free account and search for your favorite types of music (which are sorted into channels), you can actively give songs a "thumbs up" or a "thumbs down" to tell Pandora what you prefer to hear. You can also mash all your selected channels together to make your ultimate custom jukebox. For all you Google Chrome users out there, I highly recommend the Anesidora app to play your Pandora radio. I found that for those users with the free account, it bypasses the six song per hour skipping limit and eliminates the audio ads.

Spotify (web, Android via paid subscription)

Spotify is a free app that, like Pandora, allows you to listen to songs online. However, with Spotify you not only get to choose whatever songs you want, you can listen to them in any order you want, create playlists, and share your selections with friends on Facebook. It's pretty much a combination of Pandora and iTunes music player without having to buy all the tunes. Unfortunately, you would have to purchase a Spotify account (9.99/mo.) to play your selections from your phone, but when you're in the office it's perfect. Now I'm just waiting for a Linux version of the desktop software so I can enjoy this service at home!

Stumbleupon (web, Android)

Stumbleupon is an application that turns your web browser into jukebox of websites. Upon signing up for a free subscription, you take a very brief survey to get a rough sketch of your interests. A toolbar then sits at the top of your web browser, and when you hit the "Stumble" button, a random page will appear based on your interests. Like Pandora, there is a "I like it" button to help Stumbleupon further tune its searches to suit your likes. You can also share your findings with friends via Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. I've found this app to be a humorous anti-boredom tool and I've also discovered very tasty food recipe websites with it too, so you can speculate what my interests are.

imo Instant Messenger (Google Chrome, iPhone Android)

This little app allows you to mash together all of your instant messenger applications into one so you can chat with everyone across multiple friend lists all at once. It supports AIM, Skype, Facebook, Google Talk, and MSN Messenger among other popular chat platforms. It's excellent for smartphones because you're not eating up memory and killing battery life with having multiple programs open at the same time.

TweetDeck (Android, Google Chrome, iPhone, desktop standalone)

One of the biggest challenges with working with social media is being able to keep track of multiple Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google Buzz, Foursquare, and MySpace accounts. TweetDeck takes care of that in the form of a columned desktop organizing all your social media accounts in one place. Real-time updates appear as announcements on the bottom right of your screen, and you can post your tweets and status updates across multiple accounts with a few clicks of the mouse. I highly recommend this tool if social media is a major part of your job description.

Craigslist Notification (Android)

This app is the ultimate tool for perusing multiple search strings on Craigslist. With this app, you can customize searches based on category, region, price, and more! My favorite feature is the ability to "favorite" multiple finds and send all links as one e-mail message to other recipients. Makes searching for deals, steals, and events on one of the most popular web posting platforms on the web a lot quicker and more efficient.

Food Review: Yogi's Hoagies (Westerville, OH)

2011-09-03T15:54:00.002-04:00

Last Wednesday I decided to add some local fare to my lunch and stopped by Yogi's Hoagies on the way to Downtown Westerville.

Yogi's shows some Buckeye pride before the 9/3/11 football game against the University of Akron Zips.

This sandwich shop is known for their fully customizable, made-to-order subs and French bread pizzas. Yogi's also offers catering options in the form of large party subs of enormous proportions which are great for tailgates and parties.

Local store, local flare, local flavor.

For today's lunch, Matt and I tried the hot Philly sub and meatball sub, respectively. Both subs were quite tasty and flavorful. I was very impressed by the freshness of their sandwich bread, meats and toppings. The meatballs were seasoned quite well and tasted homemade. We also tried the garlic and cheese bread and found that to be quite delicious. To top it off, they served freshly-brewed sweet (and unsweetened) iced tea! The price was quite reasonable too; a standard 8" sub ranges from $4-7 depending on its ingredients. We were able to feed ourselves a very hearty lunch for two for less than $15.

Freshly toasted meatball with mushrooms. I can still smell that fresh sauce.

Yogi's Hoagies is a female-owned, private sandwich shop that has been in operation for over 40 years. The current owner, Sue Shields, has been there for 18 of those years. Thanks to support from the local community, it has managed to beat the odds and continue to operate, despite the competition of nearby, mainstream food establishments and fast food restaurants.

As a former small-business owner in California, I can understand the challenges of maintaining a business in the midst of heavy competition. It's one of the reasons that I take a little extra time to give local business owners an extra shout-out. If you're in the Westerville area, I encourage you to stop on by and try a sub. Or at least check out Sue's vast collection of random hanging clocks and houseplants.

Yogi's Hoagies is located at 475 South State Street, Westerville, OH 43081. You can also visit their website at http://www.yogishoagies.com/.

Product Review: Blinc M2 Bluetooth Helmet Headset

2011-08-24T18:31:00.000-04:00

I had the chance to take the Blinc M2 Bluetooth helmet headset for a test drive for the last week or so in hopes that I would potentially add it as an item at the motorcycle store.

Contents of a full Blinc M2 Headset package.

Here's my independent review:

The Blinc M2 and its counterpart, the Blinc M1 are standalone Bluetooth helmet headsets that are designed to universally fit all types of full and open-face motorcycle helmets through a combination of clip installation or adhesive plate and in-helmet speakers with a wind-resistant microphone. The only difference between the M1 and M2 is that the latter includes an integrated auto-seek FM radio. Blinc also has two additional headsets, the Blinc 1 and Blinc 3 that are exclusively integrated into several models of Torc helmets.

Additionally, both the Blinc M1 and M2 are claimed to be capable of bike-to-bike intercom up to 1500ft. in open space. I will not discuss this feature in this review because I only received one Blinc M2 unit for trial. However, the potential of being able to speak to another rider on the road does add to the value of this device for long-distance travel.

Installation: Using my Shoei RF-1000 helmet as the guinea pig, I was able to install the speakers in its recessed ear ports in just a few minutes. The actual Blinc M2 device was clipped on the left side of the helmet. Tools used: 2.5mm Allen key and Velcro. My biggest concern was that the length of the built-in microphone was quite short. I did improvise a little bit and tucked the entire microphone neck underneath my helmet's quick-release cheekpads.

The Blinc M2 unit is quite low profile and clipped quite nicely to the side of my helmet. The unit can also be installed by adhesive plate if desired.

Close-up of the "improvisation" I did with the microphone piece by sandwiching it underneath my helmet's cheekpad. I think the microphone could've been longer.

Durability/Weatherproof-ness: The outside casing of the M2 has a rubbery feel and the unit itself does feel very solid and able to take a beating. My only concern, however, is the headset's connection to the underside of the M2 unit. Although Blinc does claim that the unit is windproof and weatherproof, I would've liked to have taken this system through a rainstorm or severely cold weather to see how it would react to standard Midwest conditions.

Close-up of Blinc M2 unit.

Detail shot of the underside of the clip-mounted unit. Sound connection (right) is a three-section, mini stereo cable.

Bluetooth: Aside from just answering phone calls on the bike, the Blinc M2 is designed play music through any phone with A2DP technology. This Blinc M2's Bluetooth Connectivity was tested on three devices: HTC Droid Incredible (Android smartphone), Garmin Zumo 550 (motorcycle-specific GPS), and the iPhone 3G. Here are the results of the tests.

HTC (Droid) Incredible: Bluetooth connectivity was quick and simple. Once I put both units in discovery mode and entered the passcode (which is "0000" by factory default), I immediately was able to take phone calls and listen to my phone's local MP3 player and streaming music from Pandora Radio. Sound quality was excellent and was pretty close to plugging in a physical set of headphones.
Garmin Zumo 550: Bluetooth connectivity was also quick and simple with this unit, just like the HTC Incredible. The headset allowed me to listen to the unit's built-in MP3 player and hear voice directions. I could not hear the unit's XM radio through the headset (a known issue for any Bluetooth headset and this Garmin unit). Sound quality was quite poor for both the music and voice directions and resembled that of a standard telephone.
iPhone 4G: The Blinc M2 was unable to connect successfully to the sample iPhone. I am wondering if this is a problem with this specific Blinc M2 unit because online video demos for connecting a phone via Bluetooth to the headset do use an iPhone as the pairing item and is visually as easy as connecting the Android phone.

Phone call quality: When attached to the HTC Incredible phone, call quality was excellent at low speeds up to 35-40MPH. I had issues, however, with maintaining a clear conversation and hearing the other party at speeds over 60MPH, even with my windshield fully raised and helmet's faceshield completely closed. The speakers were very difficult to hear over the regular wind noise of the motorcycle ride. For the speaking aspect, it could potentially be due to the location of the microphone or the fact that it wasn't directly over my mouth.

Across-the-board problems/issues:
Volume control: Despite the fact that there is a volume control on its "multifunction button," the knob is useless and unresponsive for both the phone and the GPS connections. In fact, I had to physically pull out my phone and change the volume from the device itself. Also, when experimenting with the FM radio, it took quite a bit of turns to adjust the volume to the point that I couldn't figure out if I had changed anything.

What did you say?: In addition to being unable to turn the volume down while riding, there is no "mute" button on Blinc M2. The only way that music can be switched off is by receiving a phone call. I was able to do a short, faux mute by just pushing the phone button and enduring through an ear-piercing set of tones.

Dimensions/length of headset: As I had mentioned in the beginning regarding installation, the microphone is way too short to reach to the end of a full-face helmet. Also, the cord connecting both speakers together was too long and had to be tucked in quite a bit. Then again, since this is a "universal-fit" headset, it has to adapt to all types of helmets. In summary, make the goose-neck microphone an inch or two longer and it'll make quite a few more helmet wearers happier.

What's the MP3 button for?: There's an MP3 button at the bottom of the Blinc M2 unit that I never figured out what it was for. I wonder if it is specific to certain devices.

No audio passthrough: Unlike a few other popular Bluetooth helmet headsets, this Blinc M2 does not include an auxiliary audio port for directly plugging in an MP3 player or other sound-emitting device.

Final verdict/conclusion: If you're looking for something to just answer the phone and listen to music, this device will do the job, and if it's through a smartphone, quite well at that. However, you'd have to be one to be completely satisfied with a certain level of volume of sound that can only be adjusted at a full stop and fiddling with the actual paired device.

At the price of $139-159, this addition to your motorcycle gear is definitely an affordable bridge into the technology of Bluetooth helmet headsets. However, its features are limited and will definitely make you want an upgrade very quickly. For my long-distance touring needs for a headset with more versatility, I would save my pennies and just pick up the Scala G4 by Cardo instead.

Food Review: Greek Express (Columbus, OH - Polaris)

2011-08-14T17:37:00.000-04:00

It's been a bit of time since I've done a review on a fast food Greek restaurant so I decided to stop by this new establishment a few days ago, Greek Express, in the Polaris Shopping Center area across from Kroger. This is one of two locations run by the same company, the other down OH-750 in nearby Lewis Center.

For dinner, I tried their dinner plate of gyros and rice and a serving of fried calamari for an appetizer. The servings were very generous, in fact a little bigger than I wanted for dinner that evening, but I'm not the one to complain about extra food. I was even more surprised by the taste of the actual food. The gyro meat was quite dry and the rice was seasoned very unevenly and over-buttered and salted in multiple areas. The pita bread was the only real good-tasting object on my plate, and even that could have been a bit less rubbery. As for the calamari, it was obvious that it was generic, with a very bland crispy outside and a tasteless squid inside that screamed for sauce. I think that explains why I received multiple packages of the "tzatziki" sauce (I put it in quotations because I really didn't know what the heck that stuff was supposed to taste like).

Looks tantalizing, doesn't it? Couldn't say much about taste...it ended at looks.

It's very rare that I'll severely criticize a food establishment, but this one just deserved it. But for $10 or less you can at least fill your stomach so you won't feel as hungry.

And a suggestion for independent food establishments that plan to carry Greek-style food: don't show off the fact that you get your supply of food products from a major distributor. If you ever see the "Kronos" brand emblazoned on anything at a fast food Greek restaurant in the form of signs, posters, and tray liners, expect everything to taste like this. Seriously. Check out http://www.kronosproducts.com/. That's like saying gourmet food by Sygma and not by the expertise of your high-caliber chefs. Good grief.

If you want to try your luck on "Greek" food, Greek Express is located at 8685 Sancus Boulevard, Columbus, OH 43240. After a quick chat with a relative of one of the employees after dinner in the parking lot (he was admiring by motorcycle), he did admit to me that the chicken was ten times better than the gyros. Some patronage right there.

On a bright note, you won't have to travel too far down Sancus to get to Greek food that doesn't suck. I suggest visiting Crazzy Greek on Sancus/Lazelle to get that strange aftertaste out of your mouth.

Hockey Haikus for the Frustrated Goalie

2011-08-09T23:01:00.003-04:00

And here's something for the rainy evening.

I was going through some old blog archives from several years ago and had to bring these amusing hockey-related haikus I wrote back to the surface. I produced these in the midst of a 26-game losing streak (I'm not making up that number, by the way) while playing on three teams in three separate leagues. Since I couldn't really control what was happening on the ice, I figured I'd vent a little in classic 5-7-5 syllable poetry. That's my English degree at work, people. Huzzah.

As much as I enjoy being an ice hockey goaltender, there are days when I'll get caught in some strange game situation shaking my head and thinking, "Did that seriously just happen?"

Yup, it just did. Dammit.

But despite all the randomness of every drop of the puck, both positive and negative, hockey is one of those few venues in my world that I can shrug off some of the worst moments in a matter of minutes because of the need to focus on the next part of the game. I wish I could do that in real life...

But anyway, enjoy my 0.5 ounces of creativity. Perhaps you can visualize a smidge of my plight.

glove save off slapper
nobody can stop rebound
cannot bend that far

skate out of the zone
goalie screams fall to deaf ears
legs move like pudding

opportunity
three on none or breakaway
not first time tonight

enjoy adventure?
opponents swarm like bees
get stung quite often

Josh Groban's Straight to You Tour @ Schottenstein Center (August 5, 2011)

2011-08-08T18:21:00.001-04:00

And Josh Groban has proven once again why he's one of the top performers of our generation...

When I found out in March that Josh Groban was coming to Columbus for the first time in a several years, I had to make sure that I could secure tickets for his show. My chances for awesome tickets were very high because Josh Groban Fan Club members received first dibs on tickets one day before the general public for major tours. So after debating between seeing him at the new CONSOL Energy Center arena in Pittsburgh or the smaller and more intimate Schottenstein Center at Ohio State, I decided on the latter because of ticket price and the fact that I was getting floor seats. So just on a whim, I decided on smack dab in the middle, section F5.

I brought one of my good friends with me to the show and was quite impressed with the location of our seats in relation to the main stage. She had never seen Josh perform live before so this was pretty exciting for her as well. However, we both realized that our seats were even more special than we had originally thought...

For the first part of the concert, we were entertained by the opening act, jazz pianist Eric Lewis, also known by his stage name, "ELEW." His style of piano play was extremely unconventional; he played the piano standing up and even reaching directly into the piano's strings, pulling and pounding away at them to create some of the strange sound effects included in his renditions of very popular songs.

Here's the stage from our vantage point in F5. The "ELEW" banner was for the opening act, avant-guarde jazz pianist Eric Lewis.

For the main event, we had our eyes fixated on the main stage as his orchestra came out and made their way to the front of the stage. As they began to play, we noticed many members of the audience turning their attention to the other side of the arena. It turned out that he would kick off the concert from the smaller stage in the middle of the venue, more specifically the tall stage platform directly behind our seats...in floor section F5!

Josh starts the show less than 30 feet away from our seats!

And so came out the phone cameras and videos. It was a surreal experience to get that up close to a performer that I have admired and enjoyed listening to for all these years. The lights were quite bright so I had to tweak the phone setting to get it just right, but that was definitely an awesome experience. Make it even more fun, Josh had to run past us several times to head to the larger stage, so there were times where we were less than an arm's length away!

Josh plays "February Song" from his "Closer" album as part of his opening act.

A unique tidbit about this stop in Columbus from Josh himself: his dad's side of the family is from the Columbus area so he had quite a bit of relatives out in the audience. (In a related note, I had the opportunity to watch him in his hometown of Los Angeles during his first tour in 2004.)

Josh performs "Oceano" from his "Closer" album. The background staging was modeled to look like an old building's ruins where projected graphics were displayed directly from them.

A unique part of this tour is that Josh really tried to make the concert a lot more intimate and interactive. There were several parts of the performance where he would stop and speak to the audience about some of his adventures on tour. There was even a portion of the show where he received three questions from the audience (submitted via text message before the show) that he had to answer. For this show, he ended up (1) ad-libbing a song about a fan named Kathleen, (2) trying to name how many languages he's sung in, and (3) singing a duet of "Closer" with a fan who happened to be a female tenor, something he had never done before. Unlike his other shows that were a lot more rehearsed, he seemed so much more relaxed and casual in this one, and it showed all the way down to the sneakers he wore to run from one part of the stage to the other.

I don't know how much closer you can get to "The Voice," but here you go.

Josh busts out the drumsticks and plays through one of his songs. And you thought he could just sing and play the piano.

Josh went through a wide selection of songs from his several albums, refreshing our memories of his early roots with pieces such as "Alla Luce Del Sole," "Alejate," "February Song," and captivating us with his new releases such as "The Wandering Kind" and "Bells of New York City."

Josh and his long-time musical director, Tariq Akoni (left), team up for "Galileo" from Josh's newest studio album, "Illuminations." I had the chance to meet Tariq in 2004 when I was waiting by the stage door before his show in Los Angeles at the Shrine Auditorium. He even signed my CD album!

I'm proud to say that as a seven-year member of the Josh Groban Fan Club, I've seen him in three out of four world tours he's done since he started, beginning with his 2004 "Closer Tour" (Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, CA), his 2007 "Awake" tour (SaveMart Center, Fresno, CA), and his current "Straight to You Tour." His 2010 "Before We Begin Tour" was limited to only nine cities and I couldn't make it to Toronto, Canada to see one of his few stops on the East Coast.

To have seen him grow as a singer and as a performer throughout the years has been lots of fun and I will continue to find every opportunity to watch him live whenever I can. And if you haven't heard Josh sing live, you're missing quite an amazing performance from a true showman.

Food Review: Aloha Hawaiian BBQ and Asian Bistro (Grandview, OH)

2011-08-01T17:48:00.004-04:00

One of my biggest pet peeves about living here in the Buckeye State is the lack of food chains that don't involve either pizza, burgers, or subs. Being a Californian, I was spoiled by the popular, non-burger dependent food chains out there (Daphne's Greek Cafe, and L&L's Hawaiian BBQ to name a couple) that would occasionally be lunch or dinner after a hectic day of work.

After nearly two years in Columbus (and two months of eagerly passing by the soon-to-open location), a void in my food selection has finally been filled. Hawaiian BBQ is finally here in the community of Grandview with Aloha Hawaiian BBQ and Asian Bistro!

Yep, food choices just got a lot less lame out here.

Unlike the standard Hawaiian BBQ places that I've eaten at on the West Coast, this one has also introduced some popular Asian dishes in the mix including Pad Thai, tempura udon soup, and several Chinese entrees. In fact, Matt and I ordered a small side of crab rangoons to start things off, which disappeared before I could pull out the camera.

So some people would ask, "What's so special about Hawaiian BBQ?" It's all about the taste and the simplicity. Hawaiian BBQ bases itself off the standard plate lunch. It's basically your choice of meat, a scoop of rice, and Hawaiian macaroni salad which tastes far different from your standard supermarket choices. It's simple, it's cheap, and it's filling.

For my main course, I ordered a chicken combo consisting of BBQ chicken and chicken katsu (lightly fried cutlet). Sides were the traditional mac salad and scoop of rice. One bite into the meal and I was taken right back to the South Bay again. Both grilled and fried meats were done well and very juicy. The mac salad still had its mellow and slightly sweet flavoring, and the rice was cooked just right, as I like to say "exactly to spec."

Definitely worth the wait and the 20-minute drive.

I am excited to see a small, culinary piece of home here in Columbus. Thanks to the existence of this store, I no longer have to ride 600 miles east to New York City for L&L's or 2100 miles west to Las Vegas, NV for another restaurant of the same genre. Yes, that's how uncommon a restaurant like this is. So for all you fellow California ex-patriates out there, your fix for chicken katsu, spam musubi, and loco moco has been satisfied. We all can't go home, but we can bring a little of it back here.

Aloha Hawaiian BBQ is family owned and located at 974 W 5th Ave., Columbus, OH 43212. Open 7 days a week. If you've never tried this style of food, bring some friends, have a nice lunch, and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere!

Test Ride Review: 2011 Kawasaki Ninja 1000

2011-07-30T13:55:00.002-04:00

I had the chance to test ride the 2011 Kawasaki Ninja 1000 as part of the festivities of AMA Vintage Days at Mid-Ohio last Sunday. I had wanted to ride this bike mainly because I had owned its last predecessor released in the United States, the 2008 Kawasaki Z1000, for a time and was curious with this addition to the Kawi family. (The 2009-2010 Z1000 was identical to the 2008 but only released in Europe due to low sales in the U.S.)

For the 2011 lineup, Kawasaki has the option of both the Z1000 and the Ninja 1000, two bikes with the same engine but with two different personalities.

For less flashiness, the Ninja 1000 is also available in a black/black color scheme.

I often refer to the Ninja 1000 as "the Z1000 with clothes." It is, literally, a Z1000 with a more touring-inspired fairing that would be ideal for the daily commute or the long haul. There are even factory options for hard bags if you're really travelling somewhere!

The digital speedometer/analog tachometer combo is a very similar style to the 2008 Z1000 and includes a double trip odometer and fuel gauge. I would've liked to see addition of the gear shift indicator that's included on both the Kawasaki ZX-6 and ZX-10 sportbikes.

We set out on a series of local twisty roads in the Mansfield area to test the bike's acceleration, braking, and cornering. My rear suspension was set up for someone who was lighter, so I found myself drifting into turns a little more than I wanted to. I did, however, like grippiness and response of the OEM tires on this bike, Bridgestone Battlax BT016R Hypersports, and enjoyed flicking the bike quite aggressively through a few switchbacks and tight curves. In terms of power, I didn't notice too much of a difference between this bike and my previous 2008 Z1000, whose engine was about 50cc smaller with a fewer horses. But unlike the Z1000, I found this Ninja 1000's throttle much smoother and much more crisp response than its predecessor.

The 2011 Z1000/Ninja 1000 feature another take of the unusual stock exhaust, a distinct, yet love-or-hate feature of the Z1000 series since 2003.

Pros:
- very standard, upright naked bike ergonomics
- adjustable windshield
- lightweight feeling (for a liter sportbike) and easy to flick around
- smooth throttle with very little abruptness
- options for hard luggage

Cons:
- suspension is soft in the front, definitely needs stiffer springs
- wish the stock adjustable windshield was larger, but that can be fixed with an aftermarket solution
- $10,999 MSRP price tag may have some people looking at fully-faired sport-touring bikes instead

In conclusion, Kawaski has made a great bike that combines the zip and nimbleness of the Z1000 and the versatility of a sport tourer in a very functional package. I would recommend this bike for those weekend long-distance trips where the destination brings on the twisty roads or as an everyday commuter that still possesses an excitement factor.

Even with the new Z1000 and the Ninja 1000 out on the market, I still consider the '07-'08 Z1000 a formidable standard bike that will do just as much as the 2011 model. You can't go wrong with any of these bikes, and with a little suspension tweaking and some luggage, you'll be able to go rip down any paved road.

Special thanks to Sue Slate from the Women's Motorcyclist Foundation for the opportunity to jump on a Ninja 1000 last week!

Fuzzy! Best. Rat. Ever. (2008-2011)

2011-07-27T10:02:00.002-04:00

Fuzzy retired to the great messy kitchen in the sky at 11:45PM last night at the approximate age of three years. He fell asleep on my lap peacefully in a warm blanket. We're going to miss the little bugger, but he put up a heck of a fight against a very brief illness. Of course he didn't leave without overhearing me tell a friend his life story in an hour. Always wanting to look cute and be the center of attention until the very end...

He leaves behind a lifetime of memories and lots of food particles and stolen pieces of paper under the bed. He spent many a night sleeping underneath bedsheets and frequently next to our feet. He probably ran farther with pieces of food in his mouth bigger than his head than any other rat that I've known, granting he had the liberty of the hallway whenever we were home.

When we lived in CA, Fuzzy was notorious for using Post-It Notes, pens, and five $20 bills as bedding in his igloo. He also found shelter in my used helmets and was often seen sticking his head out of them whenever he smelled freshly cooked pasta in the kitchen. A food conniseur, he has enjoyed tasty samplings of meat, poultry, fish, bread, pesto pasta, and the giant strawberry or piece of cookie for desert. He loved root beer and would often sample some whenever we popped a bottle open. He also had this thing for Thin Mints and gum that I'll never understand.

Fuzzy gets his own root beer. Sort of.

What a tough act to follow. Not too shabby for a rejected, up-for-adoption, one-eyed hairless rat from a PetSmart in Tustin, CA.

To see some of his shenanigans from some of his better days, visit http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.654979344015.2337901.3402780&l=7d70f0c938&type=1

To see him steal stuff off my old video-editing desk in CA, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUvAo3MhioQ.

And, just to watch nibble "cheese," visit http://youtu.be/5KHq0IvsQGA.

Looks like he won't have to beg for his favorite strawberry-favorite yogurt drops; he's got them by the bucket wherever he is now. :)

Fuzzy chills out, like usual...wrinkles and all.

Diana's Final Memorial in the CA Redwoods (7/9/11)

2011-07-23T14:46:00.002-04:00

After hanging out with friends at the WOW Ride-In in San Jose, I spent an extra couple days in CA to attend the memorial service of Diana Thornton, one of my Columbus riders that passed away to cancer last August. Coincidentally, she lived in the San Jose area for 15 years while she worked for in the Bay Area and then transferred to Columbus, OH where I then met her. She was a long-time Women On Wheels® member that helped start both the LA Iron Angels and the Buckeye State Lady Riders, two chapters that I've served as a director. She will be missed dearly, and I was very honored to be part of her final send-off in the California redwoods.

I met with Scott and Christian, Diana's husband and one of her sons, respectively, at a family friend's house in Vallejo. We then rode north on CA-37 and US-101 until we reached CA-128. After a spirited ride chasing Christian on his Honda Valkyrie through the twisties of CA-128 (peg-scraping fun!), we stopped at the Navarro Vineyards in Philo to meet up with a few more friends. This place was Diana's favorite winery, and I even had the chance to taste one her favorite selections, a sweet Gewürztraminer. After that, we continued down CA-128 to the memorial grove of Redwood trees.

The Navarro Vineyards are a family-owned winery that's been in these hills for over 30 years.

This memorial was a very unique one there at the Downing-Nilon family grove on CA-128. There was no church, no formal ceremonies, just us and the beauty of the California redwoods surrounding us. Also, this place can only be found using landmarks and some research. To add to its significance to Diana, CA-128 is a very popular motorcycle route where on any given point of the day you'll hear the roar of engines revving by as the motorcycles enter the next set of curves that eventually lead to the ocean on Pacific Coast Highway. After trodding through this hallowed place for a short time, I realized that this one part of the forest combined two things that she cherished very much, the beauty of nature and the freedom of motorcycles on the road. It was her final wish to have her ashes scattered in this area. Not a bad way to spend eternity if you ask me!

This is the final curve on CA-128 right before you have to pull over to enter the grove of Redwoods.

As part of the the memorial, we were each given a small bag of Diana's ashes and asked to walk around, enjoy the beauty of this place, and scatter them where we would feel be a place that she would have enjoyed visiting. Scott kicked things off by spreading a large amount of her ashes around her favorite tree along with a good sampling of a bottle of her other favorite wine, a Cabernet Sauvignon. We then wandered throughout the area to pay our respects as well.

Here's Scott, her husband and best friend of over 50 years, in front of Diana's tree, the place where the majority of her ashes are scattered. He also poured a serving of Diana's favorite wine from the Navarro Vineyards at the base of the tree as well.

I spent some time walking a ways from the grove reminiscing about the first time I had ever met her. When I had moved to Ohio from California almost a year and a half ago, one of my first projects here was to restart the Women On Wheels® chapter in Columbus that had folded almost two years prior to my arrival. Diana was one of the first people to respond to my inquiry e-mails, and after we had met in late November for the first of several organizational meetings, I knew I had someone who definitely was committed to seeing WOW return to Columbus. It was funny to think that it was another Californian that helped me find some purpose to being in Ohio, and I thank her immensely for that.

I walked this area and climbed down a small hill to get to this beautiful stream by the trees. Some of her ashes "rode" with the currents.

This new sapling in the grove will probably become a mighty tree in a few hundred years. Diana will be there to watch it grow.

If you're ever in this part of the woods, find this plaque and you're in the right place.

A close-up of that bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon. We all had a toast to her memory.

This is a shot is from the vantage point of Diana's redwood tree looking up. This area is just incredible.

Her son, Christian, sits atop the same tree stump where Diana sat many years ago. Scott has a picture of her doing the same thing with a glass of wine in her hand!

Her story is a beautiful one, and I wish I had the opportunity to have gotten to know her better. Her charisma, enthusiasm for rebuilding my Columbus chapter, and her infectious smile was always remembered at our formation meetings. She got sick right after we signed charter so I never had the chance to ride with her, but the stories of her cross-country treks and long-distance journeys from Scott and her sons were amazing. Scott is currently working on a book that chronicles all their travels - that'll definitely be a must-read and I'm looking forward to seeing the final copy.

After we paid our respects, we returned to the Navarro Vineyards to have a picnic lunch and then traveled our separate ways, me toward Oregon en route back to Ohio and Scott and Christian back to Idaho. As I rode back through CA-128 past her redwood grove toward Pacific Coast Highway, I revved Eleanor's engine one more time, my farewell and send-off to a fellow rider and an inspirational friend.

ATV Safety Class @ Hollister Hills SVRA (Hollister, CA)

2011-07-15T00:25:00.001-04:00

Sometimes to have a lot of fun, you gotta get a little dirty!

As part of the festivities of the Women On Wheels® 25th International Ride-In taking place in San Jose, CA last week, I had the opportunity with five other WOW members to take the ATV Safety Class ran by the California State Parks Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division. It was held at the Hollister Hills SVRA (State Vehicular Recreational Area). Learning curriculum and material provided was from the ATV Safety Institute.

Waiting for class to begin. Weather was quite mild in the morning but got a bit hot by time we hit the trails. Drink lots of water!

Our class was taught by two CA Park Rangers, a man and a woman, who were both very experienced in off-road riding and working here at Hollister Hills. This course covered the basics, skills, and techniques of operating an ATV safely. We started with an introduction to the ATVs, going through their basic controls and variations between the several models offered for riding. Next, we practiced several drills that focused on acceleration, proper braking, gear shifting, and turning. Later on, we continued with advanced techniques such as swerving to avoid obstacles, stopping while in a turn, managing hills, and running over obstructions. Unlike popular belief, an ATV is NOT easy to ride proficiently! We learned how much it relies on counterbalancing and weight shifting to assist its maneuverability. It's also physically intensive as I found out very quickly, in some cases even more so than the dirtbikes I had ridden in MSF Dirtbike School last September!

I could not help but notice how much of this class echoed many of the basic techniques and safety strategies of the MSF Basic Rider Course., especially in the areas of hazard management and accident prevention. Because of the nature of off-road riding, being aware and alert while out in the wilderness is even more vital to safety and enjoyment in the outdoors. According to statistics from the CSPC (Consumer Product Safety Commission), more than 3498 people have died from ATV-related crashes since 2004 with many others becoming severely paralyzed or injured in accidents. With the sport of off-road ATV riding growing by leaps and bounds, any step to educate oneself about the operation of these machines will only make the experience that much more rewarding.

We had a nice variety of ATVs to choose from with varied engine sizes.

The end of the course culminated with a trail ride through a couple of the easy (and very scenic) paths inside the Hollister Hills SVRA, quick previews of the 300+ miles of trails open to ATVs, dirtbikes, mountain bikes, and other off-highway vehicles. Hollister Hills is only one of several OHV (Off-Highway Vehicle) exclusive parks in Northern California. There are dozens more throughout the state and hundreds all over the country.

And to prove that you're never too old to try something new, my ATV class received the unique distinction of having the oldest woman (ever) to complete the ATV school at 71 years of age! She surely didn't look or act her age running over all those giant 4x4 pieces of wood, taking those hills, and hitting the trails!

I definitely recommend this course to anyone who's thinking of purchasing a four-wheeler or planning to spend a weekend off-roading with friends. Spending most of my time on street bikes, I learned very quickly that an ATV does not operate "just like a motorcycle." It is an off-road vehicle with a different set of physics and controls that, in some cases, are counter-intuitive to a seasoned two-wheeled street rider.

Special thanks to Women On Wheels®, Debra Cable of CA State Parks and Recreation, Sue Slate of the Women's Motorcycle Foundation, and the CA chapters of WOW for setting up this event. Interested in learning more about the fun places to ride off-road vehicles? To find the closest OHV park to you, visit your state's park service website. For additional resources, talk to your local ATV/dirtbike dealer, local off-road clubs, and other off-road enthusiasts.

Food Review: Arizmendi Bakery and Pizzeria (Emeryville, CA)

2011-07-04T03:03:00.002-04:00

Since my trips back to CA appear to be very far and few in between, I usually make a list of food places that I "must" visit before returning back to that one other state I live in now. I think I've just added another place to my list, that is, when I end up back in Northern California again.

For lunch, my old high school friend took me to Arizmendi Bakery and Pizzeria in Emeryville to try one of their unique artisan pizzas. Every day of the month, a different pizza is made with unique ingredients, and the list is usually revealed a week at a time on their website. For today (Sunday), it was topped with sweet potatoes, Pasilla peppers, feta, and lime oil. I was curious about this combination, especially with the sweet potatoes, but I was extremely astonished by the amount of flavor that this pizza had to offer.

The biggest surprise was that they didn't use any tomato sauce underneath the cheese. That made the pizza extremely light, flavorful, and put the focus of the pizza on the featured ingredients. The contrasting sweetness of the sweet potato and the feta cheese was a very tasty combination, the lime oil added a slight tinge of tartness, and the peppers had a zucchini-esque texture that just worked well with all of the ingredients. It was obvious that there was a lot of research put into these blends. I'll let the photos do the talking.

Left to right: artisan pizza, shortbread, cheese scone
All of the above: super tasty nom noms

I'm going out on a limb to say that this is, by far, the BEST pizza that I have ever tasted anywhere in this country, and I've had quite a few pizzas in a good number of states. I washed down this wonderful selection with a Reed's Ginger Beer (brewed right in Los Angeles).

By the way, pizza isn't the only thing they're good at. They're also a bakery, and I do suggest trying the shortbread. And if it wasn't so hot today, I would've gone for one of their coffees too. :)

Arizmendi is located at 4301 San Pablo Ave., Emeryville, CA 94608. They are a cooperative (worker owned and operated business) so it's a unique model that really puts the employees in control of their own store. Stop on by and enjoy the food.

Taking Eleanor home, the Northern Route.

