Go For A Ride Magazine - December 2014

December 2014 2014

Serving Florida’s Motorcycle & Trike Community Since 2007

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Center Rd

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Start End E Venice Ave

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Overland Expo East Florida Event Coverage New Scenic Ride Map

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The Magazine With A Map Wilmington Blvd

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Lose your worries. Every last one of them.

Get Motorcycle coverage from AAA and enjoy our legendary roadside assistance protection every time you ride. Current members’ dues are prorated when upgrading, and nonmembers can add Motorcycle for $35 to any membership level when they join. Ride with confidence. Ride with AAA. • Coverage on any bike • 4 tows up to 100 miles each • Free fuel delivery • Member rates on motorcycle travel packages • Trip interruption coverage 1-866-506-9370

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CITRUS COUNTY FOSTER KIDS ANNUAL TOY RUN

SUN. DEC. 14, 2014 Put a smile on a child’s face and join us for a fun-filled day.

Benefits the Foster Kids of Citrus County who will be there to receive their gifts.

Ride or Drive Everyone Is Invited!

E D I R R AFTE AY PARTY HOLID PAINTING FACE FOOD FREE MUSIC LIVE

Citrus County Sheriff’s Escorted Ride To Harley-Davidson of Crystal River Meet 11am – KickStandsUp 11:30am Bealls Parking Lot – Inverness Corner of Croft Road and Hwy 44

Gifts will be accepted at the dealership until Christmas Eve.

www.HDCrystalRiver.com

Features 4 Let Me Tell Ya’ 6 Newswire 8 2014 Overland Expo East

Vol. 8, Issue 12 - Dec 2014

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12 2015 Honda CBR1000RR

www.gofarmag.com

15 Word Puzzle

PUBLISHER & EDITOR: Mike Savidge

16 Six Bends Grand Opening 18 Scenic Ride Map 20 Leslie Kay’s Insurance 21 Guide Dogs Poker Run 21 Elvira Run 2014 22 Biker With A Badge

CO-PUBLISHER: C.M. Struble ART DIRECTION: DANG-designs.com DIRECTOR OF SALES, MARKETING & PROMOTIONS: Kruisin’ With Kati CARTOGRAPHER: Mary Rostad

24 Off Road: A Different Type of

Sport Multi-month discounts are only given when payment is made in advance for the period listed. If you wish to pay monthly, 26 Veterans Info the monthly rate will apply and is due prior to publication.

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Go For A Ride Magazine

30 Upcoming Events

WORD PUZZLE GURU: McGreggor FEATURE CONTRIBUTORS M.W. Simpson Hyway Rebel Katie Ridderman

32 KruisinWithKati

Lowell Anderson

34 Fort Myers Business Map

KruisinWithKati

John Braun

35 Word Puzzle Answer Grid

Rikki

36 Fort Myers Bike Night

SALES DEPARTMENT: 813-505-5119

A trio of vintage bikes await their riders. Photo property of Go For A Ride Magazine.

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Florida Sales Director Kati Ridderman 239-246-3045 KruisinWithKati@aol.com Fort Lauderdale/Miami (Distribution) Huck Hennebery 954-258-4608 Huck.gofar@hotmail.com Collier County

Visit Our Website Legal Disclaimer Go For A Ride Magazine (GoFAR) is published monthly and distributed for FREE. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without permission is prohibited. Publisher will assume no financial responsibility for errors in any advertising beyond reimbursing the advertiser for the cost of the ad. To the best of the Publisher’s knowledge, all materials furnished or used in this publication are accurate, correct, and truthful. Go For A Ride Magazine assumes no liability for errors, omissions, or typos. The advertiser or advertising agency assumes full liability for all content to include text and illustrations. This magazine will not be subject to any liability for any failure to publish or circulate all or any part of any issue or issues because of strikes, work stoppages, accidents, fires, acts of God, or any other circumstances not within the control of this magazine. All copy is subject to the publisher’s approval and the publisher reserves the right to refuse any ad.

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Rikki 239-494-0508 rollinwithrikki@comcast.net West Palm Beach Area Tim Davis 561-667-8977

Happy Holidays from all of us at

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Dec

2014

Publishers Corner: Let Me Tell Ya!

By Mike Savidge

Season’s Greetings

I’m still eating left over Halloween candy and Thanksgiving is still a few weeks away and yet here I am wishing you and yours a Happy Holiday. Which Holiday? Whichever one it is you choose to celebrate.

There are certainly enough choices out there in both the religious and ethnic categories and nothing says you can’t merge traditions from one with the others.

Hey, if you can customize a bike, you can customize a holiday.

Toy Run Time It’s turned into an old cliché that “bikers are a generous bunch” and one of the most public displays of that generosity is the traditional Biker Toy Run. I should say Toy Runs, because there are a lot of them on the schedule for the Holiday Season this year. There are a few new ones each year, while others have been around for decades but they all serve the same purpose, bringing Christmas joy to children. The rides range from small groups of riders to huge events that attract thousands with police escorts and some include an after ride party. There’s no denying the big events are important because they collect truckloads of toys and gifts which enables us to make the holidays brighter for a greater number of kids and families. That’s a good thing. But if you want to find the true meaning of the season, try one of the runs where you meet the children and families for whom the ride is being done. Getting a smile back from a child as you watch them enjoy their holiday gift is priceless.

The Homecoming King/Queen – Parks at an angle over two spaces.

The Optimist – Even though there’s not enough room to open your car door, you squeezed in there anyway.

The survey also noted the difference between men and women drivers when it comes to having someone waiting for them to vacate their space. 40 percent of women hurry up but only 25 percent of the men pick up the pace. Eighteen percent of men take the time if they know another driver is waiting for their spot, only 10 percent of the women will slow down.

Inaugural Shakes, Rattles, Rides & Rods The flyer on this page is for a first time event to raise funds for Parkinson’s research. Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disorder of the nervous system that affects movement. About one million Americans are affected and 60,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. A hand tremor is probably the most well-known sign of Parkinson’s, but the disorder also causes stiffness and slowing of movement. There is no cure but there are medications that can improve the symptoms and research is continuing. Please plan on attending, and if you can help out with sponsorships or prize donations, give me a call. It will be greatly appreciated.

Full Contact Holiday Shopping A recent news release from CarInsurance.com described the different approaches drivers take to finding a vacant spot in a busy parking lot. Any of these sound familiar?

The Vulture – Circles the lot at least twice before deciding where to park.

The Stalker – Follows people with bags or shopping carts and waits for them to load and leave.

The Quitter – Leaves if the parking lot is crowded and has few spaces.

The Thief – Cuts someone off to get the spot.

Drivers fortunate enough to find a vacant space were then put into the following categories: Average Joe – You just try to get in the middle of the lines.

The Planner – Parks only in spaces where car can face out because it’s so much easier to pull out than to back out.

The Perfectionist – No less than 5 moves to get into that space – it takes time to get it just right.

