INSIDE
THE LIFE & TIMES OF MOTORCYCLES AND THE PEOPLE WHO RIDE THEM
December 2014 #25
Motorcycle News | Events | Product Reviews | Exclusive Biker Event Coverage | Test Rides | Biker Travels | Event Photography | Page 3 Babes | Events Listings | and more inside ...
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Contents
December Issue 25
Ad Index
Features
The Recidivest Riding the Wild Side Wreaths Across America
10 27 42
Bikers Gone Wild
35
Burford Accounting
IBC
Columns
Copperhead Lodge
37
Destinations 33 Ramble On 36 Craven Moorehead 47 Heaven’s Saints 48
Cycle World of Athens
23
Eagle Creek Brewing
8
Eric Albright Photography
28
Hardy Family Ford
35
H-D Fraziers
21
H-D Killer Creek
12
Helen’s Biker Village
26
Hired Guns
46
Luke Smith
46
7 Departments Page 3 Girl Born To Ride News Featured & Hottest Bike Night Events, Rides & Destinations Born To Ride Kids
3 4 9 44 48
Reports LED Motorcycle Lights 1st Annual Vixxxen’s Toy Run Test Ride Bonneville Triumph
10 INSIDE
THE LIFE & TIMES OF MOTORCYCLES AND THE PEOPLE WHO RIDE THEM
December 2014 #25
AAA IFC
6 38 40
On The Cover Julia Maney of Tom’s Place Photo by Eric Albright Special thanks to Young Road Christmas Tree Farm, Cartersville, GA
Roadhouse 46 Ronnie Brown
46
Sautee Mountain Retreat
32
Stefanie Drake Burford
1, 46, BC
Tom Elder - Nationwide
29
Tom’s Place
15
Xtreme Rider
39
WHY BORN TO RIDE? WHY NOW?
Start an extraordinary relationship
Motorcycle News | Events | Product Reviews | Exclusive Biker Event Coverage | Test Rides | Biker Travels | Event Photography | Page 3 Babes | Events Listings | and more inside ...
Start Born To Ride TV and Magazine in your city! Call 888-795-5779 The information contained herein is provided by Born To Ride Magazine or by its advertisers. BTR makes every effort to present accurate and reliable information in the issue. Born To Ride Magazine does not endorse, approve, or certify such information, nor does it guarantee the accuracy, completeness, efficacy, timeliness or correct sequencing of such information throughout this magazine. Use of such information is voluntary on your part, and reliance on it should only be undertaken after your independent review. Reference herein to any specific manufacturer, company, commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, service mark, or otherwise does not constitute or imply endorsement of or recommendation of said by Born To Ride Magazine.” “Born To Ride Magazine (including its employees, contributors and agents) assumes no responsibility for consequences that may result from the use of the information herein, including the use of the information obtained at www.borntoride.com and it’s linked sites, or in any respect for the content of such information, including (but not limited to) errors or omissions, the accuracy or reasonableness of factual or scientific assumptions, studies or conclusions, ownership of copyright or other intellectual property rights, and the violation of property, privacy, or personal rights of others. BTR Magazine is not responsible for damages of any kind arising out of use, reference to, or reliance on such information. No guarantees or warranties, including (but not limited to) any express or implied warranties are made by BTR Magazine with respect to such information contained throughout the site.” No part may be copied without written permission of the publisher, Born To Ride, Inc. P.O. Box 3021, Brandon, FL 33509. 888-795-5779, Fax 813-689-2996.
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RIDE NEWS
SENA DESTINATIONS DAY A HIT! A VERY BIG THANK YOU TO COPPRHEAD LODGE!
Congratulations to Rick & Sue Brunner - winners of the SENA Bluetooth Headset during last weekend’s SENA Destinations Day. A huge thank you for SENA’s support and to North Georgia Motorcycles for leading the scenic ride via the Gauntlet. Thanks also to Born To Ride magazine for their sponsorship. Thanks to Stefanie Drake & Stefanie Drake Law Firm for donating four Angel City Passes!
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ADMINISTRATOR Melinda Dunn borntoridega@att.net
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Web Design/Electronic Media Juan Guzman
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Jesse Williams
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MULTI-MEDIA SPECIALIST Seth Wuertz
CONTRIBUTORS
Neale Bayly, Paul Garson, Craven Moorehead, Josh Kurpius, Bill McDaniel, Eric Albright, Bob Nadeau, Barry Loudermilk, Chris Carr, Stefanie Drake Burford, Rob Brooks
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LED And Decorative Colored Motorcycle Lights: Are They Legal in Georgia? WHAT EVERY GEORGIA DRIVER NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT THIS LAW
be shown for the use of flashing or revolving red or
Recently, I had a motorcycle owner ask
me a question regarding the legality of
amber emergency lights, so again, this seems
colored stationary, revolving, or flashing
to be geared toward exceptions for law
LED lights on a motorcycle. We have
enforcement. It is worth noting, however,
all seen these lights on motorcycles;
that there is no mention of red or amber
they look pretty cool. Even so, are they
stationary lights. As such, it appears that
legal in Georgia? I thought the question she
this is a loophole, or an intentional exception, to
asked was interesting, and relevant. So, I gathered s o m e
the rule regarding the use of red and amber lights. There is also
information, and wanted to share what I found with my fellow
no mention of public roads versus private property.
bikers. The answer is yes, these lights seem to be legal. However,
there are some exceptions. Read on to learn more.
person, firm, or corporation to operate any motor vehicle or to park
The Official Code of Georgia Annotated, specifically
any motor vehicle on public property with flashing or revolving
Statutes §40-8-90 and §40-8-92, outlines some of the legalities of
green lights.” This of course does not apply to law enforcement.
colored lighting on a motor vehicle. These Statutes also discuss
It makes no mention of obtaining a permit upon proving a need
emergency and police vehicles, since they are generally the
for a flashing or revolving green lights. There is also no mention
exception to the rule. As such, the Code sections referenced above
of using green flashing or revolving lights on private property, or
deal with all motor vehicles, emergency versus non-emergency,
stationary green lights on private or public property. Similarly to
and don’t seem to distinguish a motorcycle from any other
the red and amber stationary lights, it seems the Statute leaves
general passenger vehicle.
this to interpretation, providing another potential loophole or
exception.
