Saturday, May 8, 2010

Bike is Parked

I finally got an email message from the Beemershop and my lost order is now on it's way to the correct address. I had a typo in the online order form and my order was sent to the wrong location in Alaska. Fortunately, it found its way back to the Beemershop and is now it is on its way to the correct address. So thank you to them for their excellent customer service even though I was the one who screwed up.  I won't be able to do much work for a while but more on that later. I still haven't even figured out how to change out some of the parts like the fork gaiters. The ones on the bike feel like thin plastic, kind of like you would find on Rancho shocks rather than a BMW part. Anyway, they are split in several locations so I ordered BMW replacements. I think they are more for appearance rather than function, at least on my bike. The only item I really needed was the hinged oil filter and the high temperature anti-seize. I could have easily picked up the filter at the local shop but since I already had one on order, I was too cheap to simply buy one knowing that one was on its way. Odd behavior. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I just picked up some anti-seize at a local auto parts store and got the exhaust system reassembled.

Maybe the following is in the "too much information" category but at least there aren't any pictures.

A couple of weeks ago during a "medical procedure" recommended for those of us north of fifty, a cancerous polyp was found. Surgery was scheduled to remove the infected area as well as a couple of inches around to see if it had spread. The surgery went without issue and now I am on the healing path. The great news is that there is no evidence of the cancer spreading so I guess the surgery was well worth it to verify that. Now, I just need to heal including the large incision needed to get access. I'm told that this is one of the easiest types of cancer to detect and cure and would encourage anyone past fifty to get it checked out. The initial challenge is to get off of the narcotic pain pills as quickly as possible. I'm afraid that it's going to be difficult. I'm told that no lifting more than 10 lbs or straining for at least a month and I'm off work for a minimum of three weeks. My bike parts are just going to sit around for a while I guess. I may get my son to hoist the bike onto the center stand (way, way more than 10 lbs of effort on this old Beemer) so I would be able to do the oil change but I think I'll wait at least a couple of weeks even to do that.

Yesterday at the hospital, I had a couple of bike riding pastors (a Goldwing and a Shadow) visit and they were sure to remind me that it was wonderful riding weather and my bike was going to be parked for a while. Nice... Actually, I really did appreciate their visit and they were part of the group that went to the Monderosa last Sunday. My brother was even in town from Anchorage and stopped by for a short visit.

Sunday Morning - HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!

4 comments:

  1. Here's to a speedy recovery!

    Sounds like a good time to lay on the floor and clean the underside of the bike. Ok, maybe not.

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  2. Irondad:

    Thank you for the good wishes! Clean the bike? Isn't that why you ride in the rain?

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  3. Richard:

    I hope all is going well with you, and that you are steadily recouperating, hopefully sitting in the sun with your laptop. At least you have time to catch up on your reading.

    bob
    Wet Coast Scootin

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  4. God Bless you brother. Glad to hear all went well. Hope you recover quickly. Resist the temptation to over do it.

    I agree with you on cleaning the bike. Shiny spotless bike = someone who doesn't ride much :)

    -Peace

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