Cyclerides.com Weekly Update
2/19/03 

Greetings Riders,
 
Well, since the rain and cold have hit the valley for a few days I have had more time to look at the world news. Let's recap what has happened in the last week. There is so much going on that newspapers are going to have to increase the size of their front pages just to get all of the headlines in. We all now know that "Joe Millionaire" picked Zora and we all heard and firmly believe that Michael Jackson has had only 2 plastic surgeries and is living a perfectly normal life....Yea, Right. There are actually some other headlines. Let's take a look at a few:

"Deadly snow storms blanket the Northeast".
"Pepper spray in nightclub causes stampede for the door, 21 perish".
"Bush vows to rid Iraq of weapons of mass destruction, thousands of troops head to gulf".
"Stocks Struggle, stock market trades lower", Again!
"CAREFREE, AZ Begins Enforcement Of Noise Ordinance"
 
What was that last one? How did that make the National news? It really didn't, but yes, it is true. Doesn't seem like much compared to the problems in the rest of the world, but it is still something we are going to have to deal with. Carefree, a town of 2300 has passed and implemented a sound ordinance that requires ALL motor vehicles (not just motorcycles) to emit noise levels no greater that than 85 dBA. The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) has installed the decibel meters in the patrol cars and are currently training officers in how to use them. I am not going to bore you with numbers, comparisons, etc. I simply want to let you know what is going on and how that we as a group can comply.
 
I have been in contact with Lt. Dave Trombi from the MCSO and he has said: "If you read the ordinance you will see that 85 dBA is the maximum allowance. During the first 60 days we will stop and educate those vehicles that are not in compliance. Warning's will be issued, not citations. It is our goal to get the word out to all of those who visit Carefree about the sound restrictions, not to cite everyone we can. For motorcyclists we ask that you choose the proper gear and take it easy on the throttle. I have been told that a motorcycle that would not normally be in compliance could be, provided that the operator exercise proper gear and throttle control. In other words, please take it easy".
 
Lt. Trombi has been really good in passing on timely information to me and letting us know what is going on out there. In talking with Lt. Trombi, he is very concerned about working with the motorcycle community and letting us know how we can comply with this ordinance and still ride through the Carefree/Cave Creek area. This is not something that Sheriff Joe has cooked up to harass motorcycles. The MCSO is simply employed by the town of Carefree and is obligated to enforce their ordinances. So if you are not happy with this, you should direct your concerns to the City of Carefree. Click here to read the entire text of Lt. Trombi's letter.
 
How do I know if I am in violation and how can I avoid a ticket? I have volunteered to be the guinea pig in this test. I am going to take my bike, which is equipped with a Thunderheader, to Carefree and test it with Lt. Trombi. We will do several tests to see how different Gears, RPM's and Speeds affect the decibel meters so that I can report back to you to see how you have the best chance to comply.
 
When is all of this going to start? The formal training for the officers is not until the later part of this month. However, the equipment is installed and ready to go. So it will probably start around the first week of March. If you see a Sheriff's car sitting on the side of the road with a little boom microphone sticking up about 2 feet off the top of the car, you will know that they are conducting an interview with your exhaust pipes.
 
Should I still ride to Carefree/Cave Creek? Absolutely! It is Carefree that has the ordinance. We don't go there anyway except to get to Cave Creek. Anything else would be punishing the businesses in Cave Creek that welcome our business. But, if you are thinking like I was, about going into Cave Creek on Cave Creek Rd. North of Carefree Hwy. to avoid Carefree. Surprise! The first 1/2 mile North of Carefree Hwy. is Carefree city limits. So Cave Creek is virtually land locked by roadways coming into it. But it would probably be the best bet anyway.
 
Is Cave Creek going to pass a similar ordinance? I really doubt it. Why would they? You have to go through the Carefree to get to Cave Creek. So ideally the noisy vehicles would be stopped before they get there. This way, Carefree is the bad guy and Cave Creek still has the image of being pro motorcycle by not passing the ordinance. It is a win/win for them as it is.
 
What is my spin on this whole thing? I see it like this. It reminds me of the situation with Iraq and the United States. The U.S. is saying come into compliance with your weapons of mass destruction or we will unleash these 400 cruise missiles we have pointed at you. Carefree is saying come into compliance with the way you ride through our town or we will use the decibel meters to write you at ticket. I really think this whole thing is a way for the city to get riders to respect the area and ride through there sensibly while trying to co-habitate with the residents. There is no reason that cannot happen. That area happens to be a great place to live, but it also happens to be a great place to ride. So their goal and ours should be to be able to come to a happy medium. I would hope that if we exercise some restraint with the way we ride they will do the same with issuing citations. We could always ask that the French Military come over here and patrol the area. They would probably just raise the white flag and wave us all through.
 
This whole thing does create some interesting questions:
What happens when a group of motorcycles go by the decibel meter and raise the level? Who gets the ticket?
What happens when their own city vehicles bust the sound barrier?
What happens when a school bus lights up the dial?
And my favorite one. What happens when the MCSO is leading a charity ride for the 100 club to Cave Creek???
HMM! That could be a sticky situation.
 
I will be back to you within the next 2 weeks to give you my report on the decibel meter trials with my bike as well as some answers to the above questions and any other updates on this story. 

Wednesday 

The Wild Hare Wednesday Bike Night. All of you that used to go to Chuy's, this is your new place on the East side of town. This is a new 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 

Jetz Americana Thursday Bike Night. This bike night is growing fast. Great bike parking right outside the patio that is now lighted. Stop by this week and see for yourself. Jetz is a Very Nice Restaurant located in North Scottsdale 1 block South of Shea on Scottsdale Rd. behind the California Pizza Kitchen. They have a beautiful interior with flat screen TV's to watch your favorite teams or a large bar to lounge at with your friends. Jetz also has a large patio with an outdoor bar right next to where you will be parking your bikes. Happy hour is 4-7pm with 1/2 price drinks and $4.95 appetizer menu. From 7:00PM till close there will be BURGER & BEER $7.95 (½ lb of Certified Angus Beef and a domestic pint or bottle), DOMESTIC BOTTLES $3, JACK DANIELS $4. Bike night is all night till close. This is one nice place to go for dinner or hang out on the patio and watch the bikes roll by. Stop by and take a look. You will be impressed. Bikes are always welcome. Take a look at Jetz Saturday food and drink specials and the Sunday Brunch and the Bloody Mary bar with over 75 items. Click here to see the pictures of where you will be going and all of the information.
 
Casey Jones Grill Bike Night in Phoenix on Thursday nights. The evening riding weather is perfect, Casey Jones will be packed as it always is from here on. 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 drafts. 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.
 
The Bike Night At The Billet Bar. 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 on Bike Night. 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. 

Every Friday 

Be sure and try the 33 American Bistro Friday Bike Night. We went there on opening night and the food is excellent. Finally! A good place to go for an organized Friday Ride Night with live music every week from 6-10pm. American Bistro is a really comfortable restaurant that features an outdoor patio that seats 40 people with 4 wood burning fireplaces to keep you warm at night and a mist system to keep you cool in the summer. And a beautiful interior with a lounge for relaxing and keeping an eye on your favorite game. They have a broad menu including Bike Night Specials of Grilled Chicken Sandwich meal for $6.00 or a Steak Caesar for $9.00. They also have Pizzas, Pasta, Burgers and Fish and Chips just to name a few items. You have to try the Chicken Sandwich! It is the best I have ever had. $3.00 House Wines, $3.00 Well Drinks, $3.00 Rolling Rock Bombers. This is a very comfortable place that makes you feel at home when you walk in the door. And the food is very good. 33 American Bistro is located on Hayden Rd. one block South of Frank Lloyd Wright on the East side of the road. Help us kick off the first night February 7th starting at 6:00pm with live music on the patio. You won't be disappointed. Click here to see the pictures and info. 

Every Saturday and Sunday