September 2021

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W H AT ’ S I N S I D E

MONTHLY COLUMNS

BACKROADS • SEPTEMBER 2021

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FREE WHEELIN’ ........................................ 4 WHATCHATHINKIN’ ................................... 5

Motorcycles, Travel & Adventure

Publishers Contributors

ON THE MARK .......................................... 6 BACKLASH ............................................... 8

Brian Rathjen • Shira Kamil Dan Bisbee, Mark Byers, Tony Lisanti, Dr. Seymour O’Life

Editorial Office BACKROADS, POB 620 Augusta, NJ 07822

INDUSTRY INFOBITES ............................. 10 BIG CITY GETAWAY ................................. 12 GREAT ALL AMERICAN DINER RUN ......... 14

27

MYSTERIOUS AMERICA .......................... 16

phone

973.948.4176

WE’RE OUTTA HERE ............................... 18

fax

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INSIDE SCOOP ....................................... 20

email

editor@backroadsusa.com

WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE .................... 39

online

www.backroadsusa.com

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UPCOMING EVENTS ............................... 40

FEATURES WHAT’S COMING UP ............................... 22 ROADS, RIDES, GOD AND WHISKY ......... 27 THE DAY THE DAM BROKE ..................... 33

PRODUCT REVIEWS EPM WILBERS SUSPENSION FOR H-D .... 24 RKA 10 LITER TANK BAG ........................ 36 CRUZTOOLS ROADTECH M3 .................. 37

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BACKROADS (ISSN 1087-2088) is published monthly by BACKROADS™, Inc. 2021. 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.

BACKROADS • SEPTEMBER

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BACKROADS • SEPTEMBER 2021

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FR E E W H E EL I N’ BRIAN RATHJEN

RECREATIONAL GAS? I admit, although Shira keeps a keen eye on the rise and fall (mostly rise) of fuel prices since the beginning of this year, I have a blind-eye. Give my high-test and let me get going.

This was especially important during our Spring Break when a hack on the fuel supply caused a rush on fuel.

Even I paid attention to this and my carrying silly extra fuel actually worked out. Yay for me, for I once had a semi-good idea.

According to the folks that run the internet…

“Non-ethanol gas can range anywhere from 10 to 15 extra cents per gallon compared to regular gasoline. This additional cost per gallon can add up quickly for drivers. If you use ethanol-free gas, you will need to consider whether the gas mileage you gain from using it outweighs the initial costs.”

Feh! Or, you can consider that you can drive ANYTHING with non-ethanol fuel. It is better for EVERY machine.

Popcorn is good for the movies. Oh, right, who can go to a flick these days?

I love our mid-west framers, but good for Sunoco!

Enough “Woke” how about ”wake” up.

Some drivers are always on the hunt for the most affordable fuel, while others are constantly looking for ethanol-free gas. If the latter describes you, you’ll appreciate having access to a map of gas stations that offer non-ethanol.

I have a friend, Geri, one of the most talented and experienced riders

I know, who has worked out routes simply based on non-popcorn fuel.

Let’s call it what it is. Popcorn.

If you’re not familiar with non-ethanol gas and are curious about whether it would benefit your car, boat or outdoor power equipment, here’s what you need to know about this type of fuel before you check out the map.

Why do some drivers prefer ethanol-free gas? So here is the deal…

Basically, ethanol is frequently added to gas because it can make the fuel burn cleaner and more efficiently. As a result, adding ethanol to gas can reduce a vehicle’s greenhouse gas emissions, which is a good thing.

But…ethanol can absorb moisture from the air, which means that after a while, you could end up with a bunch of water in your gas tank. That can lead to corrosion and engine damage in general, and that’s why some people try to avoid ethanol in their gas.

Especially high-performance machines or older rides.

After seeing the Recreational Fuel Sign at the Sunoco in the Adirondacks I began to search around to see what was new for Backroads Central to fuel up the BMW, Suzuki, Honda and Kawasakis…oh, and the Dodge, and especially the Audi.

The older the vehicle the more important non-ethanol fuel is.

But, what is Ethanol Fuel?

Over the last ten years, the emphasis on reducing fuel emissions has been an agenda for many governments. In a bid to reduce their collective carbon footprint, some people have started looking for a way to control their impact on the enviorment. It is due to such a situation that the use of Ethanol fuel has increased in many countries. However, those wanting to switch to a different type of fuel have many questions about Ethanol. Many of these are concerned with what this fuel really is and how big a dent it makes in our lives and pockets.

Continued on Page 7

BACKROADS • SEPTEMBER

W H AT C H AT HI NK I N ’ SHIRA KAMIL

WHAT’S IN YOUR CLOSET? It happens to all of us. You are looking for that one particular pair of gloves/helmet/riding suit/boots/ear plugs/you name it-can’t find it and it results in the complete cleaning of your closet/tankbag/luggage/storage boxes/wherever it is that you might keep this stuff. Do you actually end up finding what you were originally looking for or, like any dog that barks ‘SQUIRREL!’, do you reminisce over the pieces that you have found and what great times and trips you took with them.

We had folks over one night, and we were kicking some tires and telling tall tales. Brian was recounting the time I ‘took a spill’ in the mountains of Romania when I commented that I didn’t think I hit my head. His eyes got wide, he shook his head and disappeared for a couple of minutes. When he came back, he was holding the face shield from the helmet I was wearing when I did my tumble. Well, looky there, that was one scratched up piece of plastic. Why was it still hanging around?

For an occasion just like this.

We recently had the floors sanded in our home and, in order to get to the gear closet, the doors had to come off and everything had to come out. What a perfect time to cull those pieces that hang there ‘just because.’

Somehow, the bag that went to Good Will was not as full as I had hoped, but I surely had a good time trying on the jackets and

Page 5 pants to see that they still fit and ‘how in the world would I get rid of this…’ was muttered a bit.

At the same time, we realized that there was much dust and cat toys collecting where the boots reside. Brian came up with a brilliant solution and put in some skinny shelved running up the end of the closet, just deep enough to hold those boots. Not only can Spenser T. Cat now find his favorite mouse toy when it slides into the closet, I did get rid of a few pair of boots that had suffered some damage at one time or another or had just become non-waterproof over their life span.

In a similar situation, when we totally got rid of some closet doors and turned the room into Brian’s Music Den, we had to figure out what to do with all the riding gear that was in that space. ‘So, when are you going to wear your old leather jacket that might be just a tad snug or your full-leathers that might require a bit of grease to get on?’ ‘Shira’, I say to myself, ‘the days of a size 8 are long behind you and that leather jacket marked ‘Large’ is a total mislabeling.’ Between the two of us, most of the gear was relocated to the garage, where a nice clothing rack now holds most of the stuff that will never be worn again, but just can be discarded.

Many years ago, Jessica Prokup, a prominent woman in the motorcycle industry for quite some time, opened a gear exchange/consignment shop in Long Beach, California. I was thrilled for, even though it cost a bit in shipping, I knew that the clothing I had either grown tired of or outgrew would go to a rider who would find it useful and wear it until its demise.

Continued on Page 7

BACKROADS • SEPTEMBER 2021

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O N T H E MAR K MARK BYERS

PHILLY When June came, I missed Philly. Not Independence Hall or the Liberty Bell, although they are magnificent. I don’t miss the city any more than I miss any city, which is not at all: I’m a country boy. I don’t miss cheesesteaks because I have a deli that makes the best in the world. No, the “Philly” I miss is a bicycle race the likes of which will never be seen again.

From 1985 to 2005, it was the Corestates US Pro Championship and the list of winners was a who’s who of US Cycling. The inaugural race was won by Eric Heiden of the 7-11 Team, the squad that would introduce US professional cyclists to the world. I marshaled or officiated at the race many times after I became a moto official in 2000 and gained an insider’s appreciation for the race. Just to break in as a marshal, I had to prove myself. Philly was also the first professional bike race I ever worked as a

moto ref and the contrast of what I’d been doing to what I was expected to do there was stark: it was going from being an umpire of high school games to working the MLB playoffs. It was “The Show.”

And what a show it was: 156 miles of racing over a 12.3 mile course that started on the Ben Franklin Parkway between the fountain at Logan Circle and the “Rocky Steps” of the art museum. It traveled out Kelly Drive, past the boathouses on the Schuylkill River. Downtown was cool, circling the fountain at peg-dragging speeds, but the real show was in Manayunk.

Coming off Main Street in Manayunk, I made a right, then another onto a short cobblestone section under a train track, and then a hard, narrow left back onto Levering Avenue. And then, the “Manayunk Wall,” a steep climb of up to 17% grade in places that slowed the cyclists to a crawl and burned my clutch. The noise and smell of tens of thousands of spectators hit me like an auditory and olfactory barrier. People on The Wall had been there for hours, drinking, grilling, dancing, peeing…whatever. Beer literally ran down the gutters and that was the dominant odor, thank heaven.

It was narrow and I’d either be picking my way past cyclists that were shelled off the back or be hemmed in by team cars, so it was nothing to have my mirrors rapping the knuckles of spectators leaning over the barriers. One group would erect a drilled PVC pipe as a shower and on hot days, many would dive under “Murphy’s Watering Hole” for a brief respite. One group held up a sign that said, “You honk, we drink” and I obliged them on each lap, possibly becoming the only sports official in Philly to ever be cheered. I’ve done a lot of pro races now, including the World Championships, and I still consider Philly’s Manayunk Wall the single greatest spectacle in bicycle racing.

Philly was a beautiful, psycho girlfriend of races one you loved and hated and couldn’t leave. Comms were always sketchy, as the promoter would get radios from the cheapest source. Many years we worked the race with Nextel flip-phones that doubled as walkie-talkies: the problem was that if the phone flipped closed on your handlebar mount, you’d lose the connection and have to reprogram it. On the “Fall from the Wall” as we dropped back to the river, we’d be doing sixty or seventy miles an hour down those rough streets, riding one-handed, using gloved hands to reprogram phones that had flipped closed. One time, a Philly cop made a big deal about the Fall from the Wall and the speeds we reached and laid down an ultimatum that anyone squealing tires would be removed from the race. That year, the Chief Official’s driver spun out their car in a turn coming off the wall…right in front of the cop who gave the lecture. He got pulled out of the race for a lap as penance.

I wish I had the space to relate a few more stories, but mostly I wish that crazy, beautiful race still Continued on next page

BACKROADS • SEPTEMBER FREE WHEELIN’

Page 7 Continued from Page 4

Ethanol, which is sometimes known as ethyl alcohol, is a kind of alcohol derived from corn, sugarcane, and grain or indirectly from paper waste.

