Took the 7:30am ferry across from the mainland, rode all around, grabbed lunch and got the 3:30pm ferry back. It was the best day I’ve had in a long, long time and I can’t wait to do it again. I hate the ferries by car but man, riding past the entire line up on a bike to get on first, and first off, no payment on the way home has me hooked doing it on the bike 🤣
EDIT: thanks everyone! I have gottensome great answers so I’m gonna look into the ball and socket thingy with the quad lock on top!
I have a stem-mount quad lock on my CBR500R (2023) and it’s perfect! I thought I’d get the same for my ninja 650 (2026) but as I had it in my cart about to order I decided to double check that it’d work. Well upon further digging (from the quad lock website), it seems that the stem mount won’t work and neither will a handlebar mount. There is one that they recommend (attached somewhere around the brake or clutch) but it seems like quite a bit more work to get it mounted? I’m not great with these things and if that’s what I need I guess I can get it but was wondering what you all have, if anything. Mostly just to see directions coming up. Been caught having to merge/turn at the last second with only listening to voice.
The break-in period is killing me 😅. But I love her so much!!!!
I posted a few weeks ago for lace-knitting help and I got so much useful advice! Thanks to everyone that helped I learned so much and I e come so far!
Here is my progress! I’ve begun a third chart and about 5 more rows then I split for sleeves 😊. It took me about an hour to set up the latest markers 😅. Totally worth it. And I had to read that chart about 5 times before I got it right. There is a single purl in the middle of the repeats and I have marked those. On either side. Using a double-lo g marker so YOs stay put.
Currently have a spray fertilizer that I apply after i have watered my orchids (I let them soak for about half and hour then drain thoroughly before replacing in decorative pot). After that I usually spray the root system with a few spray of the fertilizer (at the top of the substrate and I also get the nozzle of the bottle into the side slits in the pot and give a few sprays around the roots there as well). So far this is working-they’re pushing out new roots and leaves.
HOWEVER, I keep seeing fertilizer advertisements that say to spray the leaves?? Am I supposed to be doing that? I thought they absorbed nutrients though the roots but if someone could educate me on this it’d be much appreciated! I never spray the leaves!
Thanks!
Today I passed my motorcycle road test at 49 years old. I went for a celebratory ride after and accidentally on purpose needed up at my LYS.
So I bought celebratory yarn. 😁
I’d had my eye on this since the last time I went in (a few months ago) and decided how was the time! Lucky for me they had the exact number of skeins needed in the same dye lot ☺️
I usually like to buy yarn when travelling and then when I make my sweater/shawl/thing I’ll always remember where I was when I got the yarn and it’s special 😊. Now this will be my “I got my motorcycle license” sweater
That is all.
Oops-I used all caps last time cause I was so excited. Have calmed down now.
Just came to say thanks because I got so much great advice from my last post about how it was supposed to rain this morning for my road test. It did not-just overcast and not too hot so it was perfect actually.
Of course I accidentally hit neutral at my first stop out of the parking lot (that NEVER happens when I’m alone 🙄) but whatever, I knew I wouldn’t fail for that so kept on.
All was going well until I made a left turn up a slight incline. Someone’s turning left in front of me so they went and it was clear but by the time I did another shoulder check and took off a car came flying up the hill towards me. So I went wide in my turn (still in my lane but I’m usually pretty damn good at keeping them TIGHT (got a little nervous) and thought that’s it, I failed. But I kept going and self-talking to just do your best and it’s ok if you have to do it again.
We parked and she said congratulations you passed!!! 😁😁😁😁. And she only took off one point for that one thing and said just leave more of a gap and take your time-better to wait and be safe than rush it, so that was nice.
And I didn’t even have to do a u-turn!!?? 😝. And I practiced that soooo much-went out last night to do some! I like to think that she saw my prowess in handling the bike and didn’t need to see me do one 😗. Also, no way in hell was I asking about it and then she remembers she forgot to have me do one 😏
So now, I get 5 years of my right-of-passage helmet hair on my drivers license ☺️
Thank again everyone! I’m excited to find out what it’s like riding at night! (That and no passengers are the only restrictions on a learners permit here).
I made it to row 8!!! By using markers and counting EVERY SINGLE STITCH even the plain knit rounds. AND I DID catch a mistake that way but was easily remedied after READING MY WORK and knowing what was missing.
I used Susan Bryan’s tip of using long stitch markers so the YOs don’t move to one side or the other.
Ong I can’t believe it. And I have a lifeline in-I did Susan Bryan’s way with a needle instead of my usually thread embroidery thread through the needle and keep knitting like I usually do.
Zero distractions. No YouTube, no audio book, no kids, no partner 😂
Thanks to everyone who helped-MUCH APPRECIATED!! 🙏🏻
I am an experienced knitter-have knit probably 20 sweaters (that fit) and tops (that also fit) and have ripped out many that didn’t etc etc. all this to say I kinda know what I’m doing.
But I want to knit this lace top-the Seashore Blouse by Veronika Lindbergh and I can’t. I’ve started it and ripped it out 3 times. Whenever I get to the end of a section somehow I’m off the count. I’ve tinked back so many times and sometimes found the error and sometimes not. I’ve tried to fudge it a bit so that the diamond pattern lines up and nope. I’ve re started so many times and I’m so close to just crying . I bought cotton/linen yarn especially for this project and I really want it and I just can’t figure out what to do 😫
The sleeves are always just one row of the pattern but the front and back have sections that repeat 3 times over 5 stitches. Should I put markers there? I haven’t because I thought I couldn’t because it kinda changes each round and the markers will end up in the wrong spots?
I just don’t know what to do. I’ve made so many mistakes but usually having put in this much effort I’ve figured it out by now and am well on my way but I’m so stuck here.
Thank in advance for any help. If you just wanna rant with me please join in!
I have had my road test booked for 3 months (they’re hard to get during the summer so I booked it far in advance giving myself tons of time for practice and July isn’t normally rainy here -> BC, Canada).
So far I have avoided riding in the rain (got caught in a light drizzle for about 5 minutes, that’s it, and that was bad enough with the water on my face shield).
Anywho-does anyone have any tips for me? I have all the gear but now I’m super afraid of low-siding if they ask me to make a sharp turn through a puddle. Braking distance and speed on straights should be fine but it’s the turning km worried about and I definitely have to do at least one u-turn. Also the visibility. I’ve been practicing and am (was 😣) confident but now I’m thrown. Always a chance the weather will change but also I know my luck 😤.
Help me please! 🙏🏻
Right??!! First time orchid grower-got duped by beautifully dyed phals at the grocery store and HAD to have them. Got home and started researching 🤦🏼♀️
Anyway-once this one lost its flowers I cut the spike and repotted it as I’ve seen how to do on YouTube etc and had to cut some dead roots. Was worried as I hadn’t done it before and it must have gotten a little dehydrated along the way or just the root damage made the leaves not quite as stiff and juicy as my other one. Anyway, I’ve been doing what I figured I was supposed to and having hope and look! LOOK!! New roots!! Right?! I’m so excited and I wonder what color it really is 😅
I forgot to put the kickstand down 🤦🏼♀️🤦🏼♀️🤦🏼♀️. Was out practicing slow speed stuff and parking. U turns and figure 8 were going great, I was counterbalancing, I was getting them smooth and pretty tight. Practiced parking (have to do it for my road test in 2 weeks). A couple of failed attempts at first (I can only ball-of-the-foot touch for reference, it’s a CBR500R) and finally nailed it and was so proud! Went to get off the bike and down she went. 🥲
BUT I PICKED IT UP MYSLEF! Really glad I practiced that at home. Took a couple tries and was consequently entirely too sweaty to pick up the groceries I wanted to but man I did it. Bent the shift lever in a little (fixed now thanks to the the handy bf 😊) and I kept practicing.
And I’m really glad I went and practiced because I realized I have to pull a full parking space and a tad more ahead of the one I actually want to back into. At home I just roll in and do a 6 point turn to back it into the garage, at work there are skinny motorcycle spots so if I was off it was easy to adjust into the next spot over. And everywhere else I’ve parked I either got lucky and was able to pull through or just pulled tot eh side and left it sideways (not on the side of the road).
That is my story. One day when I stop dropping the bike I will replace the shifter and levers that I’ve broken 🙈
Boots, socks, pants soaked from a few huge puddles (ponds). I can’t believe I managed to keep it upright through one of them 😅. Good times ✌🏻. I am SO glad I have bush bars now. Just the wind-breaking effect for wet hands is totally worth it.
I am so proud of myself. It took me 3.5 hours of f**king around but it’s done!
I also did the sticker kit which I’m proud of as well despite a couple small bubbles.
KLX230R, lowered 2”, I am female if that matters 😅
What are your experiences? I posted this in another sub but figured this was appropriate.
Here’s my question: as a female rider, do you ever feel instances of misogyny/deliberate hate towards you when riding because you’re female?
I have this (potentially irrational) fear that I might be targeted by incels or equivalent while riding so I stay mostly neutral (all black, hair tucked up in a hightail, no overt female things on the bike etc). Am I crazy? 🤔
That is all. I’m 5’3”, F, riding a ~450lb CBR500R. I have dropped it before and somehow (thanks adrenaline) managed to pick it up the wrong way (facing it).