2011-07-03T16:15:00.001-04:00

I left from Elko, NV yesterday at 6AM and was at the California border by 11AM. It felt wonderful to cross back into the Golden State again, and reentry via I-80 offered some of the most scenic (and twisty) roads that, if you took your eyes off course you could end up in a barrier. That was the kind of intensity of riding that I had missed being in Ohio for so long, where everything around me within a reasonable distance is a straight line or a meandering curve. In CA, even the freeways are interesting!

CA is one of the few places in the world where you can see snow-capped mountains in July and it's 85 degrees at your vantage point.

The return of the expensive gas prices! Well, it didn't help that I filled up on a mountain stop in Emigrant Pass, CA. As you can see, they had enough 4s.

My first recreational stop of the day was the Cycle Gear Superstore in Sacramento, a 25,000 square foot motorcycle store that's the largest one of the entire Cycle Gear chain. I was a frequent Cycle Gear customer when I still lived in CA so it was pretty cool to see their flagship location. I stopped counting how many tires, gear, and what have you I've purchased from those guys. The outside is still under construction, but there was lot of stuff to see inside.

Front of the store is still under construction!

This is just a small portion of Cycle Gear's lineup of Dainese gear. There's also two brands exclusive to the Cycle Gear chain, BiLT and Sedici.

I've always liked Cycle Gear's selection of high-end and current motorcycle gear for both street and dirt. You can actually go there, try stuff on, and they'll have your size in stock! Their large selection of Alpinestars, Dainese, and Tourmaster rival many other stores and this chain is pretty much the store of choice for motorcyclists here in California and in 25 other states. They're also one of the few motorcycle accessory stores that offer a complete competitive price match guarantee on all in-stock items. Their exclusive lines of gear are also very high quality and offer a nice alternative to mainstream pricier name brands. Their special order system is pretty efficient too, and there are actual computer stations in the store dedicated to just catalog surfing and ordering.

Here in CA, it's not a choice on whether or not you use a helmet, it's how much you want to spend on one. At least I'll have no problem getting any Shoei parts while I'm out here.

After I perused the store (and got out of there with a boot air dryer on clearance and a pair of Nike flip-flops that's being shipped home), I hopped on the bike and rode 150 miles south on I-5/CA-156 to Hollister to catch the tail end of the Corbin factory's open house. It was fitting to actually stop there and see where my motorcycle's seat was made. After all, it did just get me through nearly 3000 miles in three days!

Here's the entrance to the world-famous Corbin factory, makers of custom comfort seats and all sorts of motorcycle storage solutions.

Industrial sewing machines line the work area.

Here's where some of the customizing and materials are laid out.

Seat bases, foam padding, and seat backrests. All of this is handmade from scratch here at this factory.

And a random surprise, a Yamaha MT-01! This motorcycle isn't available in the United States, and according to the owner (who also happens to own Corbin as well), this was the only unit here in the US for quite a while. Yamaha missed the boat on this one; it would've been a formidable alternative to the H-D XR1200. I've wanted one since I first saw it on the Yamaha UK website.

After that fun, I headed a little bit more down the road to the Hollister Hills SVRA (State Vehicular Recreation Area) to scout for this week's events at the WOW Ride-In in San Jose and then headed 90 miles back north on US-101 to Oakland to eat some In-N-Out Burger and eventually, hang out at my friend's house. Upon reaching I-880 toward Oakland, I was able to pull a move with Eleanor that I had waited almost two years to do with her again: a freeway lane split. The car I passed even scooted a little onto the shoulder to give me an extra foot to get through because the driver knew that I was going to do it! I didn't need that much room, but the gesture was awesome! Did I mention that drivers here know how to merge, yield, and match freeway speed on entry? I miss that high level of competency in car operation.

And, dinner. This is the first full real meal I had since leaving Nebraska so I relished every moment of this #1 Double-Double combo with over-the-top extra grilled onions. Eleanor got a break from the action.

A fitting photo for a truly Californian motorcycle.

WIN.

So after a 700 mile day, I spent the evening in Oakland with my old high school friend and her husband and I'm currently relaxing there before I mosey on over to San Jose in preparation for the WOW Ride-In. Here's a few shots of my Sunday adventure.

Oakland is right next door to Emeryville, home of Pixar Studios.

Chickens in the backyard! Can't get eggs any fresher than that.

Georgie hangs out staring at the poultry.

Iron Butt BunBurner 1500/SaddleSore 2000 Report

2011-07-03T13:22:00.000-04:00

"To be insane, you must have discipline." - Hudson Leick

This report has been completed in between my two stays in Elko, NV and Oakland, CA after an Iron Butt adventure that involved four time zones, 45 hours of travel, and nearly 3000 miles on the motorcycle. Here's a little recap of my travels.

Eleanor's all geared up and ready to ride!

Departure from Columbus: 12:30AM EST, 6/30

Final Stop for BB1500: Rawlins, WY, 9:30AM MST, 7/1

Final Stop for SS2000: Elko, NV, 7:30PM PST, 7/1

The route was very basic: I-70 to I-80 via I-29 from Columbus, OH to Green River, WY. According to Google Maps, the total came to 1520 miles, enough for the BunBurner ride (1500 miles in 36 hours). I originally planned for this route to be a shot for the more extreme BunBurner Gold (1500 miles in 24 hours), but due to severe closures on I-29 in Iowa due to flooding in that part of the state that I didn't know about in advance, my connection from I-70 was delayed so badly mid-day that I was trapped in the state for nearly two hours, eliminating the possibility for Gold. However, the extra 200 miles I covered trying to find an alternate route brought my final destination for the BunBurner a lot closer.

And I ride, and I ride, and I ride...

So after a broiling run through most of 100+ degree Nebraska and 285 miles to go on the BunBurner 1500 attempt, I had to call it a day after getting caught in the middle of a severe storm that had winds nearing 50MPH and throwing me around on Eleanor near to Big Springs, NE. The tradeoff? A nice dinner with steak and second round with a regional favorite, Rocky Mountain Oysters.

Yup, it's genuine fried bull junk. If you've seen some of the other stuff I've eaten, this would probably be quite benign.

By the morning it cleared beautifully and it was easy to get to WY to finish off the final leg. I was glad that I waited for that sunrise because that portion of I-80 was some of the most scenic portions of interstate I've ever ridden. I had missed the pretty part of I-80 in Wyoming when Matt and I moved to Ohio in 2009 because we connected from I-25 from Fort Collins, CO instead of from Reno, NV.

Crossing the WY border during the final stretch of the BB1500. Yahoo.

After completing those final 285 miles for the first certification, I had over 12 hours to ride 500 miles to earn the SaddleSore 2000. That was completed quite casually with a stop for ice cream and a rest stop in Utah. I ended up in Elko, NV with a total of 2050 miles and three hours to spare.

This is gorgeous, and it was only the rest stop!

A member of the local wildlife. It saw my camera and took a stand.

Some additional notes...

My two biggest challenges were boredom during the long stretches of road and the heat wave I experienced in Nebraska. While I rode through the night, there wasn't much to see, so staying alert really involved a lot of good music and comedy routine selections. The same thing applied during the day; lots of songs and switching between channels on my XM radio. Also, with hours and hours on the saddle, I had to use several methods of keeping myself from getting too sore. Some methods included standing on the pegs while moving a crawl in work zones, engaging my BrakeAway cruise control mechanism, dangling the legs, and perching my feet onto the passenger pegs. As for the heat, my evaporative cooling vest saved the day, but the dry heat (100-105 degrees with crosswinds) made the last stretch of road a bit fatiguing. Keeping my CamelBak filled with ice water was a lifesaver as well.

I was lucky that the weather on the second day was relatively mild. Riding through the last portion of Nebraska into Wyoming was actually quite chilly with temps in the 50s and a crosswind. I had to use my Gerbings heated jacket liner and gloves for the first three hours of travel until it warmed up enough to just ride with my thicker Aerostitch Roadcrafter jacket. By midday I was back with the mesh jacket and didn't even need the cooling vest at all.

Contrary to popular belief, I did NOT drink any coffee or have any energy drinks during this entire journey. I had long days but I was able to sleep 6-7 hours a night which was sufficient and just enough to keep me from waking up groggy. The big key was keeping hydrated with lots of water and stopping at regular intervals.

The ability to ride through those miles comes with time. If you're thinking of doing these kinds of rides, work up to them and practice, practice, practice!

I think my vacation can start now...!

An actor finally gets long-awaited recognition from the public...

2011-06-27T16:18:00.000-04:00

I was musing about this after reading several articles published lately about world-renowned Canadian actor, Christopher Plummer who is currently acting in several films and just completed a 30-show engagement in Toronto two months ago. One notable article is NPR's "Christopher Plummer: After 81 Years, A 'Beginner'."

Here's the amazing part: He's still keeping up a full traveling and acting schedule despite the fact that he's 81 years old!

I've been a long-time Christopher Plummer fan for nearly 15 years, and like almost every young person in this generation, it was his role as Captain von Trapp in "The Sound of Music" that first won me over. And as I grew up and began to watch many more of his other films he's performed in and animated movies that he's voiced-over I realized very quickly that his versatility as both a film actor and a stage performer was unmatched. He's played everything from a Klingon ("Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country), Sherlock Holmes ("Murder by Decree"), the Incan king/god Athualpa ("Royal Hunt of the Sun"), Mike Wallace ("The Insider"), John Barrymore ("Barrymore" - stage performance), to multiple Shakespearean characters, and the list goes on and on. His voice has been lent to animated movies and given life to characters such as the Grand Duke from MGM's "Rock-a-Doodle" and most recently, the conniving Charles Muntz from Pixar's "Up."

I've had the chance to accumulate memorabilia from many parts of his storied career, collecting VHS and DVD copies of his more popular films, 8mm transfers of his early work, and unique artifacts such as original costume test shots and one of my favorites, an autographed poster done for the Stratford Public Library in Canada which is only one of 30 known that Plummer has signed.

My set of original costume test shots from "The Sound of Music." These were shipped from France with photocopies of the original paperwork accompanying the photos from 20th Century Fox.

Yeah, I was the weird one. When kids my age were having obnoxious crushes over Jonathan Taylor Thomas and Leonardo di Caprio, I was the one watching Christopher Plummer in throwback films and enjoying the sheer talent and grace on stage that has kept him going for decades. That longevity has been rewarding, and he's still entertaining another generation of movie and theatre-goers.

According to the Stratford Public library, Christopher Plummer only signed 30 of these posters. I entered a charity drawing with the library to win one of these and my name was drawn. Not bad for sending $10 to Canada!

A little over 11 years ago, I began an online unofficial fan club on Yahoo! Groups dedicated to Christopher Plummer to teach myself the ins and outs of moderating online groups and message boards. Currently it's well over 200 members and has continued to have some level of activity over the last few years. Users have contributed many photos and articles to its archive, and it still ranks as one of the largest Christopher Plummer-related message boards on the Internet. It's a strange accomplishment that I forget about at times but it's a unique project that's lingered on for so long.

So there's my story on how I've admired my favorite actor. He's living proof that there's no school like the old school.

To visit the fan club, visit http://movies.groups.yahoo.com/group/christopherplummerfanclub/

Updated Itinerary: Trip to San Jose, CA

2011-06-19T10:46:00.000-04:00

About two weeks left until departure! Eleanor's just needs an oil change and another driving light installed and she's ready to go.

This is version 6 of the ride route. It's pretty much the same as the first route, except that the destination cities have been changed. Due to an event being rescheduled, I will be staying in northern CA for an additional day and as a result, will have to extend my daily miles to make up for lost time on the return back (average about 625 miles per day). This shouldn't change much barring any technical difficulties during the trip.

6/30 - Depart from Columbus, OH
7/1-7/2 - Green River, WY (BunBurner Gold 1500 7/1, BunBurner 1500 7/2)
7/3 - Reno, NV
7/3 or 7/4-7/8 - San Jose/Oakland, CA
7/9 - Navarro Redwoods State Park, then ride to Eugene, OR
7/10 - Missoula, MT
7/11 - Spearfish, SD
7/12 - LaCrosse, WI
7/13 - Columbus, OH

View Larger Map

Food Review: Taste of Thai (Columbus, OH - Polaris)

2011-06-17T13:00:00.002-04:00

As my way to celebrate completing the MSF Basic Rider Course last weekend, I decided to eat at a brand new Thai restaurant that's located near the Polaris shopping area that I noticed while I was riding down the street. It's called Taste of Thai and it's a small, family owned venue that is conveniently near Chase Bank's main headquarters and several other office buildings in the area.

Yep, another food stop for me and Eleanor!

When I walked in, I was immediately greeted by the hostess wearing traditional Thai clothing. It was pretty slow for a Sunday (I was the only customer in the store). The restaurant's interior is a very simple and quaint atmosphere with traditional Thai art. There was also a TV screen playing various videos on Thai food and Thailand tourism.

I ordered an appetizer and a noodle plate for my main course. For the appetizer, I requested their crab rangoons. I was quite surprised by their take on this entree that's often seen on many a Chinese restaurant menu; it was spiked with curry! That along with the sweet sauce was definitely a great first impression to what ended up becoming a great meal. I accompanied this dish with delicious tall glass of Thai iced tea.

Extremely light and flavorful interpretation of an Asian snack!

The main course was a very unique take at Pad See Ew, a noodle dish with sweet sauce, beef, and carrots. This is one of my favorite Thai foods and one I used to indulge on during those boring weekly teacher meetings I had at my old job. This rendition used the same thin, flat noodles used in Pad Thai instead of the traditional wide flat rice noodles that I've always seen in Pad See Ew. The gamble surely paid off, and the dish was delicious and extremely flavorful.

Very tasty and quite filling!

For those looking for a spicy kick, all of these dishes can be made to "Thai spec" with the extra heat. For me, I requested the mild version of all these dishes, and all were very tasty.

I highly recommend this restaurant if you're looking for a diverse menu of REAL Thai food made by native Thai people. This is one of the better Thai restaurant that I've eaten at and one of the tastier ones in Columbus. I'd like to return to sample more of their dishes.

Taste of Thai is located at 8489 Sancus Blvd, Columbus, OH 43240, behind City Barbecue.

Trip Draft: Columbus to San Jose, CA (6/30-7/13/11)

2011-06-14T12:00:00.000-04:00

All right folks, it's June and that means it's less than a month to my annual ride to the Women On Wheels® International Ride-In, wherever the heck it is.

This year, I get to ride west back to my home state of CA to the northern coast of San Jose. It'll be my chance to return to the Golden State for the first time since February and it'll be the first trip home for Eleanor since she left in late August 2009.

I don't have a lot of time to take off for this journey, and with this year's Ride-In being clear across the country I have to cover a lot of ground and attempt to get to the West Coast in four days or less. I have covered this distance before (in reverse from Los Angeles to Columbus), taking a little over four days so this won't be too much of a stretch. To try to make the push a little more rewarding, I will attempt a second Iron Butt run, either a BunBurner 1500 (1500 miles in 36 hours), BunBurner Gold 1500 (1500 miles in 24 hours), or a SaddleSore 2000 (2000 miles in 48 hours). After my successful SaddleSore 1000 in August 2010, I know that I am capable of this task, and I think the comfort adjustments I made to Eleanor will be a huge advantage in eating up the distance.

On the return, I will be crossing through several states I have not ridden a motorcycle through (or been): Oregon, Washington, Montana, and Wisconsin. This trip will bring my total number of states crossed with Eleanor to 43, leaving Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana to finish the Continental 48 states on the same motorcycle.

Here's the current itinerary:
6/30 - Depart from Columbus, OH
7/1-7/2 - Green River, WY (BunBurner Gold 1500 7/1, BunBurner 1500 7/2)
7/3 - Reno, NV
7/3 or 7/4-7/7 - San Jose, CA
7/8 - Navarro Redwoods State Park, then ride to Portland, OR (or as far as I can in that direction)
7/9 - somewhere between Spokane, WA and Billings, MT
7/10 - Chamberlain, SD
7/12 - Milwaukee, WI
7/13 - Return to Columbus, OH

Approximate distance (assuming no by-ways or tourist-like stops...yeah, right) = 5700 miles

View Larger Map

More to come soon as plans develop. This year's ride will be a doozy, but it'll be lots of fun!

My experience with the MSF Basic Rider Course (Range Portion) - Part 2 of 2

2011-06-12T20:24:00.000-04:00

Continued from Part 1 (Classroom Portion)

Yesterday (Saturday) and today were the two sections of range exercises for the MSF Basic Rider Course. During this time, the class is on actual motorcycles practicing the fundamentals of basic operation and maneuvering.

Time to choose your ride! Lucky for us, the rain subsided right before class began today.

For the first day, I got to the practice area around 8AM. There were 24 students that reported for this session to be split into two sections of 12 riders each, divided by which classroom session we took earlier that week. The bikes were all lined up in rows and all the students were instructed to select a motorcycle that fits them the best. At this course venue, we had the ability to choose from four models of bikes: Suzuki GN125, Suzuki GZ250, Yamaha TW200, and the Honda Rebel 250.

Suzuki GN125

Suzuki GZ250

Yamaha TW200

Honda Rebel 250

For my bike, I went with the Yamaha TW200, a dual-sport motorcycle with wide tires and a very upright, dirtbike-like posture. I was tempted to the Suzuki GZ250 as it had been bike I used in my basic rider course many years ago (and became my first owned motorcycle), but with noticing the number of (short) women that were choosing their motorcycles, I went for the taller bike. It was a little tall so backing up and pushing it forward was a bit taxing in the early exercises, but its nimbleness made it so easy to maneuver it in the later drills.

Here's "my" bike for the weekend, a 2009 Yamaha TW200

During the first day of class we participated in multiple drills that focused on the many elements of basic motorcycle riding. These exercises increased in complexity as the day progressed. As an entire group, we began with the basic safety check of the bikes and familiarizing oneself with the controls (handlebars, throttle, clutch, brakes, engine cut-off, fuel switches, etc.). After splitting up into our two groups of 12, we continued on with several, slow drills to understand the clutch's friction zone. That then graduated to manueverability, braking, and shifting exercises. Lastly we focused on smooth turns and quick emergency stops.

