Failure; then disgrace

[ridin gaijin]

I was going to go to Cuba, New Mexico today. Someone on advrider kind of dared me to, and tomorrow I fly to Connecticut with my kids for a week, so no tigering till 2005. I was going to write up another funny Grocery Store Commando report, but the whole thing ended badly.



The thermometer at the house read 10 (F) when I left, but it was also very windy--the kind of gusts that blow you around on the road. One source of intel (all right, the Albuquerque Journal...) noted, "The best chance for a white Christmas in New Mexico appears to be a minor midweek storm ushered in by brutal cold..." Brutal cold? I vaguely recalled Cuba being called a sub-tropical country; clearly, this is another case of Commie propaganda lies. Sub-tropical, bullshit. I'll need special gear for this one.



Here goes...











This is where your heated grips would go on the recent models of Tiger. Notice that the button is blank. This is because I don't have heated grips.







This is an accessory plug for your heated vest. I was not  issued a heated vest. Instead I have this fleece/neoprene ladies' size XL sports shirt purchased on sale at Target.







This most likely makes me one of the only (or maybe, the only?) male member of Triumph-Tiger.com to regularly ride wearing ladies' clothing.  Anyway, I secretly sort of like the racy "Star Trek pajamas" look...



So much for my heated gear. Suck it up, pansy. Kids are dying in Iraq for want of body armor.



I got on the road about 11:30. The fastest way to do this was on the interstate down towards Albuquerque, then turn in Bernalillo towards Cuba. What is the wind chill when it's 10 degrees and you're going 90 miles per hour? Beats me. I actually sort of don't want to know. But inside, I do.



The approach to Cuba is straightforward, if bitter cold and windy. I seemed to recollect something about water; an island nation...More propaganda bullshit, obviously. Here's Bernalillo; and afterwards I will attempt to penetrate the deep mountain clefts. (Heh heh.) Anyway, I appreciated the exotic scenery--I've never seen anything quite like this, stateside.







And here...



...I stopped. Not for want of gumption, or because I was frezing cold, but because of daylight. It was about 1:30 and I had an hour before I could even reach Cuba. Assuming I got there at 2:30 I'd have to turn right around and return in order to avoid the dark (sunset about 4:45). I'd have no chance to explore the mountains, town, or anything. Being cold and miserable in the name of a good time is one thing but turning around to do it all over again for the sake of seeing a few McDonald's is not interesting.



So I hit the highway back towards Santa Fe--it was the right thing to do. So here's what happens back in town.







This was a walking speed get-off, el tigre's wheels just deciding to go in two different directions. I'd had both feet off the pegs anyway and just basically stepped aside as he went down.







What kind of moron rides in this stuff anyway? My wife was much more upset than I. El tigre recovered, he has only a hairline scratch on the gas tank and some scuffing on the handguard, and there's also some scuffs on the luggage. Ain't no thing.





Mission aftermath:



24Dec04: Merry Christmas to all you travelers out there, whether you be snug at home, or wandering in strange lands. My first Christmas far from home was in 1986 on my Japan tour. I spent the night 24-25 December camped out on a cold, rocky beach at Ako, in Kansai, west of Kobe. Christmas is just another workday in Japan, as is true in much of the rest of the world. (Except with a lot more tentacle porn than in much of the rest of the world.) The lesson? Christmas is one of a few hundred boxes on the calendar. You carry it with you, inside, or you don't; and if you don't, all the wreaths in Cuba won't put it there. Be happy and safe and thankful, and love each other--not just today, but all days. It really does come from inside.



See you in a while!

[Sasquatch]

Great report.  I guess you'll be ponying up for a new set of Happy Trails crash bars in January... :D

[Wrangler]

Your report brought back a couple of memories from this summers ridin season.



1.  Headed down to Santa Fe, Albequerque from Canada in April/May.  Totally awesome ridin goodness.  My mates and I were all impressed with Santa Fe.



2.  First season with bike, rode 15,000 Kms, 2 provinces, 17 states and a cager nails me in parking lot where I work and down goes me and bike.   Ultimately very superficial damage but it's hard to see your baby sprawled on the tarmac.  Glad you and bike are relatively OK

[Patrick the Scot]

Ummm, Ridin Gaijin, I must say you about as crazy I am, as I am, as I am. Sorry, was I rambling?



Yep, 10 F at 90mph is so friggin cold it will flash freeze meat (your fingers and  top 1" of your thighs) in mere minutes.  I have also been venturing into the cold lately.  I sure thought I would never look forward to warmer weather.  



As for your cosmetic damages: Glad El Tigre is not terminally hurt.  Hey, what is a few scratches?  That is what you bought it for, right?. To ride it. And to crash it if need be. I mean the thing has only got two wheels and you were on ice and snow. What did your wife expect?. Anyhoo, I've got the same scratches you do. It is all part of the hunt.



Also, great comments on Christmas.

[ridin gaijin]

Ahoy Patrick el Scot. When are you going to be in ABQ? January it was, no?



Wrangler--sounds nice. Were you able to stay off the interstates? I'm thinking of doing a similar run going the other way...



Hope everyone had a happy & safe Christmas, and nobody got hurt on Boxing Day. Ride, people, ride!

[whoa]

So what was the damage $$ all told?  I'm a new Tiger owner and just hearing about the crash bars.  So wondering if they are worth the $300 or so.



David

[ridin gaijin]

So what was the damage $$ all told?  I'm a new Tiger owner and just hearing about the crash bars.  So wondering if they are worth the $300 or so.



David

Well, $0. I don't care about a scratch and some scuffs...it'll get worse, later. I am going for engine guards too tho, you can see my price roundup with links here.



Congrats on your new bike!