Wytheville VA Tourism presents WE’RE OUTTA HERE

BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA

Each month this column seeks to share with you a great inn, wonderful hotel, or some happy Bed & Breakfast – this month we want to hand you an entire town.

Welcome to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

Many folks call this large town in Northampton County the Christmas City as not only does this town come alive during that time of year, celebrating the day, it was named on this holiday as well.

When early European settlers came to this part of what is now Pennsylvania many were religious refugees seeking freedom to worship as they wished.

Along the Delaware River and its tributaries in eastern Pennsylvania, the land, including the area of Bethlehem, was long inhabited by indigenous peoples of various cultures. By the time European settlers found the land, it was the historic territory of the Algonquian-speaking Lenape Nation.

The Algonquian-speaking Lenape Nation had three main divisions including the Unami, Unalachtigo, and Munsee. These three divisions traded with the Dutch and then English colonists in the mid-Atlantic area.

Count Zinzendorf was a German Moravian Missionary intent on nding a place to settle in the colony of Pennsylvania. This group of missionaries began building their historic city on 500 acres along the Lehigh River in order to settle permanently and preach to local Native American tribes.

On December 24th, 1741, David Nitschmann and Count Zinzendorf, leading a small group of Moravians, founded the mission community and they named the settlement after the Biblical town Bethlehem of Judea, the birthplace of Jesus. It is recorded that upon the declaration of this missionary community, Count Zinzendorf said, “Brothers, how more ttingly a weekend destination keeping you on the backroads could we call our new home than to name it in honor of the spot where the event we now commemorate took place.

We will call this place Bethlehem.”

Following the monumental moment, Bethlehem saw an in ux of eeing Patriots as the British advanced upon Philadelphia in 1777. During the time, Americans were ghting the American Revolutionary War and while George Washington and his troops stayed in Valley Forge, Washington stored his personal effects at the farm of James Burnside in Bethlehem. As of 1998, the farm has become a historical museum, known as the James Burnside Plantation.

Other notable facts about the town… In 1762, Bethlehem built the rst waterworks in America to pump water for public use. And, more recently Bethlehem has a great celebrity these days as Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson graduated from Freedom High School in 1990.

Who doesn’t love The Rock?

These days, even on the other side of the cal- endar from Christmas, Bethlehem is still a great day trip for today’s riders.

We spun this way as the spring was beginning to get sprung and found Bethlehem busy, but not packed, unlike some other touristy Pennsylvania towns and hamlets.

We found a spot easily and then began to stroll around Main Street. First up was a nice lunch, as it was just turning that time of day. Although Bethlehem has many restaurants, we wanted to stick with the historic theme so we meandered down a small alley to The Sun Inn. This place is truly steeped in history.

The original inn opened in 1760, and was a 66-by-40-foot, two-story stone building with a mansard roof. In 1826 a third story was added with 17 new rooms. In 1866 the building was again enlarged, almost completely hiding the original inn. In 1921, interior changes were made and oors were altered, including the raising of the rst oor by several feet. The Sun Inn closed to travelers in the early 1960s.

During the Revolutionary War, the Sun Inn’s signi cance grew as it became an important part of Bethlehem and the United States history. No other inn in the colonies may have welcomed so many distinguished guests: leading patriots, statesmen, and ve men who became U.S. Presidents and military chieftains. The guest list includes George Washington, Martha Washington, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Samuel Adams, Ethan Allen, Alexander Hamilton, Henry Laurens, Richard Lee, and, a personal hero of ours, Marquis de Lafayette, who stayed here in Bethlehem to heal from a bad leg wound he received during the vicious defeat at Brandywine. Washington himself had given directions that Lafayette was to be treated “as if he were my son.” Lafayette would never forget the kindness of this Moravian town and returned in 1824.

Today The Sun Inn is part museum and part restaurant.

We found a table up the worn stairs that almost talk of the thousands that had passed before. We would be there for a bit, and I was doing the riding, so Shira tried a tasting of some of the RevolutionaryStyle spirits – a Cherry Blossom (A favorite of General Washington) and an infused vodka – she thought both, umm different. The Sun Inn kitchen is run by Chef Billy Gruenewald – and his offerings include a run of salads, sandwiches, and larger plates. We tried the Beet Salad, along with the Moravian Brat-Austrian bratwurst with a shallot jam, mustard, and red cabbage slaw, as well as the Lafayette (how could we resist?) – shaved steak with Gruyere cream, tarragon butter, and au jus.

All were delicious and hit the spot.

After lunch, we strolled The Sun taverns museum room, which gave a great look back in time to when this region was rst settled by the Moravians.

Strolling Main Street, we stopped at some of the more interesting shops –

Knobs and Knockers (think everything handles, doors & Gene Wilder). We picked up some delicious balsamic vinegars at Seasons, and then took in the Moravian Book Store, which opened in 1745 and claims to be the oldest bookstore in the world.

Right across the street, you cannot miss the huge Historic Bethlehem Hotel. This stately place has been serving travelers for decades and is well worth taking a quick walk around, as the deep history of the building can be found right in the lobby. Why do we think this would be an excellent Backroads Weekend getaway?

Back across the street we somehow discovered Hotel B’s Ice Cream Parlor. All their ice cream is created by the creamery at Penn State – one of the most famed creameries in the nation and the same place Shira went to learn her ice cream-making skills.

Heading back to the bike we hit one or two of the more interesting shops and stocked up on some wonderful Polish delicacies from B & P Polish Deli. With the next day’s lunch all packed away, we headed back to New Jersey along the late winter backroads that already seemed to be greening with the upcoming spring – which would start the next day.

Bethlehem is a great town, and well worth the visit and the time. Enjoy and see you on the road! ,

Bigfoot Creamery

HENRY GOURDINE PARK KIOSK • 1A WESTERLY ROAD, OSSINING, NY 10562

SEASON HOURS – CHECKWEBSITEBEFOREYOUGO

Sasquatch, Yeti, Skunk Ape, Skookum, Grassman – or you may know it by it more common name of Bigfoot. If you’ve been reading this magazine for a time, you’ve noticed that we have an af nity for Bigfoot. As a matter of fact, right in the woods of Backroads Central is a prominent silhouette of the stately creature. Its image adorns my top case, we have holiday ornaments and more than a few t-shirts, my favorite with Bigfoot holding a guitar as it strolls across the shirt.

It’s no wonder, when I discovered Bigfoot Creamery, that I was super excited to make a visit. You may ask why the name? So I’ll tell you: Laryssa and Stephen Jardine, the proprietors and scoopers of Bigfoot Creamery, both grew up in the Paci c Northwest, chasing Bigfoot and reveling in the countless stories of encounters on backpacking adventures or camping trips up and down the west coast.

Laryssa and Stephen, along with their two kids, made the move from Brooklyn to Westchester not too long before 2020. They scoped out the area and found that they had to travel to nd some good homemade ice cream. Seeing the success of other local small businesses, they were inspired to bring ice cream to Ossining. While they both had full time jobs in New York City, being able to work from home was a plus while starting up the business during that challenging time. It turned out that the town of Ossining gave the okay and, with folks jonesing to be outside, the Kiosk in the park was the perfect location.

The ice cream is made right there at the waterfront location. They use locally sourced ingredients, including Hudson Valley dairy and fruits and vegetables from local farms. Typically there will be half a dozen avors on their menu board, as well as guest avors, this summer’s being from another New York State creamery, Perry’s. Some of the avors concocted by the Jardines are Bigfoot S’more, Sirens Caramel Cookie and Lav- ender Truf e, in addition to good old Vanilla and Chocolate. As of this writing, the Creamery is open weekends only from 10am-9pm but once the permanent warm weather arrives I’m sure that will expand.

Free parking can be found in the lot for Henry Gourdine Park or the train station parking lot. The Kiosk sits in front of the playground, so you can channel your inner child while enjoying your delicious ice cream. There is also plenty of outdoor seating available or you can walk along the waterfront.

The village of Ossining is quaint as well. Sitting along Route 9, there are some very eclectic restaurants such as Peruvian, Jamaican, Turkish, Portuguese and Greek, as well as the Sing Sing Kill Brewery, and some good window shopping options. For something special, stop in for an ice cream snack then head the 45 miles north to the Culinary Institute of America, in Hyde Park, for a wonderful meal. Hell, why not make it an overnight? There are any number of lodging options, from the Roosevelt Inn to Bed and Breakfasts or the swanky Buttermilk Falls Inn & along the Hudson River, is easy and fun, with plenty of history stops to ll a day or two. ,

Nestled in the beautiful farm country 12 miles north of the Baltimore beltway and 7 miles south of the PA border is an oldfashioned, dining-hallstyle, family eatery I discovered while scouting a bicycle race course around the Prettyboy Reservoir. In 1959, Jack and Dorothy Wilhelm opened a restaurant in their picturesque white farmhouse after an accident left Jack unable to work the farm. Even though the original menu included just chicken, steak, and ham, (served with homestyle vegetables), the venture proved to be so popular that in 1964, they built a separate building to house the eatery. Today, sons Gary and Larry and Gary’s wife, Jane, have taken over and expanded the menu, but kept the same down-home ethos of the original.

We were confused as we entered, as the rst thing you encounter are cashiers. The procedure is to order your entree, either off the expansive menu or the specials board, pay, and then take a seat in the large dining room. We were lucky to get a table by the window with an unrestricted view of the gazebo and pond, the latter fes- tooned with a large ock of geese. We gave the waitress our receipt and she disappeared with it and our drink order (drinks, an appetizer, all-you-caneat sides, and a scoop of Hershey’s ice cream are included in the price). She returned with the drinks (nothing alcoholic), a basket of tiny rolls, anddrum roll - sugar biscuits! If you think of a doughnut hole, liberally covered in granular sugar, then you understand sugar biscuits. They’re even better with a dollop of apple butter, also provided. I ordered a New York Strip and Betsy had two center-cut, boneless pork chops and they were cooked to juicy perfection. Sides were brought out, family-style, in bowls for us to share and included French fries, green beans with ham, bicolor corn, coleslaw, creamy cottage cheese, and peaches! There was suf cient quantity that neither of us felt we needed to take advantage of the free re lls on sides. We saw a couple orders of their signature fried chicken go by on plates for others and we vowed that it will be a future order for us. My only note was that nothing was deeply seasoned, but when I looked around and saw a large number of elderly among the clientele, I understood and reached for the salt and pepper. We nished off with a dip of the included Hershey’s ice cream.

This isn’t your typical “diner” in terms of the family-style side dish service, pay-up-front procedure, farm location, and somewhat senior clientele; however, the food is excellent, as is the service and if a hungry motorcyclist wanders in looking for a good, plentiful, homestyle meal, they will not be disappointed. It is scrupulously clean, the service is good, and I would de nitely eat there again. It’s not the Ritz, but it’s not Ritz Crackers either. The setting, among the green elds and ponds of rural Maryland, is a delightful accompaniment to the food. ~

Mark Byers

Words & Images: Brian Rathjen

It is something that we here at Backroads look forward to each spring –the Delaware Valley Norton Riders’ annual “Gathering of the Nortons,” which is far, far more than just the venerated British marque. But the last few years have brought forth challenges.

