The first order, the last day.
The first order, the last day.
So I have this thing for steel bikes. I also have a thing for the color red and italian parts. I like dry clutches, twin cylinders and single-sided swingarms. I like cafe-racers and loud pipes. I like torque more than horsepower, and I have no overwhelming need to race whatsoever. I’ve always enjoyed tinkering with two-wheeled machines, building them, designing them.
I saw my first Ducati on King Street in old-town Alexandria in 1997. I believe it was a 748, and the stance and sound were amazing. There was something really beautiful and honest in its lines, the steel frame and the complete lack of any pretension about being anything other than a race bike for the street. It clanked and roared. There are other steel-framed V-twin bikes. But they never did it for me—the Harley attraction may be a subtle difference, but it’s palpable. My bike will never have a fairing nor a stereo.
After figuring out what I wanted (an S2R 1000), I sat and waited. For a few years. On Sunday I went to Hattar in Marin, parked and immediately walked up to the exact bike I’d been looking for. It was perfect: Red frame, red body, black wheels and a pair of sweet Arrow carbon pipes up the right side.
Negotiations went pretty well, and a few hours later she was mine. The first ride was a dimming Sunday ride back over the Golden Gate Bridge, wind, fog and all—firmly planted in the right lane doing a grandmotherly 50 mph.
I’m taking it slow at first until we get to know each other better; I want this relationship to last a long time. She’s loud, capricious, strong and beautiful—the only way I like it.
On Friday night, Tina and I went to go see the new Pirates of Caribbean movie.
Saturday, woke up at 6 am to go climbing at Castle Rock with Chris and a crew of people from the Bay Area Outdoor Adventure Club. Dinner & drinks at Suppenkuche, then fell dead asleep. Sue hooked me up with a sweet T-shirt, too.
On Sunday, Tina and I went to Kara’s Cupcakes in the Marina, then to Marin to go hunting for bicycles, jerseys and planters. Went to the Ducati dealership too. Dealt with a parking douchebag in Mill Valley and took Pista to the dogrun. Watched a documentary on Fred Phelps, and slept well (again).
On Monday, woke up ad took Pista to the dogpark. Rode my fixie to Mill Valley for the Memorial Day parade & pancake breakfast. Went to a barbecue at Chris’ house, drank divine wasabi bloody marys, and ate awesome cookies and burgers. Then went sofa shopping with the crew and returned home for some dinner & watched the Lost season finale.
I never really appreciated Alanis until now. Watch for the Ducati in-joke.
On Saturday, Pista got to run in Alamo Square with Stella in a brief window when it stopped raining. Noshed with Jen and Jay at BlueJay Cafe. Bacon, eggs & blueberry pancakes = teh win. Earlier Pista and I went to the Potrero Sports Basement, and after brunch we went to the Presidio store. Pista had snacked on my black shell jacket (the fifth one if you’re counting) and it was time to get more fodder for the Maw. Hoping for a week’s worth of jacket usage this time.
Spent no money at the 2nd SB visit (yes!) but did drop a lot of coin putting together my costume for Misty’s ever-awesome annual Procrastinator’s New Year’s Eve party. I was the Math Avenger, mild-mannered math professor by day, and smacktalking, derivative-calculating, vigilante superhero by night. Will post more about this in a bit…
Before the trip to Clothes by the Pound, I hit Munroe Motors for the Ducati 1098 launch. They had a single 1098S (apparently the S stands for sold), sandwiches and posters to give away. Most people ignored all of that and just lusted after the new bike. It looks better in person than in pictures. Really, drool.
Edit: Realized this post doesn’t contain any mention of cycling or rock-climbing. I went cycling today with Tina (we rocked a modified combined Fairfax + Paradise loop for a solid 68 miles or so. Did it on the fixie because I’m badass like that the road bike’s in the shop. Sunday weather totally made up for the shitty Saturday. Tyson at American insists my bike will be ready by Tuesday for our double next weekend. Excited!
Edit: Rock climbing!
]]>My mind is bended. My mind is bended!
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Part of me wants to be altruistic and do the Right Thing. Another part of me agrees with Mena and needs two wheels (in my case a Ducati 748). The responsible part of me says by a $10k CD. Or sink it into some incredibly underpriced stock and hope the graph goes upward.
Nah, I'll probably just flip Patti for it.