So i finally rode to a bar to meet the mechanic...
van houten ave in clifton nj, no less.
for quite a while, you've all heard me talking about upgrades to my bike.
from the factory, all harley's are pretty tame beasts--too tame. you need to have enough power on a bike to stay ahead of traffic, period. my buddy has gotten my bike up to 70, but i do not like how the engine feels or sounds at 70. it just doesn't want to be there, and these tweaks will help the engine hit those speeds with less strain.
well, i'm finally paying my harley taxes. the mechanic and i talked parts, and have agreed on an air intake and exhaust set up. parts alone, btw, will cost a g.
He's also setting up a breather kit in my carb, my idea, and he agreed it wasn't a bad idea at all. we talked about replacing my bars and forward controls--they are dmaged from an accident, installing a serious digital tach...i've been reading up on my bike and checking my tech manuals, so i was glad i had an idea what we were talking about. i asked about a dyna-stabilizer, and he agreed it will make the bike more stable high speeds and in tight leans.
he also agreed to teach me some basic tune-up/mechanical shit. i asked, and though we haven't discussed, i'm willing to pay for lessons. its not safe to not know how to tune your clutch or inspect your primary and secondary chains and belts.
so i actually do not care if he charges what a shop charges in the end. he's worked as a hd mechanic, and currently works at a reputable non-harley shop.
it was a 60 something degree night and the ride was just incredible, minus the 10 minutes insect sandstorm i dealt with on route 7; i had to wipe mosquito goober off my face and goggles when i got off in both directions.
its a commitment of sorts to have only a bike. think about those days that are just too fucking hot and humid, too wet and windy, or too cold, and how rough they are in a car or on foot. then combine the worst of both of those worlds as your possible immediate future. you have to know in your head that, out of the blue, you might be spending the day in wet clothing, or baking in the sun and hot bike in traffic, or cold because you're underdressed, no matter how you had to be dressed when you got to your destination.
but you feel the road genuinely. you feel the world genuinely because you have no choice but to deal with it head on. it makes other obstacles feel small; it makes you understand why bikers play hard, and it shows you what fear really smells like.
but it also shows you what pleasure and freedom are truly made of. i rode 9w last week, on a cool night first, then in the warm daytime, and both times were awesome. being bathed by the wind, feeling the warmth of the sun through your jacket, twisting through the turns with my bike just a tic above the speed limit, dodging bad road and potholes...the hour trips were just incredible, and i plan to ride them again.
as you all know, winter temps i can deal with, and i look forward to them. i got to wear a heavy jacket the other night and it felt great.
i have begun to take kung-fu lessons, and plan to give it at least a few months. if it starts to feel right, i hope to stay with it. i can already wrestle, and i can already box. i'm afraid that if i take a more direct or violent martial form, i'll just want to fight from day one. to make a better boxer or wrestler, for the most part, you make them stronger, faster, and lighter. i'd rather be challenged a little more mentally and physically, because i don't need help to be faster or stronger, but i do need help controlling my energy
kung fu is making me take it slow, and for once in my life, i'm appreciating a leash. i plan to box and grapple on my other workout days anyway.
what's funny is that i'm already seeing applications for what we do in kung fu--foot hooks in particular. when you step in certain moves, you're told to tun your foot all the way out, just behind another person's foot, to "trap" that foot. if you hook another persons foot right, you can take them down with just pressure from you shin; this has applications in the clinch to limit mobility, and can be used for takedowns. the chin-a i'm told i'll learn will be good for submissions.
a lot of the stances they're teaching me feel powerful. hopefully, i'l acquire some grace. regardless, classes have been interesting so far.
i post these because they are refreshing, normal thoughts. my loan really did buy me some time and space.
work is work. i'm still not fully sure what's up, but at the very least, the two staffing agencies i worked for seem to have work available this fall and winter. i'll pop an add on craigslist for moving any handyman...remeber me when friends need help like that.
i can make it another year without too much fuss. probably another before i see the end near or see a solution.
ursel has beena great roomate. its refreshing to have an open and friendly roomate, rather than what feels like a boarder. all in all, alexa was a good tenant, but very much kept to herself.
i'll call my parent's later, just to be able say i did. i'm sure my dad is as he was, and my interest in my family remains minimal.
I'm happiest when i find ways to channel my energy, and finally, the channels are there again. working out keeps me happier, period, and i'm glad i've been sticking to it. i could use some body mass, and no part of me is suitable for non athletic weight gain, leaving only bulking up with strength training as an option. it has felt good though, and i've been steady with working out for three months now. i must remain steady.
I plan to get out more. i feel much better when i have places to go. i plan to ride more; i plan to practice the parts of riding i am weakest at. I stopped doing that a long time ago, even though i said i wouldn't. i will lean deeper and learn to ride faster on the highway.
by january, plan to have plans for school, even if plans are simply "make sure you make plans for august. it might not be feasible to attend college next semester. i have a lot of thinking to do on that subject.
i feel much better all around and i hope that shows.
for quite a while, you've all heard me talking about upgrades to my bike.
from the factory, all harley's are pretty tame beasts--too tame. you need to have enough power on a bike to stay ahead of traffic, period. my buddy has gotten my bike up to 70, but i do not like how the engine feels or sounds at 70. it just doesn't want to be there, and these tweaks will help the engine hit those speeds with less strain.
well, i'm finally paying my harley taxes. the mechanic and i talked parts, and have agreed on an air intake and exhaust set up. parts alone, btw, will cost a g.
He's also setting up a breather kit in my carb, my idea, and he agreed it wasn't a bad idea at all. we talked about replacing my bars and forward controls--they are dmaged from an accident, installing a serious digital tach...i've been reading up on my bike and checking my tech manuals, so i was glad i had an idea what we were talking about. i asked about a dyna-stabilizer, and he agreed it will make the bike more stable high speeds and in tight leans.
he also agreed to teach me some basic tune-up/mechanical shit. i asked, and though we haven't discussed, i'm willing to pay for lessons. its not safe to not know how to tune your clutch or inspect your primary and secondary chains and belts.
so i actually do not care if he charges what a shop charges in the end. he's worked as a hd mechanic, and currently works at a reputable non-harley shop.
it was a 60 something degree night and the ride was just incredible, minus the 10 minutes insect sandstorm i dealt with on route 7; i had to wipe mosquito goober off my face and goggles when i got off in both directions.
its a commitment of sorts to have only a bike. think about those days that are just too fucking hot and humid, too wet and windy, or too cold, and how rough they are in a car or on foot. then combine the worst of both of those worlds as your possible immediate future. you have to know in your head that, out of the blue, you might be spending the day in wet clothing, or baking in the sun and hot bike in traffic, or cold because you're underdressed, no matter how you had to be dressed when you got to your destination.
but you feel the road genuinely. you feel the world genuinely because you have no choice but to deal with it head on. it makes other obstacles feel small; it makes you understand why bikers play hard, and it shows you what fear really smells like.
but it also shows you what pleasure and freedom are truly made of. i rode 9w last week, on a cool night first, then in the warm daytime, and both times were awesome. being bathed by the wind, feeling the warmth of the sun through your jacket, twisting through the turns with my bike just a tic above the speed limit, dodging bad road and potholes...the hour trips were just incredible, and i plan to ride them again.
as you all know, winter temps i can deal with, and i look forward to them. i got to wear a heavy jacket the other night and it felt great.
i have begun to take kung-fu lessons, and plan to give it at least a few months. if it starts to feel right, i hope to stay with it. i can already wrestle, and i can already box. i'm afraid that if i take a more direct or violent martial form, i'll just want to fight from day one. to make a better boxer or wrestler, for the most part, you make them stronger, faster, and lighter. i'd rather be challenged a little more mentally and physically, because i don't need help to be faster or stronger, but i do need help controlling my energy
kung fu is making me take it slow, and for once in my life, i'm appreciating a leash. i plan to box and grapple on my other workout days anyway.
what's funny is that i'm already seeing applications for what we do in kung fu--foot hooks in particular. when you step in certain moves, you're told to tun your foot all the way out, just behind another person's foot, to "trap" that foot. if you hook another persons foot right, you can take them down with just pressure from you shin; this has applications in the clinch to limit mobility, and can be used for takedowns. the chin-a i'm told i'll learn will be good for submissions.
a lot of the stances they're teaching me feel powerful. hopefully, i'l acquire some grace. regardless, classes have been interesting so far.
i post these because they are refreshing, normal thoughts. my loan really did buy me some time and space.
work is work. i'm still not fully sure what's up, but at the very least, the two staffing agencies i worked for seem to have work available this fall and winter. i'll pop an add on craigslist for moving any handyman...remeber me when friends need help like that.
i can make it another year without too much fuss. probably another before i see the end near or see a solution.
ursel has beena great roomate. its refreshing to have an open and friendly roomate, rather than what feels like a boarder. all in all, alexa was a good tenant, but very much kept to herself.
i'll call my parent's later, just to be able say i did. i'm sure my dad is as he was, and my interest in my family remains minimal.
I'm happiest when i find ways to channel my energy, and finally, the channels are there again. working out keeps me happier, period, and i'm glad i've been sticking to it. i could use some body mass, and no part of me is suitable for non athletic weight gain, leaving only bulking up with strength training as an option. it has felt good though, and i've been steady with working out for three months now. i must remain steady.
I plan to get out more. i feel much better when i have places to go. i plan to ride more; i plan to practice the parts of riding i am weakest at. I stopped doing that a long time ago, even though i said i wouldn't. i will lean deeper and learn to ride faster on the highway.
by january, plan to have plans for school, even if plans are simply "make sure you make plans for august. it might not be feasible to attend college next semester. i have a lot of thinking to do on that subject.
i feel much better all around and i hope that shows.