Mo
MAY
2016
tor cy cle u To rM ag azi ne Volume 22 No. 5
Motorcycles, Travel & Adventure
History in the
Berkshires
SPRING BREAK UPDATE TAKE
THE
WEATHER
WITH
YOU
VERMONT DUAL SPORT PLANNING
W H A T ’ S
I N S I D E
MO NT HLY C O L U M NS FREE WHEELIN’ ..................................................4
Motorcycles, Travel & Adventure
WHATCHATHINKIN’ ...........................................6 POSTCARDS FROM THE HEDGE.......................8 ON THE MARK ..................................................10 BACKLASH ........................................................11 INDUSTRY INFOBITES .....................................14 GREAT ALL AMERICAN DINER RUN ..............16
22
Publishers
Brian Rathjen • Shira Kamil
Columnists
Mark Byers, Bill Heald, Dr. Seymour O’Life
Contributors
Dan Bisbee, Don Gomo, Tony Lisanti, Bob LoCicero, Peter Miller, Terry Peters
BIG CITY GETAWAY .........................................18 MYSTERIOUS AMERICA..................................20
Editorial Office BACKROADS, POB 317 Branchville NJ 07826
WE’RE OUTTA HERE ........................................22 SHIRA’S ICE CREAM RUN ...............................24 WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE ............................52 UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR ...................54
FE AT U RE S HISTORY IN THE BERKSHIRES .......................29
29
TAKE THE WEATHER WITH YOU .....................34 BENNINGTON TRIUMPH BASH ......................39 VERMONT DUAL SPORT PLANNING ............41 NEVER ENDING PUPPET SAGA .....................43
PR O DU C T N EW S MUSTANG SPYDER SADDLE .........................27 TOURATECH DRY BAGS .................................27 DIGITAL TORQUE ADAPTER ...........................28 KEY SMART + FIRESTEEL SCOUT .................45
34
phone
973.948.4176
fax
973.948.0823
editor@backroadsusa.com
online
www.backroadsusa.com
Advertising
973-948-4176
BACKROADS (ISSN 1087-2088) is published monthly by BACKROADS™, Inc. 2016. All rights reserved. BACKROADS™ may not be reproduced in any manner without specific written consent from the publisher. BACKROADS™ welcomes and encourages submissions (text and photos) and suggestions. Include phone number with submissions. BACKROADS™ will only return material with enclosed sufficient postage. The written articles and opinions printed in BACKROADS™ are not necessarily those of the publisher and should not be considered an endorsement. The Rip & Rides® published are ridden on the sole responsibilty of the rider. BACKROADS™ is not responsible for the conditions of the public roadways traversed. Please respect the environment, read your owner’s manual and wear proper protective gear and helmet. Ride within your limits, not over them.
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MAY 2016 • BACKROADS
FREE WHEELIN’ BRIAN RATHJeN
What’s in Your Wallet? At the American International Motorcycle Expo this past October, in Orlando, Florida, I happened to pass by the Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club. They had a good number of beautiful old Japanese machines on display and, after the third time I moseyed by picking up more and more little details of the individual machines, I said to Shira that, “I need to join this club.” “You don’t have a vintage Japanese bike,” she replied. “No matter,” was my reply, “These guys are doing a great thing here and a little support never hurts.” So I walked up to the table to talk with the VJMC members and whipped out an American Express card and became a member. A few days later it came to my attention that I had let another membership lapse – this one to the Concours Owners Group, for which we are Industry Members (whatever that really is). I had first joined this club a few decades back - when we had one of the venerable Kawasakis - and quickly found out that this club, although they said they were about the bike, was really about the people. We went for day rides, rode to rallies and made friends at every turn. We always had way too much fun with the COGLodites, so it might be time to re-up. That got me to thinking about how many clubs, organizations and groups are out there in the motorcycle world and I wondered why many riders feel driven to join them. I once listened to a TED Talk on Tribalism, and how all humans have a basic need to feel that we are part of something - whether it be our jobs, vocations or hobbies or just who we are - Christian, Jew, black, white or whatever. However we identify ourselves – positive or negative - we, as a species, tend to flock together and relate to each other. There was safety in numbers in the beginning and that is still true today. Different organizations and passions draw membership for different reasons. A big national organization like the NRA has some four million gunowning members. Our own American Motorcyclist Association has some 235,000. Unlike smaller clubs like VJMC or COG, these national entities sometimes seem to live on a Mount Olympus, still they help guide public opinion and, in general, help with the well being of all - firearms for the NRA and motorcyclists and motorcycle rights for the AMA.
If you are motorcyclist, and want to have someone watching your back on a national and state level, then you might consider supporting the AMA by becoming a member. Some other national clubs have also gotten close to that Mount Olympus zip code as well. The BMW MOA allows thousand of Beemer enthusiasts to bond at local and national events and as far as Owners Groups go Harley’s HOG is enormous. Other brands have their clubs too like Kawasaki’s ROK and the Honda Riders Club of America. Most of these clubs offer members discounts on a variety of services and publish magazines for their membership to keep informed of what is new and on the horizon for the club. These big national clubs are far past the days of grass roots of the smaller organization and they need to be, as they have come so far and gotten so big that they need boards and committees to get half the stuff they need to do done. For the good of the many I ignore the ‘disconnect’ that these memberships can sometimes bring and choose to participate locally, rather than nationally. Let the hierarchy of these clubs sort all that out – I want to move along, help out and ride with my friends on a more personal level. Down here on Earth, with mere mortals, clubs like COG, VJMC or any of the hundreds of the local HOG chapters offer a chance to really meet up with other likeminded riders and partake in events, rides and two wheel fun. More local clubs like Sport Touring, Yankee Beemers or Ramapo MC and the like offer real opportunities to put some serious and fun miles on your bike all the time. Are you that Lone Wolf sort of rider or would you like some new like-minded friends? What do you ride? Where do you ride? How do you ride? I bet there is a club just for you – maybe a membership card and everything – you might consider joining and supporting the one that fits for you. So…what’s in your wallet? This is just a very small listing - hit Google and you’ll find more american Motorcyclist association: www.ama-cycle.org BMW Motorcycle owners of america: www.BMWMoa.org harley owners Group: www.hoG.com Gold Wing owners Group: www.g1800.org iron Butt association: www.ironbutt.com Motorcycle sports touring association: www.sporttouring.us Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club: www.vjmc.org antique Motorcycle Club of america: www.antiquemotorcycle.org Women on Wheels: www.womenonwheels.org
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MAY 2016 • BACKROADS
WHATCHATHINKIN’ SHIRA KAMIL
Weather or not It’s 7am. I sit in front of the computer with a cup of coffee, staring out the office window. I am putting the May 2016 issue together, but what I see is not inspiring. Seems after the decent warm spell we had most of the winter, the weather has caught up to us and there are very large, white flakes falling from the sky. The calendar doesn’t seem to care that yesterday was opening day for baseball (it was a valiant effort, Metsies) or that my Dognolia tree and whatever those beautiful green stalks may be are ready for the warmth of spring. Fickle Mother Nature, stop playing games with me. As you peruse the pages you hold in your hands, you’ll notice that there is a similar theme throughout. As motorcyclists, weather plays a very intricate role in our decisions. This season, at least in the Backroads Central area, we riders were given a gift on many a winter day. With temperatures well above the norm, the iron horses in the barn were begging us to play hooky, to take advantage of the glorious sunshine and fairly clear roads, to stretch the cables and warm the tires for a bit. And we did not disappoint them, although we may have been fooled by the weather once or twice, as you’ll read in History in the Berkshires. Bill Heald speaks of a weather trait which truly brings me chills, no pun intended. Depending on where you ride on this great planet, it can be called by different names: those riding on the beautiful islands of Corsica and Sardinia may have to deal with a cold Mistral. If you are doing some serious off-roading, the hot, dry Sirocco may take a swipe at you on the dunes of Morocco, or perhaps a Samoon, the Arabic word for poison, so strong as to reshape the dunes. Should you find yourself exploring the mountains of Greece, the Etesians will stir your summer riding. Here on the North American shores, a Tehuantepecer can whip you sideways in Mexico, while much further north a Williwaw will ruin your day in Alaska. If you are making your
way over the Rocky Mountains, a Chinook may or may not be your friend, depending on your ascent or decent at the time. There have been quite a few nights recently that had me sit bolt upright, waiting for it to lift the house or drop a tree. My trusty sidekick Spenser T. Cat, diligently guarding my feet, waits for this gale to become a Cat’s Paw. I call the wind Mariah (sorry, had to be done). One of the worst wind situations I can remember while riding took place in the Southern Hemisphere. Brian and I were two-up on a BMW R1200 GS, heading from Santiago, Chile to Ushuaia, Argentina on Ruta 40. Why a national road is not paved is beyond me, but this part of Ruta 40 was sort of hard packed large gravel with a very high berm down the center. This is where the term Roaring Forties originated: a prevailing westerly wind in the latitudes between 40 and 50 degrees S, that are strong and steady. Unlike the winds in the Northern Hemisphere, large land areas do not impede those in the Roaring Forties. For the better part of the day, we were being hit by this crosswind, keeping the bike at an almost 45 degree angle. Our friend, Michael Wernick, was along on this trip and I remember us getting to the rest stop and Michael getting off the bike, kissing the ground and laying flat for a good long time. We, as I’m sure most riders do, pay a good amount of attention to the weather while planning our daily or longer rides. While long-term forecasts can help somewhat, they can also put a kink in a ride. Whenever we are planning our Spring and Fall rallies, invariably someone will mention the impending weather. “Did you see the rain storm that’s coming? You know they’re calling for snow? I think the earthquake in Japan may bring a tsunami to Wellsboro.” Well, thanks Mr./Ms. Weather Channel Wannabe, but please keep your cockamamie predictions to yourselves. While no one really like to start out a ride in less than perfect weather, sometimes it just has to be done. Being caught in rain, snow, wind, gravel storm, whatever while on a ride is accepted, especially a Backroads ride. But, as our weather guru at WeatherBell.com always says, “Enjoy the weather, it’s the only one you’ve got.”
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MAY 2016 • BACKROADS
POSTCARDS FROM THE HEDGE BILL HeALD
the Color of the Wind Every since I was a child (which takes us well back into the last century. To this I say, OMG), I have always been intrigued, fascinated, delighted and even terrified by the wind. This is no passing interest, either, because it seems that it became critical in just about every aspect of my life. My initial interest started with storms in Texas when I was a wee lad, for dark clouds would roll in, the trees would start to sway, and I would get buffeted around by this incredible unseen force. Later when I was in high school I started flying gliders, and when you are piloting an aircraft (especially one with no means of propulsion) you learn about the ocean of air you swim in very quickly. A few years later I migrated away from aviation and into scuba diving, which ultimately meant spending time on boats. The wind was once again of major interest, which only increased when a buddy purchased a Hobie Cat we sailed around a nearby lake while in college. So when I finally got around to riding motorcycles (especially heavily loaded ones on long trips), I once again found myself respecting the wind in yet another way with a different mode of transportation. Like the other conveyances, motos can be very affected by the wind’s many moods. When it comes to larger bikes with luggage either as part of the bodywork or strapped on later, carefully sculpted bodywork (especially the front fairing) has a huge role to play on how the mount handles the invisible hand of the wind. Everything that has to slice through the air at speed has to deal with not only the ocean of air it passes through, but the currents, eddies, waves and occasional tsunamis that we encounter on the road. Cars, aircraft, boats, and other mov-
ing things have to deal with the problem of engineering a cabin which houses or carries its occupants comfortably while smoothly passing through the atmosphere, and these two concerns are often at odds with each other. For example, one of the reasons fairings were invented (OK, probably the main reason fairings were invented) is to keep the wind off the rider at speed. But as the designers started to fabricate these protective shells and riding with them, they discovered the shape could have a substantial effect on the handling, fuel economy, top speed and other performance characteristics of the motorcycle. Not only that, the fairing could do good or bad things to stability, especially on a smaller, lighter motorcycle. The first motorcycle to ever be tested and designed using a wind tunnel was, well, I have no idea, actually. Someone, somewhere probably knows, and no doubt a source on the Internet will swear the first person to roll a bike into a wind tunnel was a young Donald Trump. But over time (on the big touring rigs especially) the Big Fan in the Small Room was an incredible tool, and used extensively to work out the airflow not only over the rider but the co-rider as well. All kinds of magic was ultimately incorporated into the massive fairings on Gold Wings, LTs, Tour Glides, etc. and extensive testing resulted in some very stable motorcycles that are quite well-behaved in gusty cross winds and the dreaded truck wash. “Caution: Wake Turbulence” isn’t just for airplanes you know. Several years ago I was on a Gold Wing on a two-lane highway in a nasty rain storm, and every time a truck would pass on the opposing side, a sheet of wind and water would blast the bike, and since I was riding it at the time, me and my battered rain suit as well. But I was truly impressed at how well the bike dealt with this vile, soaking affront, especially since many times before I had endured similar conditions on an unfaired bike that nearly blew me into the weeds. Thank you, engineers and designers. True, there are many, many things that go into a motorcycle’s handling including wheelbase, tire size, mass centralization, center of gravity and steering geometry to name but a few. But the higher Continued on Page 11
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MAY 2016 • BACKROADS
ON THE MARK MARK BYeRS
firsts My first, first time was on the back. There was an old canoe seat on the luggage rack onto which I held for dear life as my brother circled the yard. It was 1974 and the first time I rode on a motorcycle. The bike was a brandnew Honda Trail 90 in orange with the two-range automatic tranny. If the bike was in low range, it had trouble catching someone at a walk in first gear. My second first time, piloting the machine, came after the newness of my brother’s bike wore off. It had the automatic clutch and in low range, I could scarcely go fast enough to get hurt. Helmet? Oh, hell no: it was in the back yard and it was the 70’s. If you HAD a helmet, it was one of those sparkly, metalflake plastic-shelled half helmets with the snap-on visor. I spent a lot of time circulating the back yard, which led to… My third first time, crashing, was into the concrete back stoop of our house when I got too exuberant with my speed, shifting gears, and fixated on a target. Fortunately, speed meant ten miles per hour and the bike bounced off the stoop and deposited me in a neat pile in the yard, out of harm’s way. It could have been much worse, like when my cousin broke both arms in a dirt bike crash. When I look back at my life, in some ways it’s been charmed. My fourth first time was when I learned you could hold the front wheel of a dirt bike between your legs and tweak the wheel/fork/handlebars back into alignment after you ran your brother’s bike into the back stoop. Unfortunately, it was AFTER he discovered the issue when he noticed that the bars had to be held at quite an angle to go straight. That led to the fifth first time – the first time I was temporarily banned from riding his bike.
My sixth first time, was illicitly riding on the street without a helmet or a license. I know, I know, it was stupid but at 13 you’re young and bulletproof. It would have worked out just fine if my brother hadn’t been coming home from work at just the wrong time to see me doing it…and temporarily banned me from riding…AGAIN. It demonstrated that I had found and knew how to use the lever that activated the high range of the transmission. My seventh first time was at 15 when I got to ride on the road legally, because in West Virginia, someone with a learner’s permit could ride a motorcycle in the company of someone who had a license (no matter how crazy or inexperienced the mentor was). Not that my brother was either of those things…except he was crazy enough to let me ride and had zero experience teaching people to ride. It was still just a 90cc trail bike, so I doubt I cast fear in anyone other than my long-suffering mother. The eighth first time, now THAT was a doozy thanks to an equally crazy neighbor with a blue and white 1973 Honda CL350 Scrambler! That was the first time I ever: a) rode a bike with a clutch, b) rode a street bike, and c) rode a street bike on the road while properly licensed. A trifecta! That little 350 became the de facto bike for my brother and me when my neighbor, a dentist, had a kid and therefore, a wife with reservations. You see, it was OK for the crazy neighbor boy to kill himself on your bike, but not you. I gave that Scrambler a workout learning how to use a clutch. We did our share of maintenance in return, however. I’ll never forget the time the neighbor came in our basement and there was his bike, stripped to the engine and frame, on top of our ping-pong table. “Trust us, “ we said, “we know what we’re doing.” He just picked his jaw up off the floor and left. We made a point of riding it through his front yard the next day to demonstrate it was whole again. Plus, we waxed it. If you let it, life’s a series of firsts until it becomes a series of lasts. When it comes to motorcycling, or anything else that blows your kilt skyward, it’s important to have many, many firsts. May your firsts be as sweet as a first kiss, or a ’73 CL350 Scrambler. May your lasts be few…and late.
