Cyclerides.com
Weekly Update
7/21/10
Greetings Riders,
Well, The dog days of summer are
officially here. With the temperatures being above 110 for so long,
it seems that people are just wanting to stay inside as much as possible. Riding
a motorcycle seems to be right behind jumping in the pool. But. . . if you are
like me, that can only last a short time until I am anxious to get back on the
bike and see the world. If you are looking for a good excuse to get out of town
to the cooler country for a couple of days I have one for you. A couple of weeks
ago Mrs. C. and I did a ride to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and then to
the South Rim. This is an excellent weekend trip. If you missed it, Click Here for the Report and
here for some beautiful Photos of the
North Rim and South Rim.
When it gets this hot in Arizona that is my cue
to pull up Google Maps and start looking for a cool get away place to ride
to. This year I have been looking at Oregon and Northern California
as possible locations. Since we have limited days to spend, I am thinking about
shipping the bike to Portland and winding my way about 2500 miles
back. If anyone has some locations to visit or great road ideas
for those areas please let me know.
When you are on some long straight roads, it is much different than say, riding the Million Dollar Highway, because
it gives you much more time to think. On this last trip to the North
Rim, we had a few stretches that I was able to just think and allow some random
thoughts come to my mind. Often times coming up with more questions than
answers. I would like to share a few of them with you now. If you have some
that you have come up with, email them to me and maybe I can post the list.
Here are the top 10 of my random
thoughts:
1. When there is not
a cloud in the sky, where does that water that hits you in the face come from?
Did a guy in that 757 flying over just flush
the toilet?
2. When you are on a 2 lane highway and it
opens up to a passing lane on your side of the road, why
is it that the slow car in front always decides that he should go faster? I
can never figure that out.
3. Why is it that they over fill the cracks
in asphalt leaving slick elevated "tar snakes"? Why not just
fill it level to the top and be done with it? More is not better in this
case. Those things can really make you pucker on a curve.
4. On a long straight desolate 2 lane road,
is the 55 mph speed limit more of a suggestion than a rule? I think
so.
5. I saw this on a sunshade for a car
windshield that burned up a few miles of thought for me: "Do
not attempt to operate vehicle with sunshade in place." Well, that IS good
advice. But if you know the person that has tried this, let me know the next
time they are on the road. I will be sure and find something to do around the
house.
6. How would you like to be the first
Spanish explorer back in the 1500's cruising South down Hwy. 67 on
your horse and come upon the Grand Canyon North Rim knowing that
you had dinner plans that night with the Hopi's on the other
side? That isn't going to happen.
7. Technology is supposed to make us smarter,
but I think texting is dumbing us down. One mistake that I see
everywhere all the time is the word "your" being used when someone means
"you're". If you want to tell someone they are the best. It is "you're the best"
not, "your the best". Funny the things you think of while
riding. Even
wikiHow has a page on this.
8. Who invented politicians? I wish
they would take them back. Enough said.
9. As I was standing on the South Rim reading a
sign telling me how the Spanish first found this place in the Summer of 1540,
it really got me thinking about how these people communicated. In
today's world of instant access it is almost unfathomable how they even found
each other again.
Did Coronado ride up
to the edge of the South Rim on his horse, put his hand up over his
eyes to shade the sun while observing this huge canyon, then pull out is
I-Phone to text Magellan on the East Coast with the GPS
coordinates, and a note that said "dude, you've got to see this
place"? Put those coordinates in your Garmin, get on your
horse and get out here. See you in 6 months. Then did he fire up
his I-Pad to take some notes and email them to Vasquez? I
seriously don't know how this type of information was accurately recorded and has been passed
along for the last 500 years. For all we know it is from some high school
creative writing class or a lot of conjecture and filling in the blanks by a
historian.
10. And last but not least. Why is it that when you are riding directly into a solid dark sky
of rain clouds, you smell rain in the air, cars that are coming at you are
wet with their windshield wipers on, that somehow the rain is going to miss
you? That is the power of positive thinking at its best. I seem to have a
particular problem with this one.
Ponder your own
thoughts on your next ride and let me know.
Plan a trip. Ride safe and have a good
weekend.
Barry
Tidbits and Updates:
This is an excellent 8 minute video of
interviews with riders on the Hoka Hey during the trip. Excellent account and well done from a rider perspective. It was a religious experience for
at least one guy. Watch to at least the 7 minute mark. I think anyone would
enjoy this video. See the hammock system for the bike. Click
Here to View.
Bike Nights This
Week
Billet Bar Bike Night has moved to Wednesdays as well as
Thursdays!
Not only that, Billet Bar is now serving food
cooked right there on the grill!
