Cyclerides.com Weekly Update 12/31/03

Cyclerides.com Weekly Update
12/31/03

Greetings Riders,

Well...this is it. 2003 will soon be in the history books and we can all start the process of remembering to put '04 as the year when writing a check. I would say 2003 was a year that has pretty much kept everyone on edge. The Iraq War, SARS, watching the nationwide threat level rise and fall with endless Terrorists Threats, Fires in California, Earthquakes and Floods. Not to mention a world full of idiots like the snipers back East. Even the sports stars with Kobe Bryant and the entertainment world with Michael Jackson decided to add to the insanity. All the experts were saying how bad the economy was but housing prices were on an endless spiral up. 2003 was a good year for the most part, but it will definitely go down as one to analyze in the history books.

Even at my age 2003 still taught me a few things. For Example, when your wife shows you what she got your Mother-In-Law for Christmas, don't respond with How Much? Maybe go with something a little less intrusive like; "If I were on Let's Make a Deal and wanted the most expensive gift, would I take the Refrigerator/Freezer behind door #1 or your Mother's gift behind door #2? That still gets the point across, but not like a 2x4 across the head. Another little nugget of Christmas shopping is if you found that great deal on a tennis bracelet, don't procrastinate. It could very easily turn into a tennis racket when someone else buys it.

We did a quick trip to Disneyland and Sea World last week. If you haven't seen Disneyland over Christmas it is really pretty cool. But there is one warning. The tunes to "It's a Small World After All", "Yo Ho, Yo Ho a Pirates Life for Me", and "Zippity Do Da" might stick in your mind for up to a week. I hadn't been to Sea World for about 10 years. They have changed a lot of venues. If you go, plan on having breakfast with Shamu. It is a $14.95 all you can eat buffet breakfast that gets you into the park early and seats you right next to the Whales. They are all swimming around a mere 5 feet from you. All the info is on their website www.seaworld.com .

Next week I will give you a preview of the first few months of 2004 as it relates to motorcycling. Arizona Bike Week has had a big makeover and I will go into detail about what to expect there as well as a few other rides. I am also working on a couple of large Cyclerides.com events that I will be announcing later. If you were on the Rocky Point Rally or the Halo Run I have added pictures from those events to the site. Click on All Ride Photos on www.cyclerides.com . I have also updated the Video section to include all the videos I have done over the last several months. Enjoy.

Mrs. C. and I would like to wish everyone a Happy and Prosperous New Year! We want to thank you for your continued loyalty to Cyclerides.com and all of the great replies that you send our way throughout the year. We look forward to bringing you some good events for 2004.
Thanks, Barry

If you would like to go to the Fiesta Bowl Football Game on Friday January 2nd, I have some extra tickets that I will sell for face value. They are good seats. If you are interested in them, email me at info@cyclerides.com with questions or your phone number and I will give you a call.

Los Gringos Locos Wednesday Bike Night sponsored by Chosa's Harley-Davidson Shop.
Here is one for the riders in the far East Valley and Apache Junction. Los Gringos Locos and Chosa's HD Shop have combined for a Wednesday Bike Night. This is a great facility with a separate Cantina and an outdoor patio. Enjoy great Mexican food in the dining area or eat in the Cantina or outside. Happy Hour will be all evening long. $3.00 house margaritas, $1.50 domestics and $2.50 imports. Los Gringos is located at 280 S. Phelps Dr. in Apache Junction. That is just 2 blocks South of Apache Trail (Main) on Phelps. Join the gang from Chosa's HD Shop on Wednesday nights for some good food and fun. There will be raffle prizes and giveaways. More information at 480-288-5626. Click Here for Pictures.

The Wild Hare Wednesday Bike Night. Looking for a Bike Night on the East side? Here is a bike night for the East side of town at a really nice location. Stop by and take a look, you will be impressed. It is called The Wild Hare located at 4910 W. Ray Rd. That is the NE Corner of Ray Rd. and Rural Rd. This is a really nice place with a very large outdoor patio. The inside has just been remodeled to double the seating along with adding a DJ, pool tables and games. The Wild Hare has a broad menu including 20 different appetizers, salads, wings, 17 different sandwiches, chicken, filet mignon, burgers and desserts including strawberry cheese cake. There will be food and drink specials that will run during bike night from 6 PM till close. This will all start on Wednesday, August 14th. I will have an information page on the event calendar that will give you all the details. Stop by and take a look, I'm sure you will like what you see. Info: 480-897-6200.

Thursday Night

New Years Night. Call to verify.
Thursday Night features Bike Nights all over the Valley. Look below to find one near you.

The Bike Night At The Billet Bar. 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. 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. Keep an eye on your prized possession (your motorcycle) on the monitors. 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 right next to Easyriders 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.

