BRITISH MOTORCYCLE ASSOCIATION OF COLORADO Meets 1 st Saturday of every month, 10 am South Side Johnny’s 528 S. Tejon Colorado Springs, CO www.bmacinc.com All makes and models of bikes welcome! Contact John @719-213-3239 or 5pointsltd@gmail.com
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THUNDER ROADS® Magazine COLORADO Published by Flying Hound Press, L.L.C. 7477 W. Layton Way Littleton, Colorado 80123 720-458-3134 www.thunderroadscolorado.com feedback@thunderroadscolorado.com
Scott O’Sullivan....................................................... 6 Reinke Bros............................................................. 8 Riding on Superstition........................................... 12 Burning Point Featured Bike................................. 14 Hearing Safety....................................................... 16
EDITORS Patrick J. McCauley “5” President and Senior Editor Patrick@thunderroadscolorado.com
Veteran’s Corner.................................................... 17 Calendar................................................................ 18 Events................................................................... 20
Carrie McCauley Vice President and Editor Carrie@thunderroadscolorado.com
Tasty Recipes........................................................ 23 Ladies Up Front..................................................... 24
PHOTOGRAPHERS Vickie Jo Mullin, Lead Photographer Vickie@thunderroadscolorado.com
Seats & Saddles.................................................... 27 Skin Art.................................................................. 29
Wayne Madison wayne@thunderroadscolorado.com
News Bytes........................................................... 30
David Campbell davidc@thunderroadscolorado.com
Joker’s Wild........................................................... 33
Biker Friendly Directory......................................... 32 Thunder Cam........................................................ 34
ADVERTISING AND DISTRIBUTION REPRESENTATIVES Western Slope Chris Blumke chrisb@thunderroadscoloraodo.com (303)478-2335
ON THE COVER
Models from left to right: Crystal Lynn, Drew Bentley, Lisa Opperman Motorcycle Owner: Dave Weaver Photographer: Vickie Jo Mullin
Greater Metro Denver Area Toby Schmidt tobyb@thunderroadscolorado.com (720)829-7954 Northern Colorado Zak Clayton zak@ThunderRoadsColorado.com (970) 301-4674 LAYOUT & DESIGN Meredith Hancock / Hancock Graphics mhancockgraphics@gmail.com NATIONAL FOUNDERS Toni McCoy Shearon & Brian Shearon 1528 Matlock Drive Chapmansboro, TN 37035 Thunder Publishing LLC, Offices 615-792-0040 thunderroadsfounders@yahoo.com www.thunderroadsmagazine.com ©2015 Flying Hound Press, LLC. All Rights Reserved. No part of the content may be reproduced without written permission. Publisher assumes no responsibility and is not liable for errors beyond the cost of space occupied by the error, slander by any group or individual, failure to produce any issue as scheduled, any and all suits for liable, plagiarism, copyright infringement and unauthorized use of a person’s name or photograph. Opinions and claims made by advertisers and authors/contributors are their own, and do not necessarily represent the policy of Thunder Road Magazine® Colorado, Thunder Publishing. Publisher does not promote the abuse of alcohol or other drugs.
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W
ell, October is upon us and we have the Halloween edition of Thunder Roads Colorado with a photoshoot at Reinke Bros. in Littleton. We also have an article about helmets from Scott O’Sullivan motorcycle attorney. Scott has brought us some very useful articles in the past from insurance issues we need to know about to laws in Colorado governing motorcycles. This issue he brings us his opinions on helmet use. Most of you are aware that Colorado requires a helmet for those under the age of 18. Beyond the age of 18 it becomes a choice to wear a helmet or not. This month Scott brings you his opinion on the matter and why he has that opinion. When we received the article I almost rejected it on the basis that, as Editor-in-Chief for Thunder Roads Colorado, I didn’t want to be in the middle of what is often a heated issue. I also didn’t want an article by Scott to be seen as the opinion of Thunder Roads Colorado. Why didn’t I want to get involved? There are several reasons. Firstly, various lawmakers (and non-lawmakers for that matter) think that helmets make you safe. I think that focus is all kinds of wrong. Mandating helmet use won’t help to prevent a single accident. Research has shown that ongoing rider education will help to prevent accidents at all skill levels. Now, you might think that helmet use and motorcycle training and education don’t have much to do with each other but in reality, they do. It seems to be a money thing. Spending time and money emphasizing on helmet laws tend to remove the focus on rider education and training. Since training helps to prevent accidents, I personally think that a focus there is much more effective than on helmet use. That said, we aren’t talking about lawmakers here, we are talking about Scott’s opinion. Since that is the case, we have an article that is unapologetically prohelmet use. Thunder Roads Colorado is not endorsing Scott’s opinion and we welcome (and will publish) alternate views. Feel free to send us yours. Like I said earlier, I don’t always wear a helmet. It is my personal choice. If I had children, my choice would likely be different. That said, I do wear a helmet most of the time these days. My wife on the other hand, pretty much always wears hers. I can think of only one or two times she hasn’t and those were usually more changing the parking of the bike than going anywhere. I guess that between myself, Scott and my wife we represent most of you out there, some of you wear helmets every single time you get on your bike and some of you don’t. Now, whether you wear a helmet or not is your decision. The most important thing is that we all ride and there is not anything out there that is quite the same as the feeling of riding a motorcycle whether it is a sports bike or a Harley, it is about the journey and not the destination. Keep the shiny side up and have a Happy Halloween! Patrick “5” www.thunderroadscolorado.com
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Should I Wear a Helmet?” AKA: “Do I want to die a slow, painful death?” By Scott O’Sullivan, O’Sullivan Law Firm
helmet was the single most critical factor in preventing or reducing head and neck injuries among motorcycle drivers and passengers.
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K, so that headline is a bit shocking. But this article is going to be very honest, direct and a bit aggressive because I feel very passionate about this topic. Wear a helmet when you ride a bicycle or motorcycle. Period.
So many people think that they’re being purists or fatalistic when they don’t wear helmets. They say, “When my time is up, my time is up. I’m ready.” You know why that sentiment is so crazy? Because people who don’t wear helmets don’t die instantly when they are in accidents! In fact, a lot of them spend the rest of their lives as vegetables, or in chronic pain, or in wheelchairs, or as giant burdens on their families… or all of the above. When you choose not to wear a helmet, you are making one of the most selfish decisions imaginable. It’s like saying, “Dear family, prepare to feed me through a tube and change my diapers for the next 40 years.” Read the following information about Traumatic Brain Injury published by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. As you read it, imagine that your spouse or your parents or your children are taking care of you as you experience these symptoms or surgeries: “Approximately half of severely head-injured patients will need surgery to remove or repair hematomas (ruptured blood vessels) or contusions (bruised brain tissue). Disabilities resulting from a TBI depend upon the severity of the injury, the location of the injury, and the age and general health of the individual. Some common disabilities include problems with cognition (thinking, memory, and reasoning), sensory processing (sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell), communication (expression and understanding), and behavior or mental health (depression, anxiety, personality changes, aggression, acting out, and social inappropriateness). More serious head injuries may result in stupor, an unresponsive state, but one in which an individual can be aroused briefly by a strong stimulus, such as sharp pain; coma, a state in which an individual is totally unconscious, unresponsive, unaware, and unarousable; vegetative state, in which an individual is unconscious and unaware of his or her surroundings, but continues to have a sleep-wake cycle and periods of alertness; and a persistent vegetative state (PVS), in which an individual stays in a vegetative state for more than a month.”
Now, I’d like you to list the reasons that you don’t wear a helmet. Let me guess: •
“It’s not cool.”
•
“I look awful in it.”
•
“It interferes with my enjoyment of riding.”
•
“It blocks my hearing and vision.” (Hint: try a different helmet.)
•
“I don’t like having helmet hair when I arrive at my destination.”
