ROAD TALES

As Told By THE IRON COWBOY

RIDE & EVENT UPDATES / ANNOUNCEMENTS

Blue Line Unlimited Organizes Ride for First Responders

Saturday, August 1, 2020 Multiple Starting Points – All Ending at Geauga County Fairgrounds (Burton, OH)

Blue Line Unlimited was founded in 2016 with the goal of providing assistance to law enforcement officers and their families in the way of benefits, training, and equipment. Since then, they have donated over $150,000 directly in the form of grants and support to those serving and in some cases the families of those we’ve lost. 2020 RIDE TO BE HEARD

Saturday, August 15 th, Kent, OH

Honoring Our Vietnam Veterans! MATTERS NOW MORE THAN EVER!

With the ever changing guidelines and mandates from the State and the needs of those hosting, participating, and being honored by this event – American Legion Portage Post 496 and the American Legion Riders have requested to reschedule this Ride and the program to Saturday, August 15th.

Even though KSU cancelled their event w/ Jane Fonda - we feel that the RIDE MUST GO ON! It was ALWAYS about the VETERANS, Not HER! So just because the University jumped at the chance to cancel the ceremony and avoid further embarrassment over their guest - we feel compelled to STILL hold the event to honor our Veterans, especially those that served during the Vietnam War. For more information or to register for the Ride – visit the facebook page or event listing at https://www.reasonstoride.com/events/ ride-to-be-heard/

In the wake of all the current uncertainty and challenges in our country that law enforcement officers are dealing with on a daily basis, Blue Line Unlimited has organized a motorcycle run to show support and appreciation for not only law enforcement but first responders abroad including our police, fire, EMS, dispatchers, doctors, nurses, and our military both active and veteran. To kick off the ride, each of the participating counties will have their own starting points. From there, each group will journey to the Geauga County Fairgrounds in Burton, OH to celebrate our first responders. Starting points will be hosted in countries across Northeast Ohio – including Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Portage, Summit and Trumbull. The ride is $20 for each rider and includes both the ride and admission to the after event at the fairgrounds. If you pre-register by June 27 th , you’ll also receive a FREE Ride T-Shirt and lunch provided by Mission BBQ - an all-American barbecue restaurant dedicated to serving first responders and military. For those who are unable to ride but would like to attend the event, a ticket option is available that includes admission to the event along with a lunch provided by Mission BBQ. You can register for the Ride at www.BlueLineUnlimited.com. For more information, including being a SPONSOR or RIDE STOP, email Nicole at Bluelineunlimited@gmail.com 9 th Annual Ride for a Mission 2020

Saturday, September 12 th, Cleveland, OH

“The Ride is on and we are making adjustments to adhere to coronavirus safety guidelines.” Join hundreds of riders and enthusiasts for a police-escorted cruise around Cleveland as we rally around making a difference for men, women, and children experiencing homelessness. This is a GREAT cause that we’ve been proud to support since the launch of their ride. I even come out and help serve Christmas Dinner out at the main campus each year – it’s really an incredi ble organization that really makes a direct impact on the lives of many in our own community. For the past eight years we've had fantastic weather, an abun dance of coveted door prizes, and a chance to win an amazing raffle bike. Every participant receives one raffle ticket with their registration and will have their chance at aHarley-Davidson® 2020 Electra Glide ® Standard.Additional raffle tickets are avail able for purchase now, and make a great gift. Registration begins at 9am at 18120 Puritas Ave. l Kickstands up at Noon l After Party at 1pm at 5310 Carnegie Ave. For more information visit TheCityMission.org/ride

Follow us on Facebook at THUNDER ROADS OHIO for updates, photos, and more - updated DAILY. www.facebook.com/ThunderRoadsOhio

2020 ReasonsToRide.com Photo Contest

Get your pictures – your bike, your friends featured in TRO!

Thunder Roads Ohio will be participating in the ReasonsToRide.com photo contest this summer and will be selecting submitted shots for upcoming features both within the magazine and online. Judges will also be selecting some shots for possible COVER FEATURES for Thunder Roads Ohio and other regional motorcycle magazines across the country. For those submitting photos and feature materials selected to be used in the magazine or as online features, full recognition will be given alongside any placements for both bikes, models, and those taking the pictures. Additionally, anyone submitting feature photos or feature materials used by TRO or ReasonsToRide.com will also receive a RTR PHOTOGRAPHER or CONTRIBUTOR shirt! For full details visit the Thunder Roads Ohio facebook page (www.facebook.com/ThunderRoadsOhio) or www. ReasonsToRide.com

JOIN THE CREW: Opportunities for local riders to help support their riding community.

With the 2020 Riding Season finally getting underway, it’s clear that there will be a much greater demand for local coverage across the state as more riders will be staying closer to home for smaller rides and events. This means that TRO will need even more help covering these events – both getting the word out in advance and taking pictures and covering the events as they happen. As always, Local Road Reps will have the opportunity to make some extra cash covering their area – if they’d like. But for many, the real appeal is being able to help these local events succeed and share their story with the rest of the state! The cool part, though, is that you don’t have to sacrifice one for the other. You can both help the local riding community and make some $$$ doing what you love! How cool is that?! No magazine experience is needed, however you’ll need access to a computer that you feel comfortable using and possibly a camera. Although, some simply use their phone! The key, though, being able to handle yourself professionally while still having fun hanging with bikers! It’s a tough job, but somebody gets to do it!

Reader’s Ride Feature by Don V, Dayton OH

READER’S RIDES

TRO is teaming up with ReasonsToRide.com to offer NEW Reader’s Rides features both within the magazine and online. Readers are encouraged to submit pics and information on their bikes to ReadersRides@ReasonsToRide. com. Submissions will be reviewed for possible inclusion in upcoming print or online features, or possibly for a dedicated feature or sponsored photo shoot where practical. Readers having their bikes chosen for a cover or dedicated feature will receive special RTR and Bike Show Series swag – along with copies of the printed magazines. There will also be opportunities to get printed copies or even posters made of the features. For more information, visit ReasonsToRide.com/ReadersRides

WHITEHORSEBIKERCHURCH

Over the last several years, Thunder Roads Ohio has worked to develop ATTENTION MOTORCYCLE SHOPS / CUSTOM the TRO Championship Bike Show Series as a means of showcasing both the rides that our readers have and the amazing works of rolling art that BUILDERS / PAINTERS: local shops and builders have been producing in an informal, fun format. For shops interested in participating and possibly exhibiting customer Along the way, we discovered that many local riders had never participated and shop bikes, a limited number of shop displays are available at in a Bike Show – never considering that their bikes were “show worthy”. Thunder Roads Bike Shows. Participating shops and organizations are It turns out though, that most riders have an appreciation – even a love of able to offer special incentives for their customers and members. For motorcycles that goes beyond the amount of chrome on a bike or if there more information or to reserve space for group bike displays (i.e. shops, are water spots and dust on them. We’ve hosted Bike Shows at indoor clubs, race teams, etc..) email BikeShowInfo@gmail.com venues showcasing bikes with less than a dozen miles on them – and we’ve hosted Bike Shows at outdoor venues ranging from dealership INTERESTED IN HOSTING A TRO BIKE SHOW AT parking lots to grass fields with countless entries still hot from riding in from YOUR LOCATION? across the state! Throughout, we’ve discovered that it’s not always the most polished that gets the attention, but it’s the love and work that goes into the bike that everyone appreciates. Even if you’ve never participated Email us TODAY for more information at BikeShowInfo@gmail.com in a Bike Show before, we encourage everyone to participate and have fun with the shows! Chances are that you’ll discover a greater appreciation for what makes your bike unique and meet some other folks with a similar passion. And we’re certain you’ll have a blast! The TRO Bike Show Series features local, regional, and nationally recognized shows that all builders and bike owners are welcome to participate in. Vintage, metric, v-twin, customs, restored antiques, “restomods”, trikes, and radicals are all welcome to the show. These shows are RIDE-IN shows, meaning the bikes are expected to be ridden and a little bit of road dust is fine. We don’t split hairs over trailering in bikes, but we do require that all bikes must be functioning. They must start and be able to be safely ridden on the road. Most of the shows include voting by event attendees and weighted judges scores. We use this approach to make certain we include both the “popular opinion” and an objective review of the bikes.

Interested in coming out? It’s easy!

Geneva Bike Show. Just visit us online at ThunderRoadsOhio.com and you can register for whichever show you’d like. By Pre-Registering, you are locking in your spot, saving a few dollars, and you’ll even get a FREE T-Shirt! Then come on out to the show! Specifics vary by show, but it’s generally an informal process. You’ll meet other builders and exhibitors – and most likely UPCOMING SHOWS! walk away with more than a few new friends in the motorcycle community.

Due to the Shutdown Order currently in place as TOUR NOTES: we go to press, we ask that everyone visit us online

• Vendors and Local Riding Organizations are invited to come out and at ThunderRoadsOhio.com or our Facebook page set up at many of these shows. You must register in advance though, by emailing ThunderRoadsOhio@gmail.com at www.facebook.com/ThunderRoadsOhio for • Tour Series Shirts are now available online at ThunderRoadsOhio.com or information on upcoming Bike Shows. by clicking SHOP NOW on the Thunder Roads Ohio Facebook page. Bike Show Registrations NOW OPEN@ ThunderRoadsOhio.com