Casey Jones Grill Bike Night The evening riding weather is good. You can always count on lots of bikes here. Ride in for what I call the Best Cheesesteak Sandwich in town. This thing melts in your mouth. They have 3 new pool tables, darts and foosball. Located in the Mervyns Shopping Center on the SE corner of 43rd Ave. and Thunderbird Rd. Casey Jones is a great place for a bike night featuring a large outdoor seating and over 150 people inside. And for those of you that want to watch a sporting event they have 50 TV's scattered throughout the restaurant connected to satellite to get any game you can think of. They have a full menu for lunch, dinner and a Happy Hour from 11:00AM - 7:00PM and a reverse happy hour from 10:00PM - 12:00 Midnight. $1.75 domestic bottles and $2.00 Jacks. There are always a lot of bikes showing up for bike night at Casey Jones Thursday night. Join them for open mic night on Wednesdays. Sunday.

Hooters at Ahwatukee Thursday Bike Night. Continues Giveaways and Raffles. The riders in Ahwatukee were wanting a Bike Night of their own, so Hooters Ahwatukee stepped up to provide a great place to come on your motorcycle on Thursday nights. Stop by for raffles, good times and good food at Hooters in Ahwatukee located at 4804 E. Chandler Blvd. There will be raffles and giveaways from Chandler Harley and Hooters as well as 20% off menu items (25% off with Cyclerides.com V.I.P. Card). $2.00 Corona Thursdays and plenty of parking next to the outdoor patio. Click Here for the pictures and all the details.

Hooters at Arrowhead Bike Night. Continues Giveaways and Raffles.
Ride by and join in on the fun! Hooters will host a Bike Night every Thursday at the Hooters at Arrowhead located just 1 block S. of Bell on 83rd Ave. Stop by for some great food and Hooters Hospitality. There will be 20% off menu items (25% off with Cyclerides.com V.I.P. Card). $2.00 Corona Thursdays and plenty of parking next to the outdoor patio. Stop by for some giveaways and raffles from Hooters and Arrowhead Harley as well as great wings and fun at Hooters. Click Here to see Pictures and all the detailed information.

Thunder Pass Food and Spirits Lounge Thursday Bike Night.
Far East Siders you now have a nice big place to go on Thursday nights. The newly remodeled and very large Thunder Pass Food and Spirits Lounge opened for the first time Thursday May 29th to kick off their Thursday Bike Night from 6pm to close. Thunder Pass owners are the same as the Spirits Lounge in Gilbert that a lot of you have gone to in the past. Spirits closed the doors on Saturday due to the loss of the lease. Rick's new place, taking the place of Spirits will be Thunder Pass located at 9303 E. Apache Trail in East Mesa. One block East of Ellsworth on Apache Trail (Main St.). They will have ladies night on Thursdays with $1.00 drinks, extensive food menu and a huge dance floor with a DJ. Thunder Pass features 2 patios. One out front and one in the back. Park your bikes right next to you. Rick invites all that have come to Spirits for the last 21 years to the new 300 seat Thunder Pass located on the County island between Mesa and Apache Junction.

ACME Bar and Grill . Remember when downtown Scottsdale was the place to be? They are back with the complete remodel of the place including the new rooftop bar. You will enjoy a Free Buffet from 8:00-9:30 PM, Drink Specials, Raffles every week, Great Music, Pool and lots of fun in Downtown Scottsdale. Make your plans for Thursday March 20th to kick off the return of ACME. Come early for the free buffet and get your raffle ticket and return at 10:00 PM for the drawing. ACME is located in Old Town Scottsdale at 4245 N. Craftsmen Ct. just South of 5th Ave. and West of Scottsdale Rd. For more information call 480-990-7111. Ride by and be a part of the Rebirth of the Acme Ride Night This Thursday Night. Click here for details and pictures.

Sunday

Cocomo Joe's Sunday Bike Day. Many of you have been to Cocomo Joe's in North Phoenix. There is now a day just for riders. Cocomo Joe's is a very open and comfortable place to hang out that is decorated in a Jamaican theme. They have a new large outdoor patio as well as 2 smaller ones around the side. There is a large dining area with TV's all around to keep up on all NFL football on Sundays. See the pictures here. After football season they will be bringing in live entertainment on Sunday afternoons. There is also 3 pool tables and games for your enjoyment. There will be food and drink specials for ride days starting at 10:30am as well as blocked off preferred parking for motorcycles. The day starts at 10:30am with breakfast foods available. Bike day is from Noon - 6pm. Cocomo Joe's is located on the NW corner of Tatum and Dynamite Rd. So if you are riding to or from Cave Creek, or want to take a ride up North and not have to run the DB gauntlet, stop by Cocomo Joe's. 28244 N. Tatum Blvd. 480-535-8008. Stop by this Sunday for opening day. Click Here for all the details.

