Too Much

Twitter and Facebook are sapping all my creative juices. And if that’s not bad enough, I now have a Google Wave account too.

I want to write a Google Wave review/first impressions, but what with checking all my messages and sending all my updates I can’t find the time.

Utah on a Harley

I visit Utah a couple of times a year (my company is based there), and this time decided to follow through on something I’ve been promising myself for ages: I rented a Harley-Davidson for the weekend.

My Weekend Mean Machine

Because it’s getting toward Winter the local dealership Timpanogos Harley were offering a discounted rate of $99 per day for any of a range of 5 or 6 models. I was advised by a Harley fanatic friend to go for the new Street Glide, so that’s what I did.

I picked up the Street Glide last Saturday — a chilly but dry and bright morning. I had brought my own leather jacket, boots, and underlayers with me and the dealer loaned me a Hells Angel-style open helmet (later in the weekend I borrowed a full-face from a friend as the open one was a nightmare). After signing about 5 waivers absolving them of any and all liability I was led out to the parking lot where they took me round the bike and then insisted on watching me ride around the car park to prove I knew how to ride. That was a little intimidating but I went down the end, turned around and came back without falling off so they were happy. Knowing that it was my first time they offered me the use of their training course round the back, so I spent the first ten minutes practising cornering and generally getting used to the feel of the thing in safety. Very useful!

The weekend was just great. Quite cold but dry and with good visibility, and I rode around 300 miles, part freeway but as much as possible through winding mountain roads with stunning scenery.

Compared with a “regular” Japanese road bike like mine the Harley’s ride was very different. At cruising speeds the bike was immensely comfortable — I could have sat there all day watching the world fly past. Low speed in a straight line was also pretty easy; but when it came to low-speed car park manouevres things were a little hairier. I found the balance of the bike very different compared to mine. the bars and front wheel felt heavier and inclined to pull the bike to the side the more they turned. I found the best way to handle this was to lean forward so my body weight was more over the instrument panel (but keeping the weight off the bars). This made it easier to feel what the bike wanted to do and go with it without losing balance. Of course this is just a case of non-familiarity and I’m sure it would be fine once you get used to it.

Do I look cool?

Anyhow, I got through the weekend in one piece and without dropping it, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. While I’m not about to buy a Harley for the North Circular I can certainly see the attraction that gives them such a die-hard following.

Off To Utah

Flying to Salt Lake City tomorrow, for a week of meetings but MORE IMPORTANTLY — spending this weekend riding the mountain roads on a Harley Davidson Street Glide. I’m taking my camera in hopes of finding some stunning Autumn scenery, and the weather looks like it’ll be cold-ish but dry and clear, so I’m REALLY looking forward to it.

Pics to follow.

Mystery of the Pole. Solved. (?)

Well I must say how overwhelmed I was by your responses to my recent pole poll…NOT! In the 48 hrs since posting I’ve had a grand total of three votes, and one of them was me. Honestly I don’t know why I bother.

You probably don’t even care whether anyone got the right answer do you? To be honest, I can’t say what the right answer is with total confidence, but from what I’ve read and a couple of other telltale signs I’m confident (enough to put a fiver on it) that they are mobile phone antennas, designed to replace or augment those unsightly dish towers.

Pole of Mystery

Have a look at this:

Mystery Pole

These telegraph-pole-size poles have been cropping up in the roads around where I live over the last few months.

Of course the big question is: what the heck are they?

Easy Rider

I’m excited. Going to Provo next week (again). Each time I visit Utah I promise myself a weekend riding through the state’s stunning scenery on a Harley Davidson. Circumstances have worked against me to prevent this happening up until now, but this time there’s nothing standing in my way, so I have booked this:

The Harley Davidson Street Glide

While Harley’s aren’t really my thing from a riding enjoyment perspective — I much prefer Japanese street bikes — when you’re in the American Mid-West there really is no other choice. As a Harley-owning pal of mine says: “Harleys are not about great handling. It’s all about the lifestyle”. So I’m looking forward to my first taste of the Harley lifestyle.

Full story and photos to follow after next weekend.