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THUNDER ROADS® Magazine COLORADO Published by Flying Hound Press, L.L.C.
ABATE..................................................................... 4 The Long Trail Home............................................... 6 Cold Weather Riding............................................. 12
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Colorado Springs MC Show & Swap Meet............ 14 Safety First!........................................................... 16 Calendar................................................................ 18
EDITORS Patrick J. McCauley “5” President and Senior Editor Patrick@thunderroadscolorado.com
Events................................................................... 20
Carrie McCauley Vice President and Editor Carrie@thunderroadscolorado.com
Ladies Up Front..................................................... 24
Quick Tips.............................................................. 22 From The Experts.................................................. 23 MSF Hand Signals................................................ 26 Veteran’s Drive and Patriot’s Way......................... 27
LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER Vickie Jo Mullin Vickie@thunderroadscolorado.com
Skin Art.................................................................. 28
ADVERTISING AND DISTRIBUTION REPRESENTATIVES Western Slope Chris Blumke chrisb@thunderroadscoloraodo.com (303)478-2335
Tasty Recipes........................................................ 29 Newsbytes............................................................. 30 Biker Friendly Directory......................................... 32 Joker’s Wild........................................................... 33 Thunder Cam........................................................ 34
Greater Metro Denver Area Toby Schmidt tobyb@thunderroadscolorado.com (720)829-7954
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©2014 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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Location Indian Motorcycles of OKC.
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Want to be a contributor or correspondent?
F
ebruary is here and we are pleased to announce the addition of a new column that will appear multiple times a year in Thunder Roads Colorado. Like several of our other columns, the new column, “From the Experts” will appear several times a year and provide specialist advice from professionals on various topics of importance to riders here in Colorado. This column is dedicated to bringing you real-world advice from real-world experts. The first article in this series, “Motorcycle Insurance—Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UIM) Coverage”, is authored by our expert, Scott O’Sullivan, a respected motorcycle attorney in Colorado, familiar sponsor for a variety of motorcycle events and charities, and Thunder Roads Colorado advertiser. Scott explains why every motorcyclist should choose UIM coverage and how to determine how much UIM coverage to purchase. This month our Thunder Roads Colorado also brings you the story of a Colorado veteran entitled “The Long Trail Home.” This is the story of one man’s journey to raise awareness and donations to help his brother and sister veterans, struggling as he did, with the return from combat to civilian life. This is the extraordinary story of a combat veteran and his determination to ride his mustang Crow on a continent-crossing horse excursion from the waters of the Atlantic on the coast of North Carolina to the waters of the Pacific on the California coast. Yes, February is here and we are creeping up on the riding season here in Colorado. This winter has been a cold one—too cold. Here at Thunder Roads Colorado we are ready for winter to end and the riding season to start. Don’t forget that the Thunder Roads Colorado Event listing is free, if you have an event your organization is planning whether it is a poker run, rally, an charity event or another type of motorcycle-related event, the Events Listing found each month in Thunder Roads Colorado is free and we would love to add you event to the list. Contact us at events@thunderrroadscolorado.com. Thunder Roads Colorado also has several special advertising programs for charities offering significant discounts for the full-color advertising of your event. We hope you enjoy this issue! Patrick McCauley – “5” Editor-in-Cheif
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THE LONG TRAIL HOME A little more than two years ago, Matt Littrell a combat veteran from Colorado, found himself struggling with the transition from combat to civilian life, feeling lost and alone and contemplating suicide. Unfortunately, Matt is not alone in his pain or his situation. Many of his brothers and sisters veterans find themselves in exactly the same situation--lost, alone, struggling with the return to civilian life and considering suicide. Every day we lose twenty-two of our veterans to suicide, twenty-two each and every single day. One year after, Matt Littrell found himself contemplating his own suicide he decided that he needed to do something to make a difference in the lives of his brother and sister veterans. His own struggle returning to civilian life from combat and the knowledge that twenty-two of his brothers and sisters are lost to suicide every day spurred Matt to action and inspired him to do something about it. He decided to make a coast to coast trek on horseback to raise awareness for the Semper Fi Fund. (The Semper Fi Fund is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit set up to provide immediate financial support for injured and critically ill members of the post 9-11 U.S. Armed Forces and their families. ) Matt figured traveling on horseback from coast to coast would be difficult to accomplish and something that a lot of people could get behind. In March he decided to start 6 Thunder Roads Magazine® Colorado
his journey just South of Camp Lejeune on Topsail Beach in North Carolina. Everyone got a glimpse of the proposed route as Matt posted updates to the Face book page. By the end of March the route up to Albuquerque, NM was settled and Matt was back in Colorado. To prepare for the ride and to get the news out that he was riding a mustang from the Atlantic coast to the Pacific coast, to raise awareness and funding for the Semper Fi Fund and all of the veterans struggling to return to civilian life, he created a Facebook page on January 30th 2014. He named his page “The Long Trail Home” and by January 31st he had already gathered 1000 likes on Facebook. The news continued to spread and by March 7th that number had quadrupled to more than 4000 likes and his journey had not even begun. Unfortunately, at the end of March 2014, Matt’s father had an accident with his horse breaking his leg when the horse fell on him. Matt had to postpone the start of the ride to make sure everything was taken care of for his father and his broken leg at home before he set out. April began and the ride started to get national attention, the Facebook page likes were well over 5,000 and the general route was announced leaving the Atlantic Coast through Surf City, NC and on through South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Oklahoma, across the Texas
February 2015
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Matt, his Mustang Crow and his companion Raymond Avery would not only be relying on donations to cover the expenses for themselves and the horses but also the kindness of strangers along the way to find a place each night for them and the horses as they made their way across the continent, posting updates daily to raise awareness and funding to help his brother and sisters veterans in their darkest hours. The night before the ride started Matt wrote on the Facebook page. “I lie here listening to the rain on the roof of the trailer and reflect on all the time it’s taken to lead up to this moment. I feel a deep sense of calm and a renewed vigor for tomorrow. No one can tell me what will lie ahead for us or when the wrecks will happen but I believe the greatest power in the universe is belief. I believe that this is what I’m meant to be doing. I believe this will help people who are so deserving of help. I believe that we will make it to the pacific. I believe with all my heart and soul that this ride will touch so many aching souls and let them know that in the darkest of hours we still care. I believe. Come rain or shine at 10:00 am we will ride away from the ocean with Crow’s feet wet with saltwater, our eyes where the trail meets the sky and a happy heart.” The morning that the journey began he posted: “This morning I was filled with about every emotion possible and Crow got me to come down and he came down to me and I couldn’t ask for a better start. He truly is a once in a lifetime horse. It’s surreal that the ride has begun officially and I couldn’t be happier. Thank you panhandle into New Mexico and Arizona and proceeding all for bearing with me through the delays but today Crow’s feet into California to Camp Pendleton and the Pacific Ocean. got saltwater on them! You all are amazing thank you for all the They headed toward North Carolina on April 24th 2014 and continued support. “ the beginning of the journey on May 1st, 2014. Matt and Raymond picked along the route trying to put 20 miles The Long Trail Home was funded by donations. Two behind them each day. Most of the time, they didn’t have specific funds were set up, the first for the Semper Fi Fund was to help veterans in need. The second was for donations to plans on where they were going to stay, and relied on posts to the raise money for the feed for the horses and the expenses Facebook page to get a place to stay and let the horses “mow of the trip with any leftover monies donated for expenses someone’s lawn”. Ray and Matt each rode one horse and ponied to be transferred to the Semper Fi Fund upon completion the second along with a horse named Roy being used to carry what little supplies and such that they had for the trip. of the trip. www.thunderroadscolorado.com
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The entire trip was documented on Facebook using Matt’s phone. If they didn’t have anywhere to stay that evening, Matt would post a request for a place for the horses, Raymond and himself to stay and posting the rough route for the next several days so that everyone would know where they were headed and all of those following the Facebook Blog could keep track and help steer them to those willing to help them on their way. The Facebook blog and interviews highlighted the same thing over and over again. Matt, Raymond and the horses found help all along the way and Matt was so overwhelmed by the fact that “Our countrymen care.” “If you are one of those that are hurting and in a dark place, know that we are riding for you. We’ve never met but I know you. I’ve walked your path and I know you. I’ve watched my brothers die and I’ve lost more when we got home. I know what it’s like to be isolated and alone in a crowded room. On my oath as long as my horses are healthy and able we will reach the pacific we will reach our goal. We will not stop this fight. We will ride for you.” It took Matt and Raymond a week to get through North Carolina and head into South Carolina. As of May 19th the fund had already raised $15,644. Matt said that some of the most memorable experiences he had on this ride was his encounters with Vietnam veterans. One of his encounters led him to this post “I usually don’t post during the day but I felt inclined to do so today. I just met a Vietnam vet named Al who came to me with tears in his eyes about his son who is an Iraq vet with PTSD. He’s having a real hard time and it’s weighing heavily on him and his family and he stopped to say thank you for doing this ride. This ride is the honor and privilege of my life. There is no other way to say it. I am so deeply humbled by all of you and so grateful to have been picked to meet you all. Thank you from the bottom if my heart” At the end of May they rode into Georgia and Matt found his dream horse Siren. She joined the ride, but was ponied to build up stamina and get used to the conditions on the road. By the end of June they were almost out of Mississippi 8 Thunder Roads Magazine® Colorado
and heading toward the great river. On July 4th Matt wrote of this experience. “We are here at our spot just a few miles shy of the Mississippi River. We are in a field in the middle of nowhere and it’s incredibly peaceful. I was about to sit down to my dinner of peanuts and warm water when two separate people that I’ve never talked to or have seen showed up with BBQ and cold drinks. I was content with our lot in life but yet again the pure kindness in strangers came out and it chokes
February 2015
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me up. Thank you to all of you who have shown up for us. We cross the mighty Mississippi tomorrow. Happy Independence Day.” The horses crossed the Mississippi river in a trailer, but Raymond and Matt walked across the bridge to the other side. Reading through his blog you can follow him on his journey through trials, tribulations and mosquitoes. Through it all his mission remains very clear. “While we may be riding across the country and having a pretty good time doing it, we are raising awareness for the twentytwo veterans that swallowed a lead pill today, and yesterday, and tomorrow and every damn day that that number continues. We are also raising money for the Semper Fi Fund to help these guys get the help they need. “
documenting his trip and helping him spread the awareness that many of our veterans are fighting for their lives once they return home, struggling with a the return to civilian life and often filled with anguish, despair and hopelessness, as Matt did. It becomes obvious that Matt’s success is threefold. Not only has he helped to raise awareness and hope for veterans, and raising and more than $130,000 (and still counting) for the Semper Fi fund, Matt has also found himself and his
“It is so many that come home and feel that we are alone. We are in a crowd of people and we are completely alone. We don’t have any brothers with us and we feel alone.” Reading Matt’s posts, looking at the media interviews he posted from television and newspapers www.thunderroadscolorado.com
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salvation along the way.
