Greetings Riders,

 

Well, we are just back from our 10 day trip to Nashville, TN that included 7 days of riding through the Appalachian Mountains touching 6 states in our 1750 mile journey through a beautiful area of the United States that we had never been. We shipped the bikes to Franklin, TN, to our old friend Rich Gargano who is the GM at Harley-Davidson of Cool Springs. We took an early morning flight to Nashville on Friday, August 23rd, Rich had us picked up from the airport and taken to HD Cool Springs where our bikes were waiting for us, fully loaded and ready to go.

 

We are both big country music fans, so we spent the first couple of nights staying in downtown Nashville, just being tourists and enjoying the Nashville night life. More on that later. On Sunday, we launched on the bikes for what would be 7 full days of riding around the Smoky Mountains and beyond on the Blue Ridge Pkwy, and off, all the way to Virginia and then returning to Nashville before delivering the bikes back to HD Cool Springs and catching a flight back home on Sunday.

 

I will go into detail with plenty of photos and maps over the next few weeks about this great trip, but for now, highlights along the way were touring the Jack Daniel’s Distillery in Lynchburg, riding the Tail of the Dragon, visiting the Wheels Through Time Museum in Maggie Valley, NC, touring the Biltmore Mansion in Asheville, NC, visiting the Andy Griffith Museum in Mt. Airy, NC, seeing picturesque Mabry Mill in Virginia, visiting the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, KY and of course, riding over 250 miles on the beautiful Blue Ridge Pkwy, a fantastic motorcycle road that more than lives up to the hype.

 

This was our first experience riding East of Kansas, and was it a good one. We have heard so much about the Blue Ridge Pkwy over the years, and had tried to get there a few times that didn’t work out, but we finally made it this year and we are glad we did. It is completely different than the mountain riding we do in the West, but a nice change with all of the green trees, manicured parkways and canopied roadways that we don’t get around here. We will be back for sure.

 

We have over 1600 photos that were taken along the way that need to be sorted out and I will be doing that over the next couple of weeks. I plan to start the first report of this trip in the newsletter on the 19th or 26th of this month. I am looking forward to sharing this with the Cyclerides.com family and hope you will enjoy. In the meantime, I started posting photos on the Cyclerides.com Facebook last night and will every day or so. Even if you don’t use Facebook, you can view the photos at www.facebook.com/cycleridescom . Like the page or check it out to see some that were already posted.

 

After spending 7 days and 1750 miles on the bike, I am refreshed, energized and really excited for the Fall riding season to begin here in Arizona. And what better way to kick it off than with the Cyclerides.com Westgate Bike Night that will begin on Thursday, September 12th, from 5-9 PM. Firefighters have had a tough year in 2012 with all of the wildfires around the country, and particularly here in Arizona with the loss of 19 firefighters in Prescott. So I thought it would be nice to begin this season with a “Firefighter Appreciation Night”, to give us an opportunity to show ALL of our firefighters how much we appreciate the service that they provide for us in so many ways.

 

There will be representation from firefighters throughout the night, but at 7:30 PM we will have a 20 minute program that will honor our firefighters. The presentation will begin with The Firefighter Bag Pipers leading the honor guard, fire trucks, and Winds of Fire riders down Coyotes Blvd. to the center of events plaza where they will perform “America the Beautiful” on the pipes. If you have never seen these guys perform, set aside this night to do that. The sounds of these bag pipes seem to go right through you, especially for such a special night as this. We will then have a representative from Prescott Fire that will speak as well as Rick Picard, Deputy Chief from Peoria Fire with a special video presentation honoring the Yarnell 19 fallen firefighters. Please join us on this night to help show our love for these men and women who are there to help us every day.

 

For those of you that are new to the area, or have not been to a Cyclerides.com Westgate Bike Night presented by Arrowhead Harley-Davidson and Ridenow Powersports I will bring you up to speed. After a 2 1/2 month Summer hiatus, we are only days away from kicking off the 2013 Fall Season of 10 consecutive Thursday Bike Nights at Westgate City Center, located at the Loop 101 & Glendale Ave. There is always disappointment when it ends in the Spring, but the anticipation has been building this year and we are once again ready kick off what has become the largest bike night in the Southwest. Believe it or not, this Fall will end the 5th season of the Cyclerides.com Westgate Bike Night that will end on Thursday, November 14th.

 

If you were there last year, you know the setting. In the midst of all the lights, billboards and 30'x50' LED Video screen, Westgate has created the feel of Times Square in the desert and on Thursdays it transforms into a mini Sturgis. Coyote Blvd., located adjacent to the $6 million dancing fountains will be blocked off for motorcycles only, as well as the entire events plaza and everywhere else you can find a place to park your bike. If critical mass creates energy, we have it here. Then throw in some music, lights, vendors, happening bars and restaurants like Saddleranch, McFaddens, Margaritaville and the Shout House, add the roar of a thousand motorcycles, and you've got yourself a party every Thursday night.

 

This year we will kick off bike night with the high-energy performance of valley favorite “74th Street Band”. Based out of Phoenix, AZ, 74th Street is a five-piece classic and southern rock band featuring a triple-threat guitar attack like no other. With a powerful, dynamic rhythm section and five-part harmony vocals, 74th Street is considered a premier cover band in the Valley of the Sun. A perfect way to kick of the Cyclerides.com Westgate Bike Night.

 

There will be several restaurant specials at Westgate for bike including the newest restaurant in events plaza area called Whiskey Rose Bar & Grill. Click Here to View specials.  

 

I look forward to seeing you on Thursday, September 12th to join in honoring our Firefighters with a short ceremony and to help kick off another season of the Cyclerides.com Westgate Bike Night presented by Arrowhead HD and Ridenow Powersports. Thanks to Rick Picard, Deputy Chief Peoria Fire for all of his help in helping me organize this special event.

 

 

 

Wednesday, September 11th

Remember 9/11. Our tribute to life. Ride for Freedom and the American Way. Resurrection Street Ministries Charity Motorcycle Ride. Ride from Mesa to Sacaton honoring all those who served, are serving both at home and away. Donation: $25 plus $5 for additional rider. Leave from S.T.U.F.F. Veterans Thrift Store. Check-In will start at 7 AM Coffee & Donuts; Complimentary Flags. Ride ends at Veterans Memorial Park with a lunch and remembrance tributes. This charity ride will allow Resurrection Street Ministries to continue helping All Vets, the homeless, senior and less fortunate in our communities with food, clothing, shelters, jobs, opportunities available. Reservations -  Call 480-775-1466 ext. 116.

 

Thursday, September 12th

Every Thursday, September 12th – November 14th

 

 

Saturday, September 14th

Harley-Davidson of Scottsdale First Responders Tribute Ride. Ride in to help Harley-Davidson of Scottsdale take a day to honor our First Responders.

 

 

Mid Week Updates will be made on the Cyclerides.com Facebook. New Easy to remember Facebook address. Go to Cyclerides.com Facebook. Over 4300 FANS!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!