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Greetings Riders,

Well, here we are in the middle of May already. The good news is that we still haven't hit 100 degrees yet and it has been a very mild Spring great for riding. Summer riding and road trips are just around the corner. If you are looking for ideas for longer trips you can take a look at a couple of trips that we have done in the last couple of years. Click Here for our 7 day trip through California. Click Here for last year's 10 trip through Canada and the West coast. If you are looking for one day rides, Click Here for the Day Rides. I will be adding more in the next couple of weeks.

As I have mentioned in the past, and most recently in last week's letter, a lot of things I do end up being compared in some way to riding a motorcycle. This past week was no different for me. I am one of those that tend to take better care of my "stuff" than I do my body. I am not a big fan of needles or going to the Doctor. In fact, I have not been to an MD. for over 30 years. I've been blessed with good health so I've always said "if it isn't broke don't fix it". Over the years if I have an ache or a pain I pretty much just gut it out till it goes away. But if I have the slightest miss in the engine of my motorcycle, it is right into the shop to see what is wrong and I always take it in for the regularly scheduled service. Go figure.

As I close in on 49 years old I decided it is time that I start paying more attention to my health so that I can have some good years left to ride my bike. So I decided to go in early for my 50,000 mile check up. I made an appointment with a Doctor and told them that I needed a full physical. The funny part about going to the Doctor is that the uncomfortable part of the trip starts as soon as you get there. I walked in the door and immediately feel 12 pairs of eyes staring at me. They act like they are interested in reading an old Better Homes and Gardens Magazine from October of 1986, but they are really peeking out above trying to figure out what you are in for. After filling out my papers for a new patient I pick up a magazine as a front to make up my stories about everyone else in the room.

Finally, the Nurse opens the door and says "Barry", would you come with me? My heart sunk as I was quickly reminded about all of the stories that my male friends had told me about all of the prodding, poking and fact finding that was about to be done to my body. But then I thought, how bad can this be? It is no different than a 5,000 mile service on the bike where they check the lights, tires, cables, fluid levels and I'll be on my way. Things were going good. He checked my eyes, ears, nose and throat. Poked around a few glands and I'm thinking, "Hey this isn't so bad". He then asked me to stand up and drop my trousers. So soon? To avoid the embarrassment of the moment, my mind immediately took me back 36 years to the physical I needed for 6th grade PE class. I snapped out of it and was brought back to the present when I heard those familiar words "turn your head and cough". Even as much as medical science has changed, some things will always stay the same.

At this point I'm thinking that we are pretty much done until he asks the question "Have you had your prostate checked lately?". Uhhhh...No? He said at your age, we really need to do that. He turns back to the counter and I hear the dreaded snap of the rubber glove. Instantly I start recalling the stories that I have heard on this subject in the past. Not knowing what protocol is on the exploration of these parts unknown, I was anxious, to say the least. As I find myself with my pants being used as ankle warmers, perched in a very precarious position, in front of a strange man with a rubber glove whistling "Zippity Do Dah", my homophobia was hitting record levels. I'm thinking either this is a guy that really enjoys his work or he can't wait to take his kids to Disneyland for the 50th anniversary celebration. At least he wasn't whistling "It's a small world".

Never the less, I had a death grip on that table like no other and then the moment of truth came. HELLO!! THE EXPLORATORY HAS NOW BEGUN! I didn't know how long this procedure was supposed to take, but it seemed a little long. I was starting to wonder when the science part of this exam ended and the recreation began. Little did he know, there wasn't a Disney tune that could have prepared me for what was to come. That 10 seconds seemed like an hour to me. If they would have taken my blood pressure after that, I would have been rushed to the hospital and then featured on "Ripley's Believe it or Not" for the highest systolic reading ever seen.

As I am getting dressed I watched my humility drop into the trash can in the form of a rubber glove. Now I can really appreciate what Women go through when the feet hit the stirrups. Usually being pretty good at conversation, I really didn't know what would be a good segway from where we had just been. So I said, "Ok, that was fun, how are you going to top that?". For this day that was going to be about it. A simple EKG, a tetanus shot, and a quick check of the fluids via a draw of blood and I would be on my way. But next week, I will be hooked up to the human version of a Dyno machine. I am scheduled for a stress test on a treadmill. They will hook me up to a bunch of wires, and have me walk on a treadmill to get the RPM's on my heart to a high level and see how it perform under stress. Ironically, very similar to what a Dyno does for our bikes. It won't tell me how much horsepower I have, but it might help them give me a tune up if needed.

I have obviously given you a tongue in cheek account of getting a physical. I really don't like going to the Doctor, but I also want to do what is best for me and my family, regardless of what my personal fears or hang-ups are. So if you are like me and don't pay much attention to your diet, or have any family history of medical problems, or are overweight, it is probably a good idea to get checked out. It is recommended for Men and Women over 40 years old, to get physicals including prostate checks for Men and mammograms for Women. It's really not that bad and could be a lifesaver.

Wednesday

Hooters at 1-17 and Bell Rd. Wednesday Bike Night. Hooters at I-17 and Bell will be hosting a new Bike Night every Wednesday night from 6pm - 9pm. They will feature a "Ride In" Bike Show with weekly prizes for 1st - 3rd. And then, the third Wednesday of every month we will crown the Bike of the Month with a Grand Prize and will also be featured on Cyclerides.com as the "Bike of the Week". We will have $2 Bud, Bud Light, and Mich Ultra bottles. There will be 20% off of all food and merchandise when you ride in on your bike. Stop by for loads of Raffle Prizes. There will be VIP Motorcycle Parking and you will be greeted at the front door by a Hooter's Girl waiting to give you your raffle ticket. Hooter's is located in the Bell Canyon Shopping Center at 2834 W. Bell Rd., West of I-17 on Bell Rd. 602-375-0000.

