Now... a word from our Sponsors.
I would like to thank my sponsors so much for believing in me and this ride!
A.D Farrow Harley-Davidson
Air Hawk Seats
Arlen Ness
BR Cohn Winery
Clyde Fessler
Harley-Davidson Motor Clothes
Harley-Davidson Museum
House of Rock Records
Kaenon Sunglasses
Klock Werks
Maui Harley-Davidson
Michi Ogino
Mike and Margaret Wilson
Motor Maids
Scott Jacobs Art Studio
Vagabond Choppers
Women Riders Now
AND... My number one supporter, my awesome husband Pat Simmons. You Rock!!
Couldn't do this without all of you... Thanks so much!
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
It's up and running!
Heard from my mechanic Steve Huntzinger yesterday that my bike is up and running! He says it starts on the first kick and that the new wheels and tires make a huge difference. He put about 60 miles on it. Got about 50 miles on half a tank of gas. This is great news... means I will only have to stop for gas every 100 miles. I will be out riding it on Aug. 5th to put more miles on it. Hopefully, I'll get some photos and maybe even video to post! Whoaaaa!!!
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Can't wait to ride Effie!
So.... can't wait to ride Ms. Effie in 2 weeks. It's going to be a long and wonderful relationship that I hope continues long after the Cannonball hooplah is over.
BTW, Discovery is filming the event, so it should be exciting!
I'll post again as soon as I have new info and photos. :)
Yes... I am a Motor Maid. photo of Laura Klock, Chickie Ransom and me taken in Cody, WY
BTW, Discovery is filming the event, so it should be exciting!
I'll post again as soon as I have new info and photos. :)
Yes... I am a Motor Maid. photo of Laura Klock, Chickie Ransom and me taken in Cody, WY
May 25th Effie
Effie on May 25th... new handlebars, rebuilt front end, trans is in, frame welded. Waiting on motor to get balanced.
I'm Back!
I Know... no excuse for not posting sooner except I've been gone more than I've been home the past few months. It's all good. Book signings, visiting Effie, my 1915 Harley, etc...
Anyway, all is moving along. The bike is about done! We did lots of modifications, changed out the wheels, made new gas tanks ( the old ones probably wouldn't have made it out of California., worked on a headlight, tailights, etc... I REALLY wanted a front brake. The thought of riding in the hills without one was pretty scary for me. Let's see, right foot on brake, left foot on clutch. Oops... how do I hold it on a hill? Anyway, thanks to the "wonderful" Dale and Matt Walksler, I now have a nice front brake. Steve also rebuilt the front end, making me some new tubes for the forks. The old ones were kind of cracked. We got the new handlebars too. Should be good to go test ride and break the motor in around the first part of August.
I went around and around about the speedometer/odometer. It didn't have one and the way the course instructions work, I really needed one. Every morning we will get our road instructions before we leave. They look a little like hieroglyphics unless you know how to read them. It will tell you at such and such mile make a right turn, or which mile you can find gas. Important stuff like that! We also ordered a roll chart
( which is STILL on backorder). This is a well made, waterproof, easy to view contraption that will hold the instructions and allow you to "thumb: through them while you are riding. (I still think it's good to follow someone who really knows the way! lol All kidding aside... I have been taking the Cannonball very seriously and will be ready for Kitty Hawk, NC soon enough.
The BIG news is that my future chase van ( which I am shopping for now) can't follow us, but go up ahead of us and meet us at the hotel each night. Intersetingly enough, I guess I really can't call it a chase vehicle, now can I?:) The good news is that Athena Ransom, my crew can have a cold drink ready for me when I arrive and do my laundry while I'm out riding each day! I'm okay with not having 70 rv's plugging away with ius on bikes trying to see around them. This is going to be fun! I'm planning on carrying my own tools, water, gas, oil anyway. This makes it more like "real lfe: anyway. I'm all for it!