First, there was the Lockdown of 2020 - state-sponsored and putting the ka-bosh on so many annual events. (Okay, not Backroads – we had three…COUNT EM’ THREE events that year. Take that, Fauci!). Then this year the Delaware Valley Club learned that the Commonwealth of

Pennsylvania would not permit them to use the grounds of Washington Crossing State Park – a location that has been hosting the Gathering of the Nortons for decades.

The state had all sorts of nonsensical reasons not to allow this great local event, which brings hundreds of riders and thousands of dollars into the community on one particular Sunday morning each April. A terrible call on Harrisburg’s part.

But the worst was the news that Lori Weiniger would not be having her annual breakfast.

Lori, say it ain’t so, quick healing and please bring it back!

Undaunted the club went in search of a Plan B and found it when Performance Garage Club, located on Route 12 west of Frenchtown, New Jersey, offered to host the 28th Annual Gathering on their grounds at the Route 12 Business Park.

Motorheads helping motorheads. Now this is America.

That Sunday started with a dimmed dawn, and the storms that rolled through the night before lingered around for a bit, but my ride south got better and brighter by the mile.

The familiar State Park feel had been replaced by a more industrial tone, but there was plenty of parking and, as always, the Gathering of the Nortons did not disappoint.

Running into a few friends, we bought some coffee from the on-site food truck, took our time, and strolled the aisles of classic motorcycles; each row lined with a great mix of old, older, and a few machines of questionable provenance.

Honda XL-350, Yamaha TX 650 ($4,500???) some great old Yamaha two-stroke RDs 250, 350 & 400s. Honda CBX with six into six pipes.

The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association AHRMA had a booth promoting their upcoming races at New Jersey Motorsports Track featuring rst a Norton Dunstall Atlas Race 1968, which was raced at the Isle of Man, and that had been “tucked away” in a Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania basement for decades. That was rolled out and then a sweet Yamaha RD race machine that screamed history and speed rolled in.

And then there were all the Nortons…

Remember this was a Gathering of Nortons?

Ed and Ralph would be proud.

But the standout was the Norton that graces this month’s cover – a chromed beast of a British bike, complete with a Supercharger.

Then there was the Performance Garage Club itself, with several classic cars, and a few bikes sprinkled throughout.

PGC is a wellorganized facility with an upstairs member lounge area, a rotary 7,000 lift, a motorcycle lift, an indoor wash bay, and a spot-free water system to keep all this machinery clean.

A very cool place indeed.

If you are a car-enthusiasts and local to PGC then you might want to pursue what they have to offer. You will nd the club online at performancegarageclub.com.

It was great to see that this club could pivot quickly and that PGC would offer its space for this yearly event that, at least for me, heralds in the spring and the upcoming riding season.

Thank you Delaware Norton Riders and Performance Garage Club for a great Sunday morning in April! ,

It was raining, we were on the side of a 10,000 foot cliff path, serpentining through the dark of night on a surface that was unpredictable at best. I fell down. A lot. My con dence had totally evaporated and all I thought about was the opposite of the Klingon saying, ‘Today is a good day to die.’

When we returned from ‘that’ trip, I continued to be fearful of anything that wasn’t perfect pavement. I certainly had done my share of off-road excursions, planned or not, but never anything as totally gnarly as that one. I was not only putting myself in harm’s way by this mental dilemma, but also weighing on Brian as he bore the brunt of my ineptness from my yip. Put me on a road bike, at speed over 5 miles an hour, and I am a soaring eagle. Under 5 miles, the Shira goonie bird starts to stumble.

When the idea of attending DC Dirt Camp was brought up by my friend Lisa, who was also on ‘that’ trip, I was all in. I knew I had to do something to regain my limited dirt ability, so I gured the best way was to return to the basics. This was my opportunity.

DC Dirt Camp, owned and run by BJ Hessler, is located in Middletown, Virginia. Founded in 2018, the Camp has been at its new location since last October. The 12-acre campus is in its grooming stages, with a formidable dirt hill, some gravel drives, lots of grassy eld with a serpentine maze lined out. BJ hopes to gets some obstacle trees in the near future, but right now well-placed hay bales work ne.

Our group of eight –all Backroads folk ex- cept for Ben, who was attending from Richmond, VA – were there bright and early, ready to learn. Classes run from 10am to 4pm, with hydration and short lunch breaks. Dress code was listed as long sleeves, loose- tting pants (to accommodate shin/knee pads), over ankle boots, tight tting gloves and, of course, a helmet. While I normally wear my Aerostich, I felt it too cumbersome in a learning environment, so went with a pair of bright orange Thor KTM Racing pants with my Olympia vented jacket. Others simply wore dirt bike jerseys and riding pants with padding underneath.

After personal introductions (BJ gave a short background and Mel, Spencer and Matt, our other coaches, as well as Jarvis the resident longhair critic), we were introduced to our rides for the day, mine being a Honda CRF 150F, with others on Honda CRF 125F, CRF 230F, Yamaha WR250R, Suzuki DRX 400 and GPX FSE 300R. It was great that BJ matched our sizes to the appropriately sized motorcycle. There was always the option to up or downsize for comfort and skill level. Heading out of the corral, we did a follow the leader around the perim- eter to the main learning area. Cones had been set in a large oval for our expanding lessons. We were doing the Clutch Capable, or MSF Dirt Bike Class, which is geared towards riders who know the basics of a motorcycle but have little or no dirt skills – like me, a street rider.

