EPIC Cloud ride

[barenekd]

Yesterday the Norton Club hosted a San Diego County ride to Palomar and Julian starting in Temecula, which is about 60 miles from my house.
I am testing out the fork oil change and a boot change. I got a new pair of Gaerne waterproof touring boots that are pretty clunky, but should keep my feet warm and dry. At least that's the hope!
The weather has been a bit iffy as it has rained off and on for the last couple of days and the forecast is calling for some early evening showers. The day has dawned with a low overcast, but not particularly cold and it rained during the night.  Since we were going up Palomar road to a bit over 5000', and Julian at 4200' or so, I opted for my cooler weather Sedici lined and presumably waterproof jacket. Long Johns and a sweatshirt made to list, too. I dug up some heavier lined Joe Rocket gloves and figured maybe this would keep me warm enough. I thought about helmets, but just ended up taking the Fulmer open face helmet and goggles. I had a Davida face mask in the fanny pack if I needed it.
When I left the house to meet Steve (Bike Snob) I was really fumbling with the boot/shifter and never got out of first gear going to the station. It was quite difficult the get the boot down between the shifter and peg. It took me awhile to get that one down.
Also, I didn't really get them zipped up all the way at home, so they weren't very tight on my feet. Steve showed up and I got him to help my zip them up the rest of the way so that helped, but I told him I thought I might have to run home and change into my usual road racer Gaerne's. But we got back on the bike and headed down Imperial Highway, and I was kinda coming to sorts with the boots, except for the boots kicking the left foot peg up when we came to a stop. The is tight to keep it from going up all the way, so I can get my foot on it and push it down. However, these boots are fat enough that they would shove the peg up all the way and I couldn't get it back down! So, I'd have to pull over and push it down by hand.
But, I decided to ride with it as is and try to get everything to mesh.
We jumped on the 91 and cruised down the the I-15 and headed south to Temecula. As we started down the freeway I noticed how much better the forks were handling the ripples and bumps in the road. The bike actually acted like it had a suspension for the first time. It was an amazing change! The stickiness when you push on the forks has even disappeared. Removing the sludge and replacing it with real fork oil was incredible!
As we were passing Lake Elsinore the clouds rolled in on the ground and suddenly we couldn't see the road for more than maybe 100 yards. I slowed down, because I couldn't see the cars in front any more, but I had to maintain a modicum of speed in case someone came blasting up behind us. I didn't want to be the instigator of one of the famed 100 car smashups! It was pretty touch (fortunately, not much touching) and go for the rest of the way to Temecula.
We got off the freeway and gassed up then rode down to the Swing Inn where we were to meet the rest of the riders. Bib, the Norton Club guru, was there and a couple of other guys were in the restaurant. We chatted with him a bit and some of the other riders were arriving including Jack, so it was just wait until the departure time. probably 30 riders showed up for the ride. The cloud base was going up so we could see a bit better. Bib handed out some ride maps and we Three Bulleteers could see a couple of modifications we would make on the route, Rainbow and Rice Cyn instead of Pala Road and cut across Mesa Verde instead of remaining on the 76 to the 79.
So we departed with the mob, and I was still having a problem with the peg at stop lights, so most of the mob passed us, but when we reached Rainbow Cyn, we departed from the  group. We knew we'd be able to catch them at Mother's on Palomar.
We had a good fun run down that way, except for me blowing by the corner for rainbow, but after a short overshoot, we turned around and get back on course. In my defense, on our last few rides to Rice, we have been approaching the turning point from the south and it's a different turnoff!
On down to the 76 and head east and get behind a bunch of traffic, but it's about 4 miles to Pala Casino and that will rid us of a lot of it. I was a couple of cars ahead of Jack and Steve and when we got to Pala the Traffic light and more lanes got me to the front of the much smaller pack and I easily got out ahead of the current wolfpack. I ahd some pretty clean running ahead of me and took advantage of it while looking in the mirror, i could see Jack and Steve stuck back there behind a couple of cars. The twisties were too tempting, so I was running good through with an occasional vehicle showing up in front of me but they were all kind enough to pull enough I could pass without even crossing the double yellow. I width all the cage drivers were so obliging.
When I got to the end of the twisties at Pauma, I stopped and waited for the other two and when they caught up, I waved them by and started to go after them. Well, the dreaded footpeg debacle got me again and I bent down to reach the peg and shove it down, I crushed a gonad! Like, OW! So I had to do a bit of repositioning before I could get the peg down and it took long enough the ad I took off the other two were coming back to see what had happened to me. I waved them around and reached the Palomar South Grade turnoff and waited a short while for them. When they caught up again, We proceeded up the road, which is a tight second and third gear climb. Then we went into a cloud and we could see more than about 50 feet. I had to ask, are these guys current for instrument flying? It was an interesting ride up, some of the straights, although not very long are way enough to get up to a speed that well easily overcook the next corner! So, it was a rather slow ride up, but definitely an interesting diversion!
As we neared Mother's restaurant, we popped out on top in brilliant sunshine and somewhat better temps! Some of the guys ate a bit there and some for us did a pit stop, and will all soaked up a bit of sunshine, we knew this was going to be the last we see of that!
We all took off to go back down the East Grade. It didn't take long and we were in the clouds again, trying to keep the guy ahead of you in sight. That means with about 100'.
The East grade is a lot faster then the South Grade, just some good 50-60 mph sweepers. Obviously we couldn't go that fast, but it's a great road when you can see. We got the the bottom after getting out of the clouds not too much farther back.
We turned onto the 76 into a fair amount of traffic, but it didn't matter to the Three Bulleteers as we were going to make another diversion from the Flight Plan to go up Mesa Grande. So most of the back markers were passing us so they could hurry to get behind some RVs, while we were looking for our turnoff.
We got there and started climbing again on another shorter road that was somewhat reminiscent of South Grade except a lot woodsier. One of those neat roads where you're passing under the umbrella of trees. It's got a view scenic views of Lake Henshaw, that is currently looking more like a small pond. SoCal is in dire need of some good lake filling rains., anyway on to the top of the Mesa where things open up and the road straightens out, but still leaves a few challenges, and over to the 79. WE started down the 79 to go up to Wynola, but Jack had to make a pit stop so he found the lone tree down there and watered it. Preservationist!
We went on up the hill to the restaurant in Wynola which is just before you get into Julian, Jeremy's on the Hill. We were the last one's the arrive, and the restaurant, knowing we were coming enmasse, had erected a big tent for us. They had some nice heaters inside as at that altitude, and being overcast, It was pretty chilly up there. The wait for us was rather long as far as ordering and getting our food as we were the last of the bunch. But, hey, where were we going? We weren't in a great hurry. The food was good, although a bit pricy.
While we were in there the clouds lowered in on the town and the visibilility was going down, although not to the point that we had seen at Palomar. It was getting colder, too.
WE discussed the route home, and the consensus is to get there as fast as we can. WE were going on the 78, but I decided at the last minute, as in at the corner of the78/79 intersection. We expected heavy traffic on the 79, but I thought then that it's a lot shorter and would still be faster, and chop of about 30 miles of freeway riding. s I surprised them with the turn onto the 79. As it worked out the traffic was quite light and we really didn't get held up much anywhere. The 79 can be fun when it's clear so we had a lot of fun.
When we got to the I-15, Jack and Steve jumped onto it to head home, but I went over to Front Street to see if anyone was still there. Bib was about the last to leave and I helped him get the Norton in the truck (Wimp), then left.
As I got onto the freeway in about 3 miles I got into some light rain that was heavy enough to sting my face and it continued on and off until I got near Corona. I got off at Tom's Farm onto Temescal Cyn and rode that up into Corona. I had to pee and figured I could get gas and put on the rain mask. I did get gas, I did find relief, I didn't put on the rain mask. i got back on the freeway just before the 91, then going down the 91, the rain resumed and I rode in it essentially all the way home. It was light enough didn't get real wet except for my lower legs.
Jack got caught in the same light rain going to San Bernardino and complained about the stinging rain, too
Steve got nailed. He went up the 71 from Corona where it was raining there, but when he go up to the end of the 71 at the 57, it was pouring. Fortunately that is only about 5 miles from his house, but he was drenched.
Jack did about 240 miles, I did about 260 and Steve was at about 300 miles.
The Enfields worked perfectly. Greatest bikes out there!
The stuff I wore worked well and I got into sync more or less with the boots and shifter and peg. I'll need to raise the shift lever a bit and put a stop on the peg to keep it down a little farther.
Next weekend, The IMS show, and the Cafe Racer.  Then the New Year's Eve ride, where I get out the heavy coat! Maybe. Some year's have been quite warm on that one. Others, we have slipped and slithered around on ice.
Bare

