Well it is that time of year again. The Shriners are having their annual Poker Run April 7th. This year the grand prize is a 2013 H-D Dyna Super Glide. Those of you may remember that I was the lucky winner in 2009. It could be you this year. They are having High Hand, Second High Hand, Low Hand, 50/50 Drawing, door prizes, Vendors and much much more. Here is the registration form: Registration Form
The March breakfast ride is on Saturday the 9th. This month we will be going to Old Times Café @ 1485 Prince Rd. Meeting time is back to our normal time of 8:00 am. Please remember that the Prince Road exit is closed on I-10. If you are coming from the east you should exit at Miracle Mile and turn right. Go to Oracle road turn left and then left on Prince. Old Times Café is on the left past Flowing Wells.
Our February Dinner ride will be at the Arizona Family Restaurant in Green Valley on Tuesday 2/26/13. I know it may seem a little far to ride but remember that they travel up to Tucson for our breakfast/dinner rides. The restaurant is located on I-19 right off the W. Esperanza Exit in Green Valley. Their phone number is: 520.625.3680. Dinner meeting time is 6:30 pm as always. Hope to see you there.
Well we made our annual trek to the Renaissance Festival. The weather was nice. It was a little chilly on the way up but by the time we got there the weather was wonderful. Those who made the ride were:
Alan Stewart, Susan Wagner, their son Ryan and his friend Gina, Bill Calkins, Bob & Rusty Ness, Bev O’Donnell and myself. I was on the bike along with Bill. Bill could not go to the Festival but he rode along up to the Tom Mix Monument. Since Alan and the family were dressed for the occasion they drove in a cage along with Bob & Rusty who drove up from Sonoita where it was obviously a little too cold for the bike.
How could you not go the Festival without see Ded Bob. We saw a fire whip show where the guy broke a Guinness record of splitting 44 roses from his assistant’s mouth in 60 seconds. The Falconry exhibition was excellent. There is way too many things to tell so you can just look at the photos in the “Photo” Gallery.
Reprinted from Cyclerides 2/20/2013.
1. Putting on rain gear. If it looks like rain, smells like rain, and there is rain on the pavement, it is probably raining. It is now officially PAST time to put your rain gear on. Put rain gear on PRIOR to all of the obvious signs.
Lesson: Error to putting on rain gear too soon. It only takes a couple of times of getting drenched to learn this one.
2. Learn that “E” on the gas gauge actually does mean empty. It does not stand for “E-ternity of Gas”. I sometimes tend to get those confused. Figuring out how far past the “E” you can ride is useful in the game to see how far you can go on a tank of gas. To win the game you are able to ride into the gas station and actually put more gas in the tank than it holds. Losing the game involves a call to AAA from the side of the road. My record is now 5.3 gallons in a 5 gallon tank.
Lesson: Walk 3 miles for gas in 100 degrees and you won’t make that mistake again.
3. Estimating time to ride to destination. Getting it through my head that 350 miles of riding through mountain passes and twisties is going to take considerably longer than 350 miles on a Montana freeway. One of my more famous quotes on a trip; “It is only 350 miles, we should be there by 3pm.” I am reminded of this quote at 5pm by Mrs. C. when we are still 100 miles away.
Lesson: Learn it. Always OVER estimate how long it will take.
4. Be sure bike is in neutral when starting. After 35 plus years of riding, this one still tends to get me every once in a while. Nothing much worse than going to your bike at a bike night, thinking it is in neutral and pushing the start button to find out that you were wrong. However, it is quite entertaining for all of the people that saw you make this common rookie mistake. Pull in the clutch or make sure it is in neutral before pushing the start button.
Lesson: Don’t be the subject of the jokes for the rest of the day.
5. Confirm that the kickstand is secure before dismounting. I had this happen in Ouray, CO. a few years ago. I put the kickstand down on the severely sloped main St. a little too straight up. The wind was blowing pretty good and when I got about 4 steps away from the bike I heard a big crash. It had blown over. Fortunately no serious damage to levers, etc. and I was able to ride it.
Lesson: Make sure that bike is stable on kickstand.
6. Directions. No matter how much I like my GPS and no matter how many times it has saved me, road signs still trump the GPS. If you know you are supposed to be on I-70 West and the sign clearly says I-70 West, go with the sign.
Lesson: Know what you know.
7. Eating regularly. I am the kind of guy that will eat a big breakfast and be good until we stop for dinner. My thought is that stopping to eat is “Burning Daylight”. Not everyone shares my thoughts on this. Much easier on yourself to stop and get your spouse some food when she is ready for it. Generally the only source of real discussion on our trips.
Lesson: Keep your wife well fed. Makes for a more enjoyable ride.
8. Be aware of under dressing. Realize that standing still in the sun with a short sleeve t-shirt on in 60 degree weather does not feel the same as riding 70 mph in the same temperature and attire. Over dressing will never be a problem for me.
Lesson: Learn how to “Layer” properly. It is easier to deal with too many clothes on than it is to freeze for 100 miles. Error to over dressing.
9. Make sure saddlebag lids are latched before riding. Not only do you lose your personal belongings out of the bags, it can be perceived as an amateur move. It is very embarrassing when the guy in the minivan pulls up next to you and points to your saddlebag lid flapping in the breeze.
Lesson: Can be very expensive if your leather jacket flies out.
10. Stop taking off with kickstand down. Rookie mistake #1. It is embarrassing to have someone point at your kickstand when you are riding to find that it is still down. It also makes left turns much more challenging. Page 12 in the riders manual advises against this activity. Never can figure out how I forget this. Usually stems from being distracted just as you take your bike off of the side stand.
Lesson: Dangerous. Stop doing it.
Arizona Bike Week is once again coming to the Phoenix area. For more information on Bike Week go to:
Well even though the weather was somewhat chilly today four people made it to breakfast one of them riding his BMW. We even had the pleasure of a morning snowfall in Vail. Those who made the ride were, Stan Thibaut, Mike Leeper, Bev, and myself. Here are a few pictures for you to enjoy along with the snow.
We had our January dinner ride at Club 21 on Oracle. Club 21 is a nice Mexican restaurant. Those who made the ride were:
Pat & Georganna Shely, Ray & Donna Valenzuela, Russ & Jackie Cole, Frank & Kate Brunetti, Stan & Patti Thibaut, and Bev and myself. Here are a few photos:
The 2013 Renaissance Festival is here. Click HERE for more information.
Our February breakfast will be at the Vail Steakhouse. This month due to the chilly weather we will meet @ 9:00 am. Starting in March we should go back to our normal 8:00 am. meeting time.