Our bikes are lined up for one of the early drills on Day 1

As fun as the day was, this class did have a few incidents, however; two riders went down during today's drills in my group, one of them deciding to withdraw from the class after falling quite hard and sustaining a hand injury. The other rider who fell over continued with the class and did fine for the rest of the day. After seeing the two incidents, I thought about the many inexperienced motorcyclists who purchase bikes and ride them without ever taking a BRC. If falls like this can happen on bikes this small in a parking lot, what about those who purchase the larger bikes sight unseen and ride them down streets and country roads?

Ten people returned for the second day of class and we immediately dove right into U-turns within a box, an exercise focusing on counterbalancing, lean, and proper throttle and clutch control. We then continued with other drills that focused on maneuvering in tight weaves, managing curves, and riding over road obstacles. The final portion of range exercises consisted of swerving to avoid an obstacle and maximum braking without locking up either the front or rear wheel. At the end of the day we were tested in four different areas and scored on a point system: U-turns/counterbalancing, maximum braking, swerving, and managing curves. In the end, all but one person passed this final test and successfully completed the entire Basic Rider Course.

In comparison to my experience with the class I took nearly eight years ago, this new curriculum does exactly what I wish the other one did - emphasize the importance of the clutch and of maximum braking technique. I also really liked the wide variety of entry-level motorcycles used in this location's BRC because it accommodated the entire gamut of students. Lastly, I appreciated the fact that since I had mentioned that I was taking the class to become an MSF instructor, I received a few extra tips from the instructors themselves about protocol and what to observe while on the range.

My only real criticism of the course was that some of the drills could have been broken up into smaller groups to allow for more room to ride the bikes. There was one drill in particular that all 12 bikes we rode in a giant oval while practicing shifting from 2nd to 3rd gear with some speed, and a good number of riders were traveling well below the speed necessary to justify shifting into 3rd gear on the little bikes during a particular drill. I also found myself compensating for other riders' speed by implementing advanced riding techniques such as engine braking as to maintain a safe distance with the riders in front of me.

These range exercises reflect some of real-world situations that motorcyclists will deal with on a day-to-day basis. The on-the-range course provides a safe area to practice the fundamental skills needed to operate a street legal motorcycle properly. The nice thing is that many of these drills are simple can be replicated in a parking lot for additional enrichment after the class is over. The BRC is not an end to motorcycle training but rather a well-organized beginning to what I hope to be lifelong learning on two wheels. Many of the people that did pass were deemed parking lot worthy after testing but definitely needed a lot more time and practice to be ready for the road.

As I mentioned in the last post, if you're even thinking of riding a motorcycle, take the MSF Basic Rider Course and learn to ride with the right fundamentals. It is worth the three days and you will acquire skills that will be a part of your riding repertoire for as long as you're on a bike. And if you're an absolute newbie, I do suggest taking the MSF Dirtbike School as a prerequisite for the BRC for extra practice with clutch, braking, and just getting used to balancing yourself on a motorcycle. So get out there and learn to ride!

My experience with the MSF Basic Rider Course (Classroom Portion) - Part 1 of 2

2011-06-09T16:21:00.001-04:00

After riding for many years and finally having an opportunity to pursue the possibility of becoming a certified Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) instructor, I've finally decided to start the process. So, part of the prerequisites to become an MSF instructor in Ohio, I'm taking the Basic Rider Course (BRC) as to complete it for my instructor application.

For those who haven't heard about the Basic Rider Course, here's a little bit about it:

In the state of Ohio, the BRC course is required for riders under the age of 18 and can be taken in lieu of the on-the-motorcycle test given by the BMV (Bureau of Motor Vehicles) to receive the full motorcycle endorsement. You do NOT have to own a motorcycle or have had experience on a bike to take the course; it is designed to teach those who have NEVER ridden a motorcycle before.

Here's a short list of some other types of people that would definitely benefit from taking the Basic Rider Course:

- completely NEW riders (brand spankin' new, never touched a motorcycle, EVER)

- returning riders (those that haven't ridden in many years)

- those that don't own motorcycles that want to learn how to ride without purchasing one

- those that are interested in owning a motorcycle but aren't sure if it's the right thing for them

- motorcycle passengers that want to understand motorcycles better

- CAR DRIVERS that wish to understand motorcycles and their unique place in the road

- ANYONE that wants to be a well-informed motorcycle operator

- the list goes on and on...

I had first taken the BRC in late 2003 in California as a complete newbie, passing the class and acquiring my first motorcycle in 2004 (the BRC was called something else back then). Since that time, MSF had gone and revamped the entire curriculum and scope of the course by updating it with more modern material, useful videos, and revising the on-the-bike drills used on the range. This means that my experience with the class will be as different and as new as the inexperienced riders around me.

One thing did not change, however. The BRC class is still broken up into three parts: one, 4-hour classroom session and two, 6-hour sessions on an acutal motorcycle in a closed course. Successfully completing the BRC course requires the passage of a 50-question written, OPEN BOOK exam and an on-the-bike test.

For four hours I sat in a classroom with 11 aspiring riders and those returning to the sport of motorcycling after many years. We went through the BRC's main workbook and answered the comprehensive questions that focused on its important parts. In between those questions we watched video clips that summarized and helped visualize the concepts that we needed to understand before jumping on the bikes this weekend. The two instructors that ran the classroom portion were very knowledgeable and did take the time to stop and answer questions as necessary.

Personally, I was very impressed with the classroom portion of this course. Although I experience many of the road situations demonstrated in the workbook and videos and use the basic skills of operating a motorcycle on a daily basis, the material refreshed and reaffirmed many of those concepts that motorcyclists must use to operate their bikes safely. In comparison to my experience in 2003, I felt that the revised material was more relevant to today's roadways and definitely focuses on compensating for driver inattentiveness and unpredictable hazards. I am looking forward to taking the closed-range motorcycle exercises this weekend!

Click here for Part 2 of this course's blog...

For more information about the Basic Rider Course, click here.

Changes to Two-Wheeled Tourist...Prepping for Long-Distance Coverage!

2011-06-09T11:58:00.001-04:00

This blog just keeps getting bigger and better!!!

Over the last few years I've kept track of my journeys on the motorcycles with blogs and websites. For 2011, I'm now going to take full advantage of the speed of social networking (and my Android phone) to connect more of my online friends to my adventures across the country on two wheels. Please check out my updates listed below!

URL: Two-Wheeled Tourist is now twowheeledtourist.net. For those traditionalists out there, you can still access the page through twowheeledtourist.blogspot.com.

Facebook: Two-Wheeled Tourist now has a Facebook page! Visit http://www.facebook.com/pages/Two-Wheeled-Tourist/166806933381873 and hit "Like" to receive updates on your News Feed! There's also a clickable window on the right side of the page that will connect you to the Facebook page.

Twitter: In the spirit of micro-blogging and frequent updates, I now have a Twitter account! Follow me @2wheeledtourist. Tweets will be sent to the Facebook page and if you're a friend, to my main wall. If you don't have a Twitter account, you can also follow along with Twitter updates on the right side of the page.

E-mail: For those who don't work with social networking sites, you can follow along by traditional e-mail. Standard blog posts will be e-mailed to you as soon as they're published!

The Subaru's got a new lease on life!

2011-06-06T13:53:00.001-04:00

I got a rare opportunity to see my old Subaru post-mortem last week. As I mentioned in a previous blog post "In Memoriam," I sold the insurance totaled car to Mullins Body Shop to save it from a future in a scrap yard. After visiting its repair in progress, I was reassured even further that it'll see the road once again.

After work on Friday, I rode the FJR over to the body shop to swap out my locking trailer hitch pin on the car and replace it with the original standard one; this was the last part that I needed to provide the body shop so they could remove the hitch if necessary. Here's some pics of the awesome job that's been done to get this car working again.

The entire right front panel was removed to be repainted and replaced. Replacement suspension was installed and the wheel will be swapped out with a new one.

Closeup of the repaired front end.

Front passenger door was partially primed for a repaint and the gold side panels removed for additional repair.

Currently, the car's been deemed parking lot worthy and is expected to make it to ODOT inspection this week to be certified ready for the road. As a request from Ronnie (the guy who's fixing it), he asked me to turn on the car and listen to the engine to make sure it sounded just as it did before the accident. I turned the key and it roared back to life just as it did before this entire mess happened.

The "taxi" lives again...I'm still going to miss it, though. :(

Rider Review: Firstgear Women's Mojave Gloves

2011-06-04T12:49:00.000-04:00

I had the opportunity to test the Firstgear Women's Mojave Gloves for the last 1000 miles and they've earned a spot in my normal lineup of hot-weather gloves. I picked up this pair from my friends at MOTOHIO European Motorbikes in Columbus.

Overall, I was quite pleased with the fit of these gloves. Firstgear has created a glove that actually fits a real woman's hand that doesn't bind or squeeze the fingers when grabbing the controls. I would highly recommend this pair for both cruiser and touring riders alike, especially those who want more low-key reinforced knuckle protection.

My only real qualms with these gloves was that some of the stitching in the thumb bothered me a bit until I really broke it in. Additionally, the wrist closure still leaves a hole when velcroed shut that'll leave a nice spot tan if you're out in the sun long enough (pic of gap below). Other than that, it's a glove that'll go the distance and keep your hands cool and comfortable for those long rides.

The opening at the bottom of the wrist does add to comfort, but don't be surprised if you get a tan spot.

Pros:
- gel palm for those longer rides
- pre-curved fingers that are meant to grab onto handlebars
- perforated leather that's tough as well as breathable
- easy fit in the hands thanks to squared-off finger stalls

Cons:
- considerably longer break-in time, but worth the wait
- hole in wrist can leave a nice glove tan

MSRP for the Firstgear Mojave gloves is $59.95 and available in both men's and women's sizes. More information available @ http://www.firstgear-usa.com/.

Pre-San Jose Trip Warm-Up: 900 miles in 3 days

2011-05-29T22:44:00.000-04:00

Two weeks ago, in preparation for my 6000-mile round-trip ride to San Jose, CA, I had the chance to do some practice long-distance riding over three days via highways.

Day 1: Columbus to Cleveland (Akron and Aurora) and back via I-71, I-80 and I-271 (approx. 294 miles)
Day 2: Columbus to Champaign, IL via I-70, I-465, and I-74 (approx. 297 miles)
Day 3: Champaign, IL to Columbus via I-74, I-465, I-70 (approx. 297 miles)
Total miles (approx.) = 900

I was lucky those three days to ride in 60-85°F and encounter rain only twice (short sprays in Indianapolis on the way to and from Columbus). However, I did realize a few things after taking this "quick" trek through three states.

1. Fatigue. After doing this mileage regimen for several days, I still felt comfortable on the saddle. However, thanks to a six-day work week, I definitely need at least a day or two to relax and do nothing before shooting for the 600+ mile days (or more).

2. Warmth/humidity. I will definitely need a mesh jacket before this trip. I chose to ride without my evaporative cooling vest and it was quite warm on the return to Columbus. Thanks to my trip to Cleveland, I have my sights set on the Olympia Airglide Mesh 3 women's jacket in a neon yellow/black. This jacket also includes a waterproof and thermal liner that will allow me to use the jacket in temps below 50 degrees. Other option is to dig out my retired FirstGear mesh jacket that has been with me through two cross-country campaigns and use it one last time.

3. Resting the wrist. After all the straight-line riding I have decided to plunk down the money and pick up a BrakeAway Motorcycle Cruise Control. Believe it or not, I have done multiple cross-country trips without the use of a throttle-lock device, relying only on a Crampbuster wrist rest to maintain speeds for long periods of time. That's definitely going to change.

4. Adding lights. Eleanor's getting one extra upgrade with the addition of LED auxiliary driving lights from Real Time Industries. These lights bolt directly to the bike via the front fender screws, eliminating any need for extra brackets. This will definitely help in the more remote areas of the country when additional light will be helpful in seeing farther ahead on the road.

That's all for now. Going to continue riding and getting accustomed to those huge numbers again for this trip!

In Memoriam: the Subaru "Taxi" (9/29/04-5/13/11)

2011-05-28T12:00:00.001-04:00

After six years and 109,881 miles, the 2003 Subaru Outback wagon that I've owned since college was totaled by insurance under unforseen circumstances. Not the way I wanted to see that machine go.

I'm going to miss this car. I acquired it during at the beginning of my second year at USC as a replacement to my "first" car, a 2000 Ford Taurus SE, a vehicle that my brother put more miles on than I did due to the fact that my parents didn't allow me to drive to school because I was female and by default, inferior and unable to operate a vehicle safely. (That's a story/social commentary on Asian parents for another day.) That Taurus got me around from Point A to Point B, but it didn't capture my heart like this Subaru station wagon did.

I chose the Subaru for a few reasons. I wanted a car that was a wagon to carry all my hockey goalie gear, all-wheel drive, reliable with an excellent track record, and NOT a Honda or Toyota because damn near everyone in CA owned one. But most importantly, it was a functional car that did everything I needed it to do. And as soon as I got it, I was free to roam wherever I desired to go.

I rolled out of the dealer lot of Timmons Subaru in Long Beach, CA with exactly 18k miles on the odometer. By the next week, torrential rains had hit Southern CA and stuck around for more than two weeks straight. As streets flooded due to clogged-up drains and non-desert level rain, my car sliced through the daily commute as other vehicles stalled and were trapped in the watery mess. Within the next couple years, that car would see many a hockey trip, long drives of the CA coast to San Francisco, the occasional trip to Las Vegas, moving days for friends, professional videography sessions, and more drop-offs and pick-ups from LAX airport for more people than I could count. Thanks to all those passengers that I moved from here to there with the Subaru, it earned the name "Taxi."

The Subaru was my motorcycle before I became a fully competent and confident rider. It was my freedom and escape from the "nos" and "you can'ts" that I'd hear in my household on a regular basis. Heck, at one time, a trip to Vancouver, BC, Canada was even in the works! When the motorcycles became my primary vehicles, the car was always there whenever I was ready to travel to another hockey game or had to take more passengers than the bike would allow. Here's some of the interesting moments I was able to get with the camera:

Las Vegas (January 2008): I make the super-wise decision to drive the Taxi STRAIGHT into a packed pile of Zamboni-dumped snow at the hockey rink. Matt triumphantly stands in front of my mess. Ironically, it never got stuck in snow in Ohio, and there was whole lot more of it here!

Las Vegas (August 2009): The Taxi proves that it can haul more than just passengers. It manages to pull a trailer containing two full-size motorcycles, a scooter, and every possible inside orifice stuffed with things to take to Ohio. With the car now gone, we no longer own any of the vehicles in this picture, trailer included. :(

Somewhere in Iowa (August 2009): Fuzzy takes full advantage of the Subaru's A/C system. He was in the front seat for the entire trip!

Columbus, OH (11/27/09): The Subaru sees REAL snow for the first time. It survived two Ohio winters, not bad for a car that was never expected to leave California!

December 2009: Oh Taxi, where did you end up taking us to? On a bright note, we were able to drive to much larger frozen ponds to do some real pond hockey!

On a bright note, the car won't see its demise in a junk yard crushed into a cube. The owner of Mullins Body Shop in Galloway, OH, the place that I had the car towed to, liked it so much that he bought the car off of me with the intention of repairing and using it again. I wish him the best of luck, especially because the car's front suspension was twisted like a twig.

That car was a tough act to follow, but I'm sure that its replacement will serve us well as it did. The Subaru's successor is a Forest Green 1999 BMW E39 528i wagon with 108k miles on the odometer that we picked up from Carmean Auto Group in Carroll, OH. Matt pointed out that, according to BMW nomenclature, the wagon is technically a 528tai (t = touring, a = automatic, i = fuel injection). If it were an all-wheel drive version (designated by BMW as "x"), it would've been a 528taxi! That would've been quite fitting, actually.

Here's to [hopefully] many years of potential adventures with the Bimmer. Now it just needs to earn a name!

Test Ride Review: 2011 Triumph Tiger 800

2011-05-23T18:30:00.002-04:00

Last week I took a field trip to Akron, OH to participate in a Triumph demo event hosted by Northern Ohio Ducati Triumph with hopes of test riding the new Triumph Tiger 800 and Sprint GT 1050. For the second time that I've attended these events in the last year (the other one being at MOTOHIO European Motorbikes in Columbus), Triumph didn't make the Sprint GT available for test rides. I speculate that they're selling them like hotcakes. Here's my last blog post regarding the Sprint GT.

Triumph has two versions of the Tiger 800: the 800 and 800XC. The latter is a more off-road oriented version with spoked wheels, a taller, wider seat, and handguards. I test rode the regular 800 in Crystal White.

2001 Triumph Tiger 800. The XC model (also in Crystal White) is in the background.

Test Ride Remarks:
I rode an 8-9 mile round trip route through main streets and residential roads. The crawling traffic allowed me to test its balance in slow speed maneuvers and I was extremely impressed. Acceleration was quick and shifting was smooth. Like its big brother, the Tiger 1050, the powerband was easily accessible in every gear. In the sharper corners, the Tiger leaned into curves without much effort and its lightweight chassis made it easy to flick around. Braking was crisp and sensitive with stainless steel brake lines included standard (Japanese bike makers, please take note).

The Titanium/Carbon Fiber Arrow exhaust is definitely a nice upgrade!

The on-board controls include a digital speedometer, fuel gauge, dual trip odometer, analog tachometer, and *drum roll* gear indicator!

Factory option saddlebags (as shown on the Tiger 800XC). Notice the notch made to accommodate the exhaust pipe.

