"You will step on the soil of many countries."
I really don't know what to say about this one. Perhaps it should have read:
"You will ride the backroads of many counties."
Yeah, that's more like it!
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Periodontitis
I usually write about motorcycle-related topics, but this one is differnt.
I had been experiencing painful headaches for several months now. I suspected that these headaches came from temperature differences where I worked with an air conditioning system that always made my work area uncomfortable. But with ruling out the likelihood of an ear infection (after several pointless doctor visits) I decided to see a dentist.
In retrospect, I had a number of warning signs:
Looking back, I can see how this problem developed:
A regular checkup with x-rays determined that I suffered from periodontal disease. According to the dentist, I was in the early stages of the disease. If treated, it could likely be reversed. If left untreated, a regular cleaning could actually "trap" the offending bacteria and tartar buildup and make my situation worse.
My treatment involved some local anesthesia and scaling of the teeth above and below the gum line. One side was done at a time, for which I was grateful. I wouldn't be able to talk or eat anything if my whole mouth had been numbed! I experienced some soreness for a couple days after each treatment. Afterwards, I followed up with a salt rinse the day of the treatment (as an antiseptic) and regular brushing, flossing and rinsing with Oxyfresh. According to my periodontist, the follow-up maintenance has worked very well. So with regular at-home maintenance and a few checkups confirming my progress, I should be well on my way back to health.
I made a few minor lifestyle changes which will help me continue improving my dental health:
If my experience helps someone get to a dentist - or encourage a lifestyle change (like brushing after grabbing a meal before hours of more riding!) then this post is worth it.
Salúd!
Useful Links:
Wikipedia
Studio Dentaire
Thomas H. Holmes
National Dental Centre
I had been experiencing painful headaches for several months now. I suspected that these headaches came from temperature differences where I worked with an air conditioning system that always made my work area uncomfortable. But with ruling out the likelihood of an ear infection (after several pointless doctor visits) I decided to see a dentist.
In retrospect, I had a number of warning signs:
- My teeth felt loose when I ate;
- Hot and cold foods occasionally made my gums and teeth hurt;
- I had bad breath that never seemed to go away.
Looking back, I can see how this problem developed:
- I spent long hours at work without brushing (frequently between 10 and 14 hours);
- several LAN parties that skipped brushing altogether while consuming sugar-laden sodas and energy drinks;
- I can only imagine the thousands of sodas I've consumed over the past few years;
- and in which time I've not visited a dentist for a regular cleaning.
A regular checkup with x-rays determined that I suffered from periodontal disease. According to the dentist, I was in the early stages of the disease. If treated, it could likely be reversed. If left untreated, a regular cleaning could actually "trap" the offending bacteria and tartar buildup and make my situation worse.
My treatment involved some local anesthesia and scaling of the teeth above and below the gum line. One side was done at a time, for which I was grateful. I wouldn't be able to talk or eat anything if my whole mouth had been numbed! I experienced some soreness for a couple days after each treatment. Afterwards, I followed up with a salt rinse the day of the treatment (as an antiseptic) and regular brushing, flossing and rinsing with Oxyfresh. According to my periodontist, the follow-up maintenance has worked very well. So with regular at-home maintenance and a few checkups confirming my progress, I should be well on my way back to health.
I made a few minor lifestyle changes which will help me continue improving my dental health:
- I bring a "dental kit" with me to work so I can brush and floss after lunch;
- I floss at least once a day;
- I use the Oxyfresh mouthwash treatment at least once a day;
- I make it a point to brush my teeth at the very least twice a day.
If my experience helps someone get to a dentist - or encourage a lifestyle change (like brushing after grabbing a meal before hours of more riding!) then this post is worth it.
Salúd!
Useful Links:
Wikipedia
Studio Dentaire
Thomas H. Holmes
National Dental Centre
Monday, January 14, 2008
The Sunrise Ride
There are times I intentionally ride without a camera. I can focus on the ride and enjoy the moment without forcing myself to be distracted by possible photographic "opportunities." As I let my mind focus on riding, I push aside photography and all my other thoughts. In recanting the story, you must use your mind's eye to experience what I felt.
Last Sunday I headed to the far west of the Hill Country, starting in Junction and heading south and east to return to San Antonio. I left early in the morning to beat the traffic and maximize my quality riding time. By the time dawn began to break, temperatures had dropped below 50°. I began to wish I had brought warmer gloves...
But as the sun approached the eastern horizon, stealthily pursuing the night-time stars, a crescent moon lay buoyed above layers of gray, purple and blue. Above the open crescent of the moon shone a bright star - probably Venus - suspended in the cloudless interim of night and day. A gentle breeze could have pushed it off its shelf, landing in the moon's cusp. So delicate this morning procession! Yet, after just a few minutes, the purple and blue turned to orange and the moon and the stars faded away in the procession of the sun's glory.
