Well. I know it's been a long time since I rapped at ya, but I've found myself in a sort of a strange place in regards to riding. I'm still on the bike every day for commuting, and I'm still off for the occasional weekend ride. I still love the feeling of freedom and power when I'm in the saddle, and my old car still sits alone and neglected in the driveway. But the learning process that occupied so much of my saddle-time in the early days of riding has settled down into a subconscious thing. What happens when I ride seems a lot less - well, newsworthy, I suppose - than it used to be. Getting cut off, taking some evasive action before a crazy cager hits me, all the myriad day-to-day events that a motorcyclist faces, they don't faze me any longer. Sometimes my heart rate doesn't even pick up during the evasive maneuvers; I'm ready for them any time I'm on the road, and I feel I'm at a place where they're expected. A routine occupational hazard, if you will.

I haven't done anything major since the Great West Coast Trip back in May. I think I have a slightly-longer weekend ride coming up in late August, to southern Oregon to visit family, but other than that I haven't been out having adventures. I've been thinking very seriously about upgrading to a new(er) bike; I am still very happy with Zoë in almost every respect, but I am saddened that I really can't take Jen along pillion for any reasonable distance. The Bandit just isn't designed for 2-up riding; the passenger accomodations are limited, the engine's a little bit anemic, and the suspension is way out of its depth with such a heavy load.

I've basically decided (barring hatred when I finally test-ride one) that the next bike will be a Suzuki V-Strom 1000. The Strom isn't a perfect bike - I would prefer ABS and a slightly more rounded fairing design like the Bandit's - but it's got a great following, it's apparently wonderful 2-up, it's moderately capable on gravel, it's tough, and it's got plenty of power. Great options for luggage. Loads of torque, too, from the two-cylinder engine; that will be a change from the Bandit's four, I'll wager. I would prefer to buy used and not take that huge value hit of a new bike, but the options for Stroms around here are pretty limited. I've only seen a couple used ones up for sale in the month or so I've been looking, and they honestly weren't that much cheaper than a new bike. I need to see what kind of value I can get out of a tradein for the Bandit, and see what sort of terms and price I can negotiate, but I just haven't had the time to really look into it.

Basically, Jen and I are trying to decide whether now is the right time to take out a small loan and buy a "starter" sailboat, a simple sloop in the 27' - 30' range. These are readily available for very low costs, and it's been quite a long time since we've been sailing. We are realizing that we're losing touch with our skills and with our sailing dreams, and there's no way to keep those things alive without being on the water regularly. The occasional race on a friend's boat does not help develop real cruising skills that we'll need in our maritime life-to-come. Unfortunately, money is limited. It is very likely that I cannot afford to both finance a new (or new-to-me) bike and participate in the purchase of a boat. Until the boat decision is made, I really can't look into upgrading my bike.

And a bike that can't carry my fiance on the back really precludes too many long weekend trips, I find. After the last one, I'm unlikely to set off on another Great Adventure without my girl along. Not that I didn't love the solitude of the Lonely Traveller, but it would have been better to have shared those things, I believe.

So. Further updates as events develop. Hopefully the new bike will be along soon.