First long ride.

[ducleaner]

I took the opportunity to do a 300 mile trip this weekend to expedite End-of-break-in. Here's what happened...

1) got a severe case of sore-butt.
2) got comfortable in the twisties. I'm still slow. It just feels better.
3) learned that a 696 can pull on a Carrera S being a prick without even violating break-in procedure.
4) had my first case of escape the no-look-lane-changer. Saw it coming. Survived.
5) sore butt upgraded to broken ass.
6) Rode in a tuck the entire way. Zero back or wrist problems. Ass still hurts.
7) Finally hit the stop with the fun grip.
8 ) Got gas at exactly 916 miles (unplanned) in the 916 area code (also unplanned).

Truthfully, my ass quit hurting a long time ago. It was pretty sore when I got off the bike for the last time but I hadn't even noticed it before then. Hammies got kinda tight near the end of each tank of gas but mostly pain free. I'm no fan of long highway trips but it's not a bad touring bike. I really enjoyed a nice stretch of road between Grass Valley and Colfax. Mostly 3rd gear with a little bit of 2nd. Very low traffic. Good road surface quality.

[DanTheMan]

there's a homo ass joke some where in there....i'm too lazy to ream it....

[hypurone]

Looks like a DP Gel seat is on order then?    

[Michael Moore]

Crushing exotic sports cars = one of the true joys of motorcycling.

Of course it's even better if you're on a roached-out Nighthawk or similar, but hey, a win's still a win.

[desmoquattro]

Amen...the sore ass syndrome seems to be universal. It happens even on my Sargent seat.

[Spidey]

I find the best way to deal with sore ass is to pick a route that requires a lot of twisties and a lot of hanging off the bike. 

Stretching for a while before you go on a long ride will save you from tightening up later in the day.  I always try to wake up 30 mins earlier than I planned to get in a good stretch if I'm going on a long one.

The ergos of a 696 are ball-crushing.  Get an aftermarket seat.

Congrats on getting through the lane-changer alive.  There'll be more, but nothing's quite as sweet as your first.

Make sure you cover the back brake when you're getting ready to drag race off the light to ward of clutch wheelies. 

WFO rocks.   

[sroberts152]

8 ) Got gas at exactly 916 miles (unplanned) in the 916 area code (also unplanned).

I got in about 120+ miles on both Friday and Saturday on my new 1100.  Like you I got in an unexpected good laugh at one of my stops when my mileage was 333.  I'm only half evil. 

[Desmostro]

You tender asses should ride a bicycle every decade or so. Then you'll never get sore.

[johnc]

there's a homo ass joke some where in there....i'm too lazy to ream it....

DTM, you ARE the homo ass joke. 

[somegirl]

You tender asses should ride a bicycle every decade or so. Then you'll never get sore.

+1

After a week on a hardtail in Ireland, plus a day of horseback riding, my Duc felt like a la-z-boy!

[ducleaner]

You tender asses should ride a bicycle every decade or so. Then you'll never get sore.

I'm a former roadie and I can't argue with this at all. I used to climb 15k ft per week when I lived in Boulder but just lost interest after 10 or so years on the saddle.

BTW, I was riding the 696 down a 4 lane non-divided road in slowtraffic and contemplating using the middle to skip to the front at a red light. Then some douche on a bicycle passed me on the left in my lane!!! I seriously considered accidentally sweeping his front wheel.

CA is full of people that seriously misunderstand the phrase "share the road."

[sroberts152]

Its only "sharing" if it is benefiting them. 

[somegirl]

I've posted up in a local bicycling forum that "sharing the road goes both ways".  Unfortunately the people that read it are not the ones that are the problem.

[ducleaner]

I've posted up in a local bicycling forum that "sharing the road goes both ways".  Unfortunately the people that read it are not the ones that are the problem.

hehe. It's weird getting mad at cyclists after being one for so long. But I was new to CA so I eventually looked it up to make sure it was the same here as it was back home. It is. They are legally required to ride as far to the right of the road as safely possible (except when moving to the right edge of the left turn lane to turn left). Sharing literally means there is enough room in this lane for both of us. But more often than not, they ride as if they think we're supposed to share single file... up hill... at 7 mph... around blind corners... sigh.

[desmoquattro]

hehe. It's weird getting mad at cyclists after being one for so long. But I was new to CA so I eventually looked it up to make sure it was the same here as it was back home. It is. They are legally required to ride as far to the right of the road as safely possible (except when moving to the right edge of the left turn lane to turn left). Sharing literally means there is enough room in this lane for both of us. But more often than not, they ride as if they think we're supposed to share single file... up hill... at 7 mph... around blind corners... sigh.

But under CA law cyclists are also allowed to "take the lane" if riding far to the right is unsafe. They just need to give a hand signal, and cars are required to yield. That's not to say that some of them aren't just oblivious or arrogant about it, riding 2-3 abreast.