That's right, Myron now has a grill
and is serving up 1/4 pound cheeseburgers and chips right there hot off the
grill for $6.50 every day of the week. On bike night enjoy happy hour
pricing on drinks all night long. Click Here
for 2 for 1 coupon for your first drink. Print
it out and bring it in to redeem.
The Billet was Voted "BEST BIKER BAR
IN PHOENIX" by New Times. There is no better place to
watch all the Bikes ride down Scottsdale road than from The Billet Bar Patio.
The Billet is ALWAYS packed with bikes Every Day. Stop by and take a look at the
New Flamed Booths on the Paradise Patio. The new bars front and rear provide
spacious seating, fresh air atmosphere, perfect temperature and courteous staff.
You can sit at the back bar and watch your favorite TV on any of the seven big
inch televisions. Play pool, listen to the latest music and socialize. The front
patio seats over 75 people and is perfect for people watching on Scottsdale Rd.
The Billet Bar is located on 3752 N. Scottsdale Rd. Check it out this Thursday
night and all weekend long. Info: at 480-941-1876.
Events This
Week
July 23 - 25
19th Annual Too
Broke For Sturgis presented by ABATE of Arizona. TBFS is the largest
biker event in AZ other than Bike Week.
There is live music, The
Fryed Brothers, bike games, a bike show, Miss Too Broke contest, a wet t-shirt
contest and more. TBFS is ABATE of Arizona's annual fundraiser. All proceeds go
directly towards ABATE’s efforts to preserve and promote motorcycling throughout
Arizona. THIS IS AN OLD SCHOOL ADULTS ONLY PARTY! No one under
the age of 18. Admission: $30 per person for weekend pass * $15 per person
Saturday Pass ** ABATE MEMBERS GET $5 off per person for weekend pass. Admission
includes: * Event pins to first 1500 *Camping Fri & Sat nights *Live Music
Fri & Sat night * Bike Show *Poker Run * Poker Walk * People Games * Ms Too
Broke Contest * Wet T-Shirt Contest * 50/50 Raffle [Vendors call
520-371-1735] All takes place next to Mormon Lake Lodge located just South of
Flagstaff. See flyer for directions and details or visit Website: www.toobrokeforsturgis.com or Call
602-ABATEAZ or E-mail: abateaz@qwestoffice.net
Saturday, July 24th
Chester's
Harley-Davidson presents E.B. Chester's Story of his 9100 mile Hoka Hey
ride. E.B. Chester is back from his 9100 mile Hoka Hey Challenge adventure
and wants to tell his story.
Click Here for E.B.'s personal video
invitation. Stop by the Chester's Harley-Davidson HOG Room on Saturday, July 24th at
10:30am to hear E.B's one hour presentation as he outlines his incredible
story of how they rode from the Florida Keys to Homer, AK, over 9100 miles in 12
Days. For all who ride, this will be a treat to hear this story of endurance in
a once in a lifetime ride. Meet fellow Hoka Hey Riders Travis & Judy.
Limited Seating and Lunch Provided. Must RSVP by Thursday, July 22nd. Call
480-894-0404 or email adepape@chestershd.com . Chester's
Harley-Davidson is located at 922 S. Country Club Dr. in Mesa, AZ.
Next Week
Saturday, July 31st
Buddy Stubbs Hog
& Dogs and YOU! Buddy Stubbs is celebrating 44 years of being in the
Harley business this month and he is inviting you to come celebrate
with him. The party is from 11am - 3pm and will include Free Food, Drinks, Live
Music, Museum Tours with Buddy, Pool Tournament, Misted Patio, Bikini Bike Wash
from 11-2. Not only that, you can do some shopping while you are there at up to
50% off on selected T-Shirts, Helmets and Boots. Buddy Stubbs is located at
13850 N. Cave Creek Rd. in Phoenix. 602-971-3400.
Extras
Mid Week Updates will be made
on the Cyclerides.com Facebook.
Take a look at all
the new photos posted on the
wall. If you are not on Facebook, you can
still view the page, but you will not be able to post. There will
be a link there for you to sign up for Facebook if you are inclined. Click the
LIKE
button!
The latest edition of the Biker Information
Guide is now out. Check with your local
bike shop or dealership to get your copy now. See my article on the Kartchner
Caverns.
Want to see a Military Tribute rock and roll
style. Watch Gene Simmons and Kiss and
they sing all the military songs at a USO event. Very uplifting as the troops
sing along. This had over 1.7 million views. Click
Here to View.
Want to see how our troops in Iraq handle tech support issues with their HP electronic equipment? Check this
out. Click
Here to View.
Video of the Week: If this one
doesn't make you laugh, nothing will. Could have been from
Dumb and Dumber. Click Here to
View. Click on the
Video of the Week graphic on the page.
All
information in this newsletter is
Copyright © 2010 BDC Products,
LLC.
Information may be used only with permission.
All rights
reserved.
