Welcome to the Show Me State!

So we went to Missouri, again.  In the end, all roads in the early season around here lead somewhere like this.  After all, we do live in the frozen tundra of Wisconsin.  Ugh.  Someday the planet will turn on it’s axis and Wisconsin will end up the perfect template.  Until then, all roads at this time of the year lead to the show me state.  Welcome says the brochure.  See the worlds largest ball of twine!

Where in the world is Waldo?  Well young people, we is in St. Joe.  Every year we go there, and every year we wish that we could be near here all the time.

This year we had new suspension to test and get right.  We set up a short little loop that was like 2-3 minutes around.  It had uphill, downhill, flat turns, rocks bermed turns etc…  No jumps, but we can figure that out later.  We both set out to learn about our suspension.  You start out by going around and then making a small adjustment, then you go around again and then you make another small adjustment, then around again, you keep doing it until you find something that you like.

Usually you would do that by bracketing.  Go all the way one direction until it sucks, then all the way in the other direction till it sucks.  In theory, you will like something roughly in the middle of that.  But, it takes a long time to really get there.  Cool stuff though.

In the end, we hit something really good.  At least I did.

My motorcycle is so cool, I do not even know how you are going to cope.

See you at the races!

Joe

Dirt Without Snow!

I almost cannot handle the anticipation. The smell of dirt. Real live dirt that is not frozen. The kind that actually moves when you kick it, that your tires leave an impression in when you cross it. OMG!

Good god! Look at that, that is dirt, that is not snow.

As is usually the case, we reach a time when Scott and I just cannot handle it any long, and we load up and head south. Need to get some knobbies on some dirt that is not frozen. It is a beautiful February day now, that can almost convince you that winter does not suck. Rest assured though, it does.

We are driving along, changing the radio station between Pearl Jam and whatever that other stuff is, talking about bike racing motorcycles and things that have nothing to do with winter. There is hope. (btw, Mumford and Sons actually is not dry good)

Look closely, you might have to squint. No your mind is not playing tricks on you, that is actually water in its natural state. You do not have to drill through the top layer and you cannot drive your truck on it.

There will be dirt biking. There will be smiles. There will be blisters. Like I said, I almost cannot handle the anticipation.

Lots to do in the next 2 days, with suspension testing and eval, learning how to ride a dirt bike again, photos for web use and PR stuff for team etc… But for now, I am just going to dream about summer getting my bike dirty a pressure washer in the yard and no white stuff anywhere in sight. Hey, it can happen folks, I’ve seen it.

Out,
Joe

Getting ready to ride.