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For this February we have Alicia Seifert on the cover. Alicia is a Pharmacist by trade, but also owns Prime Nutrition in West Des Moines. She competes in body building competitions and it surely shows here. She is a Certified Wellness Coach and can be reached at aseifert.herbalife@gmail. com Her gorgeous looks and smoking hot bod make Corey Myers’ 2002 FXD Painted by Chris Cope at CPS in Des Moines look really cool with he Capital in the background. It seemed fitting as the biggest show of the year in Iowa is the Capital City Show and Swap Meet February 14th-15th at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. Alicia will be on hand to sign copies of the magazine at the show so don’t miss it!
I don’t know if I am just not aging well, or if I am just getting tired of it, but this winter seems to be dragging on. I know that I should not gripe, as we did have a longer and nicer than normal fall, but the cold seems to drill down into your bones, your soul, and riding mentality. I get out and about on two wheels about every chance I get in the winter, but it has been sparse this year. On the plus side, as we are gearing up for February, spring is not far away, and there is light at the end of the tunnel. Riding season 2015 will be upon us before we know it, so get the winter projects completed, make sure the bikes are ready to ride, and hold on for a short while longer. One of my wintertime rituals at first seemed to get me a lot of shit from Melanie, as she did not really understand when it first got cold out this winter and I said I had to go check on the “girls”. I do not have the luxury of a heated storage area, so I worry about them out in the garage all cold and shivering. I know they cannot physically shiver, but they have to in spirit at least. I go out a few times a week to make sure the tender is charging the batteries, the tires are good, there are no new leaks, that they are still there safe,
healthy, and happy, pet the seats a little bit to soothe them, and then wish them sweet dreams. Motorcycles are people too and we have to take care of them! As the winter has drug on, Melanie has been missing the wind as well and now better understands why I go through this ritual with the “girls” on a regular basis. Nothing like motorcycles and the cold ldd Iowa weather h to bring a couple closer together and understand one another on a higher level. February follows up with another thicker magazine just like in January. This is due to the sponsors of Thunder Roads Magazine of Iowa, and we could not make this happen every month without them. We love how the biker world loves and supports us, so we ask that when you are out and about, you support those in the TRMI Biker Friendly Network. Those sponsors are listed every month on pages 10-13. They are separated into sections by type so easily accessed. These are the sites that get magazines first when they come out, and are guaranteed delivery every month. If you know of any places that would want to support the magazine and get copies every month, holler at one of us on the staff list on page three. Thanks for being a part of the magazine that is About Iowa, For Iowa, and From Iowa. In the winter it sometimes gets hard to find things to do. It is not that there isn’t anything to do in February in Iowa with the biker scene, but still very sparse on the ability to ride. The shows and swap meets are the only recourse for hanging out with other biker types, so hit up the shows, get you some parts at the swap meets, and winter mingle with those other Iowa bikers that are pent up along with us. I always look forward to seeing the new stuff available, the recent builds, and trying to find some more cool office decorations. Riding season will be here before we know it, so hang in there. See you at the shows! Vernon “You build on failure. You use it as a stepping stone. Close the door on the past. You don’t try to forget the mistakes, but you don’t dwell on it. You don’t let it have any of your energy, or any of your time, or any of your space.” Johnny Cash
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I moved back to ride... is what I tell people when they ask why on earth I would leave the island of Key West. There’s only one road off that island, and I’ve got a passion for open roads and fields on crisp fall mornings. I’m a part time designer for Thunder Roads Magazine; I joined with the magazine about 2 years back, looking for a way to support motorcycle riding locally. I got hooked up with the magazine, met Vernon at Rumble in the Stalks and went from there. I’d do odds and ends jobs whenever they pop up, or redesign something that’s been the same for a long time. I’ve got a vintage flare to my work, so if it looks vintage, it’s probably something I did. I love the magazine, and working for it, being able to put time into something that I believe in and that supports riding in Iowa.
shops and old garage built bikes, we’ve a grass roots style company, doing every piece by hand. If you’re out at the Midwest Motorcycle Show in February, check Moto 76 out as we’ll be unveiling our first entire line. As for this coming year in Iowa, I’ll be at as many shows as possible, and if all goes well, promoting the hell out of our clothing company. My goal is to be able to run the company and travel all the shows in the Midwest to show the brand, support riding and striving to live the dream! Jack Randleman jackrandleman@hotmail.com
I grew up riding dirt bikes in the country, and racing through the old quarries outside of Jefferson and along the river with my dad are some of my fondest memories. For years, most weekends, my dad, two sisters and myself would load up the bikes into our old truck and head out to ride and explore. I broke my back on a jump later on, but never really slowed down from riding dirt bikes. Then after college, I bought a CB550 that I turned into a cafe racer and after returning from Key West in the summer, bought a mean looking SX650 bobber with an old Husqvarna dirt bike tank. I’ve put so many miles on that bobber since I got back to Iowa, taking rides as often as possible to make up for lost time. I’m a full time designer, and freelance 20-40 hours a week, but still find time to ride, whether its early morning runs for coffee, or a late night run in the freezing cold. I take trips most weekends, nothing big as my work keeps me busy. But even a short ride is a ride for me. As a graphic designer, I’ve kept my passion for motorcycles at the heart of it, working mostly fashion; I designed a line of clothing for Struthers Brothers in Des Moines, and have worked with motorcycle companies from all over the country. I do a lot of work for both motorcycle and hot rod clubs, using it as both a creative outlet and a way to pay homage to my father’s passion for anything gearhead. I’m now working with a good friend to launch our own motorcycle clothing line. Inspired by vintage speed
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CMA Notes
The holidays and hunting season are over and even though we have snow up to our shift levers it’s time to think bikes. We have several great opportunities in the first quarter of 2015 for swap meets and bike shows in and around Iowa and we are planning on getting around to as many as possible. I thoroughly enjoy seeing everyone and am always on the lookout for that elusive part - though anyone that has seen my old bike would expect me to find my parts at the taxidermist’s instead. My Road King is part rat bike and part road kill. It has white tail and elk antlers, buffalo and buckskin, python and rattlesnake, some custom paint by Sue Hopper and a few-hand knapped arrowheads thrown in. Of course it is all tastefully done, at least to my way of thinking, if to no one else (many so-called friends included). Everyone else seems to get chrome and go to the bike shops; I get new dead animal parts and have mine serviced at the veterinarian’s. Also, with the new quarter come new CMA chapter officers and meetings to prepare for the year’s activities. I was looking over some internet bike safety videos for our upcoming Officers’ Training, specifically the Road Captain’s class, and am continually amazed at the amount of great information we all have access to. It struck me that even though we all have the info available that if we don’t put it into practice it doesn’t really do us any good. It’s like the person that wants to ride, reads all the books but never throws that leg over the bike. They stop short of the completeness of the experience, the joy of riding and all the other unique things that go with it. The desire first drives us to learn and then that desire becomes reality if and when we go and do. But we have to go and do. Likewise we can read our Bibles but unless we first ask God to make it real to us and then we act on it, we miss out on the fullness of what God has provided for us. Jesus is not just truth for head knowledge but truth for transformation of the heart. The book of James tells us to not just be hearers of the Word but doers also. This life is full of burdens and constant issues that we can’t handle in our own wisdom or strength. But Jesus can. He dramatically changes lives when first we acknowledge what He did in coming to earth and sacrificing on the cross and then we act on it by asking Him to be our Lord and Savior. The book of Romans states: “All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” We don’t always succeed but He will make up the difference when we try to live life according to His purpose. Ultimately it brings fulfillment and peace as well as freeing us to be who we are supposed to be. Blessings, Mark Mark & Karla Cornick are Area Reps with the Christian Motorcyclists Association. Find out more about CMA and God’s plan for you at www. cmausa.org .
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The Biker Friendly Business Directory is a list of establishments throughout Iowa that sponsor the magazine. You can pick up your copy here every month. Let them know that you saw them in TRMI. If your business would like to advertise in Thunder Roads Iowa Biker Friendly Business Listing and become a part of the network, please email vernon@ thunderroadsiowa.com
Dubuque Harley-Davidson 145 N Crescent Rdg Dubuque, IA 52003 563-557-3735 www.dubuqueharley-davidson.com
R/J Performance HWY 63 North Ottumwa, Iowa 52501 641.684.8400 www.rjperformance.com
National Motorcycle Museum 102 Chamber Drive Anamosa, Iowa 52205 319-462-3925 Nationalmcmuseum.org
Ernie’s Harley-Davidson 2613 Hwy 18 East Algona, IA 50511 515-295-7951 www.erniesharley.com
Uptown Motors Sales, Inc 310 Cleveland St Muscatine, IA 52761 563-263-2944 www.uptownmotorsales.com
National Sprint Car Hall of Fame/Museum
Fenders Cycle and Motorsport 1109 E Army Post Road Des Moines, Iowa 50315 515-256-9062 www.fenderscycle.com
Werner Cycle Works 14410 Frontier Road Exit 440 I-80 Omaha, NE 68138 402-894-3050 www.wernercycleworks.com
Okoboji Classic Cars Museum and Restoration Shop 810 Jeppeson Road West Okoboji, Iowa 51351 712-332-8029
CoolBikerStuff.com 1606 P Avenue Milford, Iowa 51351 877-816-2200 Follow us on Facebook!!
