Norton Chopper Goes to Buddha Garden

A couple of weeks ago I shipped my Norton chopper up to Arlee, MT in the Bitteroot Valley as a donation to Ewam's Garden of 1,000 Buddhas. They're gonna sell raffle tickets for it over the next year in order to raise funds to help complete the garden for the Dalai Lama's visit and consecration (hopefully) in 2011. I sure hope this bike does well by them. This is a project near and dear to my heart. To find out more about this project, go to: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/Garden-of-1000-Buddhas-and-Dalai-Lama-in-Montana-2011/110506465644118

Bike to Work Day

Today is national Bike to Work Day. I rode and I hope anyone reading this blog also rode to work today. Here in Colorado, the weather is hot and sunny -- a good day to ride.

Be safe out there.

Must be my month

As if The Horse article was not enough, Chopper Build published a small article and picture of my Norton chop in their August issue. It shows a picture of my son Ian on the bike from a year ago spring. I submitted this info via their website so time ago. So it was a surprise when I turned the page and saw Ian and the bike in front of me.

Article Published in August The Horse

Over a year ago, I submitted an article to The Horse on our bike trip to Rajasthan. Never heard a word back from them. No acknowledgment, zip, nada, nothing. Imagine my surprise yesterday when I opened the August issue and saw my article printed "in living color." Over the years, I've subscribed to several different bike mags, but hands down, The Horse is my favorite. So it's great that they published my article. You can check out The Horse at www.ironcross.net.

First Day of Spring Update

Today is March 21, the first day of spring. Unfortunately, I didn't ride to work today since rain is predicted this afternoon. However, I have been riding every day for the past week or so. This Saturday, Gary Bolduc (Fast Frog) came up to visit and go for a ride on our Norton chops. The ride started out great. My chop started right up on one or two kicks every time and the engine runs good (except the right cylinder smokes; I need a ring job). However, just when things were going great and I was having a ball, the drive chain broke. It seems I did not engineer my chain tensioner well. In any case, the skateboard wheel support that kept my chain from running along the underedge of my oil bag broke and then that broke the chain or vice versa. So now I'm re-engineering the chain tensioner and will have to get a new chain. Gary also had an idea on why my rear brake does not work. So I'll be redoing that at the same time. Since I'm working on that part of the bike, I've already redone the battery box so it is easier to get the battery out. I've also been working on the bobber project. I've got the oil tank mounted, the seat mounted, the oil coooler and rectifier mounted, and the horn mounted. Plus I've got the front end complete. I strengthened the rear end of the frame and created a surface for the battery box to sit on. I will be welding on tabs for the steering damper. I also will be welding in new axle blocks.
So things are moving forward. And finally, my Indian is running strong and I'm enjoying riding to work every day.

Coliseum Bike Show

Jan. 29, 2007

This weekend I went to the big annual bike show at the Coliseum in Denver. I met up with Will Edwards, President of the Colorado tribe of the IIRA. We walked around the show for a couple of hours, talking about this and that. Then at 12 PM, we met up with some of the southern tribe's members. Had lunch and talked about what we might do during the next year in terms of rides and what not. It was nice to meet some of these folks. In any case, here's also some pics I took on Saturday. There's aHenderson Exselsior, a Velocette, a nice old Harley, and a couple of customs.

Not much happening; that time of year

Not much happening in my life in terms of bike riding and building. I'm riding as much as I can, weather permitting. In addition, the garage has been too cold to work much in and I've been on the road alot with work. 'Bout all I've been doing is buying all the parts and pieces of my current build. I have pretty much everything, at least all the major components. I hope to get back to building regularly each day after work once the New Year has arrived.