My odometer rolled over the 10,000-mile mark on the commute to work this morning. Ladies and gentlemen, that brings my long-abandoned n00b-O-Meter to something in the neighborhood of 3,832 miles. Funny, it really doesn't seem like it's been that long. I'm not at all thinking of selling Zoë, because I love her and I know I've a tremendous amount still to learn on her, but I have found myself eyeing bikes more often these days, thinking about what's next when it's truly time to move on... Maybe sometime late next year? But then again, of course, maybe never. Zoë seems to do everything I want from a bike, and she's so much hotter than the fully-faired sportbikes I see 'round here, tarted up like two-dollar whores with their Type R decals and fake-carbon panels.
Finally rode to work again today. There's still some snow on the ground up in Lynnwood and Everett, but the roads are all clear and dry. Temps are hanging out in the high 30s and low 40s, so no more snow is falling, and while it's not exactly summer riding weather, at least it's dry. I hadn't been on the bike in over a week, but she started right up and ran like a champ.
I can't say enough good things about my heated grips. My only complaint is that they're slightly too warm, even on the low setting. I've always been more tolerant of cold than of heat (hence the college in Minnesota...) and every couple of minutes I need to open my hands and let the icy air cool my palms. It's not a problem, really, but maybe one of these days I'll pick up the variable-setting Heat-Troller option and wire it in. Or I'll just stick a resistor inline with the grip heaters...
Even after only one week's break, I felt a bit of a confidence loss this morning, but it only lasted until the end of the first block. I guess some of this skill-development is sticking. :)
In other news, my girlfriend's birthday was a little bit ago, and her gift from me was a MSF Basic Rider's Course. She's stoked to try this addiction that's stolen her boyfriend from her; I'm happy that she'll have a great time and learn a bit how to behave when it's time to take her on pillion, and who knows? Maybe she'll get hooked and end up with a little Ninja of her own in the garage, so Zoë won't be so lonely on these cold winter nights.