I had tried practicing the right way after getting help to lay it down on the grass and had no success (could get it almost up but then my feet would slip).
Well today I wrapped the tailpipe and handlebars ends in towels and laid it down gently on asphalt. Butt to the seat, one hand under the seat, one hand on the tank (I have short arms and can’t reach the handlebar) and after 2-3 attempts she came up!! 😁😁😁. I did it two more times successfully so now I at least feel confident that I can go practice slow speed stuff and be able to pick it up by myself (or you know, be out on a ride solo and be able to help myself if needed). Those first 2-3” getting it off the ground feel like it’s never gonna move but if you don’t give up it will!
This happened to me today: was the first (and only) person waiting to turn left at a light. Waited through 2 light cycles (crept up on the line for the second cycle hoping it would acknowledge me) and finally just waited for it to be clear and went straight, turning left at the next intersection.
I mean, I assume that’s what we all do but is there something I’m missing to get it to trip? I always thought it was weight that made the lights recognize someone wants to turn but I actually don’t know.
Edit: after a quick google search it looks like there are no exceptions for “dead red” lights in the city in which this took place 🙄🙄🙄. I’ve emailed the city to let them know in case there’s anything they can do about it or if they have any idea if I can get it to trip a certain way.
I bought a Joe Rocket mesh jacket on marketplace. It’s in perfect condition (no wear anywhere) but I decided to upgrade the armour as it came with styrofoam inserts (I tried to figure out if it’s CE rated at all but I don’t see anything on the pieces). So I bought Icon D2 level (CE level 2) inserts for shoulders, back and elbows. The inserts fit well except the elbow inserts.
The foam elbow pads are shaped-they have “cup” end that fits your elbow and then they extend down the forearm. The D2 inserts I bought are more like long triangles. The way they sit in the jacket is more over my forearms than my elbow. I put the shaped styrofoam inserts back in, as well as the D2 armour, hoping they’d help keep the new armour in place but they still slip further down on my forearms rather than over the elbow.
Is this ok? Or should I modify the jacket so the new inserts sit more over my elbow? Still not sure how well they’d stay because they’re not moulded like the foam ones. Or how they’d feel being in a flexed position? They’re definitely flexible but not elbow-shaped. I can sew so modifying the elbow armour pocket would be easy for me.
Finally, I checked my other jacket (colder weather jacket): the Icon Basehawk 2 jacket and it has the “elbow” protectors as well but they also are more over my forearms than my elbows. So I’m not sure if that’s just how they’re supposed to fit and maybe the Joe Rocket one is just different?
I also tend to overthink everything so your opinions are appreciated!
NOT AFFILIATED
Omg watch it on YouTube. As a noob, I saw this posted time and time again and always had it on the back burner and tried to watch it a few times . I finally committed.
OMG. It Attenborough talking you through motorcycle riding of the Serengeti. It’s insanely good.
I’m not quite finished yet because I need a lot of processing time, but this video *explains* motorcycle physics to you in laymen’s terms with pictographs. How to corner, including lean angle, entrance line, exit line, throttle, weight transfer and how it works when you brake vs shift etc etc. like omg!!! It’s so much knowledge like I had to take breaks when watching to absorb the info (about 15 minutes left).
If you’re serious about being safe and learning I couldn’t recommend this more. Get thought he first 10 minutes and it’s totally worth it! Haven’t watched “2” yet but I’m gonna!
That is all. I can’t believe I waiting this long to watch this.
This has been on my bucket list as a ride since last year when I first REALLY wanted to get my license and I did it! 🤪. So much fun! Still on my learners permit, road test early July.
Got stuck in traffic on the way back so that was awesome friction zone practice! (While secretly shitting my pants because I’m short, can only touch on one side and it’s a long, *steep* downhill that was bumper to bumper 😅). If you know this area it was the cut. I was stuck on the cut hoping to hell I didn’t drop it/stall it/fuck up some other way I’m sure I’d find it with all these impatient drivers around. But I didn’t!
Question though: I mostly stayed in 1st gear and used the friction zone, but should I have actually stopped more with a foot down? I feel like cars were pretty impatient behind me and one dude passed me to go right in front of me (which was fine-i’d rather he be in front than riding my ass) but then he stayed literally just ahead of me because there was nowhere to go. Did he think it was just me being slow?
And then I wondered if I should stop completely to let drivers behind me KNOW we’re in stop and go traffic? (But that was pretty obvious by all the other stopped cars around). I also made sure I tapped the brakes a lot if I was slowing down (we got into 2nd a few times). The reason I mostly *didn’t* put my foot down is because it IS steep and I can only touch one-footed, so I was afraid to stop and not time it properly and maybe tip over…but maybe that’s wrong? This was highway riding if that makes a difference.