Thursday Night

Thursday Night features 4 Bike Nights all over the Valley.

Drivers Sports Grill in the West Valley Has Cancelled Their Bike Night.

Here is one for those of you in the far East Valley!
Hooters Mesa Thursday Bike Night. Hooters in Mesa located at 6730 E. Superstition Springs Blvd. will host a Bike Night every Thursday night from 6-9 pm. If you haven't seen this Hooters yet you will have to stop by and take a look. This is one of the nicest locations that they have. Hooters will $2.00 Corona's and 20% off of food and merchandise if you ride your bike in. Stop by for raffles prizes every Thursday Night with Big Raffle prizes the first Thursday of every month. For more information call 480-396-9396.

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, $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.

Casey Jones Grill Bike Night. A valley favorite bike night for over 3 years. Ride in and sit out on the patio 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. You can always count on lots of bikes here.

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. 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 right next to Genesis Custom Cycles 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 Saturday and Sunday

Cave Creek Roadhouse Bike Weekend. Take a ride and stop by the Hottest New Restaurant/Bar in Cave Creek where every weekend will be Bike Weekend. There is plenty of motorcycle parking right out front. I have mentioned this place before and now it has finally opened to rave reviews. CCR is located on Cave Creek Rd. in the heart of Cave Creek directly across from Harold's. It is a restaurant and bar that focuses on a broad menu of good food and has a large bar for socializing with your riding pals for a good time. It is built to look like something out of the 1800's, but it is brand new. Stop by this weekend for lunch, dinner or just to have a drink and take a look at the place. I can tell you that their hamburgers and steak fries are exceptional. Mrs. C. had the swordfish and said it was very good.

Live Music Every Weekend:

Thursday Night: Live Music with "Sierra" 7pm - 11pm

Friday: Live Music with "Rondavous" 9pm - 2am

Saturday Night: Live Music with "Rondavous" 9pm - 2am

Sunday: Live Music with "Rondavous" 2pm - 7pm

Click here for pictures and more information. 480-575-3098

Sunday

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. This Sunday: Hans Olson, 10am - 2pm. Paris James, 2pm-5pm.
And Sunday Brunch Just Got Better! You now have 3 options to choose from.
Option #1: Eggs Benedict – Grilled English muffins, smoked ham, poached eggs and hollandaise sauce.
Served with your chose of fresh fruit or crispy potatoes. ($8) or Sugar’s Pancakes – You won’t eat pancakes anywhere else. Buttermilk pancakes served with butter and syrup. ($5)
Option #2: Can’t decide what to eat? How about an All-You-Can-Eat buffet for ONLY $12.
Option #3: Order off our regular 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 - 4pm. Enjoy live music from 10am - 2pm Or maybe just relax on the patio with your favorite beverage and enjoy the beautiful weather and watch the bikes roll down Scottsdale Rd. 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.

Events This Week

Thursday, May 12th
Ms. Hooters Arizona Contest. Take a ride to Arizona Center in downtown Phoenix and watch as 50 girls on stage compete for the Ms. Hooters Arizona crown. Competition will be held in the beautiful grassy special event area at Arizona Center. First round will be casual wear and then Bikini's. The field will then be cut to the top 10 for the finals competition. Doors open at 5:30 pm. The competition begins at 7pm and ends at 11pm. $10 General Admission tickets available at any Hooter's. Food and drink will be available. There are still a few VIP Tables left. Arizona Center is located between 3rd and 5th Streets and Van Buren. For more information about the contest and tickets call 602-375-0000.

Wednesday, May 18th
Run For The Wall XVII. Run For The Wall XVII. Leaves 8am from the T&A Truck Stop (junction of I-10 & I-15) in Ontario, CA. "Riding in Freedom for Those Who Can't", Veterans from all wars and their supporters will begin their annual pilgrimage across the heartland of America. Most will be riding motorcycles. Its purpose is to create a groundswell of support for ALL AMERICAN PRISONERS OF WAR and MISSING IN ACTION from all wars and to help those injured by war, to heal. This 10-day cross-country journey will include ceremonies with veterans and civic organizations, visits to war memorials, visits with VA hospital patients and appropriate stops to make sure our POW-MIA's are remembered. Anyone can join the group anywhere along the route. Everyone and all brands of motorcycles are welcome. In Wash. DC, on Memorial Day Sunday, the group will unite with other riders from all over this country to form Rolling Thunder's Ride for Freedom XVII, a Welcome Home and We Have Not Forgotten Demonstration from the Pentagon to the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial -THE WALL. There will also be a Run for the Wall Fundraising Party at Bobby McGee's located at 8501 N. 27th ave. in Phoenix at 4:00pm Sunday May 15th.
The Southern Route will be stopping in Phoenix. If you want to meet the riders and join them for the ride into Phoenix, Just ride out I-10 to Tonopah (exit #94). Be at the Shell Gas Station around 2:30pm. Run For The Wall will be leaving there heading into Phoenix around 3pm. Destination is the VA Medical Center on Indian School. ETA 4-4:30pm. For those of you that can't go on the ride you can support the riders by gathering along 3rd Street North of Indian School near Steele Indian School Park around 4:00-4:30pm to Welcome the riders to Phoenix. 4:30-5:30pm Visit the VA Hospital & the State Veterans Home. 5:30-6:30pm will be Ceremonies @ Steele Indian School Park. Everyone welcome. FMI: 602 439-4517 or 602 402-8026 or 602 481-7663 or RREROGERS@aol.com or www.rftw.org . Click Here for flyer.