Cyclerides.com Weekly Update 10/28/09

Greetings Riders,

In the "Tid Bits" section last week I told you that we were going to fly to the Copperstate Fly-In last Thursday at 6am with Scott Pasmore and that our trip down there would be filmed live from the start at Deer Valley, including Skype shots from my laptop in the air and at Casa Grande. Well, in the world of TV, nothing is absolute. The cameraman called in sick that was supposed to film at Deer Valley, the producer didn't take any of the Skype shots from the plane and the only part they caught live was us pulling into the parking area in Casa Grande. But, it was a beautiful morning and I did get some good shots of the Phoenix skyline and the Sunrise over Tempe Town Lake. It never ceases to amaze me how incredibly big this Valley is. I know when riding from one end to the other it can take 90 minutes. It seems to go as far as you can see in both directions when going over Sky Harbor. Friday we repeated the trip only this time on the motorcycles for a nice 150 mile roundtrip. Here are a few pics of Phoenix from the air.

The day time heat has finally broken for a few days but what that means is colder temperatures in the mornings as well. With all of the rides coming up over the next few weeks, there will be some early morning travel on the motorcycle to get to some of these events. That means encountering some temps that will likely be in the low to mid 40's when you start day. And if you are up North, freezing will certainly be in your future. I see that Flagstaff is predicting 15 degrees for tomorrow night.

If you have ever ridden in the cold and not been prepared, you know how incredibly uncomfortable it can be. I remember 2 times in particular that are imprinted in my mind from riding in cold weather. Must have been about 6 years ago I was riding clear across town to a toy ride in December. At the time that I left the house it was a balmy 36 degrees. I took what I thought were all of the steps that I needed to take to stay warm, but it didn't seem to work at all. I was absolutely frozen by the time that I got there. The other time a lot of you probably shared with me. It was during the Buddy Stubbs Wednesday Ride during AZ Bike Week. No one knew this was coming, but as we headed from Cottonwood to Strawberry, a cold front came over the rim and dropped the temperature to as low as 32 degrees AND it started snowing on us. My hands and feet have never been so cold. Here is the video of the snow with music taken from my bike that was shown on TV3. We still talk about that one.

We all know how cold it can be on a bike in the winter, but what can you do to stay warm enough to ride? I'm sure we all have our methods of keeping warm, but here are just a couple of ideas to help out.

1. Wear a helmet. If you don't normally wear a helmet, believe it or not, this is a good reason to start. I don't personally wear a helmet all the time, but I have recently started doing so to combat the elements, both hot and cold and am really enjoying it. Keeping your head covered up with a good 3/4 helmet helps retain the heat from your head in your body, which helps keep you warm. I remember riding through some cold rain near Show Low earlier this year. I had my helmet on and was fine. I stopped at a gas station, took it off and got severely chilled. Put it back on when leaving and finally got warm again.

2. Wear Thermal Underwear. A little thin layer of thermal underwear doesn't seem like much, but it really can help keep the heat in your body instead of escaping to the cold air. Some riders just use basic long johns, but you can get more technical state of the art gear specifically designed for motorcycling. Google for more information.

3. Go Electric. If your bike is set up for it, you can always get electric jackets, pants and gloves. Some are even battery operated. These can certainly take the edge off of the bitter cold. You can also get heated grips if you are planning on doing a lot of riding in cold weather and even a heated seat.

4. Batten down the hatches. That's right. You can have all the best gear on that you can buy, but if cold air is getting in, it can undermine all your efforts. Wear a gauntlet style of glove preferably with an elastic top and wear boots that will come up over your jeans. Also the use of a scarf around your neck to seal the wind from going down your jacket is a good idea.

5. Waterproof. If you might run into rain, make sure to waterproof your boots, gloves are anything that would be prone to quickly getting wet and soaked through.

6. A bigger windshield. A lot of people use the smaller windshield because they look better. But in the winter who cares? A bigger windshield will go a long way in protecting you from the elements in the winter.

