Rust never sleeps (pt. I)

Rust Never Sleeps

So my SME began on Thursday evening when Tim Schwab and Christopher McConnell both agreed to spend the night. That way we could leave early and ride over toward central TN. Tim arrived first and we quickly bled my brakes and then went and ran a couple errands I had to do prior to leaving.

By the time we got back CMac was here. We hung out a bit and then did the usual maggot thing – eat, drink, and tell lies through the night which passed all too quickly.

We awoke to a beautiful morning with cloudless blue skies and temps in the lower 70s. We left the house a little after 9:30 AM heading out for breakfast. I typically am not much of a breakfast guy so there isn’t much in the house to fix in the morning. I guess this makes me a bad host.

Once we had gotten to Hardee’s, I noticed that the right leg zipper of my riding suit had opened up in the middle. While Tim and CMac were eating breakfast, I fiddled with the zipper only to find that it has a bad tooth. Yippee! this weekend is off to a good start!

Tim had to replace a rear tire and we planned to get that done at Wheeler’s on 129 near the campground. However, as it was a little after 10 by now and he wanted to get to Wheeler’s around lunchtime, so we swapped the central TN route for a course due south instead.

Since I was more familiar with the area, I was put at the point. We had slabbed it to Hardee’s, so this would really be the first of the twisties of the day. I went into the first couple at a modest pace, just feeling out the brakes. Everything felt okay there so the next few I decided to wick it up a bit.

That’s when things got “screwy”. As I was accelerating out of the turn, the RPMs hit about 5500 and the engine went flat. This totally screwed up any rhythm I could muster before I ever had a chance to do so. I pulled over at the next stop and checked my plug wires. Sadly, they were all seated well.

That really set the tone for me for the rest of the weekend. Now, granted, I have not been on the bike in a while and *know* I am rusty. Yet, the progression (regression?) of bad technique that followed was rather aggravating.

I am using bad posture to “attack” the turns. I am braking in … every … turn (even ones that I had good sight lines) – whether I need to or not. I am *severely* lacking confidence. My chosen lines were okay, I think, but the execution of them sucked! Everything I did just … felt … wrong.

After a while, I give up and tell CMac and Tim to go ahead of me and have fun and I would see them at the next intersection. After all, there was no sense in all of us being miserable just because I am “off”. For the rest of the day that is how it went. I would see them at intersections. I guess my slow pace allowed them to get a couple naps in.    ; )

 We got onto the Foothills Parkway, and somehow or another, I had gotten shuffled back to the front. The Parkway is pretty tame and I was finally starting to feel a little more comfortable. Once on 129, I drifted to the back again and am back to braking at entry, and they were quickly out of sight. So much for a comfort zone!

The overlook was crowded, and I am waaaayy behind by now, so I just motored on. Apparently, they had stopped to wait on my slow ass. DOH!

I got down to Wheeler’s and they weren’t there. Surely, I am not SO slow that they have the tire on and had left already? I called up CMac because I know he likely has his cell plugged into his helmet with all his other gadgetry. Before I hit send, he and Tim pull in.

While the tire is being done, I kept fiddling with that leg zipper. No matter what I tried, nothing helped. Tim’s tire got done rather quickly and we were soon headed up the Cherahola! Alright! this is my favorite road and I *know* it rather well. This should get me some confidence back!

Or so I thought. I was unable to get anything done up there either. I am carrying less speed in the straights than I would normally be doing in the turns. We pulled into Tellico about 3-ish and ate at the Tellico café then headed over to the campground to pitch tents. The game plan was to go back out and that is exactly what I needed to do.

However, after the tents were up and gear removed from the bikes, neither Christopher nor Tim seemed inclined to go anywhere. Curtis Cavanaugh and I cooked up a plan to go do a short loop.

I also wanted to stop at Tellico Outfitters to see if I could replace my riding suit because I didn’t want to have to perform acrobatics to get in and out of my gear all weekend. Unfortunately, what he had in stock didn’t appeal to me, so acrobatics it is I guess.

 We ran up 360 with me in the lead, and while I am feeling more comfortable than earlier in the day, I am still braking prior to entering *every* turn. Gah!

At 411 Curtis suggested a different route back, so I told him to take the lead. With him in front of me, it helped deter the unnecessary overbraking I had been doing all day. We got back to the lodge in time to hang out and drink a couple beers before Lori and crew had dinner ready for us.