Quiet few months riding wise for us. We have managed a minimum of 1 ride per week EVERY week so far, but the temps are dropping colder, and the dark is coming on faster. 3 weeks ago, we finally went more than 60 miles! Our default ride seems to be 55-70 miles. We headed west and went through the Big South Fork Rec area, then up into KY for a little. Dropped back down into TN by way of I-75 and got stuck in HELLISH traffic :(
We headed out towards Oakridge and went steadily North towards the KY/TN border. The Big South Fork area is soooo beautiful! It's a haven for hikers and kayakers, and for motorcyclists!
I love that ride because it's more country side type riding vs. mountain riding or straightaways. It's nice, easy curvy roads with not too much elevation. There are a few wicked turns and twists, and the road was every bit as challenging as I remember it being, but where as I was a little bit intimidated last time, now I felt light years more confident!
Khaleesi is such an amazing machine. As she has broken in, I love her every bit as much now as I did that first time I sat on her in the church parking lot. Turns are effortless, the ergonomics are perfect, and there is power to spare.
Surprisingly, we were a few weeks away from peak color; it started out as a brisk morning, but the day warmed up beautifully. We got a bit of a late start because I wanted to dart into Cycle Gear to get some warmer gloves (which I didn't even need ... my hands started to SWEAT in them). Normally, we're on the road by 7/8:00. Today, it was more like 10:00.
KY was different to ride in ... the particular area we were in actually wasn't that special. It just happened to be the area we ended up in on David's chosen route, but I still really enjoyed myself. Not a whole lot of particularly challenging roads; no Snake, or Dragon, or Rattler ... we did hit one or two roads that at the end, we pulled up beside each other and laughed with joy. To me, that's a perfect ride!
I no longer critique my every move. Khaleesi and I move as one most of the time. I don't stall her, I don't have issues or problems turning left or right, and my tight right hand switchbacks? No longer an issue :) My back does get tired after about 200 miles; I feel like I'd really like reduced reach handlebars. My upgrades wish list is floorboards, highway bars, Daymaker headlight, light bar with baby Daymakers, upgraded pipes, a custom seat, and reduced reach handlebars. Not the kitchen sink! My total mileage is around 7500 miles ... my goal is 10K+ in my first year. I've got until April to make that goal!
After about 200ish miles, we were both starting to fade a little. It was getting late, it was Sunday which means no "day of rest", and even though our track was fun, I knew what was to come, and it was about 3 more hours. That was when we decided to jump on I-75 S ... and hit total roadblock! I lasted about 20 minutes of sitting there in 2-5 mph traffic, and I was DYING. Khaleesi was blowing out leg blistering heat, and my left hand was cramping so badly I was reaching over to hold the clutch with my right hand. I told David I HAD to get off that damn interstate.
We finally did, found a back road that was decently fun, wound our way back to the interstate, and blasted back home. I went through my least favorite spaghetti interchange of I-40 through Knoxville, and we pulled into the garage about ... 7:15. It was a gorgeous day ... cool start, but ended up low 70's. 300 miles total, felt SOOOO good!
2 60 miler rides, then 100 miles to be detailed soon!
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