While riding back home today, after another stellar ride, it occured to me that I have this awful habit of categorizing just about every ride that I recount here on the blog in these grand, almost atmaspheric terms. I continually use the words or phrases, ‘Glorious’ or ‘Amazing’ or ‘Fantastic’ or just about any other adjective that aptly describes something that is ‘outstanding’ - and I suspect that this has something to do with my love affair with cycles.
I’m not really sure how or when it started to get this ‘bad’, but it has. It’s in my blood for better or worse. And adding the new 749 has only made me that much more aware of my desire to ride. And slowly I’m realizing that it’s ‘on’ all the time. I find myself waiting impatiently come nighttime and wishing for the day to end already so I can get up and ride the next morning. And even if I’m doing something, like enjoying a few beers at the bar with the guys, I rarely like being out past 11pm because there’s something else eating at me. Something else that’s stronger than anything else I’ve ever known. It’s riding.
Last night I was getting all worked up, waiting for the night to end… And I was rewarded with today’s ride. MotorMilt keeps saying, “That was some kind of ride” over and over. And he’s right. It was stunning.
We started out early and popped up the PCH to Topanga Canyon. Traffic was fairly decent and that allowed me to really start shifting in the saddle. By the third decent sweeping corner on Topanga, I knew it was going ot be a good day. Everything flowed. It was easy. I was leaning like never before. Not only over the bike, but outside of it. Ass off the seat - 4th stage Pridemore riding. Granted I still haven’t put my knee down yet, but in reality while I try just about all the time I’m not sure that’s the greatest of ideas on a public street…
Anyway, that discussion is probably best left for another day… We continued down Topanga Canyon to Old Topanga and then shuttled up the beginning of Mullhulland. After crossing over Las Virgines, we continued on Mullhulland and eventually shot off on Cornell Road, followed by Kanan Road and then the Deli. In many ways this has become one of two of our usual first half, pre-breakfast rides. And I always enjoy it, but today was different. Besides feeling very intune with the Duc, their was a fluidity that I can only hope continues…
The Bikes @ The Deli
So while we normally head back home after breakfast, today we headed back down to the PCH, towards the Ralphs in Malibu, where we were meeting Copeland. He’s been trying to get up to the canyons with us to shoot some photographs. Don’t know if I’ve mentioned it, but he’s become quite the photographer and has entered a photograph contest - for which he’s been toying around with the idea of perhaps using a shot of us on the bikes as a way to diversify his submission.
Of course, it was to nice of a day to just take the easy ride down Kanan & the PCH to Malibu. Instead we took Latigo Canyon - another the fav’s if you haven’t noticed. There was a bit of bike traffic, most of it going in the opposite direction thankfully. By the mid point of the road things really opened up and once again, abiet slightly unusual for me after breakfasst, I was feeling very, very comfortable and confident on the Duc. Corners just seemed to come and go, it seemed like all the downshifts were smooth and for me, I was getting over pretty good.
At the bottom of Latigo Canyon, by the PCH
After we met up with Copeland, we went back up the coast to Encinal Road - a greatly underrated avenue of speed… I suspect it gets overshadowed because it’ sandwhiched inbetween the racers side of the Mullhulland Highway and Decker Canyon. In any case, today it was mostly empty, except for a few groups of metric bikes that went by. We did several rounds of photos in a couple of corners. I’m sure I’ll have something to post from Copeland later this week.
What was truly amazing was the cloud cover on the seaside of the mountains. You can see it in the photo below, but it was as if you were looking at the inside of a down comforter… Just amazing. (Oh, and the seashore side of the hill was a good 10ยบ degrees cooler… Once on the otherside of the hill, it was HOT!)
Between Photo Ops, Milt does his thing 
After picture taking time, we took Copeland to The Rockstore - one of the great LA motorcycle landmarks. I’m sure I’ve talked about it before, but it was a zoo today. Mostly Harley riders, but a few sportbikes…
After Photo Hour - At The Rock Store
Once Copeland split to go shoot more scenics - I have a nagging, gut feeling that he’ll be back up there shortly - MotorMilt & I Popped up Stunt Road to get home. Once again it was just unreal to see the cloud cover hanging below your feet and the sun beaming down on us while we were on top of the mountain. Just good stuff! Below are a few digital picts I shot…
MotorMilt @ The Top of Stunt Road
My Duc @ The Top of Stunt Road
The Art Shot
So, like I said before, I know I always encase each ride in some extreme superlative - but today was by far the most comfortable I’ve felt on the Duc and the most enjoyable. And for that I feel just wonderful…
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