And now, the final step: imagine your spouse or parents or children have completely changed their lives to accommodate you after an accident. Their once-cozy homes look like hospital wards filled with your pills and equipment. While feeding you one day, they ask you, “Why didn’t you wear a helmet?” and you respond with one of the reasons above, such as: “I looked awful in it.” Seems like a pretty selfish decision to me. And here’s a quick tangent on all the gear you should be wearing! When you purchase your motorcycle, roll a few items into the cost, just as if they came with the bike. You wouldn’t buy a motorcycle without a clutch. Don’t buy one without the proper riding gear, such as: •
Full-face helmet, including face and jaw protection
•
Motorcycle boots
•
Riding jacket and pants
You might even consider the newest technologies out there, such as a riding jacket that comes equipped with an airbag. These stateof-the-art jackets look no different than professional racing jackets and come in different seasonal variations. If you have any questions about this article, don’t hesitate to call me: 303-388-5304 or https://osullivan-law-firm.com/
Yet, traumatic brain injuries caused by motorcycle accidents are largely preventable! The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration posts the following on their website: •
A study of 900 motorcycle crashes (conducted by the University of Southern California) showed that wearing a
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REINKE BROS Our October photoshoot for Thunder Roads Colorado took a bit of doing and several people coming together to make it happen. Lisa and I talked about the project back in May, I kept my eyes open looking for the perfect bike and I wanted very much to do the photos at Reinke Brothers Haunted Mansion in Littleton.
makes great photographs. Drew’s gothic side comes out on occasion on Facebook so I had asked him to join us as well.
Vampire teeth! Lisa’s fangs are not plastic pop-ins, these are the teeth she smiles with year round. Of course everyone who meets her including myself has to ask the obvious question, “Are those your real teeth?” Depending on her mood she will either smile at you or bare all for a testbite preview and say, “Yes, they are.” I can vouch for her that she always has them--even at work escorting patients to the exam rooms. So of course I was more than pleased that she was interested in being on this project.
I had just thrown a Hail-Mary pass on Facebook to find a bike, since the one I wanted was on its way to Las Vegas for a show; another I had in mind from Paper Cycles is on hold for a future shoot. But then I went to cover the Bike Show at Mile High Harley Davidson in Aurora. I walked in and started to drool and had to pop my eyeballs back into my head. I have never seen so many high end show bikes in one place. Someone grabbed me and said you’ve got to see this bobber, so off we went to check it out and the stars aligned and a full Halloween moon came out and I knew it was the one! A springer front end with so much gleam and detail I quickly asked whose bike it was so I could try to persuade the owner to bring it to Reinke’s and get the Vampires to sit on it for a photo shoot. Dave Weaver was happy to bring his beautiful custom bike!
Then there is Drew, a very handsome young front man on the local band scene that I enjoy chasing around with my camera whenever I can. The first time I met Drew he was singing with a band performing at one of the Bike Runs I was on last summer. He was comfortable with the camera in his face and was playing into the camera and this always www.thunderroadscolorado.com
I knew both Lisa (you may have seen her before on a motorcycle centerfold) and Drew have modeling experience in the past so this made my job easy, but I just could not find that perfect bike or get a hold of Reinke Brothers.
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That was the last puzzle piece we needed for this shoot and were good to go. If you have lived in Colorado a long time you have either heard of or have been to Reinke Bros Inc. in Littleton. It is an ‘Open Year Round Costume Shop’ with one of the best Haunted House attractions in the Denver area during the Halloween season. My first thoughts were of setting up in the store, the bike was small enough we could put it in one of the aisles. I heard through the grapevine about the hail damage the roof of the store had suffered last spring and my idea was fading away quickly, the more I listened to what the store was going through in trying to repair the building and save all the treasures that are inside the more my heart sunk for this 35 year resident of the business and all things creepy community member. Fortunately my dear friend Dave of the Dave Frisk band who plays that live back ground boogie music in the store (all of the band in fabulous Halloween costume tradition, while hundreds of screaming guests are being ushered through the delightful scares in the Haunted Mansion) was able to get me in touch with Greg Reinke. By this time, we only had two weeks to get this done before the deadline for print was on my doorstep and it would be too late. But when Greg started telling me about the big party they were going to have (the day before the dead deadline) with the Imagined Wall Dave Weaver 10 Thunder Roads Magazine® Colorado
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Festival that should have freshly finished 16 x 16 foot wall murals on their building I decided to wait until the last minute and move the photo shoot outside in front of the new mural paintings. I wonder which walls won the cash prizes and the People’s Choice award? All of the artwork on the walls was done by artists that donated their time, effort and talent. Great work!
MOTORCYCLE SPECIFICATIONS:
The day of the photoshoot, everyone showed up, the bike was gleaming, the vampires weren’t melting in the lowering sun and a surprise bonus was Drew’s friend Crystal coming along for the fun as well. The Imagined Wall Festival paintings were finished and the party in the parking lot was getting started with a band, some food, the wall artists and an OPEN sign flashing to welcome everyone into the Reinke Bros store. Thanks again to everyone participating, it was a fun Halloween shoot.
Engine: 2006 S&S 93 cubic inch Shovel Head
Owner: Dave Weaver Builder: Charlie “Coop” Cooper & Dave Weaver Manufactured at Suicide Cycles, Manchester Maryland Frame: Paughco (modified) Transmission: JIMS (modified) Painting: Cliff & Skip, Hanover PA Front End: Paughco Springer Primary: BDL 3 inch Wheels: 21’ front, 16’ rear
Author and Photographer: Vickie Jo Mullin
Seat: Jeff Carnes Custom Leather
Models: Drew Bentley, Chrystal Lynn, Lisa Opperman
Hand Made or Modified: Oil bag, tank, foot controls, oil filter bracket, hand grips, copper oil lines, rear fender and lots of other parts
Reinke Bros Inc. is located at 5663 S Prince St., Littleton CO And can be found on Facebook at Reinke Brothers, Inc.
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Other Items: Suicide Shifter, Hardtail, Kicker only, no turn signals, view-type fuel gauge, no front fender
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RIDING ON SUPERSTITION BY PEGGY BOGAARD-LAPP
It’s a rare thing for anyone riding a motorcycle to do it without some sort of lucky charm or talisman. The most popular is a Gremlin Bell, hanging somewhere on the bike where it’s ringing can ward off road gremlins.
THE LEGEND
The tale is an old one and, like most legends, has as many versions as there are bikers to tell it and this is one of them. There was a lone rider, heading North with his saddlebags full of toys and trinkets that he was delivering to an orphanage in his town just across the border. He was an experienced rider, having done many miles across mountains, desert, and plains, and while this road was new to him he was confident in his journey. Darkness began to envelop the world around him, and the road ahead of him fell into shadow. His headlight flickered several times, off and on, then suddenly it lit up something moving across the pavement. Then, another shape darted across to the roadside. The rider was cautious but did not slow down. A bit farther along the road he saw the figures again, and this time they began to dart toward his bike, swift and aggressive, and suddenly they came right at him. His eyes went wide as he saw them – road gremlins. They were small and translucent in the beam of his headlight, greenish and hairy; evil looking and full of spite, and known for leaving things in a rider’s path – pieces of tires, gravel, or that one shoe you always see. The biker hit the brakes, skidding and swaying until both he and the bike hit the ground. The gremlins rushed around him, illuminated by the headlight, stalking closer. They were drawn to the bike, and began jumping on it and dancing around it. The biker felt a twinge of fear, but his anger at crashing got the best of him. He crawled toward the bike, waving his arms to fend the gremlins off. He reached for his saddlebags for something, anything, to drive the gremlins away. The first thing he found was a toy reindeer with a collar of bells. When he grabbed the bells, they rang in the desert night and suddenly those gremlins froze at the sound of the bells. Each time the bells jingled the gremlins scattered back into the dark. The biker shook the toy, and the more the bells rang the farther away 12 Thunder Roads Magazine® Colorado
the gremlins went, covering their ears from the sound. He stood up and with a great roar, and shaking the reindeer and bells, chased them all away back into the night. Looking around, the biker felt relief when he saw that the gremlins had vanished. Then he saw lights approaching and braced himself for another round, but was thankful to see that these were headlights from two motorcycles. As they drew closer, the biker relaxed and greeted the riders as they rode up. They helped him right his bike and gather his belongings. He told them of his encounter and described how he ran them off with the ringing of the bells. So amazed at what he had just experienced, and wanting to be sure no one else would be attacked, he tore off two bells from the reindeer’s collar and with pieces of fringe from his saddlebag, gave each of the riders a bell to hang on their bikes as protection from those road gremlins. The three bikers sat up all night talking, and around the campfire they became friends. As they rode together into the town, they formed a bond. Eventually their roads parted and they went their separate ways. However, the Spirit Bells always kept them connected as brothers.
POWER OF THE BELL
Some say that the gremlins become trapped in the bell when they try to jump on, and the ringing drives them away. Others say that the simple sound of the bell keeps them at bay as you travel down the road. If they get caught in the bell and then fall off, potholes happen!
©E. Lapp
WHATEVER YOU CALL IT
The Gremlin Bell is often referred to as a Spirit Bell, which is to recognize the Spirit and Brotherhood and Sisterhood of bikers. It is also called an Angel Bell, to watch over and guide a rider on their journey.
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“The bell with the cross came from an old friend, the other was a gift from my wife.“
“Flames on a skull never hurt.”
SYMBOLISM
For the full effect against road gremlins, a bell should be given as a gift from one rider to another rider, rather than purchased for your own bike. A bell is a token of good will and as a way to show friendship and camaraderie between bikers. It stays with the bike, and a new bell is given when a rider gets a new bike. Many bikers ride with more than one bell. Some who have crashed keep the bell as a reminder of their surviving the crash. And of course, if you steal another biker’s bell you are cursed forever! “This is the bell friends gave me for my first bike, and I have ridden with it on both of the two bikes I have had since.”
TAKING A CHANCE
One rider was bothered by the sound of the bell:” I sounded like Santa Claus in his sleigh coming down the road. For my sanity, I took a pair of metal cutters to it and removed the clapper. I hope the road gremlins won’t get me, but I’m prepared to take the risk.” (Sounds like your pipes aren’t loud enough if you can hear that bell!) “I think a gremlin ate mine! This is all that is left from my last ride.”
I KNOW A GUY….
Crashing sucks, but many riders believe that having a bell on their motorcycle actually kept them from suffering a worse injury. Others say that if you lose a bell, it did its job and saved you.
NAY-SAYERS
“My husband’s bell hangs from the front fender of his crashed Harley. Gremlins tried to distract him with an ambulance siren.”
Some say the entire story about the gremlin bell is totally made up – a ploy to get riders to buy something else for their bike. This could be true, but it is a great tradition between friends. Yet when you see a biker with a bell you know that he or she has been blessed with friendship from a fellow biker, something most of us hold to be an everlasting bond. ”This bell was given to me by my sister, who, not only said a prayer but also had a deacon bless it!”
A DIFFERENT STORY
One of the oldest legends about the bell is much simpler, but is pretty depressing. One bell is “shared” by a group of friends who ride together. The bell is passed from rider to rider, but only if one of them crashed. Thus the last one to crash is the one in possession of the bell. Needless to say no one wanted to be the one with the bell, which served as a warning, by jingling, to others who might be riding with them.
SO MANY BELLS
There are as many bells as there are bikes, and each one has its own meaning and style. Yours may be religious, a skull, and angel or a bullet. It might have an animal or an American flag. Bells are a lot like a rider’s patch – it carries a message or a statement, even if it’s only going to be seen (hopefully) by a road gremlin. A bell can match the biker or the bike, or just have a personal meaning between friends. “This hangs on my Road King.”
When you are riding on two wheels, in a world that every mile has its own risks and challenges, when the weather can change out of nowhere – having something like a bell to keep the gremlins (and lousy drivers) at bay can give a rider a bit pf peace. It may Not all bells are hung on the underside of a bike. And maybe only be a superstition, a legend, a folk tale, there is more protection with two bells. but who wants to take the chance? Even more importantly, the act of giving another biker a bell creates a bond that will continue long after bikes and bells are gone. www.thunderroadscolorado.com
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Photographer: David Campbell, Models: Donna Russolello, Richie Russolello Motorcycle Builder/Owner: Richie Russolello 14 Thunder Roads Magazine速 Colorado
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he name of this build is Burning Point and it was two years in the creation. My sons helped with the build, Mike immensely so with the design and build and my other son Ricky and grandson Kade helped a lot with the assembly.
The name Burning Point came from being in hell fighting off the demons. This is detailed by the one-off, House of Color fire-red paint and the custom airbrushing with all of the skulls engulfed in fire, burning and screaming in pain. This bike is based on a 2007 Beast frame with a 19 inch front and 250 rear Venom tires. It packs a punch with a S&S Super Stock engine and a Super G induction system. The frame has a forty degree rake with six degree trees and forks that are six over and inverted. The handle bars are custom designed along with all of the tins. It is set up for a 20hp hit of NOS when needed along with a 3 1/4 inch Ultima open primary with a custom cover to hold that horsepower. The transmission is an Ultima six speed. The chin spoiler is another oneoff design and all of the hand tooled leather, including the seat, was built specifically for this bike. It also carries a RSD pulley with a 1 1/2 inch belt along with Performance Machine brakes. The wheels are heavy spoke Mammoth wheels to complete the design. Richie Russolello
Would you like to have your recipes appear in the magazine? Just email us at recipes@thunderroadscolorado.com and we will try them out and might just print them here! Make sure you include a little history of the recipe and where you got it from. www.thunderroadscolorado.com October 2015 Thunder Roads Magazine速 Colorado 15
Hearing Safety – Your Helmet is Not Enough!
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BY JASMINE BLUECREEK CLARK
ill-fitting helmet can actually increase the wind noise in your ears up to as much as 110-116 dB from 35 mph up to highway speeds. You’re only allowed 15 minutes (during 24 hours) exposure at 115 dB, so that doesn’t leave much time to enjoy your ride huh?
expect if I took a tally, only a few riders would say that they really give a lot of thought to their hearing safety while riding. I know I didn’t until a few years ago when, after a long road trip to Oregon and back, and I couldn’t hear anything at all but wind noise ringing in my ears for nearly twentyfour hours. My hearing was seriously impacted after that trip. I could not hear anybody speaking to me for three days. Scary Stuff! Audiologists call the condition Temporary Threshold Shift or TTS. Temporary Threshold Shift is caused by excessive noise exposure for a length of time – it drops your actual acute hearing pattern to a lower level temporarily. Continuous Temporary Threshold Shift exposure will eventually result in permanent damage to your hearing. I now pay more attention to protecting my hearing. Perhaps those short low speed rides around town are OK without extra hearing protection. One might even argue that the extra bit of hearing you have when not wearing the plugs could help out in heavy city traffic. That argument is really about a trade off; maybe you can hear better today without the ear protectors, but in the long run your hearing will degenerate faster. The day will come when you won’t be able to hear as well. ENT doctors (Ear, nose and throat specialists) agree that hearing loss from loud noises is permanent and irreversible. Excuse my frankness, but whether you wear a helmet or not - riding without ear plugs is a bad idea. It is wind noise and not loud pipes that is the problem, so even if you are riding that nice quiet BMW or Honda, hearing loss is still an issue. There is a wealth of information online if you would like more information about this phenomenon. Our inner ear (cochlea) is filled with fluid and thousands of tiny hairs attached to nerve cells which line the walls of the inner ear. Hearing occurs when these hairs pick up sound vibrations and changes them into electrical impulses which are then sent to the brain. The brain converts the impulses into data we perceive as sound. Most hearing loss results from damage to the cochlea. The tiny hairs can break or become bent, nerve cells can degenerate. When this happens the electrical signals are not transmitted as efficiently and hearing loss is the result. Aging also causes gradual hearing loss, known as Presbycusis, which is common among Americans older than age 60. You can speed that right up though-by riding a motorcycle without hearing protection!
