Snow

I guess I should not really be surprised by a snow storm coming through the great white north in February, but somehow I think 25 cm is a bit much, it was just starting to feel like we would not have to shovel again.  On top of that my 30 + year old snow blower has decided to finally roll over and die.

This is what my back yard looks like.

Can you guess where my bikes are kept?  I make sure a path is there so I can get them out even if the snow is not all gone :).

Come on spring,
Later
PAWS

Drifter

So pictured above in the title bar of this blog is my last bike, it is a 1999 Kawasaki Drifter. I sold it a couple years ago (yes I need to update the photo, I'll get to that this year), and I think it may have started me wanting to get my old bikes back, I still miss riding that one.

I had a lot of custom leather work that I did on that bike, Tank bib, mud flaps, side tool bag, grips, braided leather on the levers and a rear fender bib.  While I was working the motorcycle show in January the guy I sold her to came by, I immediately asked if he wanted to sell her (I had to try :) ) he said no way, but maybe if he ever got his Harley,  I told him I would be interested if he did.  We kept talking and he let me know that the Fender Bib I had done for him (I took the one off I had on it, I didn't think he would want one with PAWS on it) had fallen off one ride this summer.  So I volunteered right away to make him a new one, this worked out well for me as I now have an email address and a point of contact.  You know just to keep in touch, in case he ever wants to sell, I'll keep asking, maybe he'll sell it to me just to stop the harasment.

Here is the progress of the custom fender bib for HillBilly.  I hope he likes it.
Started with laying out the outside boarder pattern:

Then the tooling was done, I kept it simple, sometimes that is the best:

Next came the dying, he said he may paint the bike a flat black so I thought I should get some black in the design:
Finally the lacing, this takes a while but I think it sets my work apart:

I'll let you know what he thinks.
Till next time,

PAWS

Cold

I just had to post, this is when living in the great white north is not fun...  it is now - 31' c, with the wind -40'c.  you don't even think about riding in this cold.

Well most people wouldn't, it just makes me focused on getting at trailer this coming summer. At the end of next season I am going to make sure my bike is nice safe and sound in a trailer and when it gets this cold I'm going to take it somewhere I can ride.

Now that I've written it, it must happen right :).

I'll leave with a few things I've been working on to pass the time. Belt buckles.

Paws

Motorcycle Shows

Ok, so the start of a new year always brings Motorcycle shows to the great white north (btw, this year we are living up to that name even here in Ontario)

Last week I went down to visit the Toronto International Motorcycle show, now this is a big show!  I go down every year, this year was good as I got to go down with my wife, last minute changes meant we got a day together (and a night away) just the 2 of us.

There were some interesting bikes a little bit of everything:

And this past weekend I worked the Ottawa Motorcycle show for the OSC which meant I attended my second show in as many weekends.  Now this show does not offer as much as the Toronto one but hey, at least they are trying.

So I passed away the winter blahs looking at more bikes, can it really be all that bad :).  I'll leave this post with one last pic, this is the newest little brother to my mean streak, a 2013 Vulcan Custom,  I like it, just needs another 700 cc's.

Let me know if you like the pics, I got plenty more...

PAWS

That went well

Ok so not, went a whole year without doing any posts and now were back in January.

I did just go down to the Toronto International Motorcycle Show and had a great time with my sweetie.    Got a brand new Bristol Jacket and a Heated Vest!  that should make the winter riding up here much better.

I'll post more this year, to start here is a wallet I just finished:

I think it turned out pretty well, biker style but the regular size.  I still need to work on how the inside is put together.

Here's another thing finished this last year, a set of saddle bags for the little bike, (did I mention I got a couple more bikes, one is a project [I'll step through it here] and another is an old course bike [remember I teach riding with the OSC]) they turned out pretty well for a first try at doing multiple styles:

I feel much better now, got a post in on the new year, posted some recent work, lets see how this all rolls forward!

Happy New Year
PAWS

New Year

OK, new year,,, I'll do better... I swear LOL....

Leather tutorial is underway, soon to come,

Motorcycle show in TO this Friday January 6th, I'll write about when I return...  I also plan to ride every month this year... in Ottawa, that will be a feat!

Till I get going... ride safe
Paws

100

It's been hot, I've been focused on work and teaching (2 weekends in a row).  So here I am in the middle of our summer with no trips planned...  My better half is off on an adventure 2 weekends from now... I'm on kiddie duty.

The great thing is however I have reached the 100 day mark.  What is that you ask?  I have ridden 100 days this year.  A lot of people (even ones around here) think we do not ride much in the nations capital, you hear things like "we have a short riding season" or "winter lasts too long to ride much".  But I'm hear to tell you no way, we have a great riding season, you just have to get out and enjoy.

I have only one 'rule' when it comes to riding.  When riding to work, I will not ride if it is raining when I need to leave.  Working in a office it is not good to be wet all day but, on the way home, who cares, you can dry off and get a change of clothes when you get there.  This has meant that I commute most days, and I'll also start riding as soon as the salt is off the roads...  layers people, you can still ride!

I'm a little behind last years mark, on this day last year I had 102 days of riding in.  But I still have might sights set on beating last years 195 days riding...

So tell me this, if you added it up (yes I actually do keep track), how many days do you ride in a year???

Sorry gotta go ride now and add to those days....
Paws