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Greetings Riders,

Well, you saw these photos in the newsletter from a couple of weeks ago of the Road Glide after the motor decided to come apart. This is what it looked like this past Sunday. Yep, she is all put back together and has taken her maiden break-in ride. I picked it up from Arrowhead Harley on Saturday night with a new motor, 95 big bore kit, 211 cams and Screamin' Eagle heads installed and ready to ride. Everything is running smooth, quiet and really strong. By Sunday afternoon at 4pm I had 400 miles on it and ready to go back to AHD to dump the oil and give me fresh lubricant for the next 1500 miles this weekend to Ouray for a couple of nights and Durango in Colorado. Break-in riding is not one of my favorite things to do. In fact, it really cramps my normal riding style. But, it has to be done, that is why I tend to go get it over with in one day. Thanks to Arrowhead HD for getting it back to me so quickly. It was nice to get back in the saddle.

For this break-in, the mechanic did about 30 miles before it was delivered to me. Then I did about 30 miles late Saturday night around town. Sunday morning Mrs. C. and I left the NW Valley at 7am and headed North for some cooler riding that would be easier on us and the motor. Our destination was Flagstaff following 89 out of Wickenburg and then 89A out of Prescott through Jerome, Sedona and on to Flagstaff before the trip back down I-17. My original intent was to leave the camera in the saddle bag and enjoy the ride without taking a bunch of pictures. That lasted about an hour until we crested Yarnell Hill and saw about 30 bikes parked around the Ranch House in Yarnell. It was so nice to see riders getting back on their bikes and getting out to ride and it was like that the rest of the day as we passed many bikes all along the way. We got the feeling that it had been a long summer and people couldn't wait any longer to get out and roll up some asphalt.

After a quick stop at the Ranch House for an Iced Tea, we were on our way to Peeples Valley and to Kirkland Junction. For those of you that take this route to Prescott, this is where you have to decide if you are going to take the twisties through the Prescott National Forest or the sweepers through Skull Valley and come into the North side of Prescott. We decided to take the Skull Valley route to relax with some easy riding while being reminded how pretty that stretch of road is through the hills, boulders and forest.

It is no secret that I love bringing you new riding ideas and places to stop. As we were just about to cross the railroad tracks coming into Skull Valley, I noticed a little restaurant on my right named Skull Valley Cafe. It is a really quaint little building decorated in a railroad theme that seemed like a good motorcycle stop for breakfast or lunch. So we did a U-Turn back to the place to check it out. As it turns out it is a very cool little place that would make an excellent destination for a breakfast stop while enjoying a beautiful ride to get there. Seating is available at the counter as well as a few tables inside. The good news is that there is also an outdoor patio to enjoy the great weather while you have breakfast or lunch.

After checking it out, I gave my card to the owner and she said that she was planning to contact me about putting the Skull Valley Cafe on Cyclerides. Perfect! They are biker friendly and would love to have riders there on weekends for breakfast. In fact, for you to try them out, they are offering Cyclerides.com readers a special buy one meal at regular price get the second one half off. Just mention the Cyclerides.com ad and the discount is yours. This offer good through Sunday, September 7th. Give them a try over the next couple of weeks. Skull Valley is just 23 miles North of Yarnell and 11 miles N. of Kirkland Junction and 20 miles West of Prescott. (3045 S. Iron Springs Rd., Skull Valley, AZ) This is a really nice ride for breakfast or lunch that is only 96 miles from I-17 and Loop 101. You could then make the loop around to Prescott and back home for a nice little 200 mile breakfast or lunch ride. Click Here for information page and map.

After a couple of cool photo ops with the bikes in front of the old General Store and Gas Station in Skull Valley we headed toward Prescott. Here is a good tip for roads if you are wanting to circumvent Prescott and head on up to Jerome and Sedona. As you are coming in from the West side of Prescott on Iron Springs Rd., turn left on Williamson Valley Rd. (5) and go 2.5 miles to Pioneer Parkway. Turn right and go 5 miles directly to Hwy. 89A and you are on your way to Jerome. This will save you several miles and a lot of time by not going through downtown. (Map)

Once you hit 89A you are only 14 miles away from one of the great rides in the State from Prescott Valley to Jerome up Mingus Mountain. This is where my ban on picture taking was officially broken. I have done this route several times, but had forgotten how much fun and how pretty it really is. The claim is that there are over 150 curves in this 12 mile stretch of road. I haven't counted, but there are quite a few. You will ride up the mountain, crest at 7000 feet and then make your descent into the old mining town of Jerome at 5435 feet. There are tons of antique and curio shops in town as well as a couple of bars, restaurants and even an ice cream shop that makes a good milk shake.

