FROM THE PUBLISHER
For more than 15 years now, we’ve been actively supporting the riding community by working with local businesses and riding organizations to connect with riders in their area. For local non-profit groups and charitable events – we offer the chance to reach THOUSANDS of riders for less than the cost of 100 “xerox copies”, in many cases we are able to do it for FREE with the support of our sponsors.
From day one, we have also never “JUST” been about print ads in a magazine. We’ve always had an active online presence – with over 300,000 subscribers and followers; but we’ve gone beyond that even – with an active onsite presence at over 80 events a year! That’s part of our overall approach – DIGITAL + PRINT + ON-SITE. And in most cases we don’t simply “show-up” – we’re a part of the show! We actively support event organizers by getting the word out before – and then we help kick things up at the actual events! Nobody does it like we do it!
Yet another point of distinction is that we’ve also never limited ourselves to the confines of a small area. We’re bikers and our bikes aren’t restricted by city, county, or even state lines. We cover the entire region – just like you can! While we produce state specific editions, we will be focusing more and more on larger regional editions and broader coverage in the upcoming year.
I traditionally start each year by encouraging everyone to get more involved and possibly commit to new events as part of your new year resolutions. This year, I’d like to suggest expanding your focus to beyond your community and consider more regional or national events as plan your upcoming rides. Traveling unknown roads, discovering new stops, and meeting new folks is really one of the most satisfying aspects of riding. The idea that you can ride for hours, stop at a small roadside diner for dinner, and then meet an new brother or sister sitting next to you at the counter recharges your faith.
Regardless of all the division that the regime or mainstream media might sow, we are still all brothers and sisters. Our machines allow us to cut through the distractions of the day and connect with kindred spirits anywhere we go. We may have different backgrounds, practice different professions or religions – but at our core, we are brothers (or sisters).
That’s pretty cool and worth remembering. And a road trip beyond our normal routes is often the best way to really experience this.
To close, I’d like to wish everyone the best for the upcoming year – and to thank you for yet another year of supporting our Ride!
Sincerely,
D.A. Smith Publisher, Reasons To Ride
Smith
Motorcycle Ministries and Bike Blessings
We believe strongly that while an occasional solo ride can be rejuvenating, far too many of us are riding alone – figuratively and literally. And for those struggling with life and trying to find a better understanding, a motorcycle ministry might be just the thing for those looking to connect with other riders and their own faith.
For that reason, we seek to actively support motorcycle ministries within our local community. From our regular monthly ministry pages and event bulletin boards, to supporting rides and events out in the community - we believe in getting the word out so that riders can find a possible connection.
If you’re involved in a motorcycle ministry, we would like to hear from you. Send us an email with a brief background on your group and contact information – and we will get in touch. If you have a card or flyer, sharing information about an upcoming event, services, studies, or other opportunities to meet up – we will do our best to include the information and possibly the flyer itself in the magazine. If you are hosting a BIKE BLESSING this Spring, we would welcome you to share the information by entering it on our website – at reasonstoride.com/submit-event. You can enter the information there directly, even upload a flyer. With the support of our sponsors, we will do everything we can to include as many Bike Blessings as we can within the magazine and online. We will also have FREE Bike Blessing stickers for those looking to hand them out to riders. We introduced these last year, and they were EXTREMELY popular. Email us at Info@ReasonsToRide.com for more information on the stickers or how we can help sponsor / promote your upcoming blessing, ride, or other event!
BECOME A LOCAL ROAD REP
If you’re a rider that’s active in your local riding community, we’d invite you to consider becoming a Local Road Rep for Reasons To Ride. This is NOT meant to be a high-pressure sales position and is probably best as a fun side gig for those that want to get involved in the local riding community. It might be a great opportunity for a retiree or a supplement to those with the summer off. And for active riders already involved, it’s a great chance to help promote local events and businesses, while making a “few dollars” to support your riding habit!
Like most things, you get what you put out of it. If you’re really active and cover a larger area, you can make good money – but that takes time and commitment. The real payoff is to have a good time as the person to see about getting events or even just a picture in the “local biker mag”.
We aren’t looking for guys wanting to be “part-time bad guys” or any nonsense like that, we’re looking for reliable good folks that want to help support others in the community. The ideal folks might be active supporters of a local charity and are looking to expand their activities while getting more exposure for their own ride.
We can handle the sales aspects of the area, but we will look to you for pictures of local events and updates as to what’s coming up. And you’ll be able to make some money doing what you’re most likely already doing.
We’re asking for a minimum time commitment of 8-10 hours a month. It helps if you have a laptop and a camera – although a smartphone can usually do it. You’ll get some cool swag, access to rallies and other events, and a chance to help a lot of local folks. As our coverage and presence in the area increases, you are able to share in the revenue generated. It’s a proven business plan – it’s what built this entire organization. We think it’s a pretty good deal – for the right folks.
If any of this sounds interesting to you, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We will be scheduling “Intro Video Seminars” over the next few months to help explain how it all works. And now is the time to jump in, as we prepare for the change in season and begin looking to next year.
TRAINING SEMINARS now being scheduled for JANUARY 2025. Both regional and online meetings available. Don’t Miss Out!
So don’t delay – send us an email and tell us a little bit about yourself! Info@ReasonsToRide.com
Reasons To Ride Partnering with The Ticketing Co.