BACKROADS • MAY 2016
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BACKLASH
Letters to the Editor
Journey of a Lifetime? Hi Brian & Shira, Just got my “Welcome To Spring” April Issue and upon only getting to page 4, I am already feeling compelled to respond. You are 100% right Brian in that when a tour operator espouses that this tour will be the “Experience of a Lifetime” they are not only making a promise that they may not be able to insure, they are also making a statement that doesn’t make sense. To say that a motorcycle tour creates memories for many that will last a lifetime would be a promotional enough, but to state the undetermined outcome of a tour before it happens is just plain foolishness. Personally when I see such promotions I think that they are over-reaching and possibly struggling as a going concern. In Marketing 101, I learned doing such was not a good thing. I agree with you 100%. I far prefer “A Lifetime of Journey’s” and not just a singular “Journey of a Lifetime” Now back to reading the April issue while I look forward to a couple of PostCards froM the hedGe
Continued from Page 8
the speed the more aerodynamics come into play, and behavior in crosswinds often starts with how the force of the wind pushes on the bike before other aspects of the chassis respond to it. Hence, the shape that touches the wind is very critical in responding to these nasty conditions. While not as good as airplanes or boats when dealing with crosswinds (as they can yaw their respective bodies to deal with the wind’s moods), it’s that beautiful two-wheeled geometry that allows the bike to lean into the wind to help stay on course. It’s yet another reason to bleat the mantra, “Two Wheels Good, Four (or Three) Wheels bad.” George Orwell’s fiction becomes more fact with each passing day, even when he was talking about something quite different and gets misquoted in a motorcycle column. As with so many aspects of our two-wheeled friends, the unique nature of a motorcycle’s balance means they have limitations and capabilities that make them unusually interesting (while also being part of their singular charm). But here’s a conun-
BackRoads Journey’s in May and September. See you soon and as Shira mentions in her editorial, watch out for the gravel on the edges that have a terrible habit of creating a different kind of “Memory for a Lifetime” See you soon Graham Good morning Brian and Shira, I just wanted to say that I am honored to have my photo appear as your cover shot on the April 2016 issue. It looks great! And I also appreciate being published in your magazine once again. You are actually helping a spring trip my buddy and I have planned in two weeks, because we will pass within about 1/2 mile of Bill’s Old Bike Barn that you mention this month. So it will have to be a stopping point! Have a great riding season. Bob Laford drum: once you have the motorcycle parked in front of you, how can you, as the rider, improve the beast’s response to the wayward wind? And how do you practice riding in errant gusting? In the case of the former, you know the drill. Balance the bike, centralize your packing, pack heavier items lower and make sure everything is tied down and all aspects of the machine are in tune. As for the latter, you must do the obvious thing, which also is the most delicious advice there is: ride as much as possible. The crosswinds are out there (you may even know a stretch of road where they like to hang out), and you will encounter them. Keep a firm but comfortable grip on the bars, and react smoothly as opposed to over-controlling as you get blown around a bit. This simple act of survival will teach you volumes on how your mount responds in all kinds of windy conditions, and that is basically that. So ride on, Brothers and Sisters. But above all, respect the Summer Wind, as Sinatra did. That goes for the rest of the seasons, too.
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The New York Motorcycle Show Brian, You are so right, most of my friends and I rarely go to the New York Show anymore due to the timing. It’s just too busy a time. In mid-Winter it was a day to think and plan ahead. Greg Bagen Dear Editors, I was reading your article about the turn out for the motorcycle show. I’ve been noticing lesser turnout to shows for a while. Year after year, less turned out for the Carlisle show, it’s now gone. I really enjoyed that. Even smaller shows such as Oley seem to have less of a turn out as years go on. I don’t know why that is either. Jim
Washington’s Morristown I believe Fort Nonsense in Morristown was part of a warning system Washington used for enemy on the move. A series of 4-sided logs, stuffed with dry tinder & placed at relatively high elevations that formed a west/southeast arch to below Colt Neck, NJ. Often a road named Beacon Hill today is a lead to one of these hills such as the one between Long Valley and High Bridge. Once lit off with dry tinder it could be seen miles away and relayed via other spotters everywhere, warning of enemy on the move.
MAY 2016 • BACKROADS Not sure where the northern endpoint was, if there was one. I understand Fort Nonsense was one of these spots. Leon Hoffacker Hey Brian and Shira, I’m really enjoying the latest issue of Backroads. Tar snakes was a great topic from Shira’s Whatchathinkin’ piece. But, your Javits Bike show recap was kinda’ sad – the show, not your words. Changing times and a bit bittersweet thinking how it used to be. Mark Byers’ “scrambles event” was entertaining as usual. Keep it up. Les Guile
Vegas Dreams Brian, Enjoyed your March Free Wheeelin’ article on the Vegas auctions. Now that you lived through part of the telecast of the 3-day auction, perhaps you should put it on you to-do calendar for Jan 2017. I have been attending for the past 9-10 years. One year when there was a collection of 87 vintage MV Augustas, they asked me to be the announcer. I have sold 20+ of my collection at auction... not to sell as much as I ran out of room because I never met an old Italian motorcycle that I didn’t like. At this point it is a few days of social interaction with 5,000-6,000 fellow collectors. Burt Richmond We bet. But, the idea was for folks “stuck” in the middle of winter to live a bit vicariously. Thus the article. Your magazine makes me reach for the sky on my bike when I get it. What do I have to do to get in your magazine. Mickey Chunko
Probably something like that…and, now you’re in. Shira, Thank you for the wonderful report on your experiences involving your crash, and especially for mentioning the Aerostich TF impact armor hip pad options. I know some of your audience will contact us as a result. We will not disappoint them.
BACKROADS • MAY 2016 Separately, your blue Roadcrafter is looking very nice in the photos. Seriously. You are a great model, and (haa hah…) it must be just about broken in now. Again, thanks for mentioning us in your great hip pad story. Glad you are ok. Andy Goldfine - Aerostich
Your Magazine Stinks! Dear Editors, Like many Backroads subscribers, I sit and wait patiently for that large white envelope to arrive in my mailbox once a month, so I can read about all the new motorcycle products, and to live vicariously through all your travels and adventures. Once the envelope arrives, I prop up my pillows on my bed, open up that envelope, and sit back and enjoy my reading. Its my opportunity to zone out from the daily trials and tribulations, much like my bike riding. It is my therapy. Let’s digress for a moment and talk about motorcycle-related odors, both good and bad (and I’m relatively sure all who read this will concur): The smell of passing a field of fresh lilacs - good. The smell of BMW gear oil blasting out of my final drive and burning on my muffler (3 times, no less) - bad. The smell of fresh rain steaming off warm asphalt…good. The smell of road kill, lingering in your helmet for a mile after you pass it -bad. The smell of riding through forest pines….good. The smell of the dumps off the Belt Parkway in Brooklyn (if they’re still there) - bad. The smell of a fresh, hot breakfast at the Gray Ghost Inn - good. The smell of the Long Island Sound along the North Shore at low tide bad. Can you guess where this is going???? Now back to the issue at hand (or at nose) What’s up with the Backroads Magazine “ink stink”? Five minutes after opening up that highly anticipated white envelope, my
Page 13 wife yells from another room “I guess Backroads is here…again!” She can smell the ink, and quite honestly, I can too. I can live with it, but it makes her ill. I either need to take my magazine outside the house to read it, or leave it outside for a while for the odor to dissipate, then I can bring it back inside to read. There are really cool scratch-off perfume ads in magazines that smell great. I’ve never seen a scratch-off ad for smelly gym socks. What is your printer using when they print your magazine? Is there an additive being used just to signal my wife that my favorite magazine has arrived, and that I will be tied up reading for a while? Short of wearing a respirator when next month’s issue arrives, do you have any suggestions? I truly enjoy the content of the magazine, always have and always will, but the odor has to go. I’m not trying to overthink the ink stink chink, but as I blink and wink as my wife asks me to re-think opening the envelope, perhaps changing to pink ink, or washing it in the sink first, might unkink the stink. Methinks I need a drink. Larry Barasch My Dear Mr. Barasch Unlike other publications that send out subscriptions when they get round to it – for 22 years we have a dedicated team of Magazine Elves that take your First Class issue directly off the press and into an envelope as the stinky ink is drying. They do not sit around for days, but rather are whisked away by flying unicorns to the final destination. We think they smell grand and wonder if the magical unicorns just cleanse the air and let you experience the true local aromas? In two decades you are the first and only one to comment out of millions of mailings. Hmm? Where is this common denominator?
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MAY 2016 • BACKROADS
INDUSTRY INFOBITES DIRTDAZE RIDES RUGGED VERMONT TERRAIN TO HIDDEN MOTORCYCLE MUSEUM Who says dirt trails, vintage motorcycles, and sausage don’t go together? MotoVermont is partnering with DirtDaze to lead the Green Mountain Guided Ride on a full day excursion along ancient dirt roads and through some of the most beautiful and remote trails found in Vermont. Riders will be led through technical sections in eastern New York and western Vermont. The lunch stop features an Italian feast at a unique motorcycle museum tucked into the mountains of Vermont, giving DirtDAZE riders access to the largest collection of Hodaka Motorcycles in the World. Hodaka’s were a late 60’s, early 70’s American Japanese collaboration, credited by some with starting the trail bike craze in the U.S. “This is one of the coolest adventure bike rides I’ve heard of, and I think it will sell out early,” said Christian Dutcher, Director of DirtDaze. “It’s a great ride on some beautiful, unknown dirt roads including challenging terrain. And, the lunch stop is inside a virtually unknown Hodaka museum well off the beaten path. It’s great.” DirtDaze registration is open now at www.dirtdaze.com. Some events have limited availability, and interested riders are encouraged to sign up early.
THOMPSON SPEEDWAY MOTORSPORTS PARK TO HOST VINTAGE BIKES ON MAY 15 The inaugural Thompson Vintage Motorcycle Classic is quickly approaching! The event, to be held on Sun., May 15, 2016, will feature a field of historic and antique motorcycles in a Classic Motorcycle Show, a massive Swap Meet Marketplace and Manufacturer’s Midway Vendor area, and a Vintage Motorcycle Track-Day on Thompson’s 1.7 mile road course. This exciting new event will offer a Motorcycle Festival atmosphere and is a great way to kick off the riding season across the Northeast. Gates open at 9 a.m. on the 15th and general gate admission is just $10. Register your pre-1985 motorcycle for FREE in the Classic Motorcycle Show. Swap Meet Vendors can enter at 7 a.m. on Sunday to set up; a 15-foot-by-
News from the Inside 30 spot is $30 (includes admission for one person), and early set up is available on Saturday, starting at 1pm, for an additional $10 per person. Sunday, at noon, Motorcycle Show participants are welcome to take a parade lap around Thompson’s 1.7-mile road course. Vintage Track Day will start immediately after parade lap. Cost is $200 which includes a barbecue lunch. Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park is located at exit 50 (formerly exit 99) off I-395, at 205 E Thompson Road, Thompson, CT 06277. The park is just 50 minutes from downtown Boston, 2.5 hours from New York City and 40 minutes from Hartford and Providence. For more info, call 860-923-2280 or visit www.thompsonspeedway.com.
WOMAN SETS NEW GUINNESS WORLD RECORD SET Giant Loop has announced that sponsored rider Danell Lynn has set a new Guinness World Record for “Longest journey by motorcycle in a single country.” Traveling for a year on her Triumph Bonneville equipped with Giant Loop gear, Lynn covered 48,600 miles while riding throughout the contiguous 48 states of the Unite States of America. Lynn is the first solo woman motorcyclist to hold the record. Although her travels actually covered all 50 states, as well as three Canadian provinces, totaling more than 53,000 miles from September 2014 through September 2015, Guinness only counted the miles logged within the continental 48 states. Duplicate miles also did not apply to the record; each of the 48,600 miles covered different routes. For her world record setting ride, Lynn used Giant Loop’s Siskiyou Panniers, Fandango Pro Tank Bag, Tillamook Dry Bag, Rogue Dry Bag, Possibles Pouch and Pronghorn Straps on her 2006 Triumph Bonneville.
BACKROADS • MAY 2016
FASTLANE MOTORCYCLE RENTALS OPENS IN NORTH JERSEY Fastlane Motorcycle Rentals — offering a luxury rental experience in the tristate area — is pleased to announce it has opened in Montvale, NJ. “Fastlane is a stress-free, local place where people can rent a motorcycle for a day, a week, however long they want,” said owner and founder Jan Eggers. “We don’t have a typical customer, just people who love to ride.”
Page 15 of the best motorcycles on the market right now.” Eggers, who has been on motorcycles since he was five, started the business after his own bike fell into disrepair, and he wanted to rent one for a weekend. The closest place he could find was two hours from his Bergen County home. “Many motorcycle dealers don’t rent and rarely give out test rides,” Eggers said. “I want to fill that void in North Jersey and eventually the Northeast. For information and to reserve a motorcycle, visit www.fastlanemotorcyclerentals.com or call 201-879-4471. Rent a bike from Fastlane Motorcycle Rentals, because life doesn’t wait. Photo credit: Kelly DeCola
2016 MARKS A GREAT MILESTONE FOR SPECTRO OILS OF AMERICA, AS THEY CELEBRATE 50 YEARS
“Maybe you’re returning to motorcycles after a hiatus of a few years. Maybe you’re curious about a certain bike and want to give it a try without committing. Maybe you’re traveling here on business and want to ride up the Hudson River,” Eggers continued. “No problem. We can get you on a bike and on the open road. And we’ll bring the bike to you.” Fastlane currently rents two motorcycles, a 2016 Indian Chief Vintage and a BMW R1200 GS Adventure, each offering a unique experience. “The Indian Chief is a fully modern bike made in a retro style, with a 111cubic-inch engine. It’s very happy to tool around and look cool,” Eggers said. “That’s the bike’s whole reason to exist. It’s fun; it’s very relaxing. “The BMW does everything,” Eggers said. “You can go cross-country or you can go get milk at the corner store. By most people’s estimation, it’s one
In 1966, Spectro was founded in Connecticut by Robert H. Wehman, where company has remained family owned and operated for 50 years. Spectro was one of the pioneers in the 2-stroke motorcycle oil industry, which gained traction during the 60’s. The company has grown substantially over the years, and is one of the most respected names in the power-sport industry worldwide. All products are batch blended inhouse, with precise attention to detail at Spectro Performance Oils headquarters in Brookfield CT. The Spectro philosophy is simple, use the best ingredients to produce unmatched product performance. Spanning 6 decades, the Spectro product line has reached far beyond the 2-stroke market, to include full-synthetic, semi-synthetic, and petroleum lubricants for a wide range of applications. Spectro offers lubricants for nearly every niche of the power-sport market, as well as high performance automotive applications.
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MAY 2016 • BACKROADS
G REAT A LL AMERICA N DINE R RUN indian lake restaurant and taVern 2 W Main st, indian lake, nY • 518-648-5115 Shira Kamil We were on our Spring Break last year and I decided to piece together a lunch and ice cream run. When riding in the Adirondacks, if you want to stay on pavement, your options are somewhat limited. Luckily, we’ve been traveling this area for many years and have discovered some of the best roads around. Leaving the Golden Arrow, our home base for this weekend, we headed out on some of the bigger, but very scenic, roads such as 30 and 28/28N. Our first stop would be lunch at the Indian Lake Restaurant and Tavern. I had done a little research and, not finding many options in this area, especially at this time of year, I settled on this. Turns out I would be happy I did. Although our GPS route said ‘You have arrived,’ there was nothing restaurant-looking in the vicinity. Pulling into the gas station, they pointed us to said building. The outside may be categorized as your typical snowmobile stopping point, with Adirondack-style wood and shingle, and nary a sign to be seen. When we pulled into the lot, we all looked at each other and thought ‘Let’s take a look, we can always keep going.’ That thought flew away once we stepped inside, were greeted so kindly and took a look at the menu. Our group of 10 had no problem getting a seat on a Saturday for lunch. The Indian Lake is separated into bar and restaurant, with a pool table to entertain while waiting for your food. The dining area is open and bright,
tasty places to take your bike
with plenty of tables for a riding group. Whatever your wants, they will be filled here. From a simple burger or sandwich to a most creative and inventive pasta or salad, all that was tasted was raved about. The A-dack fried chicken looked as crispy as could be and the sandwiches that were served were good-sized and appealing. I have to say that the crispy Asian Brussels sprouts had to be one of the best dishes I have ever eaten. The duck wings were super crispy and the blueberry bbq sauce served with them was outstanding. We had a few ‘restricted’ eaters with us and they had no problem finding something and having the kitchen make it to their requirements, all with a big smile. If you’re looking for more of a meal, they’ll bring out a 16oz. ribeye steak, St. Louis ribs, many forms of chicken and some comforting liver and onions. When we were there in May, they were in the process of putting up a new sign to better find this great little dining stop. After meals were finished, we continued our route east and north, to the town of Ticonderoga and the Wind Chill Factory. From there we hit those little gems in the Adirondacks – Ensign Pond and Tracy Roads. Before too long we were parking our bikes back at the Golden Arrow in Lake Placid. For those heading to Lake George and Americade or DirtDaze this year, I highly recommend a lunch ride to the Indian Lake Restaurant. You won’t be disappointed. Here are two nice little spins of the wheels to get you there. Should you be in the Lake Placid area, here’s a 200-mile loop including the Indian Lake Restaurant and ice cream stop… www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/l10s4i. If you’re heading out from Americade for a lunch ride, here’s a 200-mile loop for you: www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/bpqdvt.