While a ¾ or full face helmet may reduce wind noise a bit- it’s measured to only reduce the noise level by 3 decibels or so. This is not enough to really protect your hearing. Don’t toss out your helmet though – they are still great head protection and when combined with properly fitting ear plugs and offer significant protection. Statistics say that wind noise at highway speed is nearly 10 times greater without a helmet than when wearing a full face. Just think – you could go deaf 10 times faster. What can we do about this problem? The answer is to buy and use well-fitting ear plugs. Some are so inexpensive; you can buy them by the dozens at Walgreens. Another great option is to have custom ear molds made for you. These offer superior noise protection and a comfortable fit they can even be fitted with headphones and Bluetooth headphones if you listen to music when you ride. There are many versions of hearing protection devices available these days there is almost no excuse anymore not to wear hearing protection. Some states have laws defining what kinds of ear plugs are legal. You will have to check with your local government to find out what your home state allows or, if travelling check what the states you will be going through on your trip. There is a reason I wrote this article, I am deaf in one ear (87% hearing loss in my left ear.) I have walked around my whole life saying, “huh?” all the time and frequently getting laughs for giving some totally non-related response due to mis-hearing something. If you don’t care to suffer the same fate please consider protecting your hearing when you’re out on the road. Get some ear plugs, it is worth it. Jasmine Bluecreek Clark This subject is so important, I’d like to share the following websites so you can do further reading on the subject if you like, or find some custom ear plugs of your own. www.freehearingtest.com/hia_motorcyclefacts.shtml www.thecurefortinnitus.com www.webbikeworld.com/Earplugs/earplugs.htm
Here are some quick comparisons of various sound levels, measured in decibels and then compared to wind noises. OSHA regulations state that an industrial worker exposed to 85-90 dB for an 8 hour day will not exceed the limits of exposure time for a 24 hour period. By comparison a noisy restaurant is about 80 dB, a rock band about 110 dB. When dB levels exceed 100 dB, reasonable exposure time drops to 2 hours in a 24 hour period. If sound levels exceed 115dB, safe exposure time plummets to only 15 minutes in a 24 hour period! So where does wind fit into these figures? Wind noise at highway speeds averages 103 dB. This is similar to running a chain saw. Riding noise at these levels can produce physical fatigue as well as causing you to need a hearing aid later in life. Back to helmets, first they can only help if they fit properly. An
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by Bill Maddick
VETERAN’S CORNER
Colorado Veterans Motorcycle Clubs and Riding Clubs
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his is the third installment of our ongoing series of articles dedicated to the veteran-related motorcycle and riding clubs in Colorado. Each installment of this series shows what these clubs are and what they do. The results of this series have been phenomenal and the experiences I have had talking with all the clubs and organizations has been very positive and also quite an eye opener. As I mentioned in the last issue, hearing all the different stories from all the different groups has made me more proud of being a veteran than ever before. The amount of outreach that these clubs do to support veterans and veteran families is impressive, very impressive. Here are a few of them: donations to charities like the Wounded Warrior project and Pets for Vets, delivering Christmas gifts personally to veterans in a retirement home while taking time to sit down and share the gifts with them, contributing to Homes for our Troops which builds specialty homes adapted to amputees, support for paralyzed veterans, support for cancer patients, support for Fisher House, and the list goes on and on. This is just grazing the surface of all the work these folks do and there is much more than can be mentioned here and I’m damn proud to be a part of it. There is no order, rhyme or reason as to how these clubs are listed here. We only list clubs that we have spoken with and want to be included. Basically, it is a random order of who I talk to next. If you would like your organization to be included or if you know of anyone that should be, please contact us. I can be reached at billm@ThunderRoadsColorado.com. Vietnam Vets/Legacy Vets MC You may have heard the slogan; “Two patches, one club.” That’s because us old Vietnam era buzzards are starting to kick off, so membership was opened to all, with the post Vietnam era veterans being called “Legacy Vets.” The day will come when the last Vietnam veteran passes, and what will be left then is the Legacy MC to carry on the traditions of the warrior brotherhood as originally established by their predecessors. The patch colors are black and red (red for the blood that was shed and black for the mourning). And their first and foremost duty is to bring home our POW/MIA brothers and sisters and demand accountability. As well, they devote their time, energy and resources to building a better future for veterans and their families. The Colorado Chapter holds three main events per year as fund raisers; 1) The annual Support a Soldier Run in May, 2) The Nomad Run in the beginning of June and, 3) The annual Vets Thunder at The Bird Run in September in Florissant. The main beneficiary of their effort is the Support a Soldier Foundation which, among many things, supports our troops in combat. But they support other clubs and veteran efforts any way they can as well. I caught up with Carney who says that when you leave the military there is a void in your life and that joining the club fills in that void with brotherhood. He can be reached at (719) 689-5618 for more information or you can connect through their website at http://www. redandblackcolorado.com/. www.thunderroadscolorado.com
Buffalo Soldiers MC The Mile High Chapter of the Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club was established in 2007 when it was accepted into the NABSTMC (National Association of Buffalo Soldiers and Troopers Motorcycle Clubs). Right on their website it says that membership is open to all ethnic groups and that it ”was established for the purpose of fostering unity, community education of the role of the Buffalo Soldiers in the westward expansion of the United States.” Medicine Man, chapter vice president, informs that the Buffalo Soldiers began with the 10th Cavalry in 1886 and that they were responsible for protecting most of the westward establishments in Colorado including the stagecoach lines. They existed until 1944 when the services became integrated, but the Mile High Chapter includes an 87 year old original Buffalo Soldier in its ranks, who just completed a Denver to Reno Iron Butt Ride of 1000 miles in less than 24 hours. The 9th Cav’s (sister regiment of the 10th) motto is, “We can, we will,” and that spirit is being upheld in the motorcycle club. Medicine Man says their club has three tenants; 1) ride, 2) educate, 3) give back. So in addition to boasting of an 87 year old “Iron Butt,” these guys do food drives every month to help the homeless (veterans and civilians), they just had their annual dinner benefit and they post a scholarship every year to a deserving student who writes the best essay. They accept anyone who will support their cause, and theirs is just. Medicine Man can be reached at 720-689-9789, or go to the website http:// www.bsmcmilehighchapter5280.com/. As chapter historian, he’s also posted a couple of vintage pics and a Colorado history of the Buffalo Soldiers on their site. Check it out. Patriot Guard Riders Their website is https://www.patriotguard. org/content.php and right on their front page it states: “The Patriot Guard Riders is a diverse amalgamation of riders from across the nation. We have one thing in common besides motorcycles. We have an unwavering respect for those who risk their very lives for America’s freedom and security including Fallen Military Heroes, First Responders and Honorably Discharged Veterans. If you share this respect, please join us.” Respect is the only prerequisite to join. I always think of these guys as standing with American Flags between an aggrieved family and those who might not be respectful while at a funeral, which they do, but they also do charitable work as well. Among many things, they have a PGR Challenge Coins program for wounded warriors that assists the wounded that are still in the hospital. They also send PGR flags to our troops in the Sand Box. Though they have the word “riders” in their title, Rat, the Colorado president, cautions that, “The Patriot Guard is an organization and not a motorcycle club.” Nonetheless, I lost a friend who was a PGR member a few years back, and I think their cause is honorable, so they’ve always had my respect. For more info, pull up the website, click the contacts tab, select state leaders, scroll down to Colorado and click “select a mission.” You won’t regret it. Check back next month for the next installment of this ongoing series.
