BIKE SHOW FEATURE

The 2021 Thunder Roads Ohio Bike Show Series Summer turned out to be a challenging one as we worked to adapt to ever changing guidelines and unprecedented challenges with many of our partners. However, looking back – we had some really successful shows. As always, we are grateful to everyone that came out to the shows and supported our “grass-roots”, informal format. and is OFFICIALLY over and we’ve just wrapped up our biggest show of the year – The Geneva Thunder Zone Bike Show! And yeah – it’s been a GREAT YEAR! After 2020 and with so much of the craziness still going on, we really weren’t sure how it was going to go. The riding community proved how resilient we are and sure enough – we are STILL riding and our shows were all well attended. Participation was great, even at the new locations; and more and more new exhibitors came out to show off their bikes! While we still have two more shows in October, things are mostly wrapping up in terms of the Ride-In shows which are our primary focus most of the year. Over the winter – we still have a few invitational exhibitions, but there are very few true open shows. It’s our hope, though, that we kick things off to start the year with some really strong ones. Plans are undeway and stay tuned for the announcements. If you haven’t already – be sure to like our facebook page (www.facebook.com/ThunderRoadsOhio) or follow our Blogs (ThunderRoadsOhio.com) for updates.

SHOW PICTURES

We’ve posted over well over 1,200 Bike Show pictures from this year’s series on our Facebook page, sorted in Albums by the particular shows. You’re welcome to tag and share these as you’d like. We are working with some new partners to offer the ability to easily get these printed and sent to you – with just a few clicks. Hope to have an announcement on that shortly. Currently, however, we do have the means to get you posters – even big vinyl banners for your garage – of any images we have. Our partner, NEO PRO IMAGING ( www. neoproimaging.com ) is able to do some amazing things with pictures – such as metal or acrylic prints suitable for mounting on the wall or professionally displaying. Email us for more information BikeShowInfo@gmail.com

We’re able to produce full color vinyl banners of photos or your design – for less than $2.50 a square foot!*

South East H-D Harley-Ferrari Night

South East H-D Harley-Ferrari Night

Lexington Blueberry Festival Car & Bike Show

INTERESTED IN HOSTING A TRO BIKE SHOW AT YOUR LOCATION IN 2022?

We are currently reviewing locations and locking down dates for 2022. It’s our hope to announce 80% of our lineup during the Winter / Spring bike events in order to get a jump on things. Email us TODAY for more information at

BikeShowInfo@gmail.com

For more information, email us at BikeShowInfo@gmail.com and follow us online at www.Facebook.com/ThunderRoadsOhio

All winners from the 2021 Summer Series are eligible to participate in these CASH winning shows. It’s our hope that both the OHIO BIKE WEEK SHOW and PISTON POWER SHOWS will be returning – but unfortunately, we were unable to make an announcement by the time we went to press with this edition. Unfortunately, both of these shows were cancelled due to the pandemic. Efforts are being made to finalize details on their return, but nothing could be made official yet. Thunder Roads Ohio has had a long-standing relationship with both Ohio Bike Week and the Piston Power Show and it’s certainly our hope that we can help support their return by hosting our Championship Shows as part of their programming. That’s why we’ve held out – rather then simply choosing a new location. Follow us on facebook (www.facebook.com/ThunderRoadsOhio) for announcements and updates on the upcoming INVITATIONAL SHOWS.

Start Something Old: Vintage Bike Shows

This year we tried out a few shows in a new format – focusing on VINTAGE BIKES, 25 years or older. These were smaller shows, allowing us to try some new things. First off, we’d like to thank everyone that came out to these shows. We’d especially like to thank those that took the time to tell us how much they enjoyed the shows and share suggestions. For 2022, we are planning on several shows dedicated to VINTAGE bikes. All bikes will be welcome and we will recognize the fan favorites, but bikes will need to be 25 years or older in order to qualify for the BEST OF SHOW and PEOPLE’S CHOICE Awards. We will be doing photo shoots and interviews as well with those exhibiting classic bikes, with hopes to share in upcoming issues of Thunder Roads and nationally through our partners at ReasonsToRide.com We are also exploring options of filming these shows and the interviews, in order to share with those unable to attend.

South East H-D Harley-Ferrari Night Looking forward, we’ve made a commitment to further developing the Bike Show Series – with the addition of more larger, regional shows. We will still have smaller community shows, but we are adding more shows connected with FAIRS, FESTIVALS, and of course MAJOR MOTORCYCLE RALLIES and EVENTS.

Thunder Zone Vendor Areas

For the larger weekend shows, we will be adding THUNDER ZONE Vendor areas to our layout. These vendor areas will offer a tremendous opportunity to reach not only thousands of riders – but far more, as many of the events embrace the entire community, drawing attendees from throughout their regions. For more information on vending at these events and to be put on a list for updates, email BikeShowInfo@gmail.com And we’ve already started adding NEW SHOWS and locking down dates for 2022!

VINTON COUNTY WILD TURKEY FESTIVAL

May 5-8, 2022

Thunder Roads Ohio will host a Customs and Classics Bike

Show as a part of this early May festival in the streets of downtown McArthur, in Southeastern Ohio. The festival includes activities such as great nightly entertainment – including Mr. Speed and

Confederate Railroad, a pagent, carnival rides and games, and of course lots of food and retail vendors.

LEXINGTON BLUEBERRY FESTIVAL

August 18 – 21, 2022

Lexington welcomes

Thunder Roads Ohio to their long running festival that features a entertainment, rides, games, festival food and more for the entire family.

FERRARI NIGHT at SOUTH EAST HARLEY-DAVIDSON,

June 17, 2022

One of the longest running

Bike Shows in Ohio returns in 2022, as South East Harley-

Davidson brings Thunder

Roads Ohio back to host their

FERRARI NIGHT SHOW! This one is sure to bring out some of the most unique and rare bikes in Northeast Ohio. These are just a few that we’ve already locked down, but we have A LOT more in the works! Make sure that you’re following us on Facebook (www.Facebook.com/ThunderRoadsOhio) for updates as they are announced. Register ONLINE at ThunderRoadsOhio.com for these Bike SHOWS and more!

HOW TO RIDE A MOTORCYCLE IN SNOW AND ICY CONDITIONS

For some, winter limits the bike to being a garage-based ornament. For others, a ride in snow is a necessity or just something you want to try. If you’re in the second group, read on.

By Simon Hancocks, VisorDown.com Contributor

Spring is a long time away, and a wintery ride through the snow can still be a rewarding experience, if it’s done correctly. How to Ride a Motorcycle in the Snow To go through the specifics of snow riding, lets break this down into some different types of snow – yes, there are a few!

Riding in fresh snow?

Fresh snow can be best described as virgin snow, as if you are the first vehicle to travel along that road. There are no tire tracks and the surface is smooth and soft and crunches under foot. First off, this is one of the better types of snow to ride on, as long as you can see the sides of the road and any traffic furniture that is. The reason for this is that as you ride over the surface of the snow, it’ll get compacted under your tires, filling the grooves within the tire in process. Molding the snow in this way will provide slightly more grip on the surface than riding on already compacted snow.

How do you ride on already compacted snow?

This could best be described as a snow-covered road that has already seen traffic. There are clearly defined tire tracks where car’s and traffic have driven. When confronted with this, it can be two easy to head to the already driven tracks left by other vehicles but that might not be the best choice. The compacted snow in the tire tracks can become polished and almost as slippery as sheet ice and once you are in a tire track it may prove tricky to get out of it! If you can, make for the center of the road and use the fresh snow in the center. Just take extra care if you must cross over any tire tracks at junctions and roundabouts.

How do you ride a motorcycle in slush?

The plows have now done their work and the bulk of the snow and ice is clearing. You’re now left with a slushy, wet and grey road to progress along. Riding on slush has one main advantage over compacted snow, as the bike’s tires might be able to cut through the melted snow, contacting the road surface beneath. There is a negative through, any areas that didn’t feel the full force of the gritter could be hiding a motorcyclist’s winter nemesis – black ice. As with any other riding of this kind, proceed with caution!

Get in the right gear!

Freezing to your core is never a nice feeling, it also makes your body tenser and less able to accurately react to messages from your brain. Wear your warmest gloves, textiles, and boots. Zip the jacket and trousers together to prevent any draughts and layer up beneath them. A cheap set of thin woolly gloves under your winter riding gloves might seem like a good idea, but for this kind of riding you need a deft touch. Heated gloves of grips (or both) is a better option.

Get in the correct gear!

No not clothing, your gearbox. For snow riding, you want to be in the highest gear you can possibly use at any given time. Doing this will suppress the power and torque of the engine and help prevent the bike from spinning up. If you can, try pulling away in second gear using low revs and slipping the clutch.

Take a seat

When riding off road and in mud, it’s best to be standing on a bike, not so much on snow. Keeping seated means your legs can easily and quickly come to your aid should you need them – and the chances are you will at some point Loosen up It’s hard to relax when riding in snow as it’s such a precarious situation but being tense will only make it worse. Loosen your shoulders up and keep a bend in your elbows. It’s easier said than done but makes a big difference to the amount of control you have.

Know where you’re going

Last-minute changes of direction are not advisable when riding on any kind of snow. Know your route and take your time. If you miss your turn, you’re better off riding around the bock then trying a U-turn.

Don’t mix it up

Riding a motorcycle in the dry is a complex thing to do, it’s just that after practicing for so long, your brain converts it all into precise and well-balanced reflex actions. Riding in snow is different, you don’t want to react to things, you want smooth, controlled actions. Plan for the road you can see ahead of you. When a corner approaches, slow the bike gently while in a straight line. Take the corner slowly and don’t be scared to trail one or both legs at your side. Only when the bike is out of the corner and in an upright position should you begin to increase speed again – not forgetting the rule about high gears! Any amount of braking pressure applied with even the slightest amount of lean angle could result in you dropping it. The same goes for acceleration. Opening the throttle with lean on the bike – even with the trickest traction control (which is generally calibrated for normal wet or dry conditions) – could result in the rear spinning up and sliding out from under you.

A Quickshifter might not be the best option

If your bike has a quickshifter, it may be best to clutch-shift normally. The act of feeding the power back in on the clutch is smooth and will upset the bike and the tyres less than a quickshifter’s mechanical brutality.

Everything takes longer in snow

Stopping, accelerating and cornering will all have to be approached in a slower, calmer and more measured way. If following another vehicle, keep at least double the distance back than you would in the wet. Start braking twice as early as you normally would.

Keep your visor clear

Don’t make the act of riding in the snow any harder than it needs to be! Keep your visor clear and mist and snow-free. Invest in a breath guard and fit the correct Pinlock for your lid. Keep you bonce warm too, a thin balaclava under your lid will help keep the winter chills at bay and will aid concentration.

Leave the Supercorsas in the garage

They won't heat up, they won't clear snow and they won't provide much more grip than a slick! Some decent adventure bike tires or even deeply grooved and fairly new touring boots will be 100% more suitable.

Be bright

Hi-vis isn’t cool or sexy, but in a snowstorm, it will massively increase your chances of being spotted by another road user. Even some reflective stickers on your lid are better than nothing. The other vehicles on the road will take longer to stop, let’s give them more chance of spotting us so they can start braking earlier. PLEASE NOTE: We are NOT recommending that you head out to ride in the snow – unless you are comfortable doing so with the right gear and equipment. ALWAYS wear proper safety gear. We are ALSO not recommending making any modifications to bikes or tires that might impact the handling or overall safety of the bike.

By Dysco, ADVRider.com Contributor Success depends a lot on the bike, and a lot on the rider. If you're new to riding, starting on the snow cold be a pretty bad idea, especially if you're going to be in traffic. Here's a few other things to think about:

Ground Clearance: If your engine sits 5" off the ground, then a 6" pile of snow will cause your engine to push against it and you'll lose momentum. Now apply this to 2 FEET of snow (parking lots and residential streets) and you'll be doing a LOT of work to get the bike through. It's a workout on your body and your clutch. Seat Height: You're gonna use your feet. It's not pussing out to dab in the snow. I use a foot outrigger at speeds from 0-75MPH when the bike slides, wobbles, or when I got bored. On snow and ice your foot glides along and it's a great balancing tool. You don't want to be 4 feet off the ground or you'll be falling over all the time. Also, think of the leverage you'll need to hold yourself up if your feet have no grip- you want to be able to lock that foot way out from the bike and make your tripod bigger. Compatible Wheels: It helps to have REAL DOT knobbies if you want a reliable snow bike. Others have done great with a more street-oriented dual-sort tire like Gripsters, but they're not ideal for a lot of fresh snow and slush. I used Kenda Trakmaster IIs because they're cheap and last at least 3,000 miles with the studs. I had one front go 8k. They make them in a 17" up to 160mm wide. If you don't have a 21" front rim, you may have to use a rear-use tire on the front which KILLS your cornering confidence and ability. Basically, you turn like a rookie when you're running that setup but It's stable. A 21" Dunlop D606 I put on a KLR650 one year handled great on the dry and took studs with no problems. My F650GS with the 19" rear on the front end was miserable in the corners. Weight: I believe heavier is better- more weight on each knob gets it farther into the snow and makes things more stable. I.E. a 200lb dirtbike will be a handfull and my 400lb BMW will ride smoothly. I also tried to keep the tank full when I knew it was going to snow. Keep in mind this is more weight you'll have to hold up in the slippery stuff and more weight to potentially pick up if you go down. Studs: I use street-legal automobile studs on knobby tires. Ice screws, sheet metal screws, and spikes aren't what I'm talking about. Sheet metal screws can be used in an emergency, but tire studs have been proven to help a motorcycle get around handily on snow and ice. There are helpful instructional websites and videos online for studding, or you can read on for how others are doing it. Stopping with studs: If you have studs, you have to slow down on dry pavement and leave greater braking distances. The only part of the tire you need to stud is the middle and that's what you stop with. You'll also engine-brake a lot more because locking the front becomes a lot easier with less rubber and more metal on the ground. I slide the rear end a lot at stops with the engine and it's pretty effective. On snow, slush, and dry pavement, my stopping distance is about the same. On ice, it all depends on how fast you're going. This doesn't mean your stopping distances will double, only that you'll have to ride less aggressively if you're an aggressive rider. If you're a calmer rider, you may not even notice a difference. The Good Stuff: You can maintain a pretty high rate of speed without the instability that you'll get in a car- basically because the gyroscopic forces of a bike wheel have more effect than car wheels. This means you can do normal highway speeds on the highway... in anything but unpacked snow over 2-3". I've seen indicated speeds of 85MPH on compact snow- with NO traffic around me. I can accelerate with minimal slipping on any surface faster than any 4X4 I've met. In a straight line, the traction is unbeatable on the snow and corners can be taken at a reasonable pace if you know what you're doing. Changes of direction need to be planned and executed with a decent amount of concentration. Fast avoidance maneuvers are possible depending on conditions but I try not to get into situations requiring them. Passengers: It can be done safely but I only reccomend taking passengers with a LOT of riding experience who ride very neutral- any movement can bring you down around a corner or over a bump. Dirt: Like a car, your bike will get REALLY dirty when it snows. So will you. Get tough gear that will last sand rubbing into it and ice forming on it. You can't be afraid to scratch your bike and you may go a month without being able to wash it because of sub-freezing temps.

Experience:

On my BMW F650GS in a bad winter storm with sleet, snow, ice, and generally awful conditions on my 32 mile commute between Broomfield and Aurora, CO. On a Honda Ruckus with studded 10" tires, I found that packed snow was lots of fun, but tracked snow and loose snow was miserable because of the tiny wheel diameter- the small wheels followed tracks randomly.