Revelling in this fading display, I pressed onward through Rock Springs down highway 674, which I've not visited in several years. Familiar scenery brought back memories of carving through corners, dipping through little valleys crossing easily flooded bridges, and resting along the side of the road, mesmerized by the grand valley to the east. A river cut through this semi-arid valley. A mist shrouded the hills in the distance. This area soothed my soul.
View Larger Map
I approached my next series of challenges. I narrated my plan. Go up and down a hill. Go up and sweep right. Sweep left around a blind turn. Got it. The elevation changes were uneventful. Nice. Right sweeper - felt a little off. Let's go through the left a little slower, ensure a nice, steady line. Ah, this is good...
As I'm beginning to straighten the bike and look through the turn to the straightaway, a sudden horror siezed my attention: a large deer in mid-air right in my path. I backed off the throttle and reached for my brake, but it was too late. As soon as my hand touched the brake, the rear hoof had already cleared my front tire - and barely! I let out a loud, embarassing expletive. Damn those suicidal deer! I was extremely fortunate this time! Thoughts of an accident on this very empty road (I didn't see a vehicle traveling in the opposite direction the entire time I was on 674!) left me thinking about how my unborn child would have had to live without his father, or how I would have to care for myself until help arrived if anyone managed to find me! I eased away from my previous enthusiasm to settle down and enjoy the rest of the ride for the getaway I meant it to be.
Those deer - the bane of safe riding - nearly spoiled my otherwise normal ride. I could have done without the scare, though it did make me think about my priorities. I returned to San Antonio via 337 and 16. If I was fortunate, I could make church on time (I did). Given the relevance of the message, I suspect that God intended for me to make that service.
Though I'd like to travel a little farther west, I'll probably put that off for a couple more months - and not ride quite so early in the morning. And maybe next time I'll stop for a few fresh pictures.
Here's a few pictures of the area I took back in November of 2003:
Route 674 looking northeast.
Route 674 looking east.
Route 674 looking south.
Route 674 looking south.
Route 674 looking north.
Route 674 looking east.
Soaking in the scenery.
Last Sunday I headed to the far west of the Hill Country, starting in Junction and heading south and east to return to San Antonio. I left early in the morning to beat the traffic and maximize my quality riding time. By the time dawn began to break, temperatures had dropped below 50°. I began to wish I had brought warmer gloves...
But as the sun approached the eastern horizon, stealthily pursuing the night-time stars, a crescent moon lay buoyed above layers of gray, purple and blue. Above the open crescent of the moon shone a bright star - probably Venus - suspended in the cloudless interim of night and day. A gentle breeze could have pushed it off its shelf, landing in the moon's cusp. So delicate this morning procession! Yet, after just a few minutes, the purple and blue turned to orange and the moon and the stars faded away in the procession of the sun's glory.
Revelling in this fading display, I pressed onward through Rock Springs down highway 674, which I've not visited in several years. Familiar scenery brought back memories of carving through corners, dipping through little valleys crossing easily flooded bridges, and resting along the side of the road, mesmerized by the grand valley to the east. A river cut through this semi-arid valley. A mist shrouded the hills in the distance. This area soothed my soul.
View Larger Map
I approached my next series of challenges. I narrated my plan. Go up and down a hill. Go up and sweep right. Sweep left around a blind turn. Got it. The elevation changes were uneventful. Nice. Right sweeper - felt a little off. Let's go through the left a little slower, ensure a nice, steady line. Ah, this is good...
As I'm beginning to straighten the bike and look through the turn to the straightaway, a sudden horror siezed my attention: a large deer in mid-air right in my path. I backed off the throttle and reached for my brake, but it was too late. As soon as my hand touched the brake, the rear hoof had already cleared my front tire - and barely! I let out a loud, embarassing expletive. Damn those suicidal deer! I was extremely fortunate this time! Thoughts of an accident on this very empty road (I didn't see a vehicle traveling in the opposite direction the entire time I was on 674!) left me thinking about how my unborn child would have had to live without his father, or how I would have to care for myself until help arrived if anyone managed to find me! I eased away from my previous enthusiasm to settle down and enjoy the rest of the ride for the getaway I meant it to be.
Those deer - the bane of safe riding - nearly spoiled my otherwise normal ride. I could have done without the scare, though it did make me think about my priorities. I returned to San Antonio via 337 and 16. If I was fortunate, I could make church on time (I did). Given the relevance of the message, I suspect that God intended for me to make that service.
Though I'd like to travel a little farther west, I'll probably put that off for a couple more months - and not ride quite so early in the morning. And maybe next time I'll stop for a few fresh pictures.
Here's a few pictures of the area I took back in November of 2003:
Route 674 looking northeast.
Route 674 looking east.
Route 674 looking south.
Route 674 looking south.
Route 674 looking north.
Route 674 looking east.
Soaking in the scenery.Wednesday, January 9, 2008
The Cost of Riding: Tires...
Many people get into bikes thinking that it's cheap to own and operate, that they're great for commuting and a blast to ride. Well, not all that's true.
One of the most expensive maintenance (and safety!) items on a bike is tires. A full set of tires with installation can run anywhere between $300 and $600. Higher performance tires are stickier and have shorter lives. Touring tires are not necessarily less expensive, but last longer on heavier touring and cruiser bikes than their performance-oriented cousins.
How long should a motorcycle tire last? This is a multifaceted question: it depends on the compound of the tire, the kind of riding done, the weather in which the tire experiences "break in," the weight of the bike, the air pressure run and so forth.
Front tires tend to last longer than rear tires. Consider this: the output of the engine forces the rear tire to turn against the road, whereas the front tire merely rolls along. The friction generated by the rear tire is much greater, causing a shorter lifespan. This is partly why automobiles require tire rotation on a regular basis: it maximizes tread life by spreading out the wear across all the tires; Motorcycles have no such option.
Generally speaking, a Goldwing (800 lbs) will get 3,000 to 4,000 miles out of a common rear tire. My FJR (600 lbs) gets between 6,000 and 12,000 miles out of a tire. My old Nighthawk (400 lbs) could probably eke out 20,000 miles from a rear tire.
This is an example of a tire ridden waaaaay past its useful life... Pictured is a Yamaha Roadstar with 6,000 miles on the factory (original!) tire.
The technician noted that
In short, this is a dangerous tire condition!
When prompted, the owner confessed to the bike handling poorly. However, he was "outraged" that the tire didn't last longer! He was more concerned about the tires warranty than his personal safety. Most riders for that style of motorcycle/tire combination get 4,000 to 5,000 miles. That he survived the 6,000 on this one is a testament to good fortune (and embarrassment to this inexperienced rider). Hopefully, he left a little bit wiser (and with a fresh set of tires!)
With experience, a rider can detect a pressure loss of a few pounds. Normally, I can tell down to about two pounds loss on the FJR... But the best (and safest) policy is to check tire pressure regularly, particularly if your rides are farther in-between.
Legally, tire tread depth must have at least 2/32", though you may want to replace them earlier if you intend to do a longer trip. Having both tires changed at the same time will give the bike a "fresh" feel and improve handling. Using two rears to a front results in poorer handling during the duration of the second tire and a less enjoyable ride. Replacing one tire at a time is less convenient and less satisfactory.
So you will replace motorcycle tires much more frequently than on a car or truck. If you ride 3,000 miles a year on a heavyweight bike, this could mean an easy $500 in tires every other year.
Think bikes are cheap? Think again!
Dunlop Tire Tips
Wikipedia: Radial Tires
Dollars
One of the most expensive maintenance (and safety!) items on a bike is tires. A full set of tires with installation can run anywhere between $300 and $600. Higher performance tires are stickier and have shorter lives. Touring tires are not necessarily less expensive, but last longer on heavier touring and cruiser bikes than their performance-oriented cousins.
Duration
How long should a motorcycle tire last? This is a multifaceted question: it depends on the compound of the tire, the kind of riding done, the weather in which the tire experiences "break in," the weight of the bike, the air pressure run and so forth.
Front tires tend to last longer than rear tires. Consider this: the output of the engine forces the rear tire to turn against the road, whereas the front tire merely rolls along. The friction generated by the rear tire is much greater, causing a shorter lifespan. This is partly why automobiles require tire rotation on a regular basis: it maximizes tread life by spreading out the wear across all the tires; Motorcycles have no such option.
Generally speaking, a Goldwing (800 lbs) will get 3,000 to 4,000 miles out of a common rear tire. My FJR (600 lbs) gets between 6,000 and 12,000 miles out of a tire. My old Nighthawk (400 lbs) could probably eke out 20,000 miles from a rear tire.
Destruction
This is an example of a tire ridden waaaaay past its useful life... Pictured is a Yamaha Roadstar with 6,000 miles on the factory (original!) tire.
The technician noted that
- The metal cords were showing,
- The center of the tire (for where the bike is ridden most - upright) had no tread left and
- The tire was under-inflated by more than fifteen pounds!
In short, this is a dangerous tire condition!
- The cords help provide the structure and integrity of the tire. So if the mechanism that maintains the structure of the tire begins to wear, the tire could lose structure (dramatically deflate = blowout) and result in personal injury and damage to the motorcycle.
- The lack of center tread reduces useful traction on most street surfaces as it cannot handle surface irregularities like rocks and small animals. Nor can it push water out of the way. Loss of traction due to water (hydroplaning) will result in personal injury and damage to the motorcycle.
- Finally, low tire pressure in a motorcycle tire causes heat buildup, tire deformation and possible catastrophic failure (hey, that blowout thing again!).
When prompted, the owner confessed to the bike handling poorly. However, he was "outraged" that the tire didn't last longer! He was more concerned about the tires warranty than his personal safety. Most riders for that style of motorcycle/tire combination get 4,000 to 5,000 miles. That he survived the 6,000 on this one is a testament to good fortune (and embarrassment to this inexperienced rider). Hopefully, he left a little bit wiser (and with a fresh set of tires!)
Detection
With experience, a rider can detect a pressure loss of a few pounds. Normally, I can tell down to about two pounds loss on the FJR... But the best (and safest) policy is to check tire pressure regularly, particularly if your rides are farther in-between.
Legally, tire tread depth must have at least 2/32", though you may want to replace them earlier if you intend to do a longer trip. Having both tires changed at the same time will give the bike a "fresh" feel and improve handling. Using two rears to a front results in poorer handling during the duration of the second tire and a less enjoyable ride. Replacing one tire at a time is less convenient and less satisfactory.
Final Thoughts
So you will replace motorcycle tires much more frequently than on a car or truck. If you ride 3,000 miles a year on a heavyweight bike, this could mean an easy $500 in tires every other year.
Think bikes are cheap? Think again!
References:
Dunlop Tire Tips
Wikipedia: Radial Tires
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Two Weeks: Happy New Year
I find it hard to believe that two weeks have gone by. So much has happened, yet so much has stayed the same.
Riding in the cool.
My neighbor Doug and I took off about a week ago to do this ride north of San Antonio, stopping at Kendalia to chat and chill. Doug discovered that a good pair of winter gloves goes a long way. I carried a spare pair of Olympias which he used after his hands began to numb (after about 15 minutes). They are now on permanent loan. :)
The kindness of strangers.
I witnessed a single-vehicle accident on Evans Road where a truck nearly flipped after losing control. The lady driving it was okay but shaken up. Selma's first response team is probably three or four times faster than San Antonio's. Never underestimate the kindness of strangers or family. I remember the time my car spun out (thanks to an aggressive driver approaching me on an on-ramp). I ran up on the barrier, destroying both wheels on the right side. The driver did not stop to check on me. Nor did anyone else for that matter. It would have been nice since the temperature was dropping rapidly and I couldn't get the car started!
Misery can be the lack of company.
Christmas and New Year's was spent alone with my wife. It was good to be around her, but we really missed our family. Probably our least favorite holiday season together.
Holiday traffic.
The lows have consistently been in the low 30's, making for some "interesting" rides to work in the morning. It's nice that school is out for another week in our neighborhood; the lack of traffic makes the commute a lot less stressful.
Now I'm back to getting ready for yet another day. It's 30° and I'm ready to ride!
Riding in the cool.
My neighbor Doug and I took off about a week ago to do this ride north of San Antonio, stopping at Kendalia to chat and chill. Doug discovered that a good pair of winter gloves goes a long way. I carried a spare pair of Olympias which he used after his hands began to numb (after about 15 minutes). They are now on permanent loan. :)
The kindness of strangers.
I witnessed a single-vehicle accident on Evans Road where a truck nearly flipped after losing control. The lady driving it was okay but shaken up. Selma's first response team is probably three or four times faster than San Antonio's. Never underestimate the kindness of strangers or family. I remember the time my car spun out (thanks to an aggressive driver approaching me on an on-ramp). I ran up on the barrier, destroying both wheels on the right side. The driver did not stop to check on me. Nor did anyone else for that matter. It would have been nice since the temperature was dropping rapidly and I couldn't get the car started!
Misery can be the lack of company.
Christmas and New Year's was spent alone with my wife. It was good to be around her, but we really missed our family. Probably our least favorite holiday season together.
Holiday traffic.
The lows have consistently been in the low 30's, making for some "interesting" rides to work in the morning. It's nice that school is out for another week in our neighborhood; the lack of traffic makes the commute a lot less stressful.
Now I'm back to getting ready for yet another day. It's 30° and I'm ready to ride!
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