BACKROADS • MAY 2016
Pizza at the farM Brian Rathjen There are thousands of pizza parlors in these United States and we have known people who go to battle to defend their neighborhood slice. It is a pride thing. Good pizza is a beautiful thing anywhere you can find it. But, this month we have a special treat for those of you in the northwestern part of New Jersey, where Backroads calls home. My friend Flip calls them the gypsy pizza makers – Lucca Pizza – with their mobile wood-fired pizza oven on wheels. They can roam from town to town – wherever they are needed. This past summer, on nights that begged to dine al fresco, Lucca has been setting up the oven at L.L. Pittenger Farm in Green Township, New Jersey (right outside Andover) on Wednesday evenings. We have some friends that have been going when they can during the past summer and with a free Wednesday coming our way, we mounted up on two Yamaha test machines, the FJ-09 and FZ-07, and rolled along the tiny farms and forests of the Jersey Skylands to Pittenger’s Farms. This sunny, but cool, day the large field opposite the farm was lined with large tables, adorned with sunflowers. A two-piece band – guitar and percussionist - called Water Street was set up in one corner. This is a group of young local musicians who have added their own flair and power to old tunes as well as their own music. They were quite excellent.
The farm itself is well known for its meats and they had a large selection of frozen chops, steaks and pork for sale. This was a family and friend affair and many tables had young ones running around, having fun, causing light mayhem, and basically being children. For them the farm had a tractor-powered hayride. Not much better on a summer’s evening than children laughing, families chatting and friends catching up with each other. But, the star of the evening was Lucca Pizza and their great pie combinations! Margherita, New York-style, sausage - both hot & sweet, chicken & bacon with aioli and their “pie of the week” chicken with chorizo and chipotle aioli white pizza. Between our ample group of friends we ordered just about everything they had, but were especially fond of the sweet sausage and the chicken-chorizo-aioli combo.
Page 17 But, in truth, they were all very good. If I had one bit of worry (okay, I had two), the first would be that you must be patient. Lucca’s rolling oven is not a monster. It is a quality, not quantity, sort of hot beast and they can only create a few pies at a time. With a full crowd there was a bit of backlog and wait, made easier by the superb setting on the farm’s property, the fine weather and talkative companions. My other complaint was a personal one having to do with gluten free anything. I understand that some folks have real problems (celiac disease) with gluten, but most don’t. Make my pizza extra gluten and crispy, please. If you live in this region or want to make a great day trip with a very special ending pick a nice Wednesday in the better weather and search out the gypsy pizza at L.L. Pittenger Farm in Green Township, New Jersey. Beginning June 3, you will find them at 53 Creek Road – just south of Trinca Airport in Andover, not far from Route 206. They serve from 5-8pm, so get there early and place your order as they do tend to run out. On the web: facebook.com/luccawoodfiredoven or luccapizza.com
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MAY 2016 • BACKROADS
Hanover Powersports Presents
B IG CITY GETAWAY
daytrip ideas to get out of the daily grind
olYMPiC JuMPinG CoMPlex 5486 CasCade rd., lake PlaCid, nY 12946 • WWW.WhitefaCe.CoM The towers rise from the mountains like two monstrous weapons from an H.G. Well’s novel about an attack from the Red Planet. I remember the first time I spied them in the distance amongst the peaks of the Adirondacks. I had to remind myself that I was on the road to Lake Placid, home of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics. Like the sport itself – which is impressive and quick, when the last Olympics were approaching the two towers were constructed quickly. The towers were built using a jacking system that lifted and poured concrete into the forms continuously, night and day, for 15 days for the larger jump, and 9 days for the smaller one. At this time they were 70 and 90 meters tall. In 1994, the landing hills were re-graded to bring the jumps into compliance with current rules, and increasing their height to 90 and 120 meters. We stopped by the Olympic Jumping Complex on a late September day when the leaves we just beginning to turn.
After seeing the towers approaching I thought it would be a neat idea to go to the top, if only for the view. We paid our entrance fee ($11 per person) and rode over to the large lot at the bottom of the larger mountain. The first thing that caught our eye was that there were some young athletes (we mean young – early teens) practicing their free-style jumping routines. How does a future Olympic competitor learn to do these incredible moves in mid-air? Freestyle aerialists practice their flips and twists over a 750,000-gallon heated pool of water. It allows the athletes to safely fine-tune their jumps all summer long, and it makes for great entertainment. Athletes launch themselves up to 40 feet in the air before flipping three times and twisting up to five times. We watched, in awe as they fit all those spins and flips into a few seconds of free-air hang time and watched as they then stuck the landing only to swim to the side of the pool, get out and do it again. Amazing. We walked over towards the tower and waited for our chairlift to come around and take us up the peak and to the short walk to the towers.
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The glass elevator to the top of the largest tower offered an amazing view of the mountains and the observation deck an even better one. You could see forever this crystal clear day. I heard a “shoooshing” sound and spotted a small figure rise into the sky for a few seconds before being pulled back down towards the grassy valley below. It was then that we realized that the other tower was also being used for practice by jumpers – in the late summer?
BACKROADS • MAY 2016 You betcha. The ramp is created out of plastic runners and the “snow” is made up of rough sliced strips of heavy-duty plastics. All of this is constantly watered down and perfectly replicated natural snow. These athletes too were just kids – who else is going to step out onto a platform nearly 27 stories high, calmly fold themselves into an aerodynamic tuck, slide straight down the steep ‘inrun’ and then launch themselves for the length of a football field through the Adirondack sky? I dare say not many of us would be willing or able to do this. But, to watch these kids do it was magnificent! We took the elevator back down (I wanted to ski, but was told I couldn’t) and we walked over to the other jump tower and found a spot at the landing area of the jump and watched a half dozen athletes go through their practice. There is an elevator in this tower too, but the coach just pointed up the hundred or so stairs and the young sportsmen and women trudge up the side of the tower, got set and sped down the tracks to meet the Adirondack sky once again – only to speak with their coach, get some pointers and make the climb again. Watching them do this arduous climb and jump over and over again was very tiring for us; so we found some comfortable Adirondack chairs at the very bottom of the mountain next to the bronze statue of Lake Placid ski jump champion Art Devlin – the man who first brought the Olympics to this sleepy mountain town - and spent a good bit of time watching “our” athletes practice so we could cheer “our” champions in South Korea in 2018.
Page 19 The entire afternoon was unexpected, educational, not to mention both humbling and inspiring at the same time. We wish all the athletes we watch train that day all the best and incredible success at competitions in the future. Like we said, I do not think any one of us is doing this sort of thi….. Wait. We can?! During the summer months the Olympic Jumping Complex offers Extreme Tubing. No, they won’t let you jump, but you can slide down the landing hills, which are plenty impressive by themselves. What about you? Ready to do something major and very fast (they clock in at about 50 mph)? I know we are. Next time we ride up to Lake Placid why not join us?
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MAY 2016 • BACKROADS
Morton’s BMW Motorcycles Presents Dr. Seymour O’Life’s MY STERIO U S A MER IC A the fate of fliGht 6231 Tony Lisanti Every once in a while, a familiar ride takes a strange turn. Such is the case with a well traveled part of Harriman State Park. I have been riding in and around this park for close to 30 years. A “loop” through the park never grows old or boring. My choice to live in Rockland County was influenced by having close access to the State Park. It’s twisty and scenic roads are pretty much my backyard. Many are familiar with Willow Grove Road just off Exit 14 of the Palisades Parkway. Willow Grove Road turns into Kanawauke Road but most know it simply as Route 106. The road running from east to west meanders past Lake Welch down to Seven Lakes Drive and continues west to Route 17 and 17A just west of the NYS Thruway. The strange turn is one of minor historical significance except to the families of those involved. On December 1, 1974 Harriman State Park was the scene of a major airplane crash. Our local newspaper carried a story recently about a historical marker that was erected in honor of the flight crew that perished. The crash site is close to a hiking trail off Route 106. Those that frequently hike the area including officials from Rockland County thought the NY/NJ Park Commission should install a permanent marker at the crash site. Recently the marker was installed and a small crowd gathered for the dedication to the victims. Those in attendance included spouses and children of the deceased as well as first responders who were on scene the night of the crash and the many days following.
The night of December 1, 1974 was a cold and icy night. The Northeast was experiencing sleet and snow making any type of travel difficult. Northwest Airlines Flight 6231, a Boeing 727, had recently landed at New York’s JFK airport. After a short lay over, the crew was reassigned as a charter flight with instructions to fly to Buffalo to pick up the Baltimore Colts NFL team. The crew consisted of Capt. John Lagorio, 35, of Edina, Minnesota, First Officer Walter Zadra, 32 and Second Officer James Cox, 33, both of Seattle, Washington. The crew was experienced and had logged thousands of hours of flight time. At least two of the crew had been aviators in the military. According to the NTSB and FAA reports, Flight 6231 departed JFK at 7:14 PM. The weather was bad requiring an instruments only take off. All seemed routine after take-off and the plane reached cruising altitude without incident. Everything appeared normal but at approximately 7:24 an over speed warning alarm went off. The crew also began to experience a stick shudder which they also thought was another over speed warning. They instinctively took action thinking the plane was nearing the speed of sound and backed off the throttles and increased the angle of attack in order to climb. The climb would scrub off some speed. Unfortunately, the speed indicator warning was wrong. Rather than reaching maximum air speed, the plane was actually near its stall speed. By slowing the plane and bringing the nose up, they made the situation worse by causing the plane to aerodynamically stall and begin a rapid descent towards the ground. The ac-
BACKROADS • MAY 2016 cident investigation found that the plane’s speed sensing instruments relying on external pitot tubes provided a false reading. The false air speed was due to a failure to turn on a heating element for the speed indicators. As a result the pitot tubes clogged with ice causing the false warning. The incorrect speed and resultant actions by the crew doomed the plane. The NTSB report details corrective actions taken by the crew but it was all to no avail. After several attempts to climb and turn, the plane began to plunge for 83 seconds from an altitude of over 24,000 feet. At 7:26 PM it struck the ground at a 45 degree angle while in a slight right hand turn. All three crew members perished. The NTSB report classified the crash as “unsurvivable”. According to accounts by local first responders, fire fighters and police from Stony Point Theils and surrounding towns were notified that the FAA lost contact with an aircraft. Without much more than the notification no one knew where to look for it. The fire, police and paramedics were forced to search a wide area of the northern part of Rockland County with little information. There were no cell phones, GPS or other technology to guide them. The poor weather conditions made any search within the park dangerous until the next morning. According to the reports from the scene, the plane did not explode on impact despite having a full load of fuel. Rather the jet fuel soaked into the ground and icy rain prevented wide spread fire. The smell of the fuel ultimately led first responders to the crash site. The location of the accident site is slightly south east of Lake Welch. If traveling west on Route 106 in Harriman, you cross over a causeway with Lake Welch Beach to the north and the lower portion of Lake Welch to the left. Just past the causeway is St John’s Road which leads to the St John’s Church In the Woods. Off of this road there is a hiking trail named the Long Path. The hike to the crash site from this point is about 1.5 miles southeast along the Long Path.
Page 21 The crash site is in a serene area, relatively flat with a rocky hill to the south east. In a small clearing at the base of this hill a marker stands in commemoration of the lost crew. The day I visited which was two weeks after the marker was dedicated in November, a small memorial remained. There were flowers and candles that had been placed there by family members the day of the dedication November 7, 2015. Several small pieces of aluminum and fiberglass debris are also placed at the base of the marker. The marker reads: On Dec 1, 1974, a Northwest Orient Airlines Boeing 727 flying between John F. Kennedy International Airport and Buffalo, N.Y. , encountered atmospheric icing and crashed at this site. Flight 6231 was operating a ferry flight, having been chartered to pick up the Baltimore Colts football team. Three crew members, the only people aboard the aircraft, were killed in the crash. The accident and subsequent federal investigation prompted changes in cockpit design and advancement in commercial pilot training still practiced by airlines today. In Loving Memory: Capt. John B. Lagario, 1st Officer Walter (Jim) A. Zadra, 2nd Officer James (Jim) F. Cox • Dedicated 2015 Close inspection of the underbrush will reveal more small pieces of debris from the ill fated airplane. The site is considered a memorial and would-be curiosity seekers are asked not remove any items found. There is no way to legally ride to the site (believe me I tried!). Nor are there any markers on the main roads in Harriman indicating how to find it. Most of the State Park employees including the Park Police are aware that the site exists, but few know exactly where it is. The marker stands as a lonely and solemn memory to that fate of the three crewman lost that night. Visiting the site has forever altered my perception of this area of the park. Riding through this particular area I will always be reminded of the three souls lost. Somehow this memory makes my routine ride a bit more meaningful.
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MAY 2016 • BACKROADS
Bergen County Harley-Davidson Presents
WE’RE OUTTA HER E trekonderoGa • RIDE WHERE NO ONE HAS RIDDEN BEFORE Each month we do our best to bring you someplace interesting, comfortable and different. This month we are going to bring you somewhere really, really different. So prepare your 21-century motorcycle for Warp Drive and, for goodness sakes, do not wear a red shirt. This time we are really outta here! date – MaY 1775 The fledgling Continental Army is in desperate need of weapons and ammunition to throw against the British Empire for the siege at Boston. Ethan Allen and two hundred of his Green Mountain Boys advance to attack Ticonderoga in hopes of taking the fort and the British cannon. As they prepare for an early dawn attack reinforcements arrive with Benedict Arnold in command. He has with him a new colonel’s commission and his orders are the same as Allen’s. The two leaders are both headstrong and risk takers. After a heated dispute between the two men to determine who was in charge of the attacking party, Arnold and Allen finally agreed to share the command. In the early-morning hours of May 10, they entered the fort “side by side” with a force of just eighty one and take the sleeping garrison by complete surprise. Along with Fort Ticonderoga, Allen and Arnold quickly captured the fort at Crown Point in May 1775. At the southern end of the lake,
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a weekend destination keeping you on the backroads the Loyalist settlement of Skenesborough (present-day Whitehall), New York, falls as well. The Americans seize Philip Skene’s schooner Katherine, the first vessel to be captured in the war and the first designated warship of the rebellious colonies. In his journal, Lieutenant Eleazar Oswald noted the event: “We set sail from Skenesborough in a schooner belonging to Major Philip Skene, which we christened Liberty.” Arnold immediately assumes command of Liberty when the schooner arrives at Ticonderoga and immediately embarks for St. Johns, Canada, at the northern end of the lake. There he surprises and captures the King’s sloop Betsy. Arnold confidently reported, “At present, we are Masters of the Lake.” He renames the sloop - Enterprise. Thus, just over a year before the signing of the Declaration of Independence, American forces on Lake Champlain were in complete control of a water highway that led directly into the heart of Quebec. And, so begins the voyages of a ship called Enterprise…. date - summer of 2265 The USS Enterprise is christened. The Constitution-class starship is given the designation NCC-1701. In the course of her career, the Enterprise became the most celebrated ship in Starfleet. In her forty years of service and discovery, through upgrades and at least two refits, she took part in numerous first contacts, military engagements and even timetravel. Her most famous commander – Captain James Tiberius Kirk - is known to be headstrong and a risk taker.
BACKROADS • MAY 2016 date – august 12-14, 2016– ticonderoga, new York Some 241 years after Arnold took the Betsy and renamed her Enterprise, and almost a quarter of a millennium before Kirk would first say, “Helmsman, ahead Warp Factor 2,” and just a few weeks before the 50th Anniversary of the debut of Star Trek, the Starship Enterprise will be seen again, fittingly along the shore of the lake where the first such U.S. Navy ship was named. For the last number of years Star Trek has been alive and well and filming in the upstate Adirondack town of Ticonderoga, New York. Now titled Star Trek New Voyages, thousands of “Trekkers” have been watching the further adventures of Kirk, Spock, McCoy and the rest of the crew via the internet at www.startreknewvoyages.com; a technology that, back in 1966, would have be seen as futuristic as the Starship Enterprise.