As we announced last month, Reasons To Ride has entered into a partnership with TheTicketing.Co to offer event pre-registration and ticketing for events and concerts.
TheTicketing.co is a proven platform used by literally thousands of event organizers across North America. In fact, over $50,000,000 in tickets have been processed by The Ticketing Co. And now, Reasons To Ride is offering their online services to the motorcycle community – backed by our online resources reaching over 1,000,000 riders monthly!
TheTicketing.Co has a platform that offers an unbelievably simple and easy to use process for setting up ticketing and then hits it out of the park with a just as simple and easy process for those looking to pre-register or purchase tickets for your events!
Working with TheTicketing.co, you’ll be able to easily set up an event and offer pre-registration / ticket sales within minutes. And your tickets are available for sale immediately. Refunds, cancellations, and even layaway plans – all handled easily by TheTicketing.co at NO ADDITIONAL cost to event organizers or the charities being supported. On-site ticket validation and check-in can be handled by laptops, through your own cellphones, or through customized handheld scanners that can be purchased or rented for your event. All devices or app’s can scan the ticket QR codes or use an attendee check-in function to search for tickets by name, email, or order id. You can even use TheTicketing.co for box office services on-site at your event to accept credit card, debit card, and all mobile payment options – including Apple pay!
Event organizers are able to track their sales online and view on the custom app platform. Then once your event is over, you can get your funds promptly and easily. In most cases, events are reconciled almost instantly and the payouts are handled on the Monday or Tuesday following your event.
Pre-registration for events – and especially charitable motorcycle rides – has proven to be a very effective way to improve planning and manage costs. Pre-registration allows you to help protect events from challenging forecasts and eliminate bundles of leftover merch – by not only getting an exact count of confirmed riders, but also their shirt sizes in advance! Reasons To Ride is able to support the online sales by getting the word out and driving traffic through online, print, and on-site promotions! Nobody does it better!
To be clear, here’s what RtR is offering through TheTicketing. co
• Online Ticketing and Pre-Registration at NO COST to event organizers or the charities they support.
• Marketing support through Reasons To Ride including digital, print, and even street teaming at regional events – often at NO COST through the support of RtR and our sponsors.
• No cost ticket check-in and day of event box office options – all included, no additional cost.
• Industry leading customer service – with REAL people on the other end.
• Online sales tracking and reporting instantly through the app or website.
• Prompt payouts, usually within one week of your event ending.
The first step? Email us at Info@ReasonsToRide.com for more information or so get things started! We can schedule a conference call or possibly even an on-site presentation to help explain how it all works. Even if you’ve tried “online ticketing” or have something on your own website – this new partnership offers SO MUCH MORE at essentially NO COST to your organizations or the charities you support.
NOW BOOKING FOR 2025
Reserve your date for a RtR BIKE SHOW, TATTOO PARTY, SOUND COMPETITION, or PHOTO SHOOT!
As the year winds down, it’s time for us to focus on next year’s event schedule. One of the biggest challenges we face every year is trying to develop a schedule that covers “our market” with active appearances and reaches the most riders – without stretching us too thin… or simply burning us out. Yes, that’s an actual consideration – I promise.
NOW BOOKING WINTER CABIN FEVER PARTIES!
Over the last several years, our winter bike nights – aka CABIN FEVER PARTIES – have proven to be a GREAT WAY to build awareness of a new ride stop or location catering to riders, or a way for a popular ride stop to bring everyone back in for a taste of the bike night festivities with all the familiar faces.
Reasons to Ride will take care of hosting the party and giving it that “bike night feel” without the actual motorcycles. And often, we’ve found that it makes for an even better event for the venues than the actual bike nights – without having to compete with over stops or simply the lure of the open road. Folks come out and they stay for the night, instead of hanging out for a few and then going riding.
NEW MARKETS: NEW PARTNERS SOUGHT
With us now expanding our focus to include APPALACHIA, NORTHERN NEW YORK, WESTERN PA, and parts south… we’re looking for existing events and strong partners for us to develop a relationship with through hosting events and sharing their message.
Our BIKE and TATTOO SHOWS are designed to not only entertain folks, but to actively engage riders and allow both us and our partners to network with. Anyone that’s attended our shows can attest to the family approach that we take with our exhibitors. It’s NOT simply about the bikes or even the ink – but the folks showing them off as well. But this approach is one that we seek to develop over time – by finding
the right partners and building the shows year, by year. For instance, our Geneva-on-the-Lake Bike Show is going on 15 years. During this time we’ve seen builders and “fades” come and go – and bikes exhibited by multiple generations. We’ve seen multiple cutting-edge bikes come and collect all the awards – and then serve as the inspiration for the bike that comes and takes the trophy the next year. It’s pretty cool.
Our TATTOO PARTIES are designed to not only showcase amazing artwork done throughout our communities, but to also bring out new folks into our community. We want to reach into the TATTOO COMMUNITY and encourage them to come out and experience the riding community and the energy we have. That means new customers that might not otherwise frequent your event or business. And those new folks might inspire even more folks as they come back and share their experiences without their circles.
To this end, we offer turn-key promotions that work to maximize the marketing potential of your event or business. Our shows have evolved over time, with new features and extras added each year to create excitement and ensure ours are the best in the area. We take care of all the essentials and can even bring our own power if need be. The host venues can simply focus on taking care of the guests and doing what they do best.
There’s no need to try re-inventing the wheel –when we have an established series of tattoo events and bike shows that are well known within the community. Over 900 bikes and over 500 tattoos were featured in our 2024 Tour Stops! If you’re looking for a long-term partner, to bring a turn-key event to your location which we can establish as a marquee annual event – we might be just what you’re looking for. Contact us at BikeShowInfo@gmail.com or you can call me directly at 440-678-8608.
MOTORCYCLE MINISTRIES
MARY GILBERT, CMA STATE COORDINATOR
In the year 2025…
Yes, I know it’s 2525 in the song, but you know how it is when you get a song in your head! How are you all doing? Did you have a great holiday? Did you maintain while gathering with the fam? It’s hard to do sometimes, but I must tell you, when it’s all said and done, hanging with the friends and family around the special times makes for some good memories!
Speaking of memories…how did you do on your 2024 resolves? Did you meet your goals, get the lead out and complete the projects? Did you start something new? Maybe a new relationship, or a move to a new town or just across town to a new place? New job? Maybe you just went on a trip you had never taken before. Well, guess what! If you didn’t do anything at all that was different, it’s a brand-new year! You can start all over again! That’s worth shouting about! (Nevermind….I shout enough at the college football games… but that’s another story!)
Let’s get back to new beginnings. We all need a restart at times, don’t we? We always think we have messed up one too many times to turn it around and when we realize we can, we usually take a step back with a shade of hesitation that we will
mess up again. That’s where trust comes into play. We have to learn to trust the process we are in and more than that, trust that the One who created us will lead the way for us. It’s a lot to put into motion, but it’s doable.
You see the biggest thing we all seem to lack is confidence in ourselves to do what we are gifted to do. We are constantly seeking our purpose and plan, but in all reality, we need to seek the only One who knows the plan. Then and only then will we know the path we are supposed to be on. Will there be bumps along the path, absolutely. That is life and sometimes it stinks, however the real deal is how we walked through the toughest times, what did we learn from it and how will it affect our moving forward? The real test of life isn’t the test itself, it’s the grade at the end. If we pass, we move on, if not, we may be destined to do it again a little differently maybe, but the same scenario. If we recognize that, then we will sail through easily. If not…well, that was a big mountain the people of Israel went around for forty years. Not just once.
Bottom line to this one: Get up, brush off and move forward. We are not even close to the finish line yet. It’s close, but we have a little more to do. We can do it! After all…It’s a New Year!
Get ready for it! CMA will see you in January, February and March at one of three Swap Meets or wherever toys are sold!
Be blessed and remember, you are of great value to everyone who knows you!
In
the Wind…
Mary G.
COME RIDE WITH US!
CMA is a servant minded interdenominational motorcycle ministry with a non-denominational message of hope and love through Jesus Christ. Enjoy the family atmosphere, make life-long friends, and join an army of people dedicated to changing the world, one heart at a time in the highways and byways.
Visit us at www.cmausa.org for more information.
Have a message you’d like to share?
If you have a message that you’d like to share with riders across Ohio and the Midwest, let us know. Reasons To Ride welcomes the opportunity to work with established motorcycle ministries. Feel free to share upcoming events with us as well, by emailing information to Events@ReasonsToRide.com
Sport Touring Corner
By Norm Kern, MSTA Editor / ReasonsToRide.com Contributor
New Bluetooth Communicators and Features 2025
All of us who use Bluetooth communicators wish that Sena and Cardo mesh systems were more compatible. While agreeing, I am thankful that the brands both exist, as they are driving each other to offer improvements and features that we would never see without the competition between them. Customers of both will see benefits in 2025.
Let's start with Sena, who just started shipping the successor to their very popular 50 series, new 60S. Like the Cardo Edge, it is now IPX7 waterproof and uses a magnetic mount with its cradle. Eighteen hour battery life is claimed.
The 60S introduces Mesh 3.0, an upgrade to the 2.0 version we have been using for four plus years. It is claimed to have greater range and deal better with obstructions. Mesh 3.0 will be rolled out in firmware upgrades for the 50 series and 30K so they will be compatible, but the 60S has hardware refinements including a dual processor for AI noise reduction- the device learns your voice and actively filters out other sounds. Echoes are eliminated.
There is also a new intercom feature that uses the connection with a phone that uses VoIP over the cellular network as an additional data path, providing unlimited range for intercom to anywhere you have a cel network data connection. This requires a new Sena Wave on your phone. This is similar to a Discord app that some users of both Cardo and Sena communicators have been using for several years. The problem has always been that when there are gaps in the cellular network coverage, you lose intercom connection. The Sena Wave feature will be able to connect via Wave and mesh 3.0 simultaneously and will seamlessly use whichever one has better connection. The Wave app will work with Sena 50 and 60 series. Mesh 3.0 retains the 2.0 channels feature, but the number of channels is reduced to six from the previous nine.
On the hardware side, the $400 60S bundle comes with two sets of upgraded Harman Kardon speakers with 8db louder sound . There are two cradles, three microphones and an earbud adapter. The communicator even has a flashlight built into the front and includes several different color faceplates and jog dials.
I was looking at all of the stuff in the bundle and wondered why it was being offered. The answer is simple- competition. Let's look at what's new with Cardo.
The first thing I saw is that Cardo is now offering their Edge model with a second helmet kit for $475. That explains a lot, but there is good news on the software side as well.
Cardo just announced a ‘Mesh-Boost' package of new capabilities to all second-generation PACKTALK devices. ‘Mesh Boost’ expands Dynamic Mesh Communication (DMC) group size to 31 riders, adds Remote Grouping, and Public Mesh features and enhances existing Private Chat mode. On top of these, Cardo will also add a VoIP-based Cellular Intercom to all Cardo products using the Cardo Connect app.
The Public Mesh feature is a welcome direct response to Sena's Open Mesh, which has always been their users' favorite features- no grouping is required- just turn Mesh intercom on and every one in range connects. Details of Private Chat mode were not available but hopefully it will be something like Sena's Open Mesh channels function.
It will be fun to hit the road in 2025 and see how all of this works.
Let's Ride!
Connect with local Ohio Motorcycle Sport Touring Association riders at these monthly breakfasts:
Southwest Ohio Breakfast, 9AM, Jan 18th Village Family Restaurant
Central Ohio Breakfast Meet - 8AM Feb 2nd Portside Cafe 6515 S High St Lockbourne, OH 43137
cardo
sena 60s
Backroads of Appalachia! Celebrating an Incredible 2024 Riding Season!
We have some big news to share with all of our followers and readers this month as we bring in the new year with a Bang and some BIG ANNOUNCEMENTS we are dying to share with you as we celebrate a New Year and a whole new season to look forward to in 2025! Over the last 4 years we have been able to accomplish some incredible things since our start by bringing economic development through Motorcycle Tourism to Central Appalachia and it is all because of our Partners and Sponsors and of course our supportive Motorcycle Riding Community! Even after over 100,000 Miles of Driving and over 45,000 Miles of Riding across our Mountains and the U.S. to promote the “Last Unexplored Frontier on the East Coast” and our BOA Mobile Application, we would have never been able to accomplish what we have for our People without the support and assistance from those who believe in us and our mission and have from the start. This season we finally reached a number we have been working hard to gain since the beginning and a milestone we never thought possible, especially on our small marketing budget and to say we are grateful to you all would be an understatement. Thanks to the support and efforts of everyone we work with in 2024 we were able to reach over 125 million Riders through our Print Marketing and Social Media efforts allowing us to bring more Bikes to the Old Coal Belt than ever before and more help to our small forgotten coal towns across KY, TN, WV, and VA!
Trail Routes, and of course our Mountains and Scenery so special here in Central Appalachia. This also means that many small towns that had no economy before now do and it is all because of the Riders who came to see us this season! Our goal has always been to “Bring the Bikes to Appalachia” and help our people prosper again and now we are finally on our way to seeing that happen! What we do here has always been about our People and now our “Uniquely Appalachian Points of Interest” and our small businesses are finally starting to see the Bikes across our supporting States and we are now ready to take our Mission and Focus to the next level and bring even more Riders here on our journey to make our Region Number #1 if you Ride a Motorcycle! Now that we have given you our Gratitude and thanked you all for helping us help our people begin to prosper again let’s get to those BIG ANNOUNCEMENTS we promised you! First let’s start with a well-deserved award from our Annual
How many bikes visited us and rode with us on the Backroads of Appalachia in 2024 you might ask? Well we are glad you did and you already knew what was coming next and for us it is yet another milestone we have worked endlessly to achieve here with our small All Volunteer team. Over 75 thousand Riders is the answer and that is just what we can verify and estimate! Now Riders are starting to find out about the “Best Riding in the U.S.! Period!” without the Traffic of High Cost of Travel and with a level of acceptance everywhere you go here like no place you will ever visit and throw down on 2 Wheels! Riders are discovering what we have to offer them and what makes our People, Culture,
PINE MOUNTAIN CROSSING
Christmas Party! Our Annual “Media Partner of the Year” Award goes to one of our Marketing Partners at the end of each season and is chosen by our staff and our Group here on the Bike Side! Now before we get this out let me say that ALL of your Media and Marketing Partners go above and beyond for us each season and before we drop this first announcement we would like to thank Reasons to Ride Great Lakes, Reasons to Ride Appalachia, Cyclefish.com, and Bikers Info USA for everything you do for us and our Region and as you can tell by the numbers you read earlier and it is truly a team effort! In 2024 we truly reached the next level and this organization truly went above and beyond for us this Season to help us reach that 100+ Million Media Mark we have been chasing and they also have a lot to do with our visiting Riders from the Southeast Region each year. I am proud to say that Our first BIG ANNOUNCEMENT goes to our Media Partner of the Year 2024:
BORN TO RIDE TV and Magazine and all the Staff at Born to Ride for doing what you do with us here and for helping us “Bring the Bikes to Appalachia” from the beginning! Together we are truly making a difference for the People here in our Mountains! Respect Earned!
OK now let’s get to some more work to expand our efforts and throwdown some more great routes and rides for all our visitors next season and bring you even more to love here on the Backroads of Appalachia! As many of you may already know who have already visited us or have attended one of our events at home over the last 4 seasons then you may already know what is coming next as I have been evangelizing this GPS Enabled Motorcycle Application to everyone who visits us and have from the beginning. We have always recommended this App as the companion to our own as we used it for our rides and events here at the WCMG before we developed our own in-house BOA Mobile Application. As a matter of fact I used allot of the feel and functionality of this application as a basis for our own! Now before I give you the name let me explain to you why we have used this app from the start and still do! Here in our Mountains, there are very few Map based applications that work effectively due to our lack of cell phone signal here in our mountains and trust me I have tested them all extensively. There is only one that works perfectly other than our own consistently and that application is REVER! As part of our ongoing relationship with our partners at REVER we are bringing you our most popular routes from our BOA Mobile Application with all the great functionality REVER provides that our own App cannot do to certain limitations and before next season begins, we will have all of them up for you to enjoy! This will include all our “Uniquely Appalachian” POIs as well as all of our most popular and most requested Annual Rides such as THE IRON KY, The Miners, Shiners, and Heroes Ride, Our Lighting Strikes Twice Ride, Our All-Aboard Ride, and a whole lot more! Many new custom rides will be released by us and our “All Volunteer” Group that we have never made public until now! Straight from our local Riders here in Appalachia who built the BOA Mobile APP and from our own experience hosting over 180+ events across our Region. Now you may be asking yourself where is all this great stuff and where can you find it? Well you're in luck as we have already got started with our partners at REVER and we have already created the Backroads of Appalachia Community and you can find 10 of our popular routes from our Mobile App right now in REVER! Just download the REVER App and check it out in our new community now and stay tuned as we continue to add more content from our BOA Mobile App!
Motorcycle Group as that is where we started and that was our focus. After joining forces with BOA in 2021 our group quickly expanded our efforts across the Central Appalachian Region with BOA starting with in the BOA Mobile App in our home state and then into other States
Now the next question is where can you find all those custom rides and routes, we have created here at the WCMG that we give to visiting Riders who come see us here each season at every event we do? Well that brings me to our last BIG ANNOUNCEMENT and one we have been waiting for for a long time now. When we first started our Group, our focus was to bring motorcycle tourism to our home
Riding and Scenery you will ever experience and we have worked and ridden hard here in our group to bring you the absolute best we have to offer here in our neck of the woods. These roads have always been there and were built many years ago to reach these towns over these mountains and our mission has always been to let the world know it and bring Motorcycle Tourism to them bringing them new Hope and a new Economy to replace the Loss of Coal. As many of our Partners will tell you, we hold off on many things until we reach certain goals and milestones we have set forth for our people first and our commitment
and take what we do to the next level making our totally unique group Appalachia for local information and assistance while you are visiting us and everyone can join us here and be part of it! We already have Riders in our group from around the world and now that we have the
always our first priority, now it is time for our group and commitment to our people to expand here on the bike side of the house. For our last BIG ANNOUNCEMENT(BOA LIVE! Show Reference)I am proud to announce that next season our “All Volunteer” Motorcycle Group will become what we truly are now! It is my pleasure to announce that next season the name of our Group will become the “APPALACHIAN MOTORCYCLE GROUP”!
We are Riders for our Region and we do it all absolutely free and always have as our goal has never been money or likes or followers or reach, it has always been about our people and proving to the world that we truly do have “The Best Riding in the U.S.! Period!” and everyone is welcome here. Look for our new community coming soon on REVER and all those Custom Rides we promised that we have developed including some new ones you wont want to miss! Thank you all for helping us “Bring the Bikes to Appalachia” and economic development to our people here. We look forward to next season right here in the place we call home on the Backroads of Appalachia!
Let’s Ride Appalachia!
Jay Fryman (Frydaddy) Founder, Appalachian Motorcycle Group Backroads of Appalachia Journalism Team
SUMMERS COUNTY
ICE RACING 2025
The Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), the global governing and sanctioning body of motorcycle racing, records that ice racing originated in 1924 Sweden. And by the early 1930s, racer began fitting their tires with longer studs, allowing deeper lean angles and therefore faster speeds. The first “official” race took place in Moscow in 1939, according to the FIM, before being sidelined while the world went to war
Of course, it’s hard to imagine that racers weren’t taking their bikes out into the snow and onto the ice from the earliest inception of motorcycles – especially in Northern Michigan – where adapting to winter challenges, in any form, comes as natural as putting on wool socks. Even the Europeans and Australians credit Michigan’s own Staten Lorenz as being the inventor of the sport as it is today.
Although it is worth noting that Kent State University, in Ohio, is credited as hosting one of the first indoor motorcycle ice racing events in their hockey field house.
“It’s like a cross between flat track and road racing..”
“With frozen lakes and rivers, organizers find themselves with more options to lay out tracks and much longer courses – if they have the ice!”
ICE RACING BASICS
Racing motorcycles on a frozen lake or river is undoubtedly the most counter-intuitive form of motorcycle racing imaginable, as it’s challenging to even walk across a frozen lake without slipping and taking a fall.
Riding a motorcycle on ice seems impossible, but after you add a few-hundred razor-sharp traction screws to the front and rear tires, you’ll experience traction levels as good as the best dirt or even asphalt tracks. Unbelievable, but true.
Ice racing is the secret training weapon for flat track racers living in northern states, allowing them to stay fit and fast all year round. Riding off-road or flat track bikes modified with studded tires, special protective fenders and (sometimes) lowered suspension, ice racers compete on plowed courses that are either oval-style, like a flat track, or grand-prix style with right and left turns of all shapes and sizes.
The most popular states for ice racing are Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin Northern Indiana and New York. The best ice racers in the country compete at the AMA Ice Race Grand Championships, which offer classes for riders from 4 years old to 50-plus, competing on bikes, sidecar rigs and ATVs. In addition to racing for AMA National No. 1 plates at the AMA Ice Race Grand Championship, AMA members compete in local ice racing events every winter, too.
ICE RACING 2025
“There are usually quite a few different classes of studded and non-studded quads. Many things come into play with suspension and tire setup. Things like temperature, ice density, amount of snow, the texture of the ice surface, and many more make or break your setup. To make things more difficult, the ice changes every lap.
“Horsepower is simultaneously your best friend and worst enemy in both studded and non-studded, although you aren’t going to have much luck with a stock motor outside of the stock classes. It’s like any form of racing—a balancing act. You can only put so much power to the tires before they lose traction. Finding that sweet spot is the key.”
“Every club has its own rule book unless they strictly use AMA rules, but that is rare. Some clubs break them down by machine specs and others by rider experience/talent. The class rules tend to overlap, though, and the desire to bring in traveling competitors usually allows for some leniency to non-club members.
“The Non-Stud classes remove the front brakes for multiple reasons: weight reduction, less rolling resistance, and to avoid accidentally pulling the front brake lever and upsetting the quad.
Standard classes for Non-Studded are 0 to 300cc Air-Cooled, 0 to 400cc Air-Cooled/250cc Liquid-Cooled Hybrids, and the Open class. Non-studded tires look like TT/dirt track tires, but the surface is radically cut to get many biting edges.
The Studded classes are Sportsman and Open. The Sportsman class is for less experienced riders.
Most races take place on frozen lakes and rivers, but some races take place on flooded dirt tracks.
Quotes courtesy Stephen Tripp and Josh Underwood, as featured in DirtWheelsmag.com
2025 AMA D-14 - State Championship Ice Race Series Schedule
January 12th - Owosso MotorSports Park
January 19th - Whiskey Creek Campground
January 26th - Valley Trail Riders Motorcycle Club
February 1st & 2nd - AMA Ice Race Oval Grand Championships at Leisure Lake Family Campground promoted by Team CDI Racing
February 9th - Valley Trail Riders Motorcycle Club
February 16th - Port Huron Motorcycle Club
February 22nd & 23rd - AMA Grand National Weather Make-Up
February 23rd - Leisure Lake Family Campground (D-14 State Championship event provided this weekend is not the Nationals)
March 2nd - D14 State Championship Make-Up Date - Location TBD
1/08/25 05:30 PM
VETERANS 4 USA: Peer 2 Peer Support Group
530 we will be serving dinner. 6pm group will start anticipating 730 end time. This will be on the first Wednesday of every month Eagle Church of God
7087 East Cover Rd, Clare, MI 48617 989-418-8797
Veterans4usa@yahoo.com
Jan 10-12, 2025
Gibtown Bike Fest 2025 "Florida's Most Entertaining Bike Week!"
GibTownBikefest.com
01/11/25 11:00 AM
Soup Cook-Offs South East Harley
Davidson 23104 Aurora Rd Bedford Hts, Oh 44146
1/12/25 08:00 AM
York Vintage Swap Meet and Bike Show
Potomac Vintage Riders 334 Carlisle Ave, York, PA 17404
1/12/25 02:00 PM
Toolkit 101 & Pre-Ride
Inspection Class
Join us on Sunday, Jan. 12th for this FREE workshop as Shannon Wilson discusses what tools and repair items should be in a motorcycle tool kit, what common roadside repairs are, and what to look for before riding to avoid being stuck on the side of the road. Moto Federation 1213 York Street, Suite C, Cincinnati OH 45214 513-322-5327 info@motofed.com
1/14/25 06:00 PM
Cornhole Tuesdays at HOT ROD H-D
Stop in for Cornhole Tuesdays! Every Tuesday starting at 6:00 PM - Blind draw - 18+ to play - $10/personInside TNT Bar HOT ROD Harley-Davidson 149 Shoreline Drive, Muskegon, MI 49440
1/16/25 12:00 PM
Winter Throwdown Flat Track Race Vol. 7
Callahan Speedway
543455 US Highway 1 Callahan, FL 32011
1/17/25 10:00 AM
Abate Of Michigan 2025 Seminar
Membership Voting Sunday morning. Silent and live auctions. 50/50, Breakout Sessions on Saturday with special guest, friday night PAC games, regions raffles, DJ music firday and Saturday.
Abate 25
5353 Gateway Centre Blvd, Flint, MI 48507
1/18/2025 6:00 PM
T and Rich Dueling Piano Route 30 HarleyDavidson
350 Tarhe Trl, Upper Sandusky, OH 43351
1/18/25 12:00 PM 17th Annual
Chili Cook Off
Join us for the 17th annual Hot Rod Chili Cook-Off! Enjoy samples from Just Klassics Deli, Hamburger Mikey, Dr. Rolf’s BBQ & The Early Owl. Vote for your favorite. A $5 donation will be collected for Pioneer Trails Camp at the door. The TNT bar will be open. Please drink responsibly.
HOT ROD Harley-Davidson
149 Shoreline Drive, Muskegon, MI 49440
Visit us on Facebook or for up to the minute event listings, ReasonsToRide.com
1/28/25 06:00 PM
Cornhole Tuesdays at HOT ROD H-D
Stop in for Cornhole Tuesdays! Every Tuesday starting at 6:00 PM - Blind draw - 18+ to play - $10/personInside TNT Bar
HOT ROD Harley-Davidson
149 Shoreline Drive, Muskegon, MI 49440
February 2025
2/01/25 12:00 PM
Garage Brewed
One of the most celebrated motorcycle shows in the country! Come see the best motorcycle creations, restorations and customizations in a working brewery. Show up and make some new two-wheeled friends!
Rhinegeist Brewery
1910 Elm St., Cincinnati, OH 45202
Visit us on Facebook or for up to the minute event listings, ReasonsToRide.com
2/01/25 10:00 AM
Full Throttle Custom Bike Show
3rd Annual Custom Bike Show! 25 classes $12k In Cash Prizes! Vendors, live music & 200 custom bikes! Plus a Perewitz Paint Show! Vendor & Bike Registration is Open! Full Throttle Custom Bike Show
1921 W Gate City Blvd, Greensboro, NC 27403
2/02/25 09:45 AM
Triple Tree Biker Church
Bike or Car, Come on Over! Coffee & Donuts 9:45 Service at 10am Every week
1340 Newport Rd., Manheim PA For Info Call 717-824-5965
Feb 5-7, 2025
AIMEXPO
AIMExpo is the premier trade show in North America for the powersports industry.
Las Vegas Convention Center 3150 Paradise Rd., Las Vegas, NV
2/05/25 05:30 PM
VETERANS 4 USA: Peer 2
Peer Support Group
530 we will be serving dinner. 6pm group will start anticipating 730 end time. This will be on the first Wednesday of every month Eagle Church of God 7087 East Cover Rd, Clare, MI 48617 989-418-8797 Veterans4usa@yahoo.com
2/09/25 08:00 AM
Walnecks Motorcycle Swap
Meet- Princeton, IL
Better than the Internet! Search for it! Find! Inspect it!Buy it!...and the BRAG about it!
Bureau County Fairgrounds
811 W.Peru St Princeton, IL 61356
2/11/25 06:00 PM
Cornhole Tuesdays at HOT ROD H-D
Stop in for Cornhole Tuesdays! Every Tuesday starting at 6:00 PM - Blind draw - 18+ to play - $10/personInside TNT Bar
HOT ROD Harley-Davidson 149 Shoreline Drive, Muskegon, MI 49440
Thunder By the Bay Music & Motorcycle Festival
Sarasota Fairgrounds
3000 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota FL
Feb 15-16, 2025
Motorama Races and Show: HARRISBURG PA
The nation's largest all indoor racing event and live show featuring 1 million square feet of action. PA Farm Show Complex 2300 N.Cameron St, Harrisburg, PA 17110
MotorramaEvents.com
Saturday, Feb 15th Noon
Iron & Ink
Tattoo Party
Hot Rod
Harley-Davidson
149 Shoreline Dr. Muskegon, MI 49440
2/22/25 09:00 AM
2025 Polar Plunge
The Beach: Tiki Bar & Boil
142 E Walled Lake Dr, Walled Lake, MI 48390
2/22/25 10:00 AM
Mama Tried
Eagles Ballroom
2401 W Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53233
Saturday, Feb 22nd 6pmIron & Ink Tattoo Party
Zeppe's Tavern
Newbury, Ohio
Follow the Event on Facebook for more information.
2/22/25 03:00 PM
VIETNAM VETERANS
Welcome Home Dinner
Surprise Your Vietnam Veteran with an Unforgettable Evening
Show your appreciation and love by welcoming your Vietnam veteran home with a special dinner in their honor. Join us for an incredible evening filled with gratitude, great food, and heartfelt camaraderie at Horse Feathers Kitchen & Cocktails on Saturday, February 22, 2025, from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM. 2345 Equis Hls Dr, Pinckney, MI 48169 IronButterfly593@gmail.com
2/22/25 12:00 PM
Burning Snowman Fest
Dock's Beach House Restaurant
252 W. Lakeshore Drive in Port Clinton, Ohio
2/25/25 06:00 PM
Cornhole Tuesdays at HOT ROD H-D
Stop in for Cornhole Tuesdays! Every Tuesday starting at 6:00 PM - Blind draw - 18+ to play - $10/personInside TNT Bar
HOT ROD Harley-Davidson
149 Shoreline Drive, Muskegon, MI 49440
2/28/25 02:00 PM
Cleveland Tattoo Arts Festival
Come get the ultimate tattoo festival experience at the 9th Annual Cleveland Tattoo Arts Festival.
Tattoos, piercing, art and entertainment. Cleveland Convention Center
300 Lakeside Ave E, Cleveland OH 44114
2/28/25 06:00 PM IRON & INK Cabin Fever Bike Night
Route 30 Harley-Davidson 350 Tarhe Trl, Upper Sandusky,Ohio 43351
March 2025
Feb 28th - March 9th, 2025 84th Annual Daytona Bike Week
www.DaytonaBikeWeek.com
3/02/25 08:00 AM
Walnecks Motorcycle Swap
Meet- Springfield Ohio 4401 S. Charleston Pike Springfield, Oh 45502
3/04/25 06:00 PM
Cornhole Tuesdays at HOT ROD H-D Stop in for Cornhole Tuesdays! Every Tuesday starting at 6:00 PM - Blind draw - 18+ to play - $10/personInside TNT Bar HOT ROD Harley-Davidson 149 Shoreline Drive, Muskegon, MI
3/05/25 05:30 PM
VETERANS 4 USA: Peer 2 Peer Support Group
Eagle Church of God 7087 East Cover Rd, Clare, MI 48617 989-418-8797
Veterans4usa@yahoo.com
Saturday, Mar 15th 6pmIron & Ink
Tattoo Party IRON HORSE SALOON
Burton, Ohio
Follow the Event on Facebook for more information.
