Broken Peg

The other day while riding the Triumph back from a physical therapy appointment up in Buford, I stopped in at Northeast Georgia Motorsports outside Hoschton. After picking up a set of "Snow Paws" for my handlebars, I geared up for the remaining ride home. Their parking lot has a pretty steep grade to it, and I had backed in to more easily angle up and out upon departure. As I turned the bars right and began to let out the clutch and roll forward on the incline, suddenly the bike popped out of gear into neutral, and I quickly fumbled to get back in gear. The combination of my slow forward momentum, combined with the bars angled to the right, and my attempt to put my right foot down to steady (and finding the pavement sloping away from me), conspired to slowly tip the bike over to the right. Unable to hold up the top-heavy bike on the incline at that angle, I did my best to wrestle it down gently, to cause as little damage as possible. Immediately one of the dealership personnel rushed out to help me lift the Sprint and get it back on the side stand. He found the broken peg laying there, and after assessing the rest of the damage (a minor scrape on the fairing and on the header), I thanked him and remounted to ride home.
There was precious little to prop my foot on going home, and upon arrival I immediately began searching for a replacement part. I couldn't believe it had happened. Just the previous week, while out riding the Royal Star on another rare nice day, I tipped it over to the left at an inclined stop sign, by stalling out suddenly while attempting to accelerate away. I was not in 1st gear as normal, but had inadvertently still been in 2nd. The bike lurched and stalled, and since I was turning left, the bike just tipped that way, rocking over on the highway bars. No harm there, just embarrassment. I tipped it back up (using the proper technique), and rode off. It happened about 2 months ago too, leaving a CMA meeting one Saturday morning.
What has been going on with me? I go years and years without tipping bikes over, then it happens multiple times, in quick succession, with both bikes! Have I really lost that much strength over the past year/half? I was thinking maybe I need lighter bikes the older I get. But I love these "big heavies", and am usually quite used to their feel. Its just a good reminder to be careful with these machines, whether at speed on the roads, or in a parking lot moving slow.
Found and ordered a replacement foot peg assembly on BikeBandit.com, so I can get back on "Mathilda" as soon as possible...

By the Light of the Moon

The other night I attended a dinner with my old friends from the Spirit Riders motorcycle group. It was out at a restaurant in Auburn, GA, and I knew some nice back country roads to take there, so I rode the Triumph. As I was riding, the full moon was peaking up over the tree line in front of me, casting its beautiful, white glow over the landscape. I was awestruck, basking in the pale light as I rode along. I slowed my pace, took my time, no longer in a hurry to reach the restaurant. I gave thanks to the Lord for the indescribable beauty and peace of the moonlit evening, and the ability and health to be out relishing it.
I arrived at the restaurant, and enjoyed a wonderful evening with my old riding companions. As we all suited up for our respective journeys home, the moon was much higher in the sky, now shining more directly down on us. I decided to take the long way home, even though the temperature was dropping. As I rode in the moon glow, the breezes were blowing leaves off the trees across my path, and I noticed each one caught some of the light from above as it flitted down. Its hard to describe the visual. I had never seen, or at least never noticed, such elegance under a full moon in autumn. I rode in silent worship, impervious to the cold, just soaking in the transcendent moments.
Autumn colors, cool breezes, clear skies, and the light of a full moon. "The heavens declare the glory of God, the skies proclaim the works of His hands." -Psalm 19:1