The simpler things/My new toy

Ok, I am going to admit that I am a big kid. I like my toys and I probably will never tire of them. I don't "need" toys, but they bring joy to my life. I think that maybe it's my engineering DNA that makes me covet toys or more specifically, cool mechanical widgets.

As of late, I have realized that motorcycles are probably the most practical of all toys. I mean, thing about this: A motorcycle, almost any motorcycle, gets better gas mileage than most cars, is infinitely easier to park, is cooler than almost any car and is arguably more fun than any car.

So, I knuckled under and relented to my moto lust. Specifically, my Ducati lust. I didn't, however, go totally overboard. I got a...modest... Ducati.It's a Sport 1000 and a beautiful bike. Even Suzy said so, which is pretty serious since she could care less about motos.

I have ridden the Duc for about 200 miles and it's quite sublime. But there is something quite strange going on.

I took the SV for a little spin last weekend and noticed something somewhat surprising: The SV is easier to ride. Or more specifically, it's less intense to ride. It's not as fast nor as exotic, but it has a precision and accuracy that the Duc doesn't have.

It maybe because I have to spend a lot more money to have a Duc that is so surgical.

At any rate, I will be taking the SV to the track this weekend and not the Duc. The reason why is that even after only 4000-5000 miles, the SV feels like a favorite....bike (the ones you pedal).

I could buy another SV for the down payment on a new Duc. There is something to be said for the simpler things.

To those who deserve it...

Over the course of my life, there have been people who have really made a difference in my life and it occurred to me just recently that I may or may not have given them recognition for said difference. Those people are (in chronological order):

My Dad: the single biggest contributor. He instilled in me the basic work ethic and that being an engineer didn't mean I was exempt from that ethic. He also was my rock. Even in death when I had to fight to end his life so that he wouldn't have to endure as a vegetable, he steeled me to do what was necessary for my Mom when it came down to the same decision.

My Mom: She believed in me when no one else would, she loved me unconditionally and showed me what it meant to be the David against the Goliath.

Scott Saifer: He enabled me to actually realize my dream (and my Dad's) of being an engineer. He endured many years of annoying and irresponsible behavior on my part and I appreciate everything he taught me.

Scott Storms: He is the closest thing I have to a brother. My time racing with him as my teammate is irreplaceable. He pushed me (or just made me realize what skills I already possessed) and helped me coalesce as a bike racer and as an engineer.

Claudia Santucci: This woman taught me the meaning of the word "determination". I have never seen someone with such dogged resolve to do what she wanted. She came to the US from Germany as a pregnant, 15 year old high school drop out who followed her boyfriend. His promise to take care of her and provide for her turned out to be working as an usher and screwing every other girl in site. She set out on her own with her Autistic child and did just make do, she excelled. She is now a ER doctor that owns her own house and has never had to make payments on a car for more than 6months before paying it off. She "trained" me on how to be a man, or at least how to be a grown-up.

Suzanne Earlene Peterson: What can I say about Suzanne. She frustrates me, but I love her so dearly. She is the sweetest, most loving thing on the planet. Unlike most people (and very much like the animals she loves so much) she loves so unconditionally that it's almost painful. She is so beautiful and lovely. She made me see who I could be, how happy I could be and gives like only my parents have ever been able to. I so wish they could have met her.

To all of you, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Steel is real

Ok, ya'll remember that my fancy S-Works Tarmac got totaled when that silly car got in my way a while back, right? Well, since then I have been riding my "backup" bike: my Blue steel Landshark that I bought in 99 as a gift to myself for successfully graduating from engineering school and getting a job. I mentioned this a while back when I was gushing about how much I like bikes.

I knew that I needed to keep the Landshark but I was almost beginning to forget why. This scenario reminded me why I have to expound it's virtues once again.

It's been 3 months since my accident and probably 2 months and change since I started riding full time again and I have to say, I love my Landshark. It's such a great bike. It's no wonder that I haven't felt any need to get a replacement racing bike and no wonder why I have no intention of getting rid of it anytime soon.

