Thursday, July 24, 2008

Roads Yet Travled

As I write this, we are half way through our spring and summer riding season. In the upcoming weeks, I will list MAPS rides for all to enjoy.

This weekend we are heading to Wrights Chicken Farm for another great meal. This is one of our favorite rides. You can get departure information on our site calender.

www.newlondonmotorcycleclub.com

Jamie Lathrup has been in touch. It's hotter than hell in Afghanistan, but his spirits are up. He's looking for motorcycle stickers for his hard hat. Check club e-mail for more information on it. Don't be afraid to send him an e-mail. He needs to know we're all pulling for him.

As I mentioned in an earlier blog, I traded my Harley Electra Glide Classic, 100 th anniversary edition. I did this with a heavy heart, but I realized I needed a bike that was easier for me to handle, with a low center of gravity. I checked with several area dealers and got a good deal from Columbia Motorsports. I'm now the proud owner of a beautiful 2006 90 cubic inch Suzuki Boulevard. It's nothing like the Harley. It's low speed turns are wider, as it has a longer wheelbase. But, riding down the highway, it gives a better ride and holds the road well. Sherry and I are looking forward to rolling miles on it.

I hope all is well with all of you. Get out and enjoy the good weather. Ride!

Be Safe. Ride Free.

Ron

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

In The Wind Again!

Being off a bike for two and a half months is like breaking up with a really great lover. You still feel the passion in your groin, but there's no way to satisfy it.

Praise God, my wait is over. My lust is finally being satisfied!

Well, some what.

Unfortunately, there is no such thing as enough riding, when you've been out of the wind so long. Nasty things get in the way: work, the need to eat, the need to sleep, the need to be a grandpa and the need to cut the lawn. The list of things that get in the way of riding my butt off are never ending.

To help overcome the frustration of being an kid suffering the onslaught of puberty while being trapped in a old man's body, I go to our web site. I check on the long riders adventures as they dauntlessly overcome obstacles on their trip to Alaska. They're doing the ride I've always dreamed.

I pause to ponder.

No one can know what an epic road ride is really like without experiencing it first hand. Evert really does a great job covering the basis of how the ride is going and how far they have traveled. Road Captain Spike adds color to it, as only he can do.

I continue to ponder...

What is it like being out there, with only a few brothers to depend on for:
help when needed, bullshit when the words back while pounding out 500+ mile days and advice when all you can do is scratch your head while finding yourself in yet another revolting predicament!

Then, I ponder the imponderable...

What it is like to be pelted with rain, thousand of miles away from home, scorched by the sun days on end, blasted with 40 mph winds for hundreds of miles while riding a 24 year old Harley with well over 100k on the clock. Nuts or guts, you go figure.

It's not like being there, but if you really want to get a feel for what a long rider road run is about, you will get there by going to the Home Page Of the New London Motorcycle Club and clicking on the The Alaska ride.

You will find that at newlondonmotorcycleclub.com

Now, for local news.

Last week saw members of the NLMC riding in the Groton 4th of July Parade. These riders are dedicated to promoting a good image of the NLMC. For those of you who never rode in a motorcycle parade, let me tell you, the bikes get really hot. I cooked a motor in a Volusia 805 (watercooled) by riding in two parades within a few weeks, without changing my oil. I run synthetic, but even that has it's thermal breakdown limits. I got to hand it to these bros; they did a great job.

Last Sunday, Mother Theresa led a hardy crew of chow hounds on a great ride through Eastern Connecticut. This romp included a ferry boat ride across the Connecticut River, and ended up at Murphy's in Columbia, CT. Good Going
Mother!

On a personal note...

My Harley Electra Glide Classic was one of the best rides I've ever owned. I loved that machine. Sadly, I traded her in. My one problem with the bike, was me. I'm built close to the ground. The Harley has a high center of gravity. The accident that broke my leg, should never have happened. After spending a lot of time thinking it over, I realized I needed a ride with a lower seat height and a lower center of gravity. I found it and all I'll say for now is: It has nuts, it's loud, it's great looking: (I got 5 compliments on it the first day I rode it to work) and it gets me back in the wind. More about this bad boy in the next issue of In The Wind.

Get out and ride!

Be Safe,

Ronster