than ever so on a borrowed saddle tomorrow we ride.”
Matt’s bravery in admitting his hopelessness and despair to others and his determination to help his brother and sister veterans by speaking out and speaking plainly while riding across a continent from coast to coast on a horse, relying on strangers for help all along the way. Matt not only seems to find himself but also discovers a very special woman named Kristen. Before his journey across the continent ends she will join him on a horse, on his trek and become his fiancé before they reach the coast.
Unfortunately, the saddle theft was followed nearly a month later on November 17th when Pendragon, one of the horses was struck with colic. Pendragon underwent surgery and Matt’s post on the 21st was the low point of the journey: “This is the post that none of us have wanted to see. Pendragon didn’t make it through the night. That horse had more heart and more try. It’s a quality that can’t be bred and it can’t be trained it was just in him. Sometimes life just sucks. Sometimes there’s no message sometimes a whole community comes together with a singular purpose and gets kicked in the teeth. All we can do is ride on. This is a long grueling ride and it seems too cruel to have the end in sight and lose one of our partners. He had massive colic surgery and the odds were slim but if there was any horse that could do it I would’ve picked him. He battled the entire time and in the end it was just too much. We will ride on and we will finish however bittersweet it may be. Thank you for your support and thoughts and prayers.”
While traveling through Alabama Matt met Kristen and his own words best describe their meeting. “When she walked up with beer and pizza and a smile, it was in that smile I didn’t feel alone.” Early in August Kristin makes her first appearance on the Facebook page in a photo with Matt. “We spent from Oklahoma to California together dealing with the hardships and sleeping outside and there isn’t someone else I would want to spend my life with. The ability to be worth being loved, I think that is a big thing.” When Kristen and Matt were interviewed by Thunder Roads Colorado she said “It was like Love at first site for me and Matt.” Kristen decided to join Matt and Raymond because “I have a lot of family that has been in several different branches of the military and felt a connection with what he was doing. I decided that what he was doing had a purpose.” By the time September and Texas roll onto the scene they are four months into their journey, and more than half way to Camp Pendleton. The three riders rode through the Land of Enchantment during latter part of September and early October. When they reached the Arizona State line Matt had this thought. “We were discussing the end of the ride today and we determined that the ride had a beginning, middle and we are now at the start of the end. If we don’t finish strong then the first two parts are for nothing. We must finish with the horses being strong first and foremost but the energy and the feel of the ride must peak when Crow gets his feet salty in that great expanse of water.” Things became more difficult in October when Matt had his saddle stolen on the 20th. “Material things can be stolen, the one thing that cannot be is will, and mine remains unwavering. I have a borrowed saddle to ride and my will is intact. I told you out there we would ride. I told our vets that we would ride. I told the mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, wives, husbands, and children of the men and women who selflessly give of themselves that we would ride. My determination is greater 10 Thunder Roads Magazine® Colorado
On November 30th the ride was complete; “We did it. It was a long ride but we did it. Crow carried me ocean to ocean. All I can say is thank you. Without all of you showing up every step of the way it would’ve been next to impossible. Without you all supporting us and helping us it might not have happened but you did. All across the country you showed up for us and for the men and women we rode for. It was an incredible feeling crossing the gate into Pendleton today. I don’t even know if I can truly put words to it but it felt right. Seeing the ocean and riding into it was something I’ve thought about for a while but it seemed so surreal in that moment. I want to thank everyone that came out to the beach as well it was amazing to have so many people show up for us. Thank you. I have said it many times but I meant it with every ounce of my being it is the honor of my life to have done this ride and to do it for my brothers and sisters. I have felt like I was home for a while now but I told you we would ride to the pacific and I had zero intention of not living up to that. You have all stuck around for all the highs and the lows since May 1 and have given me purpose and that is something we all need. There’s no magic cure for coming home it’s something that’s done one track at a time. It’s a constant choice and one that’s not always easy but it’s certainly worth it. This ride has definitely been worth it for me. As for me I’m going home, Kristen and I will build a life. I will continue to shoe horses because I love it (if you’re in CO and need your horse done message me!) we also will be
February 2015
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talking to the Semper Fi Fund about vets and horsemanship Matt and Kristen will be married on June 12th 2015 which maybe with mustangs.” will be a year from the day they met. “Thank you all for what has truly been a defining moment in my life. Thank you for donating and if you haven’t yet click on the link and help out the men and women that have given so much. For me I wanted to do this and I felt like I had to do this, but the real purpose was “coming home”, not only for the guys for the fund but for me as well. When I first was going to do this my mom asked me what I wanted to get out of this and I told her, Peace” “Riding down the road isn’t glamorous or the kind of riding I like to do but we do it for these guys and we do it for the others that message me and tell me that seeing the stories of people who care about them saved their lives. I also ride for me. I hate to come across as selfish but I do ride for me. This is my long trail home and I am going home at the end of it. That is my goal for me at the end of it. I want to go home, it’s been a long time since I’ve been home. “
“The Long Trail Home” ride from coast to coast is a true story of courage, hope and love in the face of pain and despair. Matt Littrell and his story is an inspiration to all of us and shows us that one person with determination, hope and courage can make a difference; both in his own life and the lives of his brother and sister veterans. If you would like to contribute to Matt Litterll’s Long Trail Home Semper Fi Fund please go to the following website: https://fundraising.semperfifund.org/ fundraise?fcid=249300
“The ride was twofold and it started because it was for the Veteran Suicide Statistics fund and in the end he found his true home and happiness. It 1 in 5 veteran’s deaths is by suicide was a great adventure!” Kristen told Thunder Roads Colorado. Veterans have more than 200% higher likelihood of dying by On December 7th Colorado Devil Dogs MC threw a party suicide for Matt and his fiancée Kristen to welcome them back home A conservative estimate of 8030 veterans commit suicide each year. to Colorado. Patrick McCauley – “5” www.thunderroadscolorado.com
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Cold Weather Riding Written by Thunder Roads Reader, Stoney It is often said that experience is the best teacher. I have recently experienced cold weather riding. From my perspective it was a test of wills and nature proved to have the stronger will. In my opinion, I was dressed appropriately for the ride. I wore: Layered clothing under my leather jacket (I don’t have electric heated riding apparel). Rain suit pants (added lower-body protection from the wind). A full-face helmet. A fleece neck protector. Insulated leather riding gloves. Even with all that protection, I still felt the effects of the cold temperatures on my feet, toes, fingers, and legs. Cruising at highway speed(s) of 65 to 75 mph; the wind-chill factor becomes a real force to be dealt with. The wind, at any speed, moving across the body will rob body heat quite rapidly even when there is very little exposed skin. That fact brings hypothermia into the “mix” of things to be aware of. Hypothermia comes on slowly and sometimes without the rider being aware of it until the dangerous effects start affecting coordination, speech, attention, and reaction time. Fortunately for me, I remembered what to be aware of as far as the signs of hypothermia setting in. Another concern is frostbite. The fingers and toes are at risk, even when they are covered. Anything that affects blood circulation, like movement restricting gloves, socks, and boots, can make frostbite a real hazard to your health if it goes untreated and/or ignored. Again, being aware of what the body is telling you can save your life and/or avoid permanent physical damage. Taking warm-up breaks along with re-fueling stops can be a very important safety factor when riding in cold weather. Performing a pre-ride inspection will reduce the likelihood of a break-down along the way. Being stranded on the side of the road in cold weather could be life threatening if the conditions are not in your favor. I have adopted the practice of performing a pre-ride inspection for my own safety. It’s also a matter of respect and concern for my fellow riders. Yet another factor is fatigue. Fatigue is as much of a health and safety issue in cold weather as it is hot weather. I began feeling the effects of fatigue on the return trip. “I just want to get home and warm up” was a constant thought. Things like that take away some of your concentration from the task at hand. Not a good thing! That is when accidents happen. Taking a rest-stop might prove to be beneficial to safely completing the trip. An added consideration would be to have a snack and something to drink. It’ll give you a chance to mentally “pull it together” before you get back on the road. I did not write or intend this article to scare and/or deter anybody away from riding in cold weather or any other weather as far as that goes. Hey, any day can be a good day to get out on two-wheels… if it is done safely. Nobody, that I am aware of, buys a Harley to look at. It was made to ride! Anyway, speaking from experience… having a healthy respect for the forces of nature is a very good practice if you want to “live to ride” again! 12 Thunder Roads Magazine® Colorado
