Sedalia Mo - it's only 4 months away!

[Bengt_Phorqs]

I wear a poly wicking shirt and a vented summer weight armored jacket.  For pants, either Draggin' Jeans or a pair of Olympia armored pants with Red/White/Blue suspenders.  Start drinking about two liters of water per day starting NOW.  I will wear a Camelbak when I ride, but will stop every 100 miles or so to refresh and rehydrate.  I do have one of the Kool Vests in tent size to accomodate my girth but haven't ever worn it during a ride.   To complete the ensemble, a colorful bandana, I prefer the Riders In The Sky model from Too Slim's Mercantile, that I will keep damp and worn about my neck.  Water, water, and more water until your belly sloshes.

[Ron_S.]

I wear a mess armoured jacket and keep dousing my t-shirt with cool water.  I gotta try the camelback, though.

[suecanada]

Any one saying that mesh jackets don't work well with high humidity?

[Ron_S.]

I'm not at all an expert, but we get some humidity in Mid-Missouri and mine works surprisingly well.  

[Ron_S.]

Of course, the Texans are going to know more about this than I do.

[R65Guy]

I wear a mesh jacket with a wicking type tee shirt underneath.  No water dousing for me, I like it dry when it is humid.  First Gear waterproof overpants with a thin pair of jogging shorts underneath. Camelback in the tankbag.  I have a waterproof liner for the mesh jacket as well as a quilted liner if the weather turns cold.

[Bengt_Phorqs]

And as we all saddle our bikes and head to Missouri to congregate, let us be mindful of these words of wisdom from a 1962 Honda Motor Cycle Instruction Book.

"Translated by Honda for the American Motorcycle Rider: The following rules for motorists are so successful in Japan, that American motorcycle riders might profitably paste them in their hats.

1.  At the rise of the hand by Policeman, stop rapidly. Do not pass him by or otherwise disrespect him.

2.  When a passenger of the foot, hooves in sight, tootel the horn trumpet melodiously at first. If he still obstacles your passage, tootel him with vigor and express by word of mouth, warning Hi, Hi.

3.  Beware of the wandering horse that he shall not take fright as you pass him. Do not explode the exhaust box at him. Go soothingly by.

4.  Give big space to the festive dog that makes sport in roadway. Avoid entanglement of dog with wheel spokes.

5.  Go soothingly on the grease mud, as there lurks the skid demon. Press the brake foot as you roll around the corners, and save the collapse and tie up."

(saw this on the Guzzi forum and couldn't resist these pearls of wisdom)

[Matt Chapter]

1.  At the rise of the hand by Policeman, stop rapidly. Do not pass him by or otherwise disrespect him.

No wonder I got so many "performance awards" as a youth.

5.  Go soothingly on the grease mud, as there lurks the skid demon. Press the brake foot as you roll around the corners, and save the collapse and tie up."

Always did have trouble with this one.  Now I know the trick!

[nhmaf]

Tootels with vigor!
 

[k_enn]

<snip>Do not explode the exhaust box at him. <snip>

That can be taken several ways.  Does that mean "do not fart" or "do not backfire."

k_enn

[montmil]

Suggest those going to the rally avoid tenting near Ken. "Pass me sum mo' dem Blazing Saddle Beans."

[nhmaf]

As much as it does pain me to say it, I'm afraid that I wont be making it to Sedalia after all.   This sciatica problem I've been battling the past month seems to be unwilling to go, and actually has gotten worse the past few days just as I though it may be getting a bit better.    I was able to ride ~ 160 miles one day last week, which is normally 'child's play' for me, but it has been coming back to haunt me now, and I'd have to be doing alot more mileage than that each day for this trip.    I regret that I won't be able to see all those familiar faces - and new ones too, at the rally this year.  My cousin who was planning to ride with me is also again have problems with this flying brick, so if I went it would be another solo trip.   That ordinarily wouldnt bother me much were it not for this medical issue as well - so it is probably better to not push my luck and end up flat on my back someplace with no means to get medication, etc.

I 'm hoping to get in to the physician's office this week and perhaps catch some rally or two in the northeast somewhere later in the summer/early fall.

I really will miss the conversations in the beer tent!

Hope that you all enjoy the rally, and be careful about the heat and the traffic!

-Mike

[Red_Hen]

Hi Mike,

We'll miss you for sure but knowing that you're also "here" so often, is comforting.

What's important is for you to get a handle on your sciatica.  Good luck and sounds to me like a wise decision.

Best,
Ken

[R65Guy]

Hey Mike,
Sorry the plan didn't work out this year but there will more.  Get yourself healed up and we will catch you next time.
Neal

[R65Guy]

Johnson City Gathering