Last Thursday night was one to remember. It started out great. 30 bikes and about 40 riders got together at David's Restaurant in Chesterfield for or first pre-meeting ride of the season. I rode near the back of the pack. I could tell we were all a little rusty at formation riding, but still looked really good. It was a nice short ride up through Colchester, then back to our Montville Club House for a cook out. After stuffing ourselves, we had our regular business meeting, which was mercifully short.
After the meeting I road back to Colchester with three of my buddies and my co-rider Sherry. I wanted to stop for coffee at D&D. but made the fateful decision to ride home early so I could knock off a blog about the upcoming weekends activities. As many of you know, that's when I parted company with my bike and broke my ankle.
Doc says I can't bare any weight on my foot for four to six weeks. These are going to be really long weeks. The harassment has already begun in earnest.
First, two of my club brothers went to Walmant to buy training wheels for my Harley. Lucky for them, they left unsuccessful as they were out of stock. Good going Walmart!
I've been getting a lot of calls from club members and I really enjoy hearing from them. Trouble is, instead of signing off with: Ride Safe, now all I hear is Don't Slide in the Pooh! I've been forewarned I'm in contention to win the NLMC Dauntless Rider award - Two Years in a Row! I really would like to pass that "honor" on to another club brother.
On top of that, I have to battle my dog for couch time! OH, the embarrassment of it all!
Well, this goes along with being a club member: You have a lot of people who care about you.
As far as being a pet owner, I couldn't live any other way.
I will keep you informed about upcoming rides as I find out what's happening.
Ride Safe,
Ron
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
It's not if, It's when!
Don't dress for the ride. Dress for the crash.
This is one of our Road Captain's most often heard comments when addressing motorcycle gear. It is always followed by:
It's not if you crash. It's when you crash.
Which is always followed by,
It will happen when you least expect it.
Well, here's my version:
There I was, looking into a star filled late spring sky. A pretty lady was stroking my hand (my future step-daughter). A state trooper was showing off his dog's ability to fetch things thrown deep into the woods (while blocking traffic). In this pastoral, Norman Rockwell Setting, I'm watching my buddys lift my dream bike (Black & Chrome Electra Glide Classic) off my shattered left anckle. At that moment, I crained my neck up to check out my ride, only to have the paramedic push my head down (for my own protection). You see, I just endured a motorcycle "crash" and the guy didn't want to overlook any possible injury. I guess he was right, but I couldn't get over the irony of it all!
You see, for the past three years, I've averaged around 30K per year over a lot of different road surfaces. Dirt, ruts, mud, sandy ashphalt, etc. Oh, I've been down a few times: a deer jumped in front of me, a large tree blew down in heavy wind in front of me, and two, chemically impaired, car drivers tried to make me a hockey puck, all in the last five years. So, I've gained a bit of a reputation for knowing how to walk off, roll off, or just launce off a bike without serious injury. That's what makes this story so ironic.
At one mile an hour, while making a sharp left hand turn...........
I slid on a pile of Cow Crap!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Apparently, a farmer's honey wagon had been over the road that afternoon.
Oh, and for the first time in 42 years, I broke a bone and tore ligaments.
The doc gave me the word today. Surgery is scheduled for tomorrow and I can't put weight on my foot for four to six weeks.
Looks like I be bugging my brothers for back seat time. I can't stay out of the wind that long or I will end up with permanent brain damage (banging my head into the wall).
The moral of the story is.....
Don't slide on cow pooh!
Ron
This is one of our Road Captain's most often heard comments when addressing motorcycle gear. It is always followed by:
It's not if you crash. It's when you crash.
Which is always followed by,
It will happen when you least expect it.
Well, here's my version:
There I was, looking into a star filled late spring sky. A pretty lady was stroking my hand (my future step-daughter). A state trooper was showing off his dog's ability to fetch things thrown deep into the woods (while blocking traffic). In this pastoral, Norman Rockwell Setting, I'm watching my buddys lift my dream bike (Black & Chrome Electra Glide Classic) off my shattered left anckle. At that moment, I crained my neck up to check out my ride, only to have the paramedic push my head down (for my own protection). You see, I just endured a motorcycle "crash" and the guy didn't want to overlook any possible injury. I guess he was right, but I couldn't get over the irony of it all!
You see, for the past three years, I've averaged around 30K per year over a lot of different road surfaces. Dirt, ruts, mud, sandy ashphalt, etc. Oh, I've been down a few times: a deer jumped in front of me, a large tree blew down in heavy wind in front of me, and two, chemically impaired, car drivers tried to make me a hockey puck, all in the last five years. So, I've gained a bit of a reputation for knowing how to walk off, roll off, or just launce off a bike without serious injury. That's what makes this story so ironic.
At one mile an hour, while making a sharp left hand turn...........
I slid on a pile of Cow Crap!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Apparently, a farmer's honey wagon had been over the road that afternoon.
Oh, and for the first time in 42 years, I broke a bone and tore ligaments.
The doc gave me the word today. Surgery is scheduled for tomorrow and I can't put weight on my foot for four to six weeks.
Looks like I be bugging my brothers for back seat time. I can't stay out of the wind that long or I will end up with permanent brain damage (banging my head into the wall).
The moral of the story is.....
Don't slide on cow pooh!
Ron
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
On our NLMC Web site - http://www.newlondonmotorcycleclub.com - you will find many entertaining and informative articles. I like our Road Captain's last blog. With his permission, I'm running it today. Read and Enjoy.
Ron
Welcome to the riding season for 2008. It has been a mild winter and gas prices seem to go in one direction – up. The state of Connecticut is in the second year of not using sand on the road and the roads are pretty clean. At the end of last year I was getting ready to leave a gas station when a conversation started with a fellow customer also gassing up his pick-up. I used to ride when I was young but it’s to dangerous now. But I just might get a bike because of the cost of gas.
That’s the reason for this blog.
Now, I don’t qualify as kind or gentle. I’m blunt but fair. When asked about all the accidents on motorcycles you hear about on the news I reply in a matter of fact way (because there are too many people riding who shouldn’t). This usually brings a pause and a “what do you mean?” I then say I’m 54 and when I started I was 16, back then motorcycle riding was an adventure, the bikes were mostly unreliable. There were few brands that were considered reliable but most bikes had their own way to start and go. The rider had to learn the bikes ways, and the ways change with the weather and temp. We’re talking kick starting here (important part) so if you don’t know how to start this particular bike, you may be here awhile. I personally know people who would walk a distance so they could park there bike on a hill. I’m sure motorcycles are responsible for half of the mechanics in the 70’s.This mode of transportation attracts a certain type of person. Unreliable bike, basic riding gear, physical strength needed to kick start or push and a friend with a pick-up kept the number of bike riders to the bold and adventurous. Lessons learned cost money, skin and sometimes much more. It was understood that riding was dangerous, the risks were high but acceptable, because riding is…well riding.
In the late 70’s and on to the present the bikes we ride got better, then good and now the bikes are mostly problem free. None are kick started, all are electric start and many are fuel injected. They are made out of good stuff and they are designed to be maintenance free for years. The fastest motorcycle in the world can be started by anybody sitting in a lawn chair along side the bike. It takes no skill or talent; all it takes is lots of money.
Please Consider:
There a big difference between driving a four wheeler and riding a motorcycle. If you make a turn on a street crossing a painted walk zone in a car, you just turn. Make the same turn on a motorcycle, do one thing wrong and you crash and likely hard just because paint is slippery. My main point is something that is nothing to do in car is a costly wreck on a bike.
So, you decided to get a motorcycle to commute and to enjoy.
Great!
The next question is what bike to buy? For all intents and purposes you’re a new rider, so buy a bike you could learn something on. Most people can fit and learn on something 800cc to 1100cc in a cruiser. There are many out there used and reasonable. Remember, this is not your last bike. If you want to learn to survive on the street you need seat time and a bike that lets you work on your skills. Getting a fast as the devil rocket bike or a long chopper isn’t going to teach you anything you don’t already know (how to ride poorly and fall off). You would do well to ride with people who know how, as they will hopefully show you some tricks and help you improve (if these riders tell of events with near misses, quarter drafts and almost getting caught they are not the riders to follow).
If you dent or scrape your car every 6 months and think you’re getting better at this driving thing…don’t get a motorcycle. I
f you think it will be something good to do with the wife or girlfriend you’re right…in about a year or (8,000 miles) Until then you ride solo.
A motorcycle can balance quite nicely at 10 mph even without you at the controls, but it takes you to ride it below 3 mph and most parking lots are slow speed, so practice.
Join a motorcycle club—you can learn a lot if you pick the right one or nothing if you choose poorly. Just like ride partners, rider beware, just like road surface, blind corners and steel grate bridges…rider beware.
By the way, biker is just short for bike rider, and the term motorcyclist is earned and not given to oneself...it’s given to you by others.
Ride well and enjoy.
Tom
Ron
Welcome to the riding season for 2008. It has been a mild winter and gas prices seem to go in one direction – up. The state of Connecticut is in the second year of not using sand on the road and the roads are pretty clean. At the end of last year I was getting ready to leave a gas station when a conversation started with a fellow customer also gassing up his pick-up. I used to ride when I was young but it’s to dangerous now. But I just might get a bike because of the cost of gas.
That’s the reason for this blog.
Now, I don’t qualify as kind or gentle. I’m blunt but fair. When asked about all the accidents on motorcycles you hear about on the news I reply in a matter of fact way (because there are too many people riding who shouldn’t). This usually brings a pause and a “what do you mean?” I then say I’m 54 and when I started I was 16, back then motorcycle riding was an adventure, the bikes were mostly unreliable. There were few brands that were considered reliable but most bikes had their own way to start and go. The rider had to learn the bikes ways, and the ways change with the weather and temp. We’re talking kick starting here (important part) so if you don’t know how to start this particular bike, you may be here awhile. I personally know people who would walk a distance so they could park there bike on a hill. I’m sure motorcycles are responsible for half of the mechanics in the 70’s.This mode of transportation attracts a certain type of person. Unreliable bike, basic riding gear, physical strength needed to kick start or push and a friend with a pick-up kept the number of bike riders to the bold and adventurous. Lessons learned cost money, skin and sometimes much more. It was understood that riding was dangerous, the risks were high but acceptable, because riding is…well riding.
In the late 70’s and on to the present the bikes we ride got better, then good and now the bikes are mostly problem free. None are kick started, all are electric start and many are fuel injected. They are made out of good stuff and they are designed to be maintenance free for years. The fastest motorcycle in the world can be started by anybody sitting in a lawn chair along side the bike. It takes no skill or talent; all it takes is lots of money.
Please Consider:
There a big difference between driving a four wheeler and riding a motorcycle. If you make a turn on a street crossing a painted walk zone in a car, you just turn. Make the same turn on a motorcycle, do one thing wrong and you crash and likely hard just because paint is slippery. My main point is something that is nothing to do in car is a costly wreck on a bike.
So, you decided to get a motorcycle to commute and to enjoy.
Great!
The next question is what bike to buy? For all intents and purposes you’re a new rider, so buy a bike you could learn something on. Most people can fit and learn on something 800cc to 1100cc in a cruiser. There are many out there used and reasonable. Remember, this is not your last bike. If you want to learn to survive on the street you need seat time and a bike that lets you work on your skills. Getting a fast as the devil rocket bike or a long chopper isn’t going to teach you anything you don’t already know (how to ride poorly and fall off). You would do well to ride with people who know how, as they will hopefully show you some tricks and help you improve (if these riders tell of events with near misses, quarter drafts and almost getting caught they are not the riders to follow).
If you dent or scrape your car every 6 months and think you’re getting better at this driving thing…don’t get a motorcycle. I
f you think it will be something good to do with the wife or girlfriend you’re right…in about a year or (8,000 miles) Until then you ride solo.
A motorcycle can balance quite nicely at 10 mph even without you at the controls, but it takes you to ride it below 3 mph and most parking lots are slow speed, so practice.
Join a motorcycle club—you can learn a lot if you pick the right one or nothing if you choose poorly. Just like ride partners, rider beware, just like road surface, blind corners and steel grate bridges…rider beware.
By the way, biker is just short for bike rider, and the term motorcyclist is earned and not given to oneself...it’s given to you by others.
Ride well and enjoy.
Tom
Monday, April 14, 2008
What a great time at Ocean Beach Park!
Gathering together at Ocean Beach Park was a great way to begin the 2008 riding season. Over six hundred bikers gathered for the blessing and bike/car show.Vender's who offered motorcycle related merchandise left happy they joined us.
Riders and co-riders really appreciated the services of The Slipper Lady, who sold and sewed patches at really reasonable prices. Eileen will sew club patches on leather. She works motorcycle events and works at home too. Beside patches, she sews leather and vinyl motorcycle seat covers to your specifications. Available by appointment, she can be reached at 860 267 1971.
New England Cycle Works, known for selling Kawasaki and Honda motorcycles, brought along a pristine Harley Davidson Springer Softail to let riders know, they now stock and sell good, used Harley Davidson Motorcycles. Rumor has it, they have a good Harley mechanic on the payroll too! I've been in many bike shops over the years and I have to admit, I've always been made to "feel at home" every time I stopped in. Consider making this dealership a destination stop on a Saturday ride. They are located at 661 Gold Star Highway in Groton, CT.
Four Brothers Motorsport of 1057 Voluntown Road in Griswold, CT set up a beautiful display of rims and accessories that caught the eye of a lot of riders. What they had was real eye candy.
There were many more vendors who came and supported our event. I was working our hospitality table and didn't get a chance to meet all of them, but I sincerely thank everyone who set up a table for making our event a memorable one for all who came.
I thank every vendor who chose to spend the day with us. We really appreciate your support.
Nothing of this magnitude could ever be successful without the dedication and work of many members of the New London Motorcycle Club. I didn't get a head count, but I'm sure well over thirty brothers and sisters volunteered their time and expertise to pull this blessing off.
I also want to thank our priest who shows up year in and year out, rain or shine, to bless bikes. He always has a smile on his face and will go anywhere to bring the spirit of Christianity to everyone he encounters. Last year, when we were rained out by a Northeaster, he joined us for a meal. He walked in, soaking wet, with a smile on his face and enjoyed great food with us. Kidding around, I belted out, "Five bucks, get it up. The priest came his to bless your bikes". A bunch of guys jumped up and pulled out their wallets. I laughed and said, "Just kidding", but the good father went out in the down pour and blessed the bikes anyway (I hope I don't get the Hot Place for that one!). If more clergy were like him, our churches would be full on Sundays (early morning, before the ride Mass).
Well, that's all I have to say about that.
Keep Safe,
Ron
Thursday, April 10, 2008
This weekend big event: Bike Blessing, New London
Our Planning meeting for the upcoming bike blessing took place Thursday evening. Father is looking forward to blessing your bike.
--------------------------------------------
The big bike event this weekend will take place at Ocean Beach Park in New London on Sunday, April 13.
This event features: Bike Blessing, Car Show, Bike Show, Vendors and entertainment. Peoples Choice Awards will be presented to bike show winners.
Vendors will be able to set up any time after 6:00AM.
This event will run from 11:00AM to 4:00PM.
Food will be available.
A $5.00 admission fee will be collected to cover cost of insurance
Don't miss this Break Out Event. It will be a great way to start your 2008 riding season!
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
One of our own is going to war
Brother Jamie Lathrop is headed for Kuwait. Many club members gathered at our clubhouse to let him and his wife Andria know they have our full support and prayers. Andria now has a family, 150 strong, watching out for her. Club President, Jim Moran presented Jamie with a cake and wished him well. I guarantee you, the welcome home party is something we are all looking forward to.