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OFFICIaL SPONSOrS
MARCH 7 th & 8 th 2015
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Custom and Antique Motorcycles on display WIN a $750 OUTPOST H-D Shopping Spree! WIN! 23rd Annual Colorado Tattoo Competition 2015 Harley-Davidson Take a Harley-Davidson TEST RIDE! (No riding experience needed on Pikes Peak H-D’s “JumPStart”!) Street XG500! No purchase necessary 1st 1,500 attendees over 18 get a Live Music from Jake Loggins chance to scratch and win at the Pikes Peak Harley-Davidson booth. Indoor Beer Garden 175+ Swap Meet tables! Huge Charity Auction Food and Refreshments HOurS: Saturday 9am–6pm, Plenty of FREE PARKING Sunday 10am–5pm Kids Coloring Contest aDmISSION: Adults $9.00, OVER 65 $6.00 Event location
3650 N. Nevada Ave. Colorado Springs
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AUCTION & BEER GARDEN PROCEEDS BENEFIT THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN MOTORCYCLE MUSEUM
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COLORADO SpRingS MOtORCyCLe ShOw AnD
A quarter century is a long time by anyone’s measure. When it comes to motorcycle events, the milestone is something worth celebrating! The Colorado Springs Motorcycle Show and Swap Meet aka “The Colorado Super Show” marks 25 years on the weekend of March 7 & 8. The event will again be held at the Freedom Expo Center on North Nevada Avenue. “Looking back, it sure doesn’t seem like 25 years have passed since we started out,” said event organizer Jim Wear. “I guess the old adage, ‘time flies when you’re having fun’ applies here. We never set out to try and set the world on fire. I mean, we never expected to be big time or famous… we just wanted to have some fun!”
motorcycle experience can hop on, start up and “ride” a new HarleyDavidson Big Twin utilizing the coolest and most unique simulator available today. Attendees will also have the opportunity to win a $750.00 shopping spree at Outpost Harley-Davidson simply by signing up at the show. Finally, 1500 lucky attendees will get their chance to win a brand new 2015 Harley-Davidson “Street 500” motorcycle just by trying their luck at the Pikes Peak H-D booth. Again, NO PURCHASE IS NECESSARY for any of these awesome features!
New event features this year include Pikes Peak Harley-Davidson’s “Jump Start” booth, where folks with no
The annual Swap Meet, which has grown in size and popularity, covers about 65,000 square feet within the walls of a modern expo hall. Attendees will find plenty of free parking as well as a free motorcycle parking area, which is secured by seasoned event staff. Inside the show a wide variety
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of custom and classic motorcycles compete for handmade belt buckles and unique trophies. Over 175 swap meet spaces fill the facility with items ranging from parts to leather, clothing to collectibles and just about anything else you can think of. Cold beer and hot food are available to all, and attendees will find the food and beverage prices reasonable. Other events of note are the charity auction to benefit the Rocky Mountain Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame and the 23rd annual Colorado Tattoo Competition. Both of these features are very well attended and provide unique opportunities for both great bargains and awesome people watching. Kids under 12 are admitted to the swap meet free so this event makes for a great family outing. All in all this is one event that you do not want to miss. When asked about the next 25 years, Wear commented, “Throwing a party for 10,000 bikers is a lot of work, but we are having a ball and as long as its fun, we will keep doing it.” For more go to pro-promotions.com. For Vendor spaces or to enter your bike in the show call 719-487-8005.
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SwAP Meet celebrAteS 25 yeArS
Schedule of Events Saturday, March 7 8:00 am..........................Building opens to Vendors/Exhibitors 9:00 am..........................Show opens to public 10:00 am – 1:00 pm.......Live Remote Broadcast - KILO 94.3 FM 10:00 pm – 1:00 pm ......Live Remote Broadcast - KRXP 103.9 FM All Day............................Kids Coloring Contest 10:00 am – 6:00 pm.......Tattoo Competition Registration 10:00 pm – 12:00 pm ....Live Remote Broadcast - KKFM 98.1 FM 11:30 pm – 12:30 pm ....Live Music - “Jake Loggins & Friends” - Courtyard 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm ......Live Remote Broadcast 95.1 KATC “The Cat” 12:30 pm .......................Charity Auction Round #1 - Front Stage 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm ........Live Music - “Jake Loggins & Friends” - Courtyard 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm ........Live Music - “Jake Loggins & Friends” - Courtyard 3:30 pm .........................Charity Auction Round #2 - Front Stage 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm ........Live Music - “Jake Loggins & Friends” - Courtyard 6:00 pm .........................Show Closes
Sunday, March 8 9:00 am..........................Building opens to Vendors/Exhibitors 10:00 am........................Show opens to public All Day............................Kids Coloring Contest 10:00 am – 12:00 pm.....Tattoo Competition Registration 10:00 am – 1:00 pm.......Live Remote Broadcast - KILO 94.3 FM 10:00 am – 1:00 pm.......Live Remote Broadcast - KRXP 103.9 FM 10:00 pm – 2:00 pm ......Live Remote Broadcast - KKFM 98.1 11:30 am – 12:30 pm.....Live Music - “Jake Loggins & Friends” - Courtyard 1:00 pm .........................23rd Annual Colorado Tattoo Competition 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm ........Live Music - “Jake Loggins & Friends” - Courtyard 2:30 am – 3:30 pm.........Live Music - “Jake Loggins & Friends” - Courtyard 4:00 pm (Approx.) .........Award Ceremony - Tattoo Competition 4:00 pm .........................Award Ceremony - Motorcycles / Coloring Contest 5:00 pm .........................Show Closes *All times are approximate - www.pro-promotions.com www.thunderroadscolorado.com
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Safety First!
A
friend recently commented that when on a motorcycle, “helmet or not – stupid will get you injured or killed every time.” I totally agree with that one! You just cannot be foggy-brained or daydreaming while you’re riding. If you can’t stay 100% focused while riding then you should not be riding. It is that simple.
Fact Three: Another hefty portion of accidents happen when a car approaching you from behind with a distracted driver does not stop soon enough. (Keeping enough space between yourself and the vehicle in front of you gives you room to escape and move out of the way if that car behind you doesn’t look like it is going to stop at that stoplight/sign)
That is what I love about riding my motorcycle – it takes all of my mental concentration and physical coordination to ride well and safely. Not too many things require that much focus in my life. I love concentrating my whole being and soul into this activity we call riding. This is not to say that I am personally 100% all the time; most certainly I’m not but, I will not ride when I know I’m not on top of my game. So you say you’re doing your part, mainly riding when you feel healthy and clear-minded, but what about the other guys, the cagers? How about those maneuvers when they scare the wheaties right out of you by almost running into you broadside or cutting you off? What can we do about those guys? Identifying the most common problems is the first thing to do. It is hard to avoid something you aren’t cognizant of. Here are few statistics to help: Fact One: Most cage vs. motorcycle accidents occur at intersections. Keep in mind that anywhere a car can come out of is considered an intersection – a driveway, an alley, a street--anywhere. Fact Two: More than 50% of motorcycles versus car or truck accidents occur because the cagers turn left in front of us. This can be any kind of left turn – not just the drivers coming toward us head on and turning left. People pulling out from driveways or side roads frequently left turn in front of us also. Some of these will also slam on their brakes midlane blocking the lane cross-ways when they realize they cut somebody off, so planning an escape can be tricky.
