Handy. Man.

I like having tools, a garage and a work bench. I enjoy minor projects, fixing things and just making something myself if I can instead of buying it. Within reason.

Couple of DIY projects from yesterday were motorcycle related.

In the first I bought some new gloves as my other favorite pair were totally worn through in places and desperately needed replacing. The shop I went to had just one pair left in the color and size I wanted. Later in the afternoon I noticed part of the wrist area wasn't sewn together. Ugh.

Should I go back and get the right size still but a color I don't like or what? What! As I'm the type of guy who has a sewing kit or two I thought, "heck, I'll just fix this myself. and if I botch it I can still return them." Out comes the thread and needle, 15 minutes later I've got a fully functioning wrist closure on my new gloves!

No need to go all the way back to return them. No need to get a color I don't want. Nice!


Most new motorcycles now-a-days come with huge, horrible, heave, ugly looking fenders to comply with some sort of dumb federal regulation. They are of the first things I chuck off a new motorcycle. There is actually a booming business in making small, svelte, good looking replacements that weigh considerably less.

Looks and performance? Sounds like me!! Sign me up. Hmmm, do a little online checking and they want $60-100 for one for my new dirt bike. Puhllleez.

One trip to home depot, $1.67 bracket, a quick hit with the drill bit and some black paint and voila! My own custom fender eliminator and plate mount! (i'd made on previously but it was horrible looking and allowed the plate to hit the tire when jumping or doing wheelies)
The plate is still held on with velcro backed up with zipties to keep the 'homemade' vibe but otherwise this is pretty legit.

What will you fix, modify or create today??

Paladin

A red bearded bon vivant

Bon Vivant-French: One who lives well. In one of the books I'm currently reading a character is described as a "red bearded bon vivant".


Judging from today's pictures, I think that is an apt description for myself as well.

ps-what do you think of the beard?

My Mentor

If you wanna be good at tennis, you need good hitting partners. If you wanna be good at jiu jitsu, you need good guys at your gym to roll with. You never get better unless you work with people better than yourself.

So I have a top 10 in the US, Master class IDPA shooter who just happens to live in San Diego as my shooting mentor. My coach as it were for pistol shooting.

Just like I have a trainer for my physical fitness I see 3 times a week, I have a shooting coach I see twice a month to work together. And whom I can email or text questions to at any time. Like I said, my shooting mentor.

And my skills have definitely improved under his tutelage. Here are some pics of us working drills together just this last Friday.

It also helps we are both into motorcycles, so we can be friendly too. It's not just all "business".

4th place of 21

300! ! ! !

We are Sparta! Or I guess "I am spending!", or want to spend. It seems like everything I want right now is basically $300.

-better motorcross boots like Alpinestars Tech7's. Something white and with more ankle flexibility than my Tech 3's
-a carbon fiber dh mnt bike helmet, Giro Remedy CF in the white/stripe scheme
-a prime lens for my dslr camera, like a 14mm. Nikor not needed, even off brand would be ok for my D3100
-GoPro Hero3 silver or black edition. I had warranty issues with my Hero2 and ended up just buying an original Hero, but I do want the latest and greatest one.
-simple leveling lift for my truck
-2,000 rounds of 9mm ammo
-Leatt DBX bicycle specific neck brace
-quality mask, snorkel and fins for use in the ocean
-bunch of new clothes
-"dropper" seat post for my Trek Scratch, like the Crank Brothers I had before (size 31.6)

It's almost Caturday!

This cat with no collar, fairly thin showed up by surprise at my house a few nights ago. He has such unique coloring and was a little schizo.... Charming. A a a a n n n d d d I might have now seemingly adopted him. Fancy Feast chicken. And I did it two nights in a row.

But he is such a cute little guy! I can't help myself.