The day consisted of mounting the motorcycle with side stand up, properly standing, stopping and starting, shifting and braking, weaving and cornering with counter weighting, riding over obstacles and hill maneuvers. Pretty much all of this, once comfortable, was done while standing.

Translating, or rather shifting one’s paradigm, from street to dirt is somewhat mind bending. From getting on the motorcycle sans side stand to counter weighting in turns is completely opposite of how I was trained for the street. Trying to compartmentalize your brain to keep these techniques equal but separate is really hard for a beginner. Starting out doing ovals, while standing, pressing on the outer peg with an exaggerated ‘shooting arrow’ arm posture felt like I was some sort of contortionist. Being able to relax (HA!) and letting the motorcycle ‘fall’ into the turn was the goal.

BJ and crew were all excellent with clear instructions and demonstrations before the exercises. While we were all circling, BJ would shout out alterations and encouragements to each of us, as well as taking pictures and videos which she shared afterwards for us to see what we thought we were doing perfectly and what we were actually doing – amazing how the mind does that.

About 2 hours into the class, the impending rains arrived so we headed to the garage for a water break and rain suits. We waited out one downpour and headed back out, only to have the rains stop, blue skies reappear –along with the humidity. What this accomplished was to give us a wet surface to learn on while not having to do it in the pouring rain. Feeling the difference between braking/turning on a dry dusty surface and wet muddy one was eye-opening. In addition to teaching how to handle this, BJ is also very considerate of nature and treating the trails/ paths ridden with respect so as not to damage it for the future. This meant taking different lines if the ones ridden got too rutted.

When we got to the hill portion of the class, the surface was almost dry, so heading up and making a u-turn back with a stop at the bottom (while standing – no foot down) was a bit less nerve-wracking for me. Funny how everyone has a ‘preferred’ direction when turning; mine is de nitely left. While I waved off my rst attempt due to lack of speed, taking a scenic ride through the grass maze, I was able to get two done, not perfectly, but at least I did the stop at the bottom okay. Making our way back to the garage through the maze, I realized how mentally and physically spent I really was. During the training, I was focused and open to all instructions, but now I couldn’t wait to get back to a nice hot shower. Well, this would have to wait, as the last of the training had to do with ‘getting to know and care for your ride’ so get out the hose and brushes, clean the chains and take off the mud/grass clumps. I’ll say that I got dirtier doing this than during the whole class, but it was just as gratifying.

If you have never ridden a motorcycle and want to begin, learning to ride dirt before street has always been said to be the right path. Supplying motorcycle, helmet and riding gear, this all-inclusive step into dirt riding is a bargain at $298. BJ says, “ ‘Come drop our bikes, so you never drop yours’… That really is a game changer for most road riders. Once you drop a smaller, lighter, mostly plastic dirt bike, especially one that is not yours, and realize both you and the bike are safe, something changes in our psychology.” While I did not drop my bike this day, I did begin to learn the fundamental body English of dirt riding on a small bike, which I hope will translate to my V-Strom 650 for both dirt riding and low-speed riding and maneuvers. If you are already in the dirt, taking a proper training course can only make you better and DC Dirt Camp’s Intro to Adventure and two-day Advanced Adventure courses should be on your calendar right away. From 6 to 96, DC Dirt Camp has the right course for you – see their website for calendar, pricing and more. DCDirtCamp.com ~

Shira Kamil

Warm winds blowing Heat’n blue sky And a road that goes forever

Texas • Chris Rae

It has become a pilgrimage of sorts; our yearly excursion to the Lone Star State.

It has been ten years since MotoGP has been holding its U.S. Round at the Circuit of the Americas, or COTA for short. Located just outside Austin, Texas, COTA is one of the most impressive in the entire MotoGP calendar.

The Circuit of The Americas is the rst purpose-built Grand Prix facility in the U.S., with a 3.34 -mile track and a capacity for 120,000 fans. Construction of the impressive 1000-acre facility was completed late in 2012, with MotoGP lining up at the track for the rst time in 2013.

COTA is a challenging mix of fast straights and tight hairpins, with most sections mirroring at least some part of a famous track around the world. It was designed by well-known German architect and circuit designer Hermann Tilke. The driving direction is counterclockwise and has a total of 20 corners with 9 right turns and 11 left turns.

One of its more distinctive features is near 135-foot elevation change with an impressive incline at the end of the home straight followed by a sharp left. The back straight is a whopping 4,000 feet in length.

To say the Circuit of the Americas is an impressive racing facility is a huge understatement.

That rst MotoGP, in 2013, was won by Marc Marquez who, at 20 years old, was the youngest racer ever to win a MotoGP. He would go on to win ve more times here.

This weekend event is huge and the crowds easily dwarf the attendance for the Daytona 200 – once one of the biggest motorcycle events in the nation.

But we wanted to tell you a few of the other reasons why you should come to Texas next spring.

We have ridden down Texas way a few times, but this time we took skies with ights to and from the City of the Violet Crown. (Since the late 19th century, Austin has also been known as such because of the colorful glow of light across the hills just after sunset).

Austin and the area around COTA have thousands of places to stay and a place for every budget or taste.

For us, we have been staying at a wonderful Airbnb called La Calavera Casita – yes, the little house of elegant skulls. This place is amazing, comfortable, and perfectly situated between COTA and downtown Austin - a weird city indeed. In fact, their motto is “Keep Austin Weird.”

We have been sharing this place for years now with our friends Laurie and John, long-time riders and true and talented motorcycle enthusiasts.

Although MotoGP held practice on Friday our ights would not get us there till a tad after so for us the track action would begin Saturday with practice, then qualifying, and then the rst race of the weekend – the Tissot MotoGP Sprint Race.

The Sprint Race – more or less a half-length of Sunday’s main event –is new this year and adds both points and excitement during each round.

MotoGP racing has three classes.

Moto3 features entry-level 250cc-powered machines and riders just entering the sport on an international level; Moto 2, the stepping stone to the Big Show where all the bikes are powered by the same Triumph 765cc triple, and then MotoGP, the pinnacle of motorcycle road racing without any doubt.

But this weekend is far more than just racing.

First off there is Texas. Simply an awesome state in every way - a bastion of self-reliance and can-do attitude, and the track and the state are wonderfully centrally located for the rest of the nation.

This track facility is quickly becoming a year-round facility… concerts happen regularly with the likes of Jimmy Buffett, Dave Matthews, and the Rolling Stones having performed at COTA’s Germania Insurance Amphitheater. There are plans for an amusement park in the works.

Since we had a beautiful home and all that goes with it we cooked up some great meals before the track each day, but COTA certainly has some serious food vendors sprinkled about the entire facility.

We arrived Saturday to take in the practice and qualifying session and the Tissot Sprint Race was fast and awesome with World Champion Pecco Bagnaia showing his winning form and leading most of the ten-lap race. In between qualifying and the Sprint race, we walked about COTA listening to the band West Texas Exiles who had that wonderful mix of rhythm, Rock & Roll, and Texas mixed into a great performance.

Demo Rides from Yamaha, Aprilia, and CFMOTO were to be had, and there were dozens of other vendors as well – SW-Motech, Cycle Gear, Tissot Watches, BMW, and many others with offers and deals to be had.

The crowd at COTA are all deep enthusiasts and very up and friendly – even with a bunch of good-natured rivalry going on between racing team and rider factions. Poor Marc Marquez… he wasn’t even racing this weekend but still took a drubbing from many.

Hey, I’m a fan, Marc! Sorry John, but it’s true – at least we are on the same page for everything else.

Sunday was Race Day.

The rst off was Moto 3 and this class always delivers with excitement. The racers are all young and fearless and driven and sometimes the pack of riders at the last turn could almost be the rst turn of the race. In the end, Rookie Ivan Ortola fought his way from the back of the grid, after a massive save in the opening lap.

Ortola took the lead with two laps to go after a high-side for leader Ayumu Sasaki also forced Jaume Masia wide, but then had to overcome a charging Diogo Moreira who brie y took the advantage on the nal lap.

Moto 2 did not disappoint either with serious competition throughout the race. Pedro Acosta won the race-long duel with Tony Arbolino to take the Moto 2 victory.

Arbolino held rm until three laps to go when a small mistake allowed Acosta to regain the lead. But a similar error by Acosta then handed the advantage back to the Italian.

The crucial moment between the title leaders came on the nal lap when Acosta dived for the inside on the brakes at Turn 12, the end of the back straight. The Red Bull Ajo rider then held a defensive line through the last corner to ensure victory.

There was a longish break before the main event and the Star Spangled Banner was sung by local artist Suzanne Santo followed by a y-over by 4 T-38s from Sheppard AFB – the combination of the two raising a roar from the Texas-based American crowd. Somehow this all had a far more patriotic feel than if this U.S. Round were held somewhere else. Even the MotoGP announcers said that the fans here were some of the most patriotic and passionate fans in the world.

They were right.

With both Marc Marquez and Enea Bastianini sidelined for this leg of MotoGP all eyes were on reigning World Champion Pecco Bagnaia.

As we thought Bagnaia grabbed an early lead, but about halfway through the racer had a hard crash. VR46 Ducati’s Luca Marini later blasted past Fabio Quartararo’s Yamaha for second and faced only a two-second gap to Rins. Rins responded, managing his advantage for Honda’s rst win since the absent Marc Marquez at Misano in 2021.

Rins’ sixth premier-class victory, after ve for Suzuki, was also LCR’s rst since Cal Crutchlow in 2018.

Meanwhile, Marini celebrated his rst ever (Sunday) MotoGP podium and Quartararo his rst rostrum of the season.

All in all, it was an amazing weekend of MotoGP, passionate fans, and an industry that is beginning to make speed and gain momentum once again.

That night Shira and I headed into downtown Austin where we caught the end of a hand-built bike show and waited on the famed Mexican free-tail bat colony, more than a million that roost under the Congress Avenue Bridge, to y out on their nightly exodus.

Truly amazing – but equally amazing was the barbeque at Cooper’s, just down the avenue. We had a 6 Am ight and in what seemed a blink of an eye we were home at Backroads Central and I was in front of my desktop pounding out these words.

During this, I was sent an email from our friend Laurie who was with us at the races. It featured Jason Weigandt from the Weegee Show and it was about why MotoGP is huge.

His thought, and it is a brilliant one, is that if the AMA held its Supercross in Austin on this same weekend as MotoGP it could and would be the biggest motorcycle racing event in the USA since Daytona 200’s heyday. We think Jason is spot on with this and we hope the “Powers That Be” are listening.

Regardless if you are looking for a most exciting way to start your riding season then consider MotoGP at COTA next year. Tickets usually go on sale in the beginning of the year, so mark your calendar.

With the great mix of Austin, the racing, the food, the music, and the people – I guarantee you will not be disappointed. ,

Product Reviews

SIDILADIES GAVIA GORE-TEX BOOTS

I have been wearing SIDI’s Gavia boots for quite a few seasons. Even though my last pair are still quite useable, I wanted to replace them before it was needed.