I've also have the good fortune to have some great sponsors behind me. People like:
( in no special order) Arlen Ness, A.D Farrow Harley-Davidson, Air Hawk Seats, Kaenon Sunglasses, Women Riders Now, House Of Rock Records, Harley-Davidson Motor Clothes, Bruce Cohn Winery, Maui Harley-Davidson and last but not least, my wonderful Motor Maids sisters. I just had a chance to go to my very first Motor Maids convention and it was more fun than I ever thought it would be. had a great 1,400 roundtrip ride with my riding buddies Laura Klock and Athena (Chickie) Ransom. We did a 700 mile day back from Cody, WY ( where the convention was held) to Mitchell, South Dakota where Laura lives. She was nice enough to loan me her brand new 2010 110 cu inch Screaming Eagle Harley Twin Cam. Great bike! My butt wasn't even sore!
Back to the Cannonball. I will update with some new photos when I get them uploaded. The bike is ready to fire up! Can't wait to see her again. It's been a while since I made the trip though I am in touch with Steve all the time and we've made plenty of decisions together on seats, batteries, lights, brakes, etc...
I'm ready to go!
Anyway, all is moving along. The bike is about done! We did lots of modifications, changed out the wheels, made new gas tanks ( the old ones probably wouldn't have made it out of California., worked on a headlight, tailights, etc... I REALLY wanted a front brake. The thought of riding in the hills without one was pretty scary for me. Let's see, right foot on brake, left foot on clutch. Oops... how do I hold it on a hill? Anyway, thanks to the "wonderful" Dale and Matt Walksler, I now have a nice front brake. Steve also rebuilt the front end, making me some new tubes for the forks. The old ones were kind of cracked. We got the new handlebars too. Should be good to go test ride and break the motor in around the first part of August.
I went around and around about the speedometer/odometer. It didn't have one and the way the course instructions work, I really needed one. Every morning we will get our road instructions before we leave. They look a little like hieroglyphics unless you know how to read them. It will tell you at such and such mile make a right turn, or which mile you can find gas. Important stuff like that! We also ordered a roll chart
( which is STILL on backorder). This is a well made, waterproof, easy to view contraption that will hold the instructions and allow you to "thumb: through them while you are riding. (I still think it's good to follow someone who really knows the way! lol All kidding aside... I have been taking the Cannonball very seriously and will be ready for Kitty Hawk, NC soon enough.
The BIG news is that my future chase van ( which I am shopping for now) can't follow us, but go up ahead of us and meet us at the hotel each night. Intersetingly enough, I guess I really can't call it a chase vehicle, now can I?:) The good news is that Athena Ransom, my crew can have a cold drink ready for me when I arrive and do my laundry while I'm out riding each day! I'm okay with not having 70 rv's plugging away with ius on bikes trying to see around them. This is going to be fun! I'm planning on carrying my own tools, water, gas, oil anyway. This makes it more like "real lfe: anyway. I'm all for it!
I've also have the good fortune to have some great sponsors behind me. People like:
( in no special order) Arlen Ness, A.D Farrow Harley-Davidson, Air Hawk Seats, Kaenon Sunglasses, Women Riders Now, House Of Rock Records, Harley-Davidson Motor Clothes, Bruce Cohn Winery, Maui Harley-Davidson and last but not least, my wonderful Motor Maids sisters. I just had a chance to go to my very first Motor Maids convention and it was more fun than I ever thought it would be. had a great 1,400 roundtrip ride with my riding buddies Laura Klock and Athena (Chickie) Ransom. We did a 700 mile day back from Cody, WY ( where the convention was held) to Mitchell, South Dakota where Laura lives. She was nice enough to loan me her brand new 2010 110 cu inch Screaming Eagle Harley Twin Cam. Great bike! My butt wasn't even sore!
Back to the Cannonball. I will update with some new photos when I get them uploaded. The bike is ready to fire up! Can't wait to see her again. It's been a while since I made the trip though I am in touch with Steve all the time and we've made plenty of decisions together on seats, batteries, lights, brakes, etc...
I'm ready to go!
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