Polar Bear Ride Fail

Well... 2013 didn't start off so good, my beloved Tiger just doesn't like the New Year, evidently she's a bit temperamental if I don't pay her attention.

We don't go out as often as we used to so our relationship has suffered. We went out for the first time in weeks for the Throw Up Christmas Ride and we hadn't been out together since, until this morning.

The last time we were out my heated jacket liner was only working intermittently and when I got home I noticed the wires at the base of the controller were broken, no problem right? I checked online for warranty information, checked my purchase date and sure enough I was past the 3 year warranty date. So with nothing to lose I think to myself, self, cut the wires, solder them back together and we're good to go... except if it wasn't for bad luck, well you know the rest. I cut the wires to find one wire was loose from the circuit board inside the controller. I took apart the controller and I knew immediately this was way beyond my patience level. You don't want me anywhere near a circuit board with a soldering iron, it ain't pretty. Fortunately my good friend Andy offered to solder it for me, Andy is a great guy and has saved me from myself more than once, thanks Andy.

In the meantime I thought what the heck, why not email Tour Master and find out if they can offer a solution? I explained what I did and they replied back within hours offering an updated dual rheostat controller for the Synergy 2.0 and adapter to work with my first generation Synergy 1.0 liner. WOW!

Andy had the original controller fixed and he even delivered it Sunday so I'd have it for the Polar Bear Ride, Andy is a great guy, thanks Andy. We hooked up the liner, plugged it into my bike and it started to warm, it works and I'm good to go.

Trobairitz came home from work Monday with a package from Tour Master, the updated controller arrived in the mail. Now I have a backup controller. I say backup because it is a dual controller which means it has 3 extra wires of tangled mess that I don't need. I figured out which wires went where and which wires were extra then hooked everything up to test it. I hooked it up to my bike and got it heating. Now if either Brandy or I need a backup controller we have it and I know how to wire it.

We got up this morning, dressed in layers and suited up to meet everyone for coffee before the ride. It was cold, icy and 26º F but sunny, I knew if we were careful we would make it to coffee and it would warm up considerably by the ride departure time of 11:00.

However, we both needed gas. I pulled up to the pump and my debit card didn't work, okaaay, then my credit card didn't work, fine I'll pay with cash. Then the pump didn't work, ffffine. I backed up to the pump that Brandy was using and topped up. I thumbed the starter and it was then I realized that when you test your heated liner, you're asking a lot from your battery and you should really plug it into a charger the night before heading out on a ride.

Alright let's see, ignition on and second gear, clutch in, push, push, push, run, run and in one graceful fluid motion.... jump, engage clutch aaaaand nothing. Second attempt my lovely assistant helped push while I push, push, push, run, run and in one graceful fluid motion.... jump, engage clutch aaaaand nothing. Gasp, huff, puff, gasp, wheeze, huff, puff, gasp, wheeze push, push, push, run, run and in one graceful fluid motion.... jump, engage clutch aaaaand nothing... but this time I lose my balance and Lucy is napping in the middle of the street. Curse, curse, huff, curse, puff, gasp, curse, wheeze, curse, curse, huff, puff, curse, gasp, wheeze... did I mention we were wearing our Sena communicators?
Off comes the gear and somehow the temperature is no longer a concern, now I have to pick up my 560 pound bike with a full tank of gas. Upsy daisy, then park her until I can get some jumper cables.

I'm in pretty good shape for a guy not in very good shape.

We hopped on Max and rode home to get the car so we could at least meet for coffee and have some breakfast. We were able to visit, explain why we couldn't make the ride and saw the group off before acquiring jumper cables and rescuing Lucy.

Of course, after being left alone in a time out, Lucy fired right up without a jump... of course.
I rode home, plugged her into a battery tender and tomorrow I will tend to her wounds.

Not letting such a beautiful sunshiny day go to waste, Brandy and I enjoyed a hike. Evidently I need to get back into better shape.

Hope your New Year's Day was as adventurous. Happy 2013 all!