Update on my bike & my body!

Got an update on my bike from Steve today. Things are moving along.

He is still waiting for the pistons, but is about ready to start putting the motor back together. He got the seat post rebuilt and the seat mounted. (Still need to apply the gel padding. oh yeah!)

We need to find some handlebars, as mine are badly cracked and will break if the bike falls over. Since there are NO 1915 handlebars floating around to buy, we will have to buy some repro ones.
Dale Walksler told us about a guy in Michigan who is supposedly the 'Steve Huntzinger of Handlebars. " We called Tom and he happens to have a one that he made for someone else who didn't need it. $390.00 and it's ours! Steve was happy to hear this, but wished he could get them sooner than the end of this month (April) that Tom quoted us. He will just have to work around it.

As for "My Body". I worked out Mon., Wed., and Fri. this week again with a trainer. Well worth it. I feel great, am targeting strengthening my back, shoulders and arms. Areas that I will need to pilot this old bike across the 3,300 mile ride this coming Fall. I plan on keeping the exercise program up to be in the best shape I can be in this coming September.

Also need to really start working on Sponsors. Gotta make some calls and get it going. Tis ride is gathering lots of attention and any sponsors I have will garner a lot of attention, as there are only 2 other women riding in the field of 70 riders. One from Bavaria and another from England I believe. Both will be in the single cylinder class. I look forward to meeting them both!

More photos...

Effie Lives!

Pat and I drove up to see Effie at Steve Huntzinger's a few days ago. It was funny, cause I walked in and asked him where she was... I seriously didn't see the bare frame sitting in the middle of the floor in front of me! There it was, bare naked, every part off to be examined and rebuilt to make the trip across the country.

We went over what he found. The frame had a crack in it near the bottom. Same with the forks.( Though they were more just worn.) Apparently, water had gotten into the frame and froze, cracking the metal. The bike was from Michigan when Pat got it over 25 years ago, so that makes sense. Steve will fix both problems. So glad we took it to him to go over. I wouldn't have wanted to trust a 95 year old, cracked frame to go 3,300 miles! The handlebar has a crack too, so we will replace that. If not, if the bike fell over, it might break completely off... a bad way to end my cannonball attempt. Again, thanks to Steve I will have every chance to finish the race as possible.

He showed me a seat pan that we are going to use instead of the old, hard bicycle style seat. This one will have plenty of padding, a gel underneath and a sheepskin on top. Will still be a hard ride, but every little bit helps.

He already started on the motor, replacing the old pistons and valves. Thank goodness! he will also make me a replacement set of gas tanks, the same size. We think the old tanks would leak and crack with the vibration. My motor and trans looked pretty good. The gears in the trans looked REALLY good. While the lifters and pushrods looked worn, the trans was great. I wish she could tell me how that happened.

We spent at least and hour or two going over ideas for lights and brakes. Decided on 21 inch wheels to replace the 28 inch 95 year old wheels.

Things will go back together pretty quick I hope... Our plan is to go back out the end of May and ride the bike. Need to break the motor in while Steve is around to help me learn what I need to know. Every bike has it's little things you need to know about starting, running etc...

It's getting pretty exciting!

Off to see "Effie" tomorrow

On our way up to see my motorcycle "Effie". Though she is apart getting some work done to get ready for our Sept. adventure, I am excited to see her apart. I've gotten to know some of these parts "up close and personal, but seeing her stripped down will be a treat.

I've got my camera ready...

My Bike is in pieces

Talked to Steve Huntzinger, who is working on my bike. He has it all apart and says the motor looks really good, besides the some normal wear. He's going to put some new bearings in the trans, but it looks good too. The rear wheel bearings were pretty worn out, so he will replace them. The front end was tweaked and Steve was able to straighten the forks. The headstock, of all things was on backwards! Which caused the front end to be kicked out 3/4 of an inch. No wonder it rode so smooth! lol He corrected that and will put it on right. I think the thing about working on these old bikes is that people often took them apart and didn't put them back together right. (That's what digital cameras are for!)

Steve us also going to put a newer seat on the bike for me. The old one is pretty hard. Steve says this will help prevent what he calls "Serious Monkey Butt Syndrome"! What ever that is.. I have a weird vision in my head of that! Ugh...
Maybe I can get a gel seat to out over it and a sheepskin over that? Hmmm... lots to think about before next September. 6 months from now I'll be out there doin' the ride!

Daytona was COLD....

Daytona was COLD. Had lots of fun though.

Here's a photo of me and my honey on Dale Walklser's 1915 HD.

Update!

Effie is in California!
After shipping her off to Honolulu she sat there for a few days waiting to get unloaded. Finally, she flew to LAX and was picked up and delivered to our friend Steve Huntzinger, who will take her apart and put her back together. Steve has promised to send some pictures of the motor being rebuilt for me.

Got the word she arrived safely while in Daytona at Bike Week freezing our butts off.

While in Florida we stopped at the Eustis AMCA Meet where we scrounged a few parts. An extra magento for the 1915 among the spoils!

Daytona was cold, but great. Did a bunch of book signings and was filmed for a CBS Sunday Morning segment on women motorcyclists. Checked out lots of friends and made some new ones. Loved the vintage races!