After a 30 minute stop in Jerome, we serpentined our way down the hill through Cottonwood and followed 89A through Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon where it started to rain. Just before reaching Flagstaff we saw 3 elk grazing along side of the road. Couldn't pass up those wildlife photo ops. We ate lunch in Flagstaff and took the direct route home down I-17 to the oven in the desert that we call home. Once again, a stop at the gas station at Rock Springs was required for hydration to make it the rest of the way home in the 106 degree heat. It was a very enjoyable ride as it was a little overcast for a lot of the day and the entire area was green with lots of sunflowers along the road up Mingus Mountain. Like I said, I couldn't resist taking over 90 pictures. Here are a few from along the way.
Click Here to View Photos.
Click Here for a Map of the route.

You know that finding cool and useful gadgets is one of my favorite things to do. I have found one that I think a lot of you might be interested in. It is called The SPOT Satellite Messenger and Personal Tracker. We all like to get off the beaten path with our motorcycles, or a lot of you take off and ride by yourself and end up in areas where cell phones don't work. If something were to happen, be it a breakdown, accident or injury, you might not have a way to get help. With SPOT, you can send a message to friends and family to check in or ask for help using GPS accuracy locating you exactly on a Google Map -- or dispatch emergency responders to your exact location with the touch of a button.

Optionally, SPOT can track your waypoints every 10 minutes and put them on a web page for your family or friends to track you on your trip. You can even drill in to street level to see exactly where you are at on the Google Map. When you reach your destination that night, simply push the OK button and it will send a text message or an email to up to 10 people on your list with your exact location on a Google Map. It is a great way for your family to follow you on your adventure and have peace of mind. And since it's satellite-based, SPOT works around the world, even where cell phones don't.
Features:
Ask for help: Request help with the push of a button from friends and family at your exact location.
911: Alert the GEOS Emergency Response Center to your exact location to dispatch emergency help.
Check in: Let contacts know where you are and that you're okay.
Track progress: Allow family or friends to track your progress using Google Maps. Spot sends out a location every 10 minutes.
Compact: Weighs just 7 ounces. Battery operated. Attach to your belt or your bike.
Cost: $139 for the SPOT. $99.99 per year for the basic services, $49.99 additional for the tracking service.
Click Here for SPOT information from the company.
Click Here for Video of how SPOT works.

This is a really cool gadget and could really be useful for you guys that ride and your wife has no interest, but would like to have some peace of mind to be able to see where you are and that you are OK. To demo The SPOT, I am going to carry mine on the bike this weekend for our trip to Durango and Ouray. The page will go live on Friday morning by 8am when we leave and you will be able to track us every 10 minutes on the map for the next 4 days. The map resets every 24 hours.

To get to my SPOT page, go to http://www.cyclerides.com/spot . Click on the picture of the spot and it will take you to the tracking map. If you click there now, it will just take you to a page of the U.S. and tell you that there is no activity. SPOT will be live Friday at 8am. Have some fun, follow us on our short trip.

I have the SPOT available on my online store for the discount price of $139. It would make a nice Christmas gift, Birthday present or just to give to your rider for safety and peace of mind. Click Here to Purchase.

All satellite services are done directly with the SPOT Satellite Provider and are activated from their web site. See video of how SPOT works.

Bike Nights This Week

Thursday Night

Chandler Harley-Davidson Bike Night at Tilted Kilt Mesa. Stop by the brand new Tilted Kilt in Mesa for Thursday Bike Night sponsored by Chandler Harley-Davidson. Sit out on the spacious patio or the cool inside. No matter where you are there will be the Tilted Kilt girls there to wait on you. Enjoy great food and drink, Door Prize Drawings, Music and 15% off your entire ticket on Bike Night. The NEW Tilted Kilt is located at 1910 S. Gilbert Rd. in Mesa. 480-507-5458.

Chester's Harley-Davidson Bike Night at Dos Gringos Mesa. Ride by the New Dos Gringos Mesa located on the northwest corner of Greenfield and Baseline in Mesa. Dos is sure to make an impact and add some flare to the east valley. Enormous patio, complete with its own outdoor bar and separate dining areas on each side. Dos is a casual neighborhood hangout with great food and cold cervezas. Feel free to dine at one of our four tops, relax at one of the booths lining the edge or just belly up to the bar. Click Here to View. There will be drink and food specials and Raffles and Fun from Chester's Harley-Davidson. Ride with Chester's from the dealership at 5:30pm every Thursday located at 922 S. Country Club Dr. in Mesa. 480-894-0404.