Sugar Daddy's Blues Biker Sunday Brunch.
Now is the perfect weather to be sitting out on the Sugar Daddy's patio, listening to live music while dining from the Brunch Menu. Our 5,000 sq. ft. temperature controlled patio has six air conditioning units, misters, and plenty of shade. Sugar Daddy's patio, food and entertainment is becoming a regular Sunday stop. If you haven't tried it yet, give them a try. Complimentary coffee is now served. Make Sugar Daddy's Blues your stop on your ride down Scottsdale Rd. for Brunch or Lunch from 10am - 5pm. Enjoy live music from 1-6pm and choose from 9 delicious ala carte brunch items or order off of the extensive menu including pizza, salads, burgers or sandwiches. Or maybe just relax on the patio with your favorite beverage and enjoy the beautiful weather and watch the bikes roll down Scottsdale Rd. You can even play a game of pool as you watch the activities on the patio. Don't forget to go inside and see the unbelievable decor inside Sugar Daddy's. It's a Cajun and blues delight. Even if you can't make it Click here to see the awesome pictures and details of Sugar Daddy's located at 3102 N. Scottsdale Rd. between Indian School and Thomas on the West side of the road. Stop by and check it out. A great place to hang out. Plenty of Bike Parking. If you have suggestions, email them at sugardaddysaz@aol.com . 480-970-6556.

This Weekend

New Years Eve
Scottsdale's "Ultimate Block Party". Acme Bar and Grill, Dos Gringos, NEXT and NOYZ are joining forces to bring you Scottsdale’s Ultimate Block Party New Year’s Eve to the Valley! Four of the hottest nightlife destinations are banding together to bring you the ultimate New Year’s Eve celebration. Join us in the heart of Old Town Scottsdale for a New Year's Eve party unlike anything you have ever seen. Featuring 4 live bands and 8 DJ's on 3 grand stages playing the hottest collection of entertainment New Year's has to offer. This promises to give Scottsdale the most scintillating New Year's experience ever! It is expected that this event will sell out. Advance tickets are $20.00 and are limited. Call 866-468-7621 or go to www.ticketweb.com .

January 2nd - 4th.
The 35th Annual World of Wheels Custom Car and Motorcycle Show. This is a well known car show that will now have a motorcycle presence as well. As a motorcycle rider I am also a big fan of Custom Cars. I went to this show last year and thoroughly enjoyed seeing all the cars with custom motorcycles mixed in. If you haven't been to this show before, I think you would enjoy it. The show is January 2nd - 4th at the Phoenix Civic Plaza. If you would like to display your motorcycle in the show it is only $25 per bike. There are only a few spots left. The Deadline December 26th. All you have to do is Call 602-708-3024 to reserve your space.

Saturday, January 3rd
Skunkwork Motorsports Monthly Seminars. This month Mick and Jack will have guest speaker Lou Yerolemou from Drag Specialties in house to teach you how to buy Aftermarket Parts. These guys are all about helping you help yourself. Skunkwork specializes in aftermarket parts and this will be a day to learn from the pros how to order your parts and save big dollars in the process. Stop by Skunkwork from 11am - Noon to see their brand new show room and learn what the term Aftermarket really means. Skunkwork is located at 202 W. Main St. in Mesa next to Joeta's Leather. For more information call 480-649-2800.

Next Weekend

Sunday, January 11th
Friends For Life Charity Ride. Here's one for the animal lovers! It is time for Friends for Life Animal Sanctuary's 2nd Annual Charity Ride hosted by The Helmet Harbor of Gilbert. This year we will be heading south on Hunt Highway to Florence, down State Highway 79 to Oracle, with lunch at North Mammoth on State Highway 77. The total for the trip is just over 200 miles, and should be finished in just over 4 hours, not including lunch. Registration begins at 7 a.m. at The Helmet Harbor (511 W. Guadalupe Rd. #4 in Gilbert. Krispy Kreme donuts and Seattle's Best Coffee will be providing free coffee and donuts at time of registration. Registration is $10.00 for each rider, $5.00 for each passenger. Each registered rider/passenger will be given a raffle ticket, and a drawing will be held at our lunch stop. For more information call The Helmet Harbor at 480-635-1009.

Sunday, January 11th
Miracle In The Desert 9th Annual Benefit Run. This run is to benefit the Sunshine Acres Children's Home. Registration begins at 9:00AM at Sunshine Acres located at 3405 N. Higley Rd. in Mesa. The cost is $10 each or $15 per couple. Includes entry, BBQ, Entry into Bike Show, Beverages will be available. There will be a special blessing of the bikes and bikers. ABATE, Desert Thunder, CMA and others are working together to make this happen for the kids.

Sunday, January 11th
Customer Appreciation Day. This is a FREE Poker Run with FREE Food. Best hand wins $250, worst hand $50. There will be Vendors, Music, Volleyball, Horse Shoes, 50/50, Raffle Prizes and more. Run starts at Arizona Biker Leathers at 13833 N. 19th Ave. & Thunderbird. Sign In 10:00am - Noon. Run ends at Coyote Hill Bar at 12417 W. Glendale Ave. Ride sponsored by Coyote Hill and Arizona Biker Information Guide. For more info call 602-708-3024.

Extras

New Design Cyclerides.com Long Sleeve and Short Sleeve Shirts. These are available in white and black in limited quantity. On the East Side you can now pick up the new Cyclerides T-Shirts at Skunk Work Motorsports at 202 W. Main St. in Mesa, 480-649-2800. On the West side at Joeta's Leather 2 located on Arrowhead Fountain Center Dr. next to Arrowhead Harley. 623-979-3335. You can also order online. Click Here.

Until Next Week,
Blessings and Safe Riding To All,

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