July 2017

Mo

JULY

2017

tor cy cle u To rM ag azi ne Volume 23 No. 7

Motorcycles, Travel & Adventure

Total Control ARC On The Road to Aerostich The Worlds of Motorcycles Ride • Eat • Sleep • Discover

W H A T ’ S

I N S I D E

MO NT HLY C O L U M NS FREE WHEELIN’ ...........................................................4

26 Motorcycles, Travel & Adventure

WHATCHATHINKIN’ ....................................................5 POSTCARDS FROM THE HEDGE ...............................6 ON THE MARK .............................................................7

Publishers

Brian Rathjen • Shira Kamil

Contributors

Mark Byers, Bill Heald, Michael Delaney, DeeDee Ford Dr. Seymour O’Life

BACKLASH...................................................................9 INDUSTRY INFOBITES ..............................................11 GREAT ALL AMERICAN DINER RUN .......................16

Editorial Office BACKROADS, POB 317 Branchville NJ 07826

MYSTERIOUS AMERICA...........................................18 BIG CITY GETAWAY ..................................................20 WE’RE OUTTA HERE.................................................22

34

SHIRA’S INSIDE SCOOP ...........................................24 WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE.....................................54 UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR ............................56

FE AT U RE S BACKROADS SPRING BREAK ‘17 ...........................26 THE READING ...........................................................33 THE WORLDS OF MOTORCYCLES ..........................34 TOTAL CONTROL ARC .............................................38 ON THE ROAD TO AEROSTICH ................................41

PR O DU C T R E V IE W S

38

SHAD SH23 SIDE CASES .........................................13 ADAPTIV TPX PRO RADAR/LASER ..........................14 RIGGS DELUXE ADV MC DRY BAGS ......................37 TOURATECH DESTINO BOOTS ...............................47

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BACKROADS (ISSN 1087-2088) is published monthly by BACKROADS™, Inc. 2017. All rights reserved. BACKROADS™ may not be reproduced in any manner without specific written consent from the publisher. BACKROADS™ welcomes and encourages submissions (text and photos) and suggestions. Include phone number with submissions. BACKROADS™ will only return material with enclosed sufficient postage. The written articles and opinions printed in BACKROADS™ are not necessarily those of the publisher and should not be considered an endorsement. The Rip & Rides® published are ridden on the sole responsibilty of the rider. BACKROADS™ is not responsible for the conditions of the public roadways traversed. Please respect the environment, read your owner’s manual and wear proper protective gear and helmet. Ride within your limits, not over them.

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Page 4

JULY 2017 • BACKROADS

FREE WHEELIN’ BRIAN RATHJeN

EtiquEttE & Ego I heard a comment today. An older man was telling a young woman to “Be careful, but if you can’t be careful – to be safe.” It’s an amusing comment and one I am sure we have all heard before.

It got me thinking about another remark that my mother would often say to me – usually after one of my wise-ass and snarky remarks. “Brian,” she would say, “It’s not what you say – but how you say it.”

This was probably true and something I should think about these days as well.

But, the reason the first statement was so poignant to me was that we had just finished one of our Backroads Rallies and at this event there was – yet again - a serious discussion on proper etiquette and courtesy while riding.

The easy truth is one that my friend Danny Herbst told me a long time ago. He said the #1 ‘Secret to Life’ was simple… “Don’t be an asshole.”

We wouldn’t need Ten Commandments if we’d all follow this one philosophy.

This came into play a few days into our rally, a year or two back, when a number of fast-paced riders made an unwise, unsafe and unthinking pass on another group of our riders. To say many were steamed about this pass was an understatement.

Things like this have happened, on rare occasions, at other Backroads’ gatherings and we have little patience for this sort of casual indifference to other riders on the road – especially the riders attending a fun weekend with us.

This incident really incensed more than a few riders. Riders, I must add,

that have been riding and attending our events for nearly two decades.

This sort of riding is sloppy, dangerous and simply bad form.

Steve McQueen said in the film LeMans that, “Racing is important to men who do it well, anything before or after is just waiting…”

Let’s play on this one and state, “Passing is important to riders who do it well.” Sometimes waiting is important as well. Better to wait a few miles until a clear, safe and prudent passing opportunity shows itself, than uncaringly blow past a group and possibly cause some serious repercussions, bad feelings or an ambulance call.

Let’s look at our other quotes as they fit too.

“Be careful, but if you can’t be careful – be safe.”

Or, my mom’s quote with a twist. “It’s not that you pass, it is how you did it!”

And, let’s not forget the #1 Secret of Life, shall we?

If you do come upon a rider or group riding significantly slower than yourself – suck it up brothers & sisters!

You might feel like the world is plotting against you, but it happens all the time so, take a breath and wait, with patience, for a safe, clean and sure opportunity to pass them. It will come. It might take 10 miles, but you are out riding your bike on a sunny afternoon, so enjoy your day. No need to needlessly anger, scare or crash somebody, is there?

Ride like the pro you think you are.

If you feel the need to pass everyone immediately, regardless of the consequences, we suggest it is time to go to the track.

This is what track days and riding schools are for. They’re fun too. Our friend Reg Pridmore would love to meet you. Reg talks a lot about restraint.

Always a good thing.

Time for another old saying – “Be good or be gone.”

If you need to ride recklessly - do it elsewhere and pass on our events.

Just to have a bit of transparency here let me tell you that on this last event (Continued on Page 8)

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BACKROADS • JULY 2017

WHATCHATHINKIN’ SHIRA KAMIL Breakdown Go ahead and give it to me Breakdown honey take me through the night Breakdown, it’s alright Breakdown – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers It had been a wonderful five days. Our Spring Break (yes, BREAK – not FLING) worked out beautifully; from Berkeley Springs to Canaan Valley and all in between, folks seemed to have a fun time, enjoyed the lodging, routes, weather and whatever else made up the mini-vacation.

But, there were some downfalls (no pun intended) during those five days.

Before the merriment even started, Rider #1 was heading out to meet at the Apple Pie Café when his bike seized on Route 78 due to lack of oil – actually complete dump of oil - cancelling his plans and causing him to have said vehicle towed and a new engine to be searched out for replacement: $$$$ Next on the hit parade was Rider #2, who had recently acquired a new ride and was happily joining us for another of our rallies. Somewhere between Berkeley Springs and Stonewall Jackson, along the Maryland/West Virginia borderlands, he had an unfortunate encounter with gravity. He and his bike parted company, leaving him with a damaged bike, shoulder and ankle. Since this route was being traveled by most of the attendees, there was lots of assistance to get his bike to safety and him to have some medical attention. While he was able to maneuver the motorcycle for the last couple of days, I’m sure he was glad to pull into his driveway and take a long, hot bath: $$$ + healing And the hits just kept on coming. On Sunday, on our way to the last stop on the Spring BREAK, Glenn encountered electrical gremlins that took residence in his starter. Again, he had a great group of folks to help him (which you’ll read about in Backlash) and managed to limp his way to Buckhannon, where his long alternate voyage home began: $$$ Brian and I, saying our goodbyes from Canaan Valley and wishing everyone a safe journey home, would be taking an extra day to get home, with the good Dr. O’Life sending us on a little side journey and exploration. Why I agree to follow this crazy curmudgeon, I have no idea. He was in the middle of deep investigation into hidden government bunkers in case of all hell breaking loose and wanted us to risk our lives and freedom by trying to get a couple of images of these facilities. Thank goodness there was ice cream to be found along the way.

We found what he wanted, took a couple of risky photos, and headed to

Page 5 our lovely overnight at the Fairfield Inn, one of America’s oldest inns and a stop on the underground railroad. We had a great night, a pub-style dinner and a good night’s sleep.

Looking forward to getting home, we packed up, turned the keys and… nothing. My bike made not a sound, not a click, not a spark. I, being not a great push-start person, resorted to digging out the handy-dandy Weego charger and jumper cables. Brian, or as I call him many times, Pit Stop Brian, made short work of getting to the battery and getting the bike running.

Off we went, with a nice route ahead of us. Until it wasn’t.

I took a look at my blank gauges and pulled up to Brian, motioning that all was not well in Shira’s Bike World. At any other time I would have been upset that we were riding on the Lincoln Highway, filled with shopping malls and chain stores, but today I was thankful that my electrically-challenged bike gave up the ghost just as we pulled into an Advance Auto Parts lot.

The ladies there were extremely helpful and in not too long a time I had a new battery and we were again on our way. Realizing that it was probably best to just hit the highway and beat feet home, we made our way.

Until we didn’t.

Once again, the gauges failed and the bike sputtered. The Road Gods must have been sort of smiling on me, as we were right in front of a gas station.

We made a few calls to see if there was any help to be found, as Hermy’s BMW was not too far away. If we could just get the bike running, keep the revs over 4500 and not stall, we might be able to make the 50 miles to salvation. My Weego did another jump, we plotted our course and we were on our way. Until nature called.

While the pit stop was made, I kept the bike revving and we were about to leave the parking lot when a white panel truck – from Astoria, NY – cut me off and I stalled the bike. Again, Road God’s little chuckle, the gas station had a Subway, which came in very handy, as the Weego had given us all it had and needed to be charged. We sat for an hour, had some lunch and got enough juice for one more bump. And off we went, this time deciding to get on the big road and head for home.

I’ve already made this long story too long so I’ll just say that through detours, road construction and traffic, we pulled into Backroads Central, my right hand in need of some ice and a massage from keeping the throttle revving. A new stator and regulator were ordered, the bike was put on charge and, just today I retrieved my bike from Motorcycle Madness who did an excellent job of putting it all back together: $$ I have learned to keep my backup charging system at the ready, wrapped up well with the jumper cables and precise Torx tools for the specific bikes, and any towing service number handy. Now you know why it is called the Spring BREAK, although I suppose FLING might work for those frustrated enough to fling their bikes aside.

Page 6

JULY 2017 • BACKROADS

POSTCARDS FROM THE HEDGE BILL HeALD

Risk ManagEMEnt, and a MEaningful lifE When you enter into a discussion about time and the nature of life, you go into really deep waters.

You know the type of water I’m talking about if you’ve even spent time at sea, for as you go further afield and the bottom disappears beneath you, the water gets a darker and darker blue and you start to get serious perspective on how small, vulnerable and seemingly insignificant we are. But if you jump into this dark void you discover that you can see forever, for the undersea world that looks so inky is actually quite bright once you’re in it, and there’s a whole universe around you begging to be explored.

What the heck am I talking about, and why here?

Simple. We lost Nicky Hayden recently, and in case you never heard of this affable young man from Kentucky he was one of the finest motorcycle pilots America has ever produced, both on dirt and the rarefied pavement of the finest racetracks in the world. His accomplishments include wearing the number one plate as a MotoGP champion, the true pinnacle of riding a motorcycle. For all his talent on the track, he was an even more impressive human being in his dealings with anyone he came across. Nicky had an energy and approachability about him, and it was often said he didn’t have fans, just an unusually large collection of friends. I mention all this time/life stuff because Nick was one of those guys that I thought was indestructible, so strong was his energy and vitality. But he was the victim of a terrible bicycle crash in Italy while training for his next World Superbike bout and despite the fact that he had been through some pretty nasty crashes in his life, this time he did not recover. Whenever something like this happens, your heart goes out to the family and those close to him, and then

you start to take stock of the whole tragedy. As you know all too well, riding motorcycles is one of those activities that has a reputation for taking people off the planet before their time. Motorcycle racing is obviously a dangerous undertaking as well, and Nicky will be lumped into the big book of racers who died young, even though he wasn’t even on a motorized machine when he lost his life. The point here, though, is that you risk your life every time you decide to get out of bed in the morning. The ironic part is quite often the activities that give you more pleasure, adventure and (ultimately) meaning to your life often entail a greater risk of ending it prematurely. It’s important to remember this and never take it for granted, because there is a way to manage risk that can greatly offset the hazards in pretty much any activity.

When you go to sea (to dive on a reef in fairly deep water, for example), you try to plan for any and all eventualities. Same scenario when you take off on a two-wheeled trip, and the more you become experienced in such endeavors two things often happen.

First, you become far more efficient at equipping yourself (both mentally and through hardware) for what you think might happen based on your experience. The second thing that can occur is a familiarity with the process to the point that you start to take things for granted, and become so relaxed you could easily overlook something. Now, I want to make it painfully clear that I have no idea at this writing the exact sequence of events in Nick Hayden’s accident, and it could well have been one of those situations where there was absolutely nothing he could do. But the reason I bring all this up is whenever something like this happens and the reality of the situation is brought home, it makes you wonder into the realm of weighty issues and how you conduct your life. How could someone so skilled, so decent, and so well-liked by so many get yanked from the stage when he was barely into the second act of his life? No one was more at home on two wheels (of any type), and a consummate athlete to boot. But the results of this particular outing were tragic, and now a large community of fans, family and friends (Continued on Page 8)

BACKROADS • JULY 2017

ON THE MARK MARK BYeRS

go faRklE YouRsElf Do it. I dare you. Go ahead. I bet you won’t. In fact, statistics show that most people won’t. People will buy aftermarket pipes, injection computers, bar risers, footpeg lowerers, seats, frame protectors, side cases, top cases, tank bags, LED lights, engine protection bars, skid plates, fender eliminators, fender extenders, reflective gewgaws, and just about anything of which you can think to accessorize and personalize (farkle) their motorcycles. What they seem to be universally unwilling, unable, or reluctant to do is farkle themselves.

I’m not talking about a tattoo or piercing, either, because heaven knows we’ve got plenty of that going on. I’m talking about people adorning themselves with two different kinds of moto farkles: gear and training. Of the two, people seem to do a better job with gear, especially the “fashionable” stuff if not the protective garments. Sometimes, it’s a mix, like the guy on the GSXR I saw last night with a matching helmet and leather jacket…with sneakers and jeans. But people seem to be far less excited about improving their riding skills through training.

It’s amazing too, because the costs of gear and training (and the potential benefits) seem to be so much less than the costs of the bike modifications.

Here are some examples of the costs of popular bike mods, less installation costs: Fuel Injection Computer: $323 to $525 Simple exhaust (stainless/slip on, end only): $320 to $925 Fender eliminator: $62 to $238 Frame Protectors: $103 to $258 Kickstand “foot” (enlarger): $45 to $58 LeD Lighting System: $400 to $500

Page 7 Tank Bag (non-BMW): $79 to $260 $143 to $694 engine Protection Bars: Saddlebags/Side Cases: $142 to $999 Totals $1,617 to $4,457 Again, that assumes do-it-yourself installations and is probably shooting low on things like the bags, depending upon your motorcycle brand.

As for adorning yourself, let’s say you’re a touring type and go for a basic Cordura/Gore-Tex jacket and pants, $597 and $387, respectively, and splurge on a solid-color big-name helmet, discounted at a major parts place, for $450.

Get a pair of waterproof sport/touring boots for around $250 and some decent, fair-weather gloves for $100 or so. The total you’ve spent on yourself is now $1,784, or right around the amount you would have spent on all the cheapest options for modifying the motorcycle. But it’s money well spent, because it’s quality, durable gear that should last quite a while, perhaps even the remainder of your riding career when it comes to the jacket and pants.

Some people don’t, but the helmet should be replaced every five years. I’ve yet to find “lifetime” gloves and boots, but perhaps they are out there.

But what about training? Here are some costs that I could find on the internet for typical courses: CLASS Motorcycle School, 2 days, VIR track $895 Ride Like a Pro, 4 hrs, training range $175 Local MSF Course, 2 days, training range $300 STAR Motorcycle School, 2 days, CA track $1,300 Cornerspin Dirt Training for Road, 2 days, range, NC $495 There are no fewer than five rider training schools listed in the June issue of Backroads and Brian’s recent article on BMW offroad training applies as well. The point is, even the most expensive of these classes costs about what a nice set of side cases or a new set of shocks does, and the lessons learned will not only last a lifetime, but could actually help save your life. I can travel to VIR, stay over 3 nights, and still spend less than I did on new aftermarket shocks for my BMW RT. I went to Laguna Seca and made a vacation of it, taking my wife, and she went to the Monterey Aquarium and Pacific (Continued on Page 9)

Page 8 fREE WhEElin’

JULY 2017 • BACKROADS (Continued from Page 4)

I was not pure of soul either. We all make errors in judgment and let the moments get carried away.

I was not 15 miles from home when we got caught up in early commuter traffic. Not heavy highway stuff, but rather small town soccer mom dropping kids off to school stuff. At an odd intersection I slowed then rolled through an unseen stop sign as said Tahoe driving European football mother rolled in front of me.

It was no big deal, but slightly and unreasonably miffed I laid onto the aftermarket horn that had been installed on our Kawasaki Versys test machine, the powerful blast almost shattering her windows.

It was then I saw that I was in the wrong. I instantly knew I was at fault and had broken the #1 Secret of Life.

She was righteously pissed and told me so with a number of hand gestures.

Mea culpa - Mrs. Soccer Mom - mea culpa.

Ya think if I could, I would not take that petulance back? I know this woman was looking badly at every other rider she came across for the next few days.

It comes back down to the problem the entire world suffers from – ego.

None of us are as important as our parents led us to believe.

Another situation I heard of, where runaway egos came into play, was that PostcaRds fRoM thE hEdgE

(Continued from Page 6)

must go on without him. Should those who remain do anything differently because of this event, regardless if we’re likely to be riding a bicycle in Italy anytime soon?

Well, I don’t give advice unless paid vast amounts of money. Vast amounts, I say. Great large wheelbarrows of the stuff. But I will share this for free: every time there is a deep stretch of dark water in front of you, and you’re sure something evil lurks in the depths, sometimes you have to just jump in.

And low and behold, when you’re under the surface it isn’t as dark as it looked from the boat. I saw nothing but pain and darkness when I heard of Nicky’s death, and felt angry that such a fine, young soul should be taken

of a small group of riders on a ride in New England, who were held up by an elderly woman driving down a smaller country lane at a reduced rate of speed.

With no place to pass the group sucked it up and almost laughed about it.

Except one rider who let it get to him and, at a stop light, pulled up and began to berate this senior citizen.

Really? Is that how you want to handle this?

The woman was most likely terrified, as she had no clue as to what or why this was happening – as (in her eyes) this 20-foot tall berserker on a motorcycle was trying to scare her to death.

The person relating the story to me said, in one instant, this rider reinforced two stereotypes - New Yorker’s are rude and bikers are scary.

Worse there was a younger person on the rider’s machine as well.

Like C, S, N & Y sang – teach your children well.

The net/net here is that we are responsible for the way we act when we ride.

We have a choice on how we act when we ride and to be a positive ambassador for motorcycling and, when we make an error in judgment, promptly admit it.

We can always do better and to not look for constant improvement is really a mistake.

And, I have said many times, when it comes to riding motorcycles we learn from our errors, but we pay for our mistakes. away from so many that loved him. But then I dived into my memory of him, and his great attitude, contagious smile, and absolute mastery of the machines he loved, and things became brighter. I realized there was genuine treasure in having known him, and he leaves behind lessons for us all. Even jumping on a bicycle and going for a ride can be dangerous, yet the joy of the motion is worth the risk; the choice to travel through life rather than watch it go by is what defines us. “It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door,” said Bilbo (who often gave sound advice). But as long as we’re capable of opening them, the door just signifies things will change, and a new chapter of your trip begins.

Godspeed, #69, on your next big adventure.

BACKROADS • JULY 2017

BACKLASH

Letters to the Editor

Spring Break 2017 - Wild & Wonderful West Virginia Hi Guys, You’ve heard it before but hear it once again - I know I speak for all when I tell you that we so appreciate the time and effort you two invest into arranging these happy Rally get togethers. Over the years these “family reunions” have become more meaningful and the friendships of the participants grew closer as we kept up to date on each other’s lives. The common interest in motorcycling travel only enhanced the ease of bonding. I doubt the development of this tight knit group was an objective of yours when starting these trips but it’s a great byproduct. The icing on the cake is the knowledge that there was no profit motive for you, only sharing the pleasure of your mode of travel with others. Hats off to you.

John Petrocelli Hey You Guys, We had a great trip, as always, thank you for putting together a wonderful five days. And, thank the weather Gods (How did you do that this Spring?)

Thank You, Michael & nuri Wernick • Mayor of 9th street Backroads, Although it’s been a year or so we had a great time again! It was nice to see old friends and meet some new friends. Awesome roads and great hotels.

Thanks again for a wonderful trip - Okay, Our hill climb adventure didn’t work out so well!

Mike & lisa hoffman - long island Dear Shira and Brian, What a great experience and a nice weekend! Thank you so much for inviting me and for the personal welcome and gracious hospitality. I really enjoyed spending some time with you and 60 or 70 of your closest friends.

Your rally group includes some wonderful people and on thE MaRk

Page 9

(Continued from Page 7)

Grove while I surfed the Corkscrew. And the whole thing, airfare included, cost less than all the crap I have on my V-Strom 650 (I too am FAR from immune to the farkling bug).

All I am saying is that when you look at your budget, and when you are surfing the shiny screen for some new bauble that you just absolutely must have, think about your priorities for a second. Is it REALLY that expensive to go to a school? Do you really think you’re such a great rider that there isn’t anything left to learn? Consider whether you want to click on something for a machine you may or may not keep, or the mind and body you will always have. Go ahead. Treat yourself. Do it.

Go farkle yourself.

everyone I met was open, helpful and encouraging. I hope to enjoy everyone’s company again soon. larry cain - germantown, Md Backroads, Another Backroads gathering in the books. There must be a reason why so many riders keep coming back for more. You guys are the best!

Brad tabbac Thank you for the fabulous trip. It far exceeded our expectations. Great roads, great people, great times!

Rachel & Jabe stinstzcum Backroads, So far this was the most beautiful place we have stayed (Stonewall Resort), on a Backroads trip. Thanks Brian & Shira for organizing yet another spectacular rally!

Jeff caruna Hey Backroads, Excellent, excellent weekend! Backroads trips just keep getting better!!!

Mike Mosca

Page 10 Dear Brian and Shira, Thank you for the Spring Break, thank you for the upcoming Summer Squeeze and Fall Fiesta, and thank you big time for the wonderful article about the 25th Anniversary RIDE FOR KIDS. I hope that your support will make it a huge success.

Regards, BYRd

We don’t call it the Spring “Break” for nothing…

To all, If there are actually living saints in this world, then John Petrocelli, Greg McLaughlin, and Dave and Alma Wilson are some of them. When I had a breakdown (the bike, not me) on Sunday of our Spring Fling rally, they gave up their riding day to stay with me and help as much as they could.

Although I insisted my friends go on to Canaan Valley, John was intent on staying, reminding me that when his bike died in New Hampshire 10 years ago, I stayed with him. After booking rooms at a nearby Hampton Inn, John went ahead to check in with his luggage, then returned for me and

JULY 2017 • BACKROADS my stuff just in time to beat the rain. After an enjoyable supper together, John used his laptop to help me reserve a U Haul truck in Buckhannon for the next day. What a guy!

Monday morning brought the tow truck, complete with tilting flatbed, front wheel cradle, winch, and tie down straps. Three miles up the road at U Haul, the tow truck driver backed up to my 17-foot long rental truck, and leveled the bed to roll the RT evenly from one vehicle to another. The U Haul agent gave me enough leftover rope to lash the bike to a corner of “my” truck.

John, ever present with me to that moment, said his goodbye.

After picking up my stuff from the hotel, I hit the road. Twelve hours later, I backed into my driveway in Northport, Long Island. Tuesday I dropped off the bike at my dealer, turned in the truck, and caught a ride home. Today I picked up the RT with a new starter motor. Runs great again.

My journey is over.

Phone calls and emails from fellow riders kept coming: Mike Hoffman, Greg McLaughlin (who suffered food poisoning during his return home), the Wilsons, Shira, Brian, and of course, John. Even Bill Rodgers, who could not attend the rally due to illness, gave me a call. I am so blessed and fortunate to be a part of Backroads. Thanks, everyone. glenn Baldwin Glenn, Please realize that we all know to “Save the Piano Player” at all costs! It’s the unwritten law.

Hi Guys!

I just picked up the May issue of Backroads yesterday while visiting my buddies at Hamlins Cycles and flipped to Shira’s “Inside Scoop” section. I was happy to see that you took my suggestion to visit my favorite local (and all-time) creamery, Ferris Acres, in Newtown, CT. Though, unfortunately, as mentioned in the article, I now have to kill you. While my family has been enjoying the creamery for all 12 years I’ve been living in the town next door, we’ve watched the line grow steadily, as has the parking lot. Where it used to be the local favorite, it’s now become THE spot for ice cream in all of Connecticut, it seems. They even had to hire parking lot attendants to try to control the situation there for the bustling crowd.

Anyway, now that Backroads has printed the story, I suppose I’ll have to expect even longer lines. Worth every minute of the wait, though. tricia szulewski creative director, american iron Hello Backroads, After getting the latest edition of the magazine I decided to look at the advertisers to see where I will stay overnight or eat when I go traveling this summer. I thought about it and a service you could offer to your advertisers is the ability to provide a GPS list to the subscribers. Inserting these into their GPS would be easy. You could also insert GPS coordinates into the advertisements as well.

Just an idea, think it would be interesting.

Best, James Wonder James, We have done this on occasion - but sometimes not possible for various reasons. If we can we will. We like it. The idea has a lot of merit!

Brian and Shira, Lovely. Thanks so much for your article on Whitehorse’s closing in the June issue.

Judy kennedy - Whitehorse Press No Judy, thanks to you and Dan for making this industry and motorcycling so much fun for so many for all these years!

BACKROADS • JULY 2017

I ND U ST RY INFOBITES

Page 11

News from the Inside

The letter below was written to Scott Moreno of Iberian Moto Tours (pictured left). As the letter says, we were fortunate enough to have been in Valencia to witness the Kentucky Kid, Nicky Hayden, win his MotoGP Championship in 2006. Not only were we sitting directly in front of the spot Valentino Rossi crashed, but everyone around us came over to congratulate us, seeing that we were from the US. We are terribly saddened at the loss of such as fine individual and extend our sympathies to the Hayden family and, as Bill Heald said in his column, ‘Godspeed #69 on your next big adventure.’

WEAPON OF CHOICE LOOKING TO SPEND TIME ON AN INDIAN? If the USA seems a bit too close then how about hiring an Indian in Switzerland and riding on twisting mountain roads? The husband and wife owners of Hotel Schweizerhof Santa Maria, Sonja and Hans Bühler, have built up a fleet of Indian Scouts and Chieftains and will hire them out to bikers at special rates from May onwards. The hotel is close to the Stelvio Pass and 14 other incredible mountain pass roads.

The pair offers three different motorcycle packages; an eight passes tour, Serpentine coaching (teaching you how to corner…what?) and a Re-entry course for riders who have had a long lay off from riding.

A day’s hire costs 100 CHF (Swiss Francs) and 550 CHF (basically the same as a dollar these days) for a weekend with a 500km limit. www.schweizerhof-gr.com/rentals/ Yep, we know a big honkin’ American cruiser, as nice as it is in the USA, will be our weapon of choice on Stelvio.

Page 12

JULY 2017 • BACKROADS

NATE KERN RIDES STOCK MACHINE TO PODIUM

Pied Piper PSI process, which ties “mystery shopping” measurement and scoring to industry sales success.

BMW was also among the brands showing the most improvement in sales behavior. Compared to their performance five years ago, BMW dealers in 2017 were 50% more likely to mention test rides, were 60% more likely to encourage going through the numbers or writing up a deal, and were 30% more likely to ask for contact information to allow follow-up.

“Our dealers are doing an outstanding job of building customer relationships by putting riders’ needs first,” commented Michael Peyton, Vice President, BMW Motorrad North America. “Outstanding customer service, a diverse model range, and a large and growing dealer network will continue to fuel loyalty among current customers and convert others to the BMW brand.”

VINTAGE JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE CLUB OF NORTH AMERICA TO HOST 40TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION AT AMA VINTAGE MOTORCYCLE DAYS In early May, BMW Motorsports Advisor, test rider and Boxer Cup Champion Nate Kern defied all odds by winning third place in the WERA Superbike Class in Round One of the WERA Triple Crown at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia. His ride? A completely stock BMW S 1000 RR, that had been in storage and awaiting pickup by a friend. An amazing accomplishment!

WERA will run its 1000cc Superbike Triple Crown class in upcoming support races at Pittsburgh International Race Complex and Barber Motorsports Park, offering current and prospective BMW racers even greater incentives to compete on the bestselling BMW S 1000 RR superbike this year.

BMW SCORE HIGH WITH PIED PIPER BMW motorcycle dealerships were the top ranked brand in a newly released 2017 Pied Piper Prospect Satisfaction Index® (PSI®) U.S. Motorcycle Industry Benchmarking Study. The study measured treatment of motorcycle shoppers who visited a dealership, with rankings by brand determined by the

The Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club of North America will be celebrating its 40th anniversary during AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days on July 7-9 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.

“The Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club has been a mainstay for years at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, and it’s an honor to help them celebrate the 40th anniversary of the club with us,” said AMA Chief Operations Officer Jeff Massey.

“The Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club of North America looks forward to celebrating our 40th anniversary with a large display of vintage bikes, club merchandise, magazines and a members rally at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days,” said Sean Carrigan, club board member and national field representative coordinator. “Don’t miss our big tent in the infield and club booth in the swap meet.”

Carrigan said the club will have “a super rare 1950s Miyapet model by Miyata Manufacturing Co.” on display.

“Miyata built the first Japanese motorcycle in 1913,” he said.

AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, an annual fundraiser for the nonprofit AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, features vintage motorcycle racing, bike

Long Island Kawasaki 67 North Broadway • Route 107 • Hicksville, NY

www.LIKawasaki.com • 516-935-6969 Visit our showroom and see the full line of Kawasaki motorcycles, ATVs, Jet Skis and UTVs

BACKROADS • JULY 2017 shows, seminars, demo rides, live music, the American Motor Drome Wall of Death, a swap meet with nearly 1,000 independent vendors and much more.

The full schedule of AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days events is available at www.amavintagemotorcycledays.com.

CITY TO CHANGE NAME TO “RIDERS,” DRIVES TO BECOME FIRST FULLY MOTORCYCLE LICENSED TOWN IN AMERICA Ryder, N.D. was established in 1906, but in 2017, Harley-Davidson will offer the entire town – population 84 – the opportunity to learn to ride, and become licensed motorcycle riders.

Harley-Davidson rode into Ryder Saturday, June 3 with the goal to create the first fully motorcycle licensed town. Qualifying residents across generations, from grandparents to grandchildren, will receive the opportunity to learn the basics of motorcycle riding and experience firsthand how easy – and fun – it can be to learn to ride.

“In Ryder – and across the country – Harley-Davidson is passionate about creating opportunities for new riders to experience and enjoy the sport of motorcycling. With summer quickly approaching, there’s never been a better time to learn how to ride a motorcycle,” said Anoop Prakash, Director, U.S. Marketing and Market Development, Harley-Davidson. “By teaching the entire town of Ryder we believe we’ll show others how easy – and fun – it can be to make the switch from four wheels to two.”

“The town of Ryder welcomes the roar of Harley-Davidson® motorcycles down Main Street,” said Mayor of Ryder, Jody Reinisch. “We’re excited to see several generations of Ryder residents on motorcycles learning together, trying new life experiences and enjoying the beauty of our town and surrounding area like never before.”

BACKROADS GLADLY ACCEPTS PRESS RELEASES. PLEASE EMAIL TEXT AND HIGH-RES IMAGES TO: editor@backroadsusa.com

Page 13

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

SHAD SH23 SIDE CASES Shad has released a new generation of lightweight and roomy side cases. The SHAD SH23 side cases stand out for their innovative slim line design and functionality. With a 23-liter capacity in each case, they are ideal for all your essential items and are super light-weight compared to other cases.

The new SH23 side cases fit using SHAD’s patented and incredibly unobtrusive 3P system, which is characterized by its integrated and lightweight design. These new bags weigh significantly less than other such panniers, are highly aerodynamic, very stylish, fully waterproof and impact resistant.

The bags measure W: 19.37” x H: 10.43” x D: 13.58” and cushioned inner liner bags are available and make packing and unloading a breeze. One key operates everything and the bags come in black, white and new titanium colors. Log onto the Shad website to see applications and to find a dealer near you. • MSRP $175 www.shadusa.com

Page 14

JULY 2017 • BACKROADS

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

ADAPTIV TECHNOLOGIES TPX PRO MOTORCYCLE RADAR AND LASER DETECTION SYSTEM We try to look at the use of radar detectors as part of an ongoing struggle with some municipalities and a way of leveling the playing field.

No one that works for Backroads is heavily into speed on the public roads, but neither do we wish to be singled out in certain towns as an easy mark.

As we have heard from writer and Law Enforcement officer Peter Miller many times – it is not an “Us against You” situation when it comes to riders and motorcycles, but rather a numbers game where authorities want many rider to simply survive.

Still, there is no denying that some towns run on their ticket revenues.

That being said if they have a radar gun, you should have a radar detector and we have the best one available for motorcycles right here…the TPX Pro Motorcycle Radar and Laser Detection System.

When we tested the original TPX Pro a few years back we found it on par, and sometimes surpassing, the sensitivity of other top-of-the-line detectors such as the Valentine 1 and Escort. These are considered the best by the go-fast car crowd and professional drivers, and for good reason – they work.

But, they were never built with motorcycles in mind.

The TPX Pro also had the distinct advantage of being designed and built specifically for motorcycles.

To use a V1 we had to shield it from the elements, vibration and heavy moisture.

The TPX, on the other hand, is highly weather-resistant and is built for the abuse that a motorcycle journey will throw at it. It is ride-ready!

RIDERS WELCOME Breakfast served on weekends sample our home cookin’ at the World Famous Cedar Rapids

The Bar is Open ‘drink responsibly’

Take a ride on one of the Northeast’s Scenic Byways - Route 97 - 20 miles north of Port Jervis. Dine with your fellow riders on the Delaware River

Let us host your group motorcycle event any day

Enjoy our Expanded Canopied Decks Member of

www.cedarrapidsny.com

We liked everything about this unit, as do many other serious riders who wish an equal footing when it comes to speed traps, red light cameras and revenuers.

The “TPX Pro” features an improved radar detection antennae, making it even sharper, and GPS data-point alerts for Red Light Camera and Radar Camera locations. The data-points are updatable for free on a monthly basis on Adaptiv Technologies’ website.

Installation is straightforward and easy for the shade tree mechanics.

Alerts are easily handles in a number of ways. The TPX can be hard-wired, via audio jack, into an existing sound system or ear buds. There is also an optional remote Visual Alert module ($45). This LEDs intensity is easily adjustable from the Main Console to accommodate varying day and night conditions that you can mount in a conspicuous place. If needed there is a Wireless Headset ($70) that alerts the rider with an ear bud.

The TPX Pro is available in two versions: North America, which covers USA and Canada, and International, which covers Europe, New Zealand, and Australia.

The TPX Pro is $399 and is available through Western Power Sports and www.AdaptivTech.com.

Adaptiv Technologies is the designer and manufacturer of aftermarket motorcycle products. For more information, go to www.adaptivtech.com or call 866-232-7848.

BACKROADS IS SO FRIGGIN’ SOCIAL

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JULY 2017 • BACKROADS

Hannum’s Harley-Davidson Presents

G REAT A LL AMERICA N DINE R RUN

tasty places to take your bike

Yiannis at chathaM housE 29 hudson avEnuE, chathaM, nEW YoRk 12037 518-392-7700 • yiannisatchathamhouse.com There was a good size group heading south from the our final night on the road during last September’s Fall Fiesta Rally making our way home from The Gray Ghost and Kitzhof Inns in southern Vermont.

We had a typical Backroads day, with our route following along the little roads that you’ll find in and about this old northeast region.

Making our way into New York State we discovered a couple of things. #1 there are a lot of really nice roads in this part of the Empire State and #2 it was a bit past lunchtime and finding a restaurant would be a great idea.

Everyone has to eat, so every town worth its salt should have at least one or two places that can feed a hungry mob of riders in the early afternoon.

We like that the friends who ride with us think we always have a plan and are “in the know” as far as where to go on every excursion. Truth is sometimes we just wing it.

About 20 minutes earlier Shira had radioed over asking, “Are you getting hungry?” Let’s be clear guys – ‘cause this is how it works. If your wife asks you if “you” are hungry, that probably means “she” is hungry and most likely everyone else in your group – so it is time to eat.

Riding into the old village of Chatham, New York I spied a large and stately 3-story wooden building with wide porches and so Shira and I had another private conversation that went something like this …

“This looks good.” “Here?” “Okay.” “Sure - looks like a restaurant.”

“Yup, park it.” “Park it?” “YES… ! Park it… dear.” “Okay, parking.”

Oblivious to this nonsensical repartee, what our group perceives is a very cool and well-organized “in the know” move to slide into the parking spaces along the Old Chatham House is, in reality, the end of a series of a short….

“What? where? Here? Now? Yes, park!” conversation.

Those couples who have been riding together for a bit might be aware of this drill and this staccato form of communication.

Bikes parked and helmets off somebody asked if this was lunch.

“Why, yes it is and it is going to be fantastic.” (Never let them see ya sweat, my Uncle would say) And…it was!

Yiannis at Chatham House is really spectacular.

The building has been a landmark for years, but Yiannis and owner Peter Stefanopoulos moved and opened in spring of 2013.

We parked the bikes and took a quick walk around the deceptively large restaurant, scoping out the porch tables (very nice) and then deciding on a row of tables that were able to keep us together as a group.

Once settled we got a chance to peruse the strong menu - which combines traditional New England food with complex culinary techniques from other regions as well.

Yiannis also boasts a full-service Sushi Bar where authentic Japanese delicacies are prepared fresh to order.

The restaurant uses plenty of local products in their dishes. They even use their olive oil made in their own groves and cheese from their own farms.

During the summer locally grown vegetables are incorporated as well.

BACKROADS • JULY 2017

Page 17

Rip & Ride® YIANNIS AT CHATHAM HOUSE 29 HUDSON AVENUE, CHATHAM, NEW YORK 12037 518-392-7700 • yiannisatchathamhouse.com (Approx. 110 miles – Note GPS route follows along but is more complicated and fun) GPS Download: www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/kgfzl9

Ride starts at Bear Mountain Bridge

LEFT AT RTE. 9D RIGHT AT RTE. 301 LEFT AT RTE. 52 RIGHT AT CR. 216 LEFT AT RTE. 55 RIGHT AT CR. 82 RTE. AT CR 23 STRAIGHT AT RTE. 9H RIGHT AT RTE. 66 STRAIGHT TO CHATHAM YIANNIS ON RIGHT

The menu has a bent toward seafood, with some interesting offering of swordfish, Ahi tuna and crab cakes.

For landlubbers Yiannis offers burgers, steaks, ribs and the like along with a good selection of pasta dishes.

As impressive as the main menu was, none of us felt the need to get bogged down with dinner so early in the day so we grabbed a number of appetizers, soups and salads this afternoon. They also offered some interesting specials for the day.

Grilled Brie and bacon sandwiches, superb chili, fried goat cheese and a manly salad that was still more than a meal. The sushi was fantastic – filling, but not heavy.

The menu, like many, changes every now and then – usually with the seasons - but the flair and quality at Yiannis will stay the same.

The restaurant and the town are located along some great roads and well worth searching out if you are riding east of the Hudson in New York State.

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JULY 2017 • BACKROADS

Morton’s BMW Motorcycles Presents Dr. Seymour O’Life’s MYSTER IOU S A MERICA thE lost nikE MissilE BasEs Big tiME hoMEland dEfEnsE The NIKE Missile….named for the Greek Goddess of Victory.

Zero to 2,700 miles per hour in 3 seconds.

Pretty Awesome, right?

What might make it even more awesome would be a nuclear bomb payload atop this rocket. Of course, I am speaking from my default 12-year old boy’s attitude. The adult in me wishes nukes would go away.

But, they won’t and back in the 1950s the US government was fairly sure of this fact and the threat from, at the time, the Soviet Union.

Back before ICBM, bombs like these needed to be dropped by bombers. This meant that an attack from Russia would have to be flown in. In truth our attack would be the same way.

With the knowledge that a fleet of large nuclear carrying planes could be heading towards strategic points around the United States at any time, Bell Laboratories came up with the idea of a shield of missiles that would be located at tactical spots around larger and key cities.

Thus the NIKE Missile Project was born.

If a fleet of Russian bombers were heading to our homeland the NIKE Missile, nuclear tipped with twice the power of the Hiroshima bomb, would hit them – literally blowing them out of the sky. These missiles only had a range of about 100 miles, but the thought of a nuclear barrage happening out at sea was better than the thought of the Soviets droppings bombs directly on New York or Washington D.C.

Some of you are aware that these NIKE Missile Bases were sprinkled around our area – to some this might be a bit of news. In New Jersey alone there were 14 such facilities. The same could be said for Boston, Philly and just about every major town in the US. At one

point there were over 300 such bases around the nation – many right in unsuspecting families backyards.

In the middle of last winter, when it was frosty and frozen, we thought the perfect time to visit some of these Cold War relics.

In truth most of them have long been gone, bulldozed, paved over and built upon.

But, if you look closely, there is still NIKE to be found.

The easiest and probably the most fun place to see some of these defensive antiquities is down the Jersey Shore – Sandy Hook to be specific.

This spit of land is located on a barrier peninsula at the entrance to lower

BACKROADS • JULY 2017 New York Harbor. From early times, this location was considered strategically important to control New York Harbor. Fort Hancock was built there just for this and centuries later it was prime real estate to defend the city from Soviet attack. This land is all part of the Gateway National Recreation Area.

The region’s only nude beach is right here too – I told you this could be fun.

Unlike most of the other NIKE sites, here they embrace the history and it is one of the few places you will find an actual decommissioned NIKE Missile.

Heading west you would be hard pressed to believe that the busy section of Route 10 through East Hanover would have been at the center of Cold War Missile Defense. But it was.

Nike Battery NY-79/80 was constructed near the borders of Morris and Essex Counties during 1954-1955. The control area was located atop Riker Hill in Livingston in order to obtain good radar coverage of the region. The launcher area was constructed about two miles away, on a portion of the former Matarazzo farm in East Hanover.

At Riker’s Hill the old Army Radar Base’s building are still there and many have been converted to artist studios – talk about beating their swords into plowshares!

Still, walking around you can find the remnants of the radar installations and down below in East Hanover and a right turn off Rte. 10 at Party City (ironic) will bring you to Nike Drive.

Here there is a road that has “No Trespassing” signs forbidding you to enter. But if you did you would find another fenced off area that actually held the missiles back in the day. Not much to see, but the thought that it is just a mile from our back cover advertisers, Hanover Powersports, makes for an interesting day trip.

Page 19 A quick run north to Campgaw Mountain you will find NY 98/99. This particular site survived longer than many others that were closed due to budget cuts. It shut its door in 1971.

Like so many this launch site has been dismantled and the area turned into a housing development, with only a portion of the original barbed wire-topped perimeter fencing remaining. The adjacent family housing area on Campgaw Road is intact, although abandoned and threatened by development. Atop Campgaw Mountain, several original Cold War era buildings are still intact including the administration building and barracks. These buildings have been adapted to serve as offices, horse stables and tack rooms at the present Saddle Ridge Riding Area.

Continuing north we swung to the east and into New York State along the Hudson River at Mount Nebo just north of Piermont, off Tweed Avenue, again on NIKE Lane (it’s not like they are trying hard to hide these) you can stroll through the remnants of the old base, where more can be found than most other sites.

In the late 60s the development on Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles negated the usefulness and effectiveness of the NIKE program.

For many of us who grew up with “Duck & Cover” being part of our childhood, a few days exploration around the New York area will show you just how close Armageddon really was.

Our friends at Weird NJ (weirdnj.com) have an excellent video on the NIKE Missile Bases and it can be found here: http://bit.ly/2rRzqWi

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JULY 2017 • BACKROADS

Hanover Powersports Presents

B IG CITY GETAWAY Washington’s Rock What WE did BEfoRE sPY satEllitEs It was the late spring of 1777 in the region now known as Bound Brook, New Jersey along the first peaks of the Watchung Mountains.

In those days the large growth of trees that line the many streets and thoroughfare from the rise to the Atlantic were not as abundant as today. Cleared land, farms and small towns filled the landscape.

Atop the peaks there were a number of rocky outcroppings and along them were the soldiers from Washington’s Continental Army.

From these high vantage points they could see all the way to York City and down the bay along the coast of New Jersey.

What they could also see was the movements of the British troops under the leadership of General Howe.

One such point is preserved for its historical importance - Washington’s Rock.

Washington’s Army lay just three miles away, from this point, at the encampment at Millbrook.

Washington had not wanted to bring his men here at all, but after wintering in Morristown to the north and the surprise and defeat at the Battle of Bound Brook, Washington brought his men down to this area on May 28 and they stayed until July 2nd.

Some 8,000 soldiers were housed in the encampment and nearly a quarter of them were sick or disabled, unable to fight. In contrast, the British maintained a force of about 17,000 near New Brunswick, New Jersey. From the

daytrip ideas to get out of the daily grind heights of the Watchung Mountains, Washington could observe and counteract British movements.

Repeatedly Howe tried to entice Washington to come down to level ground and do battle, but the crafty General would have none of that, preferring to bide his time and engage the British on his terms.

Both armies ate up time.

The Americans had nothing but, but the British wanted to move on Philadelphia and this game of “cat and mouse” forced Howe to choose a sea route to Philadelphia rather than try to cut through New Jersey where Washington was gaining more and more ground.

This led to a significant delay in operations for the British and disrupted plans to help General Burgoyne in northern New York. On June 30, Howe moved his troops to Staten Island (the area featured in the July 2016 issue) in preparation for his Philadelphia campaign, and two days later Washington left Middlebrook and moved the army to Pompton Plains.

This delay caused the British to be slow in sending reinforcements to Burgoyne at Saratoga.

Two large battles occurred in the Adirondacks with Burgoyne moving on Generals Benedict Arnold and Horatio Gates.

The first went to the British but, without reinforcements, Burgoyne and the British would surrender on October 17 – giving the Continental Army its greatest victory of the war thus far. A huge and much needed moral booster

BACKROADS • JULY 2017

This would not have been possible without the ongoing surveillance from Washington’s Rock.

In truth, Washington probably stood on many high parts of these mountains for they were his main line of defense in New Jersey. As Jack Rushing has explained, ‘Washington’s “Fortress Watchung” protected and fed his army: numerous encampments, training schools, supply depots, hospitals and burial grounds have been located. The Pluckamin Archaeological Project uncovered and recorded a large artillery park that was the forerunner of West Point.

A string of signal beacons were located along the tops of the mountains to pass along information to Washington and other officers.’

The earliest reference to the rock is in Barber and Howe’s Historical Col-

Page 21

lections of the State of New Jersey (l844): “At an elevation of about 400 feet on the brow of the mountain in the rear of Plainfield stands Washington’s Rock. It is one of very large size — being about 25 feet in height and from 30 to 40 in circumference. The bold projection which nature has given it from the surface of the eminence, renders it a fine position for taking an extensive view of the country below.”

Today Washington Rock Park is a great place to ride. Bring lunch and it also makes for an excellent place for a two-wheeled picnic - especially with the magnificent views to the east and south.

Next month we’ll stay in this region and talk about the Stars & Stripes.

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JULY 2017 • BACKROADS

Bergen County Harley-Davidson Presents

WE’RE OUTTA HER E scRanton’s lackaWanna station 700 lackaWanna avE., scRanton, Pa 18503 570-342-8300 • www.radisson.com/scranton-hotel-pa-18503/pascrant Most months this column goes out of its way to bring you far away from cities, much preferring and being a bit more comfortable along the country backroads.

But, this month we make a bit of an exception.

Scranton, Pennsylvania is called the Electric City, earning its reputation on Dec. 6, 1880. On that date, Edison’s new-fangled electric lights were introduced at the Dickson Locomotive Works.

But, is was coal and the trains that created this town in northeastern PA. Coal brought the need for transportation and that brought the trains and as the city grew the need for a bigger and more modern station was apparent.

In the early 1900s the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Rail Road approved the construction on a massive building project, a new rail station that would be a far grander structure than anything in the region (except for the station in New York City). Famed architect Kenneth Murchison was hired to create this new station and his plans were beyond what the railroad had hoped for and were quickly approved and construction began on what would become, even more than 100 years later, one of the

a weekend destination keeping you on the backroads most impressive buildings in the northeast.

As is the way of things - situations and transportation needs changed in the last century and nowadays Scranton has three big Interstates that meet at its doorsteps.

The last train left the station on January 6, 1970. The building was shuttered and neglected, its windows cracking, the marbled lobby used to store old timetables and railroad ledgers and for a decade the grand station sat alone and empty except for vandals and the lost.

But, a rebirth would happen in the 1980s when the city decided to recreate the old station into something, very, very special – a grand hotel that would make Scranton not just a waypoint but a destination. Millions of dollars were poured into the refurbishing with phenomenal results. The building originally cost $600,000.

Times change.

Today the Lackawanna Station – run by Radisson - is truly magnificent and it was added to the National Register of Historic Sites on December 6, 1977.

Pulling up to the hotel, built from brick and steel, you will see that the station’s exterior is faced with Indiana limestone and it has an 8-foot bronze clock on the façade.

Mighty columns dominate the front of the massive building.

The main entrance leading to the former

BACKROADS • JULY 2017 waiting room is furnished in Formosa, a soft, pinkish-yellow Italian marble and the Grand Lobby, two and a half stories tall, has an ornamented mosaic tile floor and a barrel-vaulted Tiffany stained-glass ceiling.

The walls, polished to their previous brilliance, are of a very rare Siena marble.

We have never seen the like.

Looking up on a bright day the brilliance of the stained glass adds another flavor to the mix that you will find at the Lackawanna Station.

One of the most wonderful features in the lobby is the 36 unique Grueby Faience tile murals that line the top of the lobby.

When we were there we spent a bit of time with a provided guide to follow along the old D.L.& W. Phoebe Snow route, from Hoboken to Buffalo, that these beautiful tiles murals depict. From the Brooklyn Bridge to Niagara Falls following along in the lobby of the Lackawanna Station can bring you along and let you see how important the trains were to this region and how, without them, we would not have the cities, towns or the United States we have today.

Some of the scenes depicted are the Delaware Water Gap, Swartswood Lake, NJ (near Backroads Central), the Chemung Canal in New York State, and the resorts of Lake Hopatcong among others.

They are certainly beautiful and well worth it to take the time to see and appreciate.

Phoebe Snow was originally a fictional creation of the D.L, & W. Rail Road - Miss Snow was a young woman dressed all in white, emphasizing the cleanliness of Lackawanna trains that burned Pennsylvanian anthracite coal.

Phoebe Snow the musician (Poetry Man), born Phoebe Laub, got her stage

Page 23 name from this character.

Soon after the popularity of the fictional Miss Snow bloomed, the railroad named its newest and cleanest burning locomotive after her – the Phoebe Snow line is celebrated here at the hotel.

The hotel boasts 146 large, clean and modern rooms and suites and, for those of you who travel with your dog it is pet-friendly too.

It has a massive and high vaulted Trax Platform bar (originally the platform) as well as Carmen’s 2.0 a fine restaurant and some excellent private dining rooms that harken back 100 years.

On a more modern note fans of “The Office” should note that Dwight’s Speech was given at this hotel (sort of).

To stick with the old-style train theme on your visit take a short ride to Steamtown USA just down the road.

Scranton’s Lackawanna Station is a bit different for us, but we liked it and we are sure you will too.

Scranton might be a fairly large town, but some of the nicest roads in Pennsylvania are just minutes away and the Lackawanna Station would make an excellent home-base for even a large group of riders looking for something more than a bit different.

For kicks we’ll have this month’s Rip & Ride follow along, as best we can, with the old Phoebe Snow route from the Hudson to Scranton starting a bit away from Hoboken and the urban crush on that area and picking up this GPS-based ride at the Whippany Train Museum on Route 10 in Whippany, New Jersey. Keep an eye out for the tracks and the large viaducts and trestles along the way. We will do our best to keep you on track!

You can download the GPS file here: www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/6lpylu

Page 24

JULY 2017 • BACKROADS Hallelujah – and thank you President Reagan – it is July which is National Ice Cream Month. Since the 15th, which is National Ice Cream Day, falls right before our Summer Squeeze you can bet I’ll have a special Ice Cream Ride to some of the great spots in Vermont. For those not joining us, how about a Mystery Ice Cream Fun Run on Wednesday, July 12? We’ll meet at the Bear Mountain Inn, leaving @ 9am, and have a 200-mile day including a mystery tour, lunch and, of course, ice cream. Look for more details on our Facebook page and website, where a GPS route will be available for download.

Now, on to our Inside Scoop of the month:

sweet creams café 429 Main st, stroudsburg, Pa 570-421-7929 • open tues-sat from 11:30am – noon on sunday • seasonal outdoor seating Find them on Facebook After the last cold spell and the melting of the ice caps, it seems I had run out of Inside Scoop destinations so it was off to find some sweet treats for youse to eats. Luckily, the day dawned with a super nova in the sky and the promise of the mercury hitting the high seventies. The springtime bluebirds tweeted in my ear about a cute little joint in the burg of Strouds – Stroudsburg to you non-PA people – so after the morning chores we suited up and headed west, sort of.

Plotting some of the little roads that we had somehow overlooked in our years of meandering, we rode along the crest of the Kittatinny mountains towards the Delaware river, crossing at the Portland bridge and eventually popped into Stroudsburg just about lunch time. Sweet Creams Café is located on lower Main Street and with parking secured we headed for some eats.

While small in seating capacity, Sweet Creams is large in quality and ambiance. Located in the historic Wallace building, the exposed brick is reminiscent of an old time ice cream parlor. The various paintings, signs and other décor brighten the space wonderfully and the ice cream and cake displays are equally enticing. Chris and Sue, the owners, have been bringing smiles to patrons’ faces for over 25 years and while we were drawn by their promise of homemade ice cream, the lunch menu was creative and unusual. We perused and decided, though I knew that I would be back to sample some of their other offerings. Here are just a few: Baby Blue Flatbread: Roast beet, bacon, baby spinach, melted blue cheese, butter and lemon mayonnaise; Waldorf Chicken Salad Croissant: White meat chicken salad, apples, grapes, walnuts, Romaine lettuce and lemon mayo; Napoli Facaccia: Roast beef, bacon, pepperoni, melted mozzarella, red sauce on a garlic-buttered rosemary focaccia; Augustus Caesar Salad: Avocado, bacon, chick peas, candied pecans, blue cheese, Romaine, tossed with homemade Caesar dressing; Potato Monte Verde: Avocado, artichoke hearts, mushrooms, tomatoes, carrots, butter and melted Swiss cheese stuffed in either a regular or sweet potato; or Personal Pizza with fig jam, bacon, onions, goat cheese, arugula, olive oil, salt and pepper.

What we opted for was a Rouen sandwich – white meat turkey, spinach, brie and apple butter on multigrain bread served with a side of chips and a really tasty pickle and Brian’s Sausalito Salad – a halved avocado stuffed with tuna and chicken salads on a bed of Romaine, tomatoes, hard boiled eggs, carrots and garlic croutons. Because we knew there would be ice cream involved, we both took half of each home but let me tell you that salad was huge.

We had taken our seats at the high top tables in front of the ice cream case and, during lunch, I kept looking to make sure I would make the right decision on flavors. Sweet Creams offers 15 different homemade flavors daily and they were all beckoning. Why

BACKROADS • JULY 2017

Page 25 have a simple scoop of ice cream when you can have a Sweet Creams Sampler: 6 sample sized portions for just $5.95. How about your own ice cream sandwich creation with a choice of chocolate chip, peanut butter or cherry oatmeal cookie and any one of their fabulous flavors.

There are a dozen different sundaes and ice cream combos, along with their homemade cookies and croissants, and a slew of toppings.

Brian chose the Peanut Butter Vanilla ice cream sandwich, with a dollop of whipped cream, and I settled on a scoop of chocolate fudge brownie. Both were heaven, and I was glad I boxed up the other half of my sandwich so I would have room for this most creamy and flavorful dessert.

In addition to all this fine food, Sweet Creams has some kick-ass coffee, tea and other hot drinks as well as ice cream drinks (milkshakes, frozen Chai, ice-Presso and Affogato) and specialty beverages such as Italian soda and old fashioned flavored coke. The young ladies serving all these tasty treats are most pleasant and, even though they were in a lunch rush, happy to answer my numerous questions. While there may not be enough tables for a huge group, Sweet Creams is certainly able to handle a riding cadre for lunch or an afternoon pick-meup. They are open from 11:30 til 4 Tues-Sat (later on Friday/Saturday) and noon on Sunday so have some fun on the roads to and from and make Sweet Creams Café your halfway point – you won’t be disappointed.

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JULY 2017 • BACKROADS

W

ith the more “March than May” weather we had been having in the northeast we were keeping a special eye on weather maven Joe Bastardi at weatherbell.com. The cold trough that had been plaguing the region would be finally lifting out and off North America and spring, almost summer, would soon be arriving. A week before our event he promised a return of real riding weather – and he did not lie. The mid-May Thursday that saw the beginning of this year’s annual Spring Break Rally would see very warm temperatures and very blue skies. We would happily take it!

Day One: To Berkeley Springs, WV

This year’s Spring Break would be celebrated in the Mountain State of West Virginia, one of our favorite places to ride, and the first night’s gathering would be at The Country Inn, found in Berkeley Springs in the northeast part of the state.

We had put out a couple of rides down, one from us and another from our friend Road Maven Joe Niemec – both making their way down through Pennsylvania and across into Maryland and then West “By God” Virginny.

Our route picked up at the Delaware Water Gap and spun south and west along the ridges, riding into the Amish country with its rolling farms and great, easy riding roadways. Each time we ride this region we seem to pass by a baseball game played by the Amish children. Young boys in black and girls in their modest farm dresses playing their hearts out like there were Major League scouts keeping watch. Betcha these kids never get “hurt” and play with heart the entