W H A T ’ S
I N S I D E
MONT H LY C O L U M N S Motorcycles, Travel & Adventure
FREE WHEELIN’ ..................................................3 ON THE MARK ....................................................4 WHATCHATHINKIN’ ...........................................5
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Brian Rathjen • Shira Kamil
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BACKROADS (ISSN 1087-2088) is published monthly by BACKROADS™, Inc. 2020. 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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On the cover: Mark Byers, columnist extraordinaire, polishing his form at Pridmore’s CLASS this year at Virginia International Raceway. Photo: etechphoto
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BACKROADS • NOVEMBER 2020
FREE WHEELIN’ BRIAN RAThJEN
SubScribe Although your daily mail and package deliveries may have gotten exponentially bigger during the pandemic – most of these deliveries probably have a smile on the box or envelope (actually, Jeff Bezos grinning) and could be the result of your serious “one-click” problem. The one thing that you have seen less and less of each month is your monthly dose of printed motorcycle information and publications. Oh, sure – we are still here, but Backroads is a different sort of operation and both Shira and I would be doing this even if we did not have to. We own Backroads and it is not even a labor of love, but a life, as there is a huge difference between working for somebody or something and living a happy and productive life. Especially when it can benefit others as well. For years I have jokingly said Backroads was the biggest regional motorcycle publication – the reason why we print in a tabloid size! But suddenly, with the Great Moto-Pub Attrition of the past few years, we have gone from a nice “Mom & Pop” run regional moto-mag to one of the last paper players. Who would have thought many years ago that this would happen and our response would be…This Sucks! This was bound to happen when people that are not real riders get involved in the sport. But, this is the same with all walks of life, not just the motorcycle industry. I have nothing against venture capitalists – but few are real motorcycle enthusiasts. Today we heard that Bonnier Corp, that bought several motorcycle magazines back in 2011, has sold off its digital assets to Octane, a powersports finance company. Bonnier was owned by the Bonnier Group of Sweden and, even before COVID, was trying to sell off its magazines, including Cycle World, Field
Page 3 & Stream, and Popular Science. According to Octane’s CEO Jason Guss, “Our goal for this acquisition is to ensure that unbiased product reviews, rigorous and objective testing, and informed storytelling will continue to be available to powersports enthusiasts. When combined with Octane’s financing platform and dealership partners, consumers will soon be able to go directly from researching their dream vehicle to owning it, in a fast, seamless process.” Ahh – one-click shopping. Although the present crew that had been writing and creating Cycle World will stay around, that comfortable magazine has gone the way of so many great publications. Motorcycle Consumer News – gone. Motorcyclist – gone. American Iron – gone. Rider and Cycle World - digital-only. Many of the articles that we have seen recently like to play up that print is dead and the end-all of the modern-day is digital. Perhaps – but as we heard in The Holy Grail – “I’m not dead yet!” And… neither is print. There are still fine publications in which you can feel, touch, turn, and dog-ear a page… Thank the Road Gods! Let me throw out a few, although I will miss a couple, I am sure. Know these motomags still consume their share of trees and are not owned by corporations – but by real riders or riding associations.
roadrunner Motorcycle Touring & Travel roadrunner.travel Many of you who read Backroads do so for the destinations – it’s great to have and ride motorcycles but much like us, RoadRunner offers up some wonderfully great adventures from various places around the United States Continued on Page 6
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NOVEMBER 2020 • BACKROADS
of the situation dictated that if the rider hadn’t given up on the turn, but simply looked where he wanted to go, leaned the bike and continued, it was possible to complete the turn. MARK ByERS Alcohol. A lot of victims of bike crashes were returning from an evening of socializing at a bar, indulging in what they may have thought was a safe alternative endingS amount of alcohol. The problem is that once one starts down that road, judgement of what constitutes a safe amount is suspect. It slows reactions, takes It happens about once a month away inhibitions, and adversely affects vision, especially night vision. It is between April and October: a news report about a motorcycle mishap in compounded by the fatigue and circadian-rhythm issues discussed above. which the rider was killed. It’s not something about which we like to think, Riding gear. There are an awful lot of lightly-attired riders out there. Forbut we need to. I have not done any scholarly research, but I do see recurring get “all the gear, all the time” and just think of jeans, a leather vest, and a themes. helmet with a fake DOT sticker that is the protective equivalent of a TupperDarkness. A significant number of crashes occur after sunset. There are ware bowl. One study says use of a proper helmet reduces the instance of multiple factors: 1) lighting that illuminates where the bike is pointed versus serious head injury by about 85%. Even if it’s a fraction of that, it’s better where it is going, 2) relatively weak, single lights common to many bikes, than what the average victim appears to be wearing. 3) fatigue and circadian rhythm disruptions from Most motorcycle crash articles I read contain the riding well past the hour at which the rider is norwords “Excessive speed and alcohol were conmotorcycle accident investigator once wrote mally asleep, and 4) poor cultural illumination of tributing factors.” The typical scenario is a person that in the majority of situations at which he objects, hazards, and the road. Riding at night inlooked, the physics of the situation dictated leaving a bar well after dark to ride home, impaired volves riding into a relatively small pool of light, that if the rider hadn’t given up on the turn, but simby alcohol, going at a speed well beyond their abilbeyond which we are blind. “Overdriving your ply looked where he wanted to go, leaned the bike ity and the conditions, and striking an object adjalights” means going fast enough so that the stopping and continued, it was possible to complete the turn. cent to the road and/or being ejected from the distance exceeds the illuminated distance available. motorcycle. Most of them are single-vehicle Speed. Day or night, most bikes add speed much crashes and don’t involve right-of-way violations by cars or impacts with more quickly than most riders can controllably subtract with the brakes. I deer: they are simply the culmination of a chain of rider-controllable events. refer mostly to the front brake because it’s the lion’s share of stopping power Here’s an alternative ending: a person rides to a bar to socialize, but aband the hand is a much better fine motor-skills controller than the foot. The stains from alcohol because he/she is riding. Recognizing that they are tired average rider, when faced with a requirement for maximum braking, will when they leave and that it is dark, they alter their normal behavior to take a stomp the rear-brake pedal, locking the rear wheel. This causes the inevitable better-lighted way home, riding at a much more sedate pace than usual. fishtail, ending in a high-side crash as the bike ejects the rider and both slam They’ve selected good riding gear that’s appropriate for the cool night, with sideways into the pavement. Thankfully, more bikes come with ABS as time a real DOT full-face helmet and a clear visor. Perhaps they’ve installed an passes, but it isn’t a panacea. aftermarket lighting system to augment their bike, one that illuminates turns Target fixation occurs when riders don’t think they can make a turn, abanbetter. Or maybe they dispensed with all that and took an Uber to and from don the attempt, brake, stand the bike up, and go straight off the road. They the bar and partied their asses off. Either way, they probably lived to tell the focus on the point of departure from the road - a common human reaction tale, which is sadly in stark contrast to the articles I read about once a month. instead of looking where they want to go. A motorcycle accident investigator once wrote that in the majority of situations at which he looked, the physics
ON THE MARK
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BACKROADS • NOVEMBER 2020
WHATCHATHINKIN’ ShIRA KAMIL
Melting Point Getting a bit anxious with an upcoming trip? Starting out the riding season after a few months’ hiatus? Had an incident that gave you the yips? Have just had a super stressful experience that needs purging from your body? At what point, after leaving your driveway, does the tension release and your riding take control of your emotions. Of course, there are always those underlying thoughts: Have I unplugged the coffee maker? Did I shut all the faucets? Did I leave enough dry food for Spenser? But more than that, it’s the feeling of leaving your home for the unknown, for even though it may be a short day’s ride, one never knows what we’ll encounter after throwing that leg over the saddle. For many years after first starting to ride, if I hadn’t ridden for a month or so I’d have that squirming feeling in my stomach letting me know to take it easy, start out slowly and let my knowledge shake off the cobwebs. Now, after 30 years of riding, I still give myself that shakedown period in the beginning of the riding season (yes, I know there is ‘technically’ not a season, but some of us are loathe to ride below that 40 degree mark). Those first couple of rides in March or April are taken at a much more sedate pace, easing into my comfort zone, reacquainting myself with my bike and letting the bike have its own emergence into riding again. I admit I am not the mechanic in the household but I will stand by with a helping hand, hat at the ready or band-aid while Brian checks over my bikes and keeps them up to snuff. Rolling up to the end of the gravel driveway and popping onto the main road, I listen to the warming parts of the motorcycle, slowly squeeze the clutch and feel the throttle twist smoothly in my gloved hand as I make my way down the quarter-mile to the bottom of our hill. It
Page 5 may take 2, 5, 10 miles until the tightness in my shoulders eases and I know that all is right with my bike and in the world, at least in my bubble. This year, of course, has brought about more inner thoughts while riding than needed or necessary. The time until that tension releases and the mind is fully embraced in the freedom that our riding brings may be longer but it will still come. I like to reflect on the words I hear every year from Reg Pridmore during my time at VIR. He is always telling us that the mind has to be totally focused on the task at hand, riding the motorcycle and taking in the immediate surroundings, in order to be as safe as possible, at least with what we can control. Don’t think about that bill that has to be paid, that running toilet that has to be fixed or the upcoming crucial meeting at work. All those things will happen in their own time, and having them take up space in your brain while operating a high-speed motorcycle on some beautifully twisty roads is not their time. Motorcycles, in addition to being vehicles to bring us from one place to another, serve a number of other functions: therapist, counselor and friend. When we’ve had a hard day at work, an argument with a loved one, received some bad news or are just feeling down in the dumps, we turn to our motorcycles to help us move on, forget and lighten our inner spirits. Once a few miles have passed under our wheels, there is a melting point that releases those tensions and allows us to fully focus on the ebb and flow of the ride. Should that not happen within a certain short period of your ride, perhaps you should consider stopping the bike and taking a deep breath, as those thoughts and emotions will surely interfere with your performance and focus while riding. I know that I have been on rides where my mind is so scattered or focused on some other aspect of my life that I’ll realize I have been riding by rote – not a good thing at all. Before heading off on a ride, spend a moment to make sure that you have taken care of everything that might wiggle into your head, packed what you wanted, left what you didn’t need and turned off the water to the pond. This will help to have that melting point appear more quickly and your travels will be stress free and rejuvenating.
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NOVEMBER 2020 • BACKROADS
Free Wheelin’
Continued from Page 3
and the world. At this point, they publisher every other month, but is well worth the wait.
adv Moto adventuremotorcycle.com For those of you who like your adventures a bit more on the gritty side take a look at ADV. Carl Parker and crew do a seriously great job of taking the road less traveled and then riding off of that! The photography, stories, and product reviews are top-notch and if you have ever been bitten by the wanderlust bug then this is the publication for you.
Motorcycle claSSicS www.motorcycleclassics.com If you are like us you love great machines from the past. We have subscribed to this magazine for years. For those of you who have never seen it…Motorcycle Classics is America’s premier magazine for collectors and enthusiasts, dreamers and restorers, newcomers, and lifelong motorheads who love the sound and the beauty of classic bikes. Every issue delivers exciting and evocative articles and photographs of the most brilliant, unusual, and popular motorcycles ever made. If you never walk away from looking at a beautifully restored old machine then Motorcycle Classics is a must-read.
bMW ra on the level & bMW Moa on bmwra.org • www.bmwmoa.org Both these magazines come with a membership to each of these BMW Clubs - the Rider’s Association and the Owners Association. Each month both make excellent reads – even if you have never owned a BMW. OTL is piloted by our long-time friend John Flores, who had his first article published in these humble paper pages. Since he’s taken the helm, On the Level has gotten better with each edition. The BMW Owners News has long been the standard for the German marque and brings you the stories of every day BMW motorcyclists who ventured out to find their version of an epic adventure. For some it is a trip across the state, and for others, a trip around the world. For you, it can be as close as your mailbox.
Wing World wingworldmag.com Like the previous publications, Wing World comes with a membership to the Gold Wing riders Association. Packed full of rider’s tips, travel stories, gear, tech, and events, Wing World should appeal to the big machine touring lover in us all. So, just like the mini skirt, print is coming back in style. You kids stick with all of us and we’ll all stick with you. Keep on reading and riding and we’ll see you on the road!
Subscribe to The Backroads’ Report for up-to-the-minute info and fun stuff www.backroadsusa.com
BACKROADS • NOVEMBER 2020
BACKLASH Mea Culpa While you folks are very smart and probably figured this out, we put the wrong web address for BeadRider in the October issue. You can find them at www.beadrider.com. Attn. Brian Rathjen and Shira Kamil, We met by chance on the Ohio Turnpike in June. Before departing toward California, you kindly left me a copy of the June 2020 edition of Backroads and some stickers. I greatly enjoyed the varied content of your magazine. I have since subscribed (mailed my subscription application via snail mail with a check). Thanks very much. After we met, I soon departed the dreaded super slab and found a less traveled route leading to St. Joseph, Michigan. From there, I followed the shoreline north to Saugatuck (a highly recommended stop) and then to Ludington. After a night in Ludington, I boarded the 9:00 am ferry, S.S. Badger, and very few of us (only one other biker besides me) plied the calm waters of Lake Michigan for the 4 hour passage to Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Bidding farewell to the friendly ferry crew and my new biker pal, I motored across Wisconsin, eschewing the Nuvi’s recommended fastest route, finding a beautiful and deserted state road (Hwy 13) leading north out of Abbotsford, meandering between several national forests before meeting with US Hwy 2 in Ashland. I ended up at my brother’s place on the north shore of Lake Superior, near Duluth, Minnesota. I trust you had a safe and enjoyable journey to California. You are probably back east by now. I am back home in Miami…the new epicenter of Covid19! Miami always seems to end up as the epicenter of things. Good thing my helmet doubles as a mask! Keep up the great work on Backroads. Best regards, Steven P. “bef” befera
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Letters to the Editor Hiya S&B, Hope your dokies are both okie. I know, this is kinda late to be about the July issue. But like tardy Brian’s homework proofs in Miss Algorithm’s ‘74 geometry class, perhaps partial credit? Anyway, I saw my mention in Shira’s great retro article, and just wanted to say thanx! Quite a kick to be in the same sentence with that lot, letta lone to have you remember me. Y’all cover so much ground, do so much good both for the sport and for all the folks whose lines you cross. Allofus owe you. I’ve been readin’ yer stuff and droppin’ your names around the biking community since yer first issues, and inah unofficial poll turns out most everybody and their goat is really glad y’all learned English, hooked up, and began jointly publishing a motorcycle mag. It woulda been unanimous if I hadn’t let Shira’s old boyfriend havah vote. Scott Jenkins Backroads, Loved your enthusiasm for the little Honda. A 1973 Red & White SL70 was my first motorcycle at 13 yrs old. That bike saw more abuse through the woods, streams, and the northern portion of Ulster County’s Catskills (plus an occasional illegal jaunt down the county roadways) and never broke down - sure I broke things on it, but it always ran great. I always have a smile when I see one at swap meet. The combination of that first motorcycle, a fantastic bike and fearless energy of a young teenager makes for some memorable moments that are fun to reflect on. Thank you don M gomo Hi y’all; I’m sitting in the Kitzhof Inn after a good day’s ride catching up on my “Backroads” reading. In the July 2020 issue I see an article about Sideling Continued on Page 8
Page 8 Hill in Maryland. The first time I rode over Sideling Hill it was a dirt road. No, I’m not talking about the early days of the Old National Pike/US-40. Although this does predate our meeting when you were leading a Sport Touring M.C. ride with Shira on the back of your Honda 600. This was in the early mid 1980s and they were making the cut through Sideling Hill for I-68. The road was a construction project with only one dirt lane through so traffic had to take turns. I remember it well because while I was waiting for my turn to go through a small rock from a dump truck going the opposite way hit me in the throat. Luckily in those days I used to always wear a bandana and the rock hit the bandana’s knot so I wasn’t hurt. I have been over Sideling Hill a lot more in the 35+ years since then. Despite it now being a broad paved Interstate I am always reminded of my first time on one of my first long trips on a motorcycle. Congratulations on 25 years of success! Michael aldea Hi Brian and Shira, I’ve been catching up on issues of Backroads and for some reason going out for ice cream a lot more than usual. Your 25th anniversary issue was great, especially the Way Back Machine article. I found myself having fond memories of trips I hadn’t even been on, and very fond memories of the high Alps trip and the day we spent with you exploring great roads in Italy and Switzerland. Congratulations on your 25th anniversary and best wishes from Bruce and me for many more years and issues to come. bruce and gail Hi Shira, I hope that all is well at BR Central. Your August 2020 column brought back memories, good and not so good. My family had a cross-country trip planned in 1958 when I was 11. My Dad bought a new Plymouth station wagon and I wrote to all the chambers of commerce on our planned route to study all the wonders that we would get to see. Unfortunately, my older brother flunked a couple of classes, which required him to go to summer school. The trip never happened. I did not do a real cross-country until the 1972 bike trip with my then girlfriend which story you have for another time. I did drive my 1965 Plymouth
NOVEMBER 2020 • BACKROADS Sport Fury coupe solo from Dover AFB in Delaware to Global Survival School (another story there) in Spokane, Washington in 1969. On the way back, I took US 2 all the way from WA to the Mackinac Bridge. Some of it was already marked I-90 in MT, and there was no speed limit on the open road in MT in those days except at night. As I left one Montana town some kids had placed a genuine looking highway sign that read “Do Your Own Thing While the Sun Shines, Baby”. Another thing that your story recalled was the crosswinds crossing the plains, in my case Oklahoma, on a bike ride in 2006. I was leaning to the right all day once I left the NM hills as I rode east from Taos, NM to the Ozarks, over 700 miles, in 90+ degree heat. I had set my mind to keep going until I saw a hill. Be well, my friends. greg b. We enjoy reading the magazine a great deal, and it has informed and guided much of our motorcycle travel. We just returned from a visit to the Taber Museum in Williamsport, PA, where the great exhibit by two brothers is currently running. We were lucky enough to meet Duane while we were there. We would never have known about this or other great finds without the magazine’s commitment to covering them. Thank you. Kathy and John Walters (ellicott city, Md) I always make a point of acknowledging a child who is standing by the side of the road. A smile and a wave will secure a positive impression of motorcycles. Revving your engine does NOT enforce a positive impression. The future generation’s impression of us is what decides whether motorcycling continues to exist. Regards, byrd Hi Brian and Shira, My son and I are planning to do a guided motorcycle trip in Alaska to Prudhoe Bay in July next year. It appears there are two companies that do this trip. MotoQuest and Ayres Adventure. I was wondering if you could be so kind to give me any recommendation or input on which may be a more fa-
BACKROADS • NOVEMBER 2020
Mail: BACKROADS PO Box 620 Augusta NJ 07822
Email: editor@backroadsusa.com
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Got something to say? We’d love to hear it. Letters may be edited, never censored, to fit.
vorable tour company. The pricing appears to be about the same. I missed you guys this year but hope all is well! I appreciate an advice. Hope to ride with you soon. All the best, Joe & Karen giuffre Joe, Great trip, especially to be shared with your son. While both companies put on excellent tours, we can only comment on MotoQuest as we have travelled with Phil and crew several times. He is entertaining, certainly knows Alaska very well and his stops are well chosen. We’ll supply you with some Backroads stickers – you’ll see what we mean…Have fun. Hey Brian & Shira, We’ve known each other for quite some time and if you recall, I don’t usually have a lot to say. I would like give a shout out to MotoVermont. I just completed a great run with Spencer & Eric (Moto 400). These guys were totally on their game and produced a ride that was engaging and diversified to meet all the participants’ skill levels. Thanks to you guys for creating a platform of ever-changing and intriguing news, information, resources and, of course, let us not forget a wee bit of satire. Thanks again Walter Siegordner
Just got October issue & read Part 2 of your breakout trip. Fantastic. Any chance of putting GPX files of the entire 16-day journey at some point on the web site? Best wishes for great October riding. Marc Zylberberg Marc, Thanks for the kind words – it was a fantastic ride – and we can certainly send you the routes if you’d like, if we still have them. They were done daily and sometimes we need to clean shop to make room for others. Hi Brian and Shira.. It was good seeing you at The Gray Ghost. We looped thru Maine and NH, stayed at the Kitzhof Inn and then proceeded to Shanksville, PA. On our way home we stopped off at the Van Sant Airfield and you will be happy to know that your Backroads cover and article were feature on their billboard behind glass. Happy to follow in your wake... Joe and Kathy burke
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NOVEMBER 2020 • BACKROADS
IN DU STRY INFOBITES ECUADOR OPENS FOR MOTORCYCLE TOURISM Which places are now open for motorcycle tourism, and can you plan your next fly-and-ride? In places, the pandemic is far from over, but little by little, countries around the world are opening up for tourism. In Europe, travel came back for the summer with countries like Italy and Croatia inviting visitors without restrictions; currently, South Africa is opening borders, too, and in South America, Ecuador is back in business: with a negative COVID test, you can now fly and ride Ecuador.
News from the Inside quired. Ecuador has earned the #SafeTravels certificate from the World Travel Tourism Council for implementing safe biosecurity standards in all its tourism infrastructure. The hotels and sites are rolling out the red carpet. Ecuador has always given visitors a warm welcome and that welcome has now stepped up to a whole new level”, Rand said. While the company has faced some challenges during the peak of the Coronavirus pandemic, Ecuador Freedom took the time to renew its large motorcycle fleet, renovate the workshop, and get ready to receive motorcycle travelers thirsty for a South American adventure. “Due to uncertainty, we’ve made our reservation policy 100% flexible. Any reservation can change the dates if your travel changes due to Coronavirus throughout 2021. Many airlines like American Airlines have similar policies now of no change fees. Even if you’re not planning to ride Ecuador in the next few months, making long-term travel plans right now can feel like a new adventure is on the horizon, and here in Ecuador, we’re ready to roll! In addition to remodeling our maintenance center, we have pulled every single bike we have apart spending 2 days per bike, and our fleet has never been more adventure-ready. We have been renting motorcycles to pilots and airline employees, and we had our first self-guided tour customers this past week. They had a blast and experienced such great welcomes. They didn’t want to leave”, Rand shared.
WHY DON’T WE TAKE THIS OUTDOORS
According to Court Rand, founder of Ecuador Freedom motorcycle tours (www.freedombikerental.com) company in Quito, Ecuador, moto adventures on the equator are back on the menu. “You need a negative COVID test taken ten days or less before arriving in Ecuador, but no quarantine is re-
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CHANGES HANDS AND MOVES EAST
motorcycle tour, Progressive IMS Outdoors will support the growth of the powersports community by offering a unique experience the industry has yet to see. Commencing during the summer of 2021, Progressive IMS Outdoors will stop in a number of cities across the U.S. bringing powersports enthusiasts multiple days of entertainment, learning, and interactive activities. In addition to showcasing the latest street bikes, dirt bikes, cruisers, scooters, and ATVs as well as the latest gear and aftermarket accessories, the new outdoor format will feature market adjacent products from micro-mobility to electric bicycles, overland and RV products, and more, thus welcoming potential and qualified riders into the industry. Attendees can also expect the remodeled tour to be more interactive than ever with an array of on-road and off-road demo opportunities for all ages and riding abilities, including the continuation of the successful Discover the Ride program. The reimagined tour, which has been five years in the making, comes at a perfect time as 2020 has seen off-road product sales soar. Dates and locations for Progressive IMS Outdoors will be announced in December. As Progressive IMS Outdoors is an evolution of IMS’ traditional tour, the shows traditionally held in various cities from November through February will not take place this year. To stay connected with the world of motorcycling, powersports, and all things two-wheeled conveyance, check out ContinueTheRide.com, IMS’ platform that hosts a slate of digital content all designed to reach and support the industry. For more information, please visit: www.outdoors.motorcycleshows.com.
The first organized motorcycle sport-touring event format, The Motomarathon, has changed owners. Founder John Metzger has turned over the reins to long-time associate, Routemaster and veteran motor officer John Bossolt. The Motomarathon Association moves from the Colorado Rockies to the New York Adirondacks, and will retain its original format developed over more than 30 years of organized group riding that compresses as many twisty scenic roads as possible into a 4-day motorcycle sport-touring ride. Motomarathons have been run in virtually every popular riding area in America, from the Rocky Mountains to the California Coastal Ranges and Pacific Northwest, from the Ozarks to the Great Smokies, and from the Great Lakes to New England. Routes are designed by local experts and kept secret until the evening before each day’s ride. Participants complete a series of self-recorded checkpoints, photographing their badge numbers at designated landmarks to validate their completion of the route. These checkpoints are recorded by the Motomarathon Association for event, annual and lifetime standings. After a Coronavirus-induced hiatus, the next event will be held in the New York State Adirondacks region June 1-4, 2021, and a second event later in the 2021 season, further south in the Great Smoky Mountains. “The pandemic is forcing a recreational revolution,” said Metzger. “Crowd-based pastimes have been upended, and long-distance motorcycle sport-touring may be one of the purest forms of individual recreation that can be shared with others, but with virtually zero contact. More than ever, Motomarathon is the best vacation, and no one is better qualified to take over the Association than John Bossolt.” For more info, see Motomarathon on Facebook or contact John Bossolt, (973) 951-7606 or, John Metzger, john@metzger.com, 303-641-1062. Continued on Page 38
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NOVEMBER 2020 • BACKROADS
G REAT A LL AMERICA N DINE R RUN oScar’S reStaurant 123 W 10th St • roanoKe raPidS, nc 27870 252-537-2048 • www.oscars.coffee We were done with an excellent couple of days spent learning and honing our skills with Reg Pridmore and crew at Virginia International Raceway. Our plan was to make our way from the mid-bottom of Virginia to the coast and north from there. Our 250-mile ride zigzagged between the Virginia and North Carolina borders, incorporating as many little roads that looked entertaining as possible. About midway we would be meandering around the Roanoke River and Roanoke Rapids Lake and thought a late breakfast/early lunch spot would do us just right. Oscar’s popped up on our radar as serving both so we put it the Garmin and hoped for the best. What we got was far better. Our ride into Roanoke Rapids brought us past the not one but two paper mills. These plants have a most distinct aroma and are most always located near a large water source. While the main portions of the Roanoke River and Roanoke Rapids Lake are for outdoor enjoyment, this area is all work and no play. I suppose that the residents get used to the permeating pungent perfume. We found Oscar’s on a side street with a convenient parking lot right across the street. We could tell from the front that Oscar’s had some serious history and even more importantly it was going to have some good home-cooking as the locals were heading in as well, including the police. What we found out was that Oscar’s has been serving the good folks in the area since 1953 with, what they tout as, the best southern style, home cooking in the Roanoke Valley. They are located in what used to be the industrial area and, thankfully, not too close to the paper mills. Their breakfasts are legendary, according to the folks on social media and those we spoke to that day. The décor of Formica-topped counters and vinyl seats and stools will bring you back to that era as well. What we also found out was that the owner has one serious collection of guitars hanging on the walls. Brian’s eyes popped when we entered and, even before sitting down, he made the rounds to see what was hanging and, more importantly, who had signed them. Travis Tritt, Charlie Daniels,
tasty places to take your bike
BACKROADS • NOVEMBER 2020
entrees like Maryland crab cakes and fried pork chops. Their sides are decidedly southern with fried okra or squash or a bowl of Blackeye peas or Navy beans. I wish we had been there on a Wednesday or Sunday so I could see what a ‘bowl of chicken pastry’ was as well as visiting on a Saturday to order their Saturday Herring Breakfast, whatever that might include. The servings are large and well, if oddly, priced (4 pieces of dark meat fried chicken with 2 sides and hush puppies are $7.85). Oscar’s is also known for their homemade desserts and ice cream creations and if we were not riding another 150 miles that day I
Route 739 • Dingmans Ferry, PA • 570.828.1920
OUTDOOR SEATING AVAILABLE
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might just have been tempted. If you find yourself in this part of North Carolina, whether on purpose or while heading to or from your destination, Oscar’s is well worth the stop or detour for a great home-style meal with southern hospitality.
WE ARE
Merle Haggard and the Oak Ridge Boys, just to name a few. The local theater attracted some great names, and they all had to eat somewhere and Oscar’s was the place. While some guitars were signed there, the owner would travel to the performers and bring a guitar along for them to sign. However they were procured, the collection was impressive and added to the enjoyment of the meal. Once seated, we took a look at the menu. We were just a tad late for breakfast but that was okay as their lunch menu was most excellent, as was their daily special selection. How often do you see fried chicken livers or gizzards with hush puppies? As enticing as that was, we went a bit more mainstream with an order of fried chicken (dark meat only, if you please) with sides of mac n’ cheese and pickled beets and a turkey club (only two slices of bread, which technically keeps it out of club status) and French fries. Other items on the menu include cold plates and hot sandwiches, soup, stews and beans, burgers, dogs and many more substantial
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NOVEMBER 2020 • BACKROADS
Frontline Eurosports Presents
BIG CITY GETAWAY SuSSex county harveSt, honey & garlic FeStival A DeliciouS colliSion of flAvoRS Many of you know that Backroads Central calls the farmlands and forests of northwest New Jersey home. We like it here. Comfortable, open, great roads and an abundance of fresh foods – especially come the fall. This year’s Festival was, like most other planned gatherings, cancelled but last October we heard that the annual Sussex County Harvest, Honey & Garlic Festival was to be held that coming weekend at the Fairgrounds in Augusta, New Jersey – a way too short ride from the barn. So, we made it a bit longer but did eventually make our way down the long circular drive past the spraying lake fountain and to the parking lot – hidden from view from the road above. Wow, they have themselves a decent crowd, I thought. Lucky for us they are very good about motorcycles and we put them off on a convenient piece of grass. Admission to this event is free; and if you love fresh harvest of all kinds, crave garlic, and go yummy over honey? Well, this festival is for you. The grounds have a number of large and long barns – three were full today. One Honey. One Garlic. And one for everything else. A fourth had stuff for kids – face and pumpkin painting, kids crafts, and a hayride. We saw Shira’s friend, Monica, from Orchard View Lavender Farm as well as Springhouse Creamery and some folks selling seriously hard pickles.
daytrip ideas to get out of the daily grind The honey barn had its share of bees and honey products and it was amazing to see just how different one honey can be from another. Along the garlic side of things, we found many varieties of the smelly rose proving that Dracula doesn’t stand a chance in the Garden State. We ended up buying some black garlic balsamic along with some horseradish root that became the beginnings of a bountiful crop.
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Page 15 Did you know it was said that the Delphic Oracle once told Apollo that the horseradish was worth its weight in gold? If this keeps growing as it does, we’ll be rich in a few years. If you love garlic this is the place to be. The variety is staggering and the prices more than fair. It was Jimmy’s Mushrooms that really got us as they had ‘shrooms we had never even dreamt of, and his way of describing how’d he cook these up was very enticing – especially since it was way past lunchtime by now. We bought enough for dinner that night and on the way home had stopped at the butcher shop and grabbed a porterhouse and a T-bone steak for our imminent incredible dinner. Crossing over to another barn there were a number of tables addressing New Jersey environmental issues – including water and animal conservation among other issues facing this part of the Garden State. A woman from the local Avian Wildlife Center had what I thought at first was a stuffed Harris Hawk. Then it moved, turning its head toward us and letting out this very hawkish cry. Amazing. We had flown Harris hawks in Vermont years ago with our mom. It is a favorite memory now. There were also a few crafts vendors selling wares – some wonderful, some not. This weekend there was also the Ramapo Kennel Club Dog Show right next door and it was easy enough to end our visit walking around the show seeing all the dogs big and small and watching their owners and handlers. Now here is a…unique bunch. The Sussex County Harvest, Honey & Garlic Festival will be back next October, so check the web for the actual date. By the way… the steak and mushrooms were amazing!
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NOVEMBER 2020 • BACKROADS
F UN FALL FESTIVALS
Scarecrow Hunting in New Jersey
Fall in New Jersey brings many fun activities to which you can ride your bike. Some might require a mounting of side bags and top case to bring home the booty such as apple or pumpkin picking, but others will bring you to a spot to park the bike and take a stroll, whether it’s finding your way through a corn maze or haunted house or viewing the creativity of the town with their scarecrow displays. Branchville NJ is bringing back the spirit of the season with their 5th annual Scarecrow Contest. While others are shying away from celebrating some holiday traditions, the borough council of Branchville unanimously approved the event following a brief presentation by organizer Jeanne Heinke. Every year since the contest’s founding in 2016, Branchville residents and businesses have displayed their creativity by placing a pumpkin-headed scarecrow on their property and constructing elaborate scenes surrounding the figures. Around Halloween, a panel of judges visits each display and picks winners to be awarded prizes. The Branchville contest was developed after Heinke and her husband saw a similar display during a trip to a Massachusetts town. More than 80 homes and businesses participated in the inaugural event, with more than 200 taking part last year. We have made it a point to try and visit each display, as maps are given out (most likely they will be downloadable this year) to more easily find them. It is truly amazing to see the creativity coming from all walks – Frankford school kids to pharmacies, banks to pizza parlors. These are typically ready for viewing around the third week of October but stay up at least until Halloween or as long as the pumpkin head last. Over the years we’ve seen every day professions such as athletes, police, fire fighters, hospital workers and farmers. Many of the local businesses will reflect themselves in their scarecrows, such as the post office and pizza parlor. Of course there are any number of cartoon characters and movie/tv stars. Last year we saw the whole cast of the Wizard of Oz as well as the folks from the Addams Family. SpongeBob and crew showed up as did Garfield the Cat. It’s fun to take a spin through the neighborhood and see who and what you can spot. There are several spots to grab a bite to eat: Yellow Cottage on 206 for a delicious sandwich and homemade soup, Fran’s Kitchen at George’s Wine Shop serves up some super quiches and other lunch favorites, A&G Pizza is right in town and Riviera Maya has some very tasty Mexican dishes, also on Route 206, north of downtown Branchville. In addition to our local scarecrows, Ewing, NJ, will have an All Around Town Scarecrow Scavenger Hunt running through Oct. 29. Cranford will host their Scarecrow Stroll thru Nov. 1 with over 100 wild and crazy scarecrows throughout downtown. Vineland will host a Scarecrow Competition, with their scarecrows situated on frames and mounted on downtown lamp posts on Landis Avenue. Enjoy this spooky time of year and watch out for those ghost, demons and other supernatural creatures. Sam and Dean can’t watch everyone’s backs.
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WE’RE OUTTA HER E JoSePh aMbler inn 1005 horShaM rd, north WaleS, Pa 19454 215-362-7500 • josephamblerinn.com Time and again we will get an email or phone call with a reader or friend who is looking for a great getaway – some place special, some place romantic, some place great. But within a few hours of New York or Philly – thank you very much. God forbid we travel for romance? Nope, they all want it quick and easy. We will usually mention the Catskills or Berkshires for the Big Apple people – and maybe hideaways along the Chesapeake for the Philadelphia crowd. But this month we have an inn that covers them both. And, with style! Located just north and west of Philly and a few more hours from New York, you will find the Joseph Ambler Inn.
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a weekend destination keeping you on the backroads The Joseph Ambler was to be our final stop in our COVID-canceled Backroads Grand Tour. But kaka happened and Plan As jumped down the alphabet numerous times. But, on a beautiful afternoon in mid-September, we rolled off the larger road of US 202 and onto Horsham Road, hooking a quick left up the drive to the inn. Pictures cannot do this place justice. Five meticulously restored buildings, nestled within twelve acres of manicured gardens and rolling meadows, provided us with “oh boy” moments. Shira looked at me, I looked at her and neither of us had to say… “Wow!” The Joseph Ambler has history and we did a little research to see how a place as wonderful as the Joseph Ambler Inn is still here. You see back in the day the King of England, Charlie, owed some money to the father of this guy William Penn. To clean up the debt he gave William a monstrous chunk of land in the New World … thus the name Pennsylvania (but, you know this, right?) Eventually, this led to the Phillies, but I don’t want to talk about it. Ol’ Billy enticed others to settle the land on the outskirts of Philadelphia and Quaker immigrants from Wales, like Pierce, Morgan, and Ambler, were among the first to embark on the adventure.
Page 18 500 acres were originally bought by a man named Pierce and eventually some of that land was sold to Joseph Ambler who set about building a two-room, two-story farmhouse that his family lived in for nearly 100 years. Joseph Ambler’s profession as a wheelwright inspired the use of the carriage in the inn’s logo. Over the years other families owned the property and additional buildings were built. In 1983 Richard Allman purchased the 12-acre farm and began its transition, opening a modest bed & breakfast with 15 guest rooms in the Farmhouse and Corybeck cottage. The John Roberts House, built in 1794, was saved from developers by Mr. Allman, moved two miles to the grounds of the Inn, and painstakingly restored. How fitting that the initials John Roberts carved into the stone of both the Barn and the John Roberts House now face each other on the property, bringing the history of these families back together. We left the iron horses to cool in the lot as we made our masked way to secure our room. We followed the sign stating ‘hotel guest enter here’ but, along with this history is the knowledge that back then, buildings were built a bit differently and they can be a bit confusing and rambling. With the can-do attitude of true explorers, undaunted our heroes continued up the stairs, down the narrow hallways, back down the stairs, through the opulent private dining room and back out a door just yards from where we entered and to the front desk. Lost? No. Never. The Inn has 52 comfortable guest rooms spread throughout five historic buildings. Each room has been thoughtfully decorated and has its own unique charm and personality. We took the key to the room up the stairs and along the narrow hallway we just had strolled down, and opened the door to a magnificent room. Comfortable, different, with a flavor and flair that said old, but in that wonderful young way. Shira wanted to take the bathroom home with her. We showered – Shira twice – and strolled around the grounds until we felt at home. We took our seats for dinner, enjoying a neatly poured Basil Hayden, and took in the fairly large crowd for a Thursday evening. The food was outstanding and the service could not have been better. A few hours later we continued our walk around the grounds, showing off the two motorcycles to a couple of boys who were to be matching ring bearers the next afternoon; this is a great place for special events - weddings, reunions or an overnight escape on the motorcycles. The Joseph Ambler Inn is a true gem and will certainly be a starting or ending point for a future Backroads Rally – Stay tuned. But, in the meantime escape to the past yourself and enjoy a night at the Joseph Ambler Inn.
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Morton’s BMW Motorcycles Presents Dr. Seymour O’Life’s MYSTER IOU S A MERICA oF ghoSt Police and angelS Although I do my best to find things that make you wonder or go bump in the night, this column Mysterious America finds humans’ wondrous ability to create one of the greatest mysteries, especially when it is the creation of something that is emotionally moving to the artists. Something that, for their own reasons, has caused the spark of imagination to turn into a flame. In the tiny town of Clayton, North Carolina, there is a gray brick wall that runs along a public building. It would not be much different from the building down the block, in the next town or state but, here in Clayton, this wall is far different than all others. The sculpture is called “Cornerstones.” As you approach, you begin to absorb and your eyes open up to what is before you. And, when you realize what it is and know this sculpture’s story, the emotions can be recognized and, for some, can be the beginning of another journey of feelings. Let me explain… “Cornerstones” was sculptured by Christian Karkow and portrays the void left when a police officer dies in the line of duty, creatively conveyed by slabs of slate, pushed out to form a kind of pixelated policeman. The “rocks” are water-jet bluestone slate stacked to configure a larger-than-life Clayton Police Officer. The memorial is adjacent to the police department’s roll-call meeting room where officers meet each morning to discuss cases and get their assignments. The sculpture is a representation of that officer stepping out into the com-
munity to protect and serve. Inside the building the inverse of the figure is found, creating a void where the officer had been. Adjacent to the void are the names of the officers no longer a part of the community.
Page 20 The memorial thereby creates two distinct spaces: one for public commemoration and one for private contemplation. It is stunning, sad, and uplifting all at the same time. Clayton itself has a long history of great art and each year they have a Sculpture Trail throughout the town featuring artists from the region and around the nation. Adding all this with the phenomenal “Cornerstones” makes Clayton a great town to visit while riding in the Tar Heel State. But, while we are considering the great mystery called art let’s get on the bikes and head west – 1,500 miles west to the Texas town of Odessa. Here there is a sculpture dedicated to the police that is truly magnificent – especially if you believe in angels – the Arch Angel Michael, in particular. A little bit about angels… Angels are mentioned many times throughout the Old and New Testament, from God revealing the Ten Commandments to Moses and saying, “Behold, I send an angel before you to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place that I have prepared” (Exodus 23:20-21) to the angel Gabriel delivering the message to the Virgin Mary that she would carry the Son of God, and beyond. Angels bring us a sense of peace and security. How awesome is it to know that as the Catechism of the Catholic Church states: “From its beginning until death, human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession. Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life.” While there are countless angels, Gabriel, Raphael, and Michael are the only angels referred to by name in the Bible. These angels were each en-
NOVEMBER 2020 • BACKROADS trusted with extraordinary missions and played a specific role in how our salvation would play out. St. Michael, also known as an archangel (an elevated angel), is called “Prince of the Heavenly Host,” and is considered the leader of the angels. As a police officer’s role is to protect the public from the activities incited by the devil, it is absolutely natural that Saint Michael is the Patron Saint.
In the town of Odessa, the Odessa Peace Officers Memorial Foundation presented its monument in honor and memory of the five fallen Odessa Police Department officers: Corporal Gordon Terry Toal, Officer Scott Stanton Smith, Corporals Arlie “Lee” Jones Jr., John Scott Gardner, and Abel Renteria Marquez. Since October of 2007, the Foundation worked very diligently to raise money to build a monument in memory of the officers that were ambushed in September of 2007 while responding to a domestic disturbance. The monument would also honor the two Odessa Motorcycle Officers who died in the line of duty during the 1980’s.
BACKROADS • NOVEMBER 2020 Paul Tadlock of Gruene, Texas, sculpted the statue. It sits atop a 3-foot granite base with bronze nameplates of the fallen officers. Four beautiful benches, airbrushed with the fallen officer’s badges, also adorn the lawn. This is a truly amazing and moving monument and I think we would all be better off if Michael was on our side too. Closer to home there is the Connecticut Law Enforcement Memorial located at the Connecticut Police Academy in Meriden, featuring a statue representing the eternal flame with the words, ‘Never Forget’ inscribed. In New York, at Empire State Plaza, is the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services Police Officers Memorial, which honors federal, state, and local law enforcement officers with a memorial that has 12 granite panels with inscribed names. The memorial contains a quote from the daughter of one of the fallen troopers, which reads, “It doesn’t matter from which department they came, the feeling of loss is experienced the same.” Once again art has found a way to stir emotions, bring us to think, and remember that police lives surely matter too. ~ O’Life Out!
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leo’S hoMeMade ice creaM 816 W high St, carliSle, Pa • 717-960-0000 • leoshomemadeicecream.com oPen year round 12-9PM • caSh only We were getting ready for our first group outing of the year – a Weekend Escape to State College, PA, and I was in need of a great ice cream ride. You might say, ‘Why go anywhere but The Creamery at Penn State for ice cream?’ and you’d be right, except The Creamery would not be open on Saturday. For those who made it to State College on time on Friday to enjoy a scoop, good on them. So I scoured the suggestions via the world wide web, searched the Only In Your State Ice Cream Trails for Pennsylvania and poured over my piles of scrap paper on places that ‘needed to be visited’. All roads pointed to Leo’s Homemade Ice Cream in Carlisle, PA. The day’s ride was lovely, traveling on some very curvaceous and scenic roads in this part of Pennsylvania. As luck would have it, the planned lunch stop did not open until later that afternoon, so we ended up at the diner next door to Leo’s. The day was on the hot and humid side, so we were happy to be able to sit inside with the air conditioning. With lunch finished, we hopped over to Leo’s for some muchanticipated dessert. Tom Leo, founder of Leo’s Homemade Ice Cream, spent his youth on his family’s dairy farm, which sold milk out of glass bottles and ice cream made by his father. Years later, Tom found himself experimenting with his own ice cream creations at Leo’s Dairy. With practice comes perfection and he opened his own ice cream store in 2003 in the town of Boiling Springs, PA. Some years later and currently, they are located in their shop on High Street, within walking distance from downtown Carlisle and close to Dickinson College. I’m sure that both benefit greatly from their proximity to such a wonderful ice cream shop. In 2014, they were named one of the top ice cream shops in the U.S. by TripAdvisor and have not looked back from their celebrity status. Luck for us, Leo’s has a very lovely and covered outdoor seating area, as they were only serving from their walk-up window this day. During normal times, they have indoor tables for your comfort during inclement weather. It seems that Leo’s has over 100 rotating flavors that Tom has developed over his many years in business, some being quite unique. I certainly will not list them all here (you can check out their website if you are interested) but will give you some of the more interested ones: Cinnamon Oreo, Grapenut, Cranberry Walnut, Coffee Espresso Bean Fudge, Raspberry with Dark
BACKROADS • NOVEMBER 2020
Page 23 Chocolate Raspberry Cups, Pumpkin Marshmallow with Pecans, Oatmeal Raisin Cookie and Anise. A couple of these were on the board this day but so were some other more intriguing flavors. With mask in hand, we made our way to the window to see what the day’s flavors were. I really wanted to try their Habanero Corn Bread but that was a no-go so I opted for their regular Corn Bread as well as a scoop of Honey Sunflower Vanilla. Both were quite delicious and creamy but I felt that the Vanilla was a bit on the mild side. What I have found in my extensive tastings is that I do prefer a less sweet ice cream and these certainly fit into that category. We took a seat on the covered patio and were savoring our cooling treats as the sky grew darker. Within moments that sky opened up and let loose a heavy downpour, soaking the bikes and the gear that was left on them. By the time we were licking the last of our cones the storm had passed and we were ready to continue on our day’s ride, sugared up and happy. Leo’s offers cones and bowls in kids, small and large as well as banana splits, floats, shakes and sundaes with a multitude of toppings. You can get your ice cream to go in prepacked pints and you can check their daily flavors online with their FlavorCam. Leo’s Homemade Ice Cream is in a lovely part of Pennsylvania with loads of great riding surrounding it. You won’t be disappointed if you find yourself parked in their lot, spoon in hand, should a sudden storm come your way. Sit and savor, that’s what I say. Do you have a favorite ice cream shop you’d like to share with our readers? Email shira@backroadsusa.com and we’ll be happy to feature it in these pages.
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2020… T
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here is little doubt that we all will look back on this year with clarity, precision, and focus with excellent vision. But, in a riding season full of uncertainty, trepidation, and events, rallies and motorcycle gatherings canceled seemingly every other day, we pulled off a win at the end of July. Take that, Panda Flu. As the days ticked off the calendar towards July 24th the news seemed bleaker each day (when is it ever happy except for the last 15 seconds about some kid and his blind dog?) I said aloud that I hoped that Backroads ‘The Graduate’ weekend rally would not be canceled. I was reminded that, other than State College and the Commonwealth of PA going entirely insane, we were the ones who would have to pull the plug on it. Right! As Dana Carvey parodying George h.W. Bush on SNL said…“Not gonna happen.”
BACKROADS • NOVEMBER 2020 Yet, come that Friday, we crossed over the small private bridge at Dingmans Ferry and into the Keystone State to meet, what turned out to be, just a small gaggle of the riders heading to State College that day. LoriAnn and her crew at The Forklift, just west of the bridge, were superb and even opened their doors early to accommodate us. With both indoor and outdoor dining, their breakfast is always a superb way to start the day. Thank you Forklift!
As usual, our route to The Graduate was brilliant – unless it was not – which happens every now and again. Okay, more now than again this day. For a bit there, at least for our group and a couple of couples behind us, it was much like the United States during this pandemic. Our first turn – closed, as it was now part of a private community, the little bit of gravel was easy, but not the 5 miles behind the line painting trucks with their large flashing signs… DO NOT PASS. DO
Page 25 NOT FOLLOW TOO CLOSE. KEEP YOUR DISTANCE. WEAR YOUR MASK. STOP SMILING. FUN IS FORBIDDEN…and so on. Not soon enough we banged a right onto Snow Hill road – a marvelous tight two-lane that rides through the forest surrounding the Bush Kill. Near Pocono Raceway we had a stop sign suddenly pop up at a construction-zone by a highway worker who just could not let the bikes go through first. I glared at him for 20 minutes. Indeed it did feel like the whole lock-down thing in one ride – with hoops seemingly getting smaller and harder to jump through each day. We picked up another rider along the way past the sprawl that has grown around Stroudsburg. I had just told Shira over the Senas that it looked like the Road Gods had begun to smile on us. One particular road I was looking forward to sharing with our friends was the ride over the dam that spans the Lehigh River, just north of the gorge, built in the early ‘60s to help alleviate flooding from the Lehigh River. Although the dam was originally constructed for flood management, its reservoir has since become a popular recreational area for fishing, kayaking, and boating. Its original name was Bear Creek Dam but was renamed for local United States Representative Francis E. Walter, a
Page 26 prominent member of the House Un-American Activities Committee. When this finally gets out… I want to see them try to tear this down. But, would we see this dam this day? Heck no, road closed. Another hoop. Lucky for me I have a fairly good attitude and am excellent at on-the-fly rerouting. As the miles got eaten up heading west our route took us up and over twisty roads like the one above Shamokin and down through valleys full of farms, corn, and cows. By early afternoon, buzzing along Route 487, we came across a large outdoor barbeque at Rohrbach Farm outside Catawissa – not far from Knoebels Amusement Park – a Backroads favorite. The timing could not have been more perfect as we all were thinking of lunch around this time and Big Dan Bosworth and crew served up a superb barbeque in record time. We crossed the Susquehanna River at the Shamokin Dam.
NOVEMBER 2020 • BACKROADS Shamokin, in the Algonquian language, means “place of eels”, but for us it just meant more interesting and twisty roadways. By later afternoon we filtered through the tiny one-way roads of State College to The Graduate Hotel – home base for the next few nights. We had a block of rooms and we did not think we’d have the usual turn-out that we have seen in the past, but both Shira and I were a little taken back by the number of machines already cooling in the underground parking lot. We had a great turn out for the first Backroads Rally of 2020. The hotel was following all the protocols with social distancing markers and signs where they should be and disinfectant towels and the bar and restaurants closed. Our group, most who have become good friends over the years, finally had a chance to see each other after a long time away. Although all were happy to see their friends - some did their best to keep their distance and minimize interaction, while others chose their own path. As we have said many times… You do you and I’ll do me. We organized this rally to ride and have fun – not to judge or be judged. We’d been through it, done that – did not get a tee shirt. We were not going to ignore this virus – but were not going to be terrified of it either. There would be no Mask-Shaming on our watch. The hotel allowed us to take over a large part of the hotel lobby for gathering. Their bar was closed, but our bar was open and it was absolutely smashing to see all our friends and some new riders as well chatting, bullshitting, and catching up after a long, long covid spring. Our resident historian, Lisa Mutchler, had done a superb job of making Penn State masks for all who attended, and in varying
sizes no less. All were super stoked to see David and Alma make a return to the fold, and we presented David with a Superman Award for his super comeback. State College, being the home to Penn State University, has a plethora of restaurant choices and many of them had outside seating as well – which worked for many in these covidian times.
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Free Day in the Endless Mountains of Pennsylvania We had offered several routes in varying directions and total mileage. One headed north in a giant figure eight that could and was broken into chunks by many riders. North of I-80 on the way to and from US 6 you will find the Allegheny National Forest – a half-million acres of pristine mountains, forests, rivers, gorges, and incredibly fun motorcycle roads! All who chose this route were beaming when they returned. Another loop went in a giant circle to the south, riding up and down the Endless Mountains with their valleys and ridges, that seem to be everywhere, as they are endless. While some meandered to different local museums, including the Piper
Cub Museum, I chose to ride with the redhead in her endless (there’s that word again) chase of the next great ice cream parlor. We were heading to Leo’s Homemade Ice Cream in
Carlisle, and it worked for me as I had my own plan and it involved a guitar shop downtown. Shira’s ride south and east to Carlisle covered some wonderfully sweet Pennsylvanian pavement as we crossed over a few summits like Waggoner’s Gap. At 1,476 feet it is
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home to the National Audubon Society’s Hawk Watch. Further down this road is a home, right along a tight downhill turn, with a collection of stuffed animals, toy vehicles, and other things that make no sense but offer an unneeded distraction at the apex. Lunch was had and Leo’s found. With timing that could be no more perfect we all got ice cream – delicious by the way - and then the skies opened up with a powerful microburst that cooled things off, slightly filling a helmet or two, and caused flooding in downtown Carlisle. Mother Nature at its best. That evening the lobby had friends chatting up the day and, in general, enjoying the good times that reuniting with old friends brings. Dinners were found throughout the downtown area and we left folks still enjoying the large and open lobby when we hit the sack. That Sunday found some hugs, some elbow taps, some simple waves as riders packed up and headed north and south and east – towards home. We were not sure how all this would shake out for us – but we are pretty sure that the Backroads Graduate Rally, the first of a few, was a huge success. Old friends came, new friends joined and a great time was had by everyone and, after this spring’s madness, it was just what the doctors ordered. 1269 DOLSONTOWN RD MIDDLETOWN NY 10940
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BACKROADS • NOVEMBER 2020
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Sign up for Rider’s University Why We All Need to Go Back to School
Reg Pridmore shares his many years of knowledge as students listen carefully.
Get on back to school Domino College, back to school Boneyard full of knowledge A riding vacation through the Backroads nation Back to School - Jimmy Buffett (Sort of) Are you a real RIDER? A Really Instinctively Determined Energetic Responsible motorcyclist? We think many of our Backroads readers are. For so many of you, riding is not something you maybe do every few Sundays, if you have time or the weather is picture-perfect. No, for a lion’s share of you, riding is part of your DNA and, given the chance, you might choose to ride over most anything else. We feel the same way. That is why we constantly work on improving our riding skills and then apply these new proficiencies that we’ve acquired on a constant basis. As we all know riding skills, like so many other neuro-motor controlled skills (playing piano, knitting or juggling) take practice and patience to learn, and tenacity and resolve to retain. In these days of hybrid education surely we’d like to see all take advantage of picking up tips and skills from the web. But, for us, we want to go to a class, range, or track. The only ‘social distancing’ you will get from us is ‘space cushion’ between machines.
HOW SLOW CAN YOU GO? Some skills might seem easy, but in truth may be a bit tougher to master. For many of us, going slower is more difficult than going faster. When the handlebar must be physically turned to make the bike go where you want you could say that you are ‘driving’ the bike. For many ‘driving’ in a parking lot, especially with a questionable surface, can give you the ‘yips.’ The only thing that will eliminate the yips is practice. A day spent with Don Gomo and the New York State Motorcycle Safety Program in upstate New York, Diane and George Ortiz at Big Apple Motorcycle School or Manna Cali and Steve Kisbert at On the Road Again Motorcycle School on Long Island or the folks at Rider Ed in New Jersey will make you a more confident, assured and safer rider. We promise you. Riding schools like Ride Like a Pro or Total Control are excellent as are the more advanced Motorcycle Safety Foundation courses. When we took the Total Control Course, head instructor Christine Firehock took my BMW GS and did some tight maneuvers that were more than a little impressive (Okay, I was stunned and I now had a goal!). She is very talented and these schools can make you talented as well. Parking lots are our friends and if you have ever ridden with the Backroads crew and extended family it is very common to see riders puttering around a fuel station working on u-turns and slow ‘driving’ skills on their machines while waiting for others to finish topping off their tanks.
I mentioned ‘driving’ and I want to compare that to ‘riding’… then there is ‘flying’ which we’ll get to later. At some debatable speed (3mph or so?) you need no longer turn the handlebars to direct the bike – as all motorcycles slide into ‘counter steeringmode’ where a push of the bar is all it takes to initiate a vector change. Once you have the theory and some practice, take every opportunity you have to get better and better at ‘driving’ your bike at walking speed. Always look where you want to go and using your rear brake here, unlike everywhere else, is encouraged. Take some of the above courses and you will have a far better idea of what I’m talking about. In the real world of on-the-road tutoring, our friend Ken Condon does oneon-one training on the road. Ken is one of the leading motorcycle safety mavens and a day or two spent with him riding behind you, and radioing little tips, corrections and advice will up your game immensely. Ken is also the lead coach at some excellent Non-Sport Bike Training Days. Think of this as a northeast opportunity to get your machine onto a controlled riding environment and work on technique, skill, and your confidence level, which will expand. We attended one of these at Palmer Motorsports Park in Massachusetts this past July and we found Below: Christine Firehock working with a student at Total Control Class. Right Top: Ken Condon explaining the course at Palmer Motorsports Park. Right Bottom: Body Positioning and looking through the turn is extremely important.
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NOVEMBER 2020 • BACKROADS
(2) Left: Walt Fulton and Street Masters Cornering Workshop at Willow Springs Int’l Motorsports Park in California. All Others: Reg Pridmore’s CLASS at VIR. Top row are Backroads’ attendees from this year by etechphoto.
it to be an excellent way to tune-up our skills, many of which were a few months behind due to the lockdown. This is not a ‘track day’ per se, but more about getting and going smoother and familiarizing yourself with the capabilities of your machine. On the west coast, we highly recommend Street Masters Motorcycle Workshops. Created and run by three-time Daytona winner Walt Fulton and Nancy Foote, Street Masters is an intense and superb opportunity to fine-tune your cornering skills and overall confidence on your machine. Although held at Willows Raceway in Southern California all of Walt and Nancy’s lessons and techniques are directly applicable to the road. During this time, we remain OPEN for SERVICE and REPAIR. Please call/email for an appointment.
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If you read these pages regularly you know just how much we enjoy and encourage all such schools, but for us, our annual highpoint is the two days we spend with Reg and Gigi Pridmore each year at Virginia International Raceway. Reg and crew do an exemplary job of getting their points across. Twenty minutes on the track and twenty minutes in the class. It was the added second day that lifted both Shira and my skill and confidence levels. Here Reg stresses several things and he even has a glossy flyer called Reg’s Recurrency Checklist; twelve points to remember and think about often. I have it above my computer and look at it regularly. With all that you will learn from these classes and with our two days at VIR with CLASS – we need that time to slow our minds down, to learn to not only ride the bike but feel it as well. In this month’s ‘Welcome to the Jungle’ we talk about a little understood, but very real, sense called ‘propriocep-
BACKROADS • NOVEMBER 2020 tion’ and about how you feel and react with so much of your body. This directly applies to body positioning, initiating directional change with a push of the foot as you begin to countersteer the bars. Each classroom session builds on the previous. On the track it is not uncommon to have one of CLASS’ instructors come up behind you, follow for a bit, and then signal to follow them as they point out the prefect line and apex for the turns. After a couple of laps, they will bring you into the pits to discuss what you could do to make your riding smoother, and more confident. Don’t take it as a comment on your abilities, think of it as an opportunity to propel your riding skills to the next level. All those tiny bits add up to great jumps in our personal riding prowess. Take advantage of Reg Pridmore and CLASS, as well as all these other schools and mentors from whom we have learned and listened, and apply what they have to offer us. As we have always heard; the more you know, the better it gets.
Big Apple Motorcycle School bigapplemotorcycleschool.com On The Road Again Motorcycle School • lrn2ride.com Riders Education • rider-ed.com Kickstart Motorcycle Training Series • kickstartmts.com New York State Motorcycle Safety Program • nysmsp.org Street Masters Motorcycle Workshop • streetmasters.pro Ken Condon Riding in the Zone • .ridinginthezone.com Tony’s Track Days • tonystrackdays.com Reg/Gigi Pridmore’s CLASS • classrides.com
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NOVEMBER 2020 • BACKROADS also a paddock pass, allowing fans to get up close and personal with racers. Between sessions, you could feel the excitement building at the track while walking through the paddock area. Little Honda Grom’s and Ruckus’ whizzing by on both sides transporting tires, equipment, and information. Each team struggling to find the right setup for the weekend and being forced
words: Joseph Pepenella • images: Tony Pepenella Racing ruled over the September 11th weekend at the New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, NJ when Moto America came to town. The exciting race lineups for Saturday and Sunday included HONOS Superbike, Supersport, Stock 1000, Twins Cup, and the Liquid Moly Junior Cup. The weekend kicked off on Friday morning with practice sessions for each class. After the final practice, the Dunlop M4 Suzuki team sponsored twoseater rides on the racetrack for fans looking for that extra adrenaline rush. The qualifying sessions began immediately after and resulted in Cameron Beaubier in pole position for the Superbike class, Corey Alexander with the best time in Stock 1000, and Sean Dylan Kelly atop the Supersport class. Saturday morning opened with practice sessions that filled the air with exhaust fumes as spectators lined up against the fence along the track. One of the nice touches at NJMP is that each race ticket is
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BACKROADS • NOVEMBER 2020
to keep rain tires on deck in each of their garages. The other side of the infield at NJMP offered vendors and various activities for families, like a rockclimbing wall and inflatable’s for the kids. There was also a heart-pounding stunt show put on by identical twin brothers, making them hard to keep track of while they were playing tag on motorcycles!
At the end of Saturday’s sessions, I had an opportunity to speak with Corey Alexander, from Ride HVMC Racing, and his grandfather, who shared that Corey was competing in both the Stock 1000 and Superbike classes this weekend … on the same bike! Riding a stock 1000 in Superbike makes his 6th and 8th place finishes in the Superbike races even more impressive. Corey also took his place on the podium after finishing 2nd in Saturday’s stock 1000 race. This was a fantastic bounce back for him after being involved in a lap 1 pile-up in has last race at the Ridge Motorsports Park in Washington and leaving him second overall in points in the Stock 1000 class. After preparing for rainy conditions, the air in southern New Jersey was instead filled with warm sun rays, cool breezes, and screaming engines. The weather could not have taken a better turn, but Cameron Beaubier did, by sweeping the weekend and taking home victories in both Superbike races for Monster Energy Attack Performance Yamaha. This is his 11th win of the 2020 season and he remains on track to win the championship. His pace was unmatched in race one, crossing the finish line with nearly 10 seconds between him and Westby Racing’s Matthew Scholtz. Race two was quickly red flagged after a spill from Bradley Ward. The shortened race made no difference to Beaubier, as he resumed where he left off and crossed
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the finish line over 2 seconds ahead of his competitors. The final race wrapped up a beautiful weekend at NJMP. The weather cooperated seamlessly and allowed for the full slate of races. The tracks in MIllville offers enough for any racing fan, but it’s family friendly as well, and the spectating options really get you up close and personal with the track and the racers. After two great days of racing, the Moto America circuit will move on to Alabama for its final rounds!
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NOVEMBER 2020 • BACKROADS
Performance Upgrade words: Dan Bisbee • images: Ken Condon & Ailton Santos One of the first things people do after they purchase a motorcycle is to purchase some sort of performance upgrade. It could be an aftermarket pipe, a performance chip or tuning, or a suspension upgrade. Yet most folks fail to consider a riding class as an upgrade to their performance. I recently spent the day with Ken Condon for a one-on-one rider coaching class and I was humbled beyond belief. But then, that was the whole point. Ken runs Riding in the Zone, a business and web site dedicated to motorcycle rider training. During our time together, he easily pointed out everything I was doing wrong – mid corner corrections, lazy shifting, missed apexes. And then he showed me how to improve my technique. Motorcycles run in Ken’s blood. He’s been riding since 1976 and began racing in 1986. He worked as a freelance illustrator and then as a graphic designer before becoming the marketing manager for Twisted Throttle. He has also had columns in Motorcyclist Magazine as well as Motorcycle Consumer News. He has been running Riding in the Zone since 2014. In addition to one-onone rider coaching, he also does group training, parking lot courses and is the lead instructor for Tony’s Track Days. My class started with an hourlong video chat the night before, a concession to Covid-19 and social distancing. During our virtual class, he went over cornering lines and
reading the road. He asked me about my riding and where I thought my weaknesses were – trail-braking and parking lot maneuvering immediately came to mind. I met Ken the next morning and he mounted a Bluetooth communicator to my helmet. After some pointers, I followed Ken down the road. A few miles later, we stopped at a vacant parking lot where he watched my cornering technique, coaching me via the communicator. Slow, look, lean and roll. Slow down. Look through the corner. Lean into the turn. Roll on the throttle. After a dozen or so passes, he had me add in trailbraking, carrying some brakes into the corner to settle the chassis. He coached me through a couple of corners until I started getting it, picking up speed as we went. Back on the road, with Ken following, he coached me through the curves. Outside-Inside-Outside. Brake into the corner. Find the apex. Roll on the throttle coming out. Slow, then go. Set the chassis. Settle the bike. Ride smooth. Riding, which had become second nature to me, was now unfa-
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Opposite page: Parking lot practice aids in the fundamentals before and after on-road training takes place. This page: Ken showing how to read the road, the Elk on the Mohawk trail and Ken giving feedback on parking lot excercise.
miliar and I struggled, questioning everything. Where’s the apex? What lane position should I be in? Should I brake to settle the chassis or downshift to improve my drive out of the corner? After a short break, we were off to practice tight turns in a parking lot. “You’ll be going slower than first gear, so you need to modulate your speed with the clutch.” Ken told me via the radio. I dabbed my foot several times before finally circling with the handlebars at full lock. I switched directions and it took me another few attempts before I got it. Back on the road, I followed Ken, with him showing me proper techniques and lines through the curves. We made our way to Windmill Road (Route 8) in southern Vermont, which has a series of fantastic curves and elevation changes, perfect for learning proper cornering techniques. Here, Ken fol-
lowed me while I practiced reading the road, late apexing, and trail braking. We rode this piece of pavement over the hill and back twice. The second time through, I commented that I thought I was going slow. Ken pointed out that I was actually going faster, but with better cornering lines. At some point Ken had me do some high-speed stops. From 60 mph, I stopped as quickly as possible using both brakes. I could feel the back end of the bike wiggling as I slowed. The bike stops quicker than I thought. Without trying, I never would have known. Now, if I need to stop in a hurry, I know what to expect. We next headed through North Adams, MA where Ken had a few pointers for dealing with traffic. Then we rode to the summit of Mount Greylock. The tight switchbacks required the things Ken had been teaching me: lane positioning, trail braking and late apexing. I had trouble with all three, especially coming down. From there we headed over the Mohawk trail with a stop at Whitcomb Summit and a detour down a steep hill, practicing more cornering techniques.
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NOVEMBER 2020 • BACKROADS
Communication Breakdown Replacing a 3.5mm Stereo Male Plug You are on a tour, a few hundred miles from home. You park the bike in Anytown, USA, and are getting ready for a great breakfast. But, as you walk from the bike you hear the sound we all dread. Kerpluck! Your helmet has hit the floor. Of course - it has landed on the face shield as that is science. But, your custom earplugs, personalized at a hefty cost, have gotten caught in the tumble. There are now just bare and torn wires at the end and the 3.5mm plug of the, once awesome, custom earplugs still sit in the cradle … happily putting music to nowhere. As Robert Plant sang in Zeppelin’s Communication Breakdown… “Ooooohhh, SUCK!” And it does. So off you go to the local Staples, Walmart or whatever and buy a cheap set of earbuds, but you know that you are going to have to ship your ‘custom plugs’ back to the maker for a reconnection. Get your credit card ready. Or, do you? This scenario, or something close to it, has happened to us time and again. As careful as we try, we end up having a ‘communication breakdown’ every now and again. Let us tell you how to fix this at home. To start with you are going to need some specialized tools. You might think you can do this by hand, but your hands, as amazing as
they are (See October Jungle), are not precise enough for this job. So, gather the following as it will make this intricate job that much easier: Jumbo Helping Hands w/LED Light will securely hold both the three wires and the new 3.5mm plug in tiny alligator clips, freeing up your hands for everything else. We bought one from Harbor Freight for under ten bucks and it has a magnifying glass, LED lights, coiled solder pencil holder, and tray for a damp cleaning sponge. You’ll need a soldering pencil with various tips – we found a wider and flatter tip worked better for this job. Buy good quality solder. Also gather small needle nose pliers, wire strippers and wire cutters (small), and a good set of magnifiers with a head strap – also found at local shops for around six bucks. These are a must – trust us! You can buy replacement 3.5mm stereo male plugs from various electrical stores or the internet. Buy a bundle of them as your first attempt might not be pretty or successful, but consider it the learning curve. You will get better, as you know you’ll have to do this more than once. Before you begin practice your soldering skills. Have you ever soldered before? If not, or if you have but are questioning your skill – watch a few YouTube videos. They can not only offer helpful tips but save you time and show you how easy, with patience, this can be.
BACKROADS • NOVEMBER 2020
Begin by setting up all your tools for easy reach and then turn on your soldering pencil and let it get hot. While that is heating, strip off the insulation from the end of the wire to be attached. This will expose three sets of wires. In our headsets, they were red, green and a loose band of copper wires that was the ground. Although it makes no real difference which wire goes where (except if the guitar solo in your favorite song MUST be in the right ear), the important thing is the soldered connection must be small, clean, and not allow any of the three to touch the others.
To remove the insulation from the red and green wires use a tiny flame from a lighter or official Monkey with a Gun match, and just bring it to the tip of the wire. It will melt and flame… and immediately pull off the hot insulation with your fingertips. Yes – it is hot – we know. Toughen up, buttercup. With both wires now ready and soldering pencil hot it is time to make the connections. Oh, by the way, don’t touch the iron, no matter how tough you think you are. Before actually soldering them do not forget to put the wire through the end cap, as you will not be able to do this after the connections are made. Also, we wanted to make this connection a bit more durable by adding some shrink tubing as well. So, run the wire through the shrink tubing (large enough to go around the end cap’s base) and then the cap and then continue. Tin the wire lightly with solder and bring them through to the attachment points. Let’s say red to the middle and green to the side. Keep wires apart and heat the connection, not the
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solder. After a few seconds put the solder to the wire and let it flow around the wire and connecting point. Do not over solder and then repeat to the other connection. The copper ground wires can be twisted a bit more cleanly and slipped into the center grounding connection and then soldered securely. You will see tabs that can be closed with pliers to hold the grounding wire in place. Before you cap it, might be a good idea to cut slices of black electrical tape and slide them between the connections to ensure they do not touch. Screw on the cap securely and then slip the shrink tubing up and over the end of the cap to about half-way, if possible double up a small bit of the wires and slip that into the shrink tubing as well to create a bit of slack inside that can help the wires from getting yanked apart when, not if, you have the next headset incident. Then use a heat gun or hairdryer to let it shrink and wrap tightly around where the wire runs through the 3.5mm plug. Let it all cool for a few minutes and plug it in. If all went well your headsets should be better than new, as we were looking to make these connections as permanent as possible, not breakable as possible. Now, rock on… Zeppelin, please!
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NOVEMBER 2020 • BACKROADS
induStry inFobiteS
Continued from Page 11
AIMExpo issued the following statement from Cinnamon Kernes, vice president and general manager, MIC Events: “We have made the difficult decision to postpone the 2021 AIMExpo, the industry’s annual trade show, and while this wasn’t an easy choice it is certainly the right one. “With local directives limiting gathering size, travel restrictions, and a myriad of other obstacles created by the pandemic, there are too many unknown factors limiting our ability to create a safe environment that will also deliver the experience and ROI our exhibitors and attendees expect. We do not want to deliver a show that doesn’t live up to their high standards. Also impacting our decision to postpone are the dealers working to rebuild their businesses after suffering devastating damage from fires, hurricanes, and floods that have hit both the East and West Coasts. “There is tremendous value in face-to-face meetings and in-person events and we believe in their ability to create irreplaceable opportunities to connect with people and businesses to drive commerce. The AIMExpo team will continue to work with key industry partners, including Tucker Powersports, to explore options that deliver relevant and important educational content for dealer attendees in 2021. Likewise, the team will be looking for opportunities to connect the powersports brands through quality networking events later this year. We look forward to bringing AIMExpo back in 2022 and will celebrate the industry of powersports and everyone that makes it great.”
D E L L E C CAN
PerForMance uPgrade
Continued from Page 34
At some point, late in the day, a wave of frustration washed over me. Ken was on the radio telling me I had missed the apex again. How can I tell where the apex of the corner is, if I can’t see the end of it? And then it clicked. Find the exit first and the apex becomes readily apparent. It was like the fog had lifted. Going through the next few corners I nailed the apex and had a good line coming out. Soon though, fatigue set in and I fell back into my old habits. By the end of the day we had logged 150 miles and I was both exhausted and excited. I don’t know as I was ever “riding in the zone” for more than a few minutes, but at the end of the day, I felt more confident than before. Ken’s aim with Riding in the Zone is to share his knowledge with as many people as he can. He hopes those who learn from him will spread the word of motorcycle skill development. His website contains a wealth of information for all things related to riding better. His webinars are another incredible resource. At the end of the day, Ken handed me a memory stick with several video files of our day, complete with his commentary. The videos are from Ken’s point of view and I can watch myself making mistakes and then slowly improve as the day goes on. I’ve been riding for forty years and thought I was a good rider. Ken showed me what good riding is really all about. My bike still has the stock exhaust system, stock tuning and stock suspension but my performance? Definitely Upgraded.
www.ridinginthezone.com • www.tonystrackdays.com
BACKROADS • NOVEMBER 2020
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The Law Office of Paul G. Gargiulo Presents
Welcome to the Jungle - The Art of Learning to Ride Skillfully A column dedicated to your riding survival MaKing SenSe oF it all How ouR ‘Seven’ SenSeS cAn MAke uS BeTTeR RiDeRS In recent discussions with other riders, mostly men and women who ride and work with motorcycles professionally, the topic of vision, sight, reference points, visual acuity, and situational awareness was the gist of the back and forth. Everyone agreed that vision and how you use your vision is key to so many skills, tasks, and techniques while piloting your motorcycle. While watching Ken Condon holding a webinar from his truck as he was out of power at home (that is dedication kids!), he was showing some excellent photographic illustrations of some tight uphill turns with two machines negotiating them. He then was pointing out where their eyes and their focus should be as they proceed through the turn and onto the straight – probably to another great turn. Keeping your eyes up is always key but, in almost every circumstance, you are usually limited in what you can actually see – due to the conditions, and the road itself. If the curve is very tight your vision will simply run away from your line of sight – no matter how eagle-eyed you are. But, you can learn to read the turns over time. Sure the road disappears, but as you scan ahead you can pick up signs like powerlines, road markings, and other points of reference that can give you a pretty good idea where the road is headed and lets you be prepared as you ride through it – with your vision again increasing as the turn opens back up. That does not mean you should blindly follow what you think you see or anticipate. There can always be the unseen variable and ‘potentials’ around every turn. Such it is with life, so it is with riding motorcycles. So as you trail brake and lean to set yourself up for the exit and then begin to accel….DEER! Pow! Where’d he come from? Surely - we ride not only using our sight, but we tap into the other senses as well. We use four of the five of them – and then there is a little known 6th and finally 7th.
SMell… Our noses and sense of smell are far more sensitive than we believe and it is well known that certain aromas can trigger memories from years ago. Some smells can also instantly alert you to trouble. A strong whiff of diesel fuel hitting suddenly had to have come from somewhere – and it is most likely laying on the road – so pay attention to your schnoz.
hearing… We ride with our ears as well. You might hear that diesel-spilling truck coming up on you before you actually see it. The same can be said for the sirens of emergency vehicles or something as small as that hornet that has managed to get into your
helmet. The blaring horn, or worse, the screeching of hard braking tires, coming up quickly from behind should be harkened.
touch and Feel… The way we lightly touch the grips, not grasping at them. The way the balls of our feet ride and move on the pegs. The way we react to rain getting into our eyes, that hornet getting in our riding suit
taSte… Okay, not so much. Maybe the errant insect that lands in your mouth while your visor is up or the newly-mown grass that wafts into your helmet. Unless we are eating dirt on a trail or Backroads Rally ride or a succulent lobster along the coast of Maine – or crow, which rarely tastes good.
the real 6th SenSe…ProPriocePtion This little know sense refers to how your brain understands where your body is in space, it lets us perceive the location, movement, and action of parts of the body. It encompasses a complex of sensations, including the perception of joint and body position and movement, muscle force, and effort. It is really a combination of the other senses working as one. When we ride, we use this 6th sense to move our machines in small, almost imperceptible ways. We need to hit the apex of a turn at a certain spot, well the machine, almost magically heads in that direction. Can you tell exactly what caused this? Well some of it, sure – but not the tiny micro-movements and all this comes into play.
and Finally - SPidey-SenSe… Now bumped around like the planet Pluto to last place, this uncanny perceptiveness can be acquired over years of riding experience or some riders are just born with it. Some people’s brains simply work differently (RE:
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Driven by Douglas Brackman) and for them, it’s a survival instinct that operates in the deep part of the brain. At the end of the last ice age, it was this part of the brain, this hyper-sensitivity, that kept our ancestors from being a Smilodon salad. We use it as well every time we go for a ride. It is working when we are suddenly aware that the car that is signally right is going to make a left in front of us. When the pick-up truck that is not even aware of the red light is coming your way. Even that back of the head feeling that you should take off and lock your valuables when going into a store or restaurant. The thing with Spidey-Sense is that you have to train yourself to recognize it and be ready to act upon it. How many times have we all said… “I KNEW that was going to happen!” Don’t let it. You should have a plan – even if you don’t use it. With your morning coffee or mid-day downtime spend it visualizing your riding. That one turn that gives you the yips, the car moving into your lane, and your precise and safe reaction to this. Yes, it is only in your mind but behavior scientists have learned that athletes perform tasks far better if they rehearse them in their minds over and over. So, when and if the situation really happens, the brain and body are already, comfortable with the right action. Our brain is not the end-all of what operates our bodies – the nervous system expands to all our senses. Use them to your advantage when you ride and it will all make sense.
NOVEMBER 2020 • BACKROADS