I would like to see how this bike would fare in long distance or prolonged rides. In terms of traveling range, the 5 gallon tank in addition to it being an 800cc triple cylinder bike would make it a formidable long-distance rider. I would estimate this bike to get anywhere from 45-55MPG which would make it super economical at the pump.

Pros:
- Well-balanced and extremely easy to handle around corners and slow-speed maneuvers.
- Spirited six-speed engine with full range of power available with the flick of a wrist.
- Optional Arrow titanium exhaust has a wonderful deep sound and burble to it.
- Cleated footpegs are standard and ready for those occasional dual-sport excursions.
- Adjustable stock seat height from 31.9-32.7 inches.
- Just knocked the Tiger 1050 off my already short list of bikes to acquire!

Cons:
- Handlebars are a quite wide and could be tilted back a bit further.
- Clutch's friction zone takes longer to engage (the lever has to be nearly all the way out for the bike to start moving).
- High-mounted exhaust pipe will make mounting saddlebags a little challenging.
- Shorter inseam riders may need to make a few adjustments.

Special thanks to the guys at Northern Ohio Ducati Triumph for hosting this test riding event. If you're ever in the Cleveland (Akron) area and want to stare at bikes and hang out in their gorgeous showroom, come by for a visit!

For manufacturer information about the Triumph Tiger (and their other bikes), visit http://www.triumph.co.uk/usa/.

Independent Motorsports goes to the circus...

2011-05-13T18:07:00.000-04:00

With the circus in town here in Columbus, OH this week, I think it would be fun to share this story.

I had a customer come into Independent Motorsports on Tuesday carrying a rear wheel to a 2008 Honda Rebel to have two spokes replaced. When I asked him how soon he needed it, he answered, "I'll need it tomorrow to prepare the bike for my act."

It turns out that he was a performer for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus and his "act" involved riding a Rebel across a high-wire up to 70 ft. in the air! Since wheel spokes aren't a very common thing that's carried in stock at most motorcycle stores (they don't break often enough to justify it), I started calling multiple Honda dealerships in Ohio. After several calls and six shops later I came across the guys at Western Hills Honda Yamaha in Cincinnati who had four of the spokes in stock and were able to overnight the parts to our store where one of our awesome techs reinstalled and trued the wheel in less than an hour.

His "wheel" is a stock rim with a large strip of tire rubber riveted down to the inside. There is a deep groove in the middle to accommodate the high-wire that he rides on. According to him, his Rebel has also been modified with a large sprocket for extra torque for short, precise movements and his fuel tank plugged up for, well, just watch the video below to find out why.

This the Honda Rebel 250 wheel that rides across the highwire.

Close-up of the tire groove

So here's our customer, Alex Petrov, entertaining the masses on that high-wire bike. I'm proud to say that I helped get him back in the air again! This is probably the best use of a Honda Rebel that I've seen in a long time, and a very strange (and short) commute from point A to point B. I'm proud to say that, yes, we service motorcycles for commuters and circus folk alike!

On 600cc Sportbikes: Some experience required...

2011-05-07T20:19:00.000-04:00

Today I'm going to talk about the 600cc sportbikes. Colloquially referred to as the "crotch rocket," these quick, lightweight, and nimble motorcycles have achieved fame through many a music video, movie, and of course, the professional sportbike racing circuit. They're cool looking and already look fast when just standing still in a parking lot. However they've also achieved an extremely negative reputation, earning some labels like "the young man's bike," "squid machine," and "suicide rocket" thanks to many riders that have gone down while riding, been severely injured, or even killed due to inexperience or excessive speed while riding these performance machines.

And there's the riders that dream of owning one...as their very first bike?!

I thought about this the other day while I was on I-270 test riding a stock 2007 Suzuki GSX-R 600 sportbike in preparation for putting it on the sales floor. With the exception of an aftermarket exhaust pipe and a red windshield it was identical to a model that would be delivered brand new from the factory. I rode the bike from the shop, traveled down the road to get the feel of the bike, and then entered the freeway in second gear, accelerating through the on-ramp. Feeling that I was still getting power from the bike, I continued in 2nd gear until I merged onto the main road.

I looked down at my gauges: 85MPH @ 12,000RPM. The bike's red-line is 14,000RPM, and I still had four gears to go!

As I shifted to third, I let off the throttle to slow down to a more acceptable 70MPH and then proceeded to shift up to 6th gear and coast four more miles before exiting, reentering the freeway in the opposite direction, and returning to the shop.

Here's that 2007 Suzuki GSX-R 600. 85MPH in 2nd gear? You betcha.

Over and over again it still boggles me when I get the young buck (this also applies to women riders too) into the dealership that's never ridden before, never touched a bike, still hasn't picked up the BMV (Bureau of Motor Vehicles) manual to take the test to get the learner's permit, and is filling out the credit app to get financed for a crotch rocket, solely basing that decision on the appearance of the motorcycle and in some cases, the fact that the friends have one or that "he/she doesn't want a cruiser." This is about the same as purchasing a Ferrari when you still need to learn how to drive the 4-cylinder Toyota.

Don't let the engine size fool you! At the hands of an experienced and trained professional, the 600cc sportbike can zip through the sharp curves of a racetrack with exact precision. In fact, racebikes contain the same engine and frame as their stock counterparts with the exception of lighter bodywork, customizable controls, and upgraded suspension among other modifications. Most riders, including myself, will never take these bikes to their limit in any normal street situation. So when I hear someone deciding to trade in their bike for "something faster," I really would like to ask them if they've taken their bike to its maximum speed. (Eleanor has reached a GPS-measured 137MPH riding straight on I-15 toward Las Vegas with me on the saddle in 5th gear and she wasn't even finished yet!)

For a beginning rider that hasn't had much experience with two wheels, there are many entry-level bikes that are designed to offer versatility while making power available yet manageable. Most of those bikes fall in the "standard" and "dual-sport" categories. Click here for a list of a "just a few" well known models.

There are quite a few potential riders out there that don't prefer those "slower" bikes and want to look cool down the road, but believe me, nothing shows more foolishness (and stupidity) than watching a sportbike rider barely able to creep through a right turn and then crank it over 100+MPH down a street in a straight line doing a wheelie.

I do understand that there is an image issue when it comes to the sportbikes. They're sexy and fast. You won't see "Biker Boyz" on Vespa scooters (lots of that stuff was fake anyway). And for the major motorcycle brands, releasing a new sportbike model every 2-3 years helps them stay up with the latest trends and technological innovations in motorcycling and for some companies, keep them surviving. The 600cc sportbike is an enjoyable ride when its rider is experienced enough to appreciate its sheer power and agility. However, that experience is best learned on smaller displacement motorcycles that will not overwhelm a new rider.

And another thought...sportbikes rank among the highest in insurance rates among motorcycles because of the frequency of claims on this type of bike, the main demographic of the riders that operate them (usually young males 18 and up), and their high rate of theft (of course YOU want one, and so does everyone else!). Try this: find an insurance company online, request an insurance quote online for a sportbike, and then get one for a dual-sport or standard bike of the same or similar engine size. You'll be amazed at the difference in rates. Through my insurance company, my 2007 Yamaha FJR1300A is cheaper to cover in a year than a 2007 Kawasaki ZX-6R.

If you're one of those people who will acquire one of these fast bikes, I urge you to respect your right hand (the throttle), do what is necessary to educate yourself of advanced riding techniques, and practice your cornering and control on a regular basis. This goes for anyone who rides a motorcycle. Continue learning your bike every time you ride it. You'll realize very quickly that it is faster than you think.

Guest bikes serving in Eleanor's absence...

2011-04-30T10:29:00.000-04:00

With Eleanor back in the lineup, here's a look at the several motorcycles that substituted for her in the near month she's been out. At the time this blog has been posted, all bikes except for the Piaggio BV250 and the Honda Sabre are still up for sale at my store. Visit http://www.indmoto.com to see more photos and more detailed descriptions about them.

2007 Yamaha V-Star 1300 Touring
Features: fuel injection, belt drive, water-cooled, windshield, lockable frame-mounted saddlebags, sissy bar

2003 Honda VTX1300S
Features: saddlebags, engine guard with highway pegs, Memphis Shades windshield, lower wind deflectors, sissy bar with cargo rack, custom teardrop shaped mirrors, custom license plate holder, and throaty Cobra slash-cut exhaust

2005 Honda VTX1300S
Features: custom purple/silver flame paint scheme, highway pegs, sissy bar, and Memphis Shades quick-release windshield

2005 Honda VTX1300S
Features: color matched hard saddlebags, whitewall tires, National Cycle Switchblade quick-release windshield, Mustang leather tank pad, flush-mounted analog clock, custom grips and mirrors, clear taillight and turn signals, and throttle lock

2008 Piaggio BV250 Tour
Features: Givi 46L topcase, fully automatic, 75 MPH...you betcha!

2008 Yamaha V-Star 1100
Features: factory floorboards, passenger backrest, saddlebag supports, and auxiliary light bar. Custom accessories include highway bars and pegs, air intake upgrade, saddlebags, sissy bar, windshield with storage bag, and double straight pipe slip-ons.

2005 Yamaha Road Star Silverado XV1700
Features: factory windshield, studded rider seat and saddlebags, and passenger seat with a sissy bar, whitewall tires

1986 Honda V65 Sabre
Features: fastest quarter-mile bike of 1985-1986, 100% stock, CLEAN, a 25 year-old bike that refuses to act its age!

2007 Suzuki Boulevard M50
Features: Vance and Hines slash-cut pipes, faux carbon fiber accents, fully stock

Does mileage matter on a motorcycle? (a.k.a. Post #100!)

2011-04-27T16:11:00.002-04:00

NOTE: This is post #100 on Two-Wheeled Tourist! Thank you to all of my readers for following along for the last year and a half, and to all my new readers, welcome to my blog!

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"Isn't that a lot of miles for a motorcycle?"

I will hear this from many a customer when I'm showing them a used bike or two for sale. Some units have received this comment despite the fact that they only have 4-5000 miles on the odometer and are less than three years old. I don't know if it's just here in Ohio or in this part of the country, but it seems to me that there is a severe stigma on motorcycles that even have the perception of being "used," as if there is some sort of magic number or level of usage that renders a bike undesirable or unreliable. This is not only common with consumers; dealerships will often balk at taking some bikes in trades because of the numbers on the odometer, regardless of how well the bike has been cared for and/or maintained. Perhaps this could be because of the apparent "riding season" we have out here that only lasts from April-October, the only time of the year when fair-weather riding folks will come out to play.

As quite a few of my friends know, I have had several motorcycles that I have racked up the miles on, most notably my 2005 Suzuki SV650 that tore up 20,000 miles in 14 months before I upgraded and, of course, Eleanor, my 2007 Yamaha FJR1300A with just under 103,000 miles at the time of this blog post. And when I traded in that SV650 for the FJR1300A, it was scooped up the next day by another customer at the dealership. Then again, that was California, where mileage on a vehicle isn't an issue because it's been accepted as inevitable.

In response that initial question at the beginning of this piece, here are my responses and thoughts to the topic of putting miles on your motorcycles.

You think that's "high mileage?" Would you consider 20,000 miles high for a car? 50,000 miles? 75,000 miles? Motorcycles are vehicles, and just like any vehicle, they are meant to be ridden! Several makes of bikes on the market are also reputable car brands, such as Honda and BMW. Additionally, the major brands of motorcycles that exist today have been around for years and in some cases carry decades of research and development. Motorcycle technology is not a fly-by-night trend but rather a continuing evolution of improvements and innovation. So yes, that two-wheeled Honda bike has been engineered to be just as long-lasting as a high percentage of the four-wheeled Hondas that you've seen traveling down the highway.

Motorcycles are machines that require maintenance at regular intervals. Just like cars, bikes need oil changes, brake inspections, coolant flushes (liquid-cooled bikes only), spark plugs, and tire replacements when worn and/or used up. When serviced normally and maintained, bikes are known to last tens of thousands of miles and then some. Some makes and models have even been known hit six digits on the odometer on a regular basis! There is a reason why the California Highway Patrol retires, and then resells to the public, BMW R1200RT bikes with 100,000+ miles on them without any afterthought.

Will it cost a lot to keep a bike in working order? Not if you're smart about it. To save money on maintenance, learn how to do some of the basic maintenance yourself. Oil changes, chain cleaning/lubing (for chain-driven motorcycles), final drive oil changes (for shaft-driven bikes), replacing burnt-out bulbs, and topping off fluids are simple tasks that can be done in between major service intervals. For the more mechanically inclined, removing wheels from the bike and taking them to your local dealer for a tire change will cost a lot less than having the technician remove the wheel from the bike himself. I recommend investing in a service manual for your motorcycle. These publications are the same ones used by professionals at dealerships and repair shops when performing a service on your bike. Most models of motorcycles have either a factory service manual available or an aftermarket edition from a publisher such as Haynes or Clymer. Additionally, some service manuals are available online in PDF format and can be uploaded to your computer or smartphone/iPhone for quick reference.

So does the mileage matter on a bike? Yes and no. In terms of value, it may/will be harder to sell or trade in a motorcycle that is perceived to have been "used" a lot. In terms of your own personal use, adhering to the proper maintenance schedules and treating the machine with respect will keep it around in your garage for many years and many miles. Longevity, reliability, and good function of a bike is a matter of diligence, responsibility, and most of all, RIDING the bike. Nothing destroys a working bike faster than not riding it and letting it sit for long periods of time. So get out there already and enjoy your two-wheeled VEHICLE!

Piaggio BV250: The motorcycle that thinks it's a scooter.

2011-04-23T22:03:00.003-04:00

I enjoyed riding my store's 2008 Piaggio "Beverly" BV250 scooter so much over the last 350 miles last week that I had to write a review on it. Here are my quick thoughts on this machine.

Local roads: Quick acceleration is this bike's biggest strength. It takes off immediately and reaches 40MPH with the speed of a mid-range motorcycle. If you don't watch the position of your right hand you might find yourself doing 55MPH and not even realize it. A butter-smooth automatic transmission can do that to you! Keeping up with traffic isn't even a question.

Highway use: At first I was doubtful that a 250cc scooter would be able to hold its own on the freeway, but I was quickly proven wrong as the machine screamed to 70MPH on I-270 and managed to hold 70-80MPH stably for my 25-mile commute back home. However, with a maximum speed of about 82-87MPH, I felt that a little bit more engine would be ideal for longer journeys and would be a lot less stress on the bike.

Rain: This scooter is equipped with 16" Pirelli Diablo tires that have awesome grip on wet pavement in both straightaways and in turns. Additionally, the bike remained rock solid in steady crosswinds at full highway speed. The majority of the scooter's weight is very low to the ground which also helps with its overall stability and nimbleness.

Storage space: This Piaggio is equipped with a Givi 46-liter topcase that complements the cavernous underseat storage that the bike already has. It's more than enough for a grocery trip or a long-distance journey. Additionally, the scooter also has a 12V power port under the seat to charge that cell phone or power your heated riding gear. To add to the fun, there are factory optional color-matched sidecases that bolt onto the sides of the scooter. With that much holding room, there's no reason to take the car to go to the store pick up the essentials (or a do lunch run to Chipotle for four of your co-workers and yourself)!

Fuel economy: How does 65-75 MPG sound? And that's even with highway travel! I will have to say, the BV250 is a bit of a connoisseur with gas; it likes the premium stuff. However, your wallet won't hurt much after giving it a little over two gallons for a full tank.

Conclusion: The Piaggio BV250 has been a worthy commuter that combines both the ease of twist-and-go automatic transmission and the stability of a full-sized motorcycle in a stylish package. When one thinks about the word "scooter," the first words that come to mind are "small," "slow," and "not a motorcycle." The BV250 trumps all of these views and easily proves that automatic bikes still have an essential place in the motorcycle market.

I wish more motorcyclists would go beyond that negative perception of scooters and give this bike a chance. It is a true automatic motorcycle and a spirited machine that is easy to learn and ride. I am curious, however, about its big brother, the BV500. That bike, like this one, has the potential of being a long-distance tourer, that is, if you have a lead wrist...

For more information about the 2011 model (same engine as the 2008), visit http://www.piaggiousa.com/scooters.html#!s=overview/bv-tourer-250.

My day with Barney the Cruiser

2011-04-10T23:26:00.061-04:00

I jumped into the world of cruisers today with an interesting companion.

Meet "Barney," a 2005 Honda VTX1300S that I borrowed from work for the weekend until Eleanor is ready to hit the road again. This bike earned this name because of its custom paint job of purple with silver flames. But it's no dinosaur by any means; Honda, along with the other Japanese and European bike makers, has been making cruisers that still possess the styling cues of a classic bike while using modern technology such as water cooling and shaft drive to allow for a smoother ride and extended reliability.

Since I started riding bikes seven years ago I have never spent this much time on large cruiser motorcycle until now. It's been a very interesting experience to say the least...for the first time in my riding career I'm on a bike that's "just like everyone else's."

Here in Ohio (and this part of the country for that matter) cruiser/classic style motorcycles make up the vast majority of the bikes on the road. With Ohio's proximity to Milwaukee, WI, the home of Harley-Davidson, and the demographics of the population out here it's not surprising that the classic American look and style is very popular. In contrast to CA where sportbikes and sport touring machines are far more common for the purpose of weaving in and out of traffic with precision, the Midwest is where the cruiser is king.

Being a sport touring motorcycle rider and an unusually young one at that, I've always found myself as an outsider among the throngs of machines at any given bike night or other related event. When I would ride with Eleanor down the street, the only riders that would wave to me would be touring bikes, sportbikes, and cruisers that felt no need to discriminate against my style of ride. I'm "just another random motorcycle" until I come to a complete stop, either at a gas station or some place on the open road, where curious eyes finally notice me and Eleanor in our strange getup and traveling equipment. (I did try to stand out a little bit from the normal cruiser bike crowd by being one of the very few riders that wore a fully padded jacket, long gauntlet gloves with titanium knuckles, a full face helmet, and riding pants.)