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Fact Four: Riders are the most prone to getting in accidents during their first 6 months or 500 miles riding. The next highest number of incidents is during the first year or first 1,000 miles. After that the statistics for amount of time in the saddle/ratio to accidents happening gets much better. This seems to show that taking your time and taking it easy at first could really help all new riders avoid accidents. Perhaps new riders should try to avoid heavy traffic? What a concept. There are some things that we can do to be safer out there and two things immediately come to mind: Firstly: Make yourself visible, seen & heard. Bright clothing or light colored helmets with reflective tape on them are good. These days it is inexpensive to add some LED lighting. We’ve connected a red LED light strip to our brake lights – giving us additional brake-light power. Flashing your brakes several times also helps people see that you are stopping. Some folks like waving – moving a body part about in front of the cagers tends to get attention and you can always use your horn. Secondly: Expect the worst to get the best results. to say it another way, just expect that old left-turn Louie (or his old lady) are going to turn in front of you as you approach an intersection. If they don’t – excellent – you’re having a good day, if they do, you are prepared for it and can react to that left turn. Thirdly: Always plan your escape route. You should always be looking for and planning your escape routes for these situations–these days the motorcycle training courses teach everyone to try to have two possible escape paths available
February 2015
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and in mind at any given moment. Keep your eyes open and plan those routes to ensure your and your passenger safety There are limited options on a motorcycle in traffic as to what you can or cannot do. Here is my list of what you can should be prepared for and do: Scanning: You should be keeping track of vehicles near you and road conditions in front of and around you at all times, especially in heavy city traffic. You need to constantly scan in front, to the sides and behind you. Check your mirrors frequently. Scan all around every few seconds. Thoroughly, check your blind spots by turning your head to look (head checks) so you can to see what is or isn’t in your blind spots. When you are pulling away from a stop sign or green light – don’t assume cross traffic is going to stop. Far too often someone runs the red light or stop sign and you will likely be the loser if you assume the traffic will stop. It doesn’t matter who had the right away if you and your bike is smashed—you are the loser. So take your time, get a really good look in both directions before blasting through those intersections. Swerving: You need to know ahead of time if it will be a viable option to swerve and where you could swerve to should a cager pull a surprise maneuver on you. That’s part of predicting the worst to survive to ride another day. By the way, have you been practicing your swerve maneuvers? I hope so. Remember while swerving to maintain as steady a speed as possible, do not brake during a swerve. In order to avoid these drivers it certainly helps to look at your escape route. Do not stare at the vehicle that is causing you this problem—remember that you go where you look, so look at your escape route. Lane Positioning: You can adjust your lane position, or change lanes. Consider also that you can divide any regular car lane into 3 possible positions – center, right hand third (nearest the shoulder) and left hand third (near the center line). Though riding near the center line in the left hand third of the lane is generally the preferred position for many reasons, there are certainly times when the middle or even right hand side of your lane may be appropriate choices. Don’t lock yourself into thinking that there is only one lane position to ride in. The entire lane is available, use the entire lane as needed for different or difficult situations. Choose a lane position that helps you to be seen by drivers ahead of you as well as cagers behind or to the sides of you. Speed: You can adjust your speed by slowing down or accelerating as appropriate for the situation. Remember if you are engine braking down through the gears in traffic – that no brake lights are activated. It might be a good idea to rapidly tap the front or rear brake to give a heads up to whoever is following behind you.
intentions by using your turn signals, hand signals, horn, lights, yelling sometimes works if their windows are down (when someone’s about to run you over), flashing your brake lights, whatever works for you to safely get attention and get seen. Cover the Controls: When you’re forecasting troublecover your controls, get your hands and feet out over the levers and be ready to brake or swerve as necessary. This may cut a split second or two off your reaction time – and every split seconds count big-time when you are avoiding a collision. By the way, how is your braking reaction time? Have you been practicing your quick stops now and again so you really are ready if the time comes? Pace a Larger Vehicle through large intersections: Generally speaking, turning traffic won’t turn in front of a big F-150 or Suburban whether the oncoming traffic sees you or not. Use this to your advantage. To avoid a Rear-end collision: Don’t put your bike in neutral and your arms on your chest. What will you do if some yoyo in a cage behind comes racing up talking on his cell phone, or looking at some babe on the sidewalk and doesn’t see you? This is an all too common scene. Keep your bike in first gear and be ready to take off quickly. At planned stops always leave a few feet between you and that bumper in front of you, so you have options such as leaping into the space between the cars ahead of you if you need to (remember plan your escape routes). Continue to glance back after the first car stops behind you, as the one after him could still ram the line and make you the filling in a motorcycle sandwich. Ugly but avoidable by paying attention to where you place your bike at a stop, scanning behind as well as in front and planning your escape routes. You have decided and chosen to ride a motorcycle. That should mean that are aware of and chosen to accept the risk and your responsibility to be as safe as you can out there for you, your passengers and your family. Practice your braking and swerving skills. Ride like you’re invisible and no one can see you. Take a safety course. There are intermediate, and advanced courses available now and it has been proven that riders that take courses every few years to keep their skills up are safer than those that don’t! Ride a lot! All of these things will help improve your skills so you can live to enjoy riding for a nice long time. We offer beginners to experienced riding classes at Bluecreek MC Training LLC, one good way to help you sharpen and hone your riding skills. Jasmine Bluecreek Clark
Communication: You should alert traffic as to your www.thunderroadscolorado.com
February 2015
Thunder Roads Magazine® Colorado 17
FEBRUARY Steamboat Springs Winter Carnival Various locations, Steamboat Springs Mention a parade and fireworks and people say thatís typical. Talk about adults on shovels being pulled down main street behind horses or skiers jumping through fiery hoops and people stop to listen. In Steamboat Springs we do things differently, and with the oldest, continuous Winter Carnival west of the Mississippi, this event is certainly no different. The Winter Carnival was started by the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club (SSWSC) as a way to help residents cope with cabin fever during the height of the Colorado winter season. The event continues to this day as a way to celebrate winter; as a reason for neighbors to gather; and as an opportunity for everyone to experience a piece of Ski Town USAÆ history and tradition. Saturday and Sunday highlight the event with the Winter Carnival Street Events and the Night Show Extravaganza. The Street Events feature local Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club kids being pulled on skis behind horses right down main street in downtown Steamboat. A crowd favorite, the “Donkey Jump”, sends kids soaring off a jump for up to 40, or even 50 feet. The Street Events will also feature the Winter Carnival Rodeo Clown. JW Winklepleck, Rodeo Clown/ Barrelman, will energize the crowd at the street events both Saturday and Sunday. Location: Various Locations, Steamboat Springs Dates: Wed. 2/4/2015 - 2/8/015 ---------------------------------------------------Cripple Creek’s Ice Festival The Cripple Creek Ice Festival is a spectacular event. Come watch ice sculptors carve ice into beautiful works of art that will amaze you. Going on its 8th annual, the artistic theme of the Ice Festival changes every year. Themes have included a Mythological Wonderland, Story Time, Under the Sea, a Military Salute Carved in Ice, a Rocky Mountain Wonderland, and a Medieval theme. The possibilities are endless in 20 Thunder Roads Magazine® Colorado
2015, where all sculptors are free to form the ice into any form they choose! The Cripple Creek Ice Festival features numerous fun events to enjoy throughout the two event weekends. Interactive sculptures are available forCripple Creek Ice Festival, photo courtesy of Maria Cunningham event attendees to climb on and to have a Kodak moment. Several sculptures are made just for kids, with a fun ice slide, an ice maze, and carnivaltype games that are all made of ice. Street vendors have just the perfect thing to bring home as a momento of your visit here, and an ice bar with a liquor luge ensures you always have a refreshing beverage to enjoy. Location: City of Cripple Creek, Bennett Avenue 80813 Cripple Creek, CO Event Date: 02/13/2015 to 02/15/2015 02/21/2015 to 02/22/2015 Mumbo Jumbo Gumbo Cookoff & Carnivale Parade A bit of New Orleans is coming to Manitou Springs! The Mumbo Jumbo Gumbo Cook-Off is back! Every year professional chefs and amateur cooks compete in this intense gumbo cook-off at Soda Springs Park. Each division competes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place as well as Best Showmanship and Peopleís Choice Award which are determined by you, the public. The competition begins at 8:00am. Judging and public tastings begin at 10:45am and awards will be announced at 12:00pm. It is only $1.00 for two samples of gumbo. If you would like to compete in this yearís Mumbo Jumbo Gumbo Cook-Off fill out an application before February 6, 2015. Be sure to stick around till 1:00pm for the Carnivale Parade in downtown Manitou Springs. Receive free Mardi Gras beads and get into the Carnival spirit Location: Downtown Manitou Springs Event Date: 2/14/2015 Hours:8:00 am - 12:30 pm February 2015
