So now that the cat is out of the bag (or the bike), now I can post about other doings about the exterior of the house. When I was looking at buying a new bike, I new that there would be serious issues with the driveway. The 2006 Street Glide is an inch shorter (in seat height) than the 2011. I had lowered the 2006 bike by 1 inch - meaning the 2013 would be 2" taller.
The 2006 was a major PITA to back up my driveway. The driveway is uphill (slightly), which would not be too difficult since it is paved, if it weren't for all the sinkholes, heaves and ruts. My old bike would take me a couple of minutes to navigate the 50 feet to my garage. I knew I would be in serious trouble if I bought the 2011. So, before buying, I contacted contractors about repaving or reconstructing the drive.
It wasn't nearly as expensive as I figured, so I contracted a company to dig up the old driveway, lay new gravel underneath and pave. They were to start the project during the week of 10/6, so when I bought the 2011, I knew I would have to suck it up and digure out how to back it into the garage.
OMG - 900 pounds is so heavy, much heavier when you add an inch and are on tippy toes the entire time! It literally took me 10-12 minutes to back it in the first time (and I had to take a break 1/2 way thru). After a couple of times, I had that down to 6-7 minutes using everything I had (and then some) to get it in to shelter.
So, last weekend, I emailed the guy and asked him if the plan was still for sometime during the week. We had rainy weather, so I wasn't sure if their schedule was delayd. He emailed back that they planned on starting Wednesday. I emailed him and told him that was fine, if they were going to start earlier, then let me know the day before so I made sure I took the correct vehicle to work - I needed to make sure a certain vehicle was in the garage. He replied that he would let me know if anything changed.
So, Tuesday I rode to work and had a great ride home. Until I pulled up to the driveway
Yeah, I wasn't thrilled. In fact I was downright irate. He had not called, emailed or in any way attempted to let me know they were starting the project early. Not only was there a 3" drop from the pavement to the dirtbed (and a 3" rise to the garage floor). But even if I had been brave enough to try to back up, I couldn't get to the damn garage!
I called him and blistered his ears. Oh, but he was trying to get ahead of the weather (rain due the next day). That is awesome except I gave you explicit instructions to let me know if you wanted to start earlier as I needed to make sure my vehicle was in the garage. Oh, but he saw my Jeep beside the house (it has been outside since I bought the new bike) and thought he was good - SAY WHAT? Oh, he thought I would be soooo happy that he started early. Yeah, IF HE HAD LET ME KNOW AHEAD OF TIME AS HE STATED HE WOULD- dum-ass.
Anyway, he finally drove 40 minutes to come move the 4 pieces of machinery and help me back the bike up the driveway. There is no more helpless feeling, on a brand new bike, to have both feet paddling the air and trusting an idiot to keep you upright as you are bouncing off the road into the dirt of the driveway, and once again going up a ramp into the garage.
Fortunately, nothing bad happened. And, the next day the driveway was paved completely (and now I have to wait for it to cure before driving on it).
Maybe he'll surprise me by discounting the bill. I didn't ask after he took my tongue lashing without any indication that it irritated him. Only time will tell.
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