In contrast to my normal motorcycle situation, after being on that Honda VTX1300S and riding through the thoroughfares of Columbus I don't think that I've been waved at while I was on a motorcycle that many times in a single day in my entire life, as if being on this cruiser instantly made me look super cool or someone worth acknowledging. From a distance I was just one of the thousands of cruisers that were on the road on this unusually warm Sunday afternoon in April, and with that paint job I turned heads by what I rode, not where I rode from. The image of me on a cruiser and attracting that much attention by my appearance is one that I can't seem to adopt for myself, but it was fun to spend a day in another rider's shoes and be that "badass" that I can never be on my FJR1300.

This week I am hoping to get Eleanor back on the road again so we can go back to business as usual and throw some more miles on the odometer. I am fortunate to be able to delve into so many avenues of the motorcycle culture. We riders are social case studies in ourselves!

AMA's Roadside Assistance saves the day again!

2011-04-09T20:47:00.000-04:00

Eleanor's been in sick bay this week at my shop thanks to a problem with the right front brakes. Here's a summary to the end of a very strange Wednesday.

While I was riding home on Wednesday evening to prepare for that night's hockey game, I started to notice that I wasn't able to accelerate while changing a lane on the freeway. I gave the bike more gas and it still refused to go any faster despite the extra revs I was giving her. At first I thought that I had punctured the front tire and I began to allow the bike to decelerate gradually. As it slowed down the whole front end started to shake a bit and feel a little unstable, so I pulled over to the side of the road right at the interchange of I-270 North and US-33 to see what was going on.

Visually, my front tire was just fine. However, my right brake rotor was extremely hot to the touch and had even started to blue due to the heat. Additionally, small amounts of brake fluid were leaking out of the top of the master cylinder. Yeah, that's a bit of a problem...

Because of the fact that I, as a goalie, couldn't miss a playoff game (or really any game for that matter), I had no logical choice but to leave Eleanor on the side of the road, get picked up with my car, and taken straight to the rink. After the game (which we lost and as a result were knocked out of the playoffs), Matt and I drove down I-270 to return to the bike. While we were en route I called my roadside assistance provided by AMA (American Motorcyclist Association) to have the tow truck meet us at the bike. The truck met us in about 25 minutes and took her back to my shop where it stayed until I returned the next morning.

Here's Eleanor getting a ride back to my work. I'm used to seeing her getting there under her own power.

I have to give props to AMA's Roadside Assistance Program. This is the second time in three years that I've had to use this service (the last time I had done so was in July 2007 when I received a flat tire in American Falls, ID and was towed to Sport Motors in nearby Pocatello). And once again I received the help I needed in a timely manner.

If you're not a Californian that has the option of getting AAA Southern California RV/Motorcycle coverage or don't want to pay AAA National's $30+ per month for basic coverage, I strongly recommend becoming a member of the AMA to take advantage of this valuable asset to your motorcycle traveling toolkit. This coverage comes free with an AMA membership if you sign up online for auto renewal or purchase a three-year membership and covers your (and your spouse's) car and RV as well!

For more information about AMA's Roadside Assistance Program and all its benefits, visit http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/Membership/AMARoadsideAssistance.aspx

Why Eleanor can't be considered a "recreational vehicle."

2011-04-06T16:49:00.003-04:00

April 1 of every year is the beginning of the seven-month Women On Wheels® Annual Mileage Contest that goes until October 31. This is the first year that it's been posted on WOW's Facebook site, and after reading up on several responses, I decided to contribute to the list. I think Eleanor's a little bit out of place in this conversation, especially since she's earned awards from WOW for high mileage in 2009 and 2011 for our exploits together. That's what she gets for being my two-wheeled car. Here's to more miles this year!

Other uses for a car door (and why thinking about them is disturbing)

2011-04-02T21:23:00.001-04:00

There are times when I would get into a conversation with someone about motorcycling that I would mention that I had learned to ride in California and spent tens of thousands of miles traveling through the Golden State on two wheels. Immediately I get a question that opens up a whole different discussion all together.

"Aren't bikes allowed to ride in between cars out there?"

I would reply, "yes," and then go into the benefits of being able to treat the space between two cars as an additional lane on the road especially during heavy bumper-to-bumper traffic in major metropolitan areas such as Los Angeles and Orange County. (For more of my insight on that Californian privilege, check out my blog post, "Why I miss lane splitting...")

Disturbingly enough, especially here in Ohio, I will sometimes receive some of the following responses to my opinion on lane sharing as a safe/alternate travel route for motorcycles.

"If a motorcycle tried to pass me like that I'd take the car door and open it right in front of them. They should wait like everyone else."

"I'd move the car to block a bike if it tried to ride down the middle or through a small space. That's just crazy and dangerous."

"If motorcycles don't want to get hit they shouldn't even be on the road in the first place."

Okay, let's backtrack to the following statements. First off, regardless of what your opinion of motorcycles (and the concept of lane sharing) is, you as a four-wheeled vehicle operator have just declared that you will go out of your way to attempt to injure a two-wheeled vehicle operator. Isn't that borderline pre-meditated attempted murder? Second, if you're going to waste the energy to stop a forward-moving vehicle just because you can't move, there has to be some demented underlying reason behind your malicious intentions. I mean seriously? Even the thought of causing harm to another person is already cruel and to do so to a defenseless motorist is beyond reason.

I have found that there's a good handful of drivers here in the Buckeye State that risk themselves so unnecessarily. Some popular, unsafe practices include:

Tailgaiting behind an 18-wheeler's blind spot and coming within five feet of the truck trailer's bumper.
Weaving across multiple lanes in a zig-zag pattern without signaling until a car moves out of the way and then blasting down the road 20-30+ MPH faster than the speed limit.
Trying to pass me (the motorcyclist) regardless of how fast I am traveling, because 75 MPH in a 65 MPH zone is just too damn slow, and 80 MPH is just turtle status.
Passing me to my right and then crossing back into my lane and stopping, thus cutting me off, knowing full well that the lane to the left of me was completely empty and you could've just sped down that part of the road like the careless jerk you are.
Coming to a complete stop when entering the freeway when the sign clearly says "YIELD" and is even shaped like a triangle. (The only place I know where you have to start from a complete stop is the north end of the CA-110 Pasadena freeway where the on-ramps are so old that there's no way to extend them to get the moving start.)
And my biggest pet peeve of all...the inability for Ohio drivers to properly merge into oncoming traffic. CA and NY drivers have the "zipper" style method of merging down to a science. Alternate cars, one lane after the other, during the merge until everyone ends up in one straight line. It's not hard, really! (And by the way, it is okay to use the lane that's about to close up two miles down due the road to maintenance until it actually does taper off into one lane.)

Since there isn't any real way to encourage drivers to use their heads while going down the road, the only defense I have is to keep my wits about me, be completely aware of my surroundings, and master those learned skills such as swerving and emergency braking. And please, if you're one of those types of Ohio drivers mentioned above, before you get in that car and contemplate destroying one of us motorcyclists in your road rage fantasies, please remember that we're just people on a different form of transportation trying to get where we need to be and where we want to go.

On riding ANY motorcycle regardless of seat height and bike weight...

2011-03-29T15:04:00.001-04:00

One of my favorite perks about working at a motorcycle dealership is test riding bikes either as soon as they come to the store or before they are delivered to a customer. However, not every motorcycle I ride is the ideal seat height, weight, or ergonomics like that of my daily bike. Additionally, I only have a brief ride around my building to get a decent feel of the bike's controls before taking it for ten miles on a route that involves local roads, a portion of the interstate, and a series of constant starts, stops, fast acceleration and deceleration.

It's come to a point that I don't even think about it anymore, and I can attribute that ability of getting comfortable with any motorcycle to many miles ridden on my owned motorcycles and the many traffic situations that have required me to use my brake and clutch with precision. There are several aspects to controlling a motorcycle that, when mastered, will allow you to ride pretty much anything you desire. Here are a few that I've felt are the most important.

1. Good understanding of a clutch's "friction zone."
Every motorcycle has a different "friction zone," or the point where the clutch begins to grab and the bike begins to move. This is vital to controlling the motorcycle. You learn over time that various styles of bikes differ in the location of those friction zones. In most cases sportbikes and standards tend to be quicker to start moving than cruisers. For example, the Yamaha V-Star 650's (cruiser) clutch doesn't start to actuate until the lever is almost 3/4 of the way out while my last bike, a Suzuki SV650 (sport/standard) instantly starts to grab when the lever is only several centimeters out. Regardless of the type of bike, learn how to control your smoothness in release, throttle, and in "feathering" the clutch (holding it partly open to control transfer of power from the engine to the rear wheel) in tighter, slower speed situations.

2. Ability to upshift/downshift smoothly.
Upshifting smoothly on a motorcycle is a combination of finding that "sweet spot" when revving the engine and a smooth release of the clutch as you change gears. Shifting too early can cause a loss of power when accelerating and shifting too late can give you an uncomfortable lurching feeling (which, if you end up in that situation, can be counteracted with a gradual clutch release).

For those motorcycle riders that have an understanding or previous experience with manual clutch in a car, you've probably learned that downshifting a car enables you to slow down the vehicle to a near stop without using the brakes. This concept works just the same with a motorcycle. Unless it's a emergency stop on the bike you'll find that using the engine to help you slow you down will severely reduce use of the brakes, and with lots of practice you'll be able to decelerate a bike smoothly via a combination of downshifting and braking. Additionally, proper use of downshifting will also help you take advantage of your bike's powerband and torque. This is vital on twisty roads and freeway interchanges when it's important to accelerate quickly out of turns.

3. Understanding the bike's balance.
Being a little under 5'6" in height with a 29" inseam, there are many bikes in the market that will have me on the balls of my feet and/or the tips of my toes at a stopped position. Even though many riders prefer to have their feet completely flat on the ground, this is not vital to the control of a motorcycle at a stop. If the bike has a significantly taller seat height (for me defined as over 31") I would assume a dirtbike-like posture where my left foot would be flat on the ground while my right foot is comfortably set on the footpeg and hovering over the rear brake pedal. Most motorcycles are balanced enough that one foot down is all you need to keep it upright.

Two of my favorite examples are the test rides I've done with the Honda Goldwing GL1800 and the Triumph Rocket III (2300cc engine), two of the largest motorcycles in production today. Although their engines are huge and the bikes are significantly heavy (over 800 lbs. each), their engineering is so well planned out that each bike's center of gravity is near the bottom of the machine. In effect, both of these bikes do not feel as heavy or as overwhelming as their engine sizes may suggest. In fact, I am able to balance a Goldwing on the tips of my toes at a complete stop without feeling any tendency to tip over. Now that's awesome design.

4. Ability to brake smoothly and gradually.
Near perfect braking is a combination of slowing down gradually using both front and rear brakes while keeping the bike straight. Smaller bikes will need a faster speed of entry to stay straight while stopping while larger bikes can still remain upright at slower speeds because of their larger mass and center of gravity. I made practicing this skill a game with my previous bikes by trying to bring my bike to a stop so gently that I did not put any weight on my left foot when I put it down. Gradually I was able to get a bike to stop so smoothly that my feet were simply "landing gear" to keep the bike straight and steady at a complete stop. Ideally that's where you want to be when you master your stopping. Your ankles can only take so much additional weight.

5. Don't panic.
Confidence in your skills is key to being able to ride any motorcycle. Practice, practice, practice. Take advantage of test rides and try out different types of bikes. With enough experience on a bike you will reach a point where you can manage a different motorcycle's quirks with little effort. Remember the basics. Keep your head up and look where you want to go. Use both brakes. Find your friction zone. It's all the things that you learned in your MSF Safety Course but practiced over and over again. There is no substitute for time and miles. Get out there, ride your bike, and master those skills!

My Perspective on Riding Conditions

2011-03-22T12:21:00.001-04:00

I've often heard from motorcyclists here in Ohio that they are "fair-weather" riders. The definition of "fair-weather" is usually temps no colder than 45°F, little to no wind, and somewhat sunny. Their bikes have never seen rain because they look "horrible" with dirt and dust on them. These are also the same people where, like clockwork, the motorcycle gets "put-up" for the winter right after the twilight ride during Labor Day weekend, regardless of how nice the conditions are outside. It is here in Ohio that the motorcycle "season" is truly one at that.

If I decided to be that kind of rider I'd only be riding for maybe a couple months during the year. (I don't think Eleanor would be very pleased about that, especially with all those places we still need to visit together.)

The best example of the flaws in this riding mentality was our exceptionally warm fall season in 2010. There were days when temperatures were well over 70°F and even surprisingly warmer. I did see more bikes than usual in October and November but when temps began to drop just below 40 I found myself alone on the road with my two-wheeled vehicle. By not suiting oneself up properly in insulating gear or even simply changing out the gloves worn (or wearing any at all) a rider can easily deny himself/herself of at least an additional two months of riding time.

From my experience in riding in inclement and non-ideal weather all over the United States, these are the personal boundaries I set for myself when deciding whether or not to ride in certain weather.

Dry and cold weather (defined as 32°F and below): Rideable as long as it's clear. For longer rides there must be no possibility for precipitation because anything coming down at this point can mean snow. Equipping oneself with proper insulation (layers or heated gear) can keep you riding indefinitely in these conditions. When taking twistier routes, take more time to let your bike's tires warm up to improve grip on the road.

Wet and cold (defined as 40°F and below with precipitation): I often use the "10 degree over rule" when riding in wet conditions. The ground is slowest to freeze and is on average ten degrees warmer than the air temperature. I would, however, be weary about wet bridges when riding close to freezing temps because, like the sign says, bridges are the first places where ice forms when the ground is wet. In extremely mild snowfall, air temperatures just at freezing (32°F) are similar to that of rain because snowflakes will melt instantly upon contact with the ground. The bike will get put away when snow flurries start to stick.

Are you the kind of person that will ride in not-so-ideal weather? It does come down to a personal decision. How cold do I want to go? How much do I want to invest in cold weather gear? What is my tolerance level to extreme cold? How confident am I in controlling my motorcycle when the ground is colder? I am an anomaly to the sport of motorcycling and know it. I resign myself to the fact that during the months of January, February, and half of March I will probably be one of the only active motorcyclists in Ohio. But out here, every possible day to ride is a gift that I don't like to waste.

Independent Motorsports - my new job!

2011-03-16T12:34:00.000-04:00

For all of my local Columbus friends that have shopped for motorcycle parts and accessories at my last place of employment (which will remain unnamed but I can tell you is a very huge store somewhere in Westerville), I have left that location and joined up with the guys at Independent Motorsports at their new location in the southern end of Columbus near Obetz.

I'm enjoying my time here and getting so many opportunities to help in many aspects of this new location's ins and outs, from admin work to developing the parts and accessories department to coordinating a new rider program that helps customers purchase their first (of hopefully many) motorcycles. It is a fresh feeling to be utilized for more than just "selling stuff" and "putting boxes where they're supposed to go." I feel very refreshed and invigorated knowing that I can work in a place revolves around my passion for motorcycling and actually wants me to work to my potential.

Here are some quick shots of the store, and these guys don't mind the free press...

Some of the many bikes that grace our showroom floor. We carry all types and styles of clean, used motorcycles and scooters.

I get a desk so I'm not on my feet for 10 hours straight! :)

Here's our helmet, apparel, and accessories department. We're still expanding and looking forward to adding more products to our inventory!

Our "graffiti art" wall!

Independent Motorsports is located at 3930 S. High Street, Columbus, OH 43207. Visit our website @ http://www.indmoto.com for directions to the store, contact information, and to see our online listings of clean, used motorcycles!

I'm out for now...going to test ride a sportbike!

Matt and Christine in Legos

2011-03-03T10:59:00.000-05:00

Matt had a little fun with Legos while I was out of town one weekend and made a little version of us riding two-up on an old-style Lego motorcycle. With the right type of faces and bodies he was nearly dead on with our likenesses. I'll take this over a fairground caricature artist any day of the week! Enjoy.

How to put 100,000 miles on a single motorcycle, Christine style.

2011-02-22T19:52:00.006-05:00

In February 2006 I was in the showroom of Out the Door Motorsports in Los Angeles waiting for the service department to finish prepping my brand new yellow 2005 Suzuki SV650N so I could ride it home that day. While I was killing time in the showroom, out of the corner of my eye I saw a shiny silver 2006 Yamaha FJR1300A on display.

I immediately fell in love with its contours and its sleek design. That sport-touring motorcycle captured my imagination and I dreamed of the places I could go and sights I could see with a powerful, mile-eating machine like that. After reading its specs and realizing that it was a 1300cc, 147HP monster with luggage, I thought to myself, "There is no way I'd be able to ever ride that kind of bike."

Fast forward fourteen months later. In between my studies at USC, I spent my weekends with my Suzuki riding with different types of motoryclists and learning the ins and outs of that 650cc, 70HP, 90° sport V-twin, flogging it through many a canyon and even state-hopping through California, Nevada, and Arizona in the process. Some weeks would find me nearing 700-900 miles a week on the bike. Additionally, I took advantage of every possible test-ride event I had access to, hopping on everything from cruisers to scooters to the Honda Goldwing (the largest motorcycle in production at the time) and any other type of motorcycle I could get my paws on. All that saddle time paid off as I became more comfortable with motorcycle riding and the quirks of the many two-wheeled machines available in the market.

Here's Irene, my 2005 Suzuki SV650 in Monterey, CA on her final long-distance ride to San Francisco before I acquired Eleanor. This bike was named after the character Irene O'Dare of the musical "Irene," the first videotaping/DVD production project that fully launched my videography business into a profitable venture for the next four years until I relocated to Columbus, OH.