It’s also the main type of alcohol in most alcoholic beverages obtained as a result of fermentation of a mash of grains (gin, vodka, and whiskey) or sugarcane (rums). It’s also a source of fuel commonly blended with gasoline to oxygenate the fuel at the gas pump. Ethanol fuel can also be used on its own to power vehicles.

But, not ours – thank you.

WHATCHATHINKIN’

Continued from Page 5

Yellow Devil Gear Exchange did a strong business for a while but has gone the way of many things in the motorcycle industry. I always thought it was a terrific idea, as many riders have gear that is perfectly good or gently worn which they no longer are using and would make a great addition to a new rider’s wardrobe.

Lastly, and I do believe that I have addressed this before, I am a gloveaholic. When we visited the Glove Museum in Dorloo, NY, I was in my glory. Whenever I am in a shop with any sort of selection of gloves, I am obsessed with finding just the right fit of any season glove. Having a small hand and short fingers (thus the difficulty playing piano), it is quite

I think it is high time that we offer options for everybody.

If you have a car that can easily use ethanol fuel then you should go that way, but what is the issue with offering recreational fuel for riders of older machines and drivers of classic cars.

We have some who push for popcorn fuel tell us we should be far more open-minded and inclusive. But, in my life, I have seen the more people call for inclusion, the worse things get. Has this gotten all the way to the fuel pumps? I think it may have.

Save the popcorn for the movies… if they ever come back. , a chore to do this. I often keep at least three pair of various weight gloves with me on the bike, and I have a container full of all the rest. When my Held Air n Dry gloves started to fray and split, I was in a panic, as they are very hard to find in my size and have served me tremendously for many years. I did find a half replacement at Morton’s BMW in a pair of BMW Airflow – great for summer but not quite right for the rain/cold portion. I am a very utilitarian gear user, thus my love of the Aerostich (no need to stop when it rains), and the same reason I liked the Held gloves so much.

The next time you are in search of ‘whatever’, spend a moment to take stock of exactly what is in your closet. It could be a blessing or a curse. ,

existed. After many name changes (several banks, a casino, and even the city were sponsors), after course changes designed to economize, and after losing its status as the US Pro Championship, the Grande Dame of US Cycling made her exit in 2016, probably never to be seen again. June came, and I missed her. ,

BACKROADS • SEPTEMBER 2021

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BACKLASH Riding for Coffee Hey, my wife Malia just told me that she contacted you regarding her cafe, the Asbury Coffee Mill. What she may not have mentioned is that we are located in the epicenter of some of the best riding roads in Warren and Bucks Counties. As a life-long motorcyclist I know the value of not having to ride to the great roads, but to live among them. From the moment I leave the Asbury Coffee Mill I’m either in the Skylands, the Muscognetcong Mountains & Valley or a number of other great scenic roads and locations. And this isn’t limited to the county roads. Our township roads are well paved, clearly marked, and twist and meander for all day riding.

The Asbury Coffee Mill (asburycoffeemill.com) is a great place to ride to, or ride from.

Gary From the Web I just wanted to let you know how much we bikers appreciate your Backroads Magazine. Thanks for writing and publishing it for our pleasure and for keeping us in the know.

Dennis Lid More on Minerals B, S So why didn’t you ask Mark at the Maine Mineral & Gem Museum about the Jones Diamond?

Great seeing Judy & Dan K. looking so good.

Clem More on Maps Hi guys, I carry and use both as well. I tell people that the GPS tells me where to

Letters to the Editor go, but the map tells me where I am. Is that not the truth?

Be well.

Greg Bagen Taking Point When Laura and I ride together we don’t even discuss who’s leading until we pull out of our garage. Many times we will switch leads throughout a ride depending on how we are feeling. Neither of us need worry about pacing with each other. Now leading with anyone else but her? Yes. Slightly stressful and you hit on every point as to why.

Helene Dear Mr. Farkel (aka Brian) and the lovely Shira, Kudos to you on the acquisition of your Z900RS. I have the same issue…

I love the older bikes and for me it is not about going fast, although getting a 175cc 70-year-old MV Agusta up to 70mph is exciting.

Hey, we can segue into the 50cc realm when we participated in the Suches True Grit Fun Run. Diane passed me on her Honda 50cc Benely. I was trying my best to keep up with her on my Moto Morini Corsarino (Little Pirate): She got a 3rd place trophy award! There must have been 75-80 bikes all lined up along the shoulder of the road, with local Police supervision. When those 2-strokes started there was not a live mosquito in the county! Lots of 2-stroke smoke!

Yep, we drove down from Chicago in our van and stayed at a nearby

BACKROADS • SEPTEMBER B&B yurt. Great memories as reminded by page 15 in the Aug. issue!

Shira – leading from the front, which I have been doing since the early 1980s, constantly keeping both eyes watching in my mirrors and checking for the followers, while simultaneously reading my tank bag mounted map always alert for side traffic and the next turn keeps me ever vigilant. Even though we shut down Lotus Tours in 2007, we still do global tours with our friends, like pre-Covid riding from Salta, Argentina in the northwest along the Andes Mountians 1,200 miles south to Bariloche. The scenery, roads, cuisine and camarade were great fun. Most of these friends are joining Diane & me in Sept for a trip to Corscia & Sardenia. We do not necessarily travel as a group, as I do a breakfast breifing with everyone, then they tend to depart in clusters of 2-5 bikes. These days we all have mobile phones that allow relatively easy communications. Periodically, I do get us lost, but as soon as I realize that, I slow down pull over toward the shoulder and make big circles with my left arm indicating that we are turning around.

That gesture has been included in the initial safety briefing before we even get rolling.

I really enjoy reading Backroads at breakfast. Keep up the good work my friends!

Burt Richmond

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BACKROADS • SEPTEMBER 2021

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INDUSTRY INFOBITES J.D. POWER REPORTS POWERSPORTS HITS HISTORICAL HIGH In the Q2 2021 Powersports Market Insights, analysts from J.D. Power Specialty Valuation Services (formerly NADAguides) forecast the market will continue to favor sellers as long as parts shortages limit production and consumers have money to spend. This dynamic is anticipated to last through the peak season and, at least, into the fourth quarter of 2021.

“New bikes and side-by-sides remain hard to find, and buyers are paying historically high levels for vehicles that come on the market,” said Lenny Sims, vice president of business development and strategy at J.D. Power Specialty Valuation Services. “Motorcycle pricing in the first half of 2021 is significantly outpacing the same time period last year. The most recent 10 model years of sportbike values are averaging 13.6% higher and cruisers are averaging 11.4% higher. Side-by-sides continue widening the gap from a year ago, with utility models bringing 24.5% more revenue year over year, and sport models bringing in 17.9% more.”

RIGHT TO REPAIR MAKES HEADWAY Consumers may soon have more choice over where to take products, from vehicles to smartphones, to be repaired following a new Biden Administration executive order intended to promote right-to-repair protections.

In a broad-ranging executive order aimed at increasing competition in the marketplace, President Biden has asked the Federal Trade Commission to draft regulations that would prevent manufacturers from stipulating that these and other devices can be repaired only by authorized personnel.

Tucked into the executive order that covered 72 initiatives to promote competition in the U.S. economy, Biden specifically asked the FTC to crack down on “unfair anticompetitive restrictions on third-party repair or self-repair of items.”

The new directive to the FTC comes a couple of months after the commission delivered a 54-page report to Congress that concluded “there is scant evidence to support manufacturers’ justifications for repair restrictions.”

News from the Inside The order is a significant win for the right to repair advocates who have long championed a consumer’s choice to have their technology fixed either by third parties or on their own, rather than solely by the manufacturer.

Right to repair argues that anyone should have access to the OEM parts, manuals, and software needed to perform those repairs.

BMW MOTORRAD AND MARSHALL ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP BMW Motorrad says it has long been engaged in development work on its motorcycle sound systems. With its now agreed long-term partnership with world-renowned British company – Marshall Amplification – the innovation and quality of BMW Motorrad sound systems are set to reach new levels. (“These go to 11” – Spinal Tap) For 60 years, Marshall, originally from Hanwell, London, now based in Bletchley, Milton Keynes (UK), has produced legendary guitar amplifiers used by the world’s best musicians. Since 2012 they have expanded their audio quality into awardwinning headphones and active speakers designed for music lovers.

The legendary Marshall spirit and the development power of BMW Motorrad will in the future be reflected in new innovative products for motorcycles and music, especially in the BMW Motorrad Heritage segment, according to the company.

CARDO AND HARMAN CONTINUED THEIR TEAM UP Cardo Systems has announced it has extended their cooperation with HARMAN to continue setting the benchmark for premium audio quality

BACKROADS • SEPTEMBER for motorcycle communications systems. The broader collaboration between Cardo Systems and HARMAN will include new integrated JBL produced and branded speakers to users of Cardo’s units world-wide.

Through extensive market research, the team at Cardo Systems learned that aside from performance and ease of use; sound quality is one of the most important features to a customer. Constantly pushing to innovate and develop, Cardo Systems introduced premium integrated audio solution through its PACKTALK and Freecom products that are powered by JBL. The Sound by JBL agreement comes on top of Cardo’s leading Dynamic Mesh Communication intercom technology in its PACKTALK units, and natural voice operation available in its Packtalk and Freecom 4+ units. The collaboration between both brands will continue to benefit users who are wanting to experience premium sound quality for their ride with JBL speakers featured in future Cardo Systems products.

MIC “RIDE WITH US’ INITIATIVE MOVES FORWARD “Ride With Us” -- the powersports industry’s multifaceted market expansion program -- has been officially launched by the Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC).

“In late 2019 at MIC’s Communication Symposium, we shared the MIC’s vision for growing ridership – more riders, riding more,” said Paul Vitrano, chairman of the MIC Board of Directors and senior vice president/senior assistant general counsel of Polaris, in the announcement. “We were excited to begin operationalizing the plan in early 2020, but the pandemic caused us to pause and refocus our efforts on helping powersports businesses remain open.”

“While we were navigating the coronavirus, we also were working hard

Page 11 to prepare for the post-pandemic environment,” said Erik Pritchard, president and CEO of the MIC. “Our preparation included a number of initiatives tied to each phase of the new rider journey -- Inspire, Explore, Engage, and Integrate -- as well supporting new-rider education initiatives.”

The MIC is leading a task force composed of industry-leading marketing talent to help develop the program. As a part of the ‘Ride With Us’ program, the MIC is also delivering new 45-minute first-ride experiences for people who have never ridden a motorcycle before.

TRIUMPH ENTERS THE MOTORCROSS AND ENDURO WORLDS Triumph Motorcycles is excited to announce that development is well underway on a comprehensive range of all-new competition Motocross and Enduro motorcycles. Joining their class-leading and globally renowned motorcycle range, this all-new competition MX and Enduro (Dual Sport) family will bring all of Triumph’s engineering expertise to riders and racers worldwide.