I have made it well known that I am not a fan of the famed, and treacherous, Gavia Pass in the Italian Alps, with its breathtaking views and knuckle-whitening curves. However, I am more than happy to place these boots on my feet to help me enjoy the less than treacherous adventures

I enjoy. The mid-high sport touring boots are of the highest caliber, featuring SIDI’s full grain micro ber synthetic leather upper construction, double-stitched at all stress points for maximum durability. Micro ber yields superior weather rejection, while also promoting moisture evaporation through the material to allow the Gore-Tex waterproof and breathable membrane to perform to its full potential. Both external and internal ankle protectors as well as heel and toe inserts provide safety without compromising exibility. I have tested this, with little to no damage to my toes or the boots. Removable arch support pads, Cambrelle lining and ample elastic stretch panels enhance t and long range touring comfort, making the SIDI Gavia Gore-Tex Boots an excellent choice for sport tourers looking for Gore-Tex weather protection that can go the distance. They are equally comfortable on the bike or for walking when parked. Available in sizes 5.5/37 through 10.5/43. MSRP: $274.99. ~ Shira Kamil

SIGNATURE CD • TURNAGREATHELMETINTOANOUTSTANDINGHELMET

We recently got hold of Schuberth’s new C5 helmet. A great helmet in every respect. The C5 does come in several colors and graphics as well – but I opted for their Dark Grey. So, I ended up with a superior helmet and a great canvas to make it my own and follow, more or less, the color schemes of my own machines. I had a good idea of what I wanted and my BMW R1250GS, which came in a two-tone black-on-black scheme, was made to “pop” with an emblem kit from Signature CD – which stands for Custom Design.

First, let me tell you a bit about Signature CD.

Founded in 2013, Signature Custom Design, based in Cyprus, was started to offer riders an easy way to personalize their machines and gear. Although their helmet stickers can be adapted to many brands of helmets – their bike sticker kits are aimed at the BMW rider.

They are all avid rides themselves and their products offer a wide range of ready-to-go decal kits like Adventure, Sport, Artistic, and Military that can be conjured by the customer through their website to suit their bike colors and style. Notable here is that they also provide the chance to make your own color combinations that are endless, thus giving the customer the individuality and expression they so much wanted to apply to their bike. All kits are made in- house with the best vinyl brands (3M, Arlon, Hexis, Oracle) which hold up to wear and tear, and attention to detail is paramount. They have also created protective lms that can be easily applied, are transparent, nonscratch, UV resistant, and can protect all areas that are exposed to high abrasion and wear, such as panniers, etc. yet are easy to replace when necessary.

This is the third time we ordered from Signature CD, and even coming from Europe, delivery was fairly quick – just a few weeks.

Their website is chock full of different designs and for this helmet, I chose “The World” created with a dark green and orange… selling for around $80 US.

I refamiliarized myself with the application technique – which is easy as can be and can be seen on the Signature CD website.

The helmet was prepped in each area with a wipe-down with rubbing alcohol to clean any residue or oils off the surface. I then peeled back the sticker halfway, and lightly put the peel back. Then I taped the other side of the sticker exactly where I wanted it to be and then gave the sticker a light blast of heat from the heat gun. Don’t overdo this… just a light warming; don’t melt the sticker, okay?

I then removed the backing lm from one side – using a plastic squeegee and micro- ber towel to push out any air bubbles that might have gotten trapped. Then the other side’s backing was removed and the same squeegee/towel process repeated.

This system was repeated for each sticker and in about half an hour my new Schuberth C5 looked like no other on the block – and the colors of the Signature CD stickers picked up the colors of the emblems I had done on my GS three years ago – which still looks amazing.

These sticker kits from Signature CD are easy, and creative and will make your bike, helmet, and bags your own. Log on to their website at www.signaturecd.com/ and make your ride even more special.

~ Brian Rathjen

THE HORNET DEER AVOIDANCE SYSTEM • FOR EVERYTHING YOU RIDEOR DRIVE

Backroads Central is located in one of the most dangerous places on the planet. Especially at dawn or dusk. There are these creatures which look meek enough, but truly are terrors when they come out to play. Do you know that deer, averaging over 120 pounds each, are responsible for more vehicle damage, personal injury, and death than any other animal in the U.S.A.? In certain areas of some states, your odds of having a deer/vehicle incident are dramatically increased, with average vehicle damage exceeding $2,800, plus risk of personal injury. There is no number one can put on pain. Not enough money in the world for the worse. We all know that the risk of injury is far worse when riding a bike. But, remember we don’t hit deer. Deer hit us. We have been talking about The Hornet for years, yet so many readers we run into still ask “What is that noise?” when we start our bikes at certain hours of the day. Civilians are baf ed when this tone emanates from our STi or Durango.

It is a rare occurrence when we head out for any distance here in northwest New Jersey that we do not see deer on the side of the road – standing or prone; and after years of using The Hornet on every motorcycle, we have just taken it a step further and armed all our four-wheel vehicles. Sure - we have gotten around them in the past – that is why our Durango is called a Dodge – but when I had to take drastic evasive maneuvers with the WRX I took it more personally.

The Hornet, at $90, is a modest investment and installation is fairly straightforward – easy on any bike, a tad more dif cult with the cars, but still fairly easy.

‘Okay… you have me interested’, now you are thinking.

So let me tell you how it works.

The Hornet Deer Avoidance Device is a precision-tuned sonic generator that produces a high-pitched, directional sonic wave. When this wave is re ected from the road surface of a moving vehicle, a virtual sonic echo effect is produced. This sonic wave has proven its ability to alert deer and most other animals to approaching vehicles with suf cient warning to avoid costly accidents.