Created in 2003 by James Cawley, along with producer Jack Marshall, the show strives to complete the “five-year mission” of the Starship Enterprise, “to boldly go where no man has gone before.” It’s celebration of Gene Roddenberry’s
Page 23 legacy has won critical acclaim and numerous accolades, as well as attracting the attention and participation of Star Trek alumni such as George Takei and Walter Koenig, who have returned to reprise their roles on New Voyages. This September 8th will celebrate 50 years since the very first episode of Star Trek sailed across television screens, but August 12-14 this small upstate town will sling shot around the sun and jump into the 23rd century with its second annual Trekonderoga. Last year’s events had a good number of familiar faces from the original series including Barbara Luna, Sally Kellerman and author David Gerrold who hosted a screening of “The Trouble with Tribbles” episode that he wrote. Who did put the tribbles in the quadrotriticale? “What makes Trekonderoga stand out from your typical Star trek Convention is our incredible lineup of active stars and writers that will be here to host screenings, participate in sessions, and of course, sign autographs. We’re holding registration to just 300 people so that it can be a really intimate experience for the fans,” said Cawley. “The photo-ops alone will be fantastic. Getting your photo with original stars on the original “bridge” of the Starship Enterprise is pretty cool for a Star Trek fan.” You’ll most likely be looking for a docking bay for your warp drive (okay impulse power for some of us) ride to Ticonderoga. The town has a number of hotels and there are a few really nice lakeside resorts along Lake George in Hague as well. There will most likely be a limited number of tickets sold for Trekonderoga so log onto their website and reserve yours today at www.trekonderoga.com. Enjoy the 23rd century - Live long and prosper. Consider yourself a Trekker? See page 44… Star Trek and all related marks, logos, and characters are owned by CBS Home Entertainment. “Star Trek: New Voyages/Phase II,” this production, the promotion thereof, and/or exhibition of material created by Cawley Entertainment Company/Retro Film Studios LLC are not endorsed or sponsored by or affiliated with CBS Home Entertainment/Paramount Pictures or the Star Trek Franchise. The use of anything related to Star Trek in this production is in no way meant to be an infringement on CBS Home Entertainment/Paramount Home Media Distribution property rights to Star Trek. No profit whatsoever is coming from the use of these trademarks by this production or any of its affiliated partners.”
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MAY 2016 • BACKROADS
sundae ride in ConneCtiCut This month’s ice cream run was inspired by an email from my friends Alma and David. They were thoughtful enough to send along the Mystic Country of eastern Connecticut ice cream stops. They are all homemade, some from their own dairy cows on premise, locally sourced ingredients and of the highest butterfat and quality. Some are on the farm, some are a city; some are seasonal and some you can enjoy all year round. If you have a free Sunday, or any day really – when is there not a good time for ice cream – point yourself in the Connecticut direction and enjoy a day of ice cream. I’ll start the 100-mile route in Old Lyme at the A.C. Petersen Drive-in and end it in West Hartford at the original A.C. Petersen. If you download the map from their website, you’ll see there are plenty of other stops, so feel free to improvise, expand and over sweeten your already sweet ride.
as dish up one heck of a sundae, cup or cone of any of those flavors, complete with homemade whipped cream and plenty of toppings. They also offer some food of substance such as burgers, dogs, sandwiches, seafood and chowder. The Old Lyme drive-in is located on Black Hall River, overlooking the Connecticut River and Long Island Sound, with a view of the Old Saybrook Lighthouse. Order up your food or creamy treat, take a seat at one of their outdoor tables and enjoy your first stop on this 100-mile ride.
saleM ValleY farMs iCe CreaM 20 DARLING RD, SALEM, CT • 860-859-2980 • SALEMVALLEYFARMSICECREAM.COM OPEN APRIL 15 – LABOR DAY NOON – 9PM. CHECK FOR SEASONAL HOURS
a.C. Petersen driVe-in 113 SHORE RD, OLD LYME, CT 860-598-9680 • ACPETERSENFARMS.COM OPEN MAY – SEPTEMBER. CHECK FOR HOURS
Since we have two stops at this century old ice cream establishment, first a little history on their original shop in West Hartford. Opened in 1939, touted as ‘a truly modern, beautiful AIR CONDITIONED ice cream parlor’, it recently had a facelift to maintain its charms but also boast of its history and make some much-needed upgrades. The winner of MSN’s Best Milkshake in Connecticut, A.C. Petersen will whip you up a milkshake with any of their 40 flavors as well
While not as old as A.C. Petersen, Salem Valley Farms has been dishing up their homemade ice cream since 1988. They, too, use premium ingredients, no artificial flavors or colors, and add their candies, nuts and mix-ins after the ice cream comes from the machine. This give you big chunks of whatever goody you’ve chosen, not crushed up tiny bits. Their flavor menu is extensive, with such tasty treats as Grasshopper (mint cookies and cream with fudge swirl), Purple Sable (black raspberry with chocolate chips) and Cappuccino Fudge Crunch (coffee ice cream with cinnamon flavor, fudge swirl and chocolate lace candy). They do offer low fat, with just 5% butterfat compared
BACKROADS • MAY 2016 to 16%, and frozen yogurt with 1% fat. For those lactose-intolerant, they have both sorbet and their new soy-based ice cream. While not on the water, Salem Valley Farms is in a scenic setting, also offering outdoor seating.
ButtonWood farM iCe CreaM 471 SHETUCKET TPKE, GRISWOLD, CT 860-376-4081 • BUTTONWOODFARMICECREAM.COM MARCH – OCTOBER NOON – 8PM
Page 25 Forbidden Silk Chocolate (rich chocolate ice cream made with cocoa powder from Holland – very dark and rich), Jungle George (real bananas, walnuts and chocolate chips) and Butter Brickle (sweet buttery flavored with butter brickle candies). Their bucolic farm setting, complete with cows – both live and mechanical – entice you to sit a spell and enjoy the taste and smells of the farm. Sometime during the summer, their acre of sunflowers will be in full bloom and you can participate in their fundraiser to benefit the Make-AWish Foundation by bringing home a bouquet for a $10 donation. Later in the season, the corn maze will baffle your sense of direction and entertain the little ones, should you have them along for the ride.
uConn dairY Bar 3636 HORSEBARN HILL RD, STORRS, CT 860-486-2634 • DINING.UCONN.EDU/UCONN-DAIRY-BAR OPEN EVERY DAY 11AM-7PM. CHECK HOURS FOR SCHOOL CLOSINGS
While Buttonwood Farm has been milking and growing since 1975, their ice cream has been making folks smile since 1998. Their original dairy was built from lumber milled at the farm, as is the ice cream stand. Their homemade flavors are creative and creamy, including Chocolate Brownie Batter, It’s time for a little education in ice cream with a visit to the University of Connecticut Dairy Bar. UConn’s Creamery, opened in 1953 as part of the Department of Animal Science, is located in the George White Building. All ice cream sold is produced in the Creamery with fresh milk from UConn’s Kellogg Dairy Center. The Creamery is used for dairy foods research and teaching activities. More importantly for us, they serve up 24 regular flavors such as coconut, oreo and salted caramel
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MAY 2016 • BACKROADS crunch, two seasonal flavors which have included peach and cinnamon caramel swirl, and the occasional limited edition flavors like the 2016 Senior Scoop Coffee Heath Barn Hill. They have won awards year after year, most recently the ‘Best of New England’ from Yankee Magazine. You can have your ice cream in a cone, cup, float, sundae or milkshake, as well as ordering up a specialty ice cream cake should the occasion arise. Each month the creative young folks manning the creamery will concoct a sundae of the month – March saw the Lucky Leprechaun with mint chip ice cream, hot fudge, mini marshmallows, whipped cream, shamrock sprinkles on a bed of Oreo crumbs (I can see the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow already). Should you find yourself there around lunch, you can also visit Chuck and Augie’s or One Plate-Two Plates, just a few of the culinary selections on this large campus. Check the UConn website for more details.
a.C. Petersen 240 PARK RD, WEST HARTFORD, CT • 860-233-8483 • OPEN YEAR ROUND 7AM-11PM Should your ice cream dreams remain unfulfilled, point your wheels west to the final stop on this month’s Sundae Ride. A.C. Petersen in West Hartford is a full service restaurant, serving breakfast (all day) lunch and dinner in addition to their wonderful ice cream. If you’ve stuffed yourself with dessert before the meal – always my choice – you can now take a seat at counter or table and satisfy your appetite. Perhaps some Chicken and Waffles, pancakes,
omelettes or a breakfast burrito? Maybe some soup and a sandwich, a BELT Burger (burger with fried egg, lettuce and tomato) or a salad (you did just eat a bucketful of ice cream). Whatever you are peckish for, A.C. Petersen’s menu will fill your need. And, if you really are a glutton, you can finish off the day’s ride with some more dessert – a slice of pie a la mode or warm Toll House Cookie pie. If you decided to do the whole ride, you’ll now be pretty close to I-84 should you need to get to wherever you started in short time. If you are still in a meandering mood, pick a direction and enjoy the rest of the day. Before you start, take a look at a map, as there are several interesting destinations near most of these stops such as the florence Griswold Museum (home of american impressionism – 96 lyme st, old lyme Ct • 860434-5542 • www.florencegriswoldmuseum.org) and the Museum of Puppetry (at Ballard institute, 1 royce Circle, suite 101B, storrs, Ct • 860-486-8580 • www.bimp.uconn.edu) Download the ull map and listing for the Mystic Country Sundae Ride here: industry.mysticcountry.com/wpcontent/uploads/2015/06/iceCreamWeb2015.pdf And here’s the GPS route: www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/g7tyxd You can find the printed route sheet on page 50 Enjoy your Sundae Ride and we’ll see you on the next Ice Cream Run.
BACKROADS • MAY 2016
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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHTS SPYDER F3 MEETS LEGENDARY MUSTANG COMFORT • NEW SEATS FOR CAN-AM Mustang’s newest addition to its impressive line of comfortable motorcycle seats lets CanAm Spyder F3 riders feel the Mustang difference. The new one-piece touring seat for the F3 offers improvements over the stock seat and enhances the Spyder’s powerful modern look. “Our seats for the Spyder RT have proven popular with riders, so the F3 was the next logical step,” says Mustang Seats Sales Manager Jesse Sargent. “Can-Am calls the F3 the ‘next era’ of Spyders and we’ve developed this seat with the same thinking. Every angle, contour and radius of the seat has been fine-tuned for maximum comfort,” Sargent explains. “Mustang’s seat is optimized for riders and passengers who like riding all day” says Sargent. “It positions your body for the best riding posture and supports you for the long haul. Today’s riders don’t want to compromise either comfort or style — this seat has both of these covered.” The cover’s detailed double-stitching boldly enhances the Spyder F3’s striking design. Mustang’s marine-grade fiberglass baseplate and proprietary foam are carefully contoured to support both rider and passenger in the optimal cruising angle for all-day riding. The optional driver backrest is fully adjustable, easily removable and perfectly matches the look of the seat. The seat for the Spyder F3 retails for $719. More information can be found at www.mustangseats.com.
TOURATECH TEAMS UP WITH ORTLIEB TO LAUNCH WATERPROOF PRODUCT LINE Riding in the rain, crossing a river, or even blasting through a mud puddle can leave your gear soggy. For 25 years, Touratech has worked to provide riders with better storage solutions for motorcycle travel. Their latest development is a complete range of dry-storage products purpose-built for motorcycle touring. The result of a joint venture between water-proof gear pioneer Ortlieb and Touratech, the product range covers every need for waterproof storage on a motorcycle. The new line will be sold worldwide under the Touratech Waterproof brand. Utilizing Ortlieb’s experience in manufacturing waterproof equipment and decades of in-house motorcycle adventure expertise, Touratech created an entire line of soft-luggage, dry bags, stuff sacks, backpacks and accessories. The range even includes water storage bags and other campsite essentials like collapsible bowls. Next Page
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MAY 2016 • BACKROADS
“While our roots are in adventure, the Touratech Waterproof range is exciting because we now have solutions for a wide range of motorcyclists.” Noted Touratech-USA’s CEO Paul Guillien. “From sport bikes to cruisers, we now have storage solutions that will make any rider happy by keeping their gear dry.” Each product is designed for motorcycle travel and has features and durability built to withstand the rigors of long-distance touring and the every-day commute to the office. The company has even created some test videos to demonstrate product and entertain the masses. As the videos proclaim, “It’s good to be dry… with Touratech Waterproof.” For more information and to see the rest of the Touratech line log onto www.touratech-usa.com.
PITTSBURGH PRO ½” DRIVE DIGITAL TORqUE ADAPTER
Long Island
Kawasaki
I once knew a guy who thought if tight was good on some of the bolts on his motorcycle, then way TIGHTER would be just better. I seem to remember his bike lifting off the ground, balanced on the side stand, while he was tightening some obscure bolt on his Honda 550. I am sure this is just an overactive memory, but there was a reason they called this guy the Bolt Nazi. I clearly remember my formative motorcycling years… full of snapped exhaust studs, frozen bolts and stripped nuts that were probably wrench inspired by my Aryan friend. These days we should all know that every fastener has a desired torque, or degree of tightening, that should be used. Though you might think you have a calibrated hand, you do not. I have a few torque wrenches about, but I came across my new must have it GDG (Gizomo, Doodad, Gadget) while in that bordello of the toolhardy – Harbor Freight. Here tucked away amongst the real torque wrenches sat the Pittsburgh Pro ½” Drive Digital Torque Adapter. “Hey, what’s this?” I thought, thinking I must buy it for $29.99, if only to test it for you guys. Yeah, that’s the ticket. I did it for you. Sometimes I wonder about things that look too good to be true but this time… You know? It works! The Pittsburgh Pro ½” Drive Digital Torque Adapter simply snaps onto your ½ inch drive. It comes with adapters for the adapter if you have a 3/8 drive. Powered by a lithium battery that will last for years, it uses three color LEDs and progressive audio notification (beeping) when reaching the specified torque. I compared it with my older torque wrench at 30 NM, using the brake caliper bolts and some other fasteners on my R1200 GS, which was our test dummy for the day. It was just about spot on. While tightening the Torx bolts the Drive Digital Torque Adapter uses a TRACK mode that displays torque value as pressure and tightening is applied which prevents over-torquing. When you get close a yellow light flashes and when you reach your specified torque a red flash and beep occurs. PEAK mode displays highest torque value after load is released. 67 North Broadway • Route 107 • Hicksville, NY Pittsburgh Pro promises accuracy within +/- 2% and that seems about right. Each unit is individually tested www.LIKawasaki.com • 516-935-6969 and documented before shipping. The manufacturer claims the torque range: 29.5 to 147.6 ft. lbs. or from 40 to 200 Newton Meters, but we found it could go less than that if asked for when tightening needs a more deft touch. The adapter will auto shutoff in 80 seconds, so you need not worry about killing the battery while packed away in the nice plastic case in which it comes. For you busy mechanics with lots of toys and bolts needing constant attention the Pittsburgh Pro ½” Drive Digital Torque Adapter has a full 50 memory settings. For the money spent and the accuracy found with this small adapter it is a must have whether you are a serious shade tree mechanic or just a weekend tinkerer. You can find the Pittsburgh Pro ½” Drive Digital Torque Adapter at your local Harbor Freight or on their website www.harborfreight.com. ~ Brian Rathjen
799 Violet Ave/Route 9G Hyde Park, NY
ZACK’S V-TWIN CYCLES 845-229-1177
www.ZacksVTwin.com
BACKROADS • MAY 2016
T
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History in the Berkshires words and images: Brian Rathjen
he granite stone sat alone, all but forgotten along the soggy road here in the middle of the Berkshires, all but forgotten but for the American flag and the small picture frame with words worth reading again and again. When a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.
The words are from the Declaration of Independence and the stone marks the spot where the first real insurrection against our own fledgling nation met its end. Called Shays’ Rebellion it was not the reason we were on the road and in the mountains of western Massachusetts early in March – but, things always seem to have a reason and come together nicely. Truth is we wanted to take advantage of the warmer el Nino-driven weather that the northeast had been experiencing this winter and with the first few days of the week touching the 60s we made quick plans to scoot north to the Berkshires and overnight at a little historic inn called Race Brook Lodge. We had been out all week, on little day trips, and had quickly gotten use to the late spring-like temps regardless that baseball had just begun in Florida, and though I knew there might be a bit of rain, I was not concerned as a quick check of the weather for the week showed lows in the 50s and sunny – in New Jersey. The plans of mice and men….
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MAY 2016 • BACKROADS
We left Backroads Central that morning with a bit of clouds filtering the early light. It was cool, but was warming. Our route brought us north and east along familiar farm roads and then through Harriman State Park. We could not go through the park as, even with the non-existent snowfall this year, the park people in New York felt the park needed to be closed till April 1st – no kidding!