Hooter's Thursday Bike at Peoria location. The parking lot will be blocked off and it will be a night for MOTORCYCLES. Ride by Hooters in Peoria every Thursday night for Prizes, Giveaways every 1/2 Hour, Specials and of course great service by the Hooter's Girls. Enjoy $2.00 Bud and Bud Light Pints and $5.00 Bombers as well as those tasty Hooter's Wings. Sit on the huge outdoor patio and watch your favorite sporting event or inside with TV's every where you look. Enjoy this perfect riding weather with a ride to Hooter's this Thursday. Plan to check out the first night. 16550 N. 83rd Ave. just South of Bell Rd. 623-776-0123.

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 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.

This Week

Saturday, August 30th
Buddy Stubbs Hogs and Dogs. Join Buddy Stubbs and lots of other riders for their monthly last Saturday of the month HOGS and Dogs Party. This Saturday’s event will feature Matco Tools Giveaway, From 11am - 3pm, enjoy free hot dogs and soda, Live Music by Dok and Gal, Pool Tournament for prizes and at 12:30pm take a tour of over 125 Vintage motorcycles in the onsite museum with Buddy Stubbs. And while you are there take a look at the new 2009 Harley-Davidsons and the latest in Motorclothes. Bikini Bike Wash from 11am - 2pm. Ride by Buddy Stubbs and enjoy the festivities at 13850 N. Cave Creek Rd. in Phoenix, AZ. 602-971-3400.

Saturday, August 30th
Arrowhead Harley-Davidson Monthly Free Breakfast. Taking a ride Saturday morning? Stop by Arrowhead HD for a free breakfast on your way out of town. Arrowhead Harley-Davidson wants to invite all it's great customers to a customer appreciation breakfast on Saturday June 28th from 8:30am till 10:00 am!. Join us for a FREE pancake, sausage and egg breakfast. Thank you for all your support and business! Ride by Arrowhead Harley-Davidson the last Saturday of Every Month for a free breakfast. Arrowhead Harley-Davidson is located at 16130 N. Arrowhead Fountain Center Dr. in Peoria. 623-247-5542.

Saturday, August 30th
Billet Bar Lucky 13th Anniversary Party. The Billet Bar has been a staple in Scottsdale for motorcycle riders and is celebrating their 13th Anniversary this weekend. They will be featuring A Big Piece Band live on stage in the famous climate controlled Paradise Patio this Saturday night with drink specials all evening long. And as always, no cover charge at the Billet. So if you are looking for something to do Saturday night, The Billet is where the action will be located 3752 N. Scottsdale Rd. in Old Town Scottsdale. 480-941-1876.

Sunday, August 31st
The Wounded Warrior Regiment (West) Fundraiser. Event time 12 Noon to ?. Raffle Prizes, 50/50, Food, Drinks, Dancing. Live Music. Event takes place at Waddell's Longhorn Saloon located at 1629 N. 195th ave. in Buckeye. Exit 121 N. of I-10.

Saturday, September 6th
Chester's Harley-Davidson 2009 Model Year Open House. It is that time of year when the 2009 Harley-Davidson's will start filling the showrooms. Get your first look at Chester's Harley-Davidson. If you want to see the latest and greatest from the Motor Company ride over to Chester's Harley-Davidson on Saturday, September 6th from 9am - 4pm. To kick off the new model year there will be a Live Band! Rock out with The Robertson County Band. Free Food! Breakfast and Lunch will be served. Bring the kids to enjoy the fun. Face Painting, Stilt Man and a visit from the Liberty Wild Life Foundation. Spend $50 in motorclothes and roll the dice for a percentage off. Chester's Harley-Davidson is located at 922 S. Country Club Dr. in Mesa, AZ. 480-894-0404.

Saturday, September 6th
PFC Mykel F. Miller Memorial Ride. The Bushmaster Riders of the 1-158 Infantry Battalion, AZ Army National Guard, will honor one of our fallen. PFC Mykel Miller, aged 19, was killed in action in the Zabul Province, Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom on September 6th, 2007. 8am - 9:30am Breakfast and Staging hosted by American Legion Riders, American Legion Post 107. 20001 N. Cave Creek Rd. in Phoenix. 9:30-9:40am: Ride brief/Mount up. 9:40am: Movement to the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona. 10:00-10:45am: Memorial Service and Wreath Laying. 11:00am: KSU for ride to Bartlett Lake. 12:00 Noon: Lunch at Harold's in Cave Creek.

September 6th and 7th
6th Annual B. Wayne Scott Fallen Officers Memorial Ride. Meet at 67th Ave. and Happy Valley Rd. (CCV Parking Lot). Kickstands up promptly at 8:00am. Phoenix to Flagstaff via the scenic route through Prescott and Sedona. Hotels on your own. For more information email mark.oconnell@phoenix.gov.