59th Annual Colorado RV, Sports, Boat & Travel Show The Colorado RV, Sports, Boat & Travel Show is the largest outdoor recreation show in the region and includes Colorado’s largest display of RVs, boats, outdoor products, accessories, vacation spots, fun daily seminars, and much more. Water fun seekers will find great deals on new fishing boats, ski boats, sport boats, bass boats, pontoons, and PWCs. Campers and RV travelers who prefer the freedom of RV travel will find the latest models and special value pricing on class A, B & C motorhomes, travel trailers, fifth wheels, toy haulers, truck campers, and pop-ups. There will also be motorcycles, ATVs, and UTVs on hand. Come get vacation ideas, affordable travel packages and great deals on your favorite outdoor fun. Location: National Western Complex 4655 Humboldt St. Denver, CO 80216 Dates: 2/26/2015 - 3/1/2015 Hours: Thursday: Noon - 8pm Friday: Noon - 8pm Saturday: 10am - 8pm Sunday: 10am - 5pm ---------------------------------------------------Tanner Gun Show - Denver The Denver show is our largest show. Weíve been around since 1964 and at the same location (Denver Mart) since 1984. With about 700 tables, this show is twice as large as any other gun show in Colorado. The show is held in the Pavilion Building at the Denver Mart, which is on the Northwest corner of the Mart property behind the Comfort Inn Hotel. When you exit I-25 at 58th Ave. go East and then take your first left turn (you will see a Steak Escape/Taco Johnís on your left). Just take that road about 300 yards and you will see the Pavilion building with our sign out front. Not only is our Denver show 3X larger than any other gun show in Colorado, but we also www.thunderroadscolorado.com
have a much higher percentage of guns, knives, and related items than any of those other shows. At our Denver show you’ll find 700 tables with all types of guns, knives, ammunition, survival gear/ food, and related hunting and fishing accessories including, holsters, western wear, gun safes, books, war relics, and other collectibles. We attract vendors from throughout the Western half of the U.S., so you are guaranteed the largest selection of old and new firearms in the State. Concealed carry permit classes are also available at the show through Tac*One Consulting. Classes are held once on Saturday and once on Sunday during the show. Please call (720) 4323229 for more information on the classes including pricing and times. Location: Denver Mart East 58th Avenue, Denver, CO
Dates: 2/28/2015 - 3/1/2015 Hours: 2/28 9:00 am - 5:00 pm 3/01 9:00 am - 4:00 pm ---------------------------------------------------25th Annual Motorcycle Show & Swap Meet The 25th annual Super Show goes OLD SCHOOL as the best indoor motorcycle show and swap meet comes to Southern Colorado! Events Include a huge Charity Auction, over 150 vendors, Tattoo Competition, Live music, Beer Garden & Great food! It promises to be the BEST party of 2015 Location: Freedom Financial Services Expo Center Colorado Springs, CO Dates: March 7th and 8th http://www.pro-promotions.com Frozen Dead Guy Days
The 14th Annual Frozen Dead Guy Days festival will be held on March 13-15, 2015. Incredible free live music, over twenty bands, blue grass, new grass, rock, reggie, soul, latin, jass and a little mountain folk. Colorado’s “most frigidly fun festival” features outrageous events like the coffin races, costumed polar plunge, ice turkey bowling, frozen T-shirt contest, brain freeze contests, snow beach volleyball, a parade of hearses and the frozen salmon toss. Location: Downtown Nederland, CO 80466 Event Date: Date of Event March 13, 2015 -March 15, 2015 Hours: Friday - 3:00pm - 8:00pm; Saturday 8:00am - 8:30pm; Sunday 8:00am - 6:00pm
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Thunder Roads Magazine® Colorado 7477 W. Layton Way Littleton, CO – 80123 One year subscription to Thunder Roads Magazine® Colorado is only $25.99 a year. The nation’s largest FREE biker publication can be delivered right to your door.
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February 2015
Thunder Roads Magazine® Colorado 21
QUICK TIPS PRETEND YOU ARE
If you ride a motorcycle, you know that out on the road you might as well be transparent, because car drivers often look right past you. They might notice the car or truck behind you, but you, in all your “narrowness,” may not register in the visual cortex of even the most alert drivers. That’s why an oncoming car driver might turn left in front of you at an intersection.
Reality
...and what the driver sees
That’s also why a driver in the next lane, even if they turn and look in your direction before changing lanes, might veer into your lane.
Reality
...and what the driver sees 22 Thunder Roads Magazine Colorado ®
Sadly, drivers might behave this way even when they’re not distracted by their cell phone, GPS, satellite radio, or other form of in-car infotainment. So how do you compensate for being “invisible” to drivers? Be as conspicuous as possible. Wear bright clothing and a light-colored helmet. Always have your headlight on, and use your high beam or an aftermarket headlight modulator during the day (where allowed). Take an approved rider training course. Learn how to maneuver your motorcycle in normal and emergency situations, and practice braking and swerving maneuvers often. Also understand that safe riding depends as much on the mental skills of awareness and judgment as it does on the physical skill of maneuvering the machine; respond early to possible hazards instead of having to react instantly to an emergency. Pretend you’re invisible. If you assume others on the road can’t see you, and any car that can hit you will hit you, you will tend to ride in a hyperaware mindset and learn to notice every detail in your surroundings. In other words, you will take extra responsibility for your safety and ride defensively. You will vary your speed and lane position to place yourself in the best spot on the road to avoid collisions, plan escape paths in case a driver violates your right-of-way, cover your brake controls to quicken your reactions, use your horn to alert a driver who doesn’t notice you, and always ride within your limits.
CAR DRIVERS ONLY SEE WHAT THEY EXPECT TO SEE, AND MOST DON’T EXPECT YOU TO BE PART OF THE TRAFFIC MIX. RIDE WITH THE RIGHT SKILLS, STRATEGIES, AND ATTITUDE. BE SEEN – BE SAFE.
February 2015
©2013 Motorcycle Safety Foundation
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FROM THE EXPERTS
Motorcycle Insurance-Uninsured/ Underinsured Motorist Coverage
It might be cold outside but now is a great time to check your motorcycle insurance coverage and give it an upgrade. When it comes to motorcycle insurance, you should always purchase as much as you can afford. Why? Because motorcycle injuries can cost a lot and often, even responsible motorcycle riders who are victims of some else’s reckless behavior can end up with more bills than insurance companies will pay. If that happens, you are stuck without adequate insurance coverage—protect yourself and your family with adequate coverage, including Uninsured/ Underinsured Motorist. The minimum amount of coverage you should purchase $100,000 of Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist insurance coverage. If you can afford more, it is important for you to buy it. The reasons you should buy more than $100,000 in UIM coverage: Consider this true story from the O’Sullivan Law files: Samuel was riding his motorcycle in a residential area and was hit by a driver who then fled the scene. Samuel sustained severe injuries and was out of work for two months. The driver of the car was caught but he only had $25,000 worth of insurance coverage. Luckily, Samuel had Uninsured/ Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage and was insured for up to $100,000. Without the UIM coverage, Samuel would not have been able to pay his medical bills. His life would have been forever altered by the carelessness of another driver. Why do insurance agents often steer auto and motorcycle drivers away from this coverage? Insurance companies and agents are pressured to keep premiums as low as possible
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Many insurance buyers think that UIM is not necessary because they carry health insurance. This is simply not true. Think about your health insurance deductibles and co-pays. In some severe cases, those expenses alone are enough to stress a person’s finances. AND, health insurance does NOT cover everything that UIM covers. Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Insurance covers: Lost wages Future medical expenses Any damage arising from the accident (with the exception of property damage) All economic and noneconomic loss, which includes pain and suffering Health insurance and UIM insurance are completely different. A good rule of thumb for motorcycle insurance is to purchase as much as you can afford and make absolutely certain that you have Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage. Ask your agent to quote the prices of at least two or three different levels of insurance, often adding additional insurance coverage over the minimum amount/basic coverage is not as expensive as you might think—sometimes adding $25,000, $50,000 or more to your coverage costs only a fraction of the cost of the basic insurance. Scott O’Sullivan About the author: Scott O’Sullivan is a motorcycle lawyer who has been helping injured riders since 1998. The O’Sullivan Law Firm is located at 600 Ogden Street, Denver, CO 80218. For more information about motorcycle insurance coverage call Scott O’Sullivan at 303.388.5304 or visit www.OSullivanlawfirm.com.
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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
From Passenger to Rider
Lisa Parker’s Story
learned about the “no” zone while traveling near tractor trailers, that motorcycles can accelerate and stop much faster than multiple axle vehicles.