____________________________________________________________________
Reminder
Sunday, April 13th
Bike Blessing, Car and Bike Show
Ocean Beach Park in New London, CT
Vendors Welcome
Monday, April 7, 2008
First Bug Kill of the Season
I had a nice, cool ride to work this morning. Not cold, mind you, just a bit nippy. I rode home without chaps (good sign) and felt comfortable (even better sign). But, it wasn't until I parked my bike that I realized today signaled another "rite of spring".
Bug Kill! I had to wash bug splatter of my windshield and fairing. I'm glad I polished my bike last week. The gunk didn't put up too much of a fight.
Now, when are we going to see those 70 degree days?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTICE: Upcoming Ride Event
Bug Kill! I had to wash bug splatter of my windshield and fairing. I'm glad I polished my bike last week. The gunk didn't put up too much of a fight.
Now, when are we going to see those 70 degree days?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTICE: Upcoming Ride Event
The 13th Annual Bike Blessing at Ocean Beach Park
in New London, Connecticut will be held on
April 13, 2008
Entertainment will be provided by Jim Reed of Q101
A Classic and Custom Car Show and Bike Show will give you plenty of eye candy
Food will be Available
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Spring Ritual: The First Ride - Ride Event Notice
Birds chirping in the trees, a warm sun, and a polished bike always makes me smile. But, never more so than on the first "real ride" of the season!
I can't stay off my bike for any length of time. I experience severe P.M.S. (parked motorcycle syndrome) if I go more than a month without wind in my face. My mind atrophies, my spirits sink and my people skills go south. My co-workers notice a difference (I growl rather than greet) and at home I snarl more than I smile. My lady puts up with me, my dogs tolerate me, but my cats totally give up on me. So, to keep harmony with the universe, I never really winterize my bike. I keep fresh gas in it, keep the battery charged and sneak out for a cold 30 mile ride whenever the roads are free from ice and snow. However, this isn't "real riding" in by way of thinking. These little outings are just bandages for the spirit and hold me together until the real riding season begins.
For me, it began on Saturday, April 5, 2008. Riding without chaps, without a closed full faced helmet and with my summer riding gloves, made all the difference. Riding country roads in Southeastern Connecticut with my lady and a club brother brought me back to life! Though we had to watch out for sand washes, we still managed good lean angles on the many turns and occasionally wicked it up enough to clear the cobwebs out of the carbs and injectors.
Yup, it's here folks! It's time to roll out the bikes, give them a good cleaning, check tire pressures, change the oil and make sure the battery has a good charge. Get them out on the open road and enjoy the ride!
Notice: Upcoming Ride Event
I can't stay off my bike for any length of time. I experience severe P.M.S. (parked motorcycle syndrome) if I go more than a month without wind in my face. My mind atrophies, my spirits sink and my people skills go south. My co-workers notice a difference (I growl rather than greet) and at home I snarl more than I smile. My lady puts up with me, my dogs tolerate me, but my cats totally give up on me. So, to keep harmony with the universe, I never really winterize my bike. I keep fresh gas in it, keep the battery charged and sneak out for a cold 30 mile ride whenever the roads are free from ice and snow. However, this isn't "real riding" in by way of thinking. These little outings are just bandages for the spirit and hold me together until the real riding season begins.
For me, it began on Saturday, April 5, 2008. Riding without chaps, without a closed full faced helmet and with my summer riding gloves, made all the difference. Riding country roads in Southeastern Connecticut with my lady and a club brother brought me back to life! Though we had to watch out for sand washes, we still managed good lean angles on the many turns and occasionally wicked it up enough to clear the cobwebs out of the carbs and injectors.
Yup, it's here folks! It's time to roll out the bikes, give them a good cleaning, check tire pressures, change the oil and make sure the battery has a good charge. Get them out on the open road and enjoy the ride!
Notice: Upcoming Ride Event
The 13th Annual Bile Blessing at Ocean Beach Park in
New London, CT. will be held on April 13th featuring:
Entertainment provided by Jim Reed @ Q103
Classic and Custom Car Show
Bike Show
Food will be available
Vendors
Admission: $5.00 (to cover insurance costs)
Bike Show Entry Fee $20.00 - Peoples Choice Voting - Cash Awards
Vendor spaces still available - $50.00 per site
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