Fenders Honda 100 South 16th Street Ames, Iowa 50010 info@fendershonda.com 515-233-4727
Whipp Sales and Service, Inc 701 S 8th Street Clarinda, Iowa 51632 1.800.477.0195 www.whippsalesandserv.com
Food and Drink
Crispy’s Biker Apparel Cedar Rapids, Iowa Find Us On Facebook 319-241-0916
Leer’s Cycle Center 101 Fletcher Avenue Waterloo, Iowa 50701 1-800-870-6058 www.leerscyclecenter.com
Wiebler’s Harley-Davidson 5320 Corporate Park Drive Davenport, IA 52807 563-355-6437 www.wieblers.com
Metro Harley-Davidson 2415 Westdale Drive SW Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52404 319-362-9496 www.metro-motorsports.com
Zylstra Harley-Davidson 1930 E 13th Street Ames, Iowa 50010 515-232-6223 zylstrahd.com
Biker Accessories
Dealers Baxter Cycle 311 4th Street Marne, Iowa 51552 712-781-2351 www.baxtercycle.com Brenny’s Motorcycle Clinic 4426 State Street Bettendorf, IA 52722 (563)359-7222 www.BRENNYS.com Carroll Cycle Center 1327 Plaza Dr Carroll, Iowa 712-792-1610 www.carrollcycle.com
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Nishna Valley Cycle HONDA – YAMAHA – KTM Atlantic, Iowa 50022 1-888-577-6406 www.nishnavalleycycle.com Okoboji Harley-Davidson 1005 Eastview Avenue Okoboji IA, 51355 712-332-7700 www.erniesharley.com
Entertainment Book Em Dano’s 33 S Main Street Denison, Iowa 51442 712-263-9818Mon-Sat 4-2 Dancers Nightly 5-1:30 Celebrations DJ & Karaoke Services Newton, IA 641-521-8036 Any Occasion or EventCelebrationsdjiowa.com Facebook/Ray Johansen
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One Sprint Capital Place Knoxville, Iowa 50138-0542 www.sprintcarhof.com 641-842-6176
4 Way Good Eats Where Friends Meet Wed - Sun 7 a.m. to close Luxemburg, IA. 563-853-3451 Full menu of All Homemade Goodness!
411 Main/Rocket Joe’s 411 Main Street Griswold, Iowa 51535 712-778-4111 FB 411 Main Street Bar & Rocket Joes Barney’s 203 S Mill Street Wadena, Iowa 52169 563-774-2525 Barney’s Wadena on Facebook Baxa’s Sutliff Store & Tavern 5546 130th Street NE Lisbon 319-624-2204 Cold Beer, Delicious Food, Good Music & Great Times!
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Bikerz 313 Main Ave. ClearLake, IA 50428 641-440-4255 Noon-2am 7 days a week
Cede’s Bark Bistro 519 W. Main St. Sac City, IA 50583 712-662-8072 2 Wheel Thursday $2 Beers
Durango Depot 736 Burtons Furnace Road Open 3 to close Best Scenic Road With the Best Food! 563-552-2291
Huffy’s Mule Barn 802 Main Street Anita, Iowa 50020 712-762-9995 www.huffysmulebarn.com
Breezy Hills Winery 31735 Tamarack Rd. Minden, IA 51553 712-485-2083 www.breezyhills.com
Chopper’s 601 Rhomberg Avenue Dubuque, Iowa 52001 563-556-9666 Open Noon-Close 365/Year
Ferg’s Bar & Grill 806 Hwy 30 Grand Junction, Iowa 50107 515-738-5416 Where Good Friends Meet
Iron Saddle Saloon 39 S Main Street Dayton, Iowa 50530 515-547-3311
Broken Throttle Saloon 621 Highway K45 Whiting, Iowa 712-455-1096 We are on Facebook
Coon’s Corner 302 Front Street Neola, Iowa 51559 712-485-2068 Coon’s Corner on Facebook
Fro’s Pub ‘N Grub 309 Cedar St, Wilton 563-732-3977 Fro›s Pub n Grub on Facebook A Surprise Around Every Corner
Buck Snort 113 4th Street Neola, Iowa 51559 712-485-9090 The Buck Snort on Facebook
Dam Riverview Sports Bar The Rivers Closest Watering Hole Guttenburg, IA 563-252-4400 Unbeatable Views, Drinks, & Food!! Enjoy our Deck over The River!!
George And Dales Bar & Grill Downtown East Dubuque,IL Open 11 am 7 days a week Wed Bike Night 815-747-8810
C&L Sandbar 103 North Noyes Street Mondamin, IA 51557 712-646-2300 or 712-216-0975 Hours Daily 11-close
Desperados 105 E 5th Street Atlantic 712-243-7087 Home of Cold Beer, Good Times, Pizza & Wings
Cadillac Jack’s 106 Main Street Baxter, Iowa 50028 641-227-3611 Cadillac Jack’s on Facebook
Doc’s Roadhouse 309 East 7th Street Logan, Iowa 51543 712-644-3636 Open 365-8 am to Close
Captains Quarters 807 Main Adel, Iowa 50003 M-F 2-12, Sat 10-2, Sun 12-12 515-993-4417
Dolly’s Bar & Grill 109 N. Pine Street Auburn, Iowa 51433 712-688-2220
Catfish Charlie’s On the Mississippi River 1630 E. 16th Street Dubuque, IA 52001 (563)582-8600 www.CatfishCharliesDubuque.com
Come for the Food, Stay for the Scenery
Do Drop Inn 403 3rd Avenue Under the Water Tower Jamaica, Iowa 50128 515-314-0783
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J.R. Willie’s Gateway to the Beautiful Hill Country Colesburg, IA 563-856-5095 OPEN M-F 10AM S-S 7 AM Home of the Willie Whopper Keasey’s Hideaway Lounge 911 Court Street Adel, Iowa 50003 515-993-3001 Kelly’s Irish Pub & Eatery 563-344-0000 2222 E 53rd Street #10 Davenport, Iowa 52807
Good Sons 2815 Beaver Ave Ste 102 Des Moines, Iowa 515-681-5375
Great Food, Great Service, Great Atmosphere
Goozman›s Westside Bar & Grill Harlan, Iowa 712-755-2259 Goozman›s Westside on Facebook
Knickers Saloon 2186 Central Avenue Dubuque, Iowa 52001 563-557-0887 365 Days a Year Knickers Saloon on Facebook
Haverhill Social Club 202 1st Street Haverhill, Iowa 50120 641-475-3321 Mon-Sat 10-2, Sun 12-12
Knuckleheads Anamosa, IA 319-462-2724 The Knucklehead Burger “Git IT IN YA”
Hawkeye Bar & Grill 110 North 4th Street Mapleton, IA 51034 712-882-1226 Mon-Sat 10:30 a.m. ~ Sun 12:00 p.m.
Lampe’s Pub 608 Iowa Avenue Dunlap, Iowa 51529 712-643-5781 Open 7 days a week at 11 AM
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Los Altos Greenfield, Iowa 641-221-9081 Stuart, Iowa 515-523-8000 Story City, Iowa 515-733-1518 Midway Tavern 206 1st Street Soldier, Iowa 712-884-2230 www.midwaytavernsoldier.com Minden Bowl Café & Lounge 209 Broadway Street Minden, Iowa 51553 712-483-2937 Minden Bowl on Facebook Montgomery Street Pub 207 East Montgomery Street Creston, Iowa 50801 641-782-2165 Papa Joe’s 117 South 6th Street Missouri Valley, Iowa 51555 712-642-9015 Pearl Street Social Club 110 Pearl Street SW Shellsburg, Iowa 52332 319-436-7100 Find Us On Facebook! Pines Steakhouse Oinkers Lounge & Grill 1500 E 7th Street Atlantic, Iowa 50022 712-243-3606 M-F 11AM-, S-S 4PMPizza Ranch DENISON 510 HWY 39 North Denison, Iowa 712-393-3333 Check Us Out on Facebook Open 7 Days a Week Pizza Ranch HARLAN 613 Court Street Harlan, Iowa 51537 712-755-2262 Check Us Out on Facebook Open 7 Days a Week
Screaming Eagle American Bar & Grill 228 East 4th Street Waterloo, Iowa 50703 319-235-8865 www.partyattheeagle.com
The Onion Grove Bar & Grill 502 Lombard St, Clarence (563)452-3030 Check out our fun on Facebook!!
