Triumph Sprint GT 1050 - Level Five Graphics

TankslapperSCARIEST RIDE:This scariest ride took place in Februaryover 20 years ago.Back in college I was going to school inwestern Oregon and needed to visit myfiance in eastern Washington. For time andbudget reasons I chose to ride my faithfulSuzuki GS750E.The visit did not go well and the next day Iheaded back west. The weather forecast wasominous with a winter weather advisory fora fast-moving storm system due in later thatday. By the time I made I-84 on the east endof the Columbia River Gorge, snow wasmixed with rain and darkness was falling.The Gorge intensified the storm and I had100 miles to go through it.I was okay for a bit but the wind blastforced water down the gap between myhelmet and rain gear soaking my chest andback. Stopping for gas and hot coffee, theattendant looked at me like I was crazy tobe out in the weather. I couldn’t afford amotel and had a tent and sleeping bag in myluggage but I was only a couple hours fromhome and was sure I could make it. Backon the road I couldn’t feel my feet and theonly thing that kept my fingers somewhatflexible was grabbing onto the valve coversuntil I could feel warmth seepingthrough. To keep my right handwarm I had to engage the throttlelock and steer with my left. The windgusts were making the bike swerveagainst my one handed grip andnumerous times I was blown onto themedian strip.I had to crack my visor to keep itfrom fogging and raindrops weredriven in, spattering my eye glassesand forming sparkling star burstsfrom the headlights of on comingtraffic. I gave up trying to see straightahead and instead oriented myselfby looking at the white line on theright side just in front of the bike.Arriving on the outskirts of Portland,the winds eased but the rain poureddown harder than ever. Instead ofkeeping it slow and have a steadystream of traffic pass me by, I lockedonto the taillights of a car and hungjust off its rear end. Somewhere in the backof my mind I was aware that hypothermiahad set in but my tiredness and desire to gethome overrode the warnings my brain wastrying to sound.After an hour of following taillights I madethe turn off the interstate for the last 10miles to home and was greeted with aninky blackness—no cars to follow and aground fog to further blind me with theback-scatter from the headlight. I usedthe whole road trying to follow the centerline. Now it wasn’t the wind causing me toswerve but the uncontrollable shiveringfrom the cold. I finally pulled into thedriveway and almost fell over with the bikeas I came to a stop.My scariest ride was over.Paul EdererMount Shasta, CAPaul gets a CityBike Ride Fast Take ChancesT-shirt—not a waterproof one, but it’s the best wecan do. Send your scariest ride stories to us atinfo@citybike.com.NIXON: NOW MORE THAN EVERDear CityBike,I read the article by Scotty Storey “Be aMan of No Convictions” in your Februaryissue, and I was disappointed by hiscomment, “plead no contest (Nixon’sfamous ‘Nolo Contendre’).” Mr. Storey hasconfused President Richard Nixon with hisVice President, Spiro Agnew. Mr. Agnewwas investigated by the Justice Departmentfor taking kickbacks and bribes whilehe was governor of Maryland. He wasindicted and pled nolo contendre whichT.V. host Johnny Carson described as “YourHonor I didn’t do it, and I’ll never do itagain.” Agnew was forced into resigning,and was replaced by Gerald Ford. Youdescribe Scotty Storey as an attorney, soI’m surprised that he would make such ablunder.I would also like to comment on your replyto the letter by B.T. in which you wrote,“the driver will likely get away Scott free.”Who is this Scott free that you mentionand why haven’t I heard of him before? Ishe related to Hands-free? I was once pulledover for speeding on my 1955 596cc Scott,but I got off Scot free.-Art SirotaRedwood CityArt, you have unearthed the failings of a statefundedprimary education. Our hard-workingbut dangerously un-medicated Editor-in-ChiefEts-Hokin inserted the Nixon reference. ScottyStorey is indeed an attorney (and a very good one,we have personal knowledge of his prowess), andmade no reference to Nixon, the Latin PhraseNolo Contendre, or the late, great Spiro T. Agnew.CityBike regrets Ets-Hokin’s lame-brain error andwould fire him if he didn’t co-own the paper.As for mixing up “Scott-Free” and “Scot-Free,” hey,what are you gonna do? Can’t Google everything,man. And how is it possible to break any speed limiton a 1956 Scott?BALANCING ACTTo the Editor:Nice piece by David Lander on tirechanging (“Gutter Mechanic,” October2010). Please tell him here’s his followup piece on tire balancing. He has mypermission to use it.Put two ounces of DynaBeads in the reartubeless tire (or tube). Put one ounce ofDynaBead in the front. Go riding.For years I balanced my own wheels withstick-on lead weights. That’s completelyunnecessary now. And environmentallyunacceptable.Also, God bless you for saying it. Cheaperis not better. Cheaper is just cheaper.(“Made in USA,” October 2010) Here inthe mountains of New Hampshire we likeAmerican-made products very well. Someof my favorites are the Cee Baileys “10 inchover” windscreen for my KLR 650, theCondor Pit Stop Trailer Stop (bike stand),and Original Bike Spirits Spray Polish andCleaner. These are all top notch productsand they’re worth every dime.Keep up the great work.Great riding to all,Jeff Adams, Conway, NHMSF RiderCoachJeff also works for Whitehorse Press, a fineresource for all kinds of great motorcyclereading. Check them out atwhitehorsepress.com or browse all their coolriding gear for sale atwhitehorsegear.com.WE NO SPEAKA DAESPANISH, LADY!Jaime,Necesito copia de la factura ya quefue hurtada y no consigo los papeles.Igualemnte informame si tienes algosimilar y de buen precio ya que seriapara comprarme otra.Inemar LopezBiscayne, FLMarch 2011 | 24 | CityBike.com