Armchair Motorcycling
February 1st, 2012

Motorcycles and northern winters don't mix.  Barring the occasional mild-day exception, it's this time of year when most bikes up north are tucked away in a cozy, indoor cocoon.  For me, I tend to find myself "Farkle" shopping (in the motorcycle world the word is generally accepted to mean a combination of "function" and "sparkle", hence, "Farkle") and engaged in a lot of "Armchair Motorcycling" - that is to say reading about others' two-wheeled adventures and living vicariously through them.

Recently, I was reading Peter Egan's book "Leanings", which featured an article entitled "Snow Place for a Motorcycle".  For you riders out there, you'll enjoy this excerpt from the article where he describes his meet-up with his friend while out on a winter ride:

"Motorcyclists in cold weather are always in a quandary over their speed. Should they ride fast and get it over with, enduring the ravages of high-speed wind, or should they ride slowly, prolonging a slightly less terrible agony?

Jim had chosen Slow Death. Coming down the highway, his bike looked like one of those lone cavalry horses returning to the fort with a dead rider full of arrows slumped in its saddle, stopping here and there to nibble on sagebrush. I’d never seen Jim ride so slowly, or so stiffly. And I’d never seen a motorcycle turn a corner without leaning, but Jim did it as he pulled into the parking lot. He pulled to a stop and sat on his bike; just sat, not bothering to shut the engine off, as though he expected some kind of emergency ground crew to run out of the restaurant and lift him off his Commando. No help arrived, so he slowly reached for the key and turned it off. A minute later he tilted his head downward and began to look for the kickstand. A still robot leg caught the edge of the stand and kicked it out. He swung his other leg over the bike, stood up, looked around too see where he was, and then walked toward the restaurant door with a ponderous I’m-so-cold-now-there’s-no-need-to-hurry dignity.

He walked right past my table without looking at me and went to the counter. 'Coffee,' he said. The waitress started to ask if that was for here or to go, but something in his voice made her think the better of it. She quickly set out a large white Styrofoam cup with a plastic lid. Jim paid and walked over to my table. He sat down heavily, without speaking, and peeled the lid from his cup with a hand like a claw. He took a drink and looked darkly into the cup. I feared for a moment that he might dump the stuff over his head, or as least pour it down his boot. But he just armed his hands over the steaming cup and looked at me, raising one eyebrow in a sudden show of levity.  'Been here long?' he asked."

Read the whole story here.

Bill Mallia, CTC, DS - Your Cyber-Sales Rep
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In The Dark Of Winter,
There's A Light On The Horizon
January 1, 2012

I try to stay away from politics but, for marketing's sake, I'm a big fan of reality.  Few people can say that they are better off now than they were four years ago.  With Europe and Canada on a trend to elect conservatives over liberals, there's a pretty good chance that those of us living here in the United States will see the same thing happening here in November.  The good news is that you most likely won't need to wait until November to see and feel the positive effects of this change.

The prognosticator would say that consumers will start to hedge on the positive changes "unobtrusive government" will generate.  As a result, buying and employment should start to show the first signs of an uptick in anticipation of a rising tide to float all boats.

Now, there's no doubt that the current administration will jump all over this trend and claim it is their doing and, to a degree, they'll be right.  It will be their doing because they have made such a mess of everything they've touched since they took control, there will be a ground-swell of excitement to see them leave!

Bill Mallia, CTC, DS - Your Cyber-Sales Rep
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The Adventure & Toy Swag
December 1, 2011

According to Wikipedia, one definition of a "Swag" is, "a bundle of belongings rolled in a traditional fashion to be carried by a foot traveller in the bush".  Meanwhile, the Urban Dictionary calls a "Murse", "a man's designer bag, to hold a laptop and other man supplies."  What's the difference?  Well I guess it's all where the bag is going to be used.  To make things easy, I simply refer to my mono-backpack as my adventure or toy swag!  So, what goes in or around this carry-all when I go out on walkabout?  Here's what's on the short list of options:

Bible/Small NLV - I'm a Christian and this indispensable book gives me my fix and keeps me on the eternal high that I accepted years ago.

Phone - Military spec, water-proof in 3-meters of water, battle-ready semi-smart phone is a must.

One Buff - Wear a "Buff" and you'll never travel without one.

General Literature - I like books that are written about traveling. From Bill Bryson to Jimmy Buffett, bring it on.

Music - Speaking of Jimmy Buffett, from his trop/rock to Frank Sinatra, it's all on the mp3 player!

Song Writing Gear - As you may know, my other job is that of a "rock star".  Hence, the need for items such as those inexpensive theme books you use to use back in school, a rhyming dictionary and the like.

Reading Glasses - While I once had jet fighter pilot vision, I'm now sportin' the 1.75's.

Guitar - A custom built Baby Taylor, Hawaiian Koa back and sides, Sitka Spruce top, housed in a sturdy SKB Case.

Fishin’ - Fly Rod - Temple Fork, 8 weight, four piece, graphite fly rod/Fly Reel - Redington 9/10 weight/Waist Gear Bag - My own hand-tied flies, tippet, fishing pliers, fishing glasses and the all important first aid kit.

Runnin' Gear - A life time of running, including three Boston Marathons, taught me that breathing and exercise are good. So, along come the running togs.

Beach - It's amazing how little room a bathing suit, sun glasses and flip flops take up. I also travel with a watch that looks "businessy" but doesn't have a lot of flash since sea critters like barracuda, etc. tend to view silver/gold watches as bait fish.

Survival Gear - Breath mints, ear plugs, eye shades, travel alarm clock, small folding toothbrush, Ibuprofen, mini flashlight, pen and my favorite teddy bear who has travelled from Australia to Paris!

Bill Mallia, CTC, DS - Your Cyber-Sales Rep
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