social lives

I've just signed up for a Harley Davidson forum.
It's amazing the social life that Harley riders have. The list of weekend rallies is getting longer and longer. It emphasises the creed of H.O.G.

"The place to get together with fellow HOG members and have a great time".

So, hopefully I'll be able to attend at least one or two this summer and report back here on them.

500 and run in

I had a great ride today. Took my mileage over the 500 which should mean that the bike is now "broken in". Not that it will make much difference to my riding style as its not a rocket ship anyway!
Today's ride took me through Aberfoyle and over the Dukes Pass. Then it was along the same road as last week to Crianlarich. This time, instead of heading straight back down the A82 I continued to Tyndrum. There were so many bikers there it was almost impossible to park a bike. It's amazing the people who make the most of sunny days!
I continued on the road towards Oban. The wide sweeping bends weren't spoiled, too much, by the annoyingly situated speed camera-van, right on the longest straight.
It's a great road for the bike and when the vista opens up and the Cruachan range comes into view, quite spectacular.
Shortly after that I turned off on the Glen Orchy road. The single track road was quiet and the only drawback was the gravel which seems to accumulate just at the places where it causes most problems for a bike. Just as well I rode slowly to take in the peace and quiet and the views.
On the return by Loch Lomond, everywhere was so busy I didn't stop until Inveruglas where I bought a drink then straight home.
Here's a couple of pics. The quality isn't so good as they were taken on my phone:-

first pics

Finally got round to it!

black leather rebel...

....or safety conscious motorcyclist?
I need a new jacket to wear on the bike.
So, should I stick with the mean, moody and black, James Dean look or maybe go with the "textile but protectively armoured in all the right places", safety first idea? Does style really matter? Am I too concerned over how I will look off the bike rather than my comfort and safety on it?
The jacket I'm currently wearing is a classic styled patrol jacket. It's ten years old and has no armour. Though to be fair to it, it did protect me from at least one tumble and the resulting argument with a bus. It even has the scuffs and tears to show for it.
I'm really unsure about which way to go. Thinking about it, the question about armour is really an irrelevant one as whichever style I go for will have protection at shoulders and elbows.
I guess I can always buy a leather waistcoat for the patches and pins I'm inadvertently collecting. (Seems as though this is yet another Harley-owners trait which comes with the marque!). Then I'd still have the leather look, although it may well serve to emphasise the middle-aged tag in my blog title.
Buying all these accessories is taking up precious cash which I could be using to buy bits for the bike itself. That list is getting longer and longer.
Each time I come across another harley I pick up ideas about how I want MY bike to look. The joys of owning the most-customised bike make ever!

proper run

Yesterday was the first chance I've had to get out early and get a good run on the bike.
The weather wasn't as glorious as it had been on Friday and Saturday but isn't that always the way of holiday weekends?
I set off at just after nine to avoid the heaviest of the traffic. Just as well really. The roads were fairly quiet for the first part of my ride but on the return the "holiday weekenders" were out in force.
I left Glasgow and headed towards Stirling on the A81 then A811. I then cut off and headed to Callander. When I got onto the A84 the sun came out and the ride to Crianlarich was warmer despite the snow scenes which were Ben More and Stob Binnian.
Following a brief stop at Crianlarich, an increasingly busy A82 saw me head back to Glasgow and down to WCH for the barbeque.
It was great and all things Harley. I didn't take my camera and once again regretted it. There were all models and styles of bike along with all shapes and sizes of rider. Everyone was very friendly, sharing a love of bikes and especially HDs. The burgers were good too!
It was all enough to make me look forward to the next one.

Easter Weekend

and the MAG Egg Run has been cancelled. West of Scotland HOG chapter have organised a ride out on Sunday morning followed by a barbeque at WCH. I'm still not too sure about riding in a group so I may just go somewhere on my own and then go down to the BBQ. That will give me the opportunity to meet some of the other members.
Will post after my ride.
Meanwhile:-

We believe in going our own way, no matter which way the rest of the world is going.
We believe in bucking the system that’s built to smash individuals as bugs on a windshield.
Some of us believe in the man upstairs. All of us believe in sticking it to the man down here.
We believe in the sky, and we don’t believe in the sunroof.
We believe in freedom.
We believe in dust, tumbleweeds, buffalo, mountain ranges and riding off into the sunset.
We believe in saddle bags and we believe that cowboys had it right.
We believe in refusing to knuckle under to anyone.
We believe in wearing black, because it doesn’t show any dirt or weakness.
We believe the world is going soft, and we’re not going along with it.
We believe in motor cycle rallies that last a week.
We believe in road side attractions, gas station hot dogs, and finding out what’s over the next hill.
We believe in rumbling engines, pistons the size of garbage cans, fuel tanks designed in 1936, freight-train size headlights, chrome and custom paint.
We believe in flames and skulls. We believe life is what you make it, and we make it one hell of a ride.
We believe the machine you sit on can tell the world exactly where you stand.
We don’t care what everyone else believes.
Amen.