I have only been riding up front since June, 2007, and have learned a lot about being a safe rider in that time. I was first exposed to motorcycles when I was quite young, my cousin got me on a dirt bike with him and I immediately fell in love (with the bike, not the cousin). When he told me I rode like I was born to ride, I knew I wanted to continue riding. Unfortunately, we had to travel to Illinois in order for me to ride. When I reached dating age, I always chose the boy with the bike. Eventually I married, and though I didn’t marry a rider, my passion for riding never left me. When my marriage ended and I was on my own again I decided it was time to return to riding and find others who had an open seat on the back to allow me to enjoy riding once more. Eventually, I grew impatient when there were no open seats available and I made the leap from the back to the front. When I moved from passenger to rider, it was amazing how my point of view changed. I don’t know if the basic rider course I took through ABATE http://abate.si2.com/ABATE/ TRS.nsf/Home?OpenForm caused this paradigm shift or not. I do know that the class taught me many things to help me to become a safe rider; how to maneuver over or around debris in the roadway, basic operating techniques for clutching, braking, shifting, stopping and starting; how to share the roadway with cars, trucks, and tractor trailers. I
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During the course, we were required to wear long pants, boots that protected our ankles, long sleeves, gloves and helmets. While there are classes that teach us how to be a safe operator, there are no classes to teach us to be a safe passenger. Everything we do while on two wheels affects those around us, and most importantly, ourselves. The difference for me between being a passenger and being an operator is that as a passenger, I didn’t really think about what it took to be the operator with a passenger on board. I didn’t know that every little movement I made caused the bike to behave in a certain way and the operator would have to make adjustments for my movements. It didn’t really dawn on me that I shared in the responsibility for keeping us both safe. I just rode on the back. I often wore shorts and unsafe footwear when I was on the back, never really giving it a second thought (except when I burned my leg on the pipes). The moment I had my own bike I donned full gear from fullface helmet to jacket and pants with pads and it took me a little over a year of daily riding (my main commuter was my bike) to relax a bit. I believe it takes time to become “one” with your bike. New riders like I was are typically stiff
February 2015
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or anxious, causing them make choppy corners. Once a rider has relaxed, cornering becomes more fluid and less choppy but, it is very important not to over or under estimate a corner, you never know what’s on the other side of that corner. The car coming the opposite direction could be over the line, or a bicycle could be on the inside of the corner just beyond visibility. When you are the passenger, how you lean affects the outcome of that corner too! Now I look for those curvy roads because those corners are no longer terrifying but invigorating! I no longer wear the full-face helmet or the padded gear. I now wear a half helmet, which I don’t always put on because that is my choice but I always have my jeans and boots on – regardless how hot it is outside and when the weather cools I put my leathers on to protect me from the elements. There are some riders who ALWAYS wear their leather. They are the ones who are prepared for the impact with the roadway and I know by not wearing my leather year round I am exposing myself to the dangers of going down and losing my skin – including the skin on my face. In the past several years have also learned how to be safe in groups of all different sizes. Communication prior to the ride is so important when groups of any size are riding. Review hand signals before you ride if you are riding with a group to ensure that everyone understands what each one means and understands what is being communicated. Are hand signals really necessary? Well, perhaps they are not “necessary.” BUT, what if you were running late and forgot top off your gas and you need to fill up during the ride? Do you just pull over and fuel up and hope those riding with you understand what you are doing and hope they stop for you to fill up? Do you want to be able to signal that you need to stop for a bathroom break or that fill up? Hand signals are a great way to get your point across when you are in a group. When you choose where everyone is going to ride in a group, make sure the person you are next to, in front of or behind knows how you like to ride and make sure you know how they like to ride. Give them the room they need to relax and enjoy the ride. If you are too close, you make them nervous, they tense up, and then nobody enjoys the ride. The group that I often ride with, we sometimes ride side by side. When we do this we HAVE to know how the person next to us rides in order to remain safe. The last thing I want is for someone to turn into me because I didn’t know how they ride and didn’t back off. Some organized rides have too many riders to know what riding experience everyone has. Caution is always best in those situations. If necessary, separate yourself from the rest of the pack to keep the ride enjoyable and safe for everyone. If you are a new rider in a group consider keeping to the right so other riders can go past you on the left. This prevents frustration for faster or more advanced riders. When I was a new rider, I could tell someone behind me was upset with how slow I was going, by moving to the right so they could pass me on the left (in the same lane), I could concentrate on just me again, and I could once again relax and enjoy the ride instead of feeling like I was in the way. Most of us have been on runs where someone we can see www.thunderroadscolorado.com
has caused us to think they are being unsafe – whether it is because they are going too fast or too slow or something else. Once we are engaged in the thought processes of reacting, we are no longer focusing on the road, but watching them being bad riders. I can recall rides where I wanted to drop out of the ride because I was scared of the person riding near me. The ride went from relaxing and enjoyable to work and no longer fun. If someone is being unsafe and you are no longer relaxing and enjoying the ride, when it is first possible, safely separate yourself from that person or part of the group, be safe and try to relax again. There is probably no way to get hundreds of riders together without someone thinking someone else is unsafe. If there’s one thing I learned, being courteous to other riders earns you respect. Everybody is out there for the same thing – to enjoy a ride. If you are new to riding, consider waiting until you have more experience before you join a large run, or ask someone who is patient to ride with you in the back. This will give you the experience you crave, but keep you separated from the rest of the pack, allowing you to concentrate on your own skills and gaining experience. When I was a newbie I rode with someone who was a saint when it came to patience with my newbie riding skills. His patience is probably why I continued group riding, if it weren’t for him I would have likely stopped riding in groups before I actually got to enjoy the experience. It was so stressful riding around other people for me. I worried if I was going fast enough for everyone else when I should have been focused about what was comfortable for me. If I had known to ride on the right to allow others to pass me easily it would not have been as stressful for me. I want to leave a positive imprint on this world, so I strive to be as considerate as possible when riding. Having moved from the back to the front, if I have any advice to give passengers, it would be this; ask the operator how long they’ve been riding, if they’ve had passengers before, make sure they are sober and find out if they are legally endorsed, While a lack of endorsement does not mean a person does not know how to ride safely, there is comfort in knowing someone has been licensed to operate a motorcycle and taken a class to get their endorsement because they learn about safe riding. When I was fender candy I didn’t ask questions about endorsement, experience with passengers and how long an operator had been riding. Then, only thing that mattered is that someone cute was offering me a ride on their bike and I wanted to ride! Now I’m older, and a mother and I realize I should have worried more about safety but, I was young and when we are young we tend to think we are invincible. Now, if you don’t know what you are doing I’m not putting my life into your hands! I don’t know where those hands have been! Today, if I needed a ride and the only open seat was a new rider, I would call a cab or call someone to pick me up. I don’t want to put myself or others in the situation where someone might get hurt. It is probably a good thing that I now have my own bike because if I were looking for an open seat, I would sound more like a cop pulling someone over: “May I see your license, registration and proof of insurance please!”
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MSF’s Guide to Group Riding: Hand Signals
www.msf-usa.org
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February 2015
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Dear Fellow Veterans and Patriots: Do bikers have a monogamous bad boy or girl image to live up to and fulfill? We’re all referred to as “Bikers” but what does that really mean? When I was a kid and someone talked about motorcycles I got a vision of Marlon Brando and Lee Marvin riding stripped down motorcycles through small rural towns, drinking beer and raising hell with the locals until the law shows up and runs them off. I imagine there are many people who still get that image when they see black leather on two wheels roaring down the highway. Kind of a save the children and hide the beer reaction. While there are still bikers who live that life there are many who ride today who don’t look at riding as a rough and tumble intermediate step to jail. Many “Bikers” today live a middle-class suit and tie/soccer-mom life and are part timers who suit up to become bikers on their days off. Do we benefit or suffer from the bad ass biker image? Maybe an even bigger question is do we care? I believe there is a down side to the improved suburban biker persona promoted by Harley and the other cruiser manufacturers. They see profits. You know, trying to make us accepted and respected by society so folks who can afford to spend $30 to $40 thousand dollars will dance on the showroom floor. While this makes for lots of motorcycle sales you have to admit that it does detract from the mean ass image that bikers have garnished since World War II. Many who live or have lived the real biker life are veterans. Mostly men, who went to war, saw death first hand and grew an attitude based in fighting for your life. A certain amount of “I don’t care about the consequences” came along with it. They were adrenalin junkies who needed to feel the edge of life and weren’t really happy unless they could feel the risk. Hard to believe but for some, having death close enough you reach out and touch it is a comfort. Many were prickly no back up types who were quick to reach out and touch someone over a transgression. The result was a give it hell image that produced a mix of respect, fear, reticence and avoidance by those who cherished the normal life and safety. The bike and
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black leather sent a “don’t tread on me” message that was easily understood. The police used to understand the message and just assumed those with leather and two wheels were hoods up to no good and leaned extra hard on them to make sure they didn’t get too much momentum. Okay, so fast forward to today! Bikers have become respectable, the cops like us because we respect them, support charities and present a positive image in most situations and communities. People see bikes and black leather today and what pops to mind is patriotism and grass roots Americans. The biker mystique still engenders respect and I think to some extent todays bikers benefit from the public not knowing if a bikers is a one percenter or a banker. Having said all that I find many drivers on the road look at us as cones in the road that mark a slalom course. They see our two wheels and know they have four so they think their car is a bulldozer made to move bikers out of their way. No respect and no fear factor just an aggressive get the hell out of my way attitude. So how do we cultivate the bad boy persona in a way that makes riding the highways safer for us? Riding in groups can help. I’ve always heard there is safety in numbers. We could hit the weight room to show more muscle and maybe practice mean looks in the mirror. Standing with other bikers and backing them up is good if they aren’t going psycho on the innocent. I don’t claim to have all the answers and will have to be satisfied to encourage innovation and creativity. Something to consider is that the only way someone will think they might get their ass kicked for messing with you is if you kicked someone’s ass once for messing with you. I’m not saying to go downtown and start punching people out for street creds. Opportunity will knock on occasion and give you a moment of decision. I don’t mean stuff like your kids pull in the car on long trips. “Mom, Billy’s looking at me.” If you are going to give or draw blood for the good of biker mankind it ought to be over something important. Remember; “It doesn’t matter who wins or loses as long as someone gets hurt!” See you at the Easy Rider show! Keep the faith. Thank a vet for the freedoms we still enjoy and support politicians who will bring back the ones we’ve lost. Fly the flag of the people and be proud you’re an American. Hug the families of those still missing because their quest for closure has not ended. Live the good life and ride for those can’t. Bulldog * My monthly column reflects my personal point of view and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Publishers of this magazine, but they, like me, acknowledge the sacrifices made for the privilege of Freedom of Speech, therefore, they gratefully let me rant. Thank you for reading my rants. Hope my opinions don’t offend anyone, but, we all should be grateful for the right to have free opinions.
