Adventure to Flat Rock

[letsxplor]

A few weeks ago I took a trip to the Flat Rock Music Festival, just south of Asheville, NC. I rode Lubelle, my trusty '06 Bonnie. This was a memorable trip - it was the first time I've gone on a bike camping trip on my own.

Plans were to leave out from Birmingham, AL Thursday morning around 9AM, stay with friends in Chattanooga Thursday evening, then take Hwy 64 and some local roads across TN and NC to Flat Rock. On Wednesday as I was going over the bike, tightening, lubing and adjusting, I noticed the front brake pads were a little thin and I should probably change them before I head out. No biggie, the last time I had ordered bike-toys from newbonneville I bought some brake pads. Out comes the Haynes book, on go the new pads, brake pressure good, all is ... almost... well. On the test ride I had a horrible squeal - the instructions weren't kidding when they said I needed to lube the back of the pads. So, it's getting late, I figure I'll take care of it first thing the next morning - shouldn't take me more than 30 minutes. Hah.



The next morning I took the pads back off, applied the lube, reassembled, then couldn't get pressure built back up in the brake system. Ok, guess I gotta bleed the brakes. Now, I've never bled brakes in my life, but I've watched my dad do it and understand the concept so it shouldn't be that hard. Suffice it to say, it was. Without going into the sordid details, after two or three trips back to two different parts stores, multiple liters of brake fluid and my state of mind swinging from irate to calm to anxious to determined, I finally got her in riding shape around 11AM. So by the time I was calmed down, loaded up and ready to go it was 1:30PM.



AAaaaannnndddd.... I'm off. Beverly Hillbillies on two wheels...



...more to come...