Initially, the S-works was actually kind of weird to ride. It weighed 5-6lbs less than the "Fish" (as some friend would call it) so it handled differently. I would dive into a corner and would have to compensate since it was sooooo responsive. Eventually, I got use to it and then the Fish would feel sluggish by comparison.

But sometimes I would bring out the Fish just to give her a spin and there have been people who tell me I should put it on eBay, like it was some Centurion or Novara(REI house intro bike) budget learners bike that was destined to used and then discarded. The whole idea that someone else would own my beloved Fish is just offensive. This is MY 'shark, made for ME! The whole idea of selling a custom made bike is just outside my box of thinking.

But in light of my accident, it's a good thing I didn't, huh?

I have my new SL2 on order and it will be even fancier than ever, but I have no intention of getting rid of the 'shark. This is my second 'shark and I rode the first one into the ground so much so that by the time it failed it wasn't even worth saving. That was a sad day when I had to put the first one down. Mr Slawta (he who is Landshark)is a fine frame builder and is only surpassed by his artistry with the paint gun. Go visit him.

I most likely will disassembly the Landshark and send it off to be repainted. It's due, I think. The once spectacular iridescent blue/green paint job that made me think of the ocean is scratched , scuffed and has lost it's luster. Now it's just a matter of what to do next. I had my first Landshark repainted with a pearl yellow and this really cool black with a gold pearl clear coat in an 40's-50's hot rod style scallops. I think I might have it painted like that. It was such a cool paint job and I miss it.

Moto High

You know, way back when (like when I was in high school) I used to bitch about how most cyclists rode bikes that could cope with abilities that were way beyond anything that they could even hope to achieve. I have been racing for a very long time, have mad skill yet I still can get a bike that is more than I am worthy. It takes individuals of REAL, singular talent to be able to push anything available in any bike shop to it's limit.
At some point, I just learned to shut my mouth and resign to the fact that modern mass production engineering has been able to produce bikes that exceed the capabilities of the most talented pros and that there are endless Freds who have more dollars than sense and feel like they are capable of mustering such skill in a couple of mid-life crisis saturated years that it took the rest of the world 20 or so years to do. Who am I to preach such things. I just ride my bike with what skill I posses.

Since I have bought a motorcycle, it's like that all over again. I have friends who have skill beyond my wildest dreams and they ride the most modest of motorbikes. I know people who were skilled enough that people PAID them to do something that most people do for fun. Think about that; getting paid to ride a motorcycle (or a bicycle) for a living. Does it do something that is inherently useful for anyone? No. Does it enhance world peace? No. Does it save poor starving children in 4th world countries? No. Does it help poor work-a-day folk have a better life? Only marginally. It's like getting paid to eat ice cream: you got to be doing something pretty darn special for someone to pay you to do it.

The skilled and former moto racers appreciate the "lesser" motorbikes and even get excited about them: Motorcycles with 50hp and only weigh 270lbs. They don't lust after 150hp motos. They are done with that.

But yet, Ducati has made available to the public the Desmosedici RR. In classic Italian motor sports style, they have release the closest thing to a MotoGP bike the world has ever seen. By any standards imaginable, they have released a widow-maker. This thing is so stupid fast and exotic that you know there will be no end to all the morons who will feel the need to posses this gift from the Gods of motorcycling even though they will never posses the skills to even begin to appreciate what it's capable of. There will probably be lots of Darwin awards given out on this one.

I wonder if the people at Ducati planned this. I wonder if they decided to give these folks what they wanted and gave them a big "caveat emptor" (buyer beware) and said "ok, this is what you wanted. Are you sure you are ready?"

Italians seem to be the only ones who are capable of brazenly giving to the public machinery that is blatantly only meant for the uber-talented. It's as if they want to allow the foolish the means to tempt the Gods as Icarus and Dadelus did, only to find themselves woefully inadequate and exquisitely mortal.