Go ahead. Risk it.

“You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment. Fools stand on their island of opportunities and look toward another land.” -Henry David Thoreau, Walden, page 57

Because sometimes there isn’t a motel nearby

“Single bed, no kitchen. Detached toilet facilities”.

Need surf racks.

Interlude: The Way It Was –how we got around to Bali’s surf breaks

This post and photo are awesome on many levels; the bike, the surfer, board, method of carry, sunglasses, hair. Big thanks to balisurfstories.wordpress.com for blogging this early hither-to-unknown-to-me inspiration for what has become the impetus for boardsbikesbali. No where else in the world is there a union of such magnitude and necessity of these two passions as there is here in Bali!

Bali and Indo Surf Stories

Bill Dougherty, an off-the-beaten-track adventurer from way back, sent me this classic photo of how once upon a time we transported our boards through Kuta coconut groves and Bukit trails. This is Mike, mid-70s I’d say. Old timer Bali & Indo surfers will nod with a smile. No scooters with racks back then — the first Honda step-through scooter showed up in the mid-80s, if memory serves me right. The locals called the scooters bebeks because they looked like ducks. Now scooters are generically referred to as “motor.”

Next week back to the Ashmore trip and a wave we called “Spooks” not because we were into naming breaks but because that’s what it was.

******

(

The 50th anniversary of the 1965 mass murders is coming up next year, and reviews greatly help in getting the novel noticed in western countries. )

View original post

@ Deus Boundless Enthusiasm Bike Build Off

Boardsbikesbali had a look at some @%**#! rides in at the Deus Boundless Enthusiasm Bike Build Off in Canggu, Bali today….

Just a beast waiting to devour

Long day long ride more later o/>\o

CB 125 Surf Scrambler- Project complete- finally the final rebuild

Seen this part already?  Scroll down a bit for the good stuff.

Got antsy to get the wrenches twisting again, gonna turn this 1972 Honda CB into a worthy trail/road/surf exploring machine. Motor already rebuilt, frame stripped and starting with the new parts… Photo 4 with the new wheels and shocks on the restored frame… More to follow-

 

 

At about 70% complete now, the rebuilt motor goes well and the 125 cc’s has enough pulling power with an aftermarket exhaust and a little carburetor change/modification.  Leaving the motor at the standard 125 and standard parts gives a reliable performance to a daily use surf/road bike; built to be ridden on the roads and trails she can do a work commute and a trip around the island, only routine maintenance required.

  

Still to go: some dialing of the timing and carb settings, connect and test electric, fit seat, final bells and whistles…

  

 

 

INSERT 4 MONTHS AND $$$$ (LOTS OF) HERE.  AND FRUSTRATION.  GALLONS.

 

Can you believe this crap?  For real, how long should it take to finish a basic modif??? I mean @$*&!^? $*!% what the what?

Welcome to DIY in Bali.

The first go was with this motor in this bike, a CB 125

This is Stinky, a neighborhood dog who helped by reminding me when I needed to relax.

Which generally worked, or didn’t- this project had me spewing all things great and small about 50 times

Because this motor, below, REFUSED to be successfully rebuilt.

By that i mean it was installed and the bike completely assembled 6 times, and the motor failed each time after a brief test ride.

Until I sacrificed a WHOLE OTHER BIKE!!! which was meant to be a project in itself…  Just to finish this @$&%!& project.  I now have a spare empty frame and a “parts” motor, haha.  Except for an un-usable aluminum case.  And gear ratio shaft.  And main gear shaft.

worthless except for aluminum recycling

So now it’s done.  I got no flowery words or witty anecdotes- it’s done and it was a bitch.  But, I had a ride today… I kinda like it.  I carries a surfboard too.  Maybe, just maybe, it will grow on me.  After a while.  Maybe.

Some days…

Bike parked, racks empty: Gone surfing.

Some days seem created to go surfing; light trade winds, 3-4 foot  SW swell running,

occasional clouds’ respite from the Bali sun.

Loaded up and rode to Bingin, climbed stairs and ready to paddle out until I noticed the crack all the way around the fin box.  Too far to ride back and change boards.

Oh yes, there were some good ones.

 

Relaxed a while, swam, enjoyed the beauty of the beach and floating in the shallows.  Watched a lot of good, not-that-crowded waves…

Later the same day, feeling unjustly robbed of a session, I grabbed my other board and had a surf.  On my 3rd wave I was hit by my own surfboard in the face and mouth, cutting open my lip and gums.

Some days maybe we aren’t meant to surf, however bad we may want to. (pictures from actual day of this story)

#payattentiontosubtlewarnings  #watchingotherpeoplegetwaves

Project Clean Uluwatu Fundraiser

This gallery contains 17 photos.

Presented by Uluwatu Surf Villas & Rip Curl 13 July 2013 Story by:  hooter.c@ Record bidding war at surf memorabilia auction,  donation goal obliterated , Matt George goes under for the cause, BBQ dinner devoured, Gerlach defeats Slater, Six strings bent, … Continue reading →