[boggy]

I had a pair of boots with wide, thick soles and even with adjusting the shifter, they were too big. I didn't feel that direct connection, like with gloves that are too thick.  My Sidi Rain boots are very low profile and feel great. Good in the heat, great in the cold.

What kind of oil did you end up putting in the forks?  You are running Hagons in the rear, correct? 

[barenekd]

What kind of oil did you end up putting in the forks?  You are running Hagons in the rear, correct? 

I used 200ml of 10wt Maxima Fork Oil. It is meant for motocrossers, I think, but it seems to  work quite well. It's what the guy who does my tire changes sells.
I do have Hagons. Now I have a pretty decent suspension all around!
Yeah, the Gearne Road racing boots work very well. The new ones are going to take a  little work on the lever height. It is quite difficult the get them under the shifter at all. At llest the adjustment is quite quick and easy with the rearsets.
I have to go out today and put a shim on the footpeg to keep it from going all the way up, then loosen it up so it won't stick up there.
It's amazing, all the little things one gets to screw with on these bikes!

[boggy]

And they said the EFI bikes would mean less wrenching...  Ha.  Well, maybe it's the better kind of wrenching.

Sounds like the Hagons are massive bang-for-buck.

[barenekd]

Yeah, the wrenching is fun when you don't hafta do it!
the Hagons fixed up the rear as well as the changed oil fixed up the front!
I'm really stoked about the change the suspension has undergone. It is so much for comfortable. I hated getting on some of the freeways around here. The whole issue is now moot!
But, all the fiddling I have done to the bike has been worth it. It's truly turned it into the bike I wanted on all counts. Lovin' it.
Maybe could do the ton, but that's just more fiddlin'
Bare 

[Jack Leis]

Here is a great picture of our Enfields that SoCal Norton Club posted on Facebook. Check it out !

[barenekd]

Great Shot

[boggy]

Incredible... 3 black UCEs in a row.  What a sight (and sound) when these go thumping by.  You guys should get paid by RE for that kind of advertising.

[Jack Leis]

Here are some very professional pictures of the Norton Cloud ride.

http://www.photosbytink.com/nortonpalomar2012/

[boggy]

Oh nice.  Great mix of ages... in both bikes and riders.  I like seeing the diversity, from a classic Norton to a Repsol Honda.  Great link. Thanks.