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S K I N A R T
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Tasty Recipes All of these recipes have been kitchen tested and biker approved. QUICHE LORRAINE I can now make this quiche in my sleep, in fact, I think I have on one or two occasions. If you use a frozen pie crust or refrigerator one this is a very quick breakfast or brunch dish. Pastry for one-crust nine inch pie 4 strips bacon 1 cup 1/2 and 1/2 1 cup milk 1/4 tsp nutmeg 1/2 tsp salt 1/4 tsp white pepper 1 onion, thinly sliced 1 1/2 cup Gruyère or Swiss cheese, chopped or extra large grated 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated 4 eggs, lightly beaten 1. Preheat oven to hot 450° F. 2. Line a nine-inch pie plate with pastry and bake five minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly. Reduce the oven temperature to 350° F. 3. Cook the bacon until crisp and remove it from the skillet. pour off all but one tablespoon of the fat remaining in the skillet. Cook the onion in the remaining fat until the onion is transparent. 4. Crumble the bacon and sprinkle 1/2 half of the bacon onion and cheese over the inside of the partly baked pastry. 5. Combine the eggs, cream, nutmeg, salt and pepper in a blender and blend until combined. Strain over the onion-cheese mixture. 6. Bake until a knife inserted one inch from the pastry edge comes out clean, (about 45 minutes) then cook about ten minutes longer. Allow to cool slightly and setup. Servings: 6 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------CHICKEN POT PIE This recipe is actually a combination of two recipes. I read through half of the first recipe and for some reason read through the second half of another recipe on the opposite page. It was a happy mistake, because this is still one of my favorite pot pie recipes. 3 Tbs butter 6 Tbs flour 1 1/4 cups chicken broth 1 1/4 tsp rosemary, dried 1/4 tsp Tabasco 1/2 lb chicken, seared and cubed, the chicken will not be cooked through 2 carrots, medium 1 cup peas, frozen 1 cup potatoes, cubed to 1/2 inches 1 1/4 cup milk 1/4 tsp black pepper 1 cups baking mix 1/2 cup milk 1 egg 1. Peel and cube potato. Cook in water in the microwave for 7 minutes. 2. In a large sauce pan sear chicken until brown on both sides and remove from pan. Allow to rest 3. Melt 3 tablespoons of butter. Stir in the flour and cook for one minute or until the flour begins to smell nutty. Remove from heat and gradually add broth. Replace pan to heat and stir constantly and bring to a boil over medium heat. Add the rosemary and Boil for 1 minute or until slightly thickened. 4. Cube the chicken 5. Mix together the baking mix, milk and egg. Roll out onto a floured surface www.thunderroadscolorado.com
until the dough is the size of your casserole dish 6. Place Tabasco sauce, cubed chicken, carrots, peas and potatoes into a 2 quart casserole dish. Pour “gravy” into dish until it covers the previous ingredients. Place dough on top and using a knife cut slices in the dough to vent. 7. Bake 40 minutes or until golden brown. Servings: 6 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------BLOODY MARY I was inspired to create this bloody mary after having a few of these lovelies at Commander’s Palace in New Orleans. The glasses are rimmed with a Cajun spice mix. The glasses aren’t full of the bloody mary mix because the waiters come to your table with bottles of “happiness” frozen in huge blocks of ice to top off your drink. 1 quart Tomato juice or Clamato juice Juice of 1/2 lemon 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce 1 tsp Tabasco sauce 1 Tbs prepared horseradish 1/4 tsp garlic salt 1/4 tsp celery salt Freshly-ground white pepper 1 1/2 cups pepper-flavored or plain vodka 3 Tbs Cajun Spice Mix 1. Pour a few tablespoons of the Cajun spice mix into a saucer. Rim the glass with a little vodka and then place immediately in the Cajun spice mix. Allow to “harden” before serving. 2. Mix all in a 2-quart pitcher. Stir until well blended. Pour into ice-filled glasses, and garnish with lemon or lime. You can also add pickled green beans, spicy pickled okra, cherry peppers or stick with the traditional celery stalk. Servings: 8 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------APPLE CRUMBLE PIE This is also known as B*tchAss Pie, and it came from a Southpark and Cartman Reference. Patrick and I had a bet that the loser of a cribbage game would make the favorite pie for the winner. Patrick won and his favorite is apple crumble pie. After winning, he told me to go in the kitchen and make him some B*tchAss Pie. To this day, when he want me to make the pie, he still requests it as B*tchAss pie. 6 cups sliced peeled granny smith apples, (approximately 5 medium apples) 2/3 cup sugar 2 Tbs all-purpose flour 1/4 tsp salt 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg 1/8 tsp ground allspice 1 unbaked pastry shell (9 inches) TOPPING: 1/3 cup brown sugar 1/3 cup all-purpose flour 1/3 cup butter 1/2 tsp cinnamon 1. If you aren’t using a frozen prepared pie crust, prepare pie pan with pie crust and crimp edges. 2. In a bowl, combine the apples, sugar, flour, salt and spices; spoon into pie shell. 3. To make the topping, combine sugar and flour; cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle over pie. 4. Bake at 375¬∞ for 50-55 minutes or until the topping is browned and apples are tender. Cover crust edges with foil during the last 15 minutes if needed. Cool completely before cutting. Yield: 6-8 servings.
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News Bytes NCOM BIKER NEWSBYTES Compiled & Edited by Bill Bish, National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM) MINNESOTA ANTI-PROFILING MEASURE INTRODUCED A proposed anti-profiling bill before the Minnesota House would create rules to reduce perceived profiling of motorcycle riders and would require several law enforcement groups to draft anti-profiling practices when dealing with the riders. Once drafted, law enforcement agencies would then have to train every officer and verify that with the state. House File 59, “Motorcycle Profiling,” was filed on January 12, 2015 in the state House of Representatives and referred to the Public Safety and Crime Prevention Policy and Finance Committee, and the bill stems from claims that police have been pulling over motorcyclists without reasonable cause: “Purpose. The legislature finds that the reality or public perception of motorcycle profiling alienates people from police, hinders community policing efforts, and causes law enforcement to lose credibility and trust among the people law enforcement is sworn to protect and serve. No stop initiated by a peace officer should be made without a legitimate reason; the fact that someone rides a motorcycle or wears motorcycle paraphernalia is not a legitimate reason. Law enforcement policies and training programs must emphasize the need to respect the balance between the rights of all persons to be free from unreasonable governmental intrusions and law enforcement’s need to enforce the law.” The measure defines “motorcycle profiling” as “(T)he illegal use of the fact that a person rides a motorcycle or wears motorcycle-related accouterments as a factor in deciding to stop and question, take enforcement action, arrest, or search a person or vehicle with or without a legal basis under the United States Constitution or Minnesota Constitution.” HF 59 is co-sponsored by Rep. John Petersburg (R-Waseca) who said that he signed on to the bill in part because he heard claims of profiling on the campaign trail. In October, he attended a forum hosted by American Bikers for Awareness, Training and Education, or ABATE. “Because they’re riding motorcycles and wearing motorcycle gear, they’re getting stopped,” Petersburg said. A representative for ABATE of Minnesota told the Owatonna People’s Press that an anti-profiling bill was among the group’s top legislative priorities. Minnesota was the first and only state in the country to enact a biker anti-discrimination law; Minnesota Statute Section 604.12, enacted in 1998 states in part: “A place of public accommodation may not restrict access, admission, or usage to a person solely because the person operates a motorcycle or is wearing clothing that displays the name of an organization or association.” S.C. BILL AIMS TO REQUIRE CHILD SAFETY SEATS AND BELTS ON MOTORCYCLES A bill that would require babies and small children to be secured to a motorcycle with seat belts is under consideration by South Carolina lawmakers. 30 Thunder Roads Magazine® Colorado
S.C. state Rep. Joseph Daning (R-Berkely Co.) filed legislation (H. 3040) that would require a standard, rear-facing child safety seat to be used for motorcycle passengers from birth up to 1 year of age, and for a belt-positioning booster seat with both lap and shoulder belts for children younger than 7 and weighing 40-80 pounds. “We take care of our children in cars, but they’re so unprotected on the back of motorcycles” said Daning, who added that the bill was prompted by constituents who feared an ex-spouse would ride their children on a motorcycle. Rep. Bill Taylor called Daning’s proposal “government overreach” and said motorcyclists are a safety-conscious community, but child-safety advocates support Daning’s efforts. Only a handful of states impose a minimum age for riders, and South Carolina is not one of them according to the Children’s Trust of South Carolina, pointing out that 25 children required emergency medical attention due to motorcycle injuries in the state from 2007 through 2009. ABATE of SC state coordinator, Ralph Bell, emphasized that there have been no fatalities of passengers under 7, and said changing the law would hinder charity events. Dennis Welborn, the state legislative coordinator for ABATE told the Morris News Service that “Its passage would cause much more harm than good,” and in particular, mounting a child safety seat on a motorcycle would change its center of gravity, making it unwieldy, affecting its handling and braking abilities. MSF CONTRACTED TO MANAGE INDIANA MOTORCYCLIST SAFETY PROGRAM The Motorcycle Safety Foundation has been awarded a four-year contract by the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles to provide motorcycle training, beginning March 1, 2015. The contract award marks the end of the state’s training relationship with ABATE of Indiana, which had been training riders since the 1970s. According to Jay Jackson, ABATE executive director, more than 125,000 students completed its courses during that time. The ABATE board of directors voted not to renew its contract. The MSF will oversee Indiana’s statewide training locations, provide an Indiana-dedicated website and online class enrollment function and administer all aspects of training, including MSF’s extensive quality control program. Indiana law requires would-be motorcycle riders to first obtain a learner’s permit, and then pass a motorcycle skills test or present a certificate of completion from a BMV-approved motorcycle safety course. After March 1, Hoosiers who pass the MSF Basic RiderCourse will not need to take Indiana’s oncycle skills exam. “We’d like to recognize ABATE of Indiana for their achievements in providing motorcycle training over the past several years through the state’s network of training sites and trainers,” said MSF Vice President Robert Gladden. More than 7.5 million riders internationally have completed motorcycle training using MSF’s curricula in the foundation’s 40-plus year history.