October 2015
Thunder Roads Magazine® Colorado 17
Watch Football to Help Northern Colorado Biker Down
Watch Football to Help Northern Colorado Biker Down Watch Football to Help Northern Colorado Biker Down
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OCTOBER Mile High Horror Film Festival Date: 10/1/2015 10/4/2015 Time: See Website for Times and Ticket Phone: (720)897-7960 Website: http://mhhff.com/index.html email: guest_relations@mhhff.com Location: Alamo Drafthouse Littleton, CO Description: The Mile High Horror Film Festival’s mission is to showcase the very best genre films from around the world. Corn Maze Date: 10/1/2015 11/1/2015 Time: See Website for Times and Ticket Phone: (720)865-4339 Website: http://www.botanicgardens.org/corn-maze/ about Location: Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms 8500 W Deer Creek Canyon Road Littleton, CO Description: Wind your way through the corn and help Farmer Green find his lost animals. Life-size animal cutouts are hidden throughout the maze for fun photo opportunities. The maze can be viewed from two 15-foot tall illuminated bridges. Visitors under the age of 10 can explore the mini-maze. Tickets include one hayride, barrel train ride (for children 12 and under) and unlimited jumping on a giant pillow. Pony rides and hamster balls are available for an additional fee. An array of food vendors sell favorite fall foods such as funnel cakes, hotdogs, freshly squeezed lemonade and kettle corn. For an extra challenge try the Blackout Maze. The lights are out in the maze and brave visitors can find their way through with only the light of a glow stick. Note: this maze is not haunted. Rocky Mountain Oktoberfest Date: 10/2/2015 10/4/2015 Website: http://www.rmofest.com/ email: info@rmofest.com Location: Pepsi Center, Prius Lot West Denver, CO Description: The tradition of the Munich Oktoberfest with the vibe of Colorado and the Rocky Mountain brewery scene. Rocky Mountain Oktoberfest™ proudly features beers from the best breweries in the Rockies. Get ready for the traditional German Oom-pah bands playing waltzes, polkas, and the ever-famous Chicken Dance, with more entertainment and other live music throughout the weekend. German-fare pairs perfectly with a full stein – bratwurst, sauerkraut, German potato salad, cabbage, pretzels, schnitzel… We have it all! Americanstyle food will also be available if you’ve had your fill of brats. If you love competition, sign up and join us for the largest Cornhole tournament in the Rockies!
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Elk Fest Date: 10/3/2015 10/4/2015 Time: 10 am - 5 pm Phone: (970)586-6104 Website: http://www.visitestespark.com/eventscalendar/special-events/elk-fest/ Location: Bond Park Downtown Estes Park Estes Park, CO Description: Elk Fest features bugling competitions, a Cabela’s archery range, Colorado Parks & Wildlife’s Elk Camp, seminars, elk-themed kids’ activities, live country, rock and bluegrass music, a Mountain Man Rendezvous, elk-inspired arts and crafts, Native American storytelling & music, a display of raptors, and self-guided elk tour maps. There will also be a variety of vendors offering memorable souvenirs of your time at Elk Fest. Food vendors will be on site as well offering plenty of choices! Stop into the Wallowing Hole craft beer garden on both Saturday and Sunday serving up drinks from 11am - 4pm. Participate in the first ever Rut Run 5k on Saturday; registration starts at 8:30am and the race begins at 9am. Live entertainment will light up the park Saturday with the Matt Skinner Band and on Sunday with Reintarnation bluegrass. There is no admission fee to attend Elk Fest. 15th Annual Breast Cancer Awareness Ride Date: 10/3/2015 Time: 9:00 AM Phone: (719)649-4224 Website: www.mountainshadowriders.com email: bcasavethetwins@gmail.com Location: 10 South Parkside Drive Colorado Springs, CO Description: The Mountain Shadow Riders - Colorado Springs Chapter of Women On Wheels(R) are hosting the 15th Annual Breast Cancer Awareness Ride Guns and Gears of the Rockies Date: 10/3/2015 Time: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM Phone: (720)898-4747 Website: https://5280armory.com/guns-gears-hotwheel-and-gun-show-2015/ Location: 5280 Armory 4781 W 58th Ave Arvada, CO Description: Before you put your hot wheels away for the cold winter, enjoy a day of truly American pasttimes cars/motorcycles and guns! We will be talking guns & gears, shooting, eating, live music, cruising and taking advantage of 5280 Armory/The Range Specials! Visit with Special Guests, Michael Brown from 630 KHOW, who will be hosting our shooting poker tournament and Willie B. from 106.7 KBPI who will be shooting with his loyal listeners.
October 2015
Watch Football with Northern Colorado Biker Down – Broncos Vs. Vikings Date: 10/4/2015 Time: 2:25 PM, Meet at Thunder Mountain Harley Davidson at 12:00 PM if weather permits Phone: (970)584-6315 email: ccep9401@gmail.com Location: Washingtons 132 LaPorte St. Ft. Collins, CO Description: Come watch the Broncos game with Northern Colorado Biker Down to win prizes and have some fun and support Northern Colorado Biker Down! Join us every Sunday during the Denver Football Season and help us raise money and awareness for injured bikers in Northern Colorado. We will met at Thunder Mountain Harley Davidson roughly two and a half hours before every game for a short ride, weather depending. If we cannot ride, we will meet at that week’s location. There will be prizes, give aways and fun for all. Chatfield Pumpkin Festival Date: 10/9/2015 10/11/2015 Time: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m Phone: (720)865-4339 Website: http://www.botanicgardens.org/pumpkinfestival/about email: chatfieldrentals@botanicgardens.org Location: Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms 8500 W Deer Creek Canyon Road Littleton, CO Description: Celebrate fall at Pumpkin Festival. This three-day event is a great tradition for the entire family. Select from a wide variety of pumpkins in the massive pumpkin patch. Pumpkin prices vary by size. Entry includes pumpkin carving demonstrations; hay, pony and barrel train rides; mini maze; jumping pillow; five carnival game tickets; face painting and live music. The Corn Maze, food, drinks, bull rides and more are available for purchase. Beer Garden open from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. Durango Oktoberfest Date: 10-Oct 11-Oct Time: 11:00 AM - 3:30 PM Phone: (970)247-1240 Website: http://www.oktoberfestdurango.com/ email: DurangoEvents@AmericanGeneralMedia.com Location: Buckley Park Durango, CO Description: 2 Days of live music, beer, games, and great local food! Saturday and Sunday, October 10th and 11th, Oktoberfest 2015 will be on at Buckley Park in historic downtown Durango. We’ll have all six local breweries on site, live music, local chefs preparing foods using local ingredients, games, and even a bouncy castle for the kids. This is a family friendly event. Tickets are $5 and available at the door. Participants in the Durango Double and children under the age of 12 will receive free entry.
