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updated
12.30.2005
Subject: Re: [LDRider] Riding in Extreme Temperatures
> I spent a lot of time riding in REALLY hot weather a couple of weeks
ago.
> On one leg of my trip, I rode for over six hours straight with
> temperatures in the vicinity of 115°F. Living in the Sacramento
area, I
> frequently ride in ambient temperatures of approximately 100°F and I've
> ridden in temperatures as high as 113°F for shorter periods of time
(e.g.,
> crossing Death Valley). This week I learned that additional
preparation
> is required for running at temperatures above 110°F for several hours.
> Several things that I experienced during the trip prompted to me to
write
> this. Hopefully it will be useful to others.
>
> 1. Why Mesh Riding Suits Don't Work in Extreme Conditions
> Human bodies exchange heat with their surroundings in four primary ways:
> convection, conduction, radiation, and evaporative cooling (from
> perspiration). When ambient temperatures are below the body's
normal
> temperature of 98.6°F, all of these pathways can provide cooling.
The
> higher the windspeed, the more cooling there is from convection.
But when
> ambient temperatures rise above 98.6°F, only evaporative cooling can
work.
> More importantly, too much wind becomes a bad thing. There
is a limit to
> our body's perspiration rate and when the wind speed uses up all of the
> available perspiration, more wind increases convective HEATING.
This is
> the opposite of "Wind Chill". I found an interesting
article on this
> effect at: http://www.zunis.org/at_least_theres_a_breeze.htm
>
What this means is that you do NOT want to maximize the
wind against your
> skin when the temperature gets extreme. Mesh suits, or wearing
just a
> lightweight shirt, are NOT the right approach. You will actually
stay
> cooler with a conventional suit with the vents adjusted so there is a
more
> moderate air flow across your skin.
>
> 2. You Have to Carry Much More Water to Ride in 110°F+ Temperatures
> When temperatures are below 98.6°F, you may perspire less than 1 quart
per
> day. But when the need for evaporative cooling kicks in, you
perspiration
> rate can increase to 1.5 quarts PER HOUR. If you aren't drinking
1.5
> quarts per hour under extreme conditions, you will start becoming
> dehydrated. Your perspiration rate will decrease, you will feel
hotter,
> your heart rate will increase, and your judgement will start to become
> clouded. If you are a competitive endurance rider, you can
probably go at
> least 300 miles without stopping. If you are averaging 75 mph,
that's
> four hours. You may need to consume 6 quarts of water in that
period of
> time when the temperature exceeds 110°F.
>
> I carry an insulated 1-gallon cooler with a drinking tube attached when
I
> know I will be riding long distances in hot weather. It was barely
> adequate for this trip because I deviated from my normal routine and
> purchased an extra bottle of water to drink during my fuel stops.
On one
> leg, I made the mistake of starting with less than a full gallon and
> started experiencing the early signs of heat exhaustion. I felt
much
> better after sitting in the shade for 10 minutes while consuming a full
> litre of bottled water.
>
Based on my personal experience and research, there is a
world of
> difference between 100-105°F and 115°F in terms of how much water you
> need. A half quart per hour is more typical of what's required
near
> 100°F. You might even be able to to run without water for several
hours
> at about 100°F and make up the deficit by drinking at lot at your next
> fuel stop. But at 115°F, the level of dehydration you will be
> experiencing between fuel stops is excessive; you will definitely
> experience heat exhaustion and possibly heat stroke.
>
> 3. Why You Might Not Want to Be Wearing Shorts Under Your Riding Suit
> Some popular bikes have "issues" with high levels of engine
heat. My
> K1200GT makes the lower half of my legs warmer than on my K1200LT, but
> it's never been a problem for me, until this trip. Air passing
through
> the radiator on both the LT and GT exits at the side of the fairing just
> in front of the rider's legs. On the LT, the hot air is blown far
enough
> away from the bike that it does not impinge on the rider's legs.
On the
> GT, the fairing is not quite as wide and you can feel heat from the
> radiator on your lower legs. The heat I feel on the GT is clearly
less
> that the heat I've felt riding other bikes, such as the FJR1300.
But on
> this trip, the heat became a problem. I rode for a long stretch
with a
> slight crosswind which increased the amount of radiator discharge that
> impinged on my right leg. It got very uncomfortable. When I
stopped for
> the night, I discovered that I had second degree burns on the back of my
> right calf:
>
http://www.sierraresearch.com/mc/burns.jpg
>
> This wouldn't have happened if I had been wearing long pants under my
> Aerostich. Under identical conditions, I did not get burned
wearing blue
> jeans under the riding suit.
>
> This problem showed up for the first time because the radiator discharge
> temperature is directly related to the ambient temperature.
Although
> engines run hotter in hot weather, they actually discharge about the
same
> amount of heat energy into the radiator. That heat energy is
raises the
> temperature of the radiator discharge the same amount that it does at
> lower ambient temperatures. At 100°F, the radiator discharge might
be
> 140°F and it might get knocked down to 110°F before it impinges your
leg.
> It feels very warm, but it won't burn you. If the ambient is 15°F
higher,
> you leg might be exposed to 125°F and you can eventually get burned if
> your leg isn't insultated from the radiator discharge.
>
> According to data from the National Burn Center, the time at temperature
> to cause a second degree burn is as follows:
>
> 113 °F 1.7 hours
> 122 °F 2 minutes
> 131 °F 11 seconds
> 140 °F 2 seconds
> The only thing protecting you from being burned when
your bare skin is
> exposed to ambient temperature of 113°F or higher is evaporative cooling
> and the cooling of the skin surface by blood flow. To be protected
from
> radiator discharge temperatures in excess of 113°F, you need INSULATION
> between your skin and the hot air stream. What I painfully
discovered is
> that the insulation provided by an Aerostich suit is not enough.
>
> Tom Austin
>
>
--------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Wed, 08 Jun 2005 03:03:57 +0000
From: chuckhickey@comcast.net
Subject: [LDRider] Jungo Rd. Counterpoint
To: "Brett Donahue" <brett@donahuehd.com>,
<LDRider@ibdone.org>
Message-ID:
<060820050303.5322.42A660180002C651000014CA2200748184970A050C0708050C9A080C@comcast.net>
there is no doubt in my mind that I have more miles on Jungo than just about
anyone that doesn't live on it (yes - there are a couple of people who live
on it) - or perhaps the workers at the mine. OK - most all of my riding
on Jungo was on a dirt bike - but I've been all the way across from Gerlach
to Winnemucca SEVERAL times. Hell, the weekend that Ron crashed on it I
was across it (not all the way - but the worst half) at least 10 times over a
couple of days.