And as soon as I settled into my first real full-time job as a high school teacher, I retired that yellow SV650 after 20,000 miles and acquired that long-desired Yamaha FJR1300A, grabbing a 2007 model in Black Cherry on April 26, 2007. It was hand delivered to my work on April 30 and I rode it right out of my parking structure, watching the odometer hit "00001" as I approached the entrance to the 110 South freeway in Downtown Los Angeles. And that was the beginning of a wonderful relationship that would span what is now 39 states and many landmarks throughout the continental United States and Canada.

Eleanor's first ride through the canyons of Ojai, CA (May 2007).

I dubbed this motorcycle "Eleanor" after a famous quote by Eleanor Roosevelt that I often used to motivate myself to battle through challenges: "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." I felt that earning this bike after my hard work through my years in school was a culmination of many of those dreams. After a Corbin front seat upgrade and a Givi topcase adapter at 1200 miles for additional comfort and luggage space, I took the big jump that summer and rode from Los Angeles to my very first Women On Wheels® International Ride-In in Springfield, MO. The route home became a 4000-mile additional trek through Iowa, Minnesota, North and South Dakota, Wyoming, Idaho, Nevada, and back down to CA and Eleanor reached the 10,000 mile mark in three months in July 2007.

In December 2007 through an ad I placed on Craigslist looking for a fellow motorcyclist to ride with through the Palos Verdes Peninsula, I met a young man named Matt who rode a 2000 BMW K1200RS, an unusual choice for a rider under the age of 45. After a fun local ride through various parts of Torrance, San Pedro, Palos Verdes, and Rolling Hills, CA he invited me to join him on a Christmas ride on Pacific Coast Highway from Los Angeles to San Francisco. I said 'yes' on a whim, much to the surprise and concern of many of my friends - one of them even gave me pepper spray for the trip and advised me to carry a knife. I brought both items and never needed either one; Eleanor hit the 20,000 mile mark on Christmas Eve and I earned a good friend that vacation and a boyfriend not long after that. A little over 40,000 miles later in July 2009, we took a two-up ride on Eleanor to Disneyland in Anaheim, CA where Matt asked me to become his wife in front of Sleeping Beauty's Castle.

We relocated to Columbus, OH in early September 2009 after the economy took a nosedive and both of our jobs in CA. Eleanor embarked on her second cross-country trip that year, the first being a 6200-mile round-trip trek through thirteen states for the 2009 WOW International Ride-In in Kerville, TX in July. In 2010, Eleanor and I accomplished many feats such as riding all the way to the East Coast, visiting all 13 original colonies, riding past Niagara Falls and through the province of Ontario, Canada, and an Iron Butt SaddleSore 1000, completing a rain-drenched and difficult 1000-mile ride from Columbus, OH to Spartanburg, SC and back through West Virginia in 22 hours. And if you thought she wasn't done traveling, Eleanor took Matt and me to Chicago, IL for our wedding on October 6, 2010.

Here's Eleanor prepped with trailer in tow to take us to Chicago for our wedding (October 2010).

On February 18, 2010 at 10PM Eastern Standard Time, Eleanor reached 100,000 miles on her odometer in Columbus, OH, 1394 days (3 years, 9 months, 23 days) after I purchased her in Long Beach, CA. To put it in perspective, I averaged nearly 72 miles a day on her saddle, which is nearly the one-way distance from Columbus to Dayton (or for my Southern CA friends, Torrance to Fontana).

Now she gets to make use of ALL those odometer digits!

In the near four years I have traveled with this faithful friend, we've seen more together than many motorcyclists will ever see in a lifetime. Eleanor was there for every crazy, 120-mile day commute through four of the worst freeways in CA. She was there when I found my husband, co-pilot, and best friend. She was there when we moved across the country to our new home in Columbus, OH. She was there when we got married. And she's still here, ready to go somewhere on a moment's notice.

I can say without a doubt that motorcycles changed my life forever. And it all started because I worked hard on a small motorcycle to prove to myself that I could ride on whatever I wanted to ride and ride wherever I wanted to go.

Here's some other fun milestones to add.
States crossed: 39
Countries visited: 2
# of WOW Ride-Ins: 3
Longest Round-trip Ride: 6200 miles (LA/Columbus/Kerville, TX/Roswell, NM/LAX)
Longest Single-day Ride: 1098 miles (August 2010 - Columbus, OH to Spartanburg, SC and back - Iron Butt SaddleSore 1000)
Miles since Matt and I have been together: 80,000 (and counting)

Day 7 and 8: Revisiting the OC and back to Columbus

2011-02-15T10:56:00.001-05:00

Southern CA sure does know how to send me off on a bright note.

Once again, I could see Downtown LA and all of its surrounding cities in the distance.

Before I left to return the motorcycle to Brea on Saturday, I took some time to enjoy an ice cold glass of lemonade while admiring the clear view of the South Bay from my vantage point in Rolling Hills. It was gorgeous as I had remembered it when I still lived out here, and for several minutes I reminisced about those wonderful roads and those thousands of miles that I had ridden in, around, and through this part of the state.

I then rode back to Brea to return the bike to Victor, but not without sneaking one more ride on Palos Verdes Drive East. It was the clearest day this week and temps were in the mid 70s by the time I hit the road around noon. But this time, I didn't zoom through all those curves like I did those many times before. Instead I stopped at the first turnout to enjoy the view before my decent to sea level.

Catalina Island, only 26 miles out to sea and completely visible.

This is the first curve leading downhill on PV Drive East (or the last one uphill if you're going the other way). This road has quite a bit of sentimental meaning to me; the last person who managed to keep up with me during the entire ride down later became my husband!

I dropped off the bike and Victor took it to ride to a party in LA. I had his car for a few hours and drove over to the Daphne's Greek Cafe in Brea for round two of gyros, pitas, and rice. Thanks to an e-mailed coupon for a free plate I received on Thursday, lunch was next to nothing and I enjoyed a meal here for the last time during this trip.

To kill a little more time, I drove a few miles down to the new location of Hockey Giant in Anaheim to stare at some gear and then up the street into the neighboring city of Orange to visit Irv Seaver Motorcycles, the BMW dealer where Matt had purchased his (now deceased) 2000 K1200RS. After staring at a few bikes and picking up a couple t-shirts, I returned to Victor's apartment to hang out until he rode back.

After he returned to Brea, we drove back to a Starbucks in Torrance, met up with one last friend from CAMS, and Vic went home. I spent about an hour and a half hanging out with my other friend at the neighboring Best Buy and catching up. The next morning, I had breakfast with my parents and they took me to LAX. The flight back to Columbus with a stopover in St. Louis was quite uneventful and I was back in Ohio by 8:30PM. Whew, what a week!

On a bright note, temperatures in Columbus are continuously rising and road conditions are now rideable. Looking forward to Spring! Stay tuned for more of my adventures on two wheels and my next CA visit in July where I get to hang out in San Jose for 25th Annual Women On Wheels® International Ride-In!

Day 6: Hawaiian BBQ, CAMS, and hockey...a Day in the South Bay

2011-02-14T18:34:00.002-05:00

Riding all over the LA and Orange counties had me a bit worn out by the time I made it to Friday. Today was the chance to hang around my old digs and catch up with a few people from my local areas of Carson and El Segundo.

My first order of business was to eat lunch at the last food establishment on my vacation agenda. That led to a trip to the L & L Hawaiian BBQ in Torrance (Crenshaw/Lomita). I specifically chose this one because I was a frequent customer at this particular location, and I was pleasantly surprised to see that several of the workers were still there. After ordering my mini chicken katsu/BBQ chicken plate (it's not very mini as you'll see in the picture) I requested to get one of their famous "I ♥ L & L" bumper stickers. They would give it to me on the condition that I would say said phrase out loud in the restaurant. So I did, much to the chagrin of the other patrons in the store, with the additional embellishment:

"I LOVE L & L! I TRAVELED ALL THE WAY FROM COLUMBUS, OHIO TO EAT HERE!"

Making a fool of myself inside the restaurant was definitely worth the bumper sticker.

Believe it or not, this is what L & L sells as a "mini" plate. For little more than $5 you can feed two people with this ridiculous amount of meat, rice, and Hawaiian-style macaroni salad.

After that, I headed to my parents' house to pack a box full of stuff to send back to Ohio. I traveled with my brother (in his car) to Office Depot to pick up a box and mailing tape. Now, this may not seem like an interesting errand run, but it was the first time I had shopped at an Office Depot in two years - there aren't any locations in Columbus (the closest one is about 35 miles north in Marion).

After that shipping exercise it was a ride to Cal State Dominguez Hills, home to my high school, the California Academy of Mathematics and Science (CAMS). This was a place where, even after I graduated and was attending community college, I spent many a Friday afternoon for a couple years hanging around and being the technology TA for the Spanish department. There's a long-standing history between me and that part of the school, and in ironic fashion, for being a place that focused on math and science, I found my niche in the humanities and foreign language. CAMS is a place that I will go out of my way to spend time to visit; there are too many teachers of whom I will never be able to thank enough for their patience, time, and life-changing guidance.

A view of the main CAMS buildings from the courtyard area.

This additional structure that I call the "6000" building (that's what the numbers start with) was completed after I graduated and now houses the student cafeteria, foreign language department, language labs, and dance studio among other things.

Here is a robot that students in the Engineering Lab are working on. This new, dedicated state-of-the-art classroom is equipped with multiple CNC machines and enough equipment to build a whole slew of various robotic and electronic projects. The Robotics class is one of the most popular activities here, and it's come a long way since I helped manage the very first robotics team at CAMS almost nine years ago where we worked out of a spare room in the biology lab.

Unlike my visit to the now-dilapidated LASGS the previous day, CAMS' appearance and newly added facilities were a realization of the vision for this school and a vast improvement from the original site of the high school, the temporary bungalows of the Southern Academic Complex (SAC), where I learned (and got in trouble) in until the last semester of my senior year in 2002. CAMS still ranks as one of the best high schools in the United States and I am proud to be an alumni and a product of this educational institution.

Just across an empty field are the SAC 4 (left) and SAC 3 (right) structures, two of the four bungalows that once housed this high school.

My last stop of the evening was the Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo, the practice facility of the Los Angeles Kings and the Lakers and the rink where I played ice and roller hockey for a decade. I met up with another old teammate from my USC Women's Ice Hockey team, went for a fun public skate on the Olympic-sized rink, and watched bits and pieces of games in the women's league. I even saw several members of my last ice hockey team in CA, the Gold Lady Kings, as they suited up and played in the final game of the night.

Toyota Sports Center has three skating rinks (one roller, one NHL-sized, one Olympic-sized). I spent many a Friday night playing roller pick-up hockey here until I was randomly asked to sub for a women's ice hockey game and never looked back.

There's one of the hockey creases I defended on the NHL-sized rink for ten years. Come by in the morning and you might even get to watch an LA Kings open practice!

This was definitely a nostalgia-filled Friday. These two locations were my regular routine stops for many years and to return to these places after so long brought back many memories. Call me sentimental, but I'll never forget my roots.

Day 5: Downtown LA and South Pasadena

2011-02-11T13:20:00.000-05:00

Today took me back to my old place employment, the Los Angeles School of Global Studies, where I helped open the school and teach a Digital Production/Multimedia program for three years before I moved to Ohio. Personally, this would be the last time that I will be returning to that school as many of the students that I had taught are graduating at the end of this school year. I met for lunch with my old co-worker and took a tour of the campus. Before we went across the street for some authentic Mexican food, I was mobbed by many seniors that were shocked to find out that I was visiting from Ohio. I was very surprised how many students actually recognized me and it was heartwarming to see how many of them will be graduating and moving on to bigger and greater things.

What saddened me was the condition of the building that I had seen as a pristine new campus only five years ago. The school had changed so much that I didn't recognize it anymore. Thanks to LAUSD budget cuts on custodians and teachers getting pink slips/layoffs, the faculty was completely new and the hallways looked like a dilapidated mess. I took a glimpse of my old classroom and saw how little it resembled the technology oasis that I created when I still taught there.

My old school is located inside the Miguel Contreras Learning Complex. The white building to the left is the headquarters to the Los Angeles Unified School district, the second-largest school district in the United States and a shining beacon of corrupt bureaucracy amidst the Downtown LA skyline.

Here's the door to my classroom. I am proud to say that I was the very first teacher to instruct in that room. Perhaps someday I may return to this profession.

My old co-worker and I walked across the street to a small Mexican food establishment that had reopened there recently. For a few minutes I was back in a place where English wasn't the predominant language. I was even served a big cup of horchata (sweet rice drink with cinnamon) with my meal that consisted of pollo de la plancha (grilled chicken), refried beans, and rice with slices of avocado on top. Mexican restaurants in Ohio, please take note: you're not a legit Mexican restaurant if you don't serve horchata. Coke products are not the solution to everything.

Some of the best Mexican food comes from small holes in the wall where you need to know Spanish to know what the heck they're making.

CA avocados are just garnish here, not an extra charge.

After lunch, we headed back to campus and I hung around until 2:30PM, seeing even more students and some of the co-workers I wanted to actually say hello to. I then hopped on the motorcycle and headed on the CA-60 East freeway to East LA to meet another old co-worker who now taught at Garfield High School. We traversed down Atlantic Ave. into the city of Monterey Park for some catching up and Starbucks. After that she led me down the road to South Pasadena so I could meet up with another friend from USC.

Here's my old co-worker Lorraine with the bike and her Scion XB. In LA, I can recognize that car from anywhere.

She returns the favor and captures a shot of me before we part ways in South Pasadena!

I like to call my old friend from USC "the one with the fuzzies." As an animal lover and activist she lives with a variety of animals ranging from a pair of Chow Chows, a cat, a ferret, and a (haired) rat! I guess there is never such thing as having too many fuzzy animals. Her mom invited me to a delicious, home-cooked dinner where I had a hearty combination of pan seared halibut, vegan beef stew (the "beef" is grain-based, but I couldn't tell!), and brown rice. We then ran a few errands and spent a few hours catching up on our adventures.

For as long as I've lived in CA, I never spent enough time in Pasadena to consider it familiar territory. Thanks to that, took the roundabout way home after getting on the wrong end of the 210 freeway (San Fernando) near the Rose Bowl. The detour took me down the CA-2 Glendale freeway where temps dropped into the 40s (the coldest it's been during this entire trip) before I landed back on 5 South and eventually onto the 110 South Harbor Freeway. It was worth it though; the view of Downtown LA against the clear night sky from the hills of La Cañada Flintridge was spectacular.

Day 6 (Friday) will take me back to the high school I graduated from, the California Academy of Math and Science in Carson and the Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo, a place I called my hockey home for over a decade. Perhaps a stop at L&L's Hawaiian BBQ in Torrance too, the last official eatery in my catch-up agenda.

Day 4: Cruising Through Orange County

2011-02-11T03:33:00.001-05:00

For day 4 of this California trip, I spent the day in Orange County, having lunch in Huntington Beach with my old friends from the Women On Wheels® Orange County Spirit Riders chapter. To get to the meeting spot, I took the scenic route, avoiding the freeways and riding across the Vincent Thomas Bridge through Downtown Long Beach and southbound on Pacific Coast Highway (CA-1) until I reached Laguna Beach. In that span, I passed through Seal Beach, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach to name a few of the more well-known areas. It was great to see this familiar scenic road, a stretch of the coastline that I often rode to pass the time, see the ocean, and calm the senses.

Finbar's Italian Kitchen in Seal Beach (LA/OC County Line). This is where Matt and I met for the first time. We left from this place for a ride through the Palos Verdes Loop. The rest is history.

From this vantage point in Huntington Beach, you can make out Catalina Island in the distance. It's about 26 miles off the coast and is a popular weekend getaway.

I spent half an hour in Laguna Beach to pick up a few souvenirs and continued on CA-133 into Irvine, running up the 405 North freeway back to Huntington Beach for lunch at Daphne's Greek Cafe at the Bella Terra Center.

This sign couldn't summarize it any better.

Here's one of the original signs that welcomed visitors to Laguna Beach. There are quite a few more people here now.

Daphne's is a West Coast Greek food chain and is still one of my all-time favorite places to eat. I was happy to see my friends again while indulging on a plate of gyros there for the first time in two years.

My favorite plate at Daphne's - gyros with a double side of rice. Nom nom nom!

Pesto on hummus? That's a new addition within the last two years. I'll try that mixture at home.

My WOW OC Spirit Riders friends! Left to Right: Terry, Syl, Jill (fmr. Chapter Director), Nancy, and Debbie (fmr. Chapter Director)

We stuck around for almost an hour and a half talking about our riding adventures and fun times before parting ways again. I ended up getting into a near two-hour conversation with Jill about some of our crazy motorcycle trips. Somewhere in there we even had a chat with a curious passer-by who was interested in her BMW G650GS. (We always love to be positive ambassadors for motorcycling!)

After Jill left for the evening, I headed down the 405 South, connecting to CA-55 North (and quite bit of traffic congestion), back onto the 5 South freeway, and exiting Jamboree Road. Continuing east on Jamboree, I began what had been known for Matt and me as the "long way home." This route starts from the Southern California AAA branch in Tustin and ends back in La Habra. We often used this route for a more scenic (and stress-free) alternative to the freeways, and the view of Yorba Linda and Placentia from the highest part of Anaheim Hills is a quite a beautiful one on a clear night.

View Larger Map

The ride ended in Brea where I met back up with Victor and took a short drive to Fry's Electronics in Tustin. Fry's is the largest electronic store in CA and is notorious for having damn near everything that beeps or has buttons. We enjoyed an hour of being complete geeks and catching up. The closest store of this type in Columbus is a place called Micro Center (and it's nowhere close to the magnitude of this store). Getting to the closest Fry's Electronics in the Midwest would require a two-day car trip to Downers Grove, IL.

