Did a bunch of riding yesterday, the short account is: Odenton. MD->Beltsville, MD (via Route 1)->McLean, VA (via 495)->Great Falls, VA->Herndon, VA (via 193/Route 7), and then the reverse. Roughly 115-125 miles.
The long account goes something like this:
Got up at 8, to check the weather (still gorgeous and clear all day), and see if I'm awake enough to ride down to church (turns out i can carry on a conversation and eat at the same time, usually an impossible morning feat for me... check!). Geared up, tossed a nice shirt in my backpack, and went down 198 to Route 1, then across Cherry Hill Lane to get to church. Nice ride with little cars, but some really messy concrete on Route 1. After church I decided that instead of going home I wanted to ride through Great Falls (and hence decided to drop in on my parents so I'd have a rest stop) and enjoy the day. Went down 95 for a mile (from the 212 exit), and got on 495 for the first time. Traffic's still somewhat light (it's a Sunday), and I was just cruising in the right hand lane doing about 65, everything was good. Finally some idiot drivers mess that up, I start getting nervous, and was forced over to the left slowly. Then I found myself in the left hand lane doing about 75 keeping up with traffic and making the 270 split... so much for my game plan of "Right hand lane for the first day". Got off at 193 (Georgetown Pike?) and took it South, eventually getting onto Route 7 for a mile until heading for my parents. Hung out for a few hours, made us all some burgers and dogs, and left around 6pm (sunset starting to set in... pun intended). Ride back was much the same, though I took 95N until 198, skipping route 1.
I really enjoyed 193, it was a fun road, even though I'm still getting comfortable on corners. However, it looks like they're not completely done working on it between Great Falls Park and 495 yet (it was closed for a while a month or two back) and what they have finished is very very poorly done. The patches they fixed sit anywhere between a slight bump and a noticeable bump above the rest of the pavement, and its a different material, so I was somewhat uncomfortable the whole length of it since I don't like the bike bouncing yet. It was a gorgeous day, with plenty of tree cover to keep the (little) heat off, and the sun out of my eyes.
My mom (and dad) met Kari for the first time which went over really well. They both oohed and awed, and there were only few words about how dangerous it can be. In fact, it seemed like my dad wished he were in his 20s again, and my mom wants a ride once I get more experienced.
This was also my second ride with earplugs in, as lately I'd get off the bike and have a headache from the noise. I do notice a huge difference, can concentrate more with the plugs in, and even after getting home about 12 hours after I left, and 100ish miles under my belt (about 4 times the previous longest ride I did, and about 1/5 of the total riding I've done since buying Kari) mentally I coulda gone out again. Physically... not so much.
What I learned:
- I need a new helmet, one with built in sun visor (yes, the EXO-1000 that's been on my shopping list since before I had Kari), or sun glasses. Needing prescription glasses, I'm leaning towards the former. The beltway, with the sun directly behind me and setting just plain sucked. I was sitting up as high as I could on the seat to block it with my shoulders.
- Earplugs rock. They absolutely help stay focused, and alert the whole time. No headache after I finished.
- Sinus infections (I have a chronic sinus infection, yes it sucks) can yield tinnitus, and it turns out this is a more likely source of my ears ringing than the noise from the bike. However, I'm quite glad I started wearing plugs anyway.
- Even the motherly instinct of my own mother couldn't offset the sex appeal of a man on a motorcycle.... a subject I shall have to check out in more detail posing in Georgetown (uh, and without my mother around... pervs) sometime. You know, for the good of science....
And finally: I realized I've done 500 miles, so should I be lubing my chain now?
Life's like a machine gun... just close your eyes, squeeze the trigger, and pray you hit what you wanted.