Your signature line doesn't specify what kind of bike you are riding - so
here is my advice.
for half of the distance - Jungo is as good a dirt road as you will find
anywhere. IT IS POSTED at 55 MPH. The surface is VERY hard packed
dirt and is run over by heavy trucks multiple times a day. It is even
watered down once in awhile (not the best time to be on it, though).
At Jungo - on the west side going to gerlach - the road is at its worst.
The road is actually gravel here and is pretty hard packed surface
except that the gravel is large stones and it can be very deep. There
are wheel tracks that, if you can stay in them... makes for an OK ride.
Get out of the wheel tracks and you will typically CRASH.
Something about going from a pretty good surface that encourages speed
- to running out of a track and into deep, unforgiving gravel - that
encourages folks to drop their bike. The tracks in the gravel can also
put you into pot holes or BIG rocks and it is difficult to stear around them.
Riding this section in the dark would be NUTS. Riding Jungo any
time where you would be on it even as the sun is going down - is NOT a good
idea.
The sun will be setting in your eyes as you head for Gerlach. There
frequently are places where the mountains shade the road - and then break
open with the sun blasting and blinding you.
For about maybe 20 miles you will fight this deep gravel. However -
there is a place right about where the gravel starts that if the surface of
the road and the surface of the playa is good - you can get on the playa
easily and blast across there at mach whatever you want. DO NOT TRY
THIS IF THERE HAS BEEN EVEN A HINT OF RAIN !! YOU MAY DIE _ DIE _ DIE_ DIE
(please pay attention here). I don't want to go into details, but if
you haven't been on the playa - don't have a gps - satellite phone - (cells
don't work) and a good idea of where you are going.... I really wouldn't
suggest trying to cross the playa here - forget that I mentioned it.
Anyway -- after the deep gravel - the road just turns to basic crappy,
minimally maintained dirt/rock desert road. It is fairly hard packed -
full of small to huge rocks - big pot holes (but you can get around them),
but easily traversable with care. AND IN THE DAYLIGHT.
Here are things you need to think about
Some very experienced riders have gone down on this road.
The more farkles you start with .... the fewer you will end up with. It
will bounce and beat your bike up - not to mention getting it dirty as hell.
The dirt here is often made up of pretty alkaline stuff. It can be
extremely fine powder and will get into chains, air filters, your mouth and
water and whatever. You need to get this crap off your body and your
bike as soon as possible. Should it rain on your bike with this stuff
on it - you might never get it completely off.
If you are in a hurry -- you would be much better off taking I-80. It
is only a little longer, but MUCH faster, much more comfortable and safer.
IF you crash - I would suggest that you stay with the bike. Depending
on where you crash. If you are on the Winnemucca side - you will see a
auto or truck relatively soon. If in daylight - you wont have to wait
past 5 PM for sure. If you are on the West side - then you have some
choices to make. If you are close to Jungo - you could hike back to the
mine site and hitch a ride. Once you get west of the gravel you are
kind of in no-man's land. Stay with the bike, though 'cause there is
MUCH more traffic on Jungo than there is in any given spot on the playa
(there are some heavily travelled routes on the playa, but if you don't know
where they are... you would just be lucky to find them.
so - if you are riding a lighter bike
if - your aren't in a hurry
if - you don't care about how much stuff falls off your bike (including
Fenders like Bob Hall's)
If - you have some dirt biking skills
If - you are riding in daylight
If - you leave word with someone where you are going and that you will call
them (via the pay phone at Bruno's) when you get there
If - you have paid up insurance (health and bike)
If - you are confident in your skills -
IF - you don't aim for kamikazi killer jackrabbits
IF - you dont ride faster than you can stop on a dime (especially in the
gravel area)
If - you have sufficient gas
IF - you carry water and food
IF - you carry a GPS and/or compass
IF --- (no if ... but I would carry a survival blanket if I were you)
If - you carry some matches or suitable firestarting equipment
If - you want to join the "I survived Jungo Road" club -
then by all means go for it.
This isn't meant to scare you away. Jungo is very doable. Just
takes someone willing to take their time and not care what their bike looks
like when they get to Gerlach.
Don and Bounce were both Rally riding and had some time constraints.
Ron was in a hurry to get to Gerlach, was riding faster than conditions
allowed and was riding into a setting sun.
Don't know what Bob Halls excuse was - but that was a rally too, wasn't it?
not sure who else has gone down on that road (don't think either Don, Bounce
or Bob went down), but my guess is that they were riding at night - riding
too fast - or something like that.
and LAST ---
If there has been a recent rain - I would NOT ADVISE RIDING THE ROAD.
It might be fine - but there is a very good chance that parts of the
road will be washed out. You might be able to get over them - or not.
It could be quite pleasant (as the dust would be down) - or it could
turn to insta-crap on you very quickly. I can tell you that the playa
is UNFORGIVING after a rain - and can be that several days after a rain.
The surface can look dry and yet turn to snot on you as soon as you
break through the crust. The moon can actually have a tidal effect on
the subsurface water (so I'm told) and pull water back to the surface.
I can 100% vouch that the side of the playa bordering Jungo (especially
near the train tracks) holds water MUCH longer than the rest of the playa,
plus there are hot springs out there if you know where to look. STAY
AWAY from the area around the tracks !!!
Someone here will probably tell you how I know about that.
Last - The Blackrock is a mystical and wonderful place. It can also be
deadly and unforgiving. If you are off the beaten path (easy to do) you
could easily die out there. If you stay on jungo - at least you wont
get lost and the worst you could do is walk a bunch of miles to get out (it
is about 95 miles across, I think). I have enjoyed the heck out of
riding Jungo - again - I did almost all of my riding on a XR650R.
However - I have ridden the Winnemucca side on my LT for at least 30
miles one way.
Go for it. If you don't make it - my guess is that you will have a hell
of a story to entertain us with at the bar at Bruno's --
First one is on me !
Don't forget to gas up in Winnemucca !
--
chuck hickey
IBA # 191
====================================================
2001 Deer accident
in Oregon. Dale "Warchild"
on his ST1100
strikes a Deer at 61mph.
http://www.advrider.com/Fame/Deer.html (story)
www.st-riders.com/deerstrike/index.cfm (photos)
This article is lengthy and provides a great deal of data.
Graphically, too
=============================
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>Another memorable moment, stuck in a wildlife traffic jamb of vehicles in
>Yellowstone, as the tourists clogged both lanes of the road with their
>stopped cars, and me and my daughter watched the buffalo meander past the
>bike, that was another interesting experience. I was surprised how short
>buffalo are, close up at 5 feet away, compared to a moose, although
buffalo
>are a bit more stout.
>Mike Senty
In one of my most foolish moments, I was riding near the Norbeck center in
the Black Hills and a couple of buffalo were grazing at the edge of the road
one on each side. I stopped and pondered what to do to get around these
behemoths. They were literally at the very edge of the pavement
munching away. The cages and bikes were pulling around the buffalo on
the other side and he didn't seem to care one little bit. The guy on my
side was also pretty oblivious to anything but the sweet grass he was
chewing. So I decided to go. We passed the buffalo at a distance
of one foot from his big head and it sure looks big when you are a foot or
three away from it!! I figure my eyes were about three feet from the
beast. He didn't care one bit and we went along on our ride.
Later I realized just how dangerous what I did was.
That was probably a ton of wild, undomesticated, sometimes very ornery
animal who could have bucked that Dyna right off the highway with two of us
on it!!
Anyway, I had foolishly snuck up on a couple of buffalo who were
lounging in the field outside the Norbeck Center so I could snap some PIX.
A couple of guys started to follow me out there and they got courage
and ventured in front. One had a red jacket on. I told them that
i was very pleased since they had taken the lead and with the red jacket, the
buffalo were probably gonna chase them instead of me!! Plus I figured
that I could run faster than these two old guys so the buffalo would catch
them first.
I did snap some PIX and here are a couple at the Norbeck Center and that big
guy I was talking about above.
http://www.dynawide.com/images/sp1000598.jpg (CUT & PASTE THIS LINK)
Buffalo rolling around in the dirt
http://www.dynawide.com/images/sp1000603.jpg (CUT & PASTE THIS LINK)
Biker's creeping up to take PIX of buffalo rolling around in dirt (That's my
Wide Glide with the brown sheepskin on it!)
http://www.dynawide.com/images/simgp2432.jpg (CUT & PASTE THIS LINK)
To ride past or not to ride past, that is the question. We rode past
this beast.
Ride Safe!
Bree
FXDWG
IBA 19547
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
|
|
|
from the Detroit
Free Press 03.18.2005
*see the actual article for full details*
http://www.freep.com/news/mich/helmet18e_20050318.htm
|
No-helmet
cycle bill rumbles forward
House gets it next; veto likely
March 18, 2005
BY
CHRIS CHRISTOFF
FREE PRESS
LANSING BUREAU CHIEF
LANSING - Michigan's law
requiring motorcyclists to wear helmets moved closer to repeal Thursday, as
the state Senate voted to lift the 36-year-old decree that bikers protect
their heads.
The bill faces a veto by Gov. Jennifer Granholm if it passes the House, as
is expected. Still, the Senate vote was a major victory for the movement to
repeal the act, which has produced perennial, colorful protests, including
rumbling hordes of motorcycles that encircled the Capitol.
To the cheers of leather-clad bikers outside the Senate chamber -- some
have worked for 20 years or more to repeal the law -- the Senate voted 21-13
to make helmets optional for bikers who are 21 and older if they've been
licensed to operate a motorcycle for at least two years, or if they pass a
safety course.
The measure goes to the House, which several times in the past has voted
to repeal the law only to see it blocked in the Senate.
But the makeup of the Senate has changed since 2002, the last time it went
to a vote.
The bill, sponsored by Sen. Alan Cropsey, R-DeWitt, passed despite
impassioned pleas that it would result in more highway deaths and higher
medical and insurance costs for Michigan.
Supporters said wearing a helmet should be a matter of personal choice.
"We are gathered together to make a choice to allow people to be free
in a free land unencumbered by big government's intrusion," said Sen.
Bruce Patterson, R-Canton and a supporter of the bill.
Cropsey said helmets offer little protection in crashes, and that some
studies show states without helmet laws have lower fatality rates for
motorcyclists than Michigan.
But Sen. Tom George, R-Portage, a physician, called such arguments
ludicrous, and said repealing the law would be a virtual death warrant to
hundreds of future motorcyclists.
Eleven Republicans and 10 Democrats voted for the bill.
Despite Granholm's opposition, no-helmet proponents were elated with the
Senate vote, after their sustained lobbying.
Jim Rhoades said he first began lobbying to repeal the law in 1974, when
he was 25. Now a grizzled 55, he said he hopes Granholm can be persuaded to
sign the bill if it passes the house.
"I remember coming out here and burning helmets and yelling, 'Helmet
laws suck,' and thinking this is what's going to get it done," said
Rhoades, a builder from Garden City. "It took us 20 years to realize you
have to be involved in the process."
He added, "I'm elated. This shows everyone the energies and efforts
of citizens will actually pay off," said Rhoades. "It contradicts
the idea that you have no voice."
Reports around the Capitol this week indicated Granholm might be open to
signing such a law. Rhoades said he heard those rumors, and hoped to confer
with the administration after a House vote.
But Granholm's spokeswoman Liz Boyd said the governor will veto the bill
for health and safety reasons.
"We have no information to think the governor has changed her
mind," Boyd said.
Contact CHRIS
CHRISTOFF at 517-372-8660 or christoff@freepress.com.
___________________________
BRIAN DICKERSON: No brain our gain, Senate tells bikers
March 21, 2005
BY
BRIAN DICKERSON
FREE
PRESS COLUMNIST
These are dark times for
champions of the right to die.
Jack Kevorkian is behind bars. Oregon's experiment with physician-assisted
suicide is under siege by religious zealots in the U.S. Justice Department.
And Congress is groping frantically for ways to interpose itself between
brain-damaged Terri Schiavo and the husband Florida courts recognize as her
legal surrogate.
But fear not, libertarians: The right to die is alive and well in
Michigan!
All you need is a motorcycle license and, if you live elsewhere, a
willingness to spend your last tourist dollars in the Great Lakes State.
In an extraordinary display of bipartisan nincompoopery, the state Senate
struck a blow last week for those who yearn to dash their brains out on
Michigan highways.
Eleven Republicans joined 10 Democrats in voting to repeal a state law
requiring motorcyclists to wear helmets, a change the Senate's only
physician, Kalamazoo Republican Tom George, said would double the number of
annual motorcycle fatalities in Michigan.
Ride free and die
Not that those who supported the bill are cravenly kowtowing to bikers. In
an amendment that explicitly recognizes the increased liability foisted on
Michigan hospitals, the Senate also voted to require that every biker carry
medical insurance.
