Eureka Springs - BRRRRR
The annual Eureka Springs, Arkansas spring freeze dual sport ride starts today. This ride is put on by my dual sport buddies from Kansas and attracts riders from all over Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Arkansas and Missouri. It is normally the first big ride of the season and this is my first time to attend.
Then why in the heck am I setting here typing on my computer? Good question!
I have spent two weeks prepping my BMW F650GS Dakar for this ride. This included new fork seals, new tires, loading my luggage, testing everything twice over to make sure it is good to go. I put it on the charger last week to make sure my battery was good and charged. On Monday night I loaded my luggage, made sure the bike would start, and pulled the charger off to put on Kay's BMW just for good luck.
The plan was to leave no later than noon on Thursday so I could make it to Eureka Springs by dark and be ready for the Friday morning ride. Work kept me late, plus the very cold temperatures were somewhat deterring. I finally got away from my work in DeQueen AR, flew back to OKC in my Cessna T310R, then ran over to Cycle Gear (where my son Adam works) to pick up my new Airei dual sport helmet. This is the one that looks like a dirt bike helmet but has a removable visor like a street helmet. I can ride with the visor down on the way to Eureka springs, blocking the cold wind, but pul the visor off, put my goggles on and ride like a normal dirt bike helmet when I get there. Hope it works!
Arriving home about 5:30 pm I still figured I could change clothes, jump on the bike, and at least make it to Tulsa before it got too cold. Everything was loaded, I changed, rolled up the garage door, punched the starter and RUH RUH RUH umph umph click click click buuuzzzzz.
Damn, damn, damn. My bike wouldn't start. Scrambling around for 20 minutes I finally jumped it and let it run, but now I was nervous about going all the way to Arkansas, trying to start this thing on cold mornings with a battery that wouldn't hold a charge. Turned it off after letting it run for a spell, and still no go. By now it was 6:30 and the sun was just setting, temps outside were dropping fast. Finally I decided to just wait, get a new battery, and head out in the morning. Luckily I called Adam at Cycle Gear and he brought me a new one on his way home from work. Man, I love that store - they stay open until 7 pm every night and open on Sundays, they stock all kinds of unusual bike stuff, and they have saved a ride for me more than once. Not to mention Adam works there.
While waiting on Adam I decided to slip on some new heated grips I had purchased in the fall. My bike came with heated grips but they were damaged in a crash and no longer worked. I just used the existing wiring and slipped on a new pair of grips, only took about an hour. Adam stopped by with the battery, we had a beer and he helped me on my bike, and I got everything back together and running good.
I sure like it when Adam stops by and we work in the garage on bikes, that is just a good time to talk about what is going on and get connected again. He moved out a few months ago to attend college. In some ways I am glad he is out on his own, but then in others I certainly miss having him around to talk to and work on bikes.
So I think I am ready to head out Friday morning. Naturally they are predicting record cold temperatures this morning, expected to be in the low to mid 20's but warming up to around 50 mid-day. I am going to wait until the temps get to around 35 then head out. Hopefully my heated vest, good riding gear and now my heated grips will make the ride bearable until it warms up. I can't wait to roost in the dirt with my friends!
Then why in the heck am I setting here typing on my computer? Good question!
I have spent two weeks prepping my BMW F650GS Dakar for this ride. This included new fork seals, new tires, loading my luggage, testing everything twice over to make sure it is good to go. I put it on the charger last week to make sure my battery was good and charged. On Monday night I loaded my luggage, made sure the bike would start, and pulled the charger off to put on Kay's BMW just for good luck.
The plan was to leave no later than noon on Thursday so I could make it to Eureka Springs by dark and be ready for the Friday morning ride. Work kept me late, plus the very cold temperatures were somewhat deterring. I finally got away from my work in DeQueen AR, flew back to OKC in my Cessna T310R, then ran over to Cycle Gear (where my son Adam works) to pick up my new Airei dual sport helmet. This is the one that looks like a dirt bike helmet but has a removable visor like a street helmet. I can ride with the visor down on the way to Eureka springs, blocking the cold wind, but pul the visor off, put my goggles on and ride like a normal dirt bike helmet when I get there. Hope it works!
Arriving home about 5:30 pm I still figured I could change clothes, jump on the bike, and at least make it to Tulsa before it got too cold. Everything was loaded, I changed, rolled up the garage door, punched the starter and RUH RUH RUH umph umph click click click buuuzzzzz.
Damn, damn, damn. My bike wouldn't start. Scrambling around for 20 minutes I finally jumped it and let it run, but now I was nervous about going all the way to Arkansas, trying to start this thing on cold mornings with a battery that wouldn't hold a charge. Turned it off after letting it run for a spell, and still no go. By now it was 6:30 and the sun was just setting, temps outside were dropping fast. Finally I decided to just wait, get a new battery, and head out in the morning. Luckily I called Adam at Cycle Gear and he brought me a new one on his way home from work. Man, I love that store - they stay open until 7 pm every night and open on Sundays, they stock all kinds of unusual bike stuff, and they have saved a ride for me more than once. Not to mention Adam works there.
While waiting on Adam I decided to slip on some new heated grips I had purchased in the fall. My bike came with heated grips but they were damaged in a crash and no longer worked. I just used the existing wiring and slipped on a new pair of grips, only took about an hour. Adam stopped by with the battery, we had a beer and he helped me on my bike, and I got everything back together and running good.
I sure like it when Adam stops by and we work in the garage on bikes, that is just a good time to talk about what is going on and get connected again. He moved out a few months ago to attend college. In some ways I am glad he is out on his own, but then in others I certainly miss having him around to talk to and work on bikes.
So I think I am ready to head out Friday morning. Naturally they are predicting record cold temperatures this morning, expected to be in the low to mid 20's but warming up to around 50 mid-day. I am going to wait until the temps get to around 35 then head out. Hopefully my heated vest, good riding gear and now my heated grips will make the ride bearable until it warms up. I can't wait to roost in the dirt with my friends!