Yeah, this place is huge.

That's not even a third of the store!

The ride back to Rolling Hills was a little nippy to CA standards, about 58 degrees at 10PM. I'm really appreciating the heated grips on this bike! Next stops for Thursday are my last employer, the Los Angeles School of Global Studies, to see the last bunch of students who still know who I am, and East LA/South Pasadena to see an old co-worker and, if possible, an old classmate and teammate from USC.

Day 3: Pechanga and gambling like the Asian I am.

2011-02-11T03:30:00.001-05:00

In customary fashion, I spent day 3 at Pechanga Casino and Resort in Temecula with my aunt. When I still lived in CA, we made it a tradition to go to the casino at least once every couple months for a little gambling and some gourmet dining.

We left for Pechanga around 11:30AM and stopped in the Lake Elsinore area on I-15 South to have a short lunch at Carl's Jr. This was the first time I had eaten at this place in nearly 2.5 years and it was definitely a treat. For the Ohioans out there, Carl's Jr. owns the Hardee's chain in the Midwest. Now don't be fooled, that watered-down Hardee's menu is nothing compared to the selection (and taste) of the original Carl's Jr.

Carl's Jr. and In-N-Out are two fast food chains that were founded in Southern California.

Hardee's, please take note of the selection - there actually is one.

Fried zucchini! Long time no eat!

We reached Pechanga around 2PM. After a slow start on a few dud machines, I won $100 off a nickel multi-play poker machine in about an hour of play time. For dinner, we dined at Kelsey's and I had a big juicy prime rib steak with a side of sauteed mushrooms and mashed potatoes. Might as well enjoy it now; it'll be slim pickings when I return to Ohio!

Despite leaving Temecula in rush-hour traffic, we still made it home in less than two hours. Pechanga is one of the closest Vegas-quality casino to anyone in the LA, Orange, Riverside, and San Diego counties. If I had some extra time, a return to Las Vegas would've been pretty cool too. Of course that'll call for another adventure.

Back to CA: Day 2

2011-02-08T03:39:00.002-05:00

The day began with a walk to school.

My hockey coach's daughters go to school just down the street from the house so I tagged along with Mom and kids for an early morning stroll. Temps were just hitting 70 degrees by the time we got back. After that and a few e-mails, I was on my loaner motorcycle for the first time on the road testing its capabilities on the Palos Verdes Drive Loop.

So what's the deal with this motorcycle I get to play with in CA? Thanks to Victor, I get to play with his dyno tuned 2009 BMW K1300S motorcycle, equipped with a Givi topcase, a Leo Vince carbon fiber exhaust, and Power Commander. My only instructions for using the bike this week were to "put on the miles" and "don't crash."

I felt pretty confident riding the bike after half an hour of light twisties and switchbacks, and being the native Californian I am, I was lane sharing by the time I landed back in Torrance from the scenic Palos Verdes route. It was a great feeling to use this privilege again. Even after two years away from a state where this practice is encouraged it still felt like I never left.

I then met my aunt up for lunch at The Original Thai BBQ in Carson and caught up on stories and tasty Pad See Eew, BBQ chicken, shrimp fried rice, and a Thai tea. After that, it was a quick trip to my parents' house a couple blocks away to sort through a few things I wanted to take back to Ohio. My stay there was a little bit longer than I expected; sometime during my rummaging I had misplaced the key to the bike's Givi topcase and it took some time to realize that it had fallen in the same bag as the leftovers from the restaurant and was chilling in the refrigerator. Complete brain fart.

I left the house and jumped onto the 110 North freeway toward USC at 4PM, the start of rush hour traffic. Thanks to the carpool lane, I was going no slower than 65MPH and reached Exposition Blvd. in record time. I rolled into campus, had a quick conversation with a USC employee at the information booth about motorcycle instruction classes, parked the bike, and headed to the center of campus to take a few photos and pick up some swag from the bookstore.

Tommy Trojan in front of the Bovard Auditorium, still looking as regal as he always has.

This is the newest statue on campus made in the likeness of Traveler, the horse mascot of the USC. This is one of several gifts from departing USC President Steven Sample.

Here's a side view of Traveler. I had the chance to meet (and pet) one of the real Traveler horses during my senior year at USC.

The new and very revamped student union. This would've been cool when I still went here!

You know you're at USC when...every car in the lot costs at least one year of your salary.

I ended the day with a short ride through Downtown LA to meet an old co-worker from my previous job at a nearby high school and then to Del Amo Fashion Center to visit a few friends that worked at various stores there. The mall was probably one of biggest surprises of the day. The place had changed so much and many of the stores I had remembered were replaced by unknown and smaller establishments. In fact, the Gloria Jeans Coffee shop I had grown up with was gone as of last week, ending a 30-year stay at this mall. It was so strange to see so many closed spaces and relocated stores, a far cry from the mall that I had grown up with and spent almost every Friday night of my childhood in. It is amazing what a poor economy and greedy landlords can do to destroy what was once the largest malls in the United States.

Tomorrow's plan is a quick jaunt with the aunt to Pechanga Casino in Temecula for some good old gambling fun. Hitting a jackpot would be great timing right now.

Back to SoCal - the refesher course.

2011-02-07T03:26:00.001-05:00

It's great to be back in Los Angeles.

Leaving the dreariness of 26 degrees and ice in Columbus at 10AM (Eastern Standard Time), I arrived at LAX at 1:30PM (Pacific Standard Time) today and was welcomed with sunny skies and 70 degrees. My friend Victor picked me up from the airport and we found ourselves in nearby Hawthorne waiting for a friend of his to return a phone call. However, that friend didn't call back and I was getting a bit hungry. After six hours in the air and nothing but small snacks and a couple cups of ginger ale to pass the time, I knew exactly where to go for lunch. You guessed it, In-N-Out Burger.

Victor and I visited the In-n-Out on Marine/Inglewood right off the 405 freeway in Redondo Beach.

Just the way I like it: a Double Double and Animal Fries, both covered in gratuitous amounts of grilled onions. I waited to indulge in this deliciousness for over a year! Nom nom nom.

After that, we drove back to Brea (North Orange County) to go see his new apartment and to pick up his motorcycle, which will be my mode of transporation for the week. Here are today's fuel prices in Brea, courtesy of your local Chevron.

I wonder which one of my organs I'll have to donate for a full tank.

These are temps you wouldn't see in Ohio until at least May.

Very familiar surroundings and a sunset I haven't seen in a couple years.
Look closely and you might even see the Downtown LA skyline in the distance.

I've got quite a bit to enjoy and accomplish in the upcoming week. As much fun as it is to go sightseeing, I am also job hunting and some research on possible places to send applications. So far, my findings have seen me looking at a possible opening at Cal State Northridge. I hope to find more inspiration during my stay here. Tomorrow brings motorcycle riding, lunch with my family, and more research!

I'm headed back to California!

2011-02-06T01:23:00.001-05:00

Today begins a week-long trip back to Los Angeles, Orange County, and the surrounding areas. Two-Wheeled Tourist is going on tour and sharing the sights that were a part of my life for almost a quarter century.

Stay tuned on the blog for random pictures and tales of my (mis)adventures throughout Southern California!

International Motorcycle Show (Cleveland, OH) - 1/28-1/30/11

2011-02-04T23:10:00.000-05:00

I had the chance to volunteer a few hours of my time last weekend at the Women Ride booth at the International Motorcycle Show at the I-X Center in Cleveland, OH. The show itself has downsized in the past few years due to the poor economy but is bouncing back with a revamped look and a new approach toward its ever-changing customer base. I was quite impressed with the show's larger emphasis on female riders which is, by far, the fastest growing sector of new motorcyclists today. I had a great time helping ladies try on several different types of motorcycle jackets and overpants and answering questions about helmets.

Here's a small part of the Women Ride section of the motorcycle show. Here ladies had the opportunity to try on some of the touring gear available for female riders. I got to assist in that for three hours!

When all that was done, I perused the show to check out some of the new (and redesigned) bikes coming out for 2011. Here are some of my favorites.

The new Kawasaki Ninja 1000 definitely has potential to be a great selling aggressive touring bike. With a 5.0 gallon gas tank, a three-way adjustable windshield, and the heart of the new Z1000, and a neutral seating posture for those long hours, it's a comfy crotch rocket that can travel.

Here's the new 2011 Kawasaki Ninja 650R. It's gotten a little facelift and a few new features. I like that metallic take on the trademark Kawi green.


Yay! I got to see and sit on a fully loaded 2011 Yamaha Super Téneré for the first time! Yamaha is definitely going after the BMW's R1200GS market with this bike, and I think it'll be a formidable alternative to spending the $20k for a loaded Bimmer.

Here's the 2011 Triumph Tiger 800 ready for a quick romp down the road or some state-hopping action. Triumph is going after BMW's F800 series bikes with this gorgeous addition. I'd definitely want to test this thing; I'm a big fan of its brother, the Tiger 1050.

The Triumph Speed Triple (and Street Triple) were both redesigned for 2011. That thing looks even more diabolical than the previous model. Me like.

And finally, here's Ducati's long anticipated Diavel (Carbon edition). Kinda reminds me of what would happen if a Duc Monster and a Yamaha Warrior had a one-night stand. Looks like fun! I so don't want to see the price tag.

Overall, it was a decent show this year. The booths weren't all leather shops and cruiser-only accessory stops. I was disappointed that BMW, Aprilia, and Moto Guzzi among others didn't show up in Cleveland again. It still boggles my mind that the dates for the International Motorcycle Show in this part of the United States take place so far into winter that it's impossible to ride a motorcycle there. I miss the days when I ran a Women On Wheels® booth at IMS in Long Beach, CA where there are test rides because weather in the first week of December is always going to be 70 degrees and sunny. If I had my way with the schedule, put the Midwest/Northeast shows earlier so riders can catch the last parts of fall! Driving a car to a motorcycle show is a walking oxymoron! Oh well, at least the bikes were shiny.

Motorcycles get NO respect at Woodlake Village Apartments (Columbus, OH)

2011-01-25T16:33:00.001-05:00

My motorcycle has been parked in the same place in the complex's overflow lot since the last snow flurry fell approximately a week ago. From previous experience of digging the bike out of the ice when it was located near the rear of the lot, Matt and I parked Eleanor in the spot closest to the exit of the lot where extra car traffic melted the ground faster. We thought that was a clever idea and we were in the overflow lot where, by policy, extra resident-owned vehicles could park regardless of a resident's location on the property. The complex's management decided to counteract that with a move that truly lacked common sense and insight.

Thanks to numbing temperatures plummeting below zero, roads inside of the property have remained frozen. Despite that fact, I received a phone call on Saturday from the apartment's management office requesting that I move my motorcycle from its spot immediately or risk having my bike towed. I asserted to the lady on the phone that the parking lot's condition (unplowed and icy) were unsafe conditions for me to move my vehicle. Of course, she wouldn't have any of that because "the overflow lot is not a storage facility."

Despite the fact that there were eight additional cars that were unmoved and still covered in snow from the last storm, I figured my bike was targeted because someone decided to bitch that they couldn't park twenty feet closer to their apartment than everyone else. Sadly enough, they failed to consider that my motorcycle cannot pass safely through unplowed, icy roads without risking injury to myself and damage to my machine.

Matt and I made a plan. We took advantage of their stupidity - we had been told to move our motorcycle, but were not told "how far" to move it.

We let Sunday pass without incident (the office was closed) and sprang into action on Monday with a plastic snow pusher and two hockey sticks. We were lucky that day; temperatures rose to 26°F and made the ice just soft enough to easily separate from the roadway. About half an hour later Matt had dug a channel almost fifty feet across the lot to another parking space while I used the hockey stick to clear errant blocks of snow and more of the roadway. Several residents had watched what we were doing and were probably scratching their heads as well.

Once that was done, I took off Eleanor's bike cover and Matt fired her up. She started immediately with an angry roar that could be heard throughout the property. Matt then took her off of centerstand and gingerly guided her into her new spot almost directly across from the last spot. I assisted in rotating her so she would face outward toward the road, ready to leave this dump the first chance she gets.

Easy does it...

As you can see, the move was quite pointless.

We made our disgust pretty well known and we will go out of our way to discourage people from even considering this place, especially if they own motorcycles. So, if you're an active motorcyclist who uses the motorcycle year-round as an actual vehicle and is looking for a cheap place to live, AVOID the Woodlake Village Apartments in Columbus (on Westerville Rd. just south of OH-161). Their treatment of motorcycles in the wintertime is extremely pathetic and it only encourages me to look for better housing elsewhere when we can eventually afford it.

Woodlake Village, you guys so FAIL.

Gotta give props to my fellow USC Trojan.

2011-01-18T16:39:00.000-05:00

Being gainfully underemployed as of late, I found myself looming around YouTube in between online job searches and coming across a professional moviemaker named "freddiew" who has his own exclusive channel on the site. I later came to find out that not only is he a former world Guitar Hero tournament champion, he's also a fellow alumnus of the University of Southern California and a graduate of the USC School of Cinema-Television (now known as the School of Cinematic Arts).

Being the aspiring filmmaker and a professional videographer during my time in California, I was very entertained and inspired by his short skits that demonstrated his excellent storyboarding and editing skills with Final Cut Pro and Adobe AfterEffects among other things. I originally applied to USC's film school back in 2003 but ended up receiving an English degree and a minor in Education. But, I still have that dream of doing something greater with my freelance videotaping and technology talents than just teaching a random high school digital media class.

Watching these videos just made me smile, laugh a bit, think about home (many of his short films were shot on campus at USC, nearby Downtown LA, and even a short jaunt to the Mulligan's in Torrance) and help me hope that perhaps someday, my mixed bag of skills may be of use to someone at a larger scale. It also reminded me of how much could have been possible for me if I didn't have to keep swimming upstream in unnecessary condescension with the words "you can't do this" ringing through my head for over 25 years. I can still remember when my father said to me that going to film school was not what Asian females do, a "complete waste of time," and that I was going to be nothing more than a "jack of all trades, master of none" if I followed my passions rather than finding a job that made money. I ignored him (I still do, with authority, as a matter of fact) and went on to run a successful DVD production company for over ten years. I guess I can consider that a personal victory.

Here's to someone that not only enjoys what he does, but does it extremely well and makes a wonderful career of it. Fight On (and enjoy the guns)!

Dear Ohio, I need a job...

2011-01-11T13:48:00.000-05:00

...that actually gives me hours, doesn't treat me like a seasonal worker, and has a wage I can actually live on.

I came to Ohio with hopes of starting anew and possibly finding career opportunities that would suit my interests and talents. At this moment, that's not the case. In a very strange turn of events, I find myself looking back to the Golden State for job positions with any sort of consistency. On a bright note, I get to go back to my home state. The catch? It'll just be me going back while we figure out what to do with living logistics.

After applying to who-knows-how-many positions and not getting any leads locally, I've moved my search to places more familiar and much farther away than where we are. It's a gamble I'm taking with hopes that a new position would offer more experiences in other markets and a steadier income so we can do things that normal people do, like have savings.

More to come soon on these happenings. Regardless of whether I stay or go I do hope for better pay and happier surroundings.

CA Dreamin': Roads that make OH-555 look like a joke.

2010-12-30T17:20:00.001-05:00

I've been around enough motorcyclists out here in Ohio to hear about "the roads." Since Ohio is mostly flat without much variety in terrain, many riders flock down to the southeast corner of the state to get some sort of adrenaline rush from blind turns, unpredictable traffic, and in some cases, irresponsible vehicles that cross double lines into opposing lanes.

I've done the SE Ohio thing and there are quite a few nice areas that satisfy my need for curves and scenery because California is a 4.5 day ride from here (if I take it casually). But here's the problem with most of it: there's lots of curves out here but there's nothing to look at. Look at a sheep or some other random livestock puddling down the road and you could find yourself missing a tight corner and ending up in someone's gravel-laced driveway. Out here, the ride is just a series of curves you need to survive and maybe some greenery and cornfields to break up the monotony.

This is when I think about the roads I miss on the West Coast. These are the backroads that are so far away from the traffic of the cities and highways and yet are still less than a two hour (straight line) distance from home. These roads are simply roads. The curves are distinct to where you're not trying to discern it from the entrance to someone's house. The mountains, scenery, and if you're in the right place, the view of the Pacific Ocean, and elevation changes are breathtaking and picture-worthy. And if needed sooner than wanted, the ride back home is a straight line down a couple interstates.

Here is a route similar to one that Matt and I took on New Year's Day 2008. I've modified it so that it starts a little farther out near Banning, CA (off of I-10) and ends in Temecula, CA somewhere near a casino known as Pechanga. It also passes through Julian, CA (home of wonderful apple pies), a old-fashioned western style place that doesn't dip below 40 degrees at any given time.

I'll be throwing out more scenic roads that I've done and miss riding through, and those that put these Midwest roads to shame. As another winter passes through the Buckeye State, all I can do is dream about those routes. When I ride the motorcycle on those non-icy days, I will continue wishing I was back there too.

We enjoyed our first New Year's Day ride as a couple in this area and I hope to do it again someday. For now, all we can settle for is this "Polar Bear" ride which consists of 25 miles down I-270 to meet at a restaurant and get a cute pin to say we "survived" riding in January. Wow.

Happy New Year, everyone! It'll only get better...I hope.

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Here's a close-up of CA-243.

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Here is one of several additional options on the way, Palomar Mountain.

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Warning: Squid Alert (and Happy Holidays)

2010-12-20T12:38:00.000-05:00

I apologize to the all the responsible GSX-R riders out there, but you know this stuff is pretty true for the lot of them.

Happy Holidays, everyone!