George and Sen. Bev Hammerstrom, R-Temperance, who opposed the repeal, had
suggested that each cyclist be required to carry $350,000 in medical
coverage. The Senate majority settled on $10,000, an amount that should more
than cover the lifetime medical care most serious closed-head injury victims
require -- as long as they don't live through the first night.
But if the helmet law repeal seems likely to burden trauma centers and the
taxpayers who subsidize them, it's also a boon to Michiganders awaiting vital
organ transplants. In emergency rooms, where seriously injured riders are privately
known as donorcyclists, the no-helmet crowd is prized as a rich source of
youthful hearts, livers and kidneys, among other organs that remain well
preserved long after brain death.
If only lawmakers had thought to add a requirement that all helmet-less
cyclists agree to donate their organs. And why not require donorcyclists to
sign papers declining extraordinary lifesaving measures, so that that
deserving organ recipients aren't kept waiting unnecessarily?
A piece of the action
Not everyone will buy the suggestion that repealing the helmet law
advances the right-to-die agenda. Many lawmakers who can't abide the
government coming between a man and his motorcycle wouldn't hesitate to get
between Terri Schiavo and her physicians, if only the courts would let them.
Allowing healthy people to dash their brains out on the open road is one
thing; after all. Letting a brain-damaged woman die in privacy is quite
another.
For one thing, donorcyclists generate a lot more bar and restaurant
revenue. According to those who want to repeal the helmet law, Michigan
forfeits many of those dollars to states that don't mandate helmets. If our
state wants its fair share of the biker market, they argue, it should worry
less about the donorcyclists' skulls and more about their wallets.
Of course, some of Kevorkian's champions used to argue that authorizing
physician-assisted suicide would make Michigan a magnet for other states'
terminally ill. There'd be jobs and tax revenues galore, an assisted-suicide
clinic in every town big enough to have its own post office.
The thing is, I always figured they were kidding.
Contact BRIAN
DICKERSON at 248-351-3697 or dicker@freepress.com.
∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫
----- Original Message -----
From: "chuck
Zen and the Art of LD Riding -- Now: You might be an LD
Rider when.....
>
> You might be an LD rider if you tires typically are squarer than a well
worn sidewall --- yet you still
might have some very tiny chicken
strips. Sort of like ---
riding 300 miles to get to the road where you
can drag a knee for a few miles
and then riding 300 miles back home.
> You might be an LD rider when you stop thinking about your bike as being
beautiful and start thinking
of it as a tool.
> You might be an LD Rider when adding some new farkle to the bike is more
utilitarian in nature than
chrome.
> You might be an LD rider when your bike starts to look more like
radio
shack show room, than a street
racer.
> You might be an LD rider when your question to the dealer is ---
"how
many miles do you get out those
tires?" instead of "how sticky are they?"
> You might be an LD rider when you ask about the size of the gas tank or
the gas mileage before you ask about the number of horsepower.
> You might be an LD rider when you get to the Grand Canyon and only get a
picture of the entrance sign
with your bike in it.
> You might be an LD rider when you look at a new bike and one of your
first thoughts is -
"Where am I going to hang the rally flag?"
> You might be an LD rider when you know the 4 ways to keep one pair of
underwear "fresh".
> You might be an LD rider when every rest stop looks more like a Motel 6
to you.
> You might be an LD rider when people look at you strange when you tell
them that sleeping with a helmet
ON - makes for a pretty comfortable pillow.
> You might be an LD rider when someone asks, "hey - isn't about 400
miles
to such and such?" and you
answer ... with a straight face - "Actually
it is 426 miles to the city
limits sign". this could be
kinda fun.... fill some more of these.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Message: 10
Date: Thu, 3 Mar 2005 00:59:28 -0600
From: "Critter" <critter@ >
You might be an LD rider if-
-By October, your boss doesn't remember your name.
-If the rest of the MC public doesn't understand your "dialect".
-Your neighbors see you only on Wednesday when the UPS truck pulls up.
-You own the book- "Where Famous People are Buried".
-Your neighbors split shifts at your house to water your plants & garden.
-The postman sees more yellow cards in your mailbox then mail.
-To get a weekend date with your sweetheart, you have to include a plane
ticket.
-Your laptop is hardwired into your bike.
-The weather report you want is always for someplace else.
-When the worlds largest "whatever" comes on the late news, you
stop kissing
your SO
"good night" and grab a pen and paper.
-Your cell phone is hardwired into your bike.
-If 400 miles of slab in Nebraska is appealing, at mile marker 850 + in
Texas.
-If you ever wished you lived dead-center in the middle of the continent.
-If BBQ, DQ and fish are your favorite foods, but you've never had all three
in one state in the same day.
-Your dog's food is at someone else's house.
-You know how many "Carhenges" there are.
-You schedule your teeth cleaning for the week before Daytona (spring/fall).
-Someone comes and gets your used oil twice a year.
-You give the young lad who mows your lawn a 5 gallon gas can for his
birthday.
-You buy "I love you" Hallmark cards by the box and hide them all
over the
house for your SO.
-If there's weed-eater marks all over the bottom of your car and pollen
thick on the top.
-By February, your coworkers remember your name.
MN Critter
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
=============================
By the seat of their pants
Iron Butt riders go to extremes for motorcycling
By Paul Duchene
Special to the Tribune
Published February 6, 2005
These folks don't need an exercise video to show they have buns of
iron-just a durable motorcycle and the will to ride it hundreds of miles
in a stretch.
For this they enter an exclusive group, with only 16,700 members around
the world, the Iron Butt Association.
Some members have ridden their bikes 125,000 miles in a single year.
Mike Kneebone has been stalled at 1.4 million miles for two years.
"I've been trying to get to 1.5 million but I can't seem to reach
it,"
said Kneebone, 46, co-founder of the Chicago-based organization. "When
you get older, all sorts of things tie you up-like a day job."
That seems like a lot of miles until you consider the group's flagship
event is the 11,000-mile, 11-day Iron Butt Rally.
More than 2,000
riders signed up for 120 slots in 2003 the most recent
rally. Each were prepared to pay $1,500 for almost two weeks of
discomfort of traveling around the U.S. with five required stops.
The rally structure is simple. Riders must be present at the five
checkpoints within a two-hour window to be qualified finishers.
The winner is the one with the most miles ridden in the shortest amount
of time. No allowances are made for weather, and temperatures along the
way can range from 120 degrees in Death Valley, Calif., to freezing in
the Rocky Mountains.
The rally takes place in alternate summers, though there have been some
gaps.
The first rally was held in 1984, organized by Dick and Fay Hoffman of
Montgomeryville, Pa. The concept and the name were dreamed up by Mike
Rose, a local motorcycle boot maker. Kneebone attended his first rally
in 1986 and thought he could help structure the association.
But it isn't until you wrap your head around the idea of covering 1,000
miles a day (triple what most riders would call a long day) that
questions of what it takes to accomplish the task arise.
Kneebone says Iron Butt riders average 34.5 m.p.h. for the basic trip
and 45 m.p.h. if they plan to attain the bonus points.
"The way to think is if you maintain the average, every hour you're
gaining 20 minutes rest time. If you go faster, you gain more time but
you tire yourself out. And if you get speeding tickets, you can lose a
lot of time."
Comfort is critical, and the top riders tend to favor heavy tourers,
such as the Honda Gold Wing, Harley-Davidson Glides, BMW K1200LT, Yamaha
Venture, Honda ST 1100, Kawasaki Concours and BMW R1150GS.
Honda and Harley declined to comment about their use by rally riders,
but Rob Mitchell, BMW's manager of corporate communications, talked.
"It does fit the BMW profile quite well and many round-the-world
travelers ride BMWs-even before the GS [a large adventure-tourer
motorcycle] was introduced.
"When the first Iron Butt took place, we gave a bike to a good
long-distance rider and said it's not official but we'll provide dealer
support. [The rider tied for first.] The first year was a four-way tie
with only about 11 or 12 riders [overall], all very passionate about
riding long distances. It's grown tremendously, and the way people train
and study nutrition and technology is amazing. Long rides have always
been part of the lure of motorcycle riding."
So what does it mean
to the riders willing to circumnavigate the U.S. in
11 days or go coast-to-coast in less than 50 hours--or there and back in
less than 100--two other Iron Butt tests?
Rallyist Joe Zulaski, 47 of Seattle, put 105,000 miles on his first
endurance bike--a 1998 Honda ST 1100--and now rides a 2002 Honda Gold
Wing. Zulaski's ancestors came west on the Oregon Trail in the 1800s,
and such rides make him feel like he's tracing their steps.
"All of us in this sport have what I'd call wandering souls," he says.
"It's a desire to see what's over the next hill, then the next one after
that."
To undertake long-distance riding, Zulaski cut his hair so it would fit
in his helmet. He started riding to work every day and sold his truck.
He got Lasik eye surgery to eliminate his glasses. He quit drinking to
train for the 2001 Iron Butt Rally. He learned to solder wiring for road
repairs. He gave up deer hunting to have more time for endurance events.
He volunteered to help on the 1999 Iron Butt Rally to learn how it was
organized. Finally, he started organizing rallies and is on his third.
Road racer and endurance rider Rachel Dwyer has ridden thousands of
miles with no seat on her Ducati because she is short and couldn't put
her feet on the ground. Dwyer lives in Seattle but grew up in the
Midwest and describes herself as "one of those people who takes things
to extremes."
"When I started running, it was one mile, then six, then
marathons,"
says the 39-year-old.
Dwyer's main problem was that at 5 feet 3 inches and 100 pounds, the
bikes that she felt would suit her best don't fit her. Most of the
serious tourers are too heavy for her, and she doesn't like recumbent
cruisers.
But Dwyer found a Suzuki GS500 she could ride and did 2,500 miles in
four days, then bought a Ducati 750 Monster. She narrowly missed a Four
Corners of America (from Blaine, Wash., to San Ysidro, Calif., to Key
West, Fla., to Madawaska, Maine) record last year after mechanical
problems in Texas delayed her one day.
Her next target is the coast-to-coast in 50 hours. She's tried it twice
but got stopped by a snowstorm in Montana and a bike that was so
misaligned she was exhausted by the time she got to Columbus, Ohio.
"It's a mental challenge, and I crave it. Anybody can train to finish a
marathon physically, mentally it's a whole different ballgame."
Dwyer says she has endurance riding in her blood.
"It's hard to explain and it annoys people. Most people want to ride
then sit in a cafe. If I can't . . . be on my way in 10 minutes, I have
anxiety attacks."
Gary Eagan, 1995 Iron Butt Rally winner, took a couple of moments before
heading from the Midwest to California to explain what long-distance
riding means.
"I'd say it's nothing but Zen. If you have to define it or explain it or
completely understand it, you're missing the point entirely. The idea is
to toss yourself into the middle of life, surround yourself with it and
enjoy what rubs off, good and bad."
And, bad there is. Dwyer remembers suffering frostbite in a Montana
snowstorm and being surrounded by little old ladies wanting to ship her
to a hospital.
Roger Bays completed the coast-to-coast from Seattle to New York then
the motor on his Kawasaki Concours let go.
Faced with a $2,200 bill to ship it home, he bought a junker truck for
$500 and drove it home.
Dwight Hageman of Newberg, Ore., was sideswiped by a sleepy trucker in
eastern Montana on the 1997 Iron Butt Rally.
He was stitched up by a doctor, "wasted a whole night sleeping"
then
bought another Gold Wing to finish the rally. He made it to the finish
line in Chicago with 25 minutes to spare.
Joe Denton of Sacramento runs the subscription-only Long Distance Riders
Web site and one of his favorite "triumph over adversity" stories
concerns Ural rider Paul Pelland, who fabricated a pushrod from a drill
bit on his way to finishing the 2001 Iron Butt.
"He just wasn't going to quit," says Denton with a laugh.
The desire to finish leads many riders to Dwyer's solution.
"When I left last year, I made sure I had two Visa cards with no balance
and a $20,000 limit, so if I had to buy another bike I could," she says.
"I know a couple whose bike broke down on the rally. They pulled into a
shop, put a new bike on a card and carried on."
- - -
Lessons from the road
The Iron Butt Association, the long distance motorcycle rally
association, has maintained a Web site--www.ironbutt.com--which offers
the far-flung members a listing of events as well as a sounding board
through "The Archive of Wisdom." Here are some tips from the
archive:
- If 300 miles seem like a long day don't plan on 500-mile days. Be
aware that day 1 and 2 will be the farthest you ride and distances will
diminish so that by day 7 you'll be going about 65 percent as far. Plan
your trip with loops you can cut.
- High speeds and long distance have little in common. Gas mileage
suffers, you get tired and, if you're traveling much faster than the
traffic, you'll get a ticket.
