How To Shower Properly, Part II

First off, thanks to Baron of Baron's Life fame for posting a very funny video on the differences in showering habits between men and women - check it out here:

http://baronsview.blogspot.com/2009/03/how-to-shower-properlymen-versus-women.html

Just after I read his post, a radio station had a similar discussion on showering - this one was, "do you or do you not wash your feet when showering?" There were some interesting responses, that seemed to be divided into the female vs. male schools of thought on this issue. Most of the women said yes, while most men said no. The reason that the men gave was because there already was soapy water on the shower floor, so their feet were getting cleaned just by being there. One guy even said he doesn't wash anything below the kneecaps! Most of the women polled thought that was pure laziness and exhibited a lack of hygiene on the part of men.

So, there's a poll on my blog - feel free to provide your response, and make any comments - is not washing your feet efficient or disgusting?

Ipod for sale on Craigslist - Excellent Condition!

I decided to put a few items for sale on Craigslist, which included my ipod. It's an 80gb video ipod, immediately placed in a case when I got it, so it's like new. I wasn't using it anyway (I prefer my 1gb Muvo player, which isn't as fancy, but gets the job done) so I thought it would be good to get this to someone else who could really use this.

I got MANY interested buyers - it was like I threw some chum into shark-infested waters the e-mails came in so quickly. But despite the overwhelming response, it hasn't sold - here's a sampling of some of the interesting responses I received, but had to regretfully decline:

1. The "or best offer" response - I am interested in offers, but no, I won't sell you my $200 ipod for $20.

2. The "trade" response - No, I am not willing to trade you my ipod for your ipod - I'm trying to get rid of mine, so why would I need another one???

3. The "$100 to ship it" response - This is also known as the "son of a West African Minister who was forced out of the country by political opponents but before fleeing the country had stowed away $10 million in a foreign bank" response. I got two of these, and they both wanted to buy my ipod for a relative/friend who was out of the country (like you can't get an ipod outside the US????), and were willing to add $100 to the purchase price if I would accept a "Fedex wire transfer" (I didn't know these existed, and as a matter of fact, neither does Fedex) to ship the item.

4. The "sure, I'll buy this" response - I had one person commit to buy, and we were to meet at an agreed location at an agreed time. I was there, at the right time, but no buyer.

So, if anyone wants to buy an ipod for a good price, particularly if you want to trade me your 2009 Honda DN-01 for it (see below - I'm willing to trade straight across), let me know!

A Ride...Finally!

At long last the bad weather we've been having here let up for just one day. Yesterday was pouring, tomorrow we might have snow, but today it is dry. So, after running a couple of errands, I took the bike out for a ride. As you will see below, I've got a new bike - I mentioned in an earlier post that I really liked some of the "alternative" cruiser bikes out there, and I found this bike, a United Motors/Hyosung 250cc cruiser, in the colors I was looking for. I bought the bike from a retired couple in Southwest WA - it's a 2007 model, with only 150 miles on the odometer. It didn't take me too long to get the hang of clutching and shifting - the balance acquired from riding my Elite really helped. In case you are wondering, I'm keeping the Elite - I'm attached to her, as she was my first, and will continue to ride her.

It was so nice to be able to ride - I've been waiting for this day for weeks, checking the weather daily.I went out for a couple of hours, mainly around the two towns closest to where I live. A pic of the new bike as I was enjoying a cup of joe:

Another one, as the rain clouds start rolling in:

Here in the Northwest, when a riding opportunity is at hand, it must be seized!

Take care.

I'm Dreaming of a White St. Patrick's Day...

Not really...we got more snow on Thursday, and more is planned for this weekend. Oh bother...

I hope your weather is nice, whether you ride or not!

Honda NC50 Express

The Elite is still in the shop - in addition to a tune up, her automatic choke is not working, so it's taking some extra time to get parts, etc. for that, so I've been riding one of my mopeds, the orange one shown above (a 1978 Honda NC50 Express). 50cc, so it's more of my "get the mail at the end of the drive" ride, but she is fun to ride. Starts after the third or fourth "kick" - actually, this isn't a kick start, but a "winder" start. You crank what looks like a kick start lever 3-4 times, and it winds up a spring inside the starter. Then, you press the rear brake lever, which releases the spring and it starts the engine. Kind of a poor man's kick start, but it works pretty well.

When I got her last year, it needed new brake pads, tires and a new seat cover. The first two items were left to my mechanic, and I bought a new replacement seat cover that is exactly like the original off ebay. The gentleman who sells these is from BC Canada, and does a great job of recreating seat covers for vintage bikes/scooters. I've bought several from him.

I call this a moped, but some will say that she is actually a "noped" since the pedals are merely footpegs and are not pedalled like a traditional moped. Whatever you want to call her, she is a real fun ride, and a good looker to boot!

Honda CT90

Before there were quads and ATV's, there were the "trail" bikes, and one of the best was Honda's CT90, or Trail 90. These were offered from 1967 - 1979. Honda targeted hunters, fishermen and outdoorsmen with the Trail 90. Early ads often featured these bikes in wilderness settings, and they were very well suited for narrow trails, being small, lightweight (around 188 pounds) and with a forgiving suspension. Some models had a set of low gears that required you to change the chain from one sprocket to another; later models had a hi/low switch. It was ideal for climbing and carrying packs, and I have heard stories of hunters carrying elk and deer off the mountain with these bikes.

While targeted for off-road uses, this was not a "dirt bike" in the conventional sense. They could easily be made street legal and had a top speed in road gear of around 55mph. Fuel economy was excellent, often around 100mpg. In local commuter traffic, they were extremely maneuverable. Later models were equipped with 110cc engines - in Australia, these bikes were used in the postal service, gaining the name "posties."

Many new riders were introduced to motorcycling by the Honda CT90 - they were light, easy to maneuver, and had clutchless shifting.

Last year I purchased the above bike (a 1978 model) from a gentleman who used these bikes to get back and forth around his cabin property. I loved the way this bike worked - in lo gear this bike could literally climb a tree, yet it could be used to run errands in town. I am glad I had a chance to enjoy this bike, but alas, the garage is getting full, so I have put this one up for sale. However, this bike runs great, and is a testament to Honda quality, and will be enjoyed by others after me.

To Sleep: Perchance To Dream...About Motorcycles

While my Elite and the C70 and CT90 go, one by one, into the shop for a little pre-Spring service, here are some dream bikes for me...subject to change as my thoughts toss between scooters and motorcycles, cruisers and sportbikes and dual purpose, and new vs. vintage.

Scooters - I think Kymco and Piaggio build some fantastic scooters:

Cruisers - I fell in love with these small 250cc cruisers at the Seattle Motorcycle Show from Kymco (Venox) and Hyosung (GV250):

Vintage vs. New - I love vintage, but clogged carbs seem to follow me wherever I go, so I also long for a newer bike with fuel injection (but I hear they are expensive to service):

So, maybe the solution is a hybrid of vintage and new - Sym (from Taiwan) will be selling the Symba, a modernized version of the Honda Supercub, in the US in 2009:

I agree with William Shakespeare, "ay, there's the rub."