The Coronavirus Chronicles -Three Strikes You're Out

[pdedse]

I'm an experienced rider with lots of training riding on very familiar roads as well, but, when a lady made a snap decision to turn left in front of me a few blocks in front of the office I've been going to on the same street for many years, with hardly any other cars around, most of that didn't matter. I'll credit my experience and training to maintaining as much control of my machine as possible to minimize impact.

Maybe that made me lucky that I'm not in a hospital. Considering the world situation, I guess it's a minor annoyance that the shop repairing my bike can't give me an answer about when I'll get it back, because he doesn't know when the parts he's ordered might get delivered.

Yes, I had made a decision once the virus hit that I'd put the CB on a tender once the virus hit. My wife is home-bound and immune compromised right now, I have employees looking to me for strength. I need to do all I can to keep myself undamaged and healthy. On Sunday morning, the temptation was too great, and I went for an awesome ride before the clouds turned dark. I wasn't worried about the virus or getting in an accident. I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I watched other people out enjoying themselves, jogging, riding, etc. Ok, yes, I need to ride.

But, I'm going to make that ride my last pleasure ride until we get back to normal. For safety, yes. But also money. I doubt I'll keep getting paid while I'm sitting here at home, my second job at the museum just announced an extension to their closure through April, and any non-essential spending in my household is now shut off. If I do ride, it's going to be to get essential groceries that can fit in my trunk. I'll at least get some enjoyment from that. There's no more risk from the virus with my head in a helmet than behind a windshield. My CB really needs new tires. But the ones I have will get me to the store and back a few times.

Edit: If you are going to ride, carry some disinfecting wipes - gotta think that gas pumps are nasty breeding grounds for all kinds of nasty things.

I got lucky w/ tire install. Last 2 months I went back and forth with whether I should order tires online, take the wheels off myself and take to shop for install to save $$, ride to shop with tires on and do it that way but more $$$, or was I gonna convert rims from tube to tubeless. Decided I didn't have the energy to do that this time around, and I've left this bike stock to this point--literally nothing except add engine guards. And I kind of liked that.

But I had in mind to start a relationship with a independent shop recommended by Guth--Cycletune in Portland. I visited their place a few times and it looks top-notch, clean, orderly, beautiful bikes of all sorts being worked on, guys are super friendly and enjoy working on classics and good looking bikes...just a good all around vibe. I figured I'd probably want them to do the valve check coming up sometime next year, so why not throw them some business to see how they operate. I'm getting long winded, sorry...

Not really...when all said and done, allowing them to order the tires and install them, set chain tension, clean and oil chain, dispose old tires, new tubes, inspect brakes came out to $50 more than if I had ordered the tires and tubes myself and rode the bike to them. They made some money on the tires, but they also worked with me to set up a day where I could be first in and done in less than 2 hours--I explained that I didn't want to leave it and come back, but would rather wait around. I didn't want to take the bus home and back for current reality reasons.

That was Saturday. Now we're not supposed to be out and about except for real needs. It looks like that shop may be open, but I feel a lot better knowing I don't have to make a trip ignoring "stay home" orders, nor do I have to wait it out till who knows how long to get some work done.

If I need a few things right away from the grocery, I won't hesitate to ride my KLR the 3 miles there to pick up what would fit in my case and backpack. But I just got back form a big grocery trip by car (had to wait 20 minutes to get in the store as they let only a certain number in at a time), so I can stay put for awhile...rain helps. Buy a week of this and then it gets sunny? I might be tempted to go out for a 10 mile loop.