A Bike That Called To Me - by Scott A Balderrama

A Bike That Called To Me!

by Scott A Balderrama

I hadn’t ridden in a couple of years but with the recent gas prices, a new promotion and the fact I was driving over 90 miles one way to work on a daily basis rather than twice a week now, I knew a bike was the answer which left me with the question of “What do I want to buy?”.

I had never heard of a Cavalcade but I did know that having to ride in with slacks and a shirt everyday some kind of touring machine was going to be my answer. After hitting eBay, the cycle trader and the local newspaper I knew I had a search on my hands. Then I read the name Cavalcade somewhere looked it up and I thought wow! Nice bike! Good size! And knew nothing more about other than what I read on a few online advertising campaigns. So I hit eBay again with something a little more specific in mind.

After seeing a couple of Cades I found a nicely dressed one in Albuquerque . I had my money in the bank saw one I liked the looks of and bid. The guy ended the auction early, somebody locally bought. What a bummer I thought! 2 days later it was back on eBay again so I bid again! AGAIN! The auction ended early again! CRAP! I was really frustrated and I just felt like that bike was calling to me. So I continued to search. 2 days later THE BIKE WAS BACK ON EBAY FOR THE THIRD TIME! OK I was a little apprehensive this time. I kept asking myself what’s wrong with this bike? So after a few more emails with the owner and one saying “Do you think I will get it this time?” He sold it to me outright and I made my plans to retrieve it.

That bike hadn’t been ridden in awhile so I wasn’t going to fly in and ride it home. I went to Uhaul and got me a trailer and headed for that famous right turn. After all this bike came back up 3 times, it was calling to me!!!!! After pushing the pickup all day from the Dallas area I was there, tired but happy to see my bike. I was much more impressed to see all the bells and whistles it had!! I had never seen a bike that was built so much with the idea of comfort, ease and an open road. So I loaded it up on the trailer and headed back to Dallas .

The ride home was miserable!!! In that time I had 2 tractor trailers impounded down by the Mexican border, one wrecked and I couldn’t get away from my cell phone to pull this bike off the trailer and take it for a ride.

I got it home pulled it down and had to leave it there for 2 days before I had time to get on it and you talk about chomping on a bit like a 2 year colt! Finally I was going to have half a day to put in this bike and Lord help me if any driver called me with a problem I was going to reach through the phone!

After replacing a mirror (Which I must say Suzuki is VERY proud of at $134.00.), a battery and an oil change I was firing it up to get a couple of hours on it and ride it into work. WOW talk about a ride! 7 and a half years I have never called in sick and I did that day! I put 233 miles on the bike and wanted more even after not riding anything in years. I am in love and loving it!!!

By the way my wife whom said she would NEVER get on a bike loves to take Sunday rides with me.

Thanks for the opportunity to tell my story about a Cade that called to me

Scott A Balderrama

Last updated: Tuesday, December 27, 2011