- Eat healthy and eat light. Eat at off-peak periods so you can be in
and out quickly.
- Prepare your bike before you leave home. Don't waste time getting
tires or a chain on the trip.
- Don't pick up your bike from the shop and head out; even the best
mechanics make mistakes. Don't try out a new rainsuit, helmet or packing
technique.
- Use an electric vest--75 degrees is still 23.6 degrees cooler than you
are. Put on your rainsuit before it rains. Drivers may not see you by
the road in a downpour.
- Pack wisely so that sun screen, skin lotions, eye drops, a flashlight
and a tire gauge and maps are on top.
- Join a towing service. You don't want to be scrambling for a tow
company in the middle of nowhere. Carry a cell phone.
- Find ways to avoid boredom--music tapes, or tart candy can help.
- Don't depend on No-Doz and caffeine. Know when to stop. Make sure that
closing your eyes for a second isn't the last thing you do.
- Carry a tire repair kit and know how to use it. Upgrade your toolkit.
- Carry a half-gallon of water for emergencies. Always drink bottled
water on the road to avoid an upset stomach.
- Carry aspirin for aches and pains but be aware it can lower your body
temperature. Carry vitamins.
- Stay away from trucks. A blow-out can knock off a mudflap as heavy as
a bowling ball. A truck may run over a muffler in the road you won't see
until too late or hit the brakes hard just as you look down at your map.
-- Paul Duchene
- - -
11,000 miles too much?
Besides the biannual rally that takes motorcycle riders 11,000 miles in
11 days, the Iron Butt Association sponsors other endurance events.
They are: Anywhere in the world
SaddleSore/BunBurner: 1000 miles in less than 24 hours/1,500 miles in
less than 36
SaddleSore 1600K, 2000K, 2500K Gold: 1,600 kilometers in 24 hours, 2,000
kilometers in 24 hours, 2,500 kilometers in 36 hours, 2500 kilometers in
24 hours
SS2000: 2,000 documented miles in less than 48 hours
SS3000/BB3000: 3,000 miles in three days
SaddleSore 5000: 5,000 miles in five days
BunBurner Gold: 1,500 documented miles in less than 24 hours
BBG3000: Two back-to-back BunBurner Gold rides for 3,000 miles in 48 hours
10-10ths: 10 consecutive SaddleSore rides for 10,000 miles in 10 days
100k Club: 100,000 documented miles in one year.
U.S. and Canada
50CC: Coast to coast in less than 50 hours
50CC Gold: San Francisco to New York in less than 50 hours
100CCC: Coast to coast and back in less than 100 hours
Trans-Canada: Vancouver to Halifax, Nova Scotia (or vice-versa) all on
Canadian roads, in less than 90 hours
Trans-Canada Gold: Vancouver to Halifax (or vice-versa) all on Canadian
roads in less than 75 hours.
National Parks Tour: Visit at least 50 National Parks, Monuments, etc.,
in at least 25 states within one year
48-10: Ride all lower 48 states in 10 days.
48 Plus: 49 states (all 48 continental states plus Alaska) in 10 days
Border-to-Border Insanity: Mexico-U.S.-Canada in less than 24 Hours
Ultimate Coast to Coast: Cross North America from Key West, Fla., to
Deadhorse, Alaska, in 30 days or less
Great Lakes
Great Lakes Ride: Around the Great Lakes in less than 100 hours
Great Lakes Gold Ride: Around the Great Lakes in less than 50 hours
Lake Michigan 1000: 24 hours around Lake Michigan
Lake Huron 1000: 24 hours around Lake Huron
Lake Superior 1000: 24 hours around Lake Superior
Lower Great Lakes 1000: 24 hours around Lakes Ontario and Erie
Copyright © 2005, Chicago Tribune
================================================
Rumbling
toward 100K
By Margo Harakas
Staff Writer
Posted December 30 2004
After motorcycling more than 100,000 miles in a single year,
Fort Lauderdale retiree Jack Dodds is still running up the odometer.
A few weeks ago, he zipped over to Alabama just for lunch. Round-trip, that's
a 16-hour, 1,400-mile ride.
And then there's the 500 miles put on a new Honda Gold Wing two days after he
bought it.
Keep in mind, while the 73-year-old has 19,000 miles on his 6-year-old
Jaguar, in the past 12 months he has worn out the warranty on his 2004 BMW,
and the warranty on his 2004 Harley won't carry him through next year. All
that rumbling to chase a dream of being the oldest biker to make it into the
Iron Butt Association's elite 100K Club.
Only six other bikers, all younger, have been or are being certified for
membership, according to the association.
"I've had a fabulous year," says Dodds, who was profiled on July
22.
There were tough moments, of course. In Arizona, a tire
"disintegrated" on him. "If he wasn't such a good rider,"
says his wife, Priscilla, "he would have been all over the road."
In the Texas Panhandle, he encountered a foot of snow and 40-mph winds. A
five-day, 5,200-mile ride around the Great Lakes was "fabulous,"
but by the final day, temperatures dropped to the 30s and Dodds was
exhausted. "I was just lucky I didn't hit a deer or raccoon." Both
crossed his path several times.
Far
from deterring him, such hardships add drama to his 400-plus-page book, which
his wife is trying to edit down. Complete with maps and photographs of
stunning vistas and glorious sunrises and sunsets, the book is a running
commentary on "what I liked and how I felt, what worked on the bike and
what didn't," he says.
Since he has achieved his grand ambition, Priscilla says "he ought to
stop and rest on his laurels." But she knows darn well "he's not
going to."
Indeed, even as he assembles the foot-high documentation for certification
for his 100K, Dodds talks of new endurance challenges for 2005: a May ride
from Maine to Alaska, touching 49 states, and a 29-day South American road
trip through Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Bolivia and Chile in October. On the
latter ride, Priscilla will follow in a Land Rover.
"My schedule for 2005 goes all over the North and South American
continents and should be a lot of new experiences," he says.
He's counting on his new bike for a more comfortable ride.
"This is a six cylinder," he says, cranking up the Gold Wing.
"You feel that. There's absolutely no vibration in it."
Well, maybe a little.
"It's got a lot more power than the Harley," he continues.
"Don't tell anyone, but I can put this on cruise control and ride about
110 mph and do it all day long. Mechanically it can take it. The other bikes
can't."
Ask what he's learned from his great adventure, and his wife speaks up.
"That his wife is very patient and long suffering," she says with a
laugh.
Dodds agrees. "I couldn't do it without the partnership I have."
Margo Harakas can be reached at mharakas@sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4728.
for the complete story:
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/features/lifestyle/sfl-lidoddsdec30,0,5076547.story?coll=sfla-features-headlines
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
October 2004
After our Chapter Meeting many of the members ventured to
Montgomery's Restaurant on US 322 to view their banquet room. With Director
Tim in lead, and as the newest member of the Mantua HOG "Car Club",
we gathered in the parking lot of Montgomery's. Well, as a group we've already been asked to leave! My first thought was to see if Peggy
Peters was with us. (As she got thrown out of DQ). As it turns out they had a private clambake, and we didn't have
tickets! The bar was full of football
fans, so we didn't get to sample their fare.
Tim explained out purpose for viewing the banquet room, and they
allowed a few members to take a look.
Tim will have more information at the November 14th meeting.
We're still
hungry, so we headed west to the Tavern of Chester. CLOSED! And we're still
hungry! Traveling back east to Murphy's Bar and Grill. What a surprised look on the staffs face
when fifteen hungry bikers show up on their entrance! After seating all members and taking
beverage orders in walks Judy and Kenny and Pam and Mark! Now with nineteen hungry bikers to
feed! When all were finally fed, more
than three hours pasted. The food and service was great! A place to remember to return to!
________________________________________________
Today, October 16, 2004 we left Carlton
H-D on time at noon heading south, them west to Dix Stadium at Kent State
University in northeast Ohio. With Director Tim, Mikey, Ty, and Mark leaving
our sponsoring dealership with treasurer Tony directing our departure we met
up with Lee at our destination. With no road Captain was present, the
Director designated Ty as Road Captain. Winds at nine MPH, and sustained
winds at 26 MPH it was a challenge to keep between the marked lanes on the
roadways. On top of that was the forty-four degree temperature that just cut
through our leather and denim clothing.
This has been
an annual event for our HOG Chapter.
For many, many years the University Alumni has asked our Chapter to
participate in their Home Coming events.
This year was quite different!
No parade, no University President as a passenger, we would have our
motorcycles as a display at the stadium.
With the Mantua H.O.G. Chapter having the greatest number of
motorcycles at the stadium!
At Dix Stadium
there was plenty of coffee and Krispy Kream doughnuts waiting for shivering
bikers. The winds created the olde adage of "flying doughnuts".
Remembering the CDC's latest five second ruling we salvaged a few! This was a historical day, as Krispy Kream
will shut down local production in Ravenna Ohio as of today! And this will be a disastrous day for Tony
& Ty as Krispy Kream Doughnuts has been a ride-starting protocol for the
past summer.
Arriving with
in the stated arrival time we secured our motorcycles and went inside the KSU
Athletic Training Facility to warm up!
There was a vast array of University affiliations including their own
TV-2. After some prodding and encouragement, our Assit director
"Mikey" was prompted to read a pre-printed script for KSU TV-2 as
if he was news anchor! Well,, It's
self-explanatory, and he found a blow-up doll too! Then our Director finds a
Tiger cub to play with! After
coercing the trainer to allow a photo of the critter with our HOG members we
continued our tour of the Athletic Training Facility. As the Cleveland
Brown's football team has practiced in the same facility it was a proud
moment to be here!
As our
commitment to the University Alumni was complete we said our good by's to the
Harley organizer and exited in proper formation. Dale Ty
Mantua Hog Secretary
==============================================
Sunday October 03 2004 was the annual
A.B.A.T.E. region Zero Pig roast held again at Carlton Harley Davidson in
Mantua Ohio. The weather was near perfect! Slightly cool, so you wore a
jacket, and continued enjoying the sport of motorcycling to and fro this
event. Parking was plentiful under the clear skies. With vendors offerings
from leather goods in many variations to used parts, new H-D parts, and best
of all ,,, FOOD! There was soda, bottled water, and yes,,
plenty of Beer too!
The gates opened at noon with bikers
waiting to enter and enjoy the fun!
The Bike show offered all participants viewing of a sampling of vintage
motorcycles of various manufactures. The live bands entertained throughout
the event. The advertised "Pig
Roast" was set to begin serving at 2pm, and the line of awaiting hungry
bikers started forming well before the serving time. Carlton's store was open
during most of the event for bike and motor clothes sales. A closer look
turned up the 2005 Bikes and Snowmobiles on display also. Unlike last year,
not many sweatshirts were sold with excellent weather and moderate
temperatures too!
Thanks to the Mantua HOG members who
assisted there sponsoring dealership in staffing this event. Mark you calendars for the first Sunday in
October next year, and most likely every year for these festivities!
The next event will be Carlton Harley
Davidson Thanksgiving Sale. Call for details 330-274-3141 / 800-633-6997
Carlton Harley
Davidson Open House was again a success! Held September 18 and 19th 2004.
Many of the Mantua H.O.G. Chapter members volunteered to assist our
sponsoring dealership with a variety of tasks. About forty "Demo"
rides were registered and provided, with one running out of fuel on
Sunday. Chef Tony, on his inaugural
duties presented a pleasing display of food fare for the patrons, guests, and
employees by using his acquired cooking talents to please each and every
person’s food preparation request. Over 100 hotdogs and brats were served
throughout the weekend event.
=================================================
Harley
Davidson's Final Assembly Plants in York Pennsylvania held their "Open
House" September 23 & 24th 2004. Chapter members traveling to this
event were Tim, Tony, Ty, Glen, Lee & Carol.
Being able to
tour the Final Assembly plans for the "Touring" models, as well as
the first ever group to view the "Soft Tail" final assembly plant.
Security was near the same as an airport. Registration cards must be
completed, photo ID's, and metal detectors. All of this and you are still in
the asphalt parking lot! Arriving well before the 8am opening we were about number
one hundredth in line. Carol and Lee tried to get to the
"demo-rides" and were greeted with the same waiting.
Being able to
see a raw rolled coil of sheet steel become a fabricated and welded fuel
tank, or fender, or oil tank. Seeing a slender roll of coiled steel being
cut, stamped, formed, and trimmed into an exhaust heat shield then just adds
chrome plating! Chrome wheels being laced individually. The final assembly
line with a few robotic arms to ease workers while attaching front wheel
assemblies. The two final assembly plants were similar in productivity with
about 800 new Harley Davidson motorcycles being shipped by the end of two
work shifts per day from each plant. The Soft Tail plant was much more
accommodating to the factory workers.
It was air-conditioned! On the way out we toured the Plant museum and
gift shop. The factory workers of IAM Local 175 offered their York Open House
2004 tee shirts. Just a footnote about the plant tour, as compared to
previous Open Houses,,, there were NO
hot dogs to be had! And none of the employees would or could answer this.