Those are my suggestions, now I could use yours. I have a terrible time with my hands and feet getting ice cold. Has anyone found any good tricks with products that will keep my hands and feet warm? If you do, email me at info@cyclerides.com . I would like to hear about them.

Wednesday

NEW!!!
Historic Downtown Chandler Wednesday Bike Night. Over 400 bikes attended last week. Click Here for Photos.
Presented by Cyclerides.com and the Downtown Chandler Community Partnership. This is a first for the City of Chandler. They are opening up 2 blocks of Historic Downtown for a Wednesday Bike Night, and what a great venue it will be. This is the closest thing we will have to a Sturgis type experience. Within this 2 blocks there are 6 restaurants and bars that are participating with bike night specials. Parking will be on San Marcos Pl., and the area just to the East.
Restaurant Participants will include: Check for weekly specials.
The San Marcos Hotel with Live Entertainment in beautiful AJ's Courtyard.
Murphy's Law with Live Music,
San Tan Brewing
El Zocalo Mexican
The Bistro at Kokopelli Winery
98 South and Piza Pizza.
Click Here for all the Weekly Restaurant Specials.

There will be music on the street and Vendors will be setting up this week.
Motorcycles will be on display by our Sponsors Chandler Harley-Davidson and Ridenow Powersports. We would also like to thank Chuck Franklin Law as one of our first sponsors. We will be adding activities and vendors as the event progresses over the next couple of weeks. Downtown Chandler is located just 5.5 miles South of U.S. 60 on Arizona Ave. adjacent to Dr. AJ Chandler Park. (MAP) Please ride out and join us from 6pm - 10pm.
If you would like to be a vendor at this event contact me at info@cyclerides.com

Chester's Harley-Davidson Wednesday Bike Night.
Chester's HD invites you to Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill Bike Night every Wednesday night. If you looking to get your bike out of the garage and ride someplace where you know other riders will be, head out to Toby Keith's located in the Mesa Riverview next to Bass Pro Shop, Loop 202 and Dobson, Mesa. 6PM til Close. Live Band starts at 7PM. Free Raffle and great prizes. Half price selected appetizers, $2 wells til 7pm. $3 longnecks or $12/bucket of 5. Designated bike parking. Ride With Us and get a free Chester's koozie! Leaves Chester's at 5:30PM sharp. This is really a fun place for a bike night that includes a large outdoor patio. Great Food, Great Music, Great Place, Great Time! For more information call Chester's HD at 480-894-0404.

Thursday Night

NEW!!!
Bike Night Thursday at McDuffy's in Peoria. Ride by the newest Bike Night on the West side. Over 100 bikes every week. McDuffy's is one of the finest West side locations for a bike night at a single restaurant. The 12,500 Sq. Ft. McDuffy's features 2 outdoor patios, a huge dining room with booths for seating, a very large area with high tops for you to easily hang out with your friends, an upper level for lounging or to play pool, a very large bar and 100 TV's to watch your favorite sporting event. Not only that the dinner menu is very broad and McDuffy's has excellent food at a very good price. Bike Nights features a $6.99 Menu that includes Classic Burgers, Charbroiled Chicken Breast Burger, Buffalo Wings, Chicken Quesadilla, Nachos, Popcorn Chicken, Pizza and 1/2 Drink Pricing. Stop by for the first night on Thursday, September 17th. McDuffy's is located just South of 83rd Ave. and Bell Rd. at 15814 N. 83rd Ave. 623-334-5000. Plenty of Motorcycle Parking! RAFFLES! For September Arrowhead Harley will be raffling off a set of "Games Riders Play". Harley-Davidson Folding Domino's table, a Harley Gammon Board, a Poker Chip Set and "Harleyopoly" Game set. Winner will be selected the last Bike Night in September. Octobers raffle will be a complete "Harley Cooler" set. 2010 Models will be on display.

The Bike Night At The Billet Bar. The Billet Bar is the place to be for the Summer nights and weekends. Set on the patio and watch the action. 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. The food is amazing and always the latest in cold libations await. 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. Click Here for the New Billet Bar Page with pictures.

Every Sunday

New!!
Sunday Afternoon Bike Day/Night at Oggi's Pizza & Brewing. This is the stop for West side riders on a Sunday Afternoon. Mrs. C. and I ate here and found Excellent Food! Just off the Loop 101 and 67th Ave. Stop at Oggi's Pizza where they will be having Sunday Afternoon Bike days starting at 4pm - 9pm. Enjoy three $5.99 Dinner Specials including: 1. Build your own Burger: half-pound angus beef burger cooked how you like it with your choice of toppings; 2. California Cobb Salad: fresh greens with sliced grilled chicken, gorgonzola cheese, avocado, tomato, green onions, mushrooms, eggs and bacon; and 3. Turkey Ranch Wrap: oven-roasted turkey breast, provolone cheese, fresh lettuce, tomato and avocado, with creamy ranch dressing and bacon in a sun-dried tomato wrap. Happy Hour pricing on Drinks and Appetizers all night. 22 Televisions to view Sunday Night Football, a nice bar and large dining room as well as an Outdoor Patio to enjoy the great weather. Co-sponsored by Arrowhead Harley Davidson. Motorcycle parking out front. This is a great place to end the day with excellent food. Stop by this week and give it a try. 623-566-8080.
Facebook Comment about Oggi's. To everyone that hasn't been to Oggi's the service was good, the specials were almost more than we could finish and we met good people. Come On Riders SHOW UP!

Saturday, October 31st
Buddy Stubbs Harley-Davidson Halloween and Harleys. Buddy Stubbs end of the month party is a great destination ride that ends with a good time. Come in costume for a chance to win $150 gift card in the Best Costume Contest. You can also Trick or Treat in General Merchandise. Fill a Buddy Stubbs Limited Edition tote bag and get 15% off everything in the bag. Spend $200 or more and keep the tote bag. Enjoy FREE Food, Drink and Ghoulish Treats. Live Music by 74th Street Band, free motorcycle museum tours with Buddy Stubbs and a pool tournament for Buddy Stubbs gift cards. 13850 N. Cave Creek Rd. 602-971-3400.

Saturday, October 31st
3rd Annual American Legion Riders Halloween Biker Ball. Event is to be held at the American Legion Post 2, 2125 S Industrial Park Ave., Tempe, AZ. Phone: 480-967-2968. Live Band featuring Stormwatch, 7:00pm - 11:00pm. Finger Foods, Raffle And 50/50 Drawing. Doors open at 6:00 pm. $10.00 per person. Costume Contest, Peoples Choice. All proceeds go to the American Legion Legacy Run. Contact Skeeter at (480) 518-7743 for more information. mlroot1@yahoo.com.

Sunday, November 1st
2nd Annual Phoenix Zoo Ride.
There are 2 start locations for the Zoo Ride this year that takes place on Sunday, November 1st. East Valley route starts at Chandler Harley-Davidson. West Valley route starts at Arrowhead Harley-Davidson. Registration the day of the event is from 8:00am to 10:00am at either the Chandler Harley or Arrowhead Harley location. Riders: $25, Passengers: $15. Ticket purchases include one free ticket to the Phoenix Zoo, Lunch and one free raffle ticket. The first 250 people to pre-register will also receive a ZooRide 2009 T-shirt, collectors pin and one additional raffle ticket. ZooRide begins at 8:00 am. Last Stop for both routes is The Phoenix Zoo. Click Here to see Routes.

Party at the Zoo
ZooRide 2009 T-Shirts and collectors pins will be available for sale at the Zoo.
Live performance by Side Affects. Raffle drawings begin at 12:00pm. Lunch Begins at 11:30am.

Silent Auction will begin at 10:00am and will close at 3:00pm. Poker Drawing is at 3:00pm. All Bikes Are Welcome.
End Party will be at the Billet in Scottsdale at 4pm.

Next Week

November 5th - 8th
Don't forget, the Rocky Point Rally is ON! November 5-8. It looks to be a good year of fun in Rocky Point for the Rally. Click Here for Agenda. There are still some rooms left. If you plan on going you will need to get your passport card ordered soon. Rumor has it, if you don't have a passport, a birth certificate and Drivers License will get you back, it will just take longer. If you missed the newsletter a couple of weeks ago with the announcement of the Rocky Point Rally being UN-Cancelled, Click Here to Read and have instruction on how to get your passport card. The Rally is on an being planned with some very cool additions this year. More will be announced in the coming weeks. Get your passport cards and reservations now. www.rockypointrally.com .
Registration is $15 at Desert Oasis hotel on your way in. You will receive a coupon booklet with $300 in coupons. Click Here for General Information. Want a little look at what goes on at the Rocky Point Rally, Click Here for Video.

Don't forget to stop by the Cyclerides.com Host Bar and Restaurant in the Malecon, Debbie's Beach Bar and Grille. Look for the Cyclerides.com banner. Friday from 2-6pm they will be having Happy Hour pricing on drinks, food and appetizers for all Cyclerides.com Fans to enjoy. It is a great location with large street frontage and ocean view. Saturday they will be serving breakfast starting at 8am.

Friday, November 6th
Wrestlemania 26 Pre-Sale Party at Westgate City Center. Your first chance to get tickets in person to Wrestlemania 26 before they go on-sale to the public! 6pm - 10pm. WrestleMania is considered the Super Bowl of wrestling and the WWE's biggest pay-per-view event of the year. More than 74,000 fans are expected to flock to the stadium for the rasslin' extravaganza, which takes place March 28, 2010. Get autographs from favorites Chris Jericho and Kelly Kelly. Chance to win private meet & greet with Kelly Kelly onsite. Great food, beer & entertainment including a WM25 video feature from the WWE on the Miller Lite Screen.

November 6th - 7th
Return With Honor. Honoring & Supporting Our Soldiers, Military and their Families. Nov. 7th Escorted Ride from Arrowhead HD. $20. Registration from 8am -11am. First 200 registered get T-Shirt and 5 raffle Tickets. Bands, Raffle, 50/50, Food, Vendors. Family Friendly Events -Adults $5+ 2 food items for St. Mary's Food Bank. Kids under 12 are Free! Nov. 6th, 3:00 - 10:00 pm, and Nov. 7th, 10:00 to 10:00. Waddell's Longhorn Corral - Jackrabbit Road, Just North of I-10. Events include: Bike Show ran by Kimmy from Biker Information Guide [Click here for Registration Form] - Saturday, Registration 12:00 - 3:00 pm. Car Show - Saturday Registration 8:00 - 11:00 am; Numerous categories and prizes for both shows. $10,000 Cash & Prizes - Don't miss out! Vendors, Raffles, Live Music, Color Guard & MORE. Details contact Rick 602-438-0000 or Mike 602-647-2149. Click Here for Flyer.

Saturday, November 7th
Santa's Kick-Off to the Holiday's. Presented by MMA of Az "Ironhorse" and "WestSiders" Districts. We are the Modified Motorcycle Association of Arizona "Ironhorse" and "Westsiders" Districts. MMA is a Motorcyclists Rights Organization (MRO) comprised of motorcyclists and motorcycle enthusiasts who are concerned with the future, safety, and welfare of motorcycling. Join us for an Event filled day and Help us Fill up the local Food Bank in the Community at the same time! Western Trails Ranch. Hwy 60 mile marker 124 1/2. Rain or Shine, 10:00am - 11:00pm. Kids 12 & under Free, Adults $10.00 or $5.00 and 5 Food Items. Food - Drinks - Raffles - Auction - Tattoo Contest, 2 Live Bands - 2 Knuckles Deep and Fools Life Band. Rat Rod/Hot Rod Car Show and Bike Show w/lots of classes. Kid's Area w/games, face painting and SANTA 10 -5. Lots of Vendors. Get your shopping done early! Fun for ALL ages 10 -5 after 6 is geared for Adults. Check out our Website for more information!! http://www.myspace.com/santaskickoffparty

Saturday, November 7th
Celebrate With ABATE. Join ABATE of Arizona and the Southern Arizona Chapter for the third annual Celebrate with ABATE. $15 Scenic ride map with lunch included. Free poker run with all new stops. ABATE merchandise available. Run begins at Tucson Harley Davidson in 7355 N. I-10 Frontage Rd, Tucson. Check in from 9am to 9:45am. Ride ends at the Eagles Club, 1530 N Stone Ave, Tucson. Last card in by 1:15pm. Freedom of the Road means all bikes and all riders or welcome. abateofaz.org/Tucson.php Come and enjoy the after party if you can’t make the ride. fmi contact Ron Kool 520-203-2323 or ronabate@yahoo.com.

Saturday, November 7th
22nd Annual Nam Jam. Nam Jam is a patriotic day of celebration for those who are on active duty. Veterans, supporters, their families and friends will find this to be a day of fun! Music from Tucson's best bands all day long! Come out for music, food and a whole lot more! All proceeds will benefit transitional homeless veteran shelters, their families, many veterans programs and the community. Event time 9am - 7pm at Kennedy Fiesta Park located at 3700 S. La Cholla in Tucson, AZ. Poker Run registration starts at 9:30am at Wooden Nickel. Last bike out at 10:30am. $20 per person.

Saturday, November 7th
Queen Creek Safety Event. The Queen Creek Fire Department, in conjunction with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, presents the “Queen Creek Safety Fair” at Queen Creek Marketplace. The event will focus on educating the public on vehicle safety while offering fun family activities for the community. The event will run from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. in the parking lot of the center and will feature displays and demonstrations from several Queen Creek public safety departments. Queen Creek Marketplace SW corner of Rittenhouse and Ellsworth Loop roads. Plus A Cruise And Park Classic Car Show. Bring Your Classic, Collectible Or Custom Vehicle Donation Entry Fee To Help Support Family Of Fallen Fire Captain Eric Tinkham. No Red Tape, Just Show Up!

Extras

Going to the Rocky Point Rally?? You WILL need insurance for your bike in Mexico.
See Below for insurance companies that you can use.

Rocky Point Insurance Special - Get the best affordable Motorcycle, Car or Truck Insurance for your vehicle while in Mexico. We offer two policies, basic and platinum. Even with the basic policy you will have, should you need it, Legal assist/bail bond, road assistance and medical evacuation. You will also receive a plane ticket home (if scooter is stolen on not drivable). With the platinum policy you will have vandalism protection. Price it, pay online and print it, you are done! CLICK HERE TO GET STARTED. If you have any questions, please call Kirk at 602 363-5386 or email kirk@phoenixbikers.com. Thanks, Kirk from www.phoenixbikers.com

Coming to the Rocky Point Rally?
Buy your Mexican bike insurance from ProAlliance!
***24hr bilingual emergency service by people who live and work in Rocky Point
***Comparable Rates
***Convenient online quotes and purchase
CLICK HERE NOW OR CALL Rosie at 602.773.1031 or email rosie@proalliance.com.mx

Sometimes we don't realize the power of water. You wouldn't want to be in your car for this wash. Click Here to View.

You think kids are the only ones that like to play in mud puddles? Think again. Watch this baby elk have some fun. Click Here to View

Video of the Week
Since Halloween is upon us, I thought a funny scary video would be appropriate. Very entertaining. Click Here to View. Click on the Video of the Week graphic on the page.

Cyclerides.com is now on Facebook! Join 1200 other riders! I am inviting you to "Become A Fan" on the Cyclerides.com Facebook page. Go to http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cycleridescom/108447575697 to add your name and bookmark this page. If you are not on Facebook, you can still go to the page, but you will not be able to communicate. There will be a link there for you to sign up for Facebook if you are inclined.

Until Next Week,
Blessings and Safe Riding To All,

Barry Caraway
"The Road Is Yours - Take The Ride"
www.cyclerides.com
info@cyclerides.com