Woody’s Roadside Tavern 100 West Jefferson Albion, Iowa 50005 (641) 488-2220 Woody’s Roadside Tavern on Facebook
The Roadhouse 105 Washington Marne, Iowa 51552 712-781-2272 Home of the Marne Burger
Guns and Ammo
Shenanigans Pub-Dubuque 3203 Jackson Street Dubuque, Iowa 563-513-4001 Open 364 - 3 pm - 2 am
2A Firearms Training Training to Protect Your 2nd Ammendment Rights 641-439-6660 Craig.2aft@gmail.com
Sidetracked 206 West Union Street Creston, Iowa 50801 641-782-8534
The Sawmill Bar & Grill Now with a Full Menu 401 Main St New Market, IA 51646-3079 712-585-3601
Sportsman Bar & Grill 103 1st Street Pisgah, Iowa 51564 712-456-2222 FOOD, FUEL, FUN
The Wagon Wheel 521 E 7th Washington, Iowa 52353 319-653-3637 Wagon Wheel Tap on Facebook
Stumpy’s Bar & Grill 423 Main Street Duncombe, Iowa 50532 515-543-4222 Stumpy’s Bar & Grill on Facebook
T.J.’s Pourhouse 100 E. Washington Street Exira, Iowa 50076 712-268-2353 Open M-SAT.@11, SUN.@ NOON
The Detour Bar & Grill Good Food, Cold Beer, Hot Staff M-F 3:30 - 2:00, Wknds 12:00 - 2:00 Petersburg, IA (563) 875-7632 “By God, Lets Have One!!”
Tobey Jacks Mineola Steak House Mineola, Iowa 712-526-2078 Open 7 Days a Week Check Us Out on Facebook
Shooter’s Outlet 114 Main Street Arcadia, Iowa 51430 712-689-2772 Tues,Wed,Fri 9-5, Thurs 9-7, Sat 8-12 www.shootersoutlet.net
The Edge 3157 Joliet Avenue Missouri Valley, Iowa 51555 712-642-2229 The Edge on Facebook
Uncle Harley’s Bar & Grill 202 W Mayne, Blue Grass (563)381-1717 Great Pizza & Food Bikers ALWAYS Welcome
SR Gunsmithing AGI Certified Gunsmith Scott Rule Council Bluffs, IA 402-850-5787 scottrule@q.com
The Home Plate Diner 304 E. 30th Street Des Moines, Iowa 50317 515-262-7000
Vic’s Main Tap 304 Broadway Audubon, Iowa 50025 712-563-2122 Opens M-F 3, Sat 10, Sun 3
In sur ance
The Lewis Place 506 W Main Street Lewis, Iowa 51544 712-769-2290 Come Relax in the Beer Garden
Wilson’s Tap and Recreation 1008 Story Street Boone, Iowa 50036/ 515-433-1395
The Lounge 1005 Chatburn Ave Harlan, Iowa 51537 712-755-5050 The Lounge Harlan Iowa on Facebook
Woobies 134 W. Main St. New London, IA 52645 319-367-2211
Dales’ Guns Buy-Sell-Trade-Gunsmithing 109 Main Street Ute, Iowa 712-885-2671 rustyshot2000@yahoo.com Locked and Loaded Outfitters 612 Market Street Harlan, Iowa 51537 712-235-4867 www.LockedandLoadedOutfitters.com
Matt McCall Insurance Agency State Farm Insurance 102 East South St, Tipton 563-886-6120 www.mattmccall.net
Red Oak Tap 419 E. Reed Red Oak, Iowa 51566 712-623-4788 Riverside Tavern 450 E Main St Lehigh, Iowa 50557 515-359-9998 Email:riversidetap@gmail.com Sambetti’s Bar and Grill 1430 2nd Avenue Des Moines, Iowa 50314 515-245-9780 Mon-Sat 11a-2a, Sun 11a-7p
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Legal Hupy and Abraham sc, pc Lawyers for Bikers 800.800.5678 Hupy.com IowaBikerLawyer.com Pete Leehey Law Firm, P.C. Riding and Defending Your Rights for Over 30 Years 977-209-9452
Photo and Art Ullrich Photography PO Box 1842 Clinton, Iowa 52733 563-243-8715 www.natanic.com
Services BCS Computers 100 Industrial Road Guthrie Center, Iowa 50115 641-747-3344 www.brubakercomputer.com Ben Franklin/Radio Shack 106 N Wilson Jefferson, Iowa 50129 515-386-4122 Hometownvarietyinc.com
River Street Auto - 118 River St. Iowa Falls - 641.648.5004 Motorcycle Tires & Auto Repairs We Fix Everything Except a Broken Heart
Butterfield’s M.C. Parts 8025 Blondo Street Omaha, NE 68134 402-391-3768
Scary Jerry’s Wedding Service 641-860-0575
Chuck’s Cycle Service and Repair 714 East 7th Street Washington, Iowa52353 319-461-5278
Sound and Service Bike/Car/Home Audio and TV 712 Quint Avenue Carroll, Iowa 51401 712-792-5403
Creative Concepts Collision 422 Market Street Harlan, Iowa 51537 712.755.2231
Southwest Iowa Sandblasting Mike Magers 65162 Oxford Rd Atlantic, Iowa 50022 712-249-3995
Custom Paint Specialists 2905 Delaware AvenueDes Moines, Iowa 50317 515-971-4579 Facebook.com/CPSpaint
Tame Your Mane at MY BARBER 7th & Fillmore, Davenport 563-322-8762 Biker Owned & Operated
Dead Heads Engineering, Fab, Repairs & Sales 426 Railway Street Gillett Grove, Iowa 51341 deadheadsmceng@gmail.com 712-835-3353
TVC Home Improvements Certified Lead Abatement Contractor
1422 Farnam Davenport, Iowa 52803 866-322-1754
Shops & Fabricators
Hoker Trucking NOW HIRING Dixon, Iowa Hokertucking.com 563-843-2763
Bent Wrench Cycles 911 7th Street Harlan, Iowa 51537 712-235-2453 Bent Wrench Cycles on Facebook
Peebles Plumbing & Heating Luxaire & Mitsu 613 Main Street Griswold, Iowa 51535 712-778-2417
Bob’s Atomic Garage 2850 16th Ave SW Cedar Rapids 319-200-4257 60+ Years of Experience In HD & American V-Twin Motors
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F & J Racing 701 N 3rd Ave Marshalltown, Iowa 50158 641-752-8651 www.fandjracing.com HetzStudio.com (563)263-2803 Muscatine, IA Full Custom Paint, Pinstriping & Airbrush
Nelson Machine & Forge General Machining, Ornamental Iron, Weld/Fab 70 Washington Street Marne, Iowa 51552 712-781-2220 Pike Run Services 320 Main Nichols, Iowa 52766 Shop 319-723-4244 Cell 319-330-4541 Revolution Cycles 120 South Main Street Baxter, Iowa 50028 641-507-9250 www.rev-ia.com Steffens Cycle Shop LLC 1311 E 7th Street Atlantic, Iowa 50022 712-243-3076M-F 9-5 Most Sat 9-12 Or Call Waderich’s Towing 420 S Main Street Denison, Iowa 51442 Phone 712-263-3687 Cell 712-263-9685 To buy ad space for your business or service in our directory, give us call at 712-249-5630 or email vernon@ thunderroadsiowa.com
Main Street Bikes and Trikes 522 Main Street Granville, Iowa 51022 712.727.3515 www.shopmsbt.com
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99 Counties to tour on the bike, 99 counties to tour, take one down, drive on around, 43 counties to tour on the bike. A few years back, a summer riding goal was to ride through each one of the counties of Iowa, and what was found was a wealth of interest and beauty. Each month I will revisit each county as a featured article. I will tell you about new things to see, places to ride, and give you a little spark of touring curiosity for our state of Iowa. Linn County Iowa People, people and more great people that is what I found in Linn County Iowa. It amazed me how many dedicated riders I ran into. Moms, Dads, kids, wives, husbands, grandmothers, business owners, blue collar men in uniform and about every other kind of rider you could run across. A little about Linn County to start us off, Linn County is located on the eastern side of the state about half way up from north to south. It is an older county having been settled in 1839 and named after the Missouri senator, Lewis Linn. Linn County is also a little bit bigger than a good share of our counties taking up 725 square miles of rich, black Iowa dirt! The county seat is in Cedar Rapids and there are more little towns surrounding it then you can shake a stick at, I took some time and focused in on a few of them and it was well worth the time!
mothers and grandmothers turned out to be riders! Their entire families ride! We chatted for a while and then it was time to skitter off down the road. D62 D took me m through a few other burgs b and on to Hwy13. I headed h south a bit and saw a sign s for Paris. What girl W doesn’t want d to t say they have been to h Paris? I hung P a right on D66 and off I went to the major metropolis of Paris, Iowa, there was not a lot there but there was this great little bridge with beautiful Iowa scenery, worth the little detour.
I continued wandering and headed south on W58 for a bit, back east on E16 and tooled around bringing me into Central City. Growing up my grandparents had a cabin on the Wapsipinicon River near Independence, Iowa so while traveling through Central City I happened upon a bar called the Wapsi River W Bar B and Grill. I mean, how could I not stop? c As A it turned out o the place was w closed, I entered Linn County in a cage from the northwest however h there corner on county road D62 and came to the little was w someone burg of Walker. I was drawn in by a businesses sign inside in so I went advertising groceries and a flower shop. That’s the to t the door. I thing about little towns, businesses often do double was w graciously duty. When I entered the little building I no longer let l in and the found groceries but I did find lots of flowers and two owner arrived a few moments later. As it turned out great Karen, the proprietor was a rider herself! Had been for ladies l la most of her adult life. So not only is the Wapsi River Bar talking t and Grill owned and run by women they are women about a their riders! Just for the holidays, h record, they are welcoming w open almost all of to t a the time, 6AM for strange s breakfast until 2AM lady la with most nights. the th biker magazine. m An interesting point As A luck about this county is would w have that not all the road it these two signs are on their suburban s own poles. Some are looking lo on telephone poles Thunder Roads Magazine Maagaazi zine n of ne of Io Iowa owa wa on on Facebook Face Fa c bo ce book okk www.thunderroadsiowa.com www ww w th hun unde derr de 1188 - TRMI TRMI RM MI FEBRUARY FEBR FE BR RUA UARY R 22015 RY 0 5 01
ssome are on a corner c ffence posts p and the a names n of roads o change c quite q often. o
Thankfully I was given “locals directions” to my next stop. I headed east out of Central City and turned right at “Silvers Corners” and headed south down this great road! There are so many rivers through the northeast corner of the county, they make for great riding. I eventually found a road sign and figured out that I was on X20 and decided to take it for a while south. As I was approaching the community of Mount Vernon I pulled off to take a landscape picture and, true to form, up rolls a Linn County deputy. The tall, good looking officer turned out to be a new rider and called his buddy who was a veteran rider to sit down in his garage to chat with me. At this point I am thinking to myself, self, call Pinky so someone knows where you are going, just in case this really nice officer turns out to be a grade A psycho. As it turned out both gentlemen were just that, GENTLEMEN! The friend has a great collection of bikes! He was recently married and got his new wife into riding along with her growing kids. Teenage boys riding necessitated many rides through Cornell College in Mount Vernon. Not only is it absolutely beautiful but there are lot’s of girls to look at. Cornell College is almost as old as Linn County having been established in 1853! The friend told me about one of his favorite places to ride in the county and it is a state park just west on Hwy 30 called Palisades Kepler. It is almost a five-mile ride to get back down to the river and is well worth it! My day was getting long and believe it or not my jaw was tired from all the talking, it was time for me to start heading west towards home. I would be remiss if I did not mention a few of our fine sponsors from Linn County. Bob’s Atomic Garage in Cedar Rapids can take care of all of your HD and American V-twin bike repair and rebuild needs, while over at Metro HD they will be happy as clams to sell you a new one! If you ever find yourself on the wrong side of a tall, good looking county deputy, reach out to the Pete Leehey Law Firm P.C. or the Hupy and Abraham, S.C. Firm. Both can take care of your litigation needs anywhere across the state! Next month I am back in Eastern Iowa on a walkabout through Louisa County. I wonder what it has in store for me? Sources Available Upon Request DRing dring@thunderroadsiowa.com dr d in
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Died in the Saddle I often find myself asking the question “what if…?” What if forks weren’t called forks? What if no one had invented drinking straws? Who sat down and actually decided that toilet paper was a necessity, not just a luxury? And what did their friends and family think and say when these ese inventors announced their fabulous plans to o change the world one convenience ce item at a time? I’m sure that Martin in Cooper’s wife probably thought to herself “What in the hell is he thinking??” when he shared his idea in 1973 to revolutionize the world with the modern day cell phone…but we all know how that turned out for him. So this thought process has lead me to the following question… Who Wh in the hell sat down and looked at their bicycle, and with what I assume was complete and utter disappointment in its slow moving, two wheeled existence and said…”I can make that bitch fly!” Well that person just happened to be a Massachusetts born son of a carpenter, named Sylvester Howard Roper. Roper made his living as a machinist in Boston, but began inventing at an early age. By the age of twelve he had constructed a small stationary engine, and at only fourteen a locomotive engine. Roper continued to invent throughout his life, including guns, sewing machines, and finally steam powered carriages and bicycles. You may be saying to yourself, a steam powered bicycle is not a motorcycle, but I believe it is clearly a predecessor to our modern day two wheeled objects of affection. Riding on two wheels began with a primitive push bike on which the rider sat, but there were no pedals. The rider propelled himself forward by pushing his/her feet on the ground (a Flintstone’s bike if you will). Next came the high wheelers with a huge front wheel and a small rear wheel, and nearly impossible to ride. Finally came the “safety bicycle”. Quite the invention in and of itself considering it had wheels of equal size, as well as a set of pedals to drive the rear wheel through a chain linkage.
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The evolution of two wheel travel continued and it became a common means of personal transportation. Later it would come to be seen as a “racing” vehicle, so of course it wouldn’t be long until someone looked at the bicycle and knew that it had a higher purpose. An evolutionary need to be better, and by better of course I mean faster. I like to imagine that Roper arrived home after a long day to his little inventors shop out back, tired inven after a long day, and an even longer ride home on his bicycle. He sits down with bi a cold one and stares at his two tw wheeler…”stupid bike anyway. No worldly reason a it should take me so long to get home each night. Keeps me from working on the things I love.” Then it hits him…the light bulb moment…”I’m gonna make m this th SOB fly!” Fast forward through hours and hours of thro painstaking disappointment and doubt to the design that actually works, and Ta-Daa! The first motorcycle is born. The year is 1869, and the world was about to change. History states that when Roper began riding his two wheeled contraption it was not well received. It apparently spooked horses, and was loud, as well as emitting a noxious odor when he rode through town. Rumor has it, he was actually arrested once for riding it, but had to be released when it was determined they could not find any laws he was actually breaking….and the modern day biker was born. Interestingly, this first model anticipated many modern motorcycle features. Roper used one steam cylinder of 2 ¼” bore by 2 ½” stroke to either side of the frame behind the seat and connected piston rods to cranks on the rear wheel axle. A firebox and boiler were suspended on springs attached to the hickory wood frame between the wheels. Piston valves for the cylinders were operated by eccentrics adjacent to their cranks, and the water pump was operated by the left-cylinder crank. Exhaust steam was carried via tubing into a short chimney projecting up from behind the saddle. A coal fire heated the water stored in a reservoir that was constructed as a part of the seat and generated
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steam to run the engine.
the accident itself, but rather heart failure. I While this model utilized a twisting hand grip to don’t know about you, serve as throttle control, and also had a cable that but seems to me he was attached to the handlebars to allow for breaking, must have died a happy it was still quite primitive in design. The operating man. temperature was nearly 300 degrees Fahrenheit between the rider’s legs, and the travel distance was Both of Roper’s steam extremely limited. A second model Roper designed powered motorbikes later boasted a one gallon water reservoir and were purchased ht miles in by museums… allowed for rides up to eight the original ste length. steam powered bike d June 1st, 1896 Roper would still residing at th the e Smithson showcase this model at the Smithsonian. Whi Charles River bicycle While R racetrack in Boston. The Roper’s idea was to test the motorcycles viability as a pace-making machine for bike races. Initially Roper covered a mile in 2 minutes and 12 seconds… m that’s roughly 30 miles per motorcycles never found com hour. Elated by his results, 70 commercial success, they surely year old Roper apparently got that old provided a source of inspiration feeling again, and decided he could definitely go and direction for inventors in the gas-powered faster. Flying around the 1/3 mile wooden track motorbike era. Speaking of the gas-powered era….I he lost control on the back stretch and was thrown wonder what possessed Daimler to put that first gas from his bike into the surrounding sand. Sylvester engine on his old wooden bike… Howard Roper was pronounced dead at the scene, but later it was determined it was not a result of Melanie Schwarte Thunder Roads Magazine of Iowa on Facebook
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Bikers of Iowa beware, February is headed our way. This month is marketed to the general public as the month of love. As an Iowa biker practicing celibacy, it’s really hard to find anything to love
spare parts bin and see if you have any forgotten items that could be installed. I’d like to believe that I’m not the only one that treats spare parts like a relationship. They come into our lives with good
about this intentions month. However, it does and end up getting bring a slight grin to the face to think of tossed aside and forgotten about. February as the official hump month of the off season. We have survived December and January, if we make it Next on the survival list is to hit up a few swap meets through February and March, everything will be right in and bike shows. These trips can be refreshing during the world once again. the off season. It’s a good place to conjure up some creative modifications, create a relationship with more In order to survive the off season, I have laid out some spare parts, improve your vision with a little eye candy, biker related plans that should aide the negative effects fist bump a few riding buddies and exaggerate last years of celibacy during hump month. riding stories. It also makes for good bragging rights, you can tell everyone how you spent hump month First off its time for bike modifications, time to fire up fondling and drooling over another biker’s junk. some heat in the man cave, turn on some tunes, bust out the wrenches and get busy. Now is a great time to If you’re heading out to a swap meet or bike show, you get those modifications done to the bike. Whether it is might as well enjoy the adventure. It’s a good time handlebars, more power, better paint or fancy wheels to make your way off the beaten path to scout out the when it is too cold for riding, wrenching is the next best back roads of Iowa searching for new riding routes. thing. If you get busy with the modifications now, when Of course a new route means it is also necessary to the first warm enough for riding day finally arrives you find fuel stops, watering holes and eating joints. If can get out on the road to share the stories of what you you stumble on to some great routes or cool places to accomplished during hump month. Spending some time stop, submit a story about your adventure and it might in the garage alone also provides just get published. After all we an opportunity to practice your don’t want any fellow riders to dance moves while no one is starve to death or be stricken with watching. Let’s be honest, we dehydration while traveling the have all seen some moves at back roads of Iowa. rallies that could use a lot more practice or a lot less liquor. Another good way to occupy some If modifications aren’t in the down time during the off season immediate budget at least spend is to hit up a custom car show. some time fondling the pages Maybe cool cars aren’t a turn on of your favorite parts catalog or for all bikers but anytime that we searching for the perfect items spend making sure that the cage that you hope to acquire in the drivers see us, is time well spent. future. Day dreaming about bike modifications has got to be more Last but not least rub antifreeze fulfilling than being confined to over all your important body parts the house wondering what moron and ride anyway. nicknamed the television, the boob tube. Obviously a biker Stay Warm! didn’t come up with this nickname or we would thoroughly enjoy Shifty LaRue sitting and staring at it for hours. If all else fails dig through the 22 - TRMI FEBRUARY 2015
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Alicia Seifert graces the cover and calendar for this February issue. She is sitting on Corey Myers’ 2002 FXD Painted by Chris Cope at CPS in Des Moines. We found this site in downtown Des Moines and thought a bikini, snow, and ice would go well together. Alicia was sure HOT enough to pull it off. Come see her at the Capital City Show and Swap Meet on February 14-15th at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.
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Alicia was sure HOT enough to pull it off. Come see her at the Capital City Show and Swap Meet on February 14-15th at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. March 2015 M T W T F 2 3 4 5 6 9 10 11 12 13 16 17 18 19 20 23 24 25 26 27 30 31 S 7 14 21 28
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TR T RMI FEBRUARY FEB E RUARY 2015 - 27 TRMI
Here I go Again. . . .
glad it runs in the family.
This issue in Iowa boils down to a simple one- the obstructed vision law is simply not being enforced. I ran background checks for a number of years on people for So, here I go again a living. Out of all of the thousands of Iowa arrests and writing about my citations I researched, I saw Obstructed Vision citations less favorite favor motorcycle safety than five times. No shit. That is totally unacceptable. There topic- get getting rid of obstructed is language on the placard that explains that it is not legal motorist’s w windshields. I’m writing to drive with this hanging from the mirror. Unfortunately, about this right now for a number of it’s buried in a long paragraph, and I had to read it closely important reasonsto even see it. For comparison, I will once again provide 1. It’s winter, we aren’t riding anyhow, what a wonderful a picture of a handicap parking placard from Arizona, time to work on a campaign that makes us all safer. where it is clearly marked near the hook- “Remove from 2. It’s a problem that’s not going away without effort on our mirror before operating vehicle” Personally, I think people part. simply get the placards in the mail from the Iowa DOT, 3. It’s a very winnable cause for Iowa riders. The laws are open the envelope, and practice “monkey see, monkey do”. already in place. Everybody else just hangs it up there on the mirror and 4. It’s just one of those no-brainer, everybody wins kind of drives with it, that must be what I am supposed to do too. issues. I’d truly love to see the packaging these come with, because somebody is dropping the ball when it comes to informing So, to recap, I last wrote about this issue in the April 2014 recipients of the proper use of this device. I’ve gone so far issue of TRMI in an article called “Stop blocking me as to confront people parking their cars when I saw them out”. If you didn’t read it, are new to TRMI, or just need a driving with the sign on their mirror, and asked them if they reminder, well you’ve come knew it was illegal to drive to the right place. Here’s the like that. Most answers came issue in a nutshell- it’s illegal from two camps- some had in Iowa to operate a motor no idea at all it wasn’t legal, vehicle with “obstructed or the second, and more vision”- this means it’s troubling- “Nobody cares if illegal to have things in your we do anyhow”. Well, I care. car that prevent you from And make no mistake, this is seeing everything you can an Iowa issue, and we can fix out of your windshield. It it. Try driving in Minnesota is also illegal to operate a with anything blocking your motor vehicle in Iowa with vision, and you will get a handicap placard hanging pulled over, period. They from the rear-view mirror. have a law too, they just This fact might surprise you, actively enforce it. given the number of cars you meet on the road every day So how can we fix this? To that have one hung from the me, it’s going to take the mirror while underway. In following: a 10 mile drive just today, I counted the cars I met that 1.Ask your local Sheriff or were in violation of these two rules of the road. I met 8 Police Chief why more motorists aren’t cited for illegal use cars with a handicap placard on the mirror, and 6 with what of the placard, or all the junk they hang on their mirrors. I would consider to be just too much crap hanging on the Ask them since it’s a law, why isn’t it enforced? Lord knows mirror. I might add it wasn’t a very busy road, and I only you let us know when you think our pipes are too loud. met a total of roughly 75 cars. Those are not good odds. 2.Ask your local legislator why item #1 is happening. It’s It means that roughly 20% of the cars on the road have no already a state law, so perhaps tougher penalties should be hope of seeing you on a bike under certain circumstances. enacted. It’s working in Minnesota. It can’t be that hard to That’s scary. We need to fix this. We at MAG (Motorcycle accomplish. Awareness Group) are dedicated to a campaign to get things 3.Take everything off of your own mirror. Really. Unless (including the handicap placard) out of driver’s windshields you are parked, you don’t nee a damn thing hanging on so we can be better seen by all motorists. We aren’t simply there. focusing on the handicap placard, any number of cars you 4.Talk to people you see using the placard improperly, and see have an abundance of crap hanging from the mirror that find out where the break down in communication is- do you simply doesn’t belong there, and is illegal. And furthermore, really not know the law, or don’t you care? If they have a since that is a handicap parking permit, not a driving permit, bunch of crap on their mirror, ask them how they’d feel if it has absolutely no reason to be on the mirror while the they ran over a little kid because of it. vehicle is in motion. Simply rubber banding it to the visor 5.Get in touch with the Iowa DOT and ask them why they sideways and flipping it down when parked is how my dad find it necessary to bury the most important part of the suggests using it, which has the added benefit of insuring whole handicap sign (#THIS IS NOT FOR DRIVING) in it never gets lost. Not everybody is bright like my dad. I’m a long paragraph of legal mumbo jumbo? Why can’t we 28 - TRMI FEBRUARY 2015
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have a simple one that gets the point across so clearly like Arizona does? They have active message boards on the Iowa DOT web site, why not head over there and tell them how you feel about this issue? 6.Since we have Iowa handicap license plates, why do we even need the mirror hanger? I know it’s so they can move it from car to car, but how much of that actually happens? And really, why wouldn’t every driver want the opportunity to see better and avoid collisions? How can this even be a debate? Last summer while eating at a local establishment while out on bikes, our waitress and our table of riders got into a discussion about motorcycle safety. She went on to basically quote, word for word, my April article from TRMI. She and her rider friends had read about this windshield issue, gotten together about it, and had sent a petition to the state complaining about it. That was absolutely music to my ears. This is working- we at MAG are just trying to share some common sense ideas that will hopefully keep everybody alive and safer on two wheels. Somebody had read this column and had acted on it. So a big thank you to Thunder Roads Magazine of Iowa is in order for this platform where we can accomplish this important goal of keeping every rider a little safer. Thanks and have a great off-season, see you out there in the spring! Mark Mullins, President, MAG.
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This month’s featured Military Rider is Tony Kramer. Following graduation from high school in Harlan, Iowa, Tony Kramer enlisted in the Army. He served a total of six years at Fort Bennington in Georgia, Fort Bragg in North Carolina, and Fort Riley in Kansas. In his six years of service he started as an 11C2P Airborne Infantry Mortar Gunner before switching to 74B, which is an Information Systems Operator/Analyst. Tony earned the rank of Sergeant E5 before his discharge.
collection contains a couple of frames whose futures are yet to be determined. As far as his bikes, nothing stays stock for very long, customizing bikes for himself and his customers is more than a job for Tony, it’s a passion. You just never know what he’s going to do next.
Tony comes from a family rich in military history. In addition to Tony, his uncle served and his grandfather is a veteran of the Korean War. Being veterans, Tony and his grandfather use their annual trips to the VA for checkups as a day to spend time together and have a little fun. These two make one hell of a pair together. Tony has been interested in motorcycles all of his life, toting a book entitled “The Mouse and His Motorcycle” as a little boy. He carried it with him “just because there was a picture of a motorcycle on it”. Tony feels that motorcycles have been “in his blood forever”. A part of him that was never complete until he began working for Mike Wohlhutter six years ago. Working for Mike at Metal Ink in Harlan, Iowa allowed Tony the opportunity to make motorcycles his career, and start his personal collection of bikes, as well as a collection of parts that continues to grow. Tony’s bike collection has changed a lot over the last six years. He started with a 1980 Shovelhead that he tore apart with the intention of rebuilding. He “still has all the parts”, but has yet to finish that project. Then came a 1996 Fat boy that he instantly fell in love with and vowed never to sell…. then, like a summer fling, along came something better. That something better came in the form of a 2005 Electra glide that was brought to the shop for detailing, but never left. Thanks to “Joe the Banker” Tony now rides the Electra glide proudly, and the Fat boy has a proud new owner. In addition to the Shovelhead and Electra glide, Tony also has a rigid EVO, a 1981 Shovelhead, and a Twincam chopper that are in various stages of completion. Remember that impressive selection of parts I mentioned? Well part of that www.thunderroadsiowa.com 32 - TRMI FEBRUARY 2015
Despite the obvious fact that this man has a lot on his plate already, Tony was recently able to purchase the business in Harlan run by his mentor, Mike, and make it his own….Opening the doors of Bent Wrench Cycles in his familiar surroundings in Harlan, Iowa January 1st, 2015. Starting his own business will surely occupy a lot of his time, but Tony hopes to spend as much time as possible this riding season with friends, possibly a return trip to Sturgis… blowing off some steam from behind the bars. If you are in Harlan, stop by Bent Wrench Cycles, 911 7th Street, Harlan, Iowa and shake Tony’s hand, thank him for his service, and check out his shop! Thanks from all of us at TRMI Tony! Ride on! Melanie Schwarte
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The Otley Cat
1223 Otley Ave. P erry, IA 50220 515-465-4410 Mon-Thurs 11am-10pm (Kitchen closes at 9) Fri and Sat 11am-12am (Kitchen closes at 10) In a novel published posthumously (not entirely sure how that was accomplished...) in 1940 Thomas Wolfe states “You can’t go home again.” (which also happens to be the title of the book) I do understand why he waited until he was dead to publish the book... THAT’S THE BIGGEST LOAD OF HORSE PUCKY I’VE EVER HEARD!!!!!! Home is the ONE place you CAN go when you can’t go anywhere else!!!! In fact home is where Lynnette and I headed for this month’s article, Perry. (Ok, so I didn’t actually LIVE in Perry but that is where I spent all my elementary and high school years... and most of the rest of my time as well!) Just a half a block from where I had my first job (job meaning working for someone other than family) The Otley Cat is a restaurant/bar that replaced the Bally Hoo Lounge from back in the day. Having heard that the food there was great (thanks Bob) we stopped in for lunch. The first thing I noticed when we walked in was that the place seems a lot bigger inside than it looks from the outside! Self seating was no problem and menus were promptly produced by our friendly waitress. The lunch special was listed on a whiteboard stand at the end of the bar. That particular day the specials were Hot Beef and Chili Dogs. It was almost as though they knew we were coming!!!! Lynnette chose the Hot Beef and I went with the Chili Dogs (I know... you’re shocked... right?). Along with my dogs I chose a bowl of potato salad for my side. The plates arrived after a short wait and we were definitely NOT disappointed!!!! My 34 - TRMI FEBRUARY 2015
plate held two HUGE hot dogs in buns that were generously covered (or more appropriately SLATHERED!) with chili and a healthy covering of grated cheese. Next to this glorious pile lusciousness was the bowl of potato salad. Those that follow us should remember that I place a lot of value in the taste of an establishment’s potato salad. This bowl ranked very high on my approval list! Chunky, sweet and definitely home made!! My initial thought on the chili dogs was to pick them up and eat them. Well, it didn’t take me very long to determine that my fork should be the weapon of choice for this battle. You see, there was so much of this awesome chili over both dogs that I couldn’t distinguish one bun from the other. I dove in with great abandon and discovered dogs that were big enough so that there were not bites without a chunk of hot dog included!! Lynnette tied into her hot beef with reckless abandon and, in between moans of ecstasy, announced that I may have to finish this for her. I think I was successful in suppressing my excitement (ok, maybe not)! The beef was tender and done to perfection, the gravy was delicious and the potatoes... Let me explain something about mashed potatoes. You see I much prefer home made mashed taters over fake ones but if fake is all there is I’ll
survive. For Lynnette, fake taters in a hot beef may very well be a deal breaker!!! Let’s just suffice it to say that this deal was definitely NOT broken!!! Oh... I did end up having to finish for her (and YES it was AWESOME!!!) Our helpful waitress came by to check if we had left enough room for desert since the cake was home made as well. Those who know me know I always have room for desert... especially home made chocolate cake!!!! This was not just any cake, this was like the Taj Mahal of chocolate cake!!!! Thick, moist and delicious with thick layers of chocolate frosting! Even Lynnette managed to find a little extra space for some home made cake!!! The Otley Cat, home cooked food at it’s best! Like them on Facebook and keep up with special happenings they offer. With food like this you definitely can go home again and again and again!!! Until next month, ride safe and eat hearty! Craig Little craig@thunderroadsiowa.com PS If you have someplace you think we should check out in your neck of the woods, shoot me an email.
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One of the things on a motorcycle that I have seen neglected time and time again over the years are the tires. It is way too easy to just hop on and “assume� that all is well in the rubber world on your two and three wheelers. Tires can literally save you, or kill you, so we wanted to take a bit of time in the dead of winter to share some of the tire basics with you. Now you will have plenty of time before the riding season hits to check them out and get your tires up to snuff before heading out on your first trip. One of the most common things to blow off before going for a ride is the pre ride checklist. I am at times guilty of this as well because we just all want to hop on and ride. Taking a little extra time though can save you money, time, and possibly your life. First should be a good visual inspection of the tire for signs of damage, wear, and tread depth. If there is any sign of damage including any weather checking, the tire will need replaced before the ride. As far as tread depth, the minimum is 1/32nd of an inch. If your tires are worn excessively or damaged, they are dangerous to the rider, the passenger, and anyone else riding in your group. Worn tires are more likely to be damaged by road hazards and cause problems, so replacing them sooner than later is a good idea. Also, we end up riding in various conditions which can range from super-hot pavement to wet roads in the rain, or even sometimes snow and ice. The better shape your tires are in, the better chance of maintaining control, and making it home safely. Long distance highway riding can also cause issues with tires as it tends to flatten out the middle section of the tread path. This can affect cornering as tread depth decreases, so account for this when replacing your tires. Another thing to check out on the visual inspection is to make sure that wheel weights are still where they should be. If you have balancing beads this is not an issue, but for the most part those little stick on weights love to come off and change the balance of your wheels and your ride.
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they had the tire changed 4,000 miles ago. Depending upon the rider, it could have been two weeks or two years ago. Less than recommended tire pressure can cause major handling issues and make a bike almost uncontrollable. That is a terrible thing alone, as well as the increased wear on the tire and increased maintenance costs from premature tire failure. How much air should you run in your tires? The best bet is to go by the tire manufacturers recommendations. They are printed right on the side of the tire, Maximum pressure is based upon maximum loads, which means two up with bags and such loaded. You may need to adjust your pressures based upon your load that you carry, comfort, and handling. No two tires will be the same, but there is a range that they can run in safely and be adjusted for your desired effect. Under inflated tires will be damaged rather quickly, as well as exhibit terrible handling. Fuel economy will suffer and cracking of the rubber will occur due overheating of the tire. Overinflated tires can also cause major issues. Overinflated tires are more susceptible to cuts and punctures if you strike solid objects, pot holes, or debris in the road. Check your tire pressure cold, and replace the valve stem caps.
One of the next things to check out is the air pressure. Countless times I have been on rides with other folks and someone in the group has a drastically While you are looking around at the tires, check out the low tire. wheels as well. Look at your rims and make sure there is no Usually it ends up with sign of damage. If you have laced wheels, make sure that the spokes appear to be in good shape, and also have them a question checked occasionally for tightness. Harley has had some to them issues in the past few years with the contoured rims with about their spokes coming loose. Not a good thing to have happen at air pressure highway speeds. and they state it was Some things that you cannot see are the tubes if used. It is a good when Thunder Roads Magazine of Iowa on Facebook www.thunderroadsiowa.com
good idea to put in a new tube and rim strip when mounting tires on tube type rims. Old inner tubes can stretch and can get creases in them when mounting them inside a new tire. Make sure that the tube is the right size for the application, and not just the same size as what came off if it is a used bike. Sometimes people don’t pay the best attention, or don’t have the correct size available, so make sure to
designations on rubber type among things depending upon the manufacture. While it is still cold, check out your rubbers, wheels, spokes, and make sure you are ready to roll when the weather breaks. Ride Safe! Vernon
research the proper size. Storage options for the off season are pretty limited. It is not easy to just take them off and bring them in your house, but there are a few things that can be done to help prolong their useful lives. Try to keep them out of sunlight as that can degrade the rubber and cause weather checking. Oil, solvents, moisture, and extreme temperatures can also take their tolls on the rubber. If possible, taking the weight off the tires during winter storage can help keep them serviceable for a longer period. When you get a new set of tires, they have a slick exterior appearance to them. This is generally a protective film, or cleaner that has been applied at a retailer. This can be a little slippery at first, so take it easy for about the first 100 miles or so to run them in. This does not mean that you cannot corner, but until the new tires are run in, the slickness may cause you some problems. Try to avoid any sudden changes of speed or direction. Take corners, accelerating, and braking easy until the run in period is complete. The numerous sets of numbers and letters on the side of a tire can be quite confusing. Here is just a little bit of information for you to chew on. In the picture there is a 120/70ZR17 tire shown. The first number (120) is the width of the tire in millimeters. The (70) is the aspect ratio between the height and the width of the tire, which means that this tire is 70% as tall as it is wide. As far as the letters the (Z) is the speed rating, and the (R) indicates a radial tire. Speed ratings are variable per the type and design of the tire, and the (R) is one option, with a (B) for Bias ply the other option common on motorcycles. Another item on the sidewall is a designation for a (TT) or tube type, or (TL) for tubeless. Other designations on the tire can include things such as manufacture date codes, load ratings, and Thunder Roads Magazine of Iowa on Facebook
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Gretchen (Hoser) Wissink 2005 Deluxe-Recently Upgraded to a 2014 Street Glide Special Sioux Center
Virginia Kruse 2012 HD Heritage Classic Harlan
Melissa Doyl 1991 Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail Central City 38 - TRMI FEBRUARY 2015
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Q: What did the egg say to the boiling water? A: “I don’t think I can get hard -- I just got laid this morning!”
What W Wh aatt ddo you call two birds in love? Tweethearts!
A woman decided to have a face lift for her birthday. She spent $5000 and felt What do farmers give their wives on really good about the results. On her way Valentine’s Day? Hogs and kisses! home she stopped at a dress shop to look around. As she was leaving, she said to There was a biker who was getting the sales clerk, “I hope you don’t mind me ready to go on a long road trip. He asking, but how old do you think I am?” knew his wife was a flirtatious sort, so “About 35,”he replied. “I’m actually 47,” he thought he’d try to get her something the woman said, feeling really happy. After to keep her occupied while he was gone, that she went into McDonald’s for lunch because he didn’t much like the idea of her and asked the order taker the same question. screwing someone else. So he went to a store re H He replied, “Oh, you look about 29.” “I am that sold sex toys and started looking around. Hee actually 47!” she said, feeling really good. thought about a life-sized sex doll, but that was While standing at the bus stop she asked an too close to another man for him. He was browsing old man the same question. He replied, “I am through the dildos, looking for something special to please his 85 years old and my eyesight is going. But when I wife, and started talking to the old man behind the counter. was young there was a sure way of telling a woman’s age. If He explained his situation, the old man. “Well, I don’t really I put my hand up your skirt I will be able to tell your exact know of anything that will do the trick. We have vibrating age.” There was no one around, so the woman said, “What dildos, special attachments, and so on, but I don’t know of the hell?” and let him slip his hand up her skirt. After feeling anything that will keep her occupied for weeks, except …” around for a while, the old man said, “OK, You are 47.” said the old man, and then he stopped. “Except what?” asked Stunned, the woman said, “That was brilliant! How did you the biker? “Nothing, nothing,” said the old man. “C’mon, do that?” The old man replied, “I was behind you in line at tell me! I need something!” protested the biker. “Well, sir, I McDonald’s.” don’t usually mention this, but there is the ‘voodoo dick,’” the old man said. “So what’s up with this voodoo dick?” the What did the elephant say to his girlfriend? “I love you a ton!” biker asked. The old man reached under the counter, and pulled out an old wooden box carved with strange symbols. Mr. Bear and Mr. Rabbit live in the same forest, but they He opened it, and there lay a very ordinary-looking dildo. don’t like each other. One day, they come across a golden The biker laughed, and said, “Big fucking deal. It looks like frog who offers them three wishes each. Mr. Bear wishes every other dildo in this shop!” The old man said, “But you that all the other bears in the forest were female. Mr. Rabbit haven’t seen what it’ll do yet.” He pointed to a door and said wishes for a crash helmet. Mr. Bear’s second wish is that all “Voodoo dick, the door.” The voodoo dick rose out of its box, the bears in the neighboring forests were female as well. Mr. darted over to the door, and started screwing the keyhole. The Rabbit wishes for a motorcycle. Mr. Bear’s final wish is that whole door shook with the vibrations, and a crack developed all the other bears in the world were female, leaving him the down the middle. Before the door could split, the old man only male bear in the world. Mr. Rabbit revs the engine of said, “Voodoo dick, get back in your box!” The voodoo dick his motorcycle and says, “I wish that Mr. Bear was gay!” and stopped, floated back to the box and lay there, quiescent once rides off. more. The biker said, “I’ll take it!” The old man resisted and said it wasn’t for sale, but he finally surrendered to $700 Scientists have discovered a certain food that diminishes in cash. The guy took it home to his wife, told her it was a woman’s sex drive on Valentine’s Day by 90 percent.... a special dildo and that to use it, all she had to do was say, Wedding cake. “Voodoo dick, my pussy.” He left for his trip satisfied things would be fine while he was gone. After he’d been gone a Three rabbits escape from a testing lab and find an entire field few days, the wife was unbearably horny. She thought of full of carrots. They eat themselves into a stupor and sleep several people who would willingly satisfy her, but then throughout the night. The next morning, they find an entire she remembered the voodoo dick. She got it out, and said field full of female rabbits with no males in sight. They screw “Voodoo dick, my pussy!” The voodoo dick shot to her crotch themselves into a stupor and sleep throughout the night. The and started pumping. It was great, like nothing she’d ever next morning, the rabbits get to talking. “I’m gonna go back experienced before. After three orgasms, she decided she’d to that field of carrots,” says one. “I’m gonna go back to those had enough, and tried to pull it out, but it was stuck in her, still cute little rabbits,” says the second. “I’m going back to the thrusting. She tried and tried to get it out, but nothing worked. lab,” says the third. “I’m dying for a cigarette.” Her husband had forgotten to tell her how to shut it off. So she decided to go to the hospital to see if they could help. Jonny asked his friend, Tony, whether he had bought his wife She put her clothes on, got in the car and started to drive to anything for Valentine’s Day. ‘Yes, ‘came the answer from the hospital, quivering with every thrust of the dildo. On the Tony who was a bit of a chauvinist, ‘I’ve bought her a belt and way, another orgasm nearly made her swerve off the road, and a bag.’ ‘That was very kind of you,’Jonny added, ‘I hope she she was pulled over by a policeman. He asked for her license, appreciated the thought.’ Tony smiled as he replied, so do I, and then asked how much she’d had to drink. Gasping and and hopefully the vacuum cleaner will work better now.’ twitching, she explained that she hadn’t been drinking, but that a voodoo dick was stuck in her pussy, and wouldn’t stop screwing. The officer looked at her for a second, and then Happy Valentine’s Day, hope you all get some...... Chocolates said, “Yea, right. Voodoo dick, my ass!” that is 40 - TRMI FEBRUARY 2015
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You may have heard of the Motor Maids, a national motorcycle club for women. They sport royal blue shirts and crisp white vests with their state name and logo on the back, but have you heard of Margaret Wilson? Margaret was a Motor Maid and was Iowa’s iconic motorcycle rider, hall of famer, business owner, and inspiration to many. Motor Maids was an idea conceived by Linda Allen Dugeau and Dorothy “Dot” Robinson in 1941. Dot was the first president and held that position for more than 25 years. As a member of the Motor Maids, Dot logged up to 50,000 miles a year, promoting the club and encouraging women everywhere to ride their own motorcycle. It is estimated that she logged nearly 1.5 million miles on a motorcyle in her life. She was inducted into the American Motorcyclist Association Hall of Fame in 1998. Dot passed away at the age of 87 in 1999. You may not know it, but Iowa has it’s own “Dot”, so to speak. Margaret Wilson, a Wisconsin native who lived most of her life in Iowa, has done much for women motorcyclists. Her accomplishments and accolades are many. Margaret learned to ride on a 45 cubic inch Harley Davidson in 1946, with her husband sitting behind her. Her petite frame wouldn’t allow her feet to touch the ground when she came to a stop, so her husband put his feet on the pavement to steady the bike. After a time, Margaret was ready to ride solo. And ride she did! In 1950, she and her husband, Mike, opened Wilson’s Motorcycle Sales of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a Honda dealership. They shared the partnership in that business for 25 years. In 1951, Margaret became a member of the Motor Maids, for which she became a Golden Life Member because of her “over 50 years of active involvement, leadership and excellence in motorcycling”. She and her husband helped form the Corn State Riders Thunder Roads Magazine of Iowa on Facebook
Motorcycle club in the early 50s, where she served as secretary and road captain. That club had a Drill Team, on which she was the only female rider. Margaret is also a member of the American Motorcycle Association Hall of Fame, sharing the short list of women inductees with Dot Robinson. In 1958, Margaret was voted “America’s Most Popular and Typical Girl Rider” for 1958, given that distinction by all of the clubs in the American Motorcycle Association. The large trophy was always on display in her home. In 2011, she was inducted into the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame. In addition, she was also a recipient of the American Motorcycle Association Bessie Stringfield Award in 2003. In 2014, both she and her husband were awarded the 2014 AMA Dud Perkins Lifetime Achievement Award for their many years of service to the AMA. While Margaret may not have logged as many miles as Dot, she was not one to stay in one place! She put more than 550,000 miles on her bikes, traveling across the United States and Canada. In one year, she managed to visit 48 states and 9 provinces in Canada. Margaret and her husband both served on the Board of Directors of the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum. I had the privilege of meeting Margaret at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum in Anamosa in 2011. At the age of 95 or 96, she and her husband had ridden their motorcycles from Cedar Rapids to join other members of the Motor Maids for a special presentation of the Motor Maids exhibit. She was surrounded by fellow club members from across the country, all exchanging hugs and stories. She was a delightful woman, with her eyes that sparkled and an infectious smile. Sadly, Margaret Wilson passed away at her home in Cedar Rapids on July 23, 2014. This Motor Maid was a legend. Beginning in 1951, she began to change the image of a sport that had previously been recognized as primarily male dominant. For more information on Motor Maids, visit www.motormaids.org (Images from the National Motorcycle Museum. Other resources available upon request) Ride in peace, Margaret. Susan Mast
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they import American coal to power their power plants because it is the least expensive and most efficient fuel to use. At least here in America, air quality standards exist, not often the case elsewhere.
CONSPIRACY? Since we last talked by edict of our elected masters, the United States of America has decided to stop using coal as an energy source. This seems strange to me, especially considering that fact that within our borders are the largest coal reserves in the world. Because of this the hard-working folks that live in coal country are facing an unemployment rate of 20% or more. Fortunately, thanks to advances in technology (fracking), the U.S. is producing more natural gas than ever before, so conveniently natural gas is what the government bureaucracy has decided we should use to produce electricity. Like many, I use natural gas to heat my home. I was hoping that somehow this newly found resource would reduce my bill. I should have known that the government would have found a way to ‘suck up’ any extra money. OK, I get it; we want to use a cleaner fuel to help save mother earth. I’ll save the discussion about how insignificant human activity is when we consider the history of the planet. We’re just not that important. Besides, the last time I looked, China was located on the same planet as I am, and in China they burn anything. You can actually see the air there. The fact is
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I’m thinking that it might be time to not trust anything, follow the money and find out what is really going on. Has anyone noticed that it has been 2 years now since you could reliably find 22LR ammunition at the store, regardless of price? I’ve read all the theories about why, but it smells fishy. This is America, if there is money to be made someone is going to build a new factory for profit’s sake. The government has been unable to pass any new gun control legislation, but I believe that they are somehow controlling the ammunition supply. The present administration has time and time again revealed its disdain for nearly everything we all grew up believing was “American”. We have a president that doesn’t respect the Constitution and a gutless Congress that has been unwilling to do anything about it. I started my life being hopeful. Now I’ve come to realize that N to survive I need to be cynical, not really believe in anything. I believe what I see, and not much of what I’m told. I believe what I know, and one thing I know is that a new legislative session is underway in my state. Once again, someone who doesn’t know me can push a new law through that could change my life, unless I’m paying attention. We all need to get off the couch and do our job, make the calls, do the research, write a check and most importantly show up. It matters. ABATE of Iowa Lobby Day is Wednesday February 25th. Come to the State Capital Building at 7-7:30 am, meet and greet your representatives. It makes a difference. Questions or comments: peter@riderpromotions.com
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Jan 23-25 Rod and Custom Motorcycle and Car Show Rock Island, IL Jan 24 30th Southern Iowa Motorcycle Swap Meet Ottumwa Jan 25 35th Annual WIld Wades Swap Meet Des Moines Jan 31-Feb 1 Colorado Motorcycle Expo Denver, CO Feb 1 Parts Girl Promotions Swap Meet Rock Island IL Feb 6-8 J&P Int’l Motorcycle Show Minneapolis, MN Feb 7 24th Annual Metro HD Chili Cook-Off Cedar Rapids Feb 7 Big Boys Toy Show Cedar Rapids Feb 7 Brenny’s Motorcycle Clinic Customer Appreciation Bash Davenport Feb 13-15 J&P Int’l Motorcycle Show Chicago, IL Feb 13-15 World of Wheels Kansas City Feb 14-15 Capital City Show and Swap Des Moines Feb 20-22 29th Annual Lincoln Bike Show Lincoln, NE Feb 21-22 46th O’Reilly Rod & Custom Bike/Car Show Monticello Feb 25 ABATE of Iowa Lobby Day Des Moines Feb 27-Mar 1 World of Wheels Omaha, NE Feb 27-28 Omaha Chapter AMCA National Swap Meet Fremont NE Mar 7 Lazy Man’s Poker Run Newton Mar 8 Parts Girl Promotions Swap Meet Cedar Rapids Mar 6-15 Daytona Bike Week Daytona Beach Florida Mar 13-15 World of Wheels Chicago, IL Mar 14 Metro HD Garage Sale Cedar Rapids Mar 28-29 28th Annual Donnie Smith Bike Show St Paul, MN Apr 11-12 North Iowa Motorcycle Expo Mason City Apr 12 Hill Blazers Hill Climb Logan Apr 18 ABATE D4 Blessing of the Bikes & Chili Feed Des Moines Apr 18-19 Outlaw Street Drags Race Series Conesville Apr 24 Motorcycle Safety Forum IA Events Center, Des Moines Apr 25 Sleeping Angels Fun Run Boone Apr 25 ABATE D8 Two Wheel Trauma Alta May 2 International Female Ride Day Worldwide May 2 ABATE D14 Charity Ride/30th TGIS Party Washington May 9 F&J Racing 20th Annual Blessing of the Bikes Marshalltown May 16 Rosslyn’s Ride Anamosa May 22-24 Redneck Revival Conesville May 23 J.J. Bonnell Memorial Ride Fort Dodge
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May 23-24 Jun 6 Jun 13 Jun 15 Jun 18-20 Jun 20 Jun 20 Jun 20 Jun 20 Jun 20-21 Jun 27 Jun 27 Jun 27-28 Jun 28 Jul 2-4 Jul 10-12 Jul 10-12 Jul 11 Jul 30-Aug 1 Aug 3-9 Aug 8 Aug 15 Aug 22 Aug 23 Aug 29 Aug 29 Sep 4-6 Sep 5 Sep 5-6 Sep 11-13 Sep 12 Sep 12 Sep 19 Sep 19-20 Sep 23-26 Oct 17-18
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Midway Tavern Annual Fun Run, BBQ, Street Dance Soldier Carroll Cycle Center Rock N Ride Carroll 7th Annual Bell Tower Festival Poker Run & Show Jefferson National Ride your Motorcycle to Work Day 21st Annual Rally on the River QC Davenport Ernie’s Harley-Davidson 40th Anniversary Party Algona Vintage Rally and Bike Show Anamosa ABATE D14 31st Baldy Memorial Ride Fremont/What Cheer ABATE D14 30th District 14 Anniversary Party What Cheer Outlaw Street Drags Race Series Conesville 28th Iowa Iron Butt Ride Ottumwa Hawgs Dogs & Heroes Ride Waverly J&P Open House Anamosa Nishna Valley Wings of the G.W.T.A. Fun Run Emerson 31st Annual Freedom Rally Algona English River Outfitters Motorcycle Jamboree Brighton Combat Veterans Motorcycle Assoc. 39-3 Annual Benefit Elkport Goozman’s Westside Poker Run Harlan 8th Annual Across the Border Raid Bedford South Dakota Party AtlanticFest Ride In Bike Show Atlantic ABATE D8 Rider Ed Run Laurens ABATE of Iowa M.A.R.S. Eldora Iowa State Fair Motorcycle Day Des Moines Mighty Mississippi HOG MDA Hope Ride Dubuque HD Spydermania II Atlantic Redneck Revival Conesville 9th Annual Cedar County Heroes Memorial Ride Tipton Midway Tavern Soldier Valley Run BBQ, Street Dance Soldier Davis Motorcycle Rally New Hampton No Nipple Dipple Ride Buffalo Broken Spokes Ride For U of IA Children’s Hospital Davenport Waukee Legions Riders 7th Annual Toy Run Waukee Outlaw Street Drags Race Series Conesville Bikes Blues & BBQ Fayetteville, AR Outlaw Street Drags Race Series Conesville
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