Seems like every web designer/developer whose blog I read daily is doing a wrap up of the past year. I don’t usually in indulge in such blowhardiness, but what the hell. I feel no need to organize or categorize these, so in no particular order…

(Updated 02/11/2009)

• My Constant Companion: my first year with an iPod. I am absolutely addicted to my iPod. While not perfect, my 5th Gen, 30GB, black video iPod, as well as the iTunes software, is far superior to my old Rio Chiba MP3 player. It improved my podcast listening and management experience immensely (the Rio software didn’t deal with podcasts at all) and I’ve slowly gotten into audiobooks (Freakonomics, The Tipping Point, et al) with a subscription to Audible. The iPod was invaluable on my long ride to California, although I forgot to charge it up in Reno and had to rely briefly on my Rio as a backup.
• Easy Rider: September brought the 3400 mile California trip on my motorcycle. My little 2002 Triumph Bonneville America acquitted itself quite well and hauled my fat carcass nearly trouble free. I say nearly because if I hadn’t been doing my own maintenance, it would’ve been completely trouble free. A few glitches notwithstanding I had the pleasure of meeting several people face-to-face for the first time who I’ve “known” for years on BonnevilleAmerica.com and they showed me a great deal of hospitality. Vegas was fun and reconnecting with most of my family wasn’t nearly as painful as I feared.
• Close Call: In July, while riding with friends in British Columbia, I unwittingly tried to kill myself passing in unsafe conditions and probably should’ve soiled my undies. Turns out my front brake rotor was a little thinner than the factory recommends causing brake fade. I upgraded my brakes for the California trip but I finally found a dual-disc, spoked front wheel off a Triumph Thunderbird Sport that will go right on my bike. I’m in the process of trading parts (right fork, caliper and master cylinder) with another BonnevilleAmerica.com member to complete the upgrade. With all new parts this upgrade could cost upwards of $2000. I’m getting it done for about one-quarter of that amount.
• The Makeover that Wasn’t: The planned makeover of my bike, which inspired the redesign of this blog, just didn’t get done. Part of it was shell shock: I spent way too much money accumulating parts over the past year and backed off the project a bit. I did manage to get the new tank and fenders stripped and the fenders bobbed to my satisfaction, but paint is waiting on mods to the tank. Meanwhile I’ve got some killer parts for the bike: new headlight, turn signals, retro brake light/license plate bracket, etc. There are still more parts to buy (e.g., grips, flat tracker handlebars, mirrors, etc.), and there are some custom parts I want to have water-jet cut out of aluminum (e.g., rear luggage rack, footboard inserts, etc.), but none of them are required to get the bike back on the road with the new paint. And while I have the front end apart for the dual disk upgrade, the lower forks are going to get painted black and the triple trees (yokes) polished up with a brushed finish.