Our Plan B brought us by the old Clove Furnace, in Arden. Found right off of Route 17, on the other side of the Thruway, it was built back in 1854 by Robert Parrott as part of what was collectively known as the Greenwood Iron Works, part of many such furnaces used to smelt the iron ore for which this region was famous. It also played a key role for the Union Army during the Civil War as iron from this furnace was used to produce the Parrott Rifle – a monstrous cannon that was made in various sizes with the largest barrel alone weighing over 1,800 pounds, firing up to 300-pound shells. The furnace shut down permanently shortly after Robert Parrott’s death in
1877 and is now on the National Registry of Historic Places. Although there was a visitor center, we found ourselves all alone on the grounds this day and exploration was in order. Across the stream that runs down towards the New York State Thruway, there was a ruin of an old house. We were not sure of the history, but believe it to be part of the furnace complex, and we couldn’t think of a nicer setting for a home. Right about then it began to patter a bit of light rain. To the north, where we were going, was darkening clouds and general yuckiness. I checked the weather radar on my phone and let out an audible Scooby-Doo “ruh roh.” A large band of green and red was heading east from PA. I said to Shira, “Don’t worry what could go wrong.” Did I really just say that? We made the decision to keep on, as it was still a fairly nice day for early March. Yep…. early March.
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BACKROADS • MAY 2016 We ran up and over Bear Mountain passing the drive to the summit at Perkins, before circling down along the fine and twisty roads and crossing the Hudson River at Bear Mountain. Bearing right we continued along the serpentine road that snakes south and that was about when things changed. The light rain began to get harder and the temperatures that were down right pleasurable turned cheek and ran. In just a few miles we had ridden from spring-like bliss to late winter’s crap. Undaunted our heroes rode on. I had plotted a very twisty and technical jaunt into the Berkshires and what would have been fun in warm sun and dry roads became a bit of a concentrated chore. “This would be fun in nice weather,” Shira chimed in on the radio. Okay, I got her message. But, at this point it would be longer to turn around and go home than to carry on into the Berkshires. Besides, just 20 minutes down the road was one of the best barbeques in the region and not too long after we were puddling the floor at Big W’s and ordering way too much food from Warren. Refueled, caffeinated and satisfied we added electrics, zipped up like astronauts about to do a space walk and
Page 31 headed back out into the cold, wet and seasonally appropriate weather. Even in the mist the Berkshires are a stunning part of New England and, with the Gerbing’s electrons heating my gear I could have kept on going but, by late that afternoon, we rolled into the slightly muddy drive that leads to the Race Brook Lodge.
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We had come up here to do a feature on the Race Brook for We’re Outta Here! and we will in a later issue, but right now let us just say it was about as perfect as old historic farm houses can be. We stayed in the old icehouse and the restaurant next door had superb food and a well-stocked bar. There was even music that night, down in their funky club. Take funky for whatever you want it to mean.
MAY 2016 • BACKROADS
More interesting than the funky club was the very astute history found here at the Stagecoach Hill Inn – the restaurant next door – as it was in this very building the Shays’ Rebellion began. This storied revolt of local western Massachusetts farmers against creditors and the Bostonian elite changed our history and set up George Washington to become President, in addition to helping form our Constitution.
Who doesn’t love to dine where history such as this had its beginnings? That night I found the patch of storms that had traveled through was like a herald for mayhem to come and that night’s storms violently pounded the Berkshires. I know bikes these days can take some water, but I wondered about this night. I got up at dawn to see if the horses had vanished in the night. All was good as was breakfast, made better by the sight of blue skies peeking through the quickly departing front heading to Boston. There were two last things we needed to see while up in the Berkshires. One for O’Life’s Mysterious America and one to finish what we had begun to find out about at dinner the night before. First we searched out one of the only monuments for a UFO Abduction in the region –maybe the nation. Sure there might be a Historic Sign for Betty and Barney Hill in New Hampshire, but this monster concrete memorial, located on the far side of the covered bridge in Sheffield, is way beyond that. Even if it has been abused as of late.
BACKROADS • MAY 2016
Page 33 You might have noticed in this article that, when on the road, we try to cover as many articles and sections of this magazine as possible. A happy trip is when we find a Great All American Diner Run, a Big City Getaway, We’re outta Here AND an ice cream run for Shira. Effective time management! UFO Monuments, abductions, probing - what else could O’Life want? With the wackiness out of the way we searched out Shays’ Monument and found it rather easily. It is stately, if unobtrusive – still somebody cared enough to put part of the Declaration of Independence at it base, just a few weeks before at the anniversary of Shay’s final stand. While there another couple rode by, slowing down to make sure we were all right and then heading off. Like-minded riders stealing days in the middle of the winter just like us. We took in the marker and then headed back south, now following a different, but equally circuitous route south and west. We made a bit of a side trip to visit Wing’s Castle, always impressed at how Peter and Toni Wing have created this beautiful home overlooking the Dutchess County. What a difference a day makes and even though it was not summer, we would take the middle 50s any day. We found lunch in Cold Spring at the Depot, watching trains rocket passed us at 110 miles per hour (always makes me smile) before heading down Route 9D and back over the Bear Mountain Bridge and west across the Sterling region and back to New Jersey. So what did we learn on this trip? A lot! We learned of rebellions and foundries, of alien abductions and wonderfully historic lodges. We saw a castle and lunched just feet away from speeding trains. We learned that March will always be March and what starts off as a lamb will usually turn into a raging lion – with rabies! We hope your weather is your weather- as my weather-guru Joe Bastardi says…it’s the only one you’ve got.
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MAY 2016 • BACKROADS
Take the Weather with You Terry Peters
T
he next curve feels even tighter than the last but I keep my focus on the road surface ahead. There is plenty of loose gravel thrown off the shoulders by the cars that failed to navigate the turns and right now it is hard to see it through my visor. The wind keeps building strength as the elevation increases and that is not a good sign because we are a long way from the top. Our raingear is keeping us dry but after two more sets of switchbacks it is snow flurries that are sticking to my face shield. I kept asking myself if this is possible in July? Welcome to the Beartooth Pass.
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BACKROADS • MAY 2016 Two days earlier we had been in Page, Arizona after having already been on the road for eight days. I had left Vancouver, B.C. on my BMW R1200GS and the same day my brother had left Barrie, Ontario on his BMW K1200, three days later we were in Colorado. We spent a few days riding through Colorado and Utah then a visit tothe north rim of the Grand Canyon. On a gorgeous sunny morning we rode out of Page on Highway 98. The morning sunlight accented the striking rock formations and I stopped at a spot where I saw a dirt trail that went up a small rise thinking it would make a good location for a photo of my bike. On my way back down, the red dirt I was riding on turned into sand but the
same colour, my front tire bite into it and I felt myself losing my balance. I thought it was no big deal because I was going so slow so I didn’t worry about putting the bike down but as it went down on my right side my foot got pinned between the bike and the ground. I felt a big pain but still managed to clamber out from underneath it. John came over and helped me get the bike up and with an aching foot I rode it back up to the edge of the highway. We pulled into a rest stop down the road and I took my boot off and put some ice on my ankle. It was already really swollen but
Page 35 I didn’t think I’d broken anything and even if I had, I was in Arizona and a long way from home, time to suck it up and keep going. Little did I know that little crash would give me ankle problems for months. We rode through Kaibito and south to Highway 160 where we turned west and then north on 163, the road that would take us through Monument Valley. Even after multiple trips to this iconic area of the American west I still love riding through.
After lunch in Mexican Hat at the San Juan Inn and Trading Post Café we rode east and turned onto 261 to the massive Moki Dugway Mesa and the gravel road that runs from the bottom to the top of this magnificent rock. The road is a series of switchbacks that wind up the cliff face. The views are incredible and we stopped numerous times for pictures. This was why I had bought the BMW, to have the ability to easily transition from pavement to gravel and just keep on going.
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MAY 2016 • BACKROADS
In the morning my ankle was a multi-colored mess. I wrapped it up with the new tensor bandage and carried on. No one ever intends for problems to come up but shit happens and you just have to deal with it. I was still enjoying being on the road with my brother and that is what mattered most. It was already hot when we left Moab, but we experienced a range of temperatures on the way to Price. At the top the pavement returned and we carried on along the highway to High winds and colder temperatures, the threat of rain as we went over Solthe entrance to Natural Bridges National Monument. We stopped in the viewdier Summit, then more wind blew the clouds away as we reached Provo. points as we went through the park and John went for a look. I hate to miss Riding through town we found ourselves on the July 4th parade route. The anything but limping around was not going to be a good idea. early spectators watched as these two Canadians on motorcycles rode past. Highway 95 was fun and we got to the junction with 191 and turned north, We went through Park City, site of the 2002 Winter Olympics, then got onto heading to Moab. We pulled into the Buck Horn Lodge with the setting sun I-80 to Evanston and the turnoff for Highway 89 north through Cokeville. illuminating the red rocks. We got the gear off the bikes and I was finally We made pretty good time and just outside Afton I pulled over and suggested able to lie down and get my boot off. My foot was really swollen and a large we trade bikes for a bit. I wanted John to try out the GS, so off we went. Norpart of it was dark purple. I iced it for an hour then showered and rode to mally trading bikes only lasts for a short distance, just for the change of pace. Zax for a burger and beer. This time I think John was really enjoying the GS because we rode like that for over an hour. Meanwhile I’m leaning forward on the K1200 thinking I liked the riding position on my 1269 DOLSONTOWN RD bike much more. John’s bike definitely felt faster but MIDDLETOWN NY 10940 I gladly gave that up for the comfort of my ride. We got gas at Alpine Junction and checked into the 845-343-2552 • WWW.CYCLEMOTIONINC.COM 3 Rivers Motel. My foot was really throbbing and I spent an hour icing it and keeping it elevated. I Cycle Motion is your provider of motorcycles, ATVs, scooters, thought it probably looked worse than it was, at least snowmobiles, and utility vehicles by Kawasaki, Suzuki, Polaris, that was my premise and I was going to stick with it Yamaha and Can-Am. With a large parts department, qualified until I got home and had it x-rayed. The day ended service technicians and a full shop full of parts and accessories, with fireworks that we watched from the motel parkwe're here to meet all your power sport needs. ing lot, drinking beer and talking to the two guys staying at the same motel. For every rider - on or off road, whether they like doing it July 5th started with breakfast in the Yankee Dooin the dirt, carving the twisties, or cruising the backroads, dle Café. I love stopping in the small diners, enjoying we have their weapon of choice. the personality of local spots. This one was filled with all kinds of knick-knacks, posters, photographs of American flags, soldiers and other patriotic themes.
BACKROADS • MAY 2016
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The scenic Highway 89 to Jackson was great but as we neared the town we were faced with a lot more traffic than we’d been used to. We stopped at the park in the center of town then left to carry on to Grand Tetons and Yellowstone National Park. $20 got us passes for both parks and we slowly cruised through. Once in the park it is best just to relax and accept the flow of the traffic. We stopped for photographs at the sulfur springs, when we saw a herd of buffalo and such. The ride out was cooler and the clouds held the threat of rain. By Cooke City it was raining and we decided to get something to eat. The Beartooth Pass was in front of us. I knew this was a great ride, having been over it a couple of times before so I really wanted John to experience it. After lunch we were back outside putting on our raingear. It was raining pretty hard at this point but we had decided to ride the pass because it was just too early
to stop for the day. The ride was fine and the rain eased up when we started our ascent. This is such a great bit of riding I was disappointed for John that he was going to see it in bad weather, but sometimes you just have to ride through it and plan to come back another time. We stopped for a couple of pictures but the clouds were pressing down pretty low so the views weren’t great.
Climbing towards the summit the temperature continued to drop and then when we were near the Top of the World store, the rain turned to snow. I couldn’t believe I was wiping snow off my visor. I kept thinking, this is July, how can it be snowing! At this point all you can do is laugh and carry on. We certainly stopped to take a few photos and some video. Even in summer there is still snow on the ground near the summit but today it was falling from the sky and we were both very cautious in the corners. The wind was blowing the snow sideways across the road and the ride became an extreme test of concentration. We were finally on the descent and we rode back into the rain as we got lower. On the other side of the pass is the town of Red Lodge and we ended going right through to the other side of the town before we found a vacancy and checked into the Alpine motel. This was our last night together for this trip.
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MAY 2016 • BACKROADS
In the morning the sun was back out and it wasn’t too far before our routes were going to take us different directions and just outside of Boyd we pulled over to say our goodbyes. Always a sad moment because we both know it will be a long time before we would be doing this together again. At the same time I feel so lucky to have this connection with my brother. It began in 1970 when I got my first motorcycle and we rode across Canada and now 40 years later we can still enjoy getting out on the road together. John was heading to Billings and connecting with the interstate system which he would largely take all the way back to Ontario, then up to his home in Barrie. I waved goodbye and turned onto a gravel road that would take me north and connect to a section of I-90 over to Big Timber. The skies turned ominous and I pulled on my raingear in preparation and also for the added warmth. My route was north but the choices of which highways to take were now being determined by where the weather looked better. I took Highway 191 north then at Moore got onto Highway 200 to Great Falls. The riding was good and the weather gradually improved. Once past Grand Falls I was on to a great road that I’ve ridden a number of times before. Highway 89 runs alongside the Rocky Mountains and the section from Dupuyer up to the entrance to Glacier Park is spectacular. It had warmed up and I looked forward to the next section of the road but the weather still had another card to play, and as I entered a wonderful section of curves the rain blasted out of the sky catching me without my raingear on. I opted to ride through it and for that decision I was given a slap to the helmet when the heavy rain turned to hail for a period. Finally I was past it and the sun came back. My goal now was to get over the border and back into Canada. I was ahead of the bad weather and near a small town called Browning. I slowed down when I saw some people on horseback by the highway. It turned out that they were going to drive a huge herd of horses through the town up ahead and into the fairgrounds where a big Pow Wow was happening. I pulled over to watch them and it was an incredible sight to see a hundred or so horses galloping beside the highway. As I followed the procession into the town there were people lining the road all the way to the fairground. Once again I had managed to become a part of a parade and it was an amazing end to the day. It was one of those incredible lucky moments. If I had come along that highway 15 minutes later I would have missed it. Sometimes the timing just works.
I crossed back into Canada without incident and rode all the way up Highway 6 to Pincher Creek where I got a motel for the night. In the morning I rode through the Crowsnest pass and entered British Columbia feeling the first sense of being home. I still had a province to ride across but it was my province. Highway 3 is a gorgeous route and a big reminder of what a beautiful place this is. There was no traffic and I settled into a comfortable cruising speed. The BMW had performed flawlessly the entire trip and I was really impressed by all aspects of the bike. By late afternoon I was in Osooyoos and it was hot. This was where I’d crossed into the States 12 days earlier but it felt longer ago than that. I kept on going, stopping when I needed a break. I had a fast ride through Manning Park and after getting gas in Hope I hooked up with some fast cars on the Trans-Canada. Normally I’m pretty cautious on this stretch of road, on the lookout for police cars and radar, but with these guys leading the way I had probably my fastest ride ever from Hope to Vancouver. At 9:00 PM I rode into my North Vancouver driveway and was warmly greeted by my wife and our dogs. Glad to be home, sad the road trip was over. SAN JUAN INN • US 163 SCENIC, MEXICAN HAT, UT 800-447-2022 • WWW.SANJUANINN.NET BIG HORN LODGE • 550 S MAIN ST, MOAB, UT 435-259-6171 • WWW.MOABBIGHORN.COM ZAX RESTAURANT • 96 S MAIN ST, MOAB, UT 435-259-6555 • WWW.ZAXMOAB.COM 3 RIVERS MOTEL • 60 US 89, ALPINE, WY 307-654-7551 • WWW.3RIVERSMOTEL.COM YANKEE DOODLE’S CAFÉ • 20 US 89, ALPINE, WY 307-654-7507 • WWW.YANKEEDOODLESCAFE.COM
BACKROADS • MAY 2016
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Bennington Triumph Bash 2015 – Saying Goodbye is Harder Than it Seems Friday morning I headed out on a solo ride into New York. Rolling through the countryside on Route 22, I enjoyed the fine roads, light traffic and perfect weather. Late morning in Granville I soaked in some local history at the Slate Valley Museum, spending an hour or so learning about slate quarrying in
Dan Bisbee Saying goodbye is harder than it seems. Just ask Robin. It was 2008 when she left our small Vermont riding group to start a new life in Alabama. To wish Robin and her new husband, Paul, a fond farewell, a party was necessary. Since Robin lived in Bennington and rode a Bonneville, the Bennington Bonnie Bash was born. At the end of the goodbye party, we all agreed that we should do it again next year. So, the farewell party has turned into an annual event. Most years Robin and Paul make the trip from Alabama back to Vermont for the Bash. Some years they ride, this year they drove.
