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MAIN OFFICE: 12467 Kinsman Rd, Burton, OH 44021 • (440) 273-9000 • (440) 425-0314 fax RETAIL STORE & OFFICE HOURS: Tuesday - Friday • 10am - 4pm PUBLISHER & EDITOR Derek Armstrong Smith • ThunderRoadsOhio@gmail.com • (440) 785-7331 SALES & MARKETING Iron Cowboy Productions, LLC • info.ironcowboy@gmail.com • (440) 678-8608 Northwest Ohio Area • Mike Stock • mikestock.tro@gmail.com Cincinnati Area • Doug & Cheryl Taylor • dougtaylor.tro@gmail.com DIGITAL MEDIA Timothy Cermak • DigitalMedia.TRO@Gmail.com • (440) 273-9000 LAYOUT & DESIGN Bob Mazur • Bobmazurphoto.com SUBSCRIPTIONS TO THUNDER ROADS OHIO are available for $34.95. Check or Money Order, payable to Iron Cowboy Productions, can be sent to: Iron Cowboy Productions 12467 Kinsman Rd, Burton, OH 44021
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THUNDER ROADS® OHIO MAGAZINE
FROM THE PUBLISHER Well, Ohio’s riding season is officially upon us. May seems the traditional starting point with Bike Blessings, Bike Nights starting up, and of course – Ohio Bike Week kicking things up over Memorial Weekend. Well, that’s how it’s traditionally gone at least. Of course, this is a Spring like no other – coming off a game changing year that has had everyone guessing since last March. Nobody has ever been through anything like this, and nobody really knows what to expect this summer. But one thing is for sure – we are going to be riding. This magazine is jam packed with places to go and things to see. We are back up to over 70 pages of bike nights, rides, bike shows, and at least two rallies to kick things off at the end of the month. However, the onus of state restrictions and COVID guidelines are still hanging over us all at this point and capacity / social gathering restrictions are still limiting live music / concert venues as I write this. Hopefully, all of that will change shortly; and our state can re-open in time for a less restrictive summer. I hope. Regardless, it’s going to be on us to do something that the entire nation as a whole seem incapable of at this time. We’re going to need to come together – and ride as one. We need to get out there and support the businesses, rides, and charitable organizations that many of us have just taken for granted for far too many years. It’s always seemed just a given that so many things would just continue on, and my continued remarks about “Supporting The Riding Community” has seemed more of a sales pitch than a call for help. But alas, we are indeed in desperate times for a lot of our favorite events and ride stops. Don’t get me wrong – this isn’t a time for doom and gloom. At this point, there are more bikes out on the road than ever before in the history of our state. Motorcycle sales – new and used combined, have been through the roof – and more and more folks are getting their old bikes out on the road again. All of the sales metrics for bikes and used parts, service – all support this. There’s A LOT to be optimistic about, and I’m optimistic that we will see our state restrictions roll back. Now, it’s just up to us to get out and support the events and businesses that give us places to go and things to do throughout the year. And it’s not enough to simply walk through their doors – we need to be positive and supportive. Understand that everyone has been through a lot. Understand that staffing is an incredible challenge that has countless small businesses struggling to handle even the limited capacity that they are allowed at this point. We need to walk in as the supportive Brothers and Sisters we are – and not simply be the demanding customers that we might have been in the past. Many of our favorite shops and bars are closing. Many of our favorite rides and rallies are no more, and it’s not just the COVID guidelines that have shut people down. It’s all the challenges of the past year – and many people reconsidering the hassle and stress of hosting events or running a small local business, especially these days. We need to be more supportive and understanding – and support the folks we want to see stay open. We need to come together and support the rides, events, and small businesses all across our state. No matter how much strife and division the news seems to be portraying across the country. We know better. We are all Brothers and Sisters on the open road. When we come across what might seem like a total stranger in need – we will step up and take care of things. Because we know that they are just a friend, a brother, or a sister that we haven’t met yet. We are in this together, and we will beat it together. Looking forward to seeing everyone at Bike Nights, Bike Shows, Rides, and Rallies all across Ohio this summer. Ride Strong and Be Heard in 2021! Sincerely, D. A. Smith
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OHIO’S MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE