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2014

Newswire

Texas DMV Won’t Allow Slingshot According to information on a forum for the new Polaris Slingshot, the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles has notified Polaris that “customers will not be allowed to register Slingshot vehicles as a street legal motorcycle in the state of Texas”. In a communication sent to the Texas Slingshot dealers, the explanation given was that the Slingshot doesn’t meet the current definition of a motorcycle in Texas because the riders are not sitting in a “saddle” position, meaning the seat is between your legs, which is not the case with Slingshot where driver and passenger sit side by side.

Most of the states have classified it as a motorcycle, but California and Virginia call it a 3-wheeled motorcycle and require a special license endorsement. No other states have banned the registration of the new vehicle.

Polaris says in its letter that the company had approval from the State of Texas to sell Slingshots until the Slingshot, which was unveiled reversal was announced on November this summer and expected in dealer 4th. Needless to say, high level talks are showrooms in late November, is a going on between Polaris and the Texas 3-wheeled reverse trike vehicle with two DMV folks to resolve the issue as quickly wheels in the front and one in the rear. as possible

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Cypress Hut Eagles Poker Run Ride to Work Day is June 16th, 2014

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7

Dec

2014

2014 Overland Expo East

By John Braun

2014 marks the first year of the Overland Expo EAST. Held in Fletcher, NC, just outside of Asheville, at the Taylor Ranch, the event attracted over 3,000 participants from all corners of the world including Australia, Egypt and Korea. Open to all comers interested in overlanding, the event promises something for all ages and skill levels.

Defined as self-reliant travel, the destination isn’t necessarily the goal in overlanding as much as the journey is.

Vehicles, gear, training and experiences are all on display during the three day weekend on the 500 acres.

Personally, I became interested in overlanding before I even knew the term existed. Several years ago, while living in Arizona, I caught the adventure motorcycle bug. Big machines that seriously looked the part, and were capable of travel to the ends of the earth.

After some fantastic training by RawHyde Adventures in Castaic, CA and the BMW Performance Center in Spartanburg, SC, I had developed the skills necessary to pilot these bikes over terrain that many hikers would think twice about. I found my spare time filled with riding off-road on a BMW R1200GS, whether a quick jaunt across a vacant field or a weekend ride with a group. I was taken by the freedom of big skies, no cars and a cell phone with no reception!

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My plan for this trip was to travel to Fletcher in just one day. Plotting my course up the East coast of Georgia, and then Northwest through Columbia, SC, I would have 650 solid miles of seat time. Traditionally, I have traveled with hard luggage. However, I have always been intrigued by the idea of soft cases for adventure travel. It seems that their lower profile would reduce the effects of wind, increase mileage, and they would not be so susceptible to catastrophic damage if the bike dropped off road. For this trip, I enlisted bags from Giant Loop.

After installing and loading the large, horseshoe shaped Great Basin saddle bag, Tillamook dry bag and Fandango Pro tank bag, I developed high expectations for their gear on this trip. The systems are well built, versatile (easy to move to other bikes) and waterproof.

With anticipated rain and temperatures ranging from high 50’s to mid 90’s, I opted for the Klim Overland jacket and pants combo. In the Southeast, and central Florida specifically, finding gear that provides comfort in hot, wet climates is a challenge. The Gortex construction and expansive venting of the Overland gear proved to be extremely effective.

The philosophy with this gear is to provide protection for the rider. When the temperature begins to dip, the suit is cut to allow for base and mid layers as necessary. w w w.gofarmag.com

The journey started well before first light on Thursday morning. Kissing my wife goodbye, I mounted my fully prepped BMW R1200GS, and headed north. I was able to time my departure perfectly to see the sun rise on Highway 301 between Gainesville and Jacksonville.

At this time of the year, the air has a certain crispness in the morning hours that seems to highlight the more pleasant scents of farm country. Watching the sky begin to glow in the East proved to be the cathartic start to the weekend that I needed. By the time I reached I-95 north out of Jacksonville, I had shed any thought of the office in which I spend most of my week day waking hours. No more keyboard, phone or meetings.

It was the segment of I-95 through Georgia that I was looking forward to the most on this ride. It had been years since I was on this stretch, and then it was in a car. Specifically, I was interested in crossing the bridges over rivers and salt marshes. The skies were blue with puffy white clouds. The fresh, salty scents of the water proved to be exactly as I had imagined them. Different enough from what I’m accustomed to in St. Petersburg to be new and welcome.

Taking I-26 west proved to be uneventful until the last few miles into Asheville when I began climbing into the Smokey Mountains. You couldn’t wipe the smile off my face with a brillo pad as I began leaning into the gentle curves on this last stretch of highway. These are the big, sweeping mountainous curves that we don’t have in Central Florida. I was done all too soon, however, and before I knew it I was rolling through Asheville, NC toward my destination at Taylor Ranch in Fletcher, NC. Having covered the first two Overland Expos in Amado, AZ several years ago, I had a tinge of nostalgia when I rolled up to the gate to enter the grounds. Of course, the terrain is completely different here in North Carolina, but the feelings were the same. This was the temporary home of some of the most committed adventurers this side of the Mississippi, hosting hundreds of campsites for motorcycle and four-wheeled vehicles.

This weekend would be full of stories, advice and comradery with other likeminded folks who have been there, done that and will be doing it all over tomorrow. In short, this is a place where

the most interesting man in the world would get lost.

The weekend schedule included training, discussions and events for just about every possible overlanding interest. From courses designed around off-road driving skills and vehicle recovery to first aid and overlanding with families. I was struck by just how much the event has grown to be so inclusive, right down to a vendor specializing in outfitting children for motorcycle riding aptly named KinderRider, and classes specific to women and overlanding.

For adventure motorcycling, RawHyde

was in attendance, and in a big way! In fact, of all the sponsors at the Overland Expo EAST, RawHyde had perhaps the biggest presence with multiple trailers, a giant tent for training, and a cadre of motorcycles and trainers. I attended an intro to adventure riding given by Dusty of RawHyde. Starting under the big tent, instructor Dusty and his partner ran the class through some of the broad points of successful adventure riding on a large motorcycle like a BMW R1200GS (their preferred motorcycle). Stand, look ahead, loose grip. With a GS up on the center stand under the tent, Dusty was able to stand on the pegs, and effectively demonstrate some of the skills necessary.

While they sometimes seemed intuitive, it’s important to remember that one can never have too much training or practice.

It was certainly great to reinforce some of the skills that I had learned long ago.

Following the session, the group was led on a quick off-road ride, just a few miles from the ranch. These roads are nothing like the arrow-strait expanses of pavement that I’m accustomed to in the greater Tampa Bay area. It was great finding some twisties to work out

all of my tire tread. This ride took us to a rally point to regroup, and then enjoy a short off-road ride to practice those skills discussed back at the ranch.

Aside from the light off-road riding that I enjoyed within the Taylor Ranch boundaries, this was the first real test of how the Giant Loop soft bags would behave off-road. Bottom line, they were fantastic. In adventure touring, it is necessary to have gear that performs in all environments, and can help insure that the rider can keep moving regardless of what happens. The Great Basin saddlebag and the Fandango Pro tank bag both proved their off-road chops. On the pegs, the tank bag proved to be completely out Continued On Page 10

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Continued From Page 9 of the way while maneuvering on the bike, and the saddlebag sat just high enough to prevent any worry from interfering with my feet, but at the same time did not seem to raise the bike’s center of gravity by any noticeable amount.

Likewise, the Klim Overland gear performed very well. Any adventure riding suit needs to be comfortable and fit to allow for unhindered movement.

Riding these big bikes off-road is a very dynamic endeavor. Motions such as standing on the pegs, pushing a knee into the tank, pushing the body to one side in a tight off-camber turn all demand room to move in the suit. The Klim gear was very comfortable, and never a hindrance.

In fact, despite my efforts to take note of the suit during the ride, I found that I often forgot about it altogether. Even to a self-proclaimed gear head like myself, this is perhaps one of the best compliments you can give a piece of kit.

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Longer rides were offered throughout the weekend, including a 300 mile ride led

by Jim Hyde himself that would include some spicy off road, and the notorious Deal’s Gap Tail of the Dragon.

Non-motorcycle specific training proved to be very useful when looking through the two-wheeled lenses. For instance, in the Camel Trophy Overland Skills area, a contingent of past Camel Trophy team members from the US and Britain were on hand to provide a variety of training in all manner of offroad skills. The Camel Trophy began in 1980 as a contest to transit the TransAmazonian highway. Otherwise known as the Olympics of 4x4, this event focused on team work and competition between teams. At the Overland Expo EAST, these masters of off-road taught lessons in vehicle preparedness, vehicle recovery and bush skills.

Many of these lessons were directly relevant to two wheeled transport. For example, in the world of four wheeled offroad, winch-less recovery is becoming popular. By leveraging the mechanical advantage of block and tackle, used for

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centuries on the high seas, instructors demonstrated how a team or individual could pull a car out of the muck with some rope, pulley blocks and knowledge.

With much less weight, a simple system could easily be used to pull a motorcycle out of deep sand or mud by one or two riders, and the equipment for this task would take minimal space on the bike.

One of the greatest offerings at the Overland Expo EAST is the chance to interact with other adventurers. In the great hall, the Overland Theater was assembled for adventure film reviews.

With the technological advances in photography and videography today, amazing documentation of adventures in far off places is as convenient as ever. Not only were we able to watch these films, but the adventurers themselves were on hand explaining the story behind the story, and to answer questions from the group. I found these sessions to be amazing motivators. Although I may never endeavor on a ten day trip through Peru to visit an orphanage, just hearing the stories, and seeing the images of the trip filled me with the motivation to continue my own explorations.

With some eleven hours of riding to make it back home after the event, I had ample time to ponder just what this short trip accomplished for me. As an admitted gear-head, I marveled at the farkles on display that truly need to be in my own garage. Training that allowed me to learn new skills, and reinforce some that had gone a bit rusty served to increase my confidence. Given all of that, I would have to say that it was the company who truly did the most for me. Chatting experts up on all manner of adventure riding topics, nights of banter with fellow adventurers in the campsite, and reconnecting with old friends recharged my batteries. For many of us, these are the things we want to do, and the people we want with us when we do. Next year’s Overland Expo EAST has already been scheduled for October 2-4. I hope to see you there!

THE ORIGINAL AMERICAN BEACH INVITES YOU TO THE ORIGINAL BIKE WEEK

DAYTONA BEACH BIKE WEEK | MARCH 6–15, 2015 America’s most famous beach invites you to the world’s largest motorcycle event: The 74th annual Daytona Beach Bike Week. Kick-start your beach getaway with 10 days of racing, concerts, bikes shows, festivals and celebrations, Daytona Beach style.

Make plans for an authentic American beachside and motorcycle vibe unlike any other.

Call 866.296.8970 or visit us online. BIKERBEACH.COM

Dec

2014

2015 Honda CBR1000RR

Specifications Honda CBR1000RR Engine Type:

999CC Liquid-cooled inline 4-cylinder

Ignition:

Computer-controlled digital w/3-D mapping

Transmission:

Close-ratio six-speed

Final Drive:

#530 O-ring sealed chain

Front Suspension:

43mm inverted Big Piston fork with springpreload, rebound and compression damping adjustablity; 4.3” travel

Rear Suspension:

Unit Pro-Link Balance Free Rear Shock with spring preload, rebound and compression damping adjustablity; 5.4” travel

Front Brakes:

Dual radial-mounted 4-piston calipers with full floating 320mm discs

Rear Brakes:

Single caliper 220mm disc

Front Tire:

120/70ZR-17 radial

Rear Tire:

190/50ZR-17 radial

Wheelbase:

55.5 inches

Seat Height:

32.2 inches

Fuel Capacity:

4.6 gallons

Available Colors:

Black, Pearl White

Curb Weight:

440.9 pounds

12

INSPIRED BY A CHAMPION No motorcycle connects rider, machine and road like a sportbike. The immediate acceleration, the chassis that feels like an extension of your own skeleton, the power, the handling—and the bigger the sportbike, the more intense the experience.

THREE TRIM LEVELS The Standard model is available in Red, tri-color, and with Repsol graphics. The ABS model is available in Red, and the SP comes wrapped in Repsol graphics inspired by the two-time MotoGP Champion Marc Marquez and track-ready race parts.

Honda’s CBR1000RR has long been the ultimate Superbike for experienced aficionados, and the 2015 CBR1000RR is really something special. First off, we’re celebrating Honda MotoGP rider Marc Marquez’s back-to-back World Championships with some special graphics packages on the standard and SP models. Then there’s the CBR1000RR ABS version, with the most sophisticated brake package in the class. But here’s the biggest news: Track-day enthusiasts need to check out the CBR1000RR SP Repsol Edition version. With fully adjustable Öhlins front and rear suspension, Brembo front brakes and Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SC premium tires. The SP also includes a special lightweight subframe with solo seat cowl. The SP doesn’t stop there, with hand-selected engine parts for weight and balance, including pistons and connecting rods.

FRONT & REAR SUPSPENSION Up front, the 43mm Big Piston Showa fork is smooth and responsive; in the back, the Unit Pro-Link design uses a balance-free rear shock with a double-tube design for a smoother response and better roadholding feel (traction performance).

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LCD INSTRUMENTATION The CBR1000RR’s full-screen LCD instrumentation includes a lap timer, trip and fuel-consumption computer, fivelevel customizable shift indicator, gearposition indicator and peak-rpm memory function.

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Word Puzzle

Holiday Ho Ho’s

By McGreggor

‘Tis the Season to be smart enough to know the answers to our Holiday Puzzle. Santa’s watching so be good and don’t peek at the answers on page 35 until your done.

Across 2. Rockin’ Around the ________ Tree 5. French for Christmas 8. Santa’s transport vehicle 9. Sant’s suit color 10. Jingle _____ 11. This many days of Christmas 13. Jack _____ is one cool dude 14. He almost stole Christmas 16. Santa’s entry portal 18. Auld ____ Syne 20. Self powered snow vehicle 21. Santa’s helpers 22. Famous snowman 24. Ho, Ho, __ 26. Don’t eat the yellow ____ 28. The most famous reindeer of all 29. O Come All Ye ________ 30. They pull Santa’s sleigh Down 1. Christmas month 2. The reindeer of Love 3. Not a creature was stirring, not even a _____ 4. The stingiest of bosses 5. Silent _____ 6. Kissing plant 7. Number of Wise Men 12. I’m Dreaming of a _____ Christmas 15. Prickly evergreen plant 16. Christmas songs 17. Feliz _______ 19. Santa’s hometown 23. _____ Claus 25. Elvis Christmas color 27. Will Farrell holiday movie

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Dec

2014

Six Bends™ Grand Opening Party

Grand Opening of Six Bends Is a Success The much anticipated opening of the new Six Bends Harley-Davidson dealership in Fort Myers took place on the second weekend of November.

Activities throughout the weekend brought in a steady line of bikes and cars to enjoy the entertainment and check out the new facility. Along with the full service dealership, there’s plenty of room for social events and rider training is now available onsite. There’s also Top Rocker Field for concerts and other activities.

The Grand Opening weekend got things off to a great start for Fort Myer’s newest hangout.

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FORT MYERS’ NEWEST HANGOUT SIX BENDS™ is the place for motorcycle enthusiasts, but it’s also the place for us to gather as a community and support local non-profits, learn and take rider education courses and relax while taking in Southwest Florida’s beautiful weather. ®

Stop by with your friends and kick back by The Pit. Enjoy live music, food and entertainment every week on The Plaza with ‘Why Not Wednesday’ from 6–9PM and ‘Sundays on The Plaza’ from 1–4PM. PLUS, don’t miss special performances at Top Rocker Field, Southwest Florida’s newest entertainment venue.

It’s all here and we’re waiting for you.

Six Bends is the place.

9501 THUNDER ROAD, FORT MYERS LOCATED OFF I-75, EXIT 131 DANIELS PARKWAY, SOUTHEAST CORNER

(239) 275-4647 | www. SixBends.com | www. SixBendsHD.com

Dec

2014

Go FAR Scenic Ride Map

The inspiration for this route came from the Florida Scenic Highways website and their Lemon Bay/Myakka Trail Scenic Highway. As they say, “the trail contains a wide variety of diverse and exceptional intrinsic resources that represent Florida’s special history, sites, and features”. We’ve modified the ride into a scenic loop that includes a roll down Manasota Key and alongside the Myakka State Forest. You can make it your own adventure with a side trip out to Boca Grande on Gasparilla Island.

Road Name

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Right

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S River Rd/SR 777 Right

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E Venice Ave

2.3

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Returns you to the starting point.

Start @ Roundabout E Venice Ave & Jacaranda Blvd Jacaranda Blvd

South

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Englewood Rd

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Manasota Bch Rd Right

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Manasota Key Rd Left

5.1

12.9

N Beach Rd

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Straight

BRINGING YOU THE BEST IN SCENIC RIDE MAPS SINCE 2007

Traffic Circle – Take 2nd exit onto Beach Road Beach Rd

Right

1.4

16.0

S McCall Rd

Right

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Placida Rd/SR 775 Right

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2014

Leslie Kay’s Insurance

Distracted Drivers There is a name for the person texting in their car while driving. They call it “Distracted Driving”. In October of 2012 when I originally wrote this article I went to www.distraction.gov (an entire website dedicated to Cellular use detailing state by state laws) 39 States, the District of Columbia, and Guam banned text messaging for all drivers. As of today 44 States, D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands ban test messaging for all drivers. Twelve of these laws were enacted in 2010 alone. In 2012 the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands prohibited all drivers from using handheld cell phones while driving. Today Fourteen states; D.C.; Puerto Rico; Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands prohibit all drivers from using handheld cell phones while driving. To properly understand the enforcement you must understand that there is a difference between primary and secondary laws. A primary law means that an officer can issue a ticket without any other traffic violation taking place.

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Secondary is in addition to the offense you were pulled over for. For example in Florida riding without a helmet will not get you pulled over as it is a secondary law violation. Being pulled over for a Primary Law Violation such as speeding would be required. In the 44 states with Distracted Driving laws there are both Primary and Secondary offenses mixed in. For instance in the District of Columbia a Primary law exists for all drivers including bus drivers whom are banned from both hand held and hands free use of cellular devices.

Nebraska has a Ban on all cell phone use hand held and hands free as a Secondary law.

Here in Florida we have a Preemption Law prohibiting localities from enacting Distracted Driving bans. A detailed definition can be found at http://legaldic t io nar y.t h e f re e dic t io nar y.co m/ preemption . A doctrine of state law that holds that a state law displaces a local law or regulation that is in the same field and is in conflict or inconsistent with the state law. The preceding sentence is directly from their site.

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How do we stay safe? I was prompted to write this in 2012 after a ride on I-95 I found myself looking at a driver of an SUV holding their cell phone on the steering wheel texting away. I could clearly see what they were doing, and honking my horn did not net the slightest reaction. This was a scary event and I am certain I am not the only motorcyclist to have experienced this. This time a lane change by a distracted driver into my space motivated an update. Create Space around yourself on the road. Never allow yourself to get “boxed in.” Adequate space creates time and can help you avoid a collision. The two second rule isn’t just a driver’s education tool from High School or Safety Class. Two seconds may be what is between you and a life ending event. If you can stretch it to three seconds even better. Adjust your position in traffic as necessary to avoid blind areas, and don’t allow yourself to be tailgated. Change lanes, and move away from the Distracted Driver. As technology moves at lightning speed we have now added Blue Tooth headsets to our Helmets, GPS Devices to Continued On Page 35

Elvira Run 2014

5th Annual Guide Dogs Poker Run

Dec

2014

By Rikki

The 2nd Annual Elvira Run is sponsored by the Widows Sons (XL&MM Masonic Riders Assn.) and it was a beautiful day for the run this year. We started at the new Six Bends H-D in Ft. Myers. Our first stop was the Hideaway in downtown. We then went to LJ’s on Hwy. 31 and then traveled the scenic route of Bayshore Rd. to the Firehouse in N. Ft. Myers.

From there we bounced through Cape Coral to Ford’s Garage. Our last stop was the Big Game near Ft. Myers Beach where we turned in our chips, drew our cards, and received a commemorative chip on a key chain. They gave away a lot of great raffle gifts, had a silent auction and a 50/50. Afterwards, the bike games began. The slowride and 2 other riding games took place and were a big hit. I hated to see the day end but I am already looking forward to next year’s run. Special thanks to Jason and Zak for putting so much into making this a very fun event for everyone who attended!

By Greg Thompson

I would like to thank our sponsor US Sugar and everyone for coming out to the 5th Annual Guide Dogs of America poker run benefit at the TikiBar in Clewiston. We had a blast, great weather, great friends and all for a great cause. I would like give a special thanks to our big winners Christy Hernandez, Tom and Joanne Dorack, and Ashley Sergent they graciously donated all their winnings to the GDA. Hope to see you all next year.

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Dec

2014

Biker With A Badge

By M. W. Simpson

A couple of things prompted me to write this month’s column on riding safely through a curve. One reason was hearing a female friend who owns a bike and stated that she doesn’t ride much because she is afraid of curves.

The second reason was the stat I found showing that almost 80% of bike crashes are cause by the rider failing to negotiate a curve. Even though you learned this in the Basic Rider Course, it’s one thing to learn about it and another thing to put it to practical use. You can go ahead and take a guess at what the biggest mistake is and I will cover it in the article.

First of all, this a simple technique that encompasses simple physics and good old gravity. Have you ever seen those dare devils that ride their bike around and around the walls of a giant wooden barrel? They don’t fall down and neither will you when you take a curve on the highway or on an exit ramp of the interstate if you follow the basics. Just as we learned in the police academy on

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the pursuit driving range when going into a right curve…inside, outside, inside.

Learn how to decrease your speed by downshifting the engine prior to entering the curve. Down shift smoothly, one gear at a time, and you may apply a “little” rear brake. By a little I mean you barely apply it…it’s known as feathering and it is meant to be in conjunction with downshifting. I rarely brake into a curve because my downshifting gets me to the speed I want. Enter the outside of the curve (to your left or the yellow centerline) and begin your lean. Push down on the right side of the handle bar turning into the right. Do not look down, instead look forward. I have always told people the trick that works for me. I look ahead and find something along the right side of the roadway…it could be a crack in the road or a marker along the curb, and I drive toward it. Your brain, which controls your motor movement, goes where your eyes go. Have you ever looked at something off to the left while riding and when you look forward again, you realize

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that you’re drifting to the left. Well the same thing happens when you fixate on something in the road, you tend to drive at it. Lean the bike and your body with it. The bike will not fall over as long as there is power to the rear wheel and you don’t do anything dumb…like suddenly applying the front brake. Bikes going through this centrifugal force of physics can lean a lot farther than people realize.

Sport riders know this and that’s why they can lean the bike over until they are dragging a knee. Cruiser bikes are only limited by the equipment such as floor boards, highway pegs or saddlebags. IF you should happen to scrape the roadway with a floor board, DO NOT Panic! Just let up on that right handlebar push ever so slightly and you ride right through it.

Hitting the brakes hard, especially the front ones, will cause a crash. Remember, that was in your BRC training…Never apply the front brake with a turned front wheel. That is the biggest mistake in riding through a curve. Like I mentioned above, lean with your bike and that goes for your passenger. Keep in mind that if you’re going into a left curve it’s the opposite, outside, inside, outside. bsafe

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Dec

2014

Off Road: A Different Type of Sport

By Lowell Anderson

Over the years I have met a lot of different racers from all walks of life. Some of these talented riders had natural talent oozing out their pores, while others had to work very hard to succeed. Some guys could just do things on a bike that others would have to spend years learning. The level of concentration, balance, and sheer guts it takes to ride some of the terrain and obstacles that professional riders navigate is something you truly have to experience to understand.

I have never been a really talented rider. I started road bike racing when I was in my twenties and I was better at that than any dirt bike riding I have ever attempted. I blame this on my parents simply because they were dead-set against me ever owning a motorcycle, never mind racing one.

When I was old enough to afford a bike, I went out immediately and started training to race at a local road track and started hanging out with a bunch of guys that had been at it for years. I caught on quick and the road thing came pretty easy to me. I got certified to race in a matter of weeks and moved from novice to expert in the training classes within a few sessions.

Off road was a completely different story. I didn’t start till I was 35 years old and I spent more time on my ass in the beginning than I did on the bike. I stuck 24

with it simply because it was fun and I always enjoy the challenge of learning something new. There were a few times when I stopped to ask myself what I was doing simply because I was so beat-up, but as soon as I got back on the bike, I would fall in love all over again. I have improved over the years but I never had any false impressions of being really good. I knew I could get to the point where I could win some local races and go out with my buddies and have some fun. That was good enough for me. For others this is not enough and there is a commitment they make to try to participate at the top level. That is a huge commitment!

Most of these kids start off very young and work and train most of their lives to achieve their goal to be a professional off road racer. This kind of commitment is something that most people just don’t get. This isn’t a commitment just by the rider, this commitment is usually something that involves huge amounts of sacrifice from the whole family. The father that is willing to spend all kinds of time helping to prep bikes and go to practices. The mother who’s willing to take care of all the other activities the siblings are involved in because there is practice or races to drive to. The cost alone to participate in racing to get to a professional level is immense and without the right support group, the rider will not succeed. It’s really that simple.

That is one of the reasons I believe the motocross community is so close. They understand each other and they support and help each other along the way. It’s part of the sport that I really love.

This isn’t a sport where you can participate without risk. All of this sacrifice can be futile in an instant. The sport is dangerous and you can fall victim to an accident no matter how talented you are. All that work and struggle can come to a screeching halt with one bad accident. Unfortunately this sport isn’t one where the accidents are not extreme on occasion. Over the years I have seen many of my friends and fellow racers fall victim to motorcycle accidents on and off the road that have left the families reeling.

It’s all part of the sport we love and it’s a known risk by all who participate. w w w.gofarmag.com

When I was working at KTM I had the responsibility of finding different top level riders to sponsor so they could go out and represent the brand. I spent a lot of time with these riders and their families supporting them and keeping in touch with them. I have been blessed to see many of these riders and their families achieve their goals. Quite a few of the kids I sponsored are now racing at the top level in the sport. It’s awesome to see them finally participating at that level and understand the path and the immense sacrifice it took to get them to that point.

One of those riders was Todd Krieg.

He was just a little guy when I met him and his family, but I have watched him over the years and followed his racing endeavors even after I left KTM. In 2014 he started racing the Supercoss series and was being supported by small dealership sponsored teams. Another step toward achieving his goal.

This fall Todd had an accident while training for the 2015 season. He suffered a spinal cord injury which left him paralyzed from the chest down. This news really hit me hard simply because I have followed him all these years and know the family and how hard they have worked. The motocross community has come out in droves to support Todd and his future struggles to adjust to this new way of life and I felt strongly that I should do my part. Todd has a new commitment now to adjust and inspire. His attitude through this has already been something to behold and I have confidence that he will be a huge inspiration in years to come.

If you would like to help Todd donations can be made to him and his family to help with the financial struggles that lie ahead. Please make checks payable to Todd Krieg and send them to: Todd Krieg, 225 Erie St. South Amherst, Ohio 44001 Thank-you!

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Dec

2014

Veterans Info

Veterans Affairs Secretary of VA and where to go for what they McDonald Updates Employees on need within any of our facilities; that employees are empowered with the MyVA Reorganization Plans Washington, DC – November 10, 2014 - On November 10, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Robert McDonald sent the following message to all VA employees: In the last few months as your Secretary, I have met and heard from Veterans and family members about how we can better serve Veterans. I’ve also traveled to VA facilities across the country and have had the extraordinary opportunity to meet with you, the men and women who work on the front lines and behind the scenes to care for and serve Veterans every day.

These opportunities have informed my thinking as we work to plan for the future of the Department. Already, more than 2,000 VA employees at 20 facilities serving 1.4 million Veterans have shared their perspectives on how we can improve this Department, and have provided insightful and thoughtful feedback about how VA should be organized to better serve Veterans. It is clear that our shared mission is important to you and your colleagues. It’s also clear that you share my goal of making VA easier to navigate for Veterans. I am grateful for your contributions, and your support in this endeavor.

As we have been considering changes to VA, we have also met with Veterans, Veterans Service Organizations (VSO), NGOs, and other stakeholders. We have used your feedback, and the common themes we heard in all comments, to begin shaping the way forward for VA. Soon, we will begin implementing changes to VA, to better structure our organization to meet Veteran needs. Our new alignments may change some of our processes, but our employees remain valued members of the team.

Our shared goals are to ensure that Veterans have a clear understanding 26

to plan how this will all unfold. As we move forward with these changes, your feedback, ideas and perspective will be invaluable. To gather your suggestions, we have launched an intranet web tool, the My VA Idea House, where employees from across VA can submit ideas online to improve services, streamline processes and solve issues for Veterans and their families. Employees can also vote on submissions from your colleagues across VA. Sponsors will select ideas and create topic-related groups to encourage collaboration and help make the ideas a reality. The Idea House website will officially open for submissions tomorrow, Veterans Day, Nov. 11. I encourage you to go to vaideahouse.ideascale.com to submit your ideas and proposed solutions to the challenges you are seeing.

I know there are a lot of questions about this effort, and I know that there will be concerns. We don’t have all the answers right now, and that’s why we are reaching to you for your thoughts. This will be a fair and deliberate process, and we need your help to make sure our decisions are the right ones for Veterans.

As we collect input and work together to design an employee-led, Veterancentric VA, we have a great opportunity to make significant progress toward our goals in the near term. Thank you for the work you are doing each day to make VA a stronger organization for America’s Veterans.

authority, knowledge and tools they need to solve problems and take action; and that the products and services that we deliver to Veterans are integrated within the organization. The changes we plan to make are as follows: • Establish a new VA-wide customer service organization to ensure we provide top-level customer service to Veterans.

A Chief Customer Service Officer who reports to the Secretary will lead this effort. The mission of the new office will be to drive VA culture and practices to understand and respond to the expectations of our Veteran customers.

• Establishing a single regional framework that will simplify internal coordination, facilitate partnering and enhance customer service. This will allow Veterans to more easily navigate VA without having to understand our inner structure.

• Working with our partners to establish a national network of Community Veteran Advisory Councils to coordinate better service delivery with

local, state and community partners.

Expanded public-private partnerships

will help us coordinate Veteran-related

issues with local, state and community

partners, as well as VA employees.

• Identifying opportunities

for VA to DECEMBER 13, 2014 realign its internal business processes Factsheet into a shared services 2013 model in which organizations across VA leverage the DURING THE HOLIDAY Who We Are TM same support services,• Wreaths to improve REMEMBER Across America SEASON (WAA) is a national nonprofit organization found continue and expand the annual wreath-laying at Arlington Nation efficiency, reduce costs and increase THOSE WHOceremony SERVED. begun by we’re Maine businessman, Morrill Worcester, in 1992. productivity across VA. Right now, o 1992 - First wreaths (5,000) donated by Morrill Worcester and Wo looking at options used in the private Co. WreathsAcrossAmerica.org sector to enhance our rapid delivery of- Iconic photo of wreaths in snow becomes a viral sensation o 2005 o 2007 - Wreaths Across America formed as a 501(c)3 nonprofit org services, and also at our own business o Organization governed by Board of Directors. Day-to-day operatio processes that are suited for shared Executive Director Karen Worcester. services.

• WAA’s mission — Remember, Honor, Teach — is carried out in part by coo wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington, as well as veterans’ cemeteries and o Please keep in mind that this is a longCALL FOR DISCOUNTED in all 50 states and beyond. term process and we are just beginning AD RATES - 813-505-5119

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• The organization has since expanded to include more than 1,000 local fundr in all 50 states representing more than 800 cemeteries, military memorials a locations, along with our nation’s cemetery at Arlington. w w w.gofarmag.com • In 2008, and each year since, Congress has issued a proclamation officially “Wreaths Across America Day” each December. This year, it will be held on

Dec

2014

Road Trippin’

By Hyway

Two or three months before the first weekend in August the buzz begins.

Seems like everyone is asking the same question. For the next two or three months no matter where you go in the continental U.S. if you go on a bike, you’re gonna get blasted with the age old question, “Hey man, yea gonna do Sturgis this year?”. If you answer yes the next question is sure to be, “Gonna ride out or trailer?”. It seems to me one of the local T-Shirt gurus would have picked up on this and printed a shirt a few months before the rally, “Yea I’m gonna go to Sturgis, and yea I’m ridin’ or no I ain’t goin’ this year. That might be a million dollar seller. The hype in the biker world as the first weekend of August nears is almost at the same level as the hype that builds after Thanksgiving when the normal world braces for Christmas.

For positive Sturgis is an extreme biker highlight of every summer and the debate is sure to always come up as to which rally is biggest, Sturgis or Daytona Bike Week.

I’ve been to both rallies several times and I guess the debate comes down to this, if you’ve been adrift in the middle of the ocean for a week with nothing but a life jacket and can’t see land in any direction, would it really matter which ocean you’re bobbin’ around in?

I didn’t have any plans to go to Sturgis this year; I was thinkin’ more about going in ’15 for the 75 year anniversary, figuring I probably won’t be around to make the 100 year party. This year I had my sights set on Neah Bay, Washington the furthest northwest point in the continuous 48. As I was gettin’ bombarded with the, “Gonna go to Sturgis” question, my curiosity really got the best of me. Is there a Sturgis after the rally? Why not swing by after the rally on my way to Washington and check it out.

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Is There Life After The Rally?

The closer I got to South Dakota the more bikes I saw heading east. Stopping at the truck stops to get gas, the lines at the pumps were like the lines back in the 70s during the alleged gas shortage.

Talkin’ to folks, the consensus was the number of bikes attending the rally was noticeable fewer then past years.

I got into Sturgis the afternoon of August 13, not a soul was stirring, not even a mouse! It was almost spooky as I rode down Lazelle Street. I rode through town heading out to the Buffalo Chip thinking I could get a site to pitch my tent. When I passed Full Throttle, there was only one pickup in the parking lot.

To my surprise Buffalo Chip was closed up tighter then a tick for the season! I found a campground across from Buffalo Chip that was semi open, at least they let my pitch a tent. Next day I scouted around town. The sign at the city limits read Sturgis Pop. 6,627 but in the two days so far I don’t think I seen 60. Almost all the restaurants were closed for the season. You cudda shot a cannon down Main Street and not hit anyone. The good thing is all the cool roads, Custer State Park, Badlands National Park, Spearfish Canyon, Deadwood, etc are still there and no crowds or traffic! You can actually find places to park.

The one thing that really surprised me was the high cost of ordinary, every day things in Sturgis. I would expect prices, like in Daytona, to be inflated during the rally but unlike Daytona the prices don’t deflate after the rally. I needed an oil

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change, the dealership wanted $139.99!

Come on, 4 quarts of oil and a friggin oil filter! An enterprising entrepreneur at a quick oil change joint said he would be happy to change it for me for a mere $99.99 if I brought the oil filter! I stopped in at a coffee shop similar to a Star Bucks, a small cup of regular coffee, I swear no more then a good double shot, was $3.50 and no refill! I would have had to get a second mortgage on the house if I ordered a donut! I was gonna buy some leather boot laces at the local Dakota Mart but quickly changed my mind when I saw the $7.00 price. Hey call me cheap or tightwad, but I don’t know how folks can afford to live there!

Thinking about it, I guess Sturgis is like an early spring snow melt run off creek.

When spring comes along the snows of a long winter melt causing the creek to flow wildly and overflow its banks for a little while, as the summer wears on the creek begin to dry up or have just a small slow trickle till next year’s winter snow melt. Plain and simple, after the rally is a perfect time to enjoy the area ridin’ but there ain’t nuttin’ else in Sturgis after the rally but wind and high prices.

Hey folks if you like the high quality of this magazine, be sure to patronize the establishments that advertise in it.

Catch ya at the next gas stop.

Have a question or comment?

Drop me a line at: hywayrebel@gmail.com

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2014

Upcoming Events

SAT - Dec 6 - Sebring 29TH ANNUAL ABATE INERSTATE CHAPTER TOY RUN 11am lineup at Blue Crab Rest, 825 N Ridgewood Dr. KSU 1pm. Ends at Elks Lodge. $15/person +Unwrapped toy.

50/50, Auction, Complete home style dinner. Info: G-Man 863-873-6202

SUN - Dec 14 - Crystal River -14TH ANNUAL CITRUS COUNTY FOSTER KIDS TOY RUN Starts @ Bealls Parking Lot, Inverness.

Escorted ride to HD of Crystal River.

KSU 1130am. After ride party, free food, music and meet the kids. Info: 352-563-9900

SUN - Jan 21 - North Port RIDERS RELIEF FUND RIDE $10/hand $7/pre-register @ AmVets Post 312. Starts Buffalo Wild Wings, 1081 W Price. KSU 0930 Final stop - AmVets 312, 7050 Chancellor Blvd. Free Keg of Beer.

Food, Entertainment, Prizes. Info: 941429-5403

SUN - Dec 7 - St Petersburg JIM ROSENKRANS MEMORIAL TOY RUN Starts/ends Jim’s H-D, 930am KSU for escorted ride to the beach and back.

Info: 727-527-9672

SUN - Dec 14 - Tampa BIKERS RUN TO THE CHILDREN’S HOME KSU 1pm - Tampa Elks, 3616 W Gandy.

Info: 813-855-4435

SAT - FEB 14 - CAPE CORAL CAPE CORAL BIKE NIGHT Games, Music, Vendors, Food and Drink.

Downtown. Info: cc.bikenight.com

Sun - Dec 7 - Tampa COOKSON HILLS TOY RUN Starts at Veteran’s Memorial Park on Hwy 301. Auction 1030 - 1230. Ride leaves @ 1pm. Personally pass out the presents to the kids. Info: 813-643-5758 SUN - Dec 7 - Sunrise 27TH ANNUAL SFPC TOYS IN THE SUN RUN Starts Mardi Gras Casino, ends at Markham Park. Info: 954-868-7040 SUN - Dec 7 - Ocala OCALA HOG CHAPTER TOY RUN 5331 N US Hwy 441. Escorted Ride at Noon. $5 and unwrapped toy. Info: 352854-1190

SUN - Dec 14 - St Petersburg 30TH ANNUAL VIETNAM VETS/LEGACY VETS MC TOY RUN Starts St Pete Dog Track on Gandy. Ends America Legion Post 138. $15/person, $20/couple. 9am reg starts. Info: 813215-7743 SAT - Dec 20 - Cape Coral ADOPT-A-FAMILY Meet @ Jaycee Park, 4125 SE 20th Place. KSU Noon w/escort. Ends at Paradise Tiki Hut for after ride party.

Info: 239-339-729 SAT - Dec 20 - Tampa TEDDY BEAR TOY RUN Starts Tampa H-D, 6920 N Dale Mabry.

KSU Noon. Info: 727-935-4875

SUN - Dec 7 - Sarasota ABATE WEST COAST CHAPTER TOY RUN Benfits Child Protection Center. Start @ Ken Thompson Park City Island, Ends Tarpon Pointe Grill. KSU 11am. Info: 941807-1299

SUN - Dec 28 - Lehigh Acres 4TH SUNDAY MONTHLY KATI’S PARTY @ MUGS N’ JUGS 12-4pm Bike Games, Contests, Prizes, Music and More! 5512 8th St W, Info: 239-369-5069

SAT - Dec 13 - St. Petersburg TOYS FOR PINELLAS KIDS BIKE SHOW Biff Burgers, 3939 49th St N. Trophies, Auctions, 50/50 and more! Info: 727-2448519

THU-SUN - Jan 8-11 - Sarasota 17TH ANNUAL THUNDER BY THE BAY Info: www.thunderbythebay.org

SAT - Dec 13 - Cape Coral - CAPE CORAL BIKE NIGHT Games, Music, Vendors, Food and Drink.

Downtown. Info: ccbikenight.com SAT - Dec 13 - USA WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA Info: www.wreathsacrossamerica.org

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SAT - Jan 10 - Fort Myers - DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS BIKE NIGHT Motorcycles only downtown! Music, Food, Entertainment. 6-10pm Info: 239-246-3045 SAT-SUN - Jan 17-18 - Gibsonton GIBTOWN BIKE FEST Info: www.gibtownmotorcyclerally.com

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SAT - Feb 21 - Sebring POKER RUN FOR HANDICAPPED AMERICANS LOF OF LIFE ORG. $15/Rider $10/Passenger All Vehicles welcome. 9am reg. @HALLO, 112 Medical Center Dr. KSU 1030am. Breakfast avail.

Scenic Ride,/Raffles/Door Prizes/Music/ Vendors/Prizes.

Info: 863-385-1196 or halloinc@ embarqmail.com.

Fri-Sun (10 Days) - Mar 6-15 Daytona Beach 74TH ANNUAL BIKE WEEK America’s Most Famous Beach hosts the world’s largest motorcycle event.

Info: www.bikerbeach.com

EVENT LISTINGS ARE FREE! SEND INFO TO: MAILBOX@GOFARMAG.COM DEADLINE 10TH OF EACH MONTH

GREAT SEAFOOD IN 2 LOCATIONS: WATER FRONT MIDTOWN MARKER 54 BY BOAT 5100 S Cleveland Ave #314 13021 N Cleveland Ave Fort Myers, FL North Fort Myers, FL (In Sam’s Club Plaza) (At The Best Western Hotel) 239-931-3474 239-599-8568

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Dec

2014

Kruisin’ with Kati

Hello, Happy Thanksgiving and soon to be Merry Christmas… here’s to wishing you a very happy holiday season!!

Here we are coming into a new year and I’ve got my new ride sitting there calling my name… Kati, Kati, let’s go Kruisin! Funny thing, the morning after it was delivered to my home I looked out the window at it and the first thing that came to mind was “Look it’s a big pumpkin Charlie Brown!” Now to get it out on the road and into the wind. This is such a new kind of ride for me, I’ve never had floorboards, or cruise control, this might be kinda nice. If only I could find some bumper guards and bubble wrap and a ride suit that expands upon impact then I’d have all my issues solved.

As we come into the cooler weather the streets and roads are filling with so many more automobiles, that’s a scary thought. But thinking about it this way hey it was locals that caused our (my) accidents so folks be careful out there.

Maybe it’s just the fact the streets are getting more crowded and that makes them more dangerous. Everyone in a hurry to get some place they won’t be there a minute later if they slow down and pay more attention to where they are going.

Here’s a new experience for ya, The Hawgs for Dogs Seeing Eye Dog event came up in Clewiston and my husband and I wanted to attend and thinking it was a dog event we loaded LaBella up to go with us. Well we pulled in and there were lots of bikes in the parking lot so I suggested that hubby take our girl for a walk while I get some photos. OMG 32

the next thing I knew here comes a dog running through the parking lot and she was soaked… she was let off the leash for a moment and what did she do, took a dive into the small lake for a swim. Yikes, there are lots of gators in there, LaBella could have been lunch for some of them big ole boys… Needless to say that since we couldn’t take her inside where all the action was we decided to just load her up and head for the house. I keep eyeballing the trunk door on my new ride wondering if I can take it off and let her ride with me but after this event I’m not sure I can take her on many business calls especially if there is a swimming hole around. The Annual Hawg for Dogs event was very well attended and the weather was just beautiful for their run around Lake Okeechobee. Who knows maybe next year I’ll be making the run with my girl in the trunk… it’s a big trunk and she’s a big girl.

Another event I attended was the Ft. Myers Bike Night, first one of the season.

Everything was going pretty good, vendors arriving and being placed, the riders were coming in slowly but still a steady stream. And then it hit, the rain was here! On and off throughout the evening but not really stopping the show. A couple vendors packed it in and left but those who stayed ended up with lots of visitors to their booths and the streets did fill with riders. I saw Southern Most Chapter vests running around in the crowd and had the honor of meeting a group of about 14-15 riders from the Port St. Lucie to West Palm Beach to Okeechobee area.

I received a phone call asking if it should w w w.gofarmag.com

happen to rain does the bike night still go on? Yes, it does, I told my new friend Bill North and his reply was,”Then we’ll see ya there”. I can’t believe they still rode over even in the wet weather. I should have had wet butt rider patches for all of them when the stopped at our Go For A Ride Magazine booth. Thank you to the whole group for this wonderful memory I’ll have of Nov.’s bike night… it was great meeting you all! Fort Myers Bike night is always the second Saturday every other month starting in November ending with the last one in May. I didn’t get a chance to attend the Grand Opening of the Six Bends Harley Davidson of Ft. Myers but I have been there enough times to tell ya the place is HUGE and they have lots of fun stuff in store for the future. They are also open until 9 at night so stop by and enjoy the firepit, it’s very pretty at night! The other thing I saw and really liked was they now have their very own Riders Edge riding range… that is awesome! I started my riding career with Riders Edge thirteen years ago and at that time we had to go a school parking lot. It’s got to be a great feeling to have the range right outside the door. And all brand new bikes to use for learning also… back when I was learning we had the new Buells… fun, fun, fun…

Well gotta go friends… be careful out there and if you see a big pumpkin looking bike coming toward ya be sure to wave, it might just be me back in the wind. Lots of hugs to you all, Kruisin With Kati

Attorney Aliana Payret LaBelle Office

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Fort Myers Advertiser’s Map

Haus of Trikes & Bikes – Ad p9 Six Bends Harley-Davidson – Ad p17 Tropic Trailer – Ad p23 Buckingham Blues Bar– Ad p35 Palladen Cycles – Ad p27 Old 41 Restaurant – Ad p34 Great White Grill – Ad p29 American Cycles – Ad p29 “Purr”formance Motorsports – Ad p27 Mugs n’ Jugs Restaurant – Ad p25 Best Western Waterfront Hotel – Ad p31 3 Fishermen Seafood Restaurant – Ad p31 Barn Luck Cafe Racers - Ad p3

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STATE CERTIFIED Ready To Start Today!

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Lehigh Acres

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884

Cape Coral

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Urban Estates

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EclipseCrossword.com

our handle bars, and so on. These gadgets are helpful, and convenient. The urge to punch in an address without pulling off the road is tempting. This process involves manual, visual, and cognitive distraction. If your eyes are off the road for 4.6 seconds at 55 MPH, that would be the equivalent of driving the entire length of a football field blindfolded. So if you are programming a GPS, and a driver is texting at the same time…… you will never see each other until it is too late.

We must teach our children by example.

Their lives can end tragically, or they can end another’s life and alter theirs forever.

Other applications are available and include auto responders that tell the caller or message sender that you are driving and cannot answer. Tools for teaching can be found at sites like www.itcanwait.com .

If we begin to teach our teen drivers and our children before they become drivers we will save lives. As parents we can save the life of not only our children but the lives of motorcyclists, passengers, and pedestrians. Check out AT&T DriveMode App. It is free, and silences incoming alerts so you can avoid distractions. According to www.itcanwait.com/tips-and-tools for AT&T paid customers it sends an auto-reply letting the sender know you’re behind the wheel. The app turns on automatically when you’re driving 15 MPH or more and

turns off shortly after you stop. Parents of young drivers can received a text message if the app is turned off. The site shows other options as well.

A few statistics...

71% of teens and young people say they have composed/sent SMS messages while driving.

Source: NHTSA.gov 78% of teens and young adults say they have read an SMS message while driving.

Source: NHTSA.gov Key Facts and Statistics taken directly from www.distraction.gov : The number of people killed in distraction-affected crashes decreased slightly from 3,360 in 2011 to 3,328 in 2012. An estimated 421,000 people were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving a distracted driver, this was a nine percent increase from the estimated 387,000 people injured in 2011.

As of December 2012, 171.3 billion text messages were sent in the US (includes PR, the Territories, and Guam) every month.

(CTIA) 10% of all drivers under the age of 20 involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted at the time of the crash. This age group has the largest proportion of drivers who were distracted.

Drivers in their 20s make up 27 percent of the distracted drivers in fatal crashes. w w w.gofarmag.com

(NHTSA) At any given daylight moment across America, approximately 660,000 drivers are using cell phones or manipulating electronic devices while driving, a number that has held steady since 2010. (NOPUS) Engaging in visual-manual subtasks (such as reaching for a phone, dialing and texting) associated with the use of handheld phones and other portable devices increased the risk of getting into a crash by three times. (VTTI) Five seconds is the average time your eyes are off the road while texting. When traveling at 55mph, that’s enough time to cover the length of a football field blindfolded. (2009, VTTI) Headset cell phone use is not substantially safer than hand-held use. (VTTI) A quarter of teens respond to a text message once or more every time they drive. 20 percent of teens and 10 percent of parents admit that they have extended, multi-message text conversations while driving. (UMTRI)

Go FAR Jan 2015 Deadline = Dec 15th 35

Fort Myers Bike Night

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Dec

2014

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