This will be accompanied by a landmark moment for Triumph and the MX and Enduro racing world with an all-new Triumph factory race program and a commitment to top-tier championship racing in both Motocross and Enduro series.

Coming hand-in-hand with this commitment to race and win at the highest level in the sport, Triumph is proud to announce that global Motocross legend Ricky Carmichael and five-times Enduro World Champion Iván Cervantes have joined the Triumph family as active partners in both bike testing and preparation for racing. ,

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BACKROADS • SEPTEMBER 2021

Frontline Eurosports presents

BIG CITY GETAWAY

daytrip ideas to get out of the daily grind

GOD DAM A CLOSE UP LOOK AT SOME OF OUR LOCAL DAMS When I was a young kid riding up from Queens into the northwest part of New Jersey, a place I now call home, I came across a dam. The Wanaque Reservoir is a man-made lake located within Wanaque and Ringwood, New Jersey, along the Wanaque River. The reservoir came into being in 1928 by the construction of the Raymond Dam along the river in Wanaque.

It’s been there for decades, but it was the first time I saw it.

My discovery.

Dams have changed our life. Dams have saved lives. Dams have failed and crushed lives. There are over 84,000 dams in our nation. All holding back … maybe a slight problem.

Let’s look at some in the northeast that we can learn a bit about and actually ride to.

FRANCIS E. WALTER DAM • THE LEHIGH RIVER, PA

Prior to the construction of the dam, the Lehigh River was subject to regular massive flooding as a result of large ice dams breaking apart after heavy rain, abruptly releasing all the water built up behind them. The

resulting wave would be as high as 30 feet, destroying anything caught in its path. The most famous flood occurring as a result of this phenomenon was in 1861 when ice and timber caught in the wave destroyed dams and locks on the river, flooding settlements several hundred feet from the river’s normal bounds.

Today it is just a stunning water crossing – well unless the weather decides against that.

NEW CROTON DAM • CORTLANDT, NY

The construction began in 1892 and was completed in 1906. Designed by Alphonse Fteley, this masonry is 266 feet broad at its base and 297 feet high from

base to crest. At the time of its completion, it was the tallest dam in the world. It impounds up to 19 billion US gallons of water, a small fraction of the New York City water system’s total storage capacity of 580 billion US gallons.

And it’s right in our backyard.

DAM FACT:

Parker Dam is a concrete arch-gravity dam that crosses the Colorado River 155 miles downstream of

Hoover Dam. Built between 1934 and 1938 by the Bureau of Reclamation, it is 320 feet high, 235 feet of which are below the riverbed, making it the deepest dam in the world – and, in our opinion, one of the most interesting style-wise.

BACKROADS • SEPTEMBER

IT ALL WENT DAM WRONG…AUSTIN DAM • AUSTIN, PA

On September 30, 1911, bad things happened just above Austin, Pennsylvania. Though everyone seemed to know this was going to happen, no one did anything.

They thought using dynamite would alleviate some of the pressure.

Dynamite. 78 humans died. 78! Today the wreckage is truly amazing.

DAM FACT: WORLD’S OLDEST DAM LAKE HOMS DAM

The Quatinah Barrage or Lake Homs Dam, located in Syria, is the oldest operational dam in the world.

Page 13 The dam was constructed during the reign of the Egyptian Pharaoh Sethi between 1319-1304 BC, and was expanded during the Roman period and between 1934 and 1938.

PRETTYBOY DAM • MARYLAND

It is simply impossible for Backroads not to print this…

Newman: June 14, 1987... Mets Phillies. We’re enjoying a beautiful afternoon in the right-field stands when a crucial Hernandez error led to a five-run Phillies ninth, costing the Mets the game.

Kramer: Our day was ruined. There was a lot of people, you know, they were waiting by the player’s parking lot. Now we’re coming down the ramp. Newman was in front of me. Keith was coming toward us, as he passes Newman turns and says, “ Nice game, pretty boy.”

Keith continued past us up the ramp.

The rest is Seinfield history.

But in truth, the region is named after a local tale.

The legend holds that the colt’s owner, a local farmer, returned to the creek many times and cried out the name of his beloved horse. The creek took its name from the Continued on Page 38

BACKROADS • SEPTEMBER 2021

Page 14

Thisilldous Eatery presents

GREAT ALL AMERICAN DINER RUN THE FILLING STATION

243 ROUTE 9N, PALISADES, NY • 845-359-9000 45 SOUTH ROUTE 9W, WEST HAVERSTRAW, NY 10993 • 845-786-9000 www.tfsburgerworks.com • CHECK LOCATIONS FOR HOURS A juicy burger, some awesome French fries and a frosty drink. What could be better after a great day’s ride? If you think the same thing, have we got a place for you to point your bike. Actually, two places, as The Filling Station has a couple of spots for you to park and enjoy just that, or a number of other tasty beef and non-beef sandwiches.

Agata Ostrowska and her husband, Stavros, opened the original location in Palisades in 2011, expanding to West Haverstraw in 2014.

Both locations reside in what used to be filling stations (thus the name), with the Palisades location in one of the oldest gas stations in the US. This 140-foot shack is in a beautiful spot, with outdoor picnic tables shaded with trees. You’ll find parking and most likely a number of other

tasty places to take your bike

motorcycles, as this has become somewhat of a ‘destination gathering’ for riders in the NY/NJ area.

The first Sunday of the month, Bikes and Breakfast meet at the Market, right next to the Filling Station. Dale Prusinowski, an avid motorcyclist with a passion for the classic, vintage and antique, started this gathering in 2013 and now, 8 years later, has expanded it to several locations in NY, VA, MD and PA. You can find more about the Palisades, NY gathering, as well as the other locations, at BikesandBreakfast.com But back to TFS, as they are lovingly called. We chose the West Haverstraw location, which is in, possibly, an old Mobil station that went through a few food iterations. When the Ostrowskas took it over, they brought it back to the bones of a gas station but with a very funky, cool vibe featuring two garage doors and a recycled tin ceiling with reclaimed wood and corrugated metal from a barn. There are a few outdoor tables, but sitting at one of the 60 indoor seats can bring you back to 1950s Americana.

The menu is creative and inviting, bringing you simple foods but done really, really well. The hot dogs are a custom blend with 100% Black Angus beef, which you can have simply on a bun or loaded up – the Junkyard Dog – with tomato, onion, pickles, hot peppers & yellow mustard. Their sauerkraut is homemade, as is their pickle relish. If you are more of a fowl person, they offer spicy fried or grilled on a bun with any number

BACKROADS • SEPTEMBER

of their toppings, as well as Chicken Thumbs with dipping sauce choices. For the grazers, there are salads, including a Hail Caesar, which can be topped with a 3-ounce burger or grilled chicken to make it more of a meal. Their Not Cha Mothers Grilled Cheese has American, Swiss, Cheddar & Pepper Jack on whole wheat potato bread and you can get that with a smashed 3-ounce burger in the middle.

But, honestly, with a place with Burger Works in its name, a burger is what you should order. Stavros, who is the ‘Meat Guy’ of the pair, spent six months before opening their shop in Palisades perfecting his daily ground blend of 100% Black Angus beef, hanger steak, short ribs and brisket. While a lean blend, there is still enough fat content to bring what fat brings – a scrumptious taste and a bit of crunch to the sides of the burger. Their special flat grill allows for the burgers to cook perfectly in their own juices, with no ‘squishing’ of the burger allowed.

Page 15 There is the basic Fill ‘Em Up burger which can be customized with any of their toppings which include lettuce, tomato, raw onion, dill pickles (all included), fried Vidalia or sauteed onions, bacon, mushrooms, relish, sauerkraut, hot peppers and a number of cheeses. From there you can get the TFS with bacon, grilled onions and mushrooms, or the Texaco with pepper jack cheese, hot peppers and BBQ sauce.

Moving up the scale is the Overhaul with smoked bacon, Vernier’s bleu cheese sauce L&T or the American Kobe featuring organic, beer-fed Wagyu beef built your way. Want the toppings without the beef ?

They got you covered with either a turkey or veggie burger.

To fill your carb count, their fries are all hand cut, fried crisp and lightly salted. BE WARNED, the portion is HUGE but so delicious you probably will eat them all. You can get them wither white or sweet potato and there are a number of dipping sauces to add to the deliciousness including truffle aioli.

To wash this all down, they have a number of soft drinks, both your garden variety and some specials like Saranac root beer or Coke with pure cane sugar in a glass bottle, craft beers and wine. To finish off your meal, should you have saved some room, there is artisanal ice cream from Kingston, NY (Jane’s, I think) either alone or in a milk shake.

The 9W Market, next door at the Palisades location and opened daily from 7am-8pm, houses the bakery and eatery. The Eatery serves lunch and dinner while the Bakery has an assortment of breakfast items as well as cakes, pies and such to enjoy with a freshly brewed cup of Joe - all equally delicious.

While the West Haverstraw location was fine indeed, the Palisades is a bit more inviting for a motorcycle ride. Whichever you choose, we know you’ll enjoy one of the best burgers around. ~ Shira Kamil ,

BACKROADS • SEPTEMBER 2021

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Morton’s BMW Motorcycles presents Dr. Seymour O’Life’s

MYSTERIOUS AMERICA

THE WIDOW JANE MINE

CENTURY HOUSE HISTORICAL DISTRICT 668 NY-213, ROSENDALE, NY • 41.8416, -74.0988 845-658-9900 • www.centuryhouse.org What do an incredible sculpture in France, the condition called The Bends, and a link between the Hudson River and the Great Lakes have in common?

On paper they all seem completely different in every way. Indeed – every way but one.

This is the story of the Widow Jane Mine.

In 1825 while construction was going on to build the Delaware and Hudson Canal, natural cement limestone was discovered in Rosendale, New York. This discovery put Rosendale on the map and soon Rosendale Cement was one of the most transported products to travel on the very canal it helped create.

According to local resident and former Army historian Gilberto Villahermosa, whose book “Rosendale” is a must-read if you wish to dive deeper into the history of this neat little Hudson Valley town, ‘by the mid1800s, Rosendale was honeycombed with cement mines. The Widow Jane

Mine – now open to the public – once plunged 2.5 miles into the rock.’ The growth of the industry was explosive. A solitary cement plant producing 500 barrels a day

in 1836 became 16 cement works producing 600,000 barrels a day in the 1840s, according to the book.

But the industry built around Rosendale Cement began to decline at the turn of the 20th century, as natural cement was replaced by Portland Cement.

Natural cement, of which Rosendale Natural Cement is the most famous example, is simple to create, requiring only one base material. However, the proper limestone is hard to come by, and the finished product is slow to dry, taking days or sometimes weeks.

Portland Cement is made from several base materials extractable from all over the U.S. and is much quicker to dry, though to this day remains weaker and quicker to weather than natural cement.

The Rosendale Cement industry became a busy place once again during WWII as the resilient material was used in Allied military bases. The

BACKROADS • SEPTEMBER

cement was so good at building defenses, Europeans called it “ballistic cement.”

After the war was over, the era of Rosendale Cement came to a close.

Herman Knaust first bought one of the abandoned mines to grow mushrooms, then snatched up other mines on the cheap as his business profited, according to Villahermosa. The operation eventually became the largest in the U.S. “If you ate Campbell’s Mushroom Soup between 1930 and 1960, you’ve eaten a Rosendale mushroom.”

However, as the arms race between Russia and the U.S. accelerated in the 1950s, Knaust found a function even better suited to the caves: bomb shelters. Who doesn’t want a bomb shelter of their own, right?

Some of NYC’s elite bought caves so they could ride out a nuclear disaster underground, and businesses followed. In 1966, IBM started constructing an ultra-secure storehouse in a 32-acre area of the caves near Binnewater Road – a space the size of about 25 football fields.

Iron Mountain, the international ultra-secure storage company, now owns much of the caves, though some of the facilities from the atomic age remain. Villahermosa says the company’s caves contained a five-story building, a parking garage, and a 65-room hotel.

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Today, Widow Jane Mine is open to the public, and a popular small-batch whiskey is produced from the waters of Rosendale’s Turkle Mine.

So, back to my original question…well it’s simple: Natural Cement was used in the original construction of some of the most enduring landmarks of the nation: The Brooklyn Bridge, the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty, the wings of the U.S. Capitol, the lower 152’ of the Washington Monument, the Croton Aqueduct and dams, the Pennsylvania Railroad tunnels, the New York State Thruway, and thousands of other public works projects.

Today, on the grounds of the Century House on the Snyder Estate you will find an excellent museum dedicated to the town’s natural cement history, and just a short walk through the woods you will discover the Widow Jane Mine itself.

It’s amazing!

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BACKROADS • SEPTEMBER 2021

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WE’RE OUTTA HERE

a weekend destinationkeeping you on the backroads

SNOWED INN

104 MILLER BROOK RD, KILLINGTON, VT 05751 802-422-3407 • snowedinn.com We love to get recommendations for our monthly columns. It makes our job a bit easier to have a reader/rider point us in the right direction. And when a suggestion comes from people we’ve known and traveled with for so many years, it’s that much more trustworthy.

Such was the case with this month’s We’re Outta Here. Long-time riding companions Danny Herbst and Paul Moulins had just spent a few days in Vermont, riding the fabulous roads it has to offer, and upon their return, Danny sent us an email which highly recommended we take a spin to Killington in the near future to check out the Snowed Inn. As we had a few days free and the weather was supposed to be just about perfect, we made our plans.

If you read ‘Shira’s Sojourn’ in the August 2021 issue, you’ll know that I took point on this trip and, in my inimitable fashion, found some dirt to keep us on our toes, literally. Once over the mountain, or more precisely around it, we rode into Killington, past the various restaurants and made the turn onto Miller Brook Rd. As we pulled up to the beautiful and welcoming Snowed Inn, Brian and I looked at each other and I said, ‘We’ve been here before.’

Indeed, many years prior, with different owners, we had spent an evening at the Snowed Inn. The wood and stone façade was the same, cleaned and polished, but Carolyn Kepcher and Ken Peters had given the old girl a good shaking out, sprucing up and added some upgrades. Jeanne and Manfred Karlhuber had run the inn for 37 years, having bought it in 1984 as a small, non-descript 4-room guest house of 1960s vintage. In February 2021 they handed the keys to Carolyn and Ken, now with 16 rooms in the main lodge as well as a chalet with a 1-bedroom master suite, a 2-bedroom suite and a studio suite.

With bikes parked and unpacked, we followed the smell of freshly-baked cookies, a lovely way that Carolyn greets her guests. We settled in with a

BACKROADS • SEPTEMBER

bottle of wine and some Vermont cheese while chatting with Carolyn, a warm and bubbly woman who has been in the hospitality business for some 25 years. She was very excited about their new venture and, while it had taken a bit to change and update the things they wanted, they are well on their way and look forward to a strong summer, a busy fall and even better winter ski season. Ken popped in and we spoke about his past motorcycle riding and that he hoped to get back into it once the time allows, as innkeeping is certainly a full-time job.

With other guests appearing, we took our leave and dipped into the outdoor hot tub. After a long day’s ride, there is certainly nothing better than soaking away the miles. We had all good intentions of taking a stroll for dinner at one of the many places within walking distance, but after some wine, talk and soaking, we decided to make it an early evening. We watched a bit of the Stanley Cup game and headed to our comfortable room and even more comfortable bed.

The Snowed Inn has great communal areas; the double-sided fireplace facing the living room and breakfast area, and plenty of seating for chatting after a day’s ride and the large deck and gazebo (my favorite spot), colorfully decorated with a variety of flowers and seasonal plants.

Morning came with the wafting smell of coffee and homemade baked breads and cakes. We grabbed a cup of Joe and headed out to enjoy the fresh air on the deck before breakfast. There are several tables and a sunny windowed area, also adorned with plants. You can indulge in a very filling breakfast of aforementioned home-baked goods, fresh yogurt with fruit and granola, Belgian waffles with toppings, hard boiled eggs, and cereals hot or cold.

The beverage machine, available around the clock,

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serves coffee, tea and hot chocolate. They also have a centrally located refrigerator, microwave and ice machine, which comes in quite handy to fill your CamelBak before heading out for the day. Carolyn and Ken are extremely accommodating should you want to order in for dinner and need utensils, plates or whatnot.

The Snowed Inn makes for a wonderful destination should you be traveling with one companion or a small group. Using Killington, Vermont, as a base for your travels puts you within range of the Green Mountains, the Adirondacks or the White Mountains and is a year-round respite for any traveling rider. ~ Shira Kamil ,

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BACKROADS • SEPTEMBER 2021

903 SCOOPS

1398 SR 903, JIM THORPE, PA 570-527-3459 • www.903scoops.com or Facebook How great is it that I can find a place called Scoops for my Inside Scoop column? Quite.

We had a day ride to Jim Thorpe to visit the Bear Mountain Butterfly Sanctuary (watch for upcoming write-up). We did not know what to expect and when we found out that it has been in existence for 20 years, we were appalled that we had not visited sooner. I will say that it is a thrill for all ages to have butterflies surrounding you and we learned a great deal about butterflies and moths, in addition to the varied and exotic amphibians they have on exhibit. While they have a short season (this year they will close on August 29th) be sure to put them on your ride schedule for 2022, because not only will you have a great ride there, you will be rewarded with some delicious ice cream afterwards.

While we were pulling out of the road to get back on Route 903, Brian made a quick U-turn as he spied something that slipped my eye – Scoops Ice Cream. Set back a bit, the bright blue building with its neon red OPEN sign beckons you to come in and sit a spell while enjoying some Hershey’s deluxe ice cream.

We pulled in front to get a couple of pictures and, since there was no one in the lot, left the bikes to go inside. Yes, we saw the NO PARKING HERE sign, but figured we’d be out in no time and move the bikes. Well, we got to talking and it did take a bit to figure out exactly what flavors were desired, as they have a wide assortment of almost all of the Hershey flavors. We were just heading out when a truck pulled in the lot and said some words about the bikes being parked in the NO PARKING area. Yes sir, we were in the wrong and should have moved the bikes. I only bring this up so you won’t make the same mistake and PLEASE park in the designated spots.

End of PSA. Back to the ice cream at hand – the two women inside were as sweet as the ice cream they were scooping, and offered tastings of anything that might pique our taste buds. Brian is pretty predictable with his ice cream choices and went for the Coffee House Cookies & Cream with a side of Crazy Vanilla. I will go for something that I don’t get every day so had a cup of Graham Central Station and Peanut Butter Cookies & Cream. All were great, as Hershey’s has their ice cream down to a science, even though it is mass produced. But, ya know, almost any ice cream beats no ice cream, so there’s that.

Scoops will serve you your ice cream in a cup, cone

BACKROADS • SEPTEMBER

(waffle or sugar), sundae, milkshake and with or without your choice of many toppings. Their prices are very reasonable and serving size just right. They are a seasonal shop, but are open until the end of September 7 days a week from 12 to 10pm.

Taking a ride to Jim Thorpe proper is a great idea as well. There are many unique shops, historical sites such as the Asa Packer Mansion and Old Jail Museum, wineries, and plenty of dining spots.

Perhaps an overnight is in order – if so, there are a number of bed & breakfasts, inns and other lodging types to fit your needs.

To start you off, we’ll give you an 85-mile ride from Washington Crossing State Park to Scoops. You decide if you’d like to make it an overnight – it’s certainly a great ride anytime, but in the beginning of fall, it’s spectacular. , Download route here: www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/6tjj8z

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BACKROADS • SEPTEMBER 2021

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WHAT’S COMING UP

RIDE FOR KIDS / HUDSON VALLEY • MONTGOMERY, NY • SEPTEMBER 12

Hudson Valley Motorcyclists Ride to Cure the Deadliest Childhood Cancer Today, 13 children will be diagnosed with a brain tumor, the deadliest childhood cancer. On Sunday, September 12th, 2021 the Hudson Valley motorcycle community will ride to change that.

Hosted by the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, the Hudson Valley Ride for Kids funds critical research to cure the more than 100 types of childhood brain tumors, as well as family support programs such as emergency financial assistance, a resource notebook for the newly diagnosed, and college and vocational scholarships for survivors.

Ride for Kids participants will enjoy a scenic, police-escorted motorcycle ride from Montgomery NY through the backroads of Orange County, NY. Local pediatric brain tumor survivors will accompany motorcyclists on their ride.

Any make or model of street legal motorcycle is welcome, and the whole family - including non-riders – will enjoy the entire day’s activities.

Registration costs $40 per person online ($45 day-of) and includes a Ride for Kids T-shirt, ride pin and food at the event.

The funds and awareness raised by Ride for Kids have helped the PBTF: Fuel cutting-edge clinical trials, research collaboratives and new treatment approaches, provide emergency financial assistance to families

whose child is in treatment, award more than 1,700 college and vocational scholarships to brain tumor survivors, equip newly diagnosed families with the Starfolio resource notebook and make cancer care less scary through the award-winning Imaginary Friend Society film series Online registration at team.curethekids.org/event/2021-hudson-valleyride-for-kids/e318165 is recommended. Walk-up registration will start on September 12th at 8:00 am with kickstands up at 10:00 am (rain or shine).

Ride for Kids is the longest-running, most successful motorcycle charity event in the nation. American Honda is the national presenting sponsor of Ride for Kids, an American Motorcyclist Association-sanctioned event.

Local event support has been provided by the Town of Montgomery, PEPSI of Hudson Valley, Dunkin Donuts, News12, and many others.

To learn more contact Hudson Valley’s media coordinator Saul Negron at (845) 271-8995 and saul.negron@gmail.com. ,

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WHAT’S COMING UP

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2ND ANNUAL FALL FOLIAGE TOUR OF THE MOUNTAINS • SEPT. 24-26 • CANTON, PA

2020 Inaugural Lions Club Fall Foliage Tour of the Mountains The ride started and ended in downtown Canton in the municipal parking lot. We started sign up @ 8:00 and the first ride started @ 10:00 (it was an absolute perfect weather day, by the way! 72 degrees, not a cloud in the sky!) We ended up with 57 riders signed up (we had actually predicted 40 – 50 riders based on our last-minute advertising for the event so we were very happy with the turn out) The event was broken into 2 rides – The riders were all given a map and a “cue sheet” showing the route, along with the route markers at all the turns. The morning ride left downtown Canton and went up over lake hill, up onto Wheelerville Mt. via Williams Hollow Rd, across the mountain and then back roads into Shunk. In Shunk was the first “Firemans Poker Run Stop” where riders got their first card and it was set up at the motorcycle legend Ed Fishers Garage, which is a motorcycle destination in itself where 95-year-old former National Motorcycle Champion Ed Fisher lives. Ed was there to give a tour of his collection of vintage motorcycles (it was outstanding). From there it left and made its way east onto back roads across the mountain and down onto the Shrader Creek Rd and into historic Laquin, then up over the mountain to Sun Fish Pond

County Park where the Canton Lions Club served complimentary hot dogs and hamburgers (and was another Firemans Poker Run card stop) – then down the mountain and back roads into Canton. (61 miles total).

The afternoon ride was a bit shorter – 42 miles – without the poker stops and food.

There is no history, as this was the first year for the ride – It was decided to make the fireman the beneficiary of the event as they lost their Firemen’s Fair in 2020 due to Covid. So all the profits went to the Canton Firemen, which was $800 with an additional $200 from the poker run.

This ride was born out from the belief that this area has a real jewel in its rural beauty – the concept of “Adventure Bike Motorcycling” is the biggest thing right now in motorcycle touring. I had ridden an “adventure bike route” this spring from Maryland / PA border to Wellsboro. It was very nice but I said to myself that we have even more beautiful roads and mountains right here in our backyard, and the riders that participated all agreed! We had riders from NJ, Rochester and Watkins Glen, NY, State College, Reading, Harrisburg, Scranton and Lockhaven, PA and others and everyone was amazed at the beauty.

When I was a kid growing up in the ‘70s the Canton area was a mecca for motorcycles and motorcycle competition. I was a rider at a young age and raced motorcycles for a long time, so I really wanted to see that brought back and this seemed like a good event to try and stimulate interest in motorcycling and to promote what Continued on next page

BACKROADS • SEPTEMBER 2021

Page 24 our town has to offer. Bringing people to our area is the most important thing. Given all of the recent local infighting in our town it also seems needed to try and spin something positive in the community. The positive feedback from the riders and from the town people was huge.

September 2021

We have switched things up a bit for this year. The dates are Friday, Sept.

24 thru Sunday, Sept. 26, with Friday evening having registration and a motorcycle show with vendors and entertainment. Saturday’s ride will be

approx. 150 miles with lunch and scenic stops included and Sunday will have a 50-mile run, also with lunch included. These rides will provide you with a quality experience in the backwoods of Bradford and Tioga counties, starting and ending with the Armenia Mountains. Registration is open now online (tourarmeniapa.org) at $30 per day or $45 for both days. All fees will benefit local charities and a poker run will be offered by the Canton Fire Department as well. All makes are welcome, with emphasis on adventure bikes, as there will be off-road riding involved. We hope to see you in September – come for the ride, stay for the weekend.

This event is funded in part by the Bradford County Tourism Promotion Agency. ,

PRODUCT REVIEW

EPM WILBERS SUSPENSION WITH LDC AUTOMATIC SELF-LEVELING SYSTEM FOR HARLEY-DAVIDSON FULL DRESSERS When presented an opportunity to learn more about a self-leveling suspension for Harley’s “FLH” Touring motorcycles, my reaction was one of mild skepticism.

I am very familiar with the FLH series from Milwaukee’s Motor Company; I’ve owned three.

Having ridden dozens of others, I knew the suspension can be the target of upgrades for many buyers. Stock suspension is tuned for comfort and offers limited travel and adjustability. Previous generations had air pressure preload adjustment for the rear shocks and newer models have a more conventional spring preload adjustment. Upgraded suspension components from the Motor company includes heavier weight fork oil, progressive wound springs and nitrogen charged rear shocks. When all is said and done, adding accessory components from the Motor Company or the aftermarket results in improved comfort, but adjustments need to be made when adding a passenger and luggage.

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Most Harley touring riders may never adjust the settings or change suspension components. You won’t hear too many complaints from the Bar & Shield faithful. Owners just acknowledge and accept the ride as is. Others put hundreds of dollars in aftermarket components including air ride suspension. The results can be mixed, as the Harley Touring bikes tip the scales at 800 pounds or more with a rider, passenger, and luggage. Comfort and performance are subjective and left to the rider’s taste. Add to the mix, in the Northeast at least, the poorly maintained roads, potholes, uneven expansion joints and all manners of half-baked asphalt patches & fixes. My skepticism and preconceived notion of any aftermarket suspension was that performance upgrades would result in a nicer, perhaps firmer ride that may be marginally better than the aftermarket shocks I already had.

Enter the EPM Wilbers Suspension kit with LDC Self Leveling Capability. At the time I knew little of Wilbers other than they are a European company that specializes in BMW suspension. Recently they adapted their sport and adventure motorcycle technology to the cruiser and touring market. Klaus Huenecke, the owner of EPM, offered reassurance that my skepticism would be unfounded. Klaus has been importing WIlbers since 2001 in an effort to develop the American market. Having a great deal of confidence in his product, he now has over 15 years of experience and many satisfied customers.

The Wilbers LDC Automatic Self Leveling system consists of several key components. First are the progressive wound fork springs and Wilbers own fork fluid. Next are the dual shocks for the rear, one of which is the Ecoline standard spring damper, the other is the LDC Nivomat Shock. This is where the magic happens. The kit comes nicely packaged with the fork fluid presented in clear bottles resembling finely distilled spirts rather than fork oil. A spanner wrench is included in the kit for the initial preload adjustment.

The LDC Nivomat shock is a hydraulic leveling damper. Calling it a shock absorber seems downright

Page 25 insulting given the engineering involved. The LDC Nivomat contains two independent oil chambers, a large diameter piston rod, mechanical pump with a pressure valve and a short external spring. Inside, a distinction is made between inner and outer gas-assisted high-pressure chambers. When weighted, the piston rod automatically pumps oil from the low-pressure side into the high-pressure chamber. At the same time the piston rod is pushed out of the damper. This pumping process is completed simply by balancing or bouncing the bike. The LDC Nivomat allows the bike to settle to the correct ride height after traveling about 1000 ft. All of this happens internally within the damper- no wires, no external pumps, no reservoirs.

The second Ecoline shock absorber is equipped with a conventional coil spring and provides overall damping. Spring preload is adjusted with a conventional ring nut and included wrench. The Nivomat provides the level control and adjusts the spring rate and varies damping, depending on the load. This eliminates the need for manually adjusting preload when adding or reducing weight. The two shocks are physically different but when installed on Harley ‘Baggers’ they are hidden behind the saddlebags.

The conventional shock is mounted on the right and the Nivomat on the left. Once installed, the sag is set for 1/3 of the travel for rider and gear on the Ecoline damper. This is the only adjustment required. When

Page 26 adding a passenger and/ or luggage, the pumping action caused simply by riding allows the LDC Nivomat internals to compensate for the added weight settling itself back to the original 1/3 sag setting. Sounds too easy.

I visited Klaus at his shop in Manalapan, NJ. His expert mechanic replaced the fork springs, topped off the fork oil and installed the new rear dampers in about 2 hours. The work was done efficiently and with great care. While the bike was being worked on, Klaus was kind enough to show me his personal stable of interesting motorcycles. After the installation and a few measurements, the sag was set, and I was ready to ride.

Rambling up from central NJ to the Skylands region, I immediately noticed an improvement in ride quality. In fact, the ride continued to improve to the point that I was shaking my head after only a few miles.

Was this a placebo effect or real? More miles confirmed the improvement in ride quality was real. My skepticism indeed was unfounded. I was pleasantly surprised to experience having a Harley that rode this nicely.

I started aiming for imperfections, being careful to avoid the rim crushing, tire popping kind. As there are no shortage of road imperfections in our area. Fast or slow, highway or twisty road, the ride quality is much more refined than the stock and many aftermarket components. Expansion joints on highways all but disappear. Bigger bumps are smoothed

BACKROADS • SEPTEMBER 2021 out while small road imperfections go almost unnoticed. After only a few hundred miles of road testing, the ride quality remains consistent, rarely bottoming and with more controlled front fork dive under braking. The kit is marketed as a self-leveling system - but the improved ride quality is an equal and important part of the story.

It was time to try with a passenger. With my Mrs. on the back, true to their word after a ¼ mile or so the Nivomat system works as advertised.

The bike resets the ride height to compensate for the passenger weight and the ride quality remains excellent. Gena noticed immediately, commenting on how much the ride is improved. At speed, the handling was smooth and predictable and imperfections in turns did not upset handling. The system is very confidence inspiring no matter the conditions. Solo, twoup and with luggage this kit is a highly engineered solution for Harley Davidson motorcycles.

Having spent considerable time with the kit, I would confidently state that the EPM Wilbers LDC system is the single best upgrade you can make to a Harley Davidson Touring motorcycle. Never mind, the chrome, engine kits, exhaust, lights or controls. If you want to transform the ride of your heavy weight touring machine and unlock the stability and comfort the bikes were intended to have, install this system. Yes, it’s that good.

Prices for the kit range from $1856 to $1948 depending upon the application. Simply visit Wilbers at wilbersusa.com and order based on the make, model, year and rider weight. Or call EPM Wilbers at 732-786-9777. , ~ Tony Lisanti

BACKROADS • SEPTEMBER

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ROADS, RIDES, GOD AND WHISKY Sometimes what might have been a simple long day ride can be extended by happy circumstances.

There are a few places we try to ride to each summer. The Chesapeake Bay - simply for crabs steamed with Old Bay. West Dover, Vermont simply because the innkeepers are so great. And Knoebels Amusement Park in Elysburg, Pennsylvania – ‘cause they have the best roller coasters and that is simply the truth.

The park is a great 120 backroads miles from the humble abode we call Backroads Central.

We got a very late start this day, but we knew we’d still be at Knoebels by mid-afternoon and we also knew we needed to be in the city of Lancaster the next day as well. Shira did some quick research and came across an attractive inn called the Pine Barn, complete with a restaurant just ten miles or so north of Knoebels.

A thought quickly became a plan and the route, once free of the eastern PA traffic, opened up to a superlative combination of elevation changes and twists and turns – some VERY twisty – so if you follow the route out to Knoebels, ride within your sight-line. Okay?

Jimmy Buffett has a line from a song called First look… “Fun tickets in my pocket, visions in my brain. Grandfather always told me if I went

down I might never come back again.”

Jimmy was singing about Brazil, but the Fun Tickets line is one we use on a fairly consistent basis.

Have you ever gone to Disneyworld or Six-Flags? Disney… damn mouse wants $109 per day. Six Flags is nearly $80 American.

Knoebels?

Well, there is a reason we go to this place at least once or twice every year.

First off, they have motorcycle-only parking, and not 101 miles away, but right at the entrance. And, when you happily park your machine and walk into that entrance you will pay…

Zero, nada, zilch, zippo, naught.

That’s, right boys and girls.

Knoebels is America’s largest free-admission amusement park and also offers free parking, free daily entertainment, and free picnic facilities. ... Kiddie rides, thrill rides, family rides, and attractions—Knoebels has something for everyone.

Little kids, big kids, and everyone in between. Just buy your tickets that come in $5, $10 & $20 books. Those are good forever.

The Phoenix Roller Coaster had its birth in Playland Park in San Antonio, Texas where it was called The Rocket. At its opening, The Rocket was hailed as “the largest roller coaster in the world,” with 3200 feet of track and a 78-foot first hill. This park closed in 1980 and The Rocket was to be dismantled.

Knoebels purchased the ride in 1984 and dismantled it starting in January 1985. As there were no blueprints to work with, each individual board

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was numbered and cataloged on site.

The restored roller coaster opened at Knoebels on June 15, 1985. It is named after the mythical phoenix bird which rises, reborn, from its own ashes. This effort, the first large-scale wooden roller coaster relocation in many years, helped spark a movement for the restoration and relocation of other roller coasters standing but not operating.

Today, The Phoenix is just simply scary. Wooden, shaking, plummeting… stomach rising into your throat impressive. Well worth the not too long wait to have the bejesus scared out of you.

We only had a few rides we needed to run – our favorite being The Flying Turns – the world’s only “trackless” roller coaster.

Right… simply go freewheeling (I love that), swooping and swerving through some thrilling hairpin turns on the world’s only wooden bobsled rollercoaster! Each car leaves the rails for a ride controlled only by the forces of gravity and momentum. A modern remake of an old classic, this ride will not disappoint the adrenaline seekers. Each time you ride will be a different experience and one not to be missed.

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We jumped on the Giant Flume and got soaked and the Carousel let us win the Triple Crown. Well, in our minds, maybe.

But, as brutal as The Phoenix was, we saved the best for last.

The Twister!

The tallest wooden coaster here is a Knoebels original, based on the famous Mister Twister. This relentlessly fast ride goes through swooping curves, a double helix, a dark tunnel, and down several small and large hills for a surprisingly forceful and thrilling experience.

I admit to severely regretting going on The Phoenix, as I was riding with torn rib cartilage from a stair slip at home (seriously, I am safer on the bike

BACKROADS • SEPTEMBER

than walking down our freshly re-done wooden floor) and had my eyes closed most of the ride (Shira laughed at me), but The Twister is a favorite of mine. So friggin’ quick and twisty. It’s like MotoGP married Superman flying like a madman. Simply amazing. Violent and rib bashing. I cringed and laughed at the same time like some roller coaster maniac. The giant American flag lashed across the old wooden beams made us feel just a little bit happy as well. It was about time we all did!

You ride The Twister and tell me what you think.

Fun Tickets all gone, we hopped back on our own personal Thrill Rides and followed a slightly circuitous route to the town of Danville.

Now here is the slightly weird part - the inn is located just down the hill from Geisinger Medical Center – a very large hospital.

Hey, if you have been on some of our rallies you might know we can be comfortable with this. Sad, but true.

The inn had clean and comfortable rooms at a decent price and the restaurant was spot on that evening. A future We’re Outta Here! for sure.

But something a little special happened when I rode around to take some images for this story. Just a few blocks from the inn was the most amazing church, actually more than a church – a Basilica.

The stone tower reached high into the blue sky – far higher than anything else in the town of Danville.

I rode over to see what this was, and was amazed. This was something very special; one of just 85 Basilicas in the United States. Although the Catholic Church has many impressive churches and cathedrals, there is

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a difference. A basilica is a large, important church. The word can also be used for an Ancient Roman building that was used for law and meetings. The word “basilica” is Latin which was taken from the Greek “Basiliké Stoà”. ...

A Roman Catholic church that has been given the right to use that name, by the Pope. Only by the Pope.

Their history begins with the lives of their patron saints, Cyril and Methodius, brothers born in Thessalonica (present-day Greece) approximately 1,200 years ago in the ninth century. They journeyed from Thessalonica to Great Moravia (Central Europe) in 863 after Prince Rastislav requested that Emperor Michael III send missionaries to evangelize the Slavic people. Because the Slavic people had no written language, Cyril devised the Glagolitic alphabet – the first alphabet used for Slavonic manuscripts that became Cyrillic script, and one still used by many languages today, including Russian. During their mission trip, Cyril and Methodius brought with them Christianity and began translating into Slavonic the New Testament, many of the Psalms, and the Liturgical Books. The brothers laid the foundation for written Slavic literature and the preservation of their culture. They wrote the first Slavic Civil Code used in Great Moravia and shared their faith there. They also trained native clergy and exercised authority in the spirit of service and humility.

The brothers exemplified Christian unity, blending the theological insights and spirituality of Eastern and Western Christianity. In 1980, Pope John Paul II proclaimed them co-patrons of Europe, a tribute to their influence on belief, written word, and culture.

And, after visiting this magnificent church he proclaimed it a Basilica.

Feel free to visit – the Sisters were more than friendly and accommodating this day. Wonderful in every way!

We had a fairly short (for us) ride this day, but one that would hit one of the best motorcycle roads in the Keystone State. The previous day we ran into another rider at a fuel stop and he made it a point of telling us about the PA Dragon – Route 125.

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We thanked him but were very aware of this road – which we just call Shamokin (Shmokin’!) after the town where we would pick it up.

Thirty-two miles of awesomeness. This is a must-ride.

When we got to Pine Grove we vectored east to Pottsville for a superb lunch at a very cool place called The Wheel that had every grilled cheese you could dream up and then toured the brewery at Yuengling.

The story of Yuengling is the story of the American Spirit.

It’s a tale of shared dreams, individual tenacity, and an unwavering dedication to standards of quality. Like many American stories, it starts amid the dreams of countless young immigrants looking for opportunity and emerges from the strength and will of one family determined to build their legacy in a new country. The story of America’s Oldest Brewery began when David G. Yuengling arrived from Wuerttemberg Germany to settle in the sleepy, coalmining town of Pottsville, Pennsylvania.

BACKROADS • SEPTEMBER 2021

BACKROADS • SEPTEMBER

Page 31 Indeed, Henry Clay lost presidential elections to John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, and James K. Polk. But that’s not why Clay, a slaveowning Senator from Kentucky, has a huge monument in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. It’s because, as a Senator, he pushed through protectionist tariffs on foreign coal and iron, which made Pottsville’s coal and iron more valuable. The idea for a monument was conceived by Samuel Silliman, a local mine owner, and pushed by John Bannon, publisher of a local newspaper. It took three years to build: a cast-iron statue of Clay, 15 feet tall, atop a 51-foot-tall cast iron column, altogether weighing almost 30 tons. It was dedicated on July 4, 1855, the biggest monument in America at that time. Pottsville is so hilly that Bannon could stand on the balcony of his nearby hilltop mansion and admire Henry Clay at eye level. Too bad for the everyday people of Pottsville: a proposed staircase from the main street to the statue was never built. Clay never saw this giant, iron version of himself, either; he had been dead since 1852. But you can see it easily from Dunkin’ Donuts. Yes, it sorta loses something there.

It is America’s oldest brewery and the tour was both fun and educating.

The “cave” alone is worth making this a destination.

But Pottsville has another very odd thing.

Something even the “far-too full-of-himself ” O’Life did not know.

At one point Pottsville had the largest monument in the USA, to a man that was a three-time loser in US presidential elections. What?

We did need to get to Lancaster by late afternoon, so the ride there was a combination of making time and making fun. We rolled into our hotel by five and were at the Zoetropolis, with fellow journalist Pam Collins and her hubby Tim. The reason for the blast to Lancaster was that our good friend Alfonse Palaima had been one of the key photographers for a film called Water of Life. For you who do not know what this could be abou,t know it is simple – it’s about whisky. Particularly about one island off the western Scottish coast called Islay.

Islay is the southernmost of the Inner Hebrides islands, off the west coast of Scotland. Along with the neighboring island of Jura, it’s known

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for its whisky. Numerous distilleries produce the island’s characteristically peaty single malts. The film was about this – and one distillery – Bruichladdich, whose story is simply more than amazing.

Good for our friend Fonzie and the rest of the producers for bringing this story to an outstanding film.

If you have a free evening and a good bottle of the Water of Life – pour a dram or two and watch this wonderful piece of art and knowledge (wateroflifefilm.com) There was a tasting afterward and the next morning found us less than ready to go at ‘em! So, a breakfast with Lancaster native and powerhouse salesman for Rider magazine Joe Salluzzo let us fill our bellies and made for a great start to the day. Joe has always been a Class Act and has been a friend of this magazine from the very start. Between him and editor Mark Tuttle, Rider has been one of Backroads’ biggest friends.

We did something different this day as I did not bring a laptop nor had made a route back so I let Garmin’s Curvy Routes do the job for me – which had hits and misses. But we tend to remember the former and not the latter.

Of course, Shira found an ice cream spot that was, conveniently, right off our route. A stop at Lapp Valley Farms in New Holland, PA was a perfect late morning sugar pick-me-up and the ice cream was close to perfection. Shira made a new friend and will tell you all about it in an upcoming Inside Scoop.

BACKROADS • SEPTEMBER 2021

Every time we were near the bikes and other people, we were told that storms were coming in.

Yea, yea – we ain’t made of sugar.

We rolled into Backroads Central by mid-afternoon. Twenty minutes later all H-E Double Hockey Sticks broke lose. We took it as a win and just, simply, a few more Days in a Life filled with roads, rides, God and whisky. Ride on! , ~ Brian Rathjen & Shira Kamil

BACKROADS • SEPTEMBER

words & images: Dan Bisbee Three miles above Williamsburg, Massachusetts, a mile up a foot path, is a series of stone walls on both sides of a small stream. It doesn’t look like much now, but a century and a half ago, it powered the economy of the Mill River valley. That abruptly changed on May 16, 1874.

In the 1860s, Williamsburg was a thriving mill town thanks to the Mill River. It’s falling water provided power for two dozen or so mills

through the villages of Williamsburg, Skinnerville, Haydenville, Leeds, Florence and Northampton before emptying into the Connecticut River. The villages were strung out along the river, each one a mile or so below the one above it. The mills produced a range of items for local consumption – grist mills and various machine shops. Other mills produced goods for markets nationwide, among them cotton, wool, silk, buttons and brass fixtures.

During dry spells, the mills were idle due to a lack of water flow. Two reservoirs in Goshen helped and the mill owners reasoned that a third reservoir, this one on the east branch of the river, would keep the mill turbines spinning profitably for most of the year.

A committee was formed, money was promised, a site was selected and land rights granted. At the time, there was no official oversite on how to construct a dam and the $90,000.00 proposed design seemed excessive to the mill-ownersnow-turned-reservoir-owners. The price tag was trimmed and reworked and the earthen dam was built for less than $30,000.00. It was 40 feet tall, 600 feet long and 144 feet thick at the base. It had a stone core and held back nearly 600 million gallons

Page 33 of water.

Once filled, the dam began leaking almost immediately. Soil was added and patches were made until the dam was considered safe and filled to capacity. A keeper was hired to oversee the dam and open or close the gate valve depending on downstream water demand. For nearly a decade, it worked as designed.

May 16, 1874 was another rainy day and the reservoir was already at capacity. Around 7:00AM, a large section of soil slumped away from the downstream side of the dam and water began leaking. George Cheney, the dam keeper, opened the outlet gate to relieve some of the pressure but he soon realized his actions were futile. He grabbed his horse and raced three miles into town to spread the alarm.

He stopped first at the home of Onslow Spelman, one of the dam’s owners. Spelman argued that the dam was safe before relenting and lending Cheney a horse.

Collin Graves overheard the conversation and raced downstream with his milk wagon. By the time Cheney had a fresh horse saddled up, the water had risen to a point where he could not continue.

Graves warned around 50 people already at work in the woolen mill and another 100 workers at the silk mill in Skinnerville. When he arrived at the Brassworks in Haydenville, he was rebuffed. Graves admitted to not actually seeing the flood waters and sheepishly began retreating to Williamsburg when he met Jerome Hillman riding at full speed yelling about the dam giving way. They returned to the Brassworks and this time the workers headed for higher ground.

Myron Day, riding from Leeds to Haydenville saw the commotion and beat a hasty retreat through the narrow gorge to Leeds. He was able to warn

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BACKROADS • SEPTEMBER 2021 workers at the Nonotuck silk mill, the Emery wheel company and the button shop in Leeds.

Meanwhile, the dam had failed catastrophically sending 600 million gallons of water downstream. The 20-foot-tall wave pushed everything in its path: trees, brush, buildings. It smashed into Onslow Spelman’s button shop first and then pushed away the Mill Street Bridge in an instant. The wave plowed through Williamsburg tearing houses from foundations and ripping trees from the ground. The churning mass reached Skinnerville and swept the silk mill away. In Haydenville, the tumult battered the brick Brassworks building before it tumbled into the river. The narrows above Leeds bottled up the flood for a few precious minutes before bearing down on the village. People were still filing out of the button mill when the flood flattened the factory.

Below Leeds, the flood spread out across Florence meadows, turning lush farmland into a tangle of shrubs, silt, buildings and bodies. The water continued down through Florence and Northampton at a more sedate pace before emptying into the Connecticut River.

In less than 60 minutes the reservoir thundered through the villages, altering them forever. 139 people died and 740 were homeless. Property losses were estimated to be $1,000,000.00 (around $26,000,000.00 today). There was no Red Cross or other agency to help people cope with this sort of disaster and survivors had to deal with the carnage. Makeshift hospitals and morgues were set up in townhalls and meeting houses.

At the trial, the blame was spread between the mill owners, the design company, the construction company, the County commissioners and the State legislature. In the end, nobody was held accountable.

Many of the mills were rebuilt but the river had carved some new channels and the water power was not as reliable as before the flood. Some mill owners added steam engine power plants to complement the water power. But the times were changing and the prominence of Williamsburg and the Mill River valley as a manufacturing center declined.

BACKROADS • SEPTEMBER

The button shop in Leeds lasted until 1886, the woolen mill closed in 1891. Joel Hayden rebuilt his Brassworks in Haydenville but ended up going bankrupt. The Brassworks continued under a series of owners before closing for good in 1954. In Skinnerville, the devastation was total and William Skinner ended up starting a new silk mill from scratch 20 miles away in Holyoke. He prospered and, at one point, had the largest silk mill in the world under one roof.

Today Williamsburg is a vibrant community despite, or perhaps because, the industry moved out. The Mill River still flows through the village, though it’s hemmed in by granite walls behind buildings and businesses on Main Street, almost as though the town has turned its back on the river that once powered it. The rebuilt Brassworks in Haydenville still stands next to the river and water still flows over the mill dam. In Leeds, the rebuilt silk mill is now an apartment house.

Page 35 Skinnerville has been reduced to a footnote.

Today, it’s possible to ride the entire length of the flood. On the side of Ashfield Road there is a small sign for the Historic Dam Trail and it’s about a mile hike up to the stone ruins. The series of odd-looking stone walls are the remains of the dam’s stone core. A plaque is there as well.

After leaving the dam site, you can ride down the road next to the river. In Williamsburg, the river joins with the west branch right near Mill Street.

In front of the Historical Society building, a plaque lists the names of those killed by the flood. Farther downstream, where Skinnerville used to be, a plaque stands in the parking lot of a greenhouse. The rebuilt Brassworks building in Haydenville is still an impressive building, where office space can be rented. In front of the town office building, a small plaque simply reads “In Memory of those citizens of Haydenville who were drowned in the Mill River Disaster May 16, 1874.” A second marker nearby lists the victims. You can cross the Mill River here and ride down River Road as it curves through a narrow pass to Leeds. There, in a small park adjacent to the river, another plaque lists those from Leeds who perished in the flood.

139 people died but, if not for the heroics of George Cheney, Colin Graves, Jerome Hillman and Myron Day, the toll would have been much higher. The following year Massachusetts enacted the first laws regarding dam construction. The Mill River Disaster was the worst flood catastrophe in the country up to that time. That distinction was eclipsed 15 years later by the flood in Johnstown Pennsylvania.

BACKROADS • SEPTEMBER 2021

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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHTS AND REVIEWS RKA 10 LITER 3-POINT SUPERSPORT MINI TANK BAG When I picked up my newest horse in the stable – a 2019 Kawasaki Z900RS – it knew I wanted to keep it clean as I could. Minimal was my thought, but I knew I’d need to be carrying things along, regardless.

The day I brought it home the first thing I ordered was the 10 Liter 3-point SuperSport Mini Tank Bag from RKA. Rich and Kathy Battles have been making some of the best motorcycle luggage for decades and over these many years, they have refined and re-worked all their luggage to keep them as modern, durable, and useful as possible.

The 10 Liter 3-point SuperSport Mini Tank Bag is no exception. Made out of a 600 Denier solution dyed Polyester and Urethane coated 600 denier vinyl laminated PVC with a diamond embossed material. On the bottom is a PVC coated polyester Slip-Not. Slip Not is an anti-abrasion grip fabric, waterproof, strong, and washable. RKA uses YKK zippers, the toughest, exclusively.

The bag, even as compact as it is, has two levels – the main stowage compartment and the top of the bag, with an Organizer that can easily hold a map, pens, tire gauge and has a key chain holder in the lid – so you won’t lose your keys to your home on the road.

Opening the tank bag you will find 3/8 inch foam combined onto a 200 denier coated nylon for the inside lining.

We all carry cell phones these days and all have devices that need charging from time to time. RKA has this covered with a hidden portal along the left side.

They also sell a Power Lead that can be attached directly to the battery or other keyed power source and their RKA Dual SAE to USB adapter makes keeping devices powered up an easy task, barely an inconvenience.

There is a Velcro pad inside if you care to go with RKA’s “Control Box” and they offer an optional “Dashboard & Base Plate” to hold all your devices on top of the tank bag. On top is a 6” X 8” Lexan Map Holder.

The bag is attached via three strong and easily operated clips and off the bike, it comes with a heavy-duty rubberized handle.

The RKA 10 Liter 3-point SuperSport Mini Tank Bag sells for $175.

For more information on this and all of RKA’s superb luggage and products log onto their website at www.rka-luggage.com.

BACKROADS • SEPTEMBER

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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHTS AND REVIEWS CRUZTOOLS BIKE SPECIFIC TOOL KITS • SAVING OUR NECKS FOR DECADES Does the tool kit that came with your motorcycle look a lot like a credit card?

That is because it is a credit card.

Back in the day, motorcycles came with at least the very basic in rudimentary tools.

Born out of personal necessity, CruzTOOLS has launched a tool kit for Harley-Davidson motorcycles over twenty years ago. They have since developed hand tools and tool kits for most Powersports vehicles: street bikes, dual-sport, adventure and off-road motorcycles, ATVs, UTV’s, snowmobiles, and personal watercraft.

Their products are designed by riders who know just how important quality and reliability are during roadside or trail-side repairs. You can count on CruzTOOLS when you need them most, and their hand tools are backed with a Lifetime Guarantee. Professional-Grade Tools at Consumer-Friendly Prices.

Although I carry several tools in my make-shift tool bag, we were looking for something that Shira could easily pack along while riding both her Suzuki V-Strom and Honda 919.

CruzTOOLS Roadtech M3 was certainly the answer. Designed specifically for Metric machines it can easily handle any of the more basic issues that may arise on the road.

Shira, who hates to have heavy things filling up her packing space, was very impressed at how compact and light the tool wrap was.

I, on the other hand, was very impressed with what was inside. An adjustable wrench. A set of metric combination wrenches 8, 10, 12 & 14. A small locking plier (Vice Grip), a very slick screwdriver (Yes, a screwdriver like this is indeed very slick!) A basic tire gauge and a set of hex wrenchs 3, 4, 5, & 6mm. A spark plug wrench, a small ratchet and socket set – 8, 10 & 12mm, and some other goodies like electrical tape, zip-ties, and thread locker. Thread locker? Wow – even I was impressed.

The CruzTOOLS M3 Kit for Metric Machines is a steal at just $99.95 from cruztools.com – but while there look at their recent catalog and tools for specific applications. And the little quirky tool, that works for your bike alone.

If it’s needed… CruzTOOLS probably has it.

BACKROADS • SEPTEMBER 2021

Page 38 BIG CITY GETAWAY

Continued from Page 13

lost colt, and when the city of Baltimore flooded the area to make its water supply, the reservoir took the name of Prettyboy Creek.

Today it is a stunningly beautiful place to ride.

If God was to…. say Damn!

LAST GOD DAM FACT: THE MONTICELLO DAM

This 305 ft concrete arch dam in California is one of the coolest dams in the world because of its mesmerizing spillway sometimes referred to, unfortunately, as “The Glory Hole”. The spillway is an uncontrolled “morning glory type” with a tip diameter of 72 feet and sits within the perimeters of Lake Berryessa, the seventh largest man-made lake in California.

Enjoy and celebrate our dams; they bring water, power and, in some cases, architectural beauty to our world. But, when they fail twist the throttle and head the other way….fast! ,

MYSTERIOUS AMERICA

Continued from Page 17

A giant open-air cavern literally carved out of the mountain.

Feel free to take a stroll, but you will want to bring a strong flashlight if you want to travel deep inside.

Here you will also find a stage as they regularly have performances and make recordings with the most amazing acoustics.

According to Atlas Obscura “It’s not clear how the Widow Jane Mine got its name, or who exactly the Widow Jane was.

There were two “Janes” in the Snyder family, but no one has been able to confirm which one, if either, was the inspiration.

It’s a mystery that only adds to the eerie atmosphere of the cool, dark spaces. Some visitors claim they’ve seen the ghost of the Widow Jane, a young woman in a long white dress wandering through the stone pillars and cavernous rooms.

Next time she’s spotted, somebody should ask her who she is.” With that in mind you might take a short hike to the old cemetery right above the mine.

Well worth seeking this out also.

However you look at it, the Widow Jane Mine is special and it is a one-of-a-kind place, right in the Hudson Valley and certainly part of Mysterious America!

O’Life out! ,

BACKROADS • SEPTEMBER

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The Law Office of Paul Gargiulo, P.C. presents

Welcome to the Jungle - The Art of Learning to Ride Skillfully

A column dedicated to your riding survival I will take this one step more and state the obvious – that these riders The Numbers • A Perfect Storm for Mayhem I have been looking at statistics on motorcycle fatalities over the last few years and have come to the conclusion that Mark Twain was right when he said, “Figures often beguile me, particularly when I have the arranging of them myself - There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics.”

Still, let’s take a brief look at some numbers and then maybe some of the causes of these dire stats.

Older riders are disproportionally popping up in these numbers according to Chan Young Lee, a senior researcher at the University of South Florida’s Center for Urban Transportation Research, “We’re starting to see many older riders getting hurt as riding motorcycles has become a major hobby for retired Baby Boomers.”

In Florida motorcycle riders 55 to 64 accounted for 10.3 percent of motorcycle deaths between 2005 and 2007. But between 2009 and 2011, they made up 16.6 percent of motorcycle fatalities.

Speed typically isn’t the problem with older riders. It’s the younger riders who gravitate toward sport bikes and with many sport riders correct gear is part of the look.

“Older riders usually opt for cruisers or touring motorcycles, and cruiser and touring riders are less likely to wear helmets,” Lee said.

Or the correct jackets. Or the correct gloves. Or the correct pants and boots.

While the majority of motorcycle accidents were due to automobile driver unawareness, 30% of motorcycle accident fatalities involved blood alcohol content of over 0.08 BAC according to the Centers for Disease Control in the U.S..

From my experience in Florida, which has to be one of the least enjoyable motorcycle riding states, right behind the plain states, I would like to add another lethal factor - The senior citizen.

Spending some time down in the Sarasota and Tampa regions it was easy to see that Florida is swollen with older car drivers, or OMWAH, each winter season escaping the cold, and with these snowbirds with northeastern license plates or full-size rental cars, the danger for riders is almost tripled.

While some older folk still handle their cars deftly and with some skill, many others are battling several maladies, all of which make their driving a danger to themselves, other drivers and especially motorcycle riders. Old man with a hat makes left turn and kills rider. It seems to happen every day all across the country.

But, not all accidents are due to senior citizens.

Occasionally other bad things conspire to cause mayhem.

A turtle in the road was blamed for a crash that killed one person and injured three others in central Florida a few years back According to the Florida Highway Patrol, three motorcycles were traveling eastbound on State Road 44, just west of Tanglewood Drive, in the Eustis area. The crash happened when one of the motorcyclists slowed down for a turtle in the middle of the lane. One of the other motorcyclists behind failed to slow down and collided. A passenger on the first motorcycle was airlifted to Orlando Regional Medical Center, but she died a few days later. Troopers said the deceased woman was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.

were riding far too close to each other and without adequate “space cushioning” avoidable accidents are more likely to occur.

Throw into the mix that so many riders feel the need to pilot their bikes with shorts, tee shirts and boat shoes and we all know what can happen.

Which leads me to the point of what and how and why some riders ride.

It’s easy for me to point out the obvious. If you and your passenger ride your bike in cut-offs, a tank top and flip-flops with a baseball cap on your head – you, more than likely, don’t think about your riding. You are just a person who happens to own a bike and not a rider, biker or motorcyclist (whichever moniker you would chose).

Most of the more gruesome two-wheel disasters happen because you are on public highways.

A basic motorcycle endorsement can be a rare occurrence with these ‘motorcycle owners” and riding skills, space cushioning and any serious thought on their riding might get in the way of their Sunday ride to the “tiki bar” on the Gulf Coast or the honky-tonk on some deserted backroad.

Our rising insurance rates, declining public opinion and mounting accident statistics are, for a good part, on you.

No matter where you ride, take a serious look at what sort of gear you wear and the outlook you have on riding. The last thing we want is for you to end up a statistic and that is no lie.

BACKROADS • SEPTEMBER 2021

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UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR SEPTEMBER 2021 10-12 • Progressive IMS Outdoors • Carlisle Fairgrounds, Carlisle, PA. The newly rebranded tour, previously known as the Progressive International Motorcycle Shows (IMS), will provide exciting hands-on experiences. Tickets go on sale May 13 and more details will be available then • motorcycleshows.com 12 • Ride For Kids Hudson Valley. Sign in: 8-9:30am • KSU: 10am Site: 110 Bracken Rd, Montgomery, NY. For complete details and to register online please visit website: rideforkids.org/hudsonvalley.

12 • Rockaway Twp, UNICO 9/11 20th Anniversary Charity Ride to benefit St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Sign in: 8:30am Peterson Field (top lot) Fleetwood Dr, Rockaway, NJ • KSU: 10am • $15 donation/rider • $10/passenger - incl. $5 Miller’s lunch voucher, free coffee/donut breakfast, escorted run, 50/50 drawing and raffle prizes. Police escorted run thru scenic NJ with a stop ata 9/11 Memorial, end at Miller’s Ale House, Rockaway Mall. Info: 973-975-5554 • email info@rtunico.org 20-21 • CLASS returns to Virginia Int’l Raceway, VA and BACKROADS will be heading back once again. Plan to improve your skill with some of the best instructors in the business at one of the nicest facilities around. To book your space visit CLASSRides. com • Reservations at VIR virnow.com/lodging.

21-25 • NEW AMERICADE DATES. America’s Largest Touring Rally brings the 38th Annual Americade to the Fall, with the great Adirondack foliage and cooler temps.

Make your plans to join the gathering of the annual ride to Lake George • Questions?

518-798-7888 • www.americade.com 24-26 • 2nd Annual Fall Foliage Tour of the Mountains sponsored by Bradford County Tourism and Canton Lions Club. Enjoy a weekend of beautiful riding in the Pennsylvania mountains to benefit local charities. 200+ miles over two days includes great scenery, historic stops, lunch and a poker run. See full details @ tourarmeniapa.org 25 • The Modern Classics Ride-In presented by Martin Moto. 10am - 4pm. This oneday event features the sights and sounds of your favorite vintage bikes in living and breathing form. Ride in on your own classic, or contemporary bike, and join the fun!

No admission or entry fee. Enjoy music, food and more. Info: martinmoto.com or 610-369-3120. Site: 1037 Unger Lane, Boyertown, PA (next to the WalMart Superstore) 25 • Woodstock Harley-Davidson Barely Fall Open House • 10am-4pm • Food trucks, unique vendors, live music by Puletz Suprise. 949 SR 28, Woodstock, NY • Info: woodstockharley.com • 845-338-2800 30-10/3 • Horizons Unlimited Virginia Travellers Meeting, Holiday Lake 4-H Camp, Appomattox, VA. For seasoned travellers or complete novices. For full details and registration, visit www.horizonsunlimited.com/events/virginia-2021

OCTOBER 2021 8-10 • Progressive IMS Outdoors • James L. Ward Agriculture Ctr, Lebanon, TN. The newly rebranded tour, previously known as the Progressive International Motorcycle Shows (IMS), will provide exciting hands-on experiences. Tickets on sale now. Full details here motorcycleshows.com

What’s Happening 10 • Forever Friends Motorcycle Awareness Charity Bike Run. Sussex County Fairgrounds, 37 Plains Rd, Augusta, NJ • 10am-9pm • $20/rider; $10/non-rider. 15 Food Trucks, live music by Rated R and Beckwith Baker, North Jersey Hot Rods car show, tricky tray and 50/50. Ride Sign-in: 9:30a-12p • Scenic Ride: 12:30-2p. For full details visit foreverfriendsmotorcycleawareness.org 16 • 5th Annual Horsham Toys for Tots Run to benefit the Marine Corp. Toys for Tots Program. Sign in: Freedom Valley Harley-Davidson, 3255 State Rd, Sellersville, PA • 10am / KSU 11:30am. Finish: Bikes Built Better, 133 Horsham Rd, Horsham, PA. Enjoy a police-escorted, 30+ mile ride tjhrough beautiful Bucks and Montgomery counties.

Complimentary hot lunch served for riders at Bikes Built Better, All motorcycles, trikes and cars welcome. Entry: 1 unwrapped toy or $15/per person (NO DOLLS OR STUFFED ANIMALS, PLEASE). 50/50 tickets now on sale - drawing to be held at end of ride. Info: John Davis @ 302-730-8899 (rain date Oct. 23) 29-31 • Progressive IMS Outdoors • Georgia Int’l Horse Park, Conyers, GA. The newly rebranded tour, previously known as the Progressive International Motorcycle Shows (IMS), will provide exciting hands-on experiences. Tickets on sale now. Full details here motorcycleshows.com