The use of the Hornet, along with driver awareness, has been proven to reduce the risk of animal/vehicle collision by more than 70%. The electronically produced sonic wave is effective at any vehicle speed. The Hornet Deer Avoidance Device is your best protection from vehicle damage and deadly animal-related accidents.

We have had deer and moose head in the other direction when approached with The Hornet on our bikes. Can we guarantee it will save you from a deer strike? No. But given my choice, I’d rather have The Hornet throwing its tone down the road than not. There are several Police Departments and hundreds of other motorcycle riders that agree with this thought. To nd out more about The Hornet and to order yours check out their website at xp3hornet.com Think of it as an ‘electronic rabbit’s foot, and don’t we all need some good luck now and again? ~ Brian

Rathjen

SW-MOTECH URBAN ABSTOPCASE SYSTEM

Do you shudder like I do when you see a tall motorcycle sporting no other luggage but a heavy-duty boxy topcase mounted way up high and as far back as possible? I’ve even done it myself, despite how the extra weight up there adversely effects the bike’s handling. It’s the easiest way to access our stuff— just ip open the lid and everything is right there. Easy in, easy out. Also, a large rear topcase may provide the only solution to securely storing a helmet or two on your motorcycle. Looking for a lightweight semi-rigid or rigid bag with a secure, lockable mount, but also easy to take on and off quickly, I discovered SW-Motech’s Urban ABS Topcase. ABS plastic forms the semi-rigid shape and is much lighter than other fully rigid metal and plastic cases. Further, its attractive black textured surface is scratch-resistant. The Topcase holds 16 liters of cargo and can expand to hold up to 29 liters—large enough to t a full face helmet.

There are a variety of ways to attach the Urban ABS Topcase to different motorcycles. I ordered the $559.95 system which includes the Topcase and mounts that work with my BMW S 1000 XR’s stock luggage rack. It includes SWMotech’s ADVENTURE-RACK rack, a strong durable aluminum rack that can t a number of adapter plates for mounting different luggage systems. Once installed, the mounting system allows you to lock the Topcase to the bike. And taking the case on and off is done in mere seconds by inserting the two tabs into the mounting plate which holds the bag in place and sliding the tab on the front of the bag to lock it in position. Turning the interior locking mechanism prevents anyone from being able to move the exterior sliding tab. And SWMotech even includes a small combination lock to connect the two zippers together. With that, your stuff is a lot harder for anyone to snatch quickly without a saw or heavy tools.

The low pro le of this Urban ABS Topcase appears small, but you’d be surprised how much you can cram into the case. You can easily t enough clothes for a weekend trip as well as extra gloves and other miscellaneous gear in it. The case’s lid houses a separate compartment with a mesh closure. This a handy place to keep things like sunglasses, a hat, and gloves, which you can easily see through the mesh.

Oversized loads, like a full face helmet, just require you to unzip the expansion compartment and zip it to the lid. There are two integrated straps that allow you to cinch down and compress the load for a secure t.

The super light weight of the case is completely unnoticeable while riding. And carrying this bag off the bike, even with a full load, is almost effortless compared to some other topcases I’ve used. The Urban Topcase is waterproof except for the zippers, so SWMotech includes a waterproof softbag with the case. I use this bag to store clothes that I don’t want to get wet. It’s a nice bonus from the top-notch German company. ~

Tricia Szulewski

SW-Motech Urban ABS Topcase System • Part #: GPT-07-592-60000/B • $559.95 • SW-Motech.us

MADSTAD MOTORCYCLE WINDSHIELDS • A FLORIDA COMPANY WORKINGTO MAKE RIDERS MORE COMFORTABLE

Riding a motorcycle conjures slews of romantic images and familiar phrases such as “life on the open road,” “feeling truly free,” and the famous “wind in your face.” Try riding 300-plus miles in a day with “the wind in your face” though, and that romantic notion morphs into sore necks and achy backs as the famed, owing airstream pummels riders with jabs and uppercuts like a boxer.

A Florida company, Madstad Engineering, has stepped into the ring and assumed the role of referee between riders and the riding elements they face, incorporating scienti c principles into the designs and manufacturing of motorcycle windshields for a variety of two and three-wheeled vehicles. Fourteen years ago, this small Brooksville, Florida-based company had a small idea, according to Jim Long, Madstad Engineering owner, to tackle the relatively overlooked issue of wind control for motorcycles. “It was not addressed that hard within the industry,” he says. “Windshields were an afterthought.”

“We saw everything from a garbage can lid to a piece of window fastened to the front of a motorcycle to buffer the windblast,” says Dennis Long, plant and production overseer (and Jim’s uncle). “Riders might age, but they still want to keep riding. They can be more comfortable, ride longer, lessen their recovery time, and, with a good windshield, can really experience the ride rather than battle the windblast.”

The Long’s say a windshield’s adjustability, height, and angle create a “comfort bubble,” making the difference between a fun ride or a painful slog down the road. Jim Long purchased the company from the original owner and designer Mark Stadnik last November, and Madstad Windshields still use his original design.

That design, the rst to incorporate a “double windshield,” successfully uses principles of vacuum and the Venturi effect to improve a rider’s comfort behind the handlebars. In non-technical terms, Madstad windshields feature an opening in the lower end of the shield or sometimes an extra, smaller shield attached to the main windshield (that’s the “double” part). This allows air to ow up the shield’s backside as well as its front side, where it meets at the shield’s top edge, breaking the vacuum and quieting the turbulence behind the shield that buffets and shakes a rider. Instead, the air now ows up and over the shield and the rider’s helmet, making for a smoother, less jarring, and annoying trip.

Madstad manufactures aftermarket shields for the outdoor adventure market, including many motorcycles, from off-road bikes to cruisers, as well as ATVs, watercraft, and Polaris Slingshot and Can-Am three-wheeled vehicles. The company employs eighteen people and manufactures about seven to eight hundred shields monthly, selling them through its website. Social media and word of mouth comprise its marketing.

Jim Long says Madstad uses 3/16” thick hard-cast acrylic because “it holds up well, stays clear, and eliminates vibration and movement of the shield.” The shields only require soap and water cleaning, and scratches easily buff out. Madstad also makes its windshield brackets rather than buying from a subcontractor. “The brackets are the hardest work for us because they require all hand work. We design the steel, cut it, then run it through the tumbler to smooth it and remove any burrs. Then we hand sand and powder coat it, “ says Long. Madstad windshields and brackets don’t modify the original motorcycle in any way and usually provide a more secure attachment for the windshield than what came as stock.

All the windshields are made to order, not stocked, with a turnaround time of usually three to four days. Long attributes that speedy processing to the company’s state-of-the-art and exible manufacturing process and the employees. “We have craftsmen here.” Madstad doesn’t design for original equipment manufacturers but for customers who want improved replacement shields. If a rider wants a shield not in the current lineup, Madstad will create one, using the customer’s motorcycle to design a template and typically producing a nished product within weeks. “We can build and manufacture anything because of our setup,” says Jim Long. The company maintains a special room just for prototype designs.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.Madstad.com.

~ Pamela Collins

IF THIS statement -- “To travel in a purposeful manner toward a vague destination” --- rings the bell of truth about how you enjoy riding, even occasionally, then by gosh there is a coddiwomple in your future.

What is coddiwomple, you ask? The statement above just de ned it. An English slang word that has yet to crawl inside Oxford, coddiwompling also means traveling with zero expectations on what you’ll see, who you’ll meet, and what happens when you get there. The only expectation is knowing how you’ll get there.

Motorcycling was made for coddiwompling. You might have already done it. This year marks the third anniversary of the BMW Motorcycle Owners Association (MOA) Coddiwomple Challenge. Limited to 1000 registrants, you have to be a member to jump in however that will not stop you from organizing your own coddiwomple for your riding buddies or bike club.

MOA invested a lot of time organizing this scavenger hunt. Its General Rules takes up 5 pages and lists 9 challenges. I will share some of the parts on how it works so you can learn and nd inspiration for a DIY.

Each participant who registers receives their own ag, usually a sheet of paper with your name and assigned number. A photo of this ag and your motorcycle (or photo of your face in situations where the bike is not able to get into frame) must appear in all location photographs as proof. Points are given for each themed location visited, called “challenges”. The event has a start and end date, usually April 1 to Halloween.

Much of what the MOA did for 2023 revolves around their National Rally taking place in Richmond, VA. For example, the local university mascot is the most weird mascot -- a spider. So one challenge has you trying to collect giant spiders found on buildings, signs, bridges, etc.

Because MOA is celebrating their 50th anniversary, there’s a lot of 50 involved, like the “Count to 50” challenge, which involves collecting highway signs numbered from 1 through 50. Limited to 50 submissions for a grand total of 2500 pts. You see a recurring theme around #50?

There’s the “Gold Challenge” – nding a city, town, or village named “Gold”, but not private businesses. Fifty years of marriage is your golden anniversary. Darn, all my marriages, combined, don’t even get close to that. But it did help me score 50 points for the “Third Time’s The Charm” challenge. There’s also the “Goose that Laid the Golden Egg” challenge. Explained as: “We want you to provide pho- tographic proof of visit to goose statues, art, signs, and murals. This goose must be larger than your saddle bag.” Like nding giant spiders, this too is not easy!

My own club, the Yankee Beemers, did their rst “codd” last year. The main challenge was to spell out the club’s 13-letter name compiled from towns visited. You have to provide proof, so post of ces, re departments, welcome signs, anything of cial showing the town/city name. You can’t use the same name twice, so it was not easy to nd ve E’s. I had to ride to York, Maine to nd a “Y”. For bigger points, an extension of that challenge was to collect the same 13 letters but from 13 different states (and Canada).

Another challenge was “Show your bike laid down.” No thank you! No way was I doing that, not on purpose. Another one was nding towns with German city names. MOA did microbreweries one year and I met someone who spent his entire riding season documenting 320 of them. This year, it’s about distilleries, and I’ve been surprised by how many there are in New Hampshire, including one called Live Free, and Sea Hagg.

Last year the Vermont BMW club did a coddiwomple that made you eat many hamburgers. You had to show proof with a receipt. Veggie burgers and bean burgers were acceptable. Ideas that should make for fun challenges are those that make for sweet rides. Unlike collecting museums, where riding into a stinky city is pretty likely. For example, collecting golf courses or waterfront state parks. Think of scenic places for riding where it will be easy to park and pull out a picnic! The harder the challenge, the more points awarded. Antique gas pumps: 200 pts. Car shows, a staple of summer, would be cool. “Must show a eld of custom, antique or collectibles.” A Harley circa pre-1980: 500 pts. Bike dealerships: 50 pts.

I propose a “Shira Scoops Coddiwomple”: Collect ice cream shops, parlors, kiosks. Dairy Queen chains strictly prohibited. These things are only limited by the imagination, but safety and ease of proof should be factored. ~ Victor

Cruz