Word has spread about Robin’s Farewell party; the grassroots rally has morphed into the Bennington Triumph Bash. It has something for everyone. You don’t even need to ride a Triumph. A good-sized group camps at the Greenwood campground, and another group usually sells out the Paradise Inn. Despite being 10 miles apart, both the campground and the Paradise manage to serve as Rally Central. There’s a barbecue ride Friday afternoon and a dinner Saturday night. Saturday is semi-organized with several guided rides available. You can participate in any, all, or none of the events. Thursday is the unofficial kick-off day. I got off to one of my typical late starts, arriving at the Paradise Inn around 6:30. Introductions in the parking lot were informal: “Where’re you from?” “What’cha ridin’?” “Want a drink?” and so began a weekend of new friendships. A couple of my newfound friends were discussing dinner plans, and I tagged along to the Madison Brewery for a fine dinner and even finer Vermont microbrews.
the region. A century and a half ago, it was back breaking work and a great video and many displays took me through the history and the advances in technology that allow the quarries to remain competitive today. That afternoon I began seeing slate roofs everywhere. Later I dined on a fine lunch of iced tea and an ice-cream sandwich before arriving back in Bennington for the official kickoff. Here, a large, somewhat disorganized contingent headed 45 miles across Vermont on Route 9 for a barbecue. After a postcard-perfect stop at the Summit of Hogback Mountain, we continued on to the Top of the Hill
Motorcyclist-Friendly Destination Lodging Located on Scenic Route 100 in Southern Vermont Hot breakfast, cooked to order. BYOB bar, firepit, pool, hot tub, game room and WiFi. Free Maps and Suggested Rides. Group Special Packages. On-site Group Dinners available. 5 restaurants/bars within walking distance
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Grill in Brattleboro for a great buffet. I don’t think anyone left hungry, and afterwards, folks headed back at their leisure. Later at the motel we finished up the day with microbrews, stories, and stogies and a similar scene unfolded at the campground. Saturday morning, we all met at Hemmings Motor News directly across from the Paradise Inn. The rally web site had a dozen or so routes plotted out. There were several guided rides available. A big group headed out for
MAY 2016 • BACKROADS
the Adirondacks, some opted for the Vermont gaps while a few Tigers and Scramblers gathered for a “Dirty Ride.” I had eight bikes join me for the Mid-Vermont ride. Our group headed up Route 100, avoiding 10 miles of construction by taking the back road past Stratton Mountain ski area. At our gas stop, a few riders broke off and headed back. The rest of us continued on our way to the King Arthur Flour café in Norwich for lunch and then to Windsor, where we crossed to New Hampshire on the 460-foot long Cornish-Windsor covered bridge. Here, we hit a brief shower, but after that, we made it back nearly to Bennington before riding into a second, longer shower.
The 75 seats available for the Saturday night dinner sold out well in advance of the rally, and the folks at Mt. Anthony Country Club put on a great buffet for us. After dinner, door prizes were awarded, but the real winner of the night was the Wounded Warrior Project who received $400.00 from the 50/50 drawing. Back at the motel we watched a lightning show off to the north before retreating to an umbrella table by the pool as the shower headed our way. Sunday morning I awoke to the sound of a bike starting outside my room and decided that it was a pretty good alarm clock. I looked out the window to see a tail light disappear into the rain. Yes, the rain that had been predicted all weekend held off until the final day. As I headed out, a group was returning from breakfast. They waved and, rather than say goodbye they called out “See you next year.” I’ve already marked my calendar for June 2-5, 2016 Bennington Triumph Bash: www.armchaircommando.org/bennington/ BenningtonTriumphBash/Home.html Greenwood Campground: http://campvermont.com/greenwood/ Paradise Inn: http://www.vermontparadiseinn.com/ Madison Brewery: http://madisonbrewingco.com/ Top of the Hill Grill: www.topofthehillgrill.com/ Hemmings Motor News: www.hemmings.com/ Mt. Anthony Country Club: www.mtanthonycc.com/ Slate Valley Museum: www.slatevalleymuseum.org/ Wounded Warrior Project: www.woundedwarriorproject.org/
BACKROADS • MAY 2016
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Planning Your Dual Sport Rides in Vermont Dressed in your Klim riding suit, mounted on your brand new BMW GS 1200, complete with crash guards and high adventure tour-package, you sit idling at the end of your driveway. Left or right? Which way to adventure? Planning a route for your new adventure bike can be as challenging as riding it once you’ve gotten there. Ideally, your riding buddies will have plenty of knowledge to share with you and you can just follow along. But, that only works so long: eventually you need to find your own way. For dual-sport and adventure riders in Vermont, your primary tools are Google Maps, Garmin’s Basecamp software and traditional maps. Using these tools – and some advice from the AdvRider forum – you can map rides that fit your skill and your bike.
GETTING THE BIG PICTURE Start your mapping by getting the big picture. Use a combination of Google Maps and traditional paper maps to plot a general route. Google Maps is great for plotting a direct course from point to point on paved roads. The mileage and time estimate can give you an approximation of riding time to get from the city to the riding zone. Until Google adds a “good motorcycle road” checkbox, the route plotted will simply get you from origin to destination. You’ll get fast and paved, but not necessarily interesting and uncrowded. Use the “Avoid highways” option to skip Interstate highways and stay on secondary roads. There are some tricks you can use to finesse Google Maps into plotting the course you prefer, but you’ll need additional information before employing these.
THE VERMONT ROAD CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM When evaluating a route, Vermont has a road classification system that can help. Class 1 roads are highways and state roads that receive the highest amount of traffic and maintenance. They are also boring, straight roads that you’ll want to avoid, except when trying to make time.
Class 2 roads are well-traveled roads that lead to Class 1 roads. These are usually paved and can be fun on your cruiser or touring bike, but are not our focus here. GPS and online mapping tools, like Google Maps, default to using Class 1 and 2 roads when possible. For dual-sport riders your goal is to find roads in the next two classifications. Class 3 roads are town roads and can be paved, but are frequently gravel or dirt. They are usually passable by standard passenger cars and can be great fun, scenic and well suited to larger dual-sport motorcycles. When you can, use Class 3 roads as your primary “travelers” for getting from Class 2 roads to Class 4 roads. Class 4 roads are public right-of-ways that are not maintained by anyone. Their condition can vary from easily passable to a goat path and are the holy grail of adventure riding in Vermont. The tricky bit is finding Class 4 roads that are both challenging and passable. Google Maps makes no distinction between Class 3 and Class 4 roads. I have found numerous cases where abandon Class 4 roads are shown on Google Maps, so always use additional sources to verify roads found on Google. I use the Jimapco county maps series or the DeLorme Vermont Atlas & Gazetteer to verify roads found on Google Maps. Unlike Google Maps, which make no distinction between a well-used, town-maintained Class 3 road and an ancient cart path, these maps differentiate between paved and gravel. If the road exists on Google maps, but not on the Jimapco map, it may be too rough for a larger dual-sport. The Gazetteer and Jimapco’s county maps include most of the passable Class 4 roads – but not all. If you find a road in Google Maps, but not on these maps, it may be obsolete. Before committing to ride there, you need to investigate further. Next Page
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VTRANS MAPS VTrans – the Vermont Department of Transportation – has online maps that include every public roadway in the state. These maps are the definitive source for determining whether a road is public. The maps are divided by town, which makes them difficult to use for general route planning. Use the Jimapco road atlas or county maps to determine the town a road is located in and then use the VTrans maps to evaluate the condition. The VTrans maps classify roads as hard surface or paved, gravel, soil or graded and drained earth, and unimproved or primitive. They also indicate whether a road is Class 3 or Class 4. Knowing the road surface and whether it is maintained is vital in determining whether it is passable. The VTrans maps also show legal right-of-ways that are “impassable or untraveled”, legal trails and discontinued. These last 3 road classifications are dicey at best and in most cases should be avoided. Impassable or untraveled roads are Class 4 roads that have decayed sufficiently to be downgraded to “impassable”. These roads can be fun or a holy hell of a slog: local knowledge is needed to determine whether they are passable. Recent weather can greatly affect your ability to ride these roads, which are not maintained and can be significant mud pits. Roads designated as legal trails may or may not allow motorized vehicle traffic. Local ordinances cover these roads and you should check with the local selectboard to determine whether these roads are legal for motorcycles. Unless you know a legal trail allows motorcycles, assume it doesn’t. In many cases, riding illegally on a designated trail could be cause for a fine. Discontinued roads have been given up by the town and are no longer public rights-of-way. Do not go there. Note: these maps will help determine if a road is passable. You are responsible for determining if the road is passable by you, on your bike, in the road’s current condition. No map will tell you this: maps will only assist you in making this determination.
GARMIN BASECAMP A GPS is an essential tool for any off-road rider. Motorcycle specific models are easy to read while underway, glove-friendly and have Bluetooth ear pieces to hear turn-by-turn directions, but many do not have topographical
MAY 2016 • BACKROADS information and may not show Class 4 roads. A GPS does not need to be a motorcycle specific model to be useful. Many dual-sport riders prefer hand-held units like Garmin’s Oregon 450 and Montana 650 for their versatility and lower cost. Garmin’s City Navigator North America map series includes many Class 4 roads and is included with their motorcycle specific models. City Navigator is similar to Jimapco’s county maps in detail and can provide another data point when evaluating a road. Garmin’s Topo US 24K Northeast series of maps are essential for evaluating terrain. These detailed topographical maps can be used to determine if a road is steep or runs through a marsh. Topographical features can also be used in navigating, since road signs will be rare once you’re off the beaten path. Use Garmin’s Basecamp to create a route that combines paved roads and Class 4 roads. The route can be loaded into your GPS and used for navigating while riding. I always supplement my GPS directions with hand-written directions and I carry paper maps for getting the big picture.
Next Steps After plotting your route, it’s helpful to check with local sources to learn about recent conditions. The AdvRider forum can be a good place to get this information. Just beware that a rider’s bike, riding experience and point-ofview can greatly color their assessment of “good condition”. Use this information as another data point in your decision, but let your instincts guide you. For the most part, riding in Vermont is not life-threatening. If things go wrong, choosing an overly ambitious route will, in most cases, result in no more than a huge inconvenience. However, it is entirely possible to crash your bike in a place that isn’t accessible via a pickup truck, so don’t be afraid to turn your bike around if things get dicey. Bob LoCicero is a photographer and writer based in Vermont. He is the editor of Motorcycle-Vermont. Motorcycle-Vermont is an online publication that promotes motorcycling in Vermont and the Northeast. You can find it @ www.Motorcycle-Vermont.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MotorcycleVermont, Instagram @motorcyclevt and Twitter @MotorcycleVT.
BACKROADS • MAY 2016
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The Never Ending Saga of Notso and Pepe 11/31/15 - Port-au-Prince, haiti News of the daring rescue of Notso Happy by Pepe and his Delta Force has begun to spread throughout Monkeydom and Jeffland. Once again, painted into a political corner, President Obama has taken no action and has gone to Hawaii to play golf.
For those of you who have been reading Backroads for some time you know our two sidekicks (they like to be called correspondents) Mr. Notso Happy and Pepe T. Monkey. On a trip back in the fall of 2015, Notso disappeared after a night of revelry with some local women in a small seaside town in the Dominican Republic. Soon after, Pepe disappeared as well, but the facts pointed towards his attempt at an armed rescue on the island nation. Reports of his disappearance and subsequent rescue operations were, much like these two, sketchy at best but we will give you the story as it happened via various news bulletins and unsubstantiated Facebook posts. MissinG! dateline 11/23/15 - haitian Border - lago enriquillo d.r. It is with great sadness that Backroads must report that staff riders Notso Happy and Pepe T. Monkey have gone missing near the border with Haiti, in the Caribbean. Details are sketchy at this time, but it seems that Happy vanished near the border with Haiti and, soon after, it was discovered Pepe had gone missing as well. D.R. Police believe the monkey has gone back to find, rescue and return his friend to Backroads Central. Friends for life they both follow the edict - No puppet left behind! Nothing has been heard from them since and both Brian and Shira have returned to New Jersey with heavy hearts. We thank you for your thoughts at this time. If anyone has any information or has seen these little guys please contact us. The MWAG Foundation has posted a 10,000 reward.
12/5/15 - somewhere in the Caribbean Images have been gathered by US NSA, BSHT and BOLONEY sources of a reported coup d’État on a small island nation. Highly trained simian mercenaries going by the name MWAG have installed a small yellow puppet and monkey as supreme leaders. Their first move was to disband the free press and to install a form of “yellow journalism” and to declare a month-long national holiday. 12/31/15 - uss Growler (ssG-577) The US Navy has reported that one of its subs has rescued two sidekicks, who claim they are correspondents, off a floating surfboard 700 miles into open sea. The two, who were a bit drunk and disheveled, claim they did not do anything and were the victims here. The Navy had not asked them anything at the time, and were a bit confused with the two’s comments. They have been brought to Key West as they were able to prove their American citizenship, and then immediately disappeared down a chaotic Duval Street. cont’d on Page 45
NEW YORK
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If you’ve been involved in a motorcycle accident, get the knowledgeable, sympathetic and forceful legal representation you are entitled to. No fee unless a recovery is made. Testimonials available.
The One to Call in New York State Call the Law Office of Paul G. Gargiulo for a free consult and evaluation of your case.
(914) 421-0905 www.whiteplainsaccidentlawyer.com
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MAY 2016 • BACKROADS
And…They’re Off! FALL FIESTA 2016
SEPT. 22-26 nother riding season has arrived and, with it, another Backroads Rally. This Fall we’ll be headed north to enjoy the colors and the mountain riding, staying in and out of towns. We’ll have a group dinner Saturday at the Eagle Mountain House, so make your reservations early as rooms, and seating, are limited.
A
Thurs, Sept. 22 • Saratoga Downtowner 413 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 518-584-6160 • www.saratogadowntowner.com Rooms: $99 - $139 plus tax incl. breakfast Cutoff reservation date: July 5 Ask for Backroads when making reservation
Fri/Sat, Sept. 23-25 • Eagle Mountain House 179 Carter Notch Rd, Jackson, NH 603-383-9111 • www.eaglemt.com Room and breakfast only: $170/single • $188/double Saturday night: Room, breakfast, dinner $215/single • $275/double
Cutoff reservation date: August 9 Ask for Backroads when making reservation Reserve Saturday night dinner when booking
Sun, Sept. 25 • West Dover, VT Kitzhof Inn 802-464-8310 • www.kitzhof.com
Gray Ghost Inn 800-745-3615 • www.grayghostinn.com
Thursday, June 9th $
Lake George, NY 20 donation per person
Meet: 10am • KSU 10:30 sharp Sun Castle Resort/Inn at Erlowest 3178 Lake Shore Dr - Route 9N Upper Lot - 1.5 miles north of village RSVP • Due to the limited group size we ask that you let us know you’re attending email: brian@backroadsusa.com This will be an all-day event, returning back toward Lake George mid-afternoon
BACKROADS • MAY 2016
Page 45 4/3/16 - Backroads Central - Baseball’s opening day Nearly three months after the disappearance of Notso and Pepe the two have returned to northwest New Jersey, in a Fed-Ex delivery, refusing to comment on where they were and what exactly took place. Although they have been reinstated as sidekicks (okay, call them correspondents) they have retreated to an easy life of leisure and perusing the arts. Who knows where they will go next…
SOME HANDY TOOLS FOR WORLD TRAVELERS So this is not a motorcycle product, per se, but one that we thought worked fairly well for us. We usually have the key for the bike, right? But, what to do with the rest of your keys when you are riding or on tour? We usually just stuff the fob with its array of keys into a pocket of our suit or into the side of the tank bag. It worked but sometimes we are well aware we had all these keys along for the ride. We have often wished for a sleeker and easier handling solution. We might have found one – the Key Smart. Both slim and light, the Key Smart is made from aluminum and uses milled stainless steel hardware to keep itself together. The Key Smart has slimmed down our keys issue into a neat and slender package that slides easily into a jacket pocket, taking up a fraction of the space the old fob and keys did. You can also attach your car key fob to it or even a USB memory stick. The Key Smart is slick, stylish and very rider friendly. It is available in a number of colors and cost just $20.98 from www.getkeysmart.com
KEY SMART
We think we all know how motorcycle engines work. Tiny controlled explosions. Fire. But, what if the controlled burn stopped and you found yourself way off the beaten track with the reFIRESTEEL SCOUT • FIRE GOOD! alization that you might need to start a fire for a bit of warmth, safety or conspicuity. If you are not a smoker you might be in trouble. Do you keep a lighter or matches on your bike? In truth, I don’t, although I should. Now I have better. The folks at Aerostich, living in Minnesota, know a bit about creating fire and sell the Firesteel Scout. I spotted this very cool tool in their full and definitive catalog. Their description says it all, as they tell you to channel your inner caveman. Use small spark, make big fire, ugh… Scrape a knife or the included striker down the length of the FireSteel rod to release a massive shower of 5400°F sparks. No worries about damp matches or a lighter running out of fluid. If you can’t start a fire with this tool…well, then you probably shouldn’t be playing with fire anyway. The timeless back-to-basics fire starting tool works even when the conditions are wet and cold to ignite a stove, paper, dry grass or any dry tinder. Twenty years from now it will still work perfectly. The Firesteel Scout sells for just $15 and can be attached to your tank bag or even makes a cool zipper pull. Log onto www.aerostich.com to order yours.
444 State Route 23, Pompton Plains, NJ
973-839-1117 • www.pomptonsportcenter.com
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MAY 2016 • BACKROADS
HARLEY-DAVIDSON CUSTOM KINGS COMPETITION - SWEET SIxTEEN It’s good to our local shops stepped up to the plate – here are two of them, and excellent jobs from both.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON OF NASSAU COUNTY SHOWS OFF ITS CUSTOM
Route 739 • Dingmans Ferry, PA • 570.828.1920
Customization and Harley-Davidson have been an association for decades. To find a stock Harley these days (even without minor trinket alterations) is something of a rarity; Harley-Davidson knows this all too well, just look at the size of their accessory catalog. The infamous Willie G used to attend rallies throughout the country to check out the bikes parked in the lots just to see what folks were doing to customize their bikes. His wandering investigations lead to inspirations that spawn factory customs. Throughout the years we have seen several trends of customizations from stretched out low sweepers to the rebirth of choppers then a duration of the darkside models and more recently bobbers and café racers; so what’s next? Well it seems that the Motor Company is going back (somewhat) to the roots of the street, by having a challenge for dealers to submit their custom model of what they can do to its longest living name badge – the Sportster. In 2015 H-D had the contest with the new Street Model, which had some great entries. So why not do the same here and step it up a model and see what comes “out of the streets”. The contest is fairly simple; use a Sportster XL883N, XL 1200V, XL1200X 0r XL1200T as the start of inspiration, put together a concept, then design and build; finally submit your entry for a regional completion
American • Metric • Sport • Parts & Accessories • Award-winning Service • Performance Work • Dyno Tuning • S&S Pro Tuning Center • Power Commander Tuning Center
JDS CYCLE PARTS EST. 1988
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908-245-2445
BACKROADS • MAY 2016 that is followed by the selected entries to be voted on by the public to see who competes for the top spot. The key is to make your design unique and something that sparks interest. I was invited to check out the revealing of the bike that Harley-Davidson of Nassau County (Long Island, NY) worked diligently on for their entry. The folks at the dealership were touting it as the bike everyone will be talking about; when it comes to custom Harleys that could be a high expectation to meet. I will say that they certainly lived up to the challenge once they exposed the bike to all. My first reaction was, this is cool – I want one. Now I know that a dual sport Harley certainly wouldn’t bring in masses of the loyal to line up and buy one, but folks that are into the world of dual sports would definitely be giving it a serious look over. Just by checking out the pictures, you can easily see they went a whole new direction with their entry bike with tons of details and it even looks better in person. By the time you read this, voting will already be in play, but you should be able to check out the completion as it plays out by heading to Custom Kings page on the Harley-Davidson website. I’ll leave off with best of luck to all the entries, but I know what bike I will be voting for – sure would like to this one go into fabrication. ~ Don Gomo
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Woodstock Harley-Davidson Finishes in the Top 16 Woodstock HarleyDavidson announces its Top 16 status in the Harley-Davidson Motor Company’s National Custom Kings Competition. All dealerships in the United States were invited to participate in this National Competition. Parameters were set and the bike to be transformed was chosen. Woodstock Harley-Davidson built a one-off bike they named The Iron 883 All Road. Harley-Davidson executives had the task of taking all entries into consideration and choosing the Top 64 for the final rounds of voting, which would be done by the general public. cont’d on Page 49
Ye olde landmark tavern 5 Spacious Rooms starting at $100.00 Tavern and Dining Room Menu Serving Hours: Mon-Sat: 5-9pm Sunday: 2:30-8pm Seasonal April ~ December Member of
Featured in ‘We’re Outta Here’ In the heart of great riding • Between Syracuse and Utica
Cooperstown • Finger Lakes • State Forests
route 20, Bouckville, nY • 315-893-1810 • www.yeoldelandmark.com
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MAY 2016 • BACKROADS Riverside Cafe & Lodge, nestled on the Beaverskill River in Roscoe, NY CIA-trained chef • Motel rooms and cabins • Free wi-fi Excellent base location to explore the lower Catskills
Riverside Cafe & Lodge • 16624 Cty Hwy 17 • Roscoe, NY • 607-498-5305 www.riversidecafeandlodge.com • GPS: 41°58’09”N • 75°01’32.6”W
The Boat House Restaurant Perfect in Any Season Brunch, Lunch or Dinner on Swartswood Lake
Excellent Ride Destination
Tues-Sun 11A-9P Brunch 10A-2P Closed Monday Call for Seasonal Hours
1040 Cty Rd 521 • Swartswood NJ 973-300-0016
BACKROADS • MAY 2016
Page 49 Woodstock Harley-Davidson made the first cut starting at Top 64; was then voted through the top 32 and finished in the Top 16 of all entries. Quite an accomplishment for a dealer of this size and the time constraints the team was under, as they were also building the 75th Anniversary Daytona Bike Week Bike, for American Iron Magazine, which was raffled off. Congratulations to the team for such an outstanding job and achievement in the world of Custom Motorcycles and the talents of Greg Platkin, Dennis Mc Loughlin, Glen Helsey and the team at Woodstock Harley-Davidson. You can view the bike and trophy, at the dealership, during hours of operation. This unique all road motorcycle is for sale! For complete details on all the customization that was done including accessories, please see any Woodstock Sales Associate.
lley’s Hudson Va ne Riding Number O estaurant R e u q e b r Ba W North 1076 Route 9 mery, NY Fort Montgo
oute 9W icturesque R Located on P D Perkins rive minutes from State Park and Harriman Point historic West just south of
845-446-0912 rmerbbq.com www.barnsto
The Riverton
Tues. thru Sat. 11am-10pm Sunday: Breakfast 9am-Noon Lunch and Dinner served until 9pm
Travel along the scenic backroads of the Delaware river. Meet the Markopoulos family and taste chef George’s Greek American cooking. Best bar menu, lunch or dinner. Fresh poppers, perogies, calamari, clams and crispy wings with 8 different sauces.
John, Christina, chef George and Eoanna welcome you and your friends.
The Riverton Hotel and Restaurant At Belvidere-Riverton Free Bridge, Riverton, PA
610-498-4241 • www.rivertonhotel.com
Member of
Celebrate any Season with some awesome barbeque!
If you go home hungry it’s your own fault
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MAY 2016 • BACKROADS
SHIRA’S ICE CREAM RUN SUNDAE DRIVE Rip & Ride® • 110 miles START: A.C. PETERSEN DRIVE-IN 113 OLD SHORE RD/RTE. 156, OLD LYME, CT LEFT OUT OF A.C. PETERSEN ONTO ROUTE 156 RIGHT ON MILE CREEK RD BEAR LEFT ON WHIPPORWILL RD RIGHT ON ROUTE 1 LEFT ON GRASSY HILL RD CONTINUE ON GUNGY RD RIGHT ON DARLING RD SALEM VALLEY FARMS ICE CREAM 20 DARLING RD, SALEM, CT BACK ON DARLING RD LEFT ON OLD NEW LONDON RD RIGHT ON ROUTE 85 LEFT ON CHESTERFIELD RD LEFT ON ROUTE 163 RIGHT ON MEETING HOUSE LANE RIGHT ON RAYMOND HILL RD LEFT ON FITCH HILL RD RIGHT ON GALLIYAN LANE RIGHT ON ROUTE 32 ONTO HWY 2A EAST RIGHT ON HWY 2 LEFT ON HWY 164 RIGHT ON HWY 165 INTO SHETUCKET TPKE BUTTONWOOD FARM ICE CREAM 471 SHETUCKET TPKE, GRISWOLD, CT BACK ON HWY 165 RIGHT ON BETHEL RD
LEFT ON ROUTE 138/VOLUNTOWN RD LEFT ON ROUTE 12 RIGHT ON ROUTE 138/NEWENT RD CROSS ROUTE 169 ONTO RTE. 138/TOWN HOUSE RD LEFT ON KINSMAN HILL RD BEAR RIGHT ON KINSMAN HILL INTO INLAND RD LEFT ON POTASH HILL RD RIGHT ON ROUTE 97/SCOTLAND RD LEFT ON WALDO RD I- STATION RD – JERUSALEM RD RIGHT ON ROUTE 14 LEFT ON BACK ROAD (STOP AND TAKE PICTURE) LEFT ON BEAVER HILL RD RIGHT ON ROUTE 203/WINDHAM RD LEFT ON BATES RD RIGHT ON S BEDLAM RD LEFT ON ATWOODVILLE RD RIGHT ON RTE 89 – IMMEDIATE LEFT ON MULBERRY RD LEFT ON CHAFFEVILLE RD RIGHT ON BOUSA RD RIGHT ON HANKS HILL RD RIGHT ON FARRELL RD LEFT ON BUNDY LANE LEFT ON GURLEYVILLE RD ENTER UCONN CAMPUS – RIGHT ON STORRS RD RIGHT AT BIO SCIENCE COMPLEx FOLLOW SIGNS FOR DAIRY BAR UCONN DAIRY BAR 3636 HORSEBARN HILL RD/RTE. 195, STORRS, CT BACK THROUGH CAMPUS ON STORRS RD RIGHT ON ROUTE 275/EAGLEVILLE RD LEFT ON LAKE ST INTO CROSS ST RIGHT ON SOUTH ST RIGHT ON HWY 6 LEFT ON STEELES CROSSING RD RIGHT ON BOLTON CENTER RD/RTE. 85 GET ON I-384 WEST INTO I-84 WEST ExIT 46 TO WEST BLVD LEFT ON PROSPECT AVE RIGHT ON BOULEVARD LEFT ON WHITING LANE RIGHT ON PARK RD A.C. PETERSEN RESTAURANT 240 PARK RD, WEST HARTFORD, CT
BACKROADS • MAY 2016
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SPRING BREAK 2016 UPDATE There will be a group buffet dinner at the Hotel Lenhart Saturday, May 28. Cost is $22/pp (tax and tip NOT included) with a cash bar. You MUST call the Hotel Lenhart to make reservations NO LATER THAN MAY 10 (716-386-2715) as well as notify us (973-948-4176 • editor@backroadsusa.com) If you are booked at the Hotel Lenhart, you may put the charge to your room. If you are staying elsewhere, cash or check will be accepted – NO CREDIT/DEBIT CARDS. Here’s a route from Branchville, NJ to Wellsboro, PA. enjoy and we’ll see you on May 26.
Rip & Ride® Spring Break 2016 Rally To Penn Wells Hotel 62 Main St, Wellsboro, PA • 570-724-2111 This ride starts at the Victoria Diner, Route 206, Branchville, NJ (north of Branchville proper) • Approx. 210 miles Right out of lot north Rte. 206 Left at Dingmans Road Cross Delaware River on bridge $1.00 toll (cash) Straight at Rte. 739 Left at Silver Lake Road Right at Rte. 402 Left at Blooming Grove Road (right past I-84) Left at Rte. 390 Right at Old Green Town Road Straight at Brink Hill Road Left at Rte. 507 Right at Rte. 191 Left at Spring Hill Road
Left at Jubilee Road Right at Haas Pond Road Left at Rte. 690 Right at Rte. 502 Bear left at Glendale Road Left at Zielgler Road Right at Langar Road Left at Commerce Road Right at Suscon Road (past I-81) Bear left at Main Street Left at Rte. 11 (cross Susquehanna River) Right at Shoemaker Street Left at Church Street Left at Hillside Road to Shira’s Ice Cream Run!
LAND AT HILLSIDE FARMS, 65 HILLSIDE RD, SHAVERTON, PA Continue on Hillside Right at West Church Road Left at Rte. 309 Bear right at Ferguson to Main Road Become Demunds Road Bear left at Rte. 292 Right at Rte. 29 Left at Sugar Hollow Road Left at Rte. 87 Right at Rte. 154 Right at Rte. 14 Left at US 6 to Wellsboro Hotel on Main Street on right
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MAY 2016 • BACKROADS
Welcome to the Jungle - The Art of Learning to Ride Skillfully A column dedicated to your riding survival Peter Miller What Causes MotorCYCle Crashes? a look Behind the nuMBers The UnlicenseD MoTorcycle riDer This is the second in a series of articles where we look beyond the numbers regarding motorcycle crashes and their causes. Motorcyclists know that riding a motorcycle is inherently dangerous. The risk can be significantly mitigated by simply abstaining from some practices and following others. As mentioned in my last article, a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) report entitled “Countermeasures that Work, Highway Safety Countermeasures Guide for State Highway Offices”1 identified key causative factors for motorcycle crashes as well as ways to minimize injuries in the event of a crash. The last article discussed riding while impaired with alcohol and its devastating impact on motorcycle crashes. This article will look at the second significant causative factor for motorcycle crashes, unlicensed motorcycle operators. When referring to unlicensed operation it means the person operating a motorcycle is not licensed for that activity. Having a license to drive a car does not entitle someone to operate a motorcycle. To legally operate a motorcycle in New York State, and virtually all other 49 states, you must either have 1) a valid Class M license or Class M endorsement on an existing license or 2) a valid Class M learners permit and be under the “general supervision of a supervising rider”. But included in this discussion of
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licensed/unlicensed motorcyclists we also have to include inexperienced riders, riders who ride infrequently and riders who have “reentered” motorcycling after a long hiatus from riding. Let’s look at some numbers. Nationwide, about 22% of motorcyclists involved in fatal crashes had no license. That’s according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration2. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety puts the number at 28% for fatal crashes. One NHTSA report from the mid-nineties estimated that as high as 42% of all motorcycle crashes involve unlicensed motorcyclists. A modification to the helmet law in Michigan in 2012 prompted several studies to be conducted regarding motorcycle safety in that state. The Milwaukie – Wisconsin Journal reported that over a 10 year period, 36% of motorcycle crashes involved riders with no license. In 2012 the average was 42%! So, what’s the problem? Why are so many motorcyclists unlicensed? I’m not sure. Think about it though. How many of you reading this article know riders who aren’t licensed? Are they capable riders? Do they ride often? I would guess the answer to both questions is “no”. In my experience as a Police Motor Officer, whenever I encountered an unsupervised rider without the proper license/endorsement, I would ask him/her “you’ve had this permit for x years, why haven’t you ever taken the road test to get your license?” Some riders actually told me they were “afraid they couldn’t pass the test. You know officer, it’s a left circle and a right circle and figure eight, it’s hard”, Yet these riders would be on the highway, with a passenger (that’s not permitted incidentally if you only have a permit) riding
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BACKROADS • MAY 2016
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without the skill or confidence to pass the basic road test. But the “Countermeasures that Work” study goes a step further. It realizes that licensed riders often lack the experience necessary to be proficient riders. Training, both for new and experienced riders, is considered a counter-measure that works in preventing crashes. Think about the average rider in the United States. The Department of Transportation estimates the average motorcycle is ridden 1800 miles annually. Kelly Blue Book, a publication that estimates values for used motor vehicles, suggests that the average mileage for sport bikes is 3000 while touring models average about 5500 miles. That’s an average. Most riders begrudgingly park their bikes about 6 months of the year, some more, because of the weather. Others may only ride their motorcycles on a weekend, perhaps one weekend a month. How proficient can they be at riding with so little time on the road? The average motorcyclist in the United States today is in his early forties. Some of these riders are referred to as “re-entry riders”. That is, they rode motorcycles years ago, perhaps in their late teens or early twenties, and then gave it up to raise families, appease a wife or husband or sell the motorcycle to buy a house. Now, years later, the kids are grown, the mortgage paid and they want to ride again. The riding skills they possessed long ago have perished. Today’s motorcycles are bigger and faster. Without proper training to re-enter the sport, a rider could easily get in over his/her head. I know of no significant study that correlates riding experience with crashes. I do know that the more you ride the better you are at riding. The more training you undertake the sharper your skills become. From my own experience as a rider and a police officer, I know that inexperience is right up there with alcohol impairment as a causative factor for crashes. Motorcyclists without a license, young riders who just purchased their motorcycles, older riders who were
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out riding for the first time in ten, fifteen, twenty years too often are the focus of a crash investigation. The last article about riding while impaired with alcohol suggested that if you made the decision to ride without consuming alcohol you could reduce your risk of crashing considerably. You now know that as many as 42% of crashes involve unlicensed motorcyclists. Is it possible that motorcycle crashes could be reduced by 42% if all motorcyclists had sufficient skills to pass a road test and get licensed? Maybe. Could re-entry riders be safer on the highway if they took refresher classes before hitting the open road? I think so. Can the infrequent rider improve his/her skill by simply getting out and riding more and take advanced training classes? You betcha! 1. Countermeasures that Work: A Highwayy Safety Countermeasure A Guide for State Highway Offices Seventh Edition 2013 2. NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts 2013 Data Motorcycles DOT HS 812 035
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MAY 2016 • BACKROADS
UP C OM I N G E VE NT S CAL END AR EVERY MONTH - WEATHER PERMITTING Every Thursday • Bike Night at the Chatterbox Drive-In, Rtes. 15/206, Augusta, NJ. Tire kicking, good food and friends • www.chatterboxdrivein.com Every Saturday May - October • Bergen County Harley Davidson Saddle Up Saturday. 9am for coffee and bagels. Ride departs at 10am. Return to the dealership for FRee food and music. Proper attire MUST be worn! No shorts or sneakers. BCHD, 124 essex St, Rochelle Park, NJ • 201-843-6930 • www.bergenharleydavidson.com
MAY 2016 1 • 18th Annual Metro Collectors Show, 15 Perrin Ave, Pompton Lakes, NJ • 8am-1pm rain or shine. Free parking and admission. Detail www.metropetro.weebly.com 1 • Ginnie’s House Ride Against Child Abuse. Sign in/endsite: Tramontin HD, Route 80 exit 12, Hope, NJ. 10-11am • KSU 11am • $20 rider/$15 passenger and walk in. Police escorted ride ending with live music, food, raffle, prizes and vendors 6-8 • Mountain Moxie presented by Moto Girl Cafe. The Switzerland Inn, 86 High Ridge Rd, Little Switzerland, NC. Three-day event dedicated to women who love motorcycling and the men who ride with them. Presentations by the motorcycle industry's leading women, scheduled during breakfast and dinner hours so there's plenty of time to enjoy the great roads in the area. Details: www.motogirlcafemountainmoxie.com
What’s Happening 19-20 • COG Spring Fling Regional Rally, Williamsport, PA. For details, registration or contacts visit tinyurl.com/COGSpringFling2016 21 • Grand Re-Opening of Bob’s BMW Vintage Museum @ Bob’s BMW Motorcycles, 10720 Guilford Rd, Jessup, MD. NOW BIGGeR THAN eVeR! Showcasing over 65 vintage and classic BMW motorcycles under one roof along with thousands of unique parts, accessories, and other collectibles dating back to 1923. Details: bobsbmw.com 20-22 •Morton’s BMW Motorcycle Spring Fling Rally. For full details check their website: www.mortonsbmw.com 21 • 5th Annual Team Amey Memorial Ride. Sign in: Tramontin HD, Route 80 exit 12, Hope, NJ • endsite: Alph Fire House, 1109 Lee Ave, Alpha, NJ. Full info call 908-2836248 20-22 • 2nd Annual Red Knights Motorcycle Club Yankee Rally. Open to any Red Knight members. Bolero Resort, Wildwood, NJ. Details: www.redknightsmc.com 27-29 • CT River Valley BMW RIders’ Charter Oak Rally, Camp Nahaco, 305 Crystal Pond Rd, Woodstock Valley, CT. $42 pre-reg/$52 at gate - 2 nights camping, Fri. night chili, Sat/Sun. continental breakfast, Sat. Dinner, continuous coffee, door prizes, 50/50 and more. Info: www.crvbmw.org • 860-262-0247 • 860-965-9160 29 • MeetUp & Ride with Bob’s Road Crew @ Bob’s BMW Motorcycles, 10720 Guilford Rd, Jessup, MD. exciting group ride led by Bob! Details: bobsbmw.com
6-8 • BUZZARD BOTTOM 9 by Poverty Riders International and Buzzard Brent, High Country Motorcycle Camp, Ferguson, NC, just 20 miles off the Blue Ridge Parkway. Camping fee of $12 per night with meals available by donation and volunteers. Directions and map download: www.highcountrymotorcyclecamp.com. Contact Brent @ 336 973-3911 or email brent.hcmc@gmail.com.
29 • Dawn Patrol Motorcycle Club Memorial Day Classic. Sign in: $20/pp. Bradley Gardens Firehouse, 24 Old York Rd, Bridgewater, NJ 9-Noon • coffee & donuts. endsite:Dawn patrol MC Clubhouse, 106 Robert St, Bradley Gardens, NJ with homemade food, beverages, live music, door prizes, trophies and vendors. Scenic Route (lime dot + route sheet). Info: 908-722-4357 • 732-356-5838 • www.dawnpatrolmc.com
14-15 • NeW SWeDeN 450. Start: Cycle Gear, 2070 Rte. 70 east, Cherry Hill, N. end: PJ Whelihans Pub, 1854 Rte 70 east, Cherry Hill, NJ. Sign in: 8:30-10am. 450 miles of amazing roads through the Delaware Valley area, one night of camping, hearty dinner and breakfast with 100 of your fellow riders, all for under $60. Finishing patches this year. Details: 450.nsbmwr.com • email: ns450@newswedenbmwriders.com
26-30 • BACKROADS SPRING BReAK. Four days of incredible riding and fun, with overnights in historic hotels in Pennsylvania and New York state. For complete information see page 14 or visit our rally page @ www.backroadsusa.com/rallies.html
13-15 • Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park hosts Historic Oval Invitation for vintage racecars and the Thompson Vintage Motorcycle Classic featuring on-track activities, massive Swap Meet Marketplace, Manufacturer’s Midway Vendor, Antique Motorcycle Show and much more • www.thompsonspeedway.com
5 • Roar to the Shore and Avery's Ride. Sign in: Westbrook elks Lodge, 142 Seaside Ave, Westbrook, CT. Details: www.TeamAveryCDKL5.com or call 860-964-0716
15 • Ramapo Motorcycle Club Spring Fun Run. Sign in/endsite: Rhodes North Tavern, 40 Orange Tpke (Rte 17) Sloatsburg, NY • 9am til mid-afternoon. To benefit Helen Hayes Rehabilitation Hospital. A designated route along some of the Hudson Valley’s most interesting roads, with stops for poker/dice/scrabble or other games, with a chance to win prizes, while supporting a worthy cause. ramapomc.org
JUNE 2016 5 • Fort Lee Bike Show. Registration starts at 11am and ends at 12:30pm Sharp! Registration is free. All bikes welcome. Award Classes-Best Sportster•Best Big Twin•Best Custom•Best Dresser•Best Classic/Antique•Best Metric•Best Paint•Best Chrome•Best Rat Bike•Best in Show. enjoy food, crafts, music and more! Awards at 3:30pm. Full details: www.bergenharleydavidson.com • 201-843-6930 9 • Backroads Mystery Ride Lake George. Full details on page 44 or visit www.backroadsusa.com/rallies.html
BACKROADS • MAY 2016
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UP C OM I N G E VE NT S CAL END AR 7-11 • Americade Motorcycle Rally. The Best Roads. The Most Motorcycle Companies. The Most Welcoming Rally. Lake George, NY. Special Pre-Registrant events Monday, June 6. 518-798-7888 • www.americade.com 6-11 • Dirt Daze Rally for Adventure Bike enthusiasts • www.dirtdazerally.com 10-12 • AltRider Conserve the Ride Rally, Woodward, PA. 2 nights camping, 5 meals including pig roast + local craft beers, presentations and seminars, prizes and an awesome time. More info altrider.com/conserve-the-ride-2016/pid/1525 10-12 • Hudson Valley Motorcycles Ducati Demo Days. 179 North Highland Ave/Rte. 9, Ossining, NY • 914-762-2722 • HVMotorcycles.com 11-19 • Laconia Motorcycle Week, Laconia, NH. America’s Original Riding Rally. One of the Big 3 • www.laconiamcweek.com • 603-366-2000 15 • Blue Knights NJ IX 29th Gooch’s Garlic Run to benefit three local families with children having catastrophic illness. Start @ 4pm: Rockaway TownSquare Mall, exit 35A, Rte. 80 West/exit 35, Rte. 80 east, Rockaway, NJ. escorted ride leaves 6:30pm SHARP. $20 registration. end: Newark Ironbound section with vendors and live music. More info: www.BKNJIX.org 23-26 • Johnstown PA Thunder in the Valley • www.JohnstownThunder.com 18 • 11AM • Riding Cuba presented by Bob’s BMW Motorcycles & MotoDiscovery @ Bob’s BMW Motorcycles,10720 Guilford Rd, Jessup, MD. Bob Henig, owner of Bob’s BMW, and Skip Mascarro, founder of MotoDiscovery, will be sharing exciting stories and amazing photographs from their epic adventure, followed by Q&A. Guests will also be provided details for a SeCOND Cuba adventure, scheduled for November 2016! You won’t want to miss this great opportunity! Visit bobsbmw.com for event details 25-26 • 7th Annual Rock, Ribs & Ridges @ Sussex County Fairgrounds, Augusta, NJ featuring Jefferson Starship, Kansas, Blues Traveler, Pure Prairie League and more. Barbecue fans will enjoy the juried rib cook-off • www.rocksribsandridges.com
What’s Happening 2016 models. Info: www.ccducati.com • 732-906-9292 25 • Sharpen your skills and build confidence at the track. The Street Skills Riding Academy is conducting a Cornering Skills Instructional Track Day just for street riders at the New York Safety Track in Oneonta, NY. Pre-registration required. Info: 585-8029859 • jon@streetskills.net • streetskills.net 31 • MeetUp & Ride with Bob’s Road Crew @ Bob’s BMW Motorcycles, 10720 Guilford Rd, Jessup, MD. exciting group ride led by Bob! Details visit bobsbmw.com
AUGUST 2016 7 • Ride for Kids Hudson Valley. Central Valley elementary School, 45 Route 32, Central Valley, NY. Registration: 8-9:30am • Kickstands Up: 10am. Details: rideforkids.org. 7 • Ride for Kids Western PA. Seneca Valley High School, 128 Seneca School Rd, Harmony, PA. Registration: 8:30-9:30am • Kickstands Up: 10:30am. Details: rideforkids.org. 18-21 • Touratech Rally east, Huntingdon, PA. Details: touratechrally.com. 28 • Ride for Kids New england. Bose Corporation, 100 The Mountain Rd, Framingham, MA • Registration: 8-9:30am • Kickstands Up: 10am. Details: rideforkids.org.
SEPTEMBER 2016 9-11 • Vermont BMW MC present the 34th Green Mountain Rally, Goshen, VT. In the midst of the Green Mountains, enjoy the best home cooking (Fri/Sat dinners, Sat/Sun breakfasts), great Vermont self-guided tours, Gap and GS rides, live bluegrass music Friday night, door prizes and awards ceremony Sat. night, hot showers, camping, bonfires and an hour of New england storytelling. Details: vtbmwmov.org/rally 18 • 33rd Annual Italian Motorcycle Meet by IMOC. 10am-3pm; judging at Noon. Featured Marque: Aprilia. Admission: $10/single, $15/2-up. Hamilton Rod & Gun Club, 24 Hamilton Rd, Sturbridge, MA. For full details visit www.imocusa.com or call 248-4705788 • 401-397-4253
JULY 2016 9-10 • 40th Annual Running of the Ramapo 500™. Sign in: Ramapo MC Clubhouse, Veterans Memorial Assoc. Bldg, 66 Lake Rd, Congers, NY • endsite: Rhodes North Tavern, 40 Orange Tpke (Rte. 17) Sloatsburg, NY @ 7am. $45 advanced reistration/$60 day of event. Two-day 500-mile gorgeous ride with free camping with pool, Sat. dinner, Sun. breakfast, awards and prizes, starter pins and finisher patches. GPS route upload service for add’l fee. ramapomc.org 17 • Ride for Kids UTICA. Deerfield Volunteer Fire Dept, 5476 Trenton Rd, Deerfield, NY • Registration: 8-9:30am • Kickstands Up: 10am. Details: rideforkids.org 22-24 • Cross Country Ducati Demo Truck event, 911 Middlesex Ave, Metuchen, NJ. Ducati experience Tour Three-day weekend full of Ducati demo rides with full fleet of
dawn Patrol
Motorcycle Club
Classic sunday, May 29, 2016 sign in: Bradley Gardens firehouse • 9am - noon 24 Old York Rd, Bridgewater, NJ • Coffee + donuts
end site: dawn Patrol MC Clubhouse 106 Robert St, Bradley Gardens, NJ $20 includes large variety of GreAT homemade food and drinks Scenic Route (lime dot & route sheet), live music presented by DVR Blues Band with Whiskey, door prizes, trophies for best rep clubs (AMA, non-AMA and chapter), lots of vendors For information call laz (908) 722-4357 Mike (732) 356-5838 Clubhouse (908) 722-4664 email: dawnpatrolmc@optonline.net
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MAY 2016 • BACKROADS
UP C OM I N G E VE NT S CAL END AR 18 • Ride for Kids Philadelphia. The event Center by Cornerstone, 46 N.Sugan Rd, New Hope, PA. Registration: 8:30-9:30am • Kickstands up: 10:30am. Details: rideforkids.org 18 • MeetUp & Ride with Bob’s Road Crew @ Bob’s BMW Motorcycles, 10720 Guilford Rd, Jessup, MD. exciting group ride led by Bob! Details visit bobsbmw.com 18 • AMA District II Corn Boil Rally. Sign in 9-11am • $15 Williams HD, Lebanon, NJ. endsite: eagles, Bridgewater, NJ. Ride in Bike Show, music, trophies, vendors. Info: 732-887-5612 • 908-722-0128 • www.amadistrictII.com 24 • Bob’s BMW Fall Open House Oktoberfest & Swap Meet. 10720 Guilford Rd, Jessup, MD. Details: bobsbmw.com 24 • Forever Friends Motorcycle Awareness 5th Annual Charity Bike Run and event, Skylands Stadium, 94 Championship Rd, Augusta, NJ. Rain date: Sept. 25th. Details: foreverfriendsmotorcycleawareness.org 22-25 • BACKROADS FALL FIeSTA Four days of incredible riding and fun. For full details visit www.backroadsusa.com/rallies.html
RIDE LIKE A PRO NJ Jerry ‘Motorman’ Palladino’s Training Classes Being Held in New Jersey ‘NEVER FEAR making a U-turn or dropping your 800lb. motorcycle again’ • Male-Female-Big-Small: It doesn’t matter • You can learn the 3 simple techniques that motor cops have been using for years • Our instructors - all active or retired motor officers - will show you how to use the motor cop riding techniques to better control and handle your motorcycle
OCTOBER 2016 6 • Blue Knights NJ IX 28th Annual Harvey C. Irons Make-A-Wish Ride to benefit MakeA-Wish Foundation of NJ. Start and end: Skylands Stadium, CR 565, Augusta, NJ. $20/pp, under 12 free. Sign in: 9am - Ride: 11am. Coffee and donuts at start; entertainment, vendors and lunch at finish • www.BKNJIX.org • nj9@blueknights.org 16 • Ramapo MC Fall Foliage Tour. Sign in/endsite: Rhodes north Tavern, 40 Orange Tpke (Rte. 17) Sloatsburg, NY @ 9am-mid-afternoon. Guided/self-guided tour featuring the best autumn pallet Mother Nature can provide along some of the Hudson Valley’s most interesting roads. Benefits Valerie Fund. ramapomc.org 24 • 9th Annual Ridgewood Fall Motorcycle Classic(Raindate Sunday, October 31st). Full details visit www.bergenharleydavidson.com or call 201-843-6930
NOVEMBER 2016 25 • 2nd Annual Black Friday Ride @ Bob's BMW Motorcycles, 10720 Guilford Rd, Jessup, MD. After a great success in 2015, Bob’s will be hosting a 2nd annual Black Friday Ride! Avoid shopping pandemonium and #optoutsideon2wheels Visit bobsbmw.com for details.
Check our website for available dates
25 • MeetUp & Ride with Bob’s Road Crew @ Bob’s BMW Motorcycles, 10720 Guilford Rd, Jessup, MD. exciting group ride led by Bob! Details visit bobsbmw.com
www.RideLikeAProNJ.com
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Pre-registration is recommended as classes fill quickly. Gift certificates available • Course Fee is $175.00
Visit our online Calendar for more details backroadsusa.com/events.html
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www.Powersports.Honda.com Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri: 9am-6pm • Thur: 9am-8pm Sat: 9am-5pm • SUNDAY: CLOSED honda.com ALWAYS WEAR A HELMET, EYE PROTECTION AND PROTECTIVE CLOTHING. NEVER RIDE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS OR ALCOHOL, AND NEVER USE THE STREET AS A RACETRACK. OBEY THE LAW AND READ THE OWNER’S MANUAL THOROUGHLY. For rider training information or to locate a rider training course near you, call the Motorcycle Safety Foundation at 800-446-9227. NC700X, CB500X, VFR1200X and CRF1000L Africa Twin are registered trademarsk of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (08/15)