3/20/25 06:00 PM
The Local Bar: Cabin Fever Tattoo party w/ Iron & Ink
The Local Bar North Olmsted 24110 Lorain Rd, North Olmsted, OH 44070
Mid Atlantic indoor Nationals - Car, truck and Bike Show
Mid Atlantic Indoor Nationals - Car Truck and Bike Show
2410 West Dr, Oaks, PA 19456
March 28 - 30, 2025
Car Parts Warehouse
I-X Piston Powered Auto-Rama
The IX Piston Power Show, also known as the Car Parts Warehouse I-X Piston Powered Auto-Rama, is an annual event held in Cleveland, Ohio, at the I-X Center. Renowned for being the largest indoor showcase of its kind, draws enthusiasts from all over the country to witness a spectacular array of machinery, making it a true paradise for gearheads and automotive aficionados alike. We look forward to seeing you all there!
I-X Center
6200 Riverside Dr Cleveland, OH 44135 PistonPowerShow.com
3/29/25 10:00 AM
36th Annual Donnie Smith
Bike Show & Swap Meet
Saint Paul River Centre
175 WEST KELLOGG BLVD SAINT PAUL MN 55102
April 2025
April 2nd to 6th, 20225
Arizona Bike Week
16601 N Pima Rd., Scottsdale,AZ 85260 AZBikeWeek.com
4/02/25 05:30 PM
VETERANS 4 USA: Peer 2 Peer Support Group Eagle Church of God 7087 East Cover Rd, Clare, MI 48617
989-418-8797 Veterans4usa@yahoo.com
Every Sunday Triple Tree Biker Church Bike or Car, Come on Over! Coffee & Donuts 9:45 Service at 10am Every week
1340 Newport Rd., Manheim PA For Info Call 717-824-5965
4/12/25 12:30 PM
Annual Blessing of the Bikes: Whitehall PA
Keystone Harley-Davidson 2800 Eberhart Rd., Whitehall PA 18052
April 25-27, 2025
Tattoo City Tattoo Convention
Michigan! Tattoo collectors and fans can experience live tattooing by 200 top artists, exciting contests, celebrity meet-and-greets, and family-friendly activities.
Lansing Convention Center Lansing, 333 E Michigan Ave, Lansing, MI 48933, USA
4/25/25 10:00 AM
Leesburg BIke Fest
Downtown Leesburg
401 W. Magnolia St., Leesburg, FL 34749
4/27/25 08:00 AM
Walnecks Motorcycle Swap Meet- Shepherdsville, KT Bullitt County Fairgrounds 964 Clermont Rd, Shepherdsville, Kentucky
POST YOUR 2025 EVENTS HERE AND ON THE WEBSITE AT -
http://www.reasonstoride. com/Submit-Event
4/27/25 08:00 AM
Monroe Classic Bicycle and Minibike Show, swap and Auction
Monroe Auto Swap Meet & Car Show
3775 S. Custer Road, Monroe, MI
RECIPES
Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
INGREDIENTS:
• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• 4 chicken thighs (boneless or bone-in, skinless or skin on )
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (***)
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. In a small bowl combine the salt and spices with oil to create a paste. Coat chicken thighs with the paste.
2. Place in the air fryer basket and cook at 360-degrees for 12-15 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the internal temperature reaches 165-degrees.
3. Can add halved brussels sprouts, broccoli, etc. at the halfway point.
4. For skin on chicken thighs, after the cook time is up, increase the temperature to 400 degrees and cook skin side up for an additional 5 minutes to crisp up the skin.
Have a recipe that you’d like to share? Write it all down and send with a picture – to ReasonsToRide@ gmail.com Put RECIPE in the subject line. If we use it, we’ll send you copies of the magazines and a RtR T-Shirt – so include your address and t-shirt size as well! Thanks!
Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers
INGREDIENTS:
• 2 lbs chicken tenders, thighs, or breast
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 stick butter
• 8-10 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan
• 1 tbsp hot sauce (optional)
• 2 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1/3 cup fresh parsley, minced
• 2 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Soak wooden skewers in water for 30 minutes before use.
2. In a small bowl, combine paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Set this mixture aside.
3. Cut the chicken into 3-inch pieces. Toss them in olive oil along with the seasoning mixture until well coated.
4. Thread the chicken pieces onto each skewer, packing them tightly. Trim the tops of the skewers if necessary to fit in your air fryer.
5. In a microwave-safe bowl, mix the butter with minced garlic. Heat until the butter is partially melted. Add red pepper flakes, hot sauce, parsley, and parmesan, whisking everything together.
6. Reserve 1/3 of the sauce for basting while cooking. Set aside the remaining sauce to use for brushing after cooking.
7. Place 2-3 skewers in the air fryer and cook at 400°F for about 5 minutes.
8. Flip the skewers, baste them with the reserved sauce, and continue cooking for an additional 2 minutes.
9. Flip them once more, baste again, and cook for another 5-6 minutes until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. The total cooking time should be approximately 12-14 minutes.
10. Finally, brush the skewers with the reserved sauce once more and sprinkle with extra parmesan before serving.
Enjoy!
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