February 2015
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News Bytes
VEHICLE DATA PRIVACY CONCERNS VOICED IN MONTANA A Montana House panel recently heard a bill to give vehicle owners more control over the large stores of information now accumulated by newer cars and trucks, and motorcycles. House Bill 78, sponsored by Rep. Ryan Lynch (D-Butte), would give vehicle owners more control of that data by codifying provisions stating that only owners, lessees and authorized representatives can gain access to recorded data in the event of a crash. Insurance companies already make use of telemetrics -- the many pieces of data that reflect driving habits -- but insurance lobbyists say they’re willing to sit down with supporters and hammer out a bill that’s agreeable to everyone. This is just one of several privacy bills the Montana Legislature will consider this session and, if enacted, the law would become the nation’s strongest driver-privacy act.
senators in the new 114th Congress. The bill would prohibit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration from issuing grants to states to fund motorcycle-only checkpoints. Sponsoring senators say such roadblocks are discriminatory, where riders are specifically targeted by police to check that their vehicles meet state standards for noise, handlebar height, tire condition and other requirements, including helmet compliance. The states of California, Louisiana, Missouri, North Carolina, Illinois, New Hampshire and Virginia have all passed legislation to prohibit motorcycle-only checkpoints.
MOTORCYCLE INJURIES & FATALITIES ON DECLINE The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced that motorcycle fatalities have dropped for the second year in a row, representing the largest drop in fatalities for any road user. According to the Fatality Analysis Reporting System, motorcycle fatalities for 2013 dropped from 4,986 to 4,668; and the 6.4% decrease was the largest percentage drop of all vehicle categories. Fatal motorcycle crashes involving alcohol dropped by 117 deaths, or 8.3%, also the largest decrease in the category. NHTSA also reported a drop in the number of injured motorcyclists from 93,000 to 88,000, a 5.4% drop, again the largest decrease in the category. Motor vehicle fatalities overall decreased by 3.1% from 20122013 and injuries declined 2.1%.
WEIRD NEWS: YOUTUBE VIDEO LEADS TO STUNT RIDER ARREST A cop couldn’t corral dozens of reckless riders who took over a California highway, performing dangerous stunts and taunting the officer, but the marauders left an obvious trail on social media. One stunter, armed with cameras mounted on the front of his motorcycle and helmet, filmed what turned out to be incriminating evidence that later led to his arrest. The video, posted to YouTube and garnering over 1.5 million views, shows several brazen bikers popping high speed wheelies and buzzing a California Highway Patrolman, who is also on a motorcycle and attempting to pull over one or more riders before giving up due to safety concerns. As the officer backs off, bikers are seen exuberantly pumping their fists in the air in a short-lived victory celebration. Three weeks later, following an internet trail including personal information posted in social forums, police busted the 32-year old stunt rider who recorded -- and shared -- video of the wild ride and arrested him at his house in Brentwood on felony accessory and obstruction charges, as well as a marijuana grow operation in his home.
FEDERAL LEGISLATION REINTRODUCED TO CURB MOTORCYCLE-ONLY CHECKPOINTS Motorcycle-only checkpoints would be discouraged under a bipartisan bill reintroduced January 8, 2015 by a group of
QUOTABLE QUOTE: “The highest patriotism is not a blind acceptance of official policy, but a love of one’s country deep enough to call her to a higher plain.” George McGovern (1922 - 2012) American politician, historian & author
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5 UNDENIABLE FACTS 1. WE ALL LOVE TO SPEND MONEY BUYING NEW CLOTHES BUT WE NEVER REALIZE THAT THE BEST MOMENTS IN LIFE ARE ENJOYED WITHOUT CLOTHES. 2. HAVING A COLD DRINK ON HOT DAY WITH A FEW FRIENDS IS NICE, BUT HAVING A HOT FRIEND ON A COLD NIGHT AFTER A FEW DRINKS – PRICELESS! 3. BREAKING NEWS: CONDOMS DON’T GUARANTEE SAFE SEX ANYMORE. A FRIEND OF MINE WAS WEARING ONE WHEN HE WAS SHOT DEAD BY THE WOMAN’S HUSBAND. 4. ARGUING OVER A GIRL’S BUST SIZE IS LIKE CHOOSING BETWEEN MOLSON, HEINEKEN, CARLSBERG, & BUDWEISER. MEN MAY STATE THEIR PREFERENCES, BUT WILL GRAB WHATEVER IS AVAILABLE. 5. I HAVEN’T VERIFIED THIS ON “SNOPES”, BUT IT SOUNDS LEGIT. A RECENT STUDY FOUND THAT WOMEN WHO CARRY A LITTLE EXTRA WEIGHT LIVE LONGER THAN THE MEN WHO MENTION IT. ____________________________________________________ A young New York woman was so depressed that one night she decided to end her life by throwing herself into the ocean. Just before she could leap from the docks, a handsome young man stopped her. “You have so much to live for,” said the man. “I’m a sailor, and we leave for Italy tomorrow. I can stow you away on my ship. I’ll take care of you, bring you food every day, and keep you happy. With nothing to lose, and having always wanted to go to Italy, the young woman accepted. From then on, every night he would bring her sandwiches and a bottle of red wine and he would make love to her for hours. A week later, the captain discovered her during a routine inspection. “What are you doing here?” he asked. “I have an arrangement with one of the sailors,” she replied. “He brings me food and I get a free trip to Italy .” “I see,” said the captain. Her conscience got the better of her and she added, “Plus, he’s screwing me.” “He certainly is,” replied the captain.” This is the Staten Island Ferry.” ____________________________________________________
An attorney arrived home late, after a very tough day trying to get a stay of execution. His last minute plea for clemency to the governor had failed and he was feeling worn out and depressed... As soon as he walked through the door at home, his wife started on him about, ‘What time of night to be getting home is this? Where have you been? ‘Dinner is cold and I’m not reheating it.’ And on and on and on. Too shattered to play his usual role in this familiar ritual, he poured himself a shot of whiskey and headed off for a long hot soak in the bathtub, pursued by the predictable sarcastic remarks as he dragged himself up the stairs. While he was in the bath, the phone rang. The wife answered and was told that her husband’s client, James Wright, had been granted a stay of execution after all. Wright would not be hanged tonight. Finally realizing what a terrible day he must have had and feeling bad for nagging on him the second he came through the door, she decided to go upstairs and give him the good news. As she opened the bathroom door, she was greeted by the sight of her husband, bent over naked, drying his legs and feet. ‘They’re not hanging Wright tonight,’ she said. He whirled around and screamed at his wife; ‘For the love of God woman, don’t you ever stop complaining!?” ____________________________________________________
Biker after a bad crash! It was late in the night when he regained consciousness. He found himself in agonizing pain in the hospital’s ICU, with tubes up his nose, wires monitoring every function and a gorgeous nurse hovering over him. In only a few moments, he realized he’d obviously been in a serious traffic accident. The lovely nurse gave him a deep look straight into his eyes and he heard her slowly say, “Temporarily, you may not feel anything from the waist down.” Somehow he managed to mumble in reply; “Well…just let me feel your boobs, then?” www.thunderroadscolorado.com
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