Review: Cycle Gear Trackside Wheel Chock

Last night I put together the Trackside Wheel Chock I received (well, bought for myself) for Christmas.  Here's a link to the Cycle Gear page for it: Trackside Wheel Chock but it is normally on sale for much less than list price.  It goes together easily, with four bolts holding on the front stop.  One felt like it was going to strip, so I tightened the other three and left the sketchy one alone as soon as I felt it "bite".  Maybe chasing the threads would have helped?

Here's a review from a Harley-Davidson enthusiast forum:  Trackside Wheel Chock Review.  I'm not a member of that forum and that's not my post, but agree with the review.  It holds my Sporster upright securely but did slide forward slightly during some of the test runs as I rolled the bike onto the chock.  I haven't tried it with the Connie yet-don't know if a heavier bike would make the problem better or worse-I'm guessing worse.

Long term plan is to mount it to the Harbor Freight table lift-it seems very good for that use.  I've read other reviews where it was used in a similiar manner or on a trailer to move bikes.

To stay on the legal side, picture is copied from the Cycle Gear website-if there is a problem, please let me know and I'll take a pic of mine.  But hey, I'm giving them a free endorsement!

UPDATE on 2/26/2012:  Just got a new Cycle Gear catalog.  The wheel chock is on sale again for about $69.99 until April 3, 2012.  I've used mine now a couple of times and still recommend highly.

How many miles have you ridden?

Finally updated my mileage at the "Motorcycle Mileage Database", a website I came across a few years ago that you can register on, add your bikes and how many miles you've ridden each one, and it totals it and keeps a running tab.  Here's the link:  Motorcycle Mileage Database and before you even look, don't expect my name to be anywhere near the top!  There are some folks with insanely high mileage totals and daily mileage.  Mike Noonkester is the total mileage leader, with over 1,100,000 miles on a succession of Harleys and Hondas since 1946.  I just went over 65,000 this week, and while I may never reach 1M miles, I'm about 2/3s the way to my first 100,000.  Unless I pick up the riding per day, it will still take a while though.

Jim Brown, the webmaster of the site, also has a blog right here on Blogger.  Especially if you like to travel on a motorcycle, you should find it interesting.  I've actually e-mailed Jim a couple of times, and he is a stand-up guy.  Safe travels, Sir.

Upcoming Bike Night: Mira Mesa CA USA

It's been a long non-riding season out here in Southern California!  We've suffered through a terrible January where the average temp was probably 65 or more, so once again we've had no off-season.  Well, we sort of had a small break after all the Toy Runs and charity events leading up to Christmas, so it's time for the "first of the year" events.

The first Mira Mesa Bike Night is this Thursday at the Albertson's/Starbucks/Rubio's parking lot a long block off the I-15.  I would say it starts at 7 PM, but most folks don't show that early, and there is no real "official" starter from what I can tell the few times I've been in the past.  They have a facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MMBikeNight and may be in meet-up, but I'm not familiar with that yet.

Hope to see some friends there, make some new ones, and see some cool bikes.  All bikes are welcome-I've seen everything from classic BMWs to some trick 'Busas and other sportbikes.

UPDATE:  Good time tonight at the MMBN.  Lots of diverse bikes, from mostly stock cruisers and sportbikes to some highly customized bikes, and a tricked out XR650 with 17 inch sportbike wheels and tires, a custom made tail rack, and a steering damper!  Got to see some guys I haven't in a while, plus meet some club members from different clubs and some independent riders too.  Hope to make it to more bike nights this year than last.

Thoughtful driver made my day!

I took a slightly different route home today.  It's one of my favorite "short cuts" that gets me off the freeway a few miles early and follows a ridge through part of San Diego to Poway.  It's really not any shorter, and depending on lights, only adds five minutes or so, but is much better than rolling up I-15 yet again.

Well, today I'm rolling along ("Officer, I didn't know how fast I was going-every bike speedometer is inaccurate...) and I see the modern day station wagon in a left turn lane up ahead.  I'm not really flying, and judging from the distance, I think she can turn out (yes, it was a Mom and kiddos) and easily clear the lane I'm in.  She wouldn't have been "turning left in front of me" like you hear in too many accident reports, as it was an uncontrolled turn, and she could have safely turned before I got there.  However, she sat in the turn lane patiently and waited for me to pass!  Wow, quite the opposite of most cagers out here in California.  I had to give her a wave and head nod as I zipped past.

This made my day, as it has been a brutal winter for wrecks.  The last update I got from the local CMA chapter chaplain had 5 different motorcyclists he and others had visited in hospital in the last month and a half or so who had all been hit.  And that's not counting a number of fatal or near-fatal accidents since the early fall, plus another friend/CMA chapter president who got hit recently.  That one is almost funny, as he was sitting at a stop sign, and got hit by someone turning right.  Yes, a right turning car overshot, and hit the front end and fairing of his Gold Wing!

So I am thankful for, and publicly thankful, for the safe SUV driver who saw me today and waited patiently and safely!