We ride and to The Place, no Velos

[Thruxton71]

It was the DRZ's turn to run this Sunday. Check tires, suit up, open the choke, flip the fuel petcock to prime (some things never change) and it is down the street and to the Gas pump.

There was a big BMW RT that pulled in, asking if people still met on Sundays. Yes, I replied. Turns out I know this person, as he has a Moto Guzzi 1987 SE exactly like the ones my Brother and I had, and we had discussed this connection before. When I met him he was running his own physician practice, and had stories about high jinks involving law enforcement while riding the SE. He is retired now, and has time to ride, so he showed up on his BIG shiny RT.

Two Miata's came in, and while we were catching up, in comes a Suzuki 650 V-Strom, with another of our irregular group astride. Three motorcycles!!! Two Miatas. It was cause for celebration, even if none of them leaked oil or had kick starters.

Even though we have been running up and down 33 for the past couple of weekends, we elected to do it again, and this time breakfast at The Place in Ventucopa. It is almost exactly 50 miles each direction, and the food and pies are good.

BMW thought that the DRZ was a twin (Yoshi one into two pipes fool people), but I set him straight. Also, there was discussion of my front tire wear, and it is near the end of it's useful life. But, it is round, doesn't have any threads showing, and holds air, which is good enough for me.

Vstrom is in his early 80's and claimed the back of the pack as his spot. Miatas left, followed by me, with BMW and Suzuki behind.

I didn't expect a competition, and I was loafing along at my usual single speed, however, it seemed that it was a little too 'hot' for the rear guard, which surprised me, as I know for a fact that those big BMWs are no slouches in the canyons. (I heard from my Brother that he and his hot-shoe crew were chased down on Bouquet by a CHP on an RT after he passed them in opposing direction and they never expected him to be able to close on them..surprise!). At any rate, on the straights I was easily overtaken, so we stayed together all the way to the Place, after a break at Ozena Station to trade lies.

When I ride 33, I often think of Pat Peddicord, who, without fail, warm or cold, sometimes in rain and snow, led our group of old British bikes up 33 to Wolfs, then back down to the Deer Lodge for breakfast, every Sunday, for years. When Pat passed, we spread his ashes on 33, and there is one corner he loved, a big sweeper you can see all the way through. When I ride through that corner I always give the verge a wave to acknowledge Pat and his dedication to Old British iron, specifically Velocettes.

I haven't sat with a 'large' crowd in over a year, but everyone in this group was vaccinated and there was no one else near us. We broke in a new server, with mixed results. My oatmeal came swimming in a pool of milk, already cooled off, and the cool toast had been slathered with some sort of butter like substance. But my tea was hot, so I had that going for me. Not the best breakfast I have had at The Place. And, they were out of Pies, until we were ready to leave, when the good stuff appeared. Fresh Pecan pie!! Damn. I had to walk away from that.

BMW and Vstrom, being real riders, continued on, planning to loop through Pine Mountain Club and back home. The Miatas and I headed back to Ojai, but as soon as we got to the bottom of the grade up to the summit, I waved them by, and they disappeared. And I had picked up my pace, but no contest.

The MAC is queued for next week...The Suzuki DRZ may need a front tire.. I suppose.. .

Ojai.

[Tetge]

I have a fondness for decent sticky front tires as they really do a lot of the work when it comes to stopping and cornering. I also like sticky rear tires, and, such tires do not wear well. But, the cost of good rubber seems a small price to pay when those tiny contact points are all that grip the road when you are on a motorcycle. And, nice fresh rubber also is a bit less likely to get a puncture, which is never a good thing on a bike.