So, the question remains, what colors of LED or decorative
colored lights are legal on a motorcycle? Does it matter if
Lastly, the Code provides “it shall be unlawful for any
So there you have it. Like most Statutes and laws, there
they are stationary, as opposed to revolving or flashing?
is always room for interpretation. As always, every situation
According to O.C.G.A. §40-8-90, blue lights, whether
is unique, and any information contained in this article
flashing or not, are a definite no-no on a non-emergency
should not be construed as legal advice. If you need advice
vehicle. In pertinent part, the Statute states “it shall
on a specific situation, feel free to call or email me.
be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation
Nonetheless, I hope I’ve given some valuable information
to operate any motor vehicle equipped with or
to help bikers with questions regarding their LED lighting
containing a device capable of producing any
systems, or those thinking about having them installed
blue lights, whether flashing, blinking, revolving,
on their motorcycles.
or stationary.” The only exception noted is use by
If any of you ever have a question about a traffic law,
law enforcement and certain designated antique,
or any law for that matter, feel free to call or email me. I’m
hobby or special use vehicles.
glad to answer any questions, and my response may appear
here or in my blog. Thanks for reading, and ride safe!
Otherwise, the only other specific colors
mentioned in the Statutes are red, amber and green. Flashing or revolving red or amber lights are permitted only if someone applies for and receives a permit for their use and operation. A proven need must
STEFANIE DRAKE BURFORD IS AN EXPERIENCED INJURY ATTORNEY AND BIKER WHO HAS BEEN BTR 6 | BORNTORIDE.COM
Stefanie Drake Burford Injury Attorney and Biker “Riding With You and Fighting For You Since 1999”
FIGHTING FOR THE RIGHTS OF THE INJURED AND THEIR FAMILIES FOR MORE THAN 14 YEARS.
Call Stefanie Drake Burford when you need her! 770-748-3601
The Life & Times of Motorcycles
And The People Who Ride Them
Call Stefanie Drake Burford when you need her! 770-748-3601
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“Game Over Cycles revealed a motorcycle created on devotion to the traditions of the
motorcycle industry and the human culture of tattoos.�
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On September 27, at the London International Tattoo Convention 2014 – the most prestigious body adornment convention in the world – a unique creation in the motorcycle world was unveiled. Polish custom bike manufacturer Game Over Cycles revealed a motorcycle created in devotion to the traditions of the modern motorcycle industry and the human culture of the artistic world of tattoos. Built in collaboration with German company Cheyenne Professional Tattoo Equipment and Dutch Zodiac Performance Products for Harley-Davidson, the bike is both a tribute to motorcycle engineering and a work of art. The Cheyenne Bike, branded The Recidivist, is a bike inspired by the art of permanent body adornment. Motorbikes are commonly adorned with tattoo motifs using an aerograph; however, the uniqueness of Cheyenne Bike The Recidivist lies in the fact that
the bike’s entire construction is covered in tattooed skin branded directly onto the bike’s tires, tanks, seat, rear fender, lamp and many other smaller elements. Light colored cow hide leather, similar to the color of human skin, is engineered onto the bike. Two tattoo artists from Polish tattoo studios Individuum and Steel Will Tattoo-Factory applied traditional works of tattoo art onto the bike using the tools of world-famous brand Cheyenne Professional Tattoo Equipment. The worlds of motorbikes and tattoos have long been kindred spirits. The theme of the Cheyenne Bike relates to this traditional relationship. In the USA, bikers used to tattoo for personal reasons –to express their character and lifestyle, as well as their social attitude. In post-war era America, many motorcyclists often led a life on the edge of law, but in those difficult times they were also very active in helping people from their
local communities. The Cheyenne Bike as an artistic vision references those traditions and through its construction and decorations presents a story of a man with strong character – a person, who values individuality, personal expression and sense of freedom. Stanislaw Myszkowski, GOC founder and originator of the project, explains the evolution of the project: “The idea of creating a motorcycle covered with real tattoos came to me 10 years ago. I have tattoos and I love motorcycles, and I consider them both as a way to express my own feelings or character. In this project we wanted to create a motorcycle that would be a combination of the automotive world with the world of tattoos and express their respective characteristics, not only in the construction but also in aesthetics. We also wanted this machine to combine modernity with tradition. On one hand we built a motorcycle based
“The bikes entire construction is covered in tattooed skin branded directly onto the bike.”
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“The tattoos are applied even on the parts which aren’t visible at first sight.”
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“The work time for the tattoos to be completed took 250 hours.”
“Light colored cow hide leather, similar to the color of human skin, is engineered onto the bike.”
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on the most traditional motorcycle brand in the world, the Harley-Davidson. On the other, we integrated the mechanisms of tattoo machines to become integral and fully functional elements of the motorcycle’s construction.” Motorcycle’s construction Bikers often tattooed using self-made machines and in reference to this, the bike’s front suspension has the look of a traditional coil tattoo machine. The motorcycle’s construction also include other elements that draw from the look of tattoo machines. All of these parts are fully operational eleBTR 18 | BORNTORIDE.COM
ments of bike’s construction, and the mechanisms of these elements operate in the same way as they do in the original tattoo machines. For example, the exhaust pipe looks exactly like a Cheyenne brand tattoo machine, including the tattooing needles, which when you start the bike move exactly as they do when the tattoo machine applies ink under skin. Further more, the machine’s design is based on a number of technical solutions drawing from the turbulent lifestyles of postwar bikers. The lever starting the bike has a shape of a bomb detonator lever. The
rear light indicators look like brass knuckle-dusters. Front wheel caliper brakes have the appearance of handcuffs, while front clutch and brake handles are formed in the shape of “butterfly” knives. Additionally, in reference to bikers’ at times fractured relationship with the law, the break pump lever is shaped in the form of a section sign. The bike represents the old school style of bike building: front clutch and brake handles are made in the reverse form and construction includes the infamous “suicide shifter” – a mechanism in which the rider needs to remove one hand to change gears. Construction of the Cheyenne Bike The Re-
“The idea of creating a motorcycle covered with real tattoos came to me 10 years ago.”
cidivist took five months. The bike is based on the Harley-Davidson Softail model, but from the original machine only the engine (a Twin Cam 96”) and part of frame are left. All other construction elements and mechanisms are original solutions created by constructors of Game Over Cycles. Elements made by the GOC include: - frame made of C-bars (modified from HD Softail the frame) - rear swingarm made of C-bars - front suspension with shock absorbers - steering wheel with shift paddles and handles - brake pump
- foot control - rear wing - fuel tank - seat with mounting - engine covers along with engine barrels - air filter - front and rear lamp Tattoos Tattoos covering the bike were done by two Polish tattoo artists, Thomas Lech from Individuum Tattoo studio and Christopher Królak from Steel Will Tattoo Factory. The tattoos’ content relate to motifs decorating bodies of people inspired by and rooted in motorcycle communities. By creating both fictional
characters, as well references to real people and events, all of the visual motifs adorning the motorcycle tell the story of a man with a turbulent life. On the construction one can find tattooed arrest warrants, guns, cigar, shattered bottle of vodka, knives, razors, scenes from the times of prohibition. None of the tattoos done in a particular place is random and was thought out right from the beginning. Starting from a single element on the lamp, where deliberately a moth was tattooed as it is always attracted to light, to complex sequences of patterns forming a larger story. For example, one of these tales can be seen on the motorcycle’s front
“I have tattoos and I love motorcycles, I consider them as a way to express my own character.”
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wheel, where a story containing a sequence of consecutive events is presented – first a bank robbery, then the police catching the BTR 22 | BORNTORIDE.COM
perpetrator, putting him behind bars, a visit from a loved one, attempt of a escape from prison and so on. Image coloring is maintained in the style of retro tattoos. The only clear motive of color are card elements on wheels. They are designed to separate the individual patterns and elements of story, so that they are more readable. The individual stories are also distinguished by floral arrangements tattooed in between them. The tattoos are applied even on the parts which aren’t visible at the first sight – elements inside or at the bottom of motorcycle’s components, such as internal sides of cutin-half fuel tank. The work time for tattoos to be completed took 250 hours. Game Over Cycles Game Over Cycles is a Polish custom motorcycles manufacturer formed in 2012. Up until creation of the Cheyenne Bike The Recidivist, the company were most renowned for creating the Behemoth Bike. This bike is a custom motorcycle inspired by and created in collaboration with by the global Polish icon of metal music, Behemoth, particularly the band’s leader, Adam “Nergal” Darski. Last year, the Behemoth Bike won two awards at the European Bike Week (EBW)
held annually in Austria. In a Custom Bike Show contest organized at EBW 2013 by Harley-Davidson brand GOC, the machine took second place in the “Radical” category and won the prestigious audience award — “People’s Choice Award.” At the 2012 edition of the European Bike Week, Game Over Cycles’ chopper was also awarded with People’s Choice Award. European Bike Week is one the biggest motorcycle rallies in the world. There were 110,000 participants in 2012 according to organizers’ data, while as in 2013 year 100,000 participants and 75,000 motorcycles took part in the event. Game Over Cycles http://gameovercycles.pl/en Cheyenne Bike The Recidivist online: http://cheyennebike.com Cheyenne Professional Tattoo Equipment: http://www.cheyenne-tattoo.com Zodiac: https://www.zodiac.nl Individuum Tattoo http://individuum.pl Steel Will Tattoo Factory https://www.facebook.com/www.steelwilltattoofactory.eu
“It is a true honor to design, publish and tell this story in Born To Ride.”
Ron Galletti
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“Game Over Motorcycles is a Polish Custom Motorcycle Manufacturer formed in 2012.”
“See this Motorcycle at the 75th Anniversary Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota.”
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Riding the Wild Side
Making the Move from Cruiser to Sport Sport bikes used to intimidate me. And their riders, I had always assumed, were “young whipper snappers” with more testosterone than brains and training. I never had any interest in hopping on one. I’ve always been perfectly content loping along on my big heavy cruiser, enjoying the scenery and the sound of my low, rumbling exhaust note. Until about three years ago. Clicking around YouTube one evening, I happened upon a highlights video from the annual Isle of Man TT. Watching those superbikes helmed by fearless road racers, gunning flat-out through the countryside and quaint towns of this pristine little island nation, just arrested my imagination. I couldn’t
get enough of the wide-open speeds, the cornering, the acceleration, and the sheer “balls to the wall” abandonment those guys rode with. I soon began to watch MotoGP, SBK, and AMA racing whenever I could find them on TV. The more I watched, the more I wanted to try those kinds of bikes. And the more bored I became with just “loping along.” I found myself gobbling up everything I could read on more advanced riding skills, and practicing what I could on my cruiser (I have the scraped floorboards to prove it). Finally, with the wife’s approval, I picked up a used sport bike—a 1999 Triumph Sprint ST. The thrill I’ve had learning and developing my skills with this new kind of ride has been tremendous. It’s taken some getting used to, but here’s what I’m learning:
Riding Position Throwing a leg over a sport bike is entirely dissimilar to straddling a cruiser. Initially, I found my wrists hurt, my shoulders ached, and my neck got stiff, after just 30 minutes in the saddle. Granted, some of this was due to a couple of knackered discs in the base of my neck, but I also discovered the proper way to distribute my weight across the bike. Body position, leg room, handlebar reach, and seat height are radically different from a long low cruiser. So I’ve learned to hug the tank with my knees, tighten my core muscles more, and keep a lighter grip on the bars. A friend also advised I bend at the elbows some, and keep a little pressure on the foot pegs, which takes weight off the upper body as well. These have significantly reduced BORNTORIDE.COM | BTR 27
pain and pressure at the wrists, shoulders and neck … along with some well-timed, overdue chiropractic.
a little unnerving the first time. (Ok, I nearly wet myself. There, I said it.) I’ve had to learn to manage the throttle and clutch more judiciously, respecting the power and response. Riding Gear “Popping the clutch” or “thrashing it” are Ideally, every motorcyclist would gear up in phrases young sport bike bucks like to throw full-face helmet, armored jacket and pants, around, but in truth fluid use of both makes full-length gloves, and proper riding boots for more controlled riding. Braking is also prior to setting out. Unfortunately, many more spot-on. Even though my cruiser has cruiser riders wear the “biker” fashion- shorty double caliper, dual front discs, the braking helmets (or worse, non-DOT “brain buckon my sport is much more instantaneous, ets”), jeans, and mere t-shirts in warmer precise, which I’ve come to appreciate in weather. I have too, truth be known. Howemergency stops and wet conditions. ever, I would never dream of dressing down while riding my sport bike now. I’ve even ob- Cornering served some sport riders wearing inadequate I’ve also come to enjoy the ability to enter gear- t-shirts, tennis shoes, jeans or even corners hotter, and accelerate out, without shorts in warm weather, with their full-face scraping hard parts. Down-shifting, wellhelmet. They look ridiculous, but worse, they timed braking, and leaning my body into will look like a bloody mass on the pavement turns has given me added confidence and should they go down. No thanks, I’ve decid- enjoyment. Riding home from work one ed to “armor up” from now on whichever bike evening, I took “the long way,” on roads I’m riding. running through some beautiful, rolling countryside near our house. Not to mention a few Throttle and Brakes great twisties. I overcooked a corner at one On my cruiser, getting on the throttle delivers point, and nearly panicked, until realized I rock-solid, steady acceleration, but a handful had plenty of lean angle left to adjust. No of the same on my sport delivers wheelies. wide lane drift, no panic braking, no scrapThat might be fun occasionally now, but was ing metal, just quick body shift and deeper
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lean, followed by smooth acceleration out of the corner. My confidence notched up a few points. Cornering on a cruiser can be a laborious endeavor. On a sport, it can be pure pleasure. Don’t get me wrong—I still love my big heavy cruiser. For long days in the saddle, scenic riding through farm and dairy country to my south, and the breath-taking vistas of the mountains to my north, nothing beats a day of “loping along” on my long, low, chrome steed. But I’ve also come to love the more aggressive stance, styling, and ride of my sport bike. One is my “old reliable,” the other, my “new hotness.” It’s the best of both worlds. My wife says it’s just mid-life thrill-seeking, trying to recapture some of my youth. Maybe. But I’m enjoying my mid-life “crisis,” thank you very much. Rob Brooks Rob Brooks is a writer, a rider, and a man of faith and family. He has recently published a book, entitled “Road Dirt: The Musings & Ramblings of a Biker Preacher” is available on Amazon Books and Amazon Kindle.
Women’s World “Living Backwards to Really Start Living”
Have you ever avoided something you really wanted to do because of fear of what others would say or think of you? Have you held back because you doubt your capabilities? Ever felt inferior? Many will relate to this one; do you remember being a teenager and not wanting to wear something because you did not like some parts of your body? Do you now wish you looked like you did as a teenager? Yup! I know many, myself included, who can relate to that one! Have you wanted to ride a motorcycle but not dare fearing your skills or what others would say? Yup! I can relate to that one too; however, I did it anyway. When you find yourself facing possible death, as I have with lung cancer diagnosis, you realize that there is a whole world out there for you to live, much greater than you have allowed. You realize how important it is to take action now because life is not forever. You realize how wasteful and useless some self-imposed thoughts have held you back. I too fell into some of these to some extent. Don’t wait until a possible end to begin to really live. Instead imagine the end with all the things you woulda, coulda, shoulda done and really start living while you still can. For example are you: 1. Holding back from what you really desire 2. Staying in relationships that are toxic or simply dead 3. Staying in a job/career that you dislike 4. Living daily as a robot simply existing without passion and excitement 5. Feeling lonely, helpless and hopeless for change 6. Prisoner of your own comfort zone 7. Pretending and smiling as if life was perfect to hide the sad truth 8. Settling for mediocrity 9. Conforming to what your family and friends expect of you 10. Living someone else’s life 11. Putting yourself last as if you were not a priority 12. Wasting precious time getting upset over things that really do not matter 13. Being bitter, angry, or seeking revenge when you are the only one who is getting hurt by not letting go When you are faced with possible death your entire life is played before you. You realized what really matters and what just sucks life out of you. People constantly hear that life is too short, live full, etc. … However, that takes on a completely different meaning when facing death. Stop to really hear, feel, and see those words so you BTR 30 | BORNTORIDE.COM
can digest it into your soul. Don’t allow something so drastic to happen before you wake up and start to live full throttle with all your passion. LOVE TO LIVE Realize that you only need your own self-approval. Do what you want with your life because you only have ONE life. I have surprised many people in my life and riding motorcycles was definitely one of them. Not as extreme but surely shocking. I had to ignore and fight against all the naysayers, friends and family alike, who insisted it was a bad image and bad example because I am an attorney. I was told it was dangerous and simply not something for a professional to do. It showed me how much ignorance there is about bikers. Bikers are from all walks of life; doctors, lawyers, accountants, regular family man and women. Bikers are some of the nicest most caring people I have ever met. I will admit some have been the scariest looking, but many of the scariest have been the sweetest people on earth. Never judge a book by its cover is so true. Simply make sure not to hurt anyone, help others along the way and go live. Don’t stay stuck in places and with people that hold you back. Decide what you want and set out a plan to live it. For example if your career/job is one you are fed up with don’t quit if you have bills to pay. However, set out a plan to end it at some point where you have an alternative you do love.
If you have an inspiring story for Womens World, we want to know.
DOES IT REALLY MATTER Furthermore, do not waste your time and energy on things that don’t matter. Before you get worked up over someone or something stop and consider what it accomplishes and does it really matter. How many times have you gotten upset because you are stuck in traffic? Instead of getting a ll worked up think of it this way; how lucky you are that you are able to drive because many are so ill they cannot get out of bed or in a wheelchair? When someone cuts you off driving don’t get all worked up. Instead of getting angry be thankful you did not get into an accident. If you get all worked up and upset over someone cutting you off do you think it bothers them? NO it’s only hurting you and accomplishes nothing good. Let it go! Let it go! It is not worth your time and stress. FREEDOM Let go of the materialistic world. Material things are nice but don’t be attached to them. Seek freedom from objects to enjoy life. Simplify your life. Less is really more! Be real regardless of who will or will not like you. Leave superficiality out of your life. UNDERSTANDING/COMPASSION Take time to understand others and be compassionate. Put yourself in other’s situation and seek ways to lend a helping hand. Imagine if it were you how you would feel, what you would want. There is a lot
of pain and suffering out there where you can be someone’s angel from heaven in times of need. A great example is when someone is in the hospital. I use to do my best not to go as I dislike hospitals. Now I see that is an awful excuse. There is nothing that filled my soul with joy as when I stayed at the hospital and my room filled up with amazing friends and family. I saw other patients that had no one visit them and it was heart breaking. LIVING LIFE Start living backwards by imagining being on your death bed and how you would have wanted to live. Is what you are doing or not doing keeping you from really living? Love hard and passionately with your soul and in all you do! Don’t allow fear, doubt or anyone hold you back. You have all you need within you. Don’t doubt yourself. Be responsible, you were born to ride this journey of life so do it and don’t look back! DARE YOURSELF TO LIVE YOUR LIFE! Hayley B. Colina EQ Women Succeed, LLC www.EQWS.org
If you would like info on Born To Ride Womens Club, Email info@borntoride.com
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DESTINATIONS Good Bye 2014!
Wow, it is hard to believe that with this issue, 2014 comes to an end and we will soon begin another year! It is also hard to believe that this is the 25th issue of Born To Ride Georgia magazine. As I sit here and dwell upon writing this article, I also realize that I am going to soon be entering my third year of bringing you a destination to ride. This has been a tough year for actually leading the rides as the weather did not do us any favors. In the seven years that I have been leading rides, I have only canceled one ride until the year 2014. This year we have cancelled either four or five rides due to storm related weather. This has also been a challenging year for me health wise, as in May the doctors discovered a tumor that would eventually be surgically removed in September. While this did not interfere with the ride schedule, it sure added a lot of stress and when we got together to ride, I used those rides as a stress buster! As most of you probably already know, in December we do not lead a Destinations ride, but rather host an annual Christmas Banquet at Amicalola Falls State Park Lodge Restaurant. Our banquet this year will be held on December 20, so if you are interested in attending please contact me at wieberg@ellijay.com for more information. With all of that being said about no ride for December, the 2015 schedule is going to
change up a bit due to the fact of the longterm winter forecast, me still recovering from surgery to a certain extent, and the fact that this boy is just plain getting old and does not like the cold weather anymore. There will be no scheduled organized Destinations rides for the months of January and February in 2015. That is not to say that if the weather is nice that we won’t throw a spur of the moment ride in. Please watch my website www.northgeorgiamotorcycles. com for details about rides in January and February. With 2014 drawing to a close, I thought that it would be fitting to recall the worst and the best rides of the year. In my opinion, the worst ride that we did this year was our spring ride held in Tifton, GA. While Brandon and his team at Tifton Harley-Davidson did a great job as hosts for the ride, the weather was absolutely a nightmare. We had been planning this ride for months and it was to be our first Destinations ride in South Georgia. We actually had 45 of you all that preregistered for the ride and we were really looking forward to it! On Saturday morning, the rain and the winds came bringing flooding to the ride area, but we were committed to go. Three riders showed up for the ride despite the weather, so go we did! The entire weekend turned out to be that way and one of our faithful riders that
had come down from Dalton, GA to ride had to ride home on Sunday in all of this bad, bad weather. All 300 miles of it. Debbie and I actually stayed until Monday when the weather cleared before we rode home to Ellijay, a ride of 250 miles. In my opinion, the best ride of the year took place in September when 22 of us rode Wayah Road just outside of Andrews, NC and the Nantahala Gorge. The weather was awesome and the leaves were just getting right even though they were not in their prime. Wayah Road is rated to be almost as good as the Dragon’s Tail but is not as well-known therefore it does not have much traffic on it. The ride takes you through all kinds of hair pin turns around Lake Nantahala. The ride was great with a stop at Cherokee County Cycles and lunch at Rib Country in Hayesville, NC. I can’t wait to ride it again in the spring sometime! So with all of that said, as we look to the New Year, let’s not forget to remember the Reason for this Season! I look for to seeing ya’ll on some rides in 2015. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! As Always, Ride Safe & Ride Often Eric Wieberg www.northgeorgiamotorcycles.com
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“My gift to you”
It’s the time of year once again for sharing, giving and spending time with family and friends. A time for opening brightly wrapped boxes full of hopefulness and surprise. And my gift for all of you who have been following this Ramble On of mine for a while now is one more look at this month’s cover girl, the lovely Julia Maney from Cartersville, GA. We spent an afternoon at a Christmas tree farm shooting Julia for this month’s cover, but I thought we needed at least more look at this Georgia Peach before we move on to the next year. I know that if Santa Claus looked anything like Julia in this photo, most of us would find it difficult to be nice when we only wanted to be naughty. Besides the religious connections for most, Christmas has one thing that all the other holidays don’t have … gifts. All the other holidays we celebrate in this country always seem to lead to feasting and imbibing but no gifting. Birthdays don’t count of course because although you may think it’s deserved there is no holiday for your birthday. Christmas is special to most of us because of the joy given and received from those colorful big and little boxes, especially when it comes to the little loved ones in our lives. Not much beats seeing those young innocent eyes brighten more and more with each package they tear through; giggles and excited cheers of joy ring out as they see that certain video game, toy truck or cuddly doll that they so much wanted this year. Yes, to me gifting is what makes it such a special time of each year. But gifting for me has changed. It’s the way I shop for those gifts—I rarely even leave the comfort of my own home to do so. With all the retail sites online, why do I need to visit the mall and enter all of that chaos? As a matter of fact when I do shop, I don’t go to big box stores. I prefer to go to local businesses to find those special small gifts that are more about sentimentality than necessity. And by shopping at locally owned businesses, we help out the people of our own community at a time they depend on more business to make it one more year. BTR 36 | BORNTORIDE.COM
Take a walk down the sidewalk of your local downtown Main Street with all of the traditional lights hanging, just as they did when you were a child. The brisk and chilly air of December and the storefront windows decorated with Norman Rockwell-like tradition will bring back that nostalgic sense that no mall could ever do with its piped in holiday tunes and commercial driven appeal. And since I’m on the topic of giving, I have mentioned in the past that I have done a few rides to raise money for a few animal rescue facilities in Georgia. This is mainly a social network driven ride that I do with just a friend to various locations throughout the southeast. I use the ride as a way to raise donations through a page I have on Facebook and various local businesses that I reach out to. This year’s ride will be in the spring and there is a drawing for one of my fine art prints at the end. If you have any questions or would like to make a donation or pledge, please look me up on Facebook under the name “Eric’s Ride for Pets and Wildlife” and ask to join. This year, I’ve changed the name of the ride though, to honor my buddy that I had to let go of recently. I now call it “Lakota’s Memorial Ride for Pets and Wildlife.” So as I close out my last Ramble On of the year, I wish a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah and Merry Festivus to you all, and I want you have a safe and happy holiday and I hope to see you all next year. Eric Albright
The Life & Times of Motorcycles
And The People Who Ride Them
1st Annual Vixxxen’s Toy Run On November 1, in spite of snow and below freezing temperatures, generous bikers and supporters turned out to participate in the 1st annual Vixxxen’s Run. Although the weather was definitely not biker friendly, that didn’t stop bikers and ride supporters from caging all the way from Andrews, North Carolina, to Copperhead Lodge in Blairsville, Georgia. Many riders who couldn’t participate because of the weather came by to say hello, and drop toys at one of the many drop locations provided by supporting businesses.
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At the end of the ride, once everyone arrived at Copperhead Lodge, they were greeted by a roaring fire inside the lodge, and great live music provided by Roadhouse. Everyone enjoyed themselves, and at the same time participated in an event that resulted in a better Christmas for local community children in need. Lots of toys were collected! According to the Femme Fatales, the Vixxxen’s Run will definitely be back next year, and even bigger. We will see you then!
BONNEVILLE T214 • Limited edition Bonneville celebrating Johnny Allen’s 1956 land speed record set at Bonneville Salt Flats in the USA • Commemorates 100 years of land speed setting at Bonneville • Special paint scheme using the distinctive colors of Johnny Allen’s Texas Cee-Gar • Individually numbered 1000 unit limited production run The Limited Edition Bonneville T214 celebrates the achievements of Texas-born racer Johnny Allen, and his record-breaking Triumph-powered Cee-Gar streamliner which, in 1956, set the first of many land speed records at the Bonneville Salt Flats by recording a two-way average of 214.4mph.
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The “Texas Cee-Gar,” a Triumph Thunderbird 650 powered, methanol-fuelled motorcycle with a streamlined body shell was built by airline pilot J.H. “Stormy” Mangham, and Fort Worth dealer, tuner and 2001 Motorcycle Hall of Fame inductee, Jack Wilson and piloted by legendary Texas racer Johnny Allen. On September 6, 1956, AMA and FIM observers looked on as Allen set the world absolute speed record for a motorcycle at 214.40 mph. The
Let us feature your Motorcycle from your Dealership, Call 888-795-5779
TRIUMPH now-classic 1959 Triumph Bonneville was named in tribute to the Texas Cee-Gar team’s record-setting efforts. The 214.4 mph record lasted until 1962, when it was broken by Bill Johnson, riding the nitro methane powered Dudek Triumph streamliner to a speed record of 224.57. The new Bonneville T214 Limited Edition, based on the T100 Black, pays hom-
age to the remarkable land speed record achievement. The hand painted Caspian Blue and Pure White color scheme complete with red and white checker detailing echoes that of the 1956 Texas Cee-Gar. The blue front mudguard shares the same white star motif from the nosecone of the iconic streamliner. The shortened rear mudguard combined with blacked out wheel rims, handlebars, and rear suspension springs add to the authentic look which is complimented with red seat stitching detail and a smaller front headlight. Limited to a total of 1,000 bikes worldwide, each is individually numbered, and comes with an unlimited mileage, two-year factory warranty. Service intervals are every 6,000 miles, or one year, whichever is soonest.
Check them out at: Mountain Motorsports Lawrenceville, GA www.mtn-motorsportsga.com
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Philip Paul Clark Persian Gulf, Afghanistan KIA Purple Heart, Devoted Husband, Son & True Hero
Remember the fallen, honor those who serve, teach our children the cost of freedom
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Find Wreaths Across America 2015. www.wreathsacrossamericabushnell.com
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Events December 6, Athens, GA. Salvation Army Toy Run. Cycle World of Athens, 4225 Atlanta Hwy. $10 Donation or new unwrapped toy. 50/50 Raffle, free coffee and donuts. Reg. starts 10 a.m. KSU 11 a.m. (706)621-3158 or Mike @ Cycle World (706)548-3300. December 6, Commerce, GA. NE GA Auto/Motorcycle Swap Meet. 8:30 a.m. Buy, Sell, Trade automotive & motorcycle parts, accessories, tools, etc. Vendor spaces $20. Spectator admission $5. Atlanta Dragway, 500 E. Ridgeway Rd. brad56@windstream.net (706)424-5035. December 6, Savannah, GA. 24th Savannah Toy Run. Sign in 9-10:30 a.m. at Savannah HD, ends @ Savannah Wingmen Clubhouse. Entry $10 or new unwrapped toy value $10 or more. Live music, 50/50, door prizes. Webmaster@ abatega11.org or (912)441-7586. December 6 & 7, Roswell, GA. In-Store Silent Auction. Killer Creek HarleyDavidson®, 11480 Alpharetta Highway, bid on some of our most popular Parts, Accessories, MotorClothes® Merchandise, Service and Labor. The Silent Auction is held the first Saturday and Sunday of each month during normal business hours. (770)777-1000 or www.killercreekharley. com. December 7, Buford, GA. Annual Toy Ride. Bring a new unwrapped toy. Coffee & doughnuts 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. @ Frazier’s HD, 4699 Friendship Rd. KSU 12 p.m., goes to Chattahoochee Baptist Association on McEver Rd in Gainesville, GA. FMI www.fraziersharleydavidson.com or (770)945-6011. December 9, Dalton, GA. CMA New Life Riders Chapter Monthly Meeting. Second Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. at Sizzlin Steakhouse, Legion Dr. fellowship
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Let Born To Ride market, promote, and advertise your next event; call 404-788-3907.
s, Rides & Destinations and eat followed by 7 p.m. meeting. 4225 Atlanta Hwy. Get your FREE (706)980-8096 Robert Bearden. PICTURE printed on complimentary 2015 Cycle World Calendar. Donate December 11, Cartersville, GA. an unwrapped toy to the Salvation H-D of Cartersville Bike Night. 2281 Army Angel Tree on Display @ Cycle Hwy. 411 NE. 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. World. FMI www.cycleworldathens. Join us for beer, wings, live music, com or mike@cycleworldathens.com. outdoor games, & dyno shoot-outs. FMI (888)965-6342. December 13, Augusta, GA. Cakes at the Kickstart FREE Pancake December 11, Lithia Springs, GA. Breakfast. Augusta H-D, 4200 Belair HD of Atlanta in Lithia Springs 501 Frontage Rd. 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. FMI Thornton Rd. 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. Join (706)-651-0444. us for live music by Harms Way, food and fun. FMI (770)944-1340. December 13, Augusta, GA. Pictures with Santa & Holiday Event. December 11, Marietta, GA. 10:00 a.m. – 2 p.m. Augusta H-D, Christian Motorcyclist Association 4200 Belair-Frontage Rd. Photos Meeting, Blood Riders Chapter. Meet with Santa & Sleigh, holiday activities 6 p.m. @ Rib Ranch, 2063 Canton for adults & kids. Hwy. for eats followed by 7 p.m. FMI (706) 651-0444. meeting. Meets 2nd Thurs. of each month. December 13, Columbus, GA. Annual Painted Rock Christmas December 11-14, Roswell, GA. Party. Chattahoochee HD 3230 KCHD-U Basic Rider Course. 11480 Williams Rd. FMI (706)324-4294 or Alpharetta Highway. Interested in http://www.chattahoocheehd.com learning to ride or want to brush up on your basic riding skills? License December 13, Lithia Springs, GA. waiver class. Cost $320 per person. Santa Lands @ H-D of Atlanta. Class times: Thurs. 6-8pm at KCHD; 501 Thornton Rd. 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Fri. 6-9pm at KCHD; Sat. 8am- Join Santa for cookies & hot cocoa. 5pm at MSF and Sun. 8am-2pm HDAtlanta.com. at MSF and 2-5pm at KCHD. FMI or to reg. (770)777-1000 or www. December 13, Morrow, GA. killercreekharley.com. Customer Appreciation Party at Thunder Tower West. 1384 Southlake December 12, Eden, GA. District Pkwy. Noon – 5 p.m. free food & 11 Jr. ABATE Pembroke Christmas drinks. Photos with Santa’s helpers. Float & Parade. Gather for parade 9 12 Days of Christmas promo kickoff. a.m. @ Foxbow Farms 224 Raccoon (770)960-6000. Drive. Judging 10 a.m. Parade starts 11 a.m. Tricia or Jeff (770)748-5266. December 13, Roswell, GA.
This is How We Do It: technician December 13, Athens, GA. Free workshop. Killer Creek HD. 11480 Pictures with Biker Santa. 11:00 Alpharetta Hwy. Starts 3 p.m. a.m. @ Cycle World of Athens. Certified technicians question &
answer session held on showroom 2891 Lafayette Rd. fellowship & eat. floor. FREE. Held 2nd Sat. of each Meeting follows at 7 p.m. month. FMI (770)777-1000 or www. December 25 killercreekharley.com. Merry Christmas December 13, Savannah, GA. 20th Anniversary Christmas Party December 26, Savannah, GA. @ Savannah HD #6 Gateway Blvd. Frosty Balls Poker Run & Bomber Girls Cookie Drive. 6 Gateway Blvd. West. 2 p.m. – 7 p.m. $15 1st hand, additional $5. Free (912) 925-0005. addt’l hand with Abate Membership/ renewal or one dozen homemade December 14, Austell, GA. ABATE cookies sent to deployed military. of GA, District 4 West Christmas Run end @ VFW Post 660, Toy Run. Kickstands up 1 p.m. Ogeechee Rd. Music, food, 50/50, at B3 Bar & Grill (2523 Veterans door prizes. FMI webmaster@ Memorial Hwy.), stopping at the abatega11.org or (912)341-9522. Center for Children & Young Adults (13 +) & DFACS (younger children), ending at B3 Bar & Grill. Entry - one unwrapped present per person/per stop point. Jon Lambert – (404)368- January 1 2093 or Ann Turner (770) 941-1142. Happy New Year
January 2015
December 18, Athens, GA. 14th Annual Sheriff Ira Edwards Jr. Charity Ride. 1 p.m. at Cycle World of Athens. 4225 Athens Hwy. Fundraiser & Ride. FMI www. cycleworldathens.com or (800)7851292. December 20, Newnan, GA. Free Santa Event @ Great South HD, 185 Hwy. 16 East. 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. A professional photographer will be taking pictures with Santa & your picture will be placed in a customized Great South H-D frame for FREE!!! Also gift wrapping and local H.O.G. chapter selling homemade goodies during their bake sale. FMI (678)228-8213.
January 23-25, Atlanta, GA. The Great American Motorcycle Show. North Atlanta Trade Center. GA’s biggest indoor motorcycle show. Over 3 football fields of vendors & products. Live Snake Show by “Snake Master” Steve Scruggs. Live music, Bike Competition, Custom Builders, & much more! Fri 3 – 8 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m. – 8 p.m., Sun 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. www.northatlantatradecenter. com (770)279-9899.
To advertise your upcoming events in Born To Ride magazine Georgia Edition for free please email information to BornToRideGA@att. net. Submissions must be received by the 15th of the month prior to December 22, Ft. Oglethorpe, GA. publication. To view even more CMA Rugged Cross Riders Meeting. events, and pictures of events, visit Meets 3rd Monday of each month www.GeorgiaBikeEvents.com. at 6 p.m. at Park Place Restaurant,
To submit and view even more events visit www.GeorgiaBikeEvents.com
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Craven Moorehead
to the realization that I must find a way to at least salvage the season, and not let down my loved ones, family, and friends. But there are always setbacks. …
The internet, albeit a great thing for most people has serious issues and I have written several times that its sole purpose was for the distribution of pornographic material. Well, the dark side of that wonderful medium of communication recently took a toll on me. I went to the Home Depot to buy some building materials and that turned out to be a financial fiasco. My debit card was hacked, and the morons who got the card number were able to make sure that I had no dough in my bank account. Although the balance was miniscule, I spent several days trying to get back the money, and I was fairly sure that I had the intelligence not to use the card to do on-line transactions. YOU my friends, should be careful as well as the thieves who do this have the capability to access your information without using a local source. The bank tells me that sometime soon I will get my money back but. … Anyhow being broke always makes for a fantastic holiday season, but besides all that BS and misfortune I continue to fight and count my blessings!
The Soldier of Misfortune Welcome, my dedicated readers to the Christmas edition of my column here in this very special magazine. I have been writing for Born To Ride going on 15 years or more, purely for the entertainment of my readers (like you) who continue to remind me every time I’m too busy or drunk to turn in a story on time. I was certainly inspired by Hunter S. Thompson’s (Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, The Rum Diaries …) daily schedule which included rising at noon, smoking Dunhills, drinking coffee and cognac till the late evening when he would begin to write. Unfortunately for me, I can’t afford a lifestyle that includes these simple pleasures in life, with the exception of some bargain cigarettes and whatever beer is on sale at the corner store. For some reason I recently wished that I had published my incredible life journey as Hunter did, but alas, I spent most of my time working or goofing off instead of doing something positive. All my indiscretions and regrets probably are not on the forefront of your concern, but they will certainly continue to provide some interesting reading material regarding life on the edge of irreparable poverty. There are few things that inspire me more than that happy anticipation in the faces of the children who expect that special gift from Santa, and you can’t forget the same look that is displayed upon the faces of your spouses, family members, and friends. This is, after all the season for commercialism - and failing to live up to the desires of your specific beneficiaries will certainly cause a grave series of consequences which will haunt you for several months after the big holiday. For me, simply surviving Thanksgiving was tough enough. Unemployed and unable to make a decent living on the sale of my remaining possessions, I started to realize that this particular Christmas holiday wasn’t going to live up to the expectations of my recipients and the never-ending repercussions are likely to follow me for quite some time. This however is not a problem for a soldier (even a Soldier of Misfortune). I continue to fight even though that enemy wearing the festive red coat and the long white beard is threatening my home territory here in the trailer park. I have come Book the Craven Moorehead Blues Band, Call 888-795-5779
While you are counting your gifts this holiday season remember there are always people who have it a lot worse than you do. Remember to count your blessings! A few months before the holiday heyday, I bought this little crappy car for the ol’ lady to drive around. I didn’t have a lot of money from the crap I sold so you get what you pay for, but the thing was better than walking and it needed a little bit of work. Thanks to one of her brothers we were able to get the needed tie rods replaced without having to pay much. This was a blessing. Then when we needed an alignment, I took the car over to Absolute Auto over on U.S. 92 to get it fixed. These guys are great! So as it turns out, we also needed front tires and they hooked us up at a good deal. I would highly recommend them if you live in the Dover / Seffner area (813-659-1302). This was a blessing. The Ol’ Lady also got the El Jefe position at the trailer park, and we were very happy to move to a much larger trailer with a lot more room and a large kitchen for us to cook the food we don’t really have - and certainly this was a blessing! So, in my opinion I guess it’s not really about how much money you have to throw around – or how much you can tell people that you have more material things than them etc. etc. … I think that really the entire holiday season should be about loving one another and remembering that Christmas is really about celebrating Christ’s birth. I know that there’s a lot to do and a lot to say, but the reality lies in the blessing that we all have received. Keep the faith bitches!! I’m still pissed off, still broke, but I continue to believe and fight! Here’s wishing you a very great Christmas and remember to speed safely! BORNTORIDE.COM | BTR 47
Heaven’s Saints AGREE WITH GOD!
Agree with God by disagreeing with the devil. Jesus taught the power of agreement when he taught that if any two of us can agree on this earth, then what we agree about would be done by the Father; of course, we must take this in the context of God’s Will and His Word. How does this principle of agreement work? Jesus also taught us to “take no thought, saying…” (Matthew 6:31). Did you know you can “take” a thought or “not take” a thought? You do not have to receive and think the devil’s thoughts. You can simply not take them. But, you ask, how do I take a thought? Jesus said by saying it; by putting it into your mouth and speaking it. The devil’s thought would simply die without reproducing if we would not take them into our hearts by speaking them. You can not take the devil’s ideas by refusing to verbalize them and you can take God’s thoughts by saying them, by making them a part of your daily conversation … to yourself and to others. Proverbs 18:21 says, BTR 48 | BORNTORIDE.COM
“death and life are in the power of the tongue,” so, SPEAK LIFE! For example, when the devil says you can’t, disagree with him by agreeing with God’s Word that says, “I can do all things through Christ.” (Philippians 4:13). So, this agreement principle does not just refer to agreeing with another person. God and His Word are in the earth; so you can set yourself in agreement with the Words that God has spoken in the Bible. You may ask, “What gives me the authority to agree with what God has said?” HE gives you that authority in Hebrews 13:5-6, “BECAUSE HE SAID, “I will never leave you nor forsake you”, therefore WE CAN BOLDLY SAY, “the Lord is my helper and I will not fear what man can do to me.” Byron “HogDoc” Loyd HSMM NE GA Chapter
Check out Heaven’s Saints Motorcycle Ministry on Facebook or email them at hsbikers@yahoo.com