With hotels
having to be booked in different locations we finally we able to meet
together at the York Fairgrounds on Friday afternoon. The pleasant staff of
"Street Diamond Motorcycles", were gracious enough to allow the use
of their vendor booth as a backdrop for the group picture of the losers
of the Sportster motorcycle grand prize drawing. Vendors offered custom
motorcycles, Iron Braids, faring vents, leather accessories, 342,000.00dollar
motor homes, bike trailers, air horns and free hot dogs!
Biker Billy
was a main attraction. Ty finally got to see his show. Biker Billy having
members of his audience participates and assists him with cooking many of his
famous extra spicy recipes. One learns quickly while watching his exhibit NOT
to laugh, TALK, ect, ect,,, or YOU can become his next victim to eat hot
peppers, or cloves of garlic.
Much to our
Chapter Treasurers dismay, Director Tim was the only Mantua Chapter member to
indulge in the free hotdogs (plural). The Treasurers' anguish of being ten
minutes late to receive the free hotdogs was repeated and reminded to Glen,
Ty, Lee, and Carol for the duration of the event, and ride home!
Talking with the
vendor of the free hotdogs was interesting! On Thursday they served three
thousand, Friday they stopped at seven thousand additional hotdogs being
served. With another ten thousand hotdogs to be served on Saturday they knew
they would run out quickly again!
Late Friday afternoon
Tony, Glen and Ty rode to Gettysburg Battle Field to observe this historical
site. Tim, Lee and Carol participated in the motorcycle parade through York.
Leaving the
hotels early Saturday morning Director Tim went ahead of the group to blaze a
trail through the intense fog that had blanketed most of central Pennsylvania
over nite. With Lee leading the group as our Road Captain our speed over
ground traveling to York topped out at a blistering thirty-one miles per
hour! With this pace continuing Tony
and Ty strapped on helmets!
On the return
trip home, Glen calculated our speed over ground had increased to forty-one
miles per hour and urged the Road Captain to slow down! As for fuel
efficiency, Carol's Sportster averaged sixty (60) miles per gallon! Ty tried
shooting some video while riding through the Pennsylvania Turnpike Tunnels.
Returning to
the Ohio boarder we were welcomed back to Ohio with a short rain shower.
All of these riders contributed to their mileage totals
with an additional seven hundred or more!
Dale Ty
Mantua Ohio H.O.G. Secretary
==================================================
June 2004
With the ”Hoagy 1500” Iron Butt ride complete, and with
the participation of Mantua HOG Chapter members and their guest, a world record
has been beaten!
Tim M., Dale Ty, Glen S., and Jim M.
with 3 of this associates traveled eight states and about two thousand miles
in two days from leaving home to returning home. Leaving Ohio south thru West
Virginia, continuing into Virginia, then west thru Tennessee into Arkansas.
Heading north to St Louis, Missouri for the night.(and a very short nite it
was!) Starting at five a.m. east thru
Illinois,(Glen can explain this one!) into Indiana, coming to the final
destination east of Columbus Ohio. All of these members and guests can
receive the Iron Butt award.
It was necessary to have 42 bikes
complete the ride to break the existing record. Hoagy was able to convince over sixty bikes and near seventy
riders and passengers to take the challenge.
And a challenge it was! With intense rain on the first day it was
necessary to change into our rain suits many times. Winding roads on the West
Virginia Turnpike followed by the tunnels too. Plus an extended delay on I-40 in Tennessee from road
construction in the rain!
With the requirements to wear an
approved helmet on the majority of the ride, our director re-wrote the rules
slightly.
The main purpose for this event was to
raise donations for Special Wish Foundation in Columbus Ohio. Twenty Eight
Thousand dollars was raised from this Iron Butt event.
Dale TY Hoagys Heroes Secretary
June 24
2005 1000 miles in less than 24
hours Uniontown, Pa.
Email INFO@HOAGYSHEROES.org or www.HOAGYSHEROES.org
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Well,,
three days ago it sounded like a great idea.
An invitation to ride for lunch for a bologna sandwich in central
Ohio. Two organizations were meeting
to make a joint ride to a common destination. In Waldo Ohio in Delaware
County a local restaurant boasts of the Worlds Famous Fried Bologna
sandwich. Food, that's reason enough
for us to ride!
It's Saturday
November sixth 7:15am, Its 29 degrees as the sun starts rising with light
winds. Meeting in Parkman Ohio on US-422 for coffee, Krispy Kream and bike
fuel too, it becomes quite apparent the weather is more suited to snowmobile
than touring motorcycle.
Fueled and headed westbound on US-422
at 65mph the wind chill factored at minus ten degrees Fahrenheit we questioned
ourselves as to the necessity to ride this morning?
The biggest benefit to riding today is
the bike will not overheat! We could
freeze, but its too late, we're riding towards Lodi Ohio.
Meeting at the golden arches off of
I-71 near Lodi we were amazed to find more than a hand full of motorcycles
already there!
Finding Rick M, who invited us, we
introduced ourselves too more dedicated motorcyclist that I'll ever remember.
With 15 bikes leaving the "Arches" at 9:30am sharp we "followed-the-leader" thru the winding roads of central Ohio for
a sight seeing tour through the rolling hills of central Ohio stopping for
fuel in Mount Union Ohio. A quick count of bikes, and it seems the group grew
as we left the Arches? Continuing our
travels to Waldo Ohio and G & R restaurant. This is the home of the
"World Famous" Fried Bologna Sandwich. Hoagy and Tim Z., from Hoagys Heroes, as well as many others
met us here.
A quick look at the bikes parked
showed participants from Georgia, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Illinois,
Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Ontario Canada (7 bikes), Kentucky, Tennessee and
West Virginia. Last count had fifty-seven bikes! But there were still a few
more pulling in! If you combined the letters from the various manufacturers
of the bikes there would not be too many letter left. And they came just for
lunch from ten U.S. States and two Countries!
Being
served their Famous sandwich we enjoyed the food and company.
With members from Motorcycle Tourer's
Forum and North East Ohio Motorheads Society sharing common interests,
Conversations
continued with mixing riders. Hoagy
and Dale Ty provided riders with a planned thousand mile ride in June 2005.
Leaving Waldo about 2pm Tony, Rick
& Pat, and Ty headed north in the blistering heat that was approaching 60
degrees! The days ride was complete with 372 miles round trip, but we didn't
leave Ohio.
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