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Punkin Chunkin Colorado Date: 10/10/2015 10/11/2015 Time: See Website for Times Phone: (303)326-8659 Website: https://www.auroragov.org/ThingsToDo/ Events/PunkinChunkinColorado/index.htm email: jhernand@auroragov.org Location: Arapahoe Park Racetrack 26000 E Quincy Ave. Aurora, CO Description: Punkin Chunkin Colorado is a two-day event where people travel for miles to see how far they can lob a gourd. The 2015 event will mark the 18th year for this zany activity that engages the energy and ingenuity of youth and adults, while inspiring a fresh twist of creativity. Please note...no pets are allowed at Punkin Chunkin Colorado. In addition to the competition, the event offers an exciting fall festival complete with family activities, pumpkin patch, fall market, food vendors and a beer garden! Peak to Peak Poker Run for Light Up Hope Date: 10/10/2015 Time: 9:00 AM Phone: (251)455-8046 Website: http://rideforlightuphope.4jshealth.com/ email: jim@4jshealth.com Location: 2605 W 144th Ave Broomfield, CO Description: Registration 9-10:30 am Discovery, A Christian Church Ride from Broomfield, Lyons along the Peak to Peak to Golden, ending at Fox & Hound Westminster Grand Prize is a 5 days/4nights St Croix USVI Vacation Door Prizes / Silent Auction / Dinner Buffet Entertainment by The SWIFTS and DJ Renee Pre-Register NOW and be in a drawing for a Valuable Prize http://rideforlightuphope.4jshealth. com/onlineregistration/ Watch Football with Northern Colorado Biker Down – Broncos Vs. Raiders Date: 10/11/2015 Time: 2:25 PM (Meet at Thunder Mountain Harley Davidson at 12:00 PM if weather permits) Phone: (970)584-6315 email: ccep9401@gmail.com Location: Outriders 5750 W. 10th Greeley, CO Description: Come watch the Broncos game with Northern Colorado Biker Down to win prizes and have some fun and support Northern Colorado Biker Down! Join us every Sunday during the Denver Football Season and help us raise money and awareness for injured bikers in Northern Colorado. We will met at Thunder Mountain Harley Davidson roughly two and a half hours before every game for a short ride, weather depending. If we cannot ride, we will meet at that week’s location. There will be prizes, give aways and fun for all. Telluride Horror Show Date: 10/16/2015 10/18/2015 Time: See Website for Times and Ticket Website: http://www.telluridehorrorshow.com/ email: info@telluridehorrorshow.com Location: Sheridan Opera House and Nugget Theatre Telluride , CO Description: The Telluride Horror Show, Colorado’s first and longest-running horror film festival, returns
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for its 6th edition October 16-18, 2015. The festival features an average of 20 feature films and 30+ short films, and hosts special programs, guests, and events. If you love horror, and film, then you can’t miss this fest. 1st Annual Creede Motorcycle Show Date: 10/17/2015 10/18/2015 Phone: (719)849-8527 email: creedecommunitycenter@gmail.com Location: 503 Forest Service Rd #9 Creede,, CO Description: The 1st Annual Creede Motorcycle Show will be held in Creede, Colorado on October 17th and 18th, 2015 Giant Festival Date: 10/17/2015 Time: Visit Website for Times and Locations Website: http://shopoldcoloradocity.com/events/ event/pumpkin-festival/ Location: Old Colorado City, CO Description: Fill your day with Giant Pumpkins, Giant Sidewalk Sale and Giant Happy Hour in Old Colorado City. The event begins at Old Town Plaza with some of the largest pumpkins in Colorado for the Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off. Awards for weight and beauty Watch Football with Northern Colorado Biker Down – Broncos Vs. Browns Date: 10/18/2015 Time: 11:00 AM (Ride after the game if weather permits) Phone: (970)584-6315 email: ccep9401@gmail.com Location: Windjammer Roadhouse 3134 N CR31, Loveland CO Description: Come watch the Broncos game with Northern Colorado Biker Down to win prizes and have some fun and support Northern Colorado Biker Down! Join us every Sunday during the Denver Football Season and help us raise money and awareness for injured bikers in Northern Colorado. We will met at Thunder Mountain Harley Davidson roughly two and a half hours before every game for a short ride, weather depending. If we cannot ride, we will meet at that week’s location. There will be prizes, give aways and fun for all. Breckenridge Craft Spirits Festival Date: 10/20/2015 10/25/2015 Time: See Website for Schedule and ticket sales Website: http://www.breckenridgecraftspiritsfestival. com/ Location: Riverwalk Center Breckenridge, CO Description: Still on the Hill: a Grand Tasting of handcrafted spirits on Saturday, October 24th at 4pm, Riverwalk Center. Admission provides complimentary tasting glass, delicious craft spirits tasting, craft cocktails, people’s -choice voting, artisanal snacks and live music! These events take place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the Festival. Poker Run Historic Saloon Walking Tour Breckenridge Distillery Tours Honey Gitters live show at the historic Gold Pan Saloon Hangover Brunch and Brunch Drink Specials various participating Location:s in Breckenridge 3rd Annual Zombie Poker Run and Blood Drive
October 2015
Date: 10/24/2015 Phone: (303)343-3300 Website: http://www.milehigh-harley.com/events/ Location: 16565 E. 33rd Drive Aurora, CO Description: The 3rd Annual Zombie Poker Run and Blood Drive will be held at Mile High Harley Davidson in Aurora, Colorado on October 24th, 2015. Manitou Springs Emma Crawford Coffin Races Date: 10/24/2015 Time: 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm Phone: (719)685-5089 Website: http://manitousprings.org/calendar/emmacrawford-coffin-races/ email: manitou@pikes-peak.com Location: Downtown Manitou Springs Manitou Springs, CO Description: This is what you have been waiting for, the 2015 Emma Crawford Coffin Races! This year marks the 21st annual Emma Crawford Coffin Races. Each year more than 10,000 people come to Manitou Springs for the fun and festive Coffin Races. Teams of five, one Emma and four runners, push their coffins 195 feet to the finish line. Fall Back Beer Festival Date: 10/31/2015 Phone: (970)586-6104 Website: http://www.visitestespark.com/includes/ calendar-of-events/Fall-Back-Beer-Festival/3007/ Location: Estes Park Events Complex, 1209 Manford Ave Estes Park, CO Description: Held each year on the day we turn the clocks back, Fall-Back Beer Fest is not only a celebration of beer, but also the people who make it. Held in the new Estes Park Events Complex! With over 100 different beers being poured by the brewers themselves from over 30 Colorado breweries, festival goers are sure to walk away having learned something new about their favorite beer from the people who created it. Chili Cook Off for Vet Center Date: 7-Nov-15 Phone: (970)245-0812 Website: http://www.gjharley.com Location: 2747 Crossroads Blvd Grand Junction, CO Description: The Chili Cook Off for Vet Center will be held at Grand Junction Harley Davidson in Grand Junction, Colorado on November 7th, 2015. Watch Football with Northern Colorado Biker Down – Broncos Vs. Packers Date: 11/1/2015 Time: 6:30 PM (Meet at Thunder Mountain Harley Davidson at 4:00 PM if weather permits) Phone: (970)584-6315 email: ccep9401@gmail.com Location: Glicks 1018 Mahogany Way, Severence, CO Description: Come watch the Broncos game with Northern Colorado Biker Down to win prizes and have some fun and support Northern Colorado Biker Down! Join us every Sunday during the Denver Football Season and help us raise money and awareness for injured bikers in Northern Colorado. We will met at Thunder Mountain Harley Davidson roughly two and a half hours before every game for a short ride, weather depending. If we cannot ride, we will meet at that week’s location. There will be prizes, give aways and fun for all.
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Tasty Recipes All of these recipes have been kitchen tested and biker approved.
ITALIAN MEATLOAF I started making this recipe when I was told that the only kind of meatloaf my husband would eat was Italian meatloaf. This was invented by my Brother-in-Law when he was a young man. After I made it the first time, I realized that this is one giant cheese stuffed meatball. 1 lb ground beef 1 lb Italian sausage 1 cup bread crumbs 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese 1/4 cup finely minced white onions 1 tsp oregano, chopped 2 tsp basil, chopped 1 tsp ground black pepper 1 tsp parsley 2 tsp garlic 1 egg 1 Tbs olive oil 1 cup diced cheddar cheese Mix all ingredients in mixer or by hand. Press mixture out 3/4 inch thick on cutting board in the shape of a rectangle. Drop Cheddar cheese chunks in the center leaving about 1 inch space for sealing Roll up the rectangle sealing all edges and pushing the air out of the center. Press and roll on cutting board to remove any air and to seal all edges. If you see any edges of the cheese chunks push them in toward the center of the loaf with your finger and seal the hole. Note: You can freeze the loaf at this point. I hard freeze the loaf and then use my vacuum sealer to seal it tight. Place loaf in pan and cover with spaghetti sauce. Bake covered with foil in a 375° for 45 minutes. Remove foil and cook for 15 - 20 minutes more or until a meat thermometer reads well done (180°). Remove from oven and allow to rest for 10 minutes before serving.
SAUSAGE AND ORECCHIETTE PASTA This recipe is inspired from a dish I saw Giada make on her show. I have changed it quite a bit to suit our own tastes. It is now one of my “go-to” quick meals and one of Patrick’s favorites. 1 pound orecchiette pasta ½ pound mild or sweet Italian sausage ½ pound hot Italian sausage 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 small onion, small dice (about 1 1/2 cups) 1 can of cannellini beans, rinsed and well drained (15 ounce can)
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2 tablespoons of chopped fresh oregano leaves (or 1 tsp of dried) 8 ounces mascarpone cheese ¼ cup ½ and ½ ¼ cup parmesan cheese 1 clove of garlic finely minced ¼ cup green onions, sliced thin on the bias ½ cup pasta water, add more if the sauce needs to be thinned 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite according to package directions. Drain pasta and reserve at least 1 cup of the cooking liquid. I pull out my pasta of the water with a deep frying skimmer and place into a colander sitting on a plate. In a large skillet cook the sausage until it just starts to brown. Pull out the cooked sausage and set aside. Discard the fat from the pan and add 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add the onions and cook until translucent. Add the sausage back into the pan and add the oregano and garlic. Cook for a few seconds and add the ½ and ½ parmesan and mascarpone cheese. Add the beans and the pasta water cook and stir until bubbly and hot through. Once a sauce has been created add the hot pasta and stir until coated. Add the green onions and stir to combine. Add salt and pepper to taste and serve in a large bowl.
BRUSCHETTA
I usually make this when my tomatoes start ripening in my garden. I start harvesting several a day and save them up to split between Bruschetta and Pico de Gallo (but that is a later recipe). I love how simple this recipe is and how long it keeps in the refrigerator, although mine never stays more than a week. This is a great appetizer or all around good snack in the middle of the afternoon. Heck, I have been known to make a lunch out of it from time to time. 1 clove of garlic, finely minced or crushed 3 cups of small diced tomatoes, seeded 3 tablespoons of fresh basil, thinly sliced and coarsely chopped 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar, if you use thick the aged stuff, add a little lemon juice (about ½ teaspoon) to the recipe ¼ teaspoon of salt 2 tablespoons of finely grated parmesan cheese ½ teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil 1 baguette sliced on the bias in ½ - ¾ of an inch pieces Pre-heat oven at 350 degrees. Arrange the baguette slices on a cookie sheet and drizzle with olive oil. Bake for about 6 minutes or until the tops begin to brown slightly. Remove and allow to cool. You can keep them in an airtight container or bag for a week. Combine the garlic, tomatoes basil, balsamic vinegar, salt parmesan cheese, pepper and 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a bowl. Mix to combine and transfer to a tight sealing container. Allow to sit for at least 6 hours or overnight in the refrigerator. Serve with the toasted baguette slices.
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Ladies up Front is a column by and for the women who ride in Colorado both on back and up front. Each month we publish an article written by a lady rider. You will find stories of how these ladies ended up where they are today, with their opinions, strange and funny things that have happened to them, their thoughts, dreams and points of view. Some tell the stories about their journey from the back to the front. Some relate how they came to motorcycles, some are just interesting experiences they have had.
We believe that every woman who rides, be it on the front or on the back, has a story to tell that is worth hearing. When they share their perceptions and knowledge, they often have insight and perspectives that can help us all as we journey forward. Here you will see those experiences and hear of the strength and joy we have found on motorcycles. All ladies are welcome and encouraged to join in and contribute to Ladies up Front. Please contact us at: ladiesupfront@thunderroadscolorado.com
Nannette
Bikes came into my life more than thirty years ago when I got married. I was always happy riding on the back, it worked for me. Then seven years ago I found myself divorced and even though we remained friends, my whole life changed. I decided to enroll in nursing school and was so glad to find that half of the class was over thirty since I was over forty at the time. Being within school helped me and I loved it. I have to admit the first time around my parents paid for school and I did the typical college stuff, but this time I paid and I kept a 4.0 GPA.
Photographer: Vickie Jo Mullin someone else drive it home for me.
With all of the changes in my life I found that I missed riding. I would ride back seat on occasion with friends when I could and this was sufficient to keep the smile on my face and wind in my hair for a while and led me to meeting the people in the US Vets motorcycle riding club. I attended many of their events and eventually they became my biker family. As time went on I found I did not want to be dependent on my friends to ride, I wanted to be able to ride whenever and wherever I wanted to ride. I woke up one Monday with the thought that I wanted my own bike. To fund my purchase, I sold my wedding rings. I hadn’t really known what to do with those rings and this seemed a positive exchange for a new adventure in my life. The next day on Tuesday I signed up for a three day class and before Sunday of that same week I bought my first motorcycle. All of my friends gave me their opinions and helpful suggestions but in the end I bought what I wanted-- A 2013 Sportster 1200. Since I hadn’t yet finished my motorcycle safety class, it was hard to watch 24 Thunder Roads Magazine® Colorado
So there I was with a Harley Davidson Sportster sitting at my house and waiting for me to finish my class and take our first solo ride together. When test night finally arrived it was raining and getting dark, but everyone in class wanted to test anyway and so did. When everyone was finished with their tests, I was really pleased with myself for passing in the upper half of my class. The confidence I got from going through the class and passing it not only gave me the endorsement on my license, it gave me the freedom to continue to follow the path of riding for myself. When I dumped my bike the first time, I was at Suzie’s Bar and I was sober (in case you were wondering.) I hadn’t had my bike very long and I was in the parking lot when the bike got stuck in second gear. There wasn’t much I could do and down the bike and I went. Suzie, the owner of Suzie’s Bar was so kind and let me store my bike until I was able to get it trailered over to the dealer for repairs. I think about all of the people I had never met before that helped me that night and it is so typical of why I love the biker community. I am so grateful for them. Good people out having fun, enjoying riding motorcycles, riding together, hanging out and taking care of each other when something goes south not only with
October 2015
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someone’s bike but as friends joining together and being there for each other. I continued to ride with the Veterans and before I knew it I had my very own biker chick name. “Blondie”, I guess it was due to my blonde hair. It has been given with love and it’s mine. I get a great deal of satisfaction with the charity poker runs and events we do for veterans in our area and the bingo one a month at the veterans home, providing the snacks and the cash for those who come to play and the one big run each year for the Fischer House Freedom Service Dogs. I have learned about poker runs, how to set them up and how to run one. It is a great deal of real work to get one organized and make it happen, but it also a true labor of love. Setting a date, setting up the stops. Making sure the stops are ready for us when we arrive the day of the run, keeping everyone together and making sure we have a fun safe ride. I so loved that Sportster. The longest ride I did on it was 160 miles for the Snuggler Run, still I felt restricted due to not being 100% confident on it. So I started my search for a trike. I knew what I wanted and when the call came that someone had one, I ran down to go get it. I watched the video on what to expect on the difference of maneuverability coming from two wheels to three wheels (if you are thinking of moving to a trike, the video is a good idea). I was impressed with the advances in technology that have been made that make them more stable. Since
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day one, riding the trike has been much more comfortable for me. I feel like I can go almost anywhere on almost any road. It is a better choice for me. When I’m not riding I am a Home health care giver. Of the several people I care for there are two who are close to my heart, both men that have both been in motorcycle accidents and both of their accidents were on Riverdale Road. Unfortunately, the stories of these two accidents gave me a fear of riding on Riverdale road. If you are familiar with this road and the history of it, you probably understand why. So, when I was asked to do the photoshoot for Thunder Roads Colorado at the Adams County Fairground I made the conscious decision to get there via Riverdale Road. This was my first ride on Riverdale by myself and it was a big deal to me even though over the years there has been much improvement on the road itself, it was a challenge and an accomplishment to enjoy the scenery and ride my own ride and it actually helped boost my confidence There is a lot of freedom in being over fifty and I have truly found myself by letting myself simply do things that I love and make me smile—whether that is dancing or riding with my face in the wind. I figured out who I was what I wanted out of life and even if others may not approve, I am happy! I enjoy the people in my life more now that I have changed my life and figured out who I was and what I wanted in life and I am happy to be me.
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Thunder Roads Magazine® Colorado 25
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OUR READERS MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN? Let us know about it and give us your story and pictures by emailing us at contributors@thunderroadscolorado.com
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Seats & SADDLES
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October 2015
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NCOM BIKER NEWSBYTES Compiled & Edited by Bill Bish, National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM)
MONGOLS MC PATCH FORFEITURE CASE DISMISSED In a long-awaited decision with ramifications that could affect all patch-wearing clubs, on September 16, 2015 Federal District Judge David O. Carter issued a dismissal of the government’s most recent attempt to seize the Mongols Motorcycle Club’s name and patch. In the case titled United States of America versus Mongols Nation, Judge Carter saw the key legal question in the case as the “distinctness” between a “person” and “an ‘enterprise’ that is not simply the same ‘person’ referred to by a different name.” In layman’s terms, the good news is that the government’s indictment is hereby dismissed pending appeal, which appears unlikely. “We won,” said Richard Lester, a California-based attorney who has rallied support for defense of the patch forfeiture case through various Confederations of Clubs around the country and the National Coalition of Motorcyclists, organizations he helped to establish. “We didn’t win the day on key legal points, and the court’s decision didn’t make the statement we wanted to make in defending the patch, but we won.” The protracted litigation against the Mongols MC on racketeering charges began October 21, 2013 when the indictment against the club was unsealed. Although the club won its first trial, the judge’s ruling was poorly written and welcomed the charges to be properly re-filed. While the constitutionality of seizing the Mongols insignia -or the insignia of any motorcycle club -- remains unresolved under the dismissal, Judge Carter did rule that the government cannot indict a club as an “enterprise” for racketeering without also indicting a group who can be actually punished; noting that the indictment makes “no meaningful distinction between the association Mongol Nation and the enterprise of the Mongols Gang,” which is good news for all motorcycle clubs. The prosecution, and subsequent persecution, of the club as a whole was designed to bankrupt the Mongols with mounting legal fees, but money has been raised by both the Mongols club and through the “Save the Patch” effort launched by the COCs and NCOM, and the Trademark Defense Fund I will continue to accept donations until the enormous debt is retired or if needed for a governmental appeal.
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CONGRESSIONAL MEASURE ADDRESSES MOTORCYCLIST SAFETY A Congressional sub-committee has approved two motorcycle safety measures for inclusion in the federal highway bill; one to de-fund motorcycle-only checkpoints, and another to prohibit the DOT from lobbying on any pending legislation. On September 10, the Subcommittee on Research and Technology of the U.S. House Science, Space and Technology Committee passed the two amendments to the “Surface Transportation Research and Development Act of 2015” to be incorporated in the House version of the surface transportation authorization bill. Amendment No. 036 directs a study to be conducted to determine the most effective methods of preventing motorcycle crashes, and further bars federal funding to states to conduct motorcycle-only checkpoints until the research is completed. Amendment No. 037 prohibits the Department of Transportation from lobbying on any pending federal, state or local legislation. The current “NHTSA Lobby Ban” only prevents the federal DOT from lobbying at the state level. The U.S. Senate’s version of the highway funding bill already contains language to prohibit federal funding of motorcycleonly checkpoints. PAINTED MESSAGES AT ACCIDENT SCENES TO SPARK AWARENESS Coroners in six counties in North Carolina will soon use a stencil to spray paint on the road a cross and message that says; “Look Twice Save A Life” at the scene of all deadly motorcycle accidents. Anderson County Deputy Coroner Don McCown said he hopes this warning message prominently displayed at fatal accident sites will increase awareness and decrease the number of accidents involving motorcycles. “We’re hoping it will remind the public that someone died at this location, and more than likely they died of distracted driving or someone not being aware of their surroundings,” explained McCown, adding that the number one reason given for most deadly motorcycle accidents is that the driver never saw the rider. “There are a lot of motorcycle riders out this time of year and we have to share the road.”
October 2015
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ALLSTATE DONATES WARNING SIGNS AT DANGEROUS INTERSECTIONS Allstate insurance company and its engineering partners are working closely with local traffic authorities to review available crash data and to identify intersections with a high number of multi-vehicle crashes involving motorcycles. Allstate then donates warning signs to be installed at the site with the intent of elevating awareness of motorcycle incidents that would not be readily apparent to a driver. The warning signs used in the campaign are yellow diamond warning signs that read “Watch For Motorcycles.” Allstate worked in conjunction with the Federal Highway Administration to design the current sign to ensure compliance with section 2A.06 paragraph 13 of the M.U.T.C.D. The NHTSA (National Highway Safety Administration), in their Fatality Analysis Reporting System, supports the Hurt Report’s findings, showing 46% of all multi-vehicle motorcycle crash fatalities (8,107 out of 17,470 fatalities from 2006-2012) occurred at intersections. This data shows that, on average, three motorcyclists are killed every day from multi-vehicle crashes at intersections in the US. MOTORCYCLE HELMET CAMERAS “ILLEGAL” DOWN UNDER A motorcycle rider “down under” unsuccessfully challenged a citation for using a camera attached to his helmet, setting an important legal precedent for riders in the Australian state of Victoria. Victorian police cited a technicality within the rules to argue the camera was an “unauthorised alteration” to an otherwise Australian Standards-approved helmet. Items that protrude more than 5mm from the helmet surface www.thunderroadscolorado.com
are deemed illegal attachments, the police argue, and therefore render the helmet non-compliant with the Australian Standards. In other words, as far as Victoria Police were concerned, it’s as if the rider wasn’t wearing an Australian Standards-approved helmet at all. In all Australian states and territories, motorcycle riders must wear a helmet approved by Australian Standards while riding. As a landmark ruling by a Victorian court, the decision effectively bans motorcycle riders in that state from wearing helmets with cameras attached, but meanwhile police in other states enforce the laws much differently. So while riders in Victoria are now fair game and have even reportedly been fined for attaching tinted visors to their helmets, and New South Wales police have already been targeting riders for wearing cameras, police in Western Australia and Queensland wear helmet cameras themselves -- the very act that has seen motorcyclists fined in NSW and, now, Victoria. “Riders tell us they wear helmet cameras to improve their safety while on the roads and that drivers and other road users show more care when there is a camera in use,” said the rider’s lawyer, who is considering an appeal. “Riders should not be penalized for trying to improve the safety of their riding,” he said, adding that cameras are also ideal for capturing evidence during a collision. QUOTABLE QUOTE: “If you do not take an interest in the affairs of your government, then you are doomed to live under the rule of fools.” ~ Plato (428-347 BC) Greek philosopher, student of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle
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BIKER FRIENDLY DIRECTORY AUDIO
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Two guys left the bar after a long night of drinking, jumped in the car and started it up. After a couple of minutes, an old man appeared in the passenger window and tapped lightly. The passenger screamed, “Look at he window. There’s an old ghost’s face there!” The driver sped up, but the old man’s face stayed in the window. The passenger rolled his window down part way and, scared out of his wits, said, “What do you want?” The old man softly replied, “You got any tobacco?” The passenger handed the old man a cigarette and yelled, “Step on it,” to the driver, rolling up the window in terror. A few minutes later they calmed down and started laughing again.The driver said, “I don’t know what happened, but don’t worry; the speedometer says we’re doing 80 now. ”All of a sudden there was a light tapping on the window and the old man reappeared. “There he is again,” the passenger yelled. He rolled down the window and shakily said, “Yes?” “Do you have a light?” the old man quietly asked. The passenger threw a lighter out the window saying, “Step on it!”They were driving about 100 miles an hour, trying to forget what they had just seen and heard, when all of a sudden there came some more tapping. “Oh my God! He’s back!” The passenger rolled down the window and screamed in stark terror, “WHAT NOW?” The old man gently replied, “You guys want some help getting out of the mud?”
A couple, both age 78, went to a sex therapist’s office. The doctor asked, “What can I do for you?” The man said, “Will you watch us have sex?” The doctor looked puzzled, but agreed. When the couple finished, the doctor said, “There’s nothing wrong with the way you have sex,” and charged them $50. This happened several weeks in a row. The couple would make an appointment, have sex with no problems, pay the doctor, then leave. Finally, the doctor asked, “Just exactly what are you trying to find out?” “We’re not trying to find out anything,” the man replied. “She’s married and we can’t go to her house. I’m married and we can’t go to my house. The Holiday Inn charges $90. The Hilton charges $108. We do it here for $50...and I get $43 back from Medicare.
This Halloween I met a genuine Fairy that said she would grant me one wish. “I want to live forever,” I said. “Sorry,” said the Fairy, “I’m not allowed to grant wishes like that!” “Fine,” I said, “then I want to die after Congress gets their heads out of their asses!” “You crafty bastard,” said the Fairy. On the night of a Halloween costume party a couple were arguing, having trouble picking suitable outfits. After a while the wife got mad and stormed out of the room. Fifteen minutes later she came back completely naked except for a lemon between her legs. The husband looked at her for a moment and then stormed out of the room himself. Twenty minutes passed and then he stomped back in, completely naked, with a potato around his penis. The wife gave him a weird look, and the husband quickly replied; “If you’re going as a Sour-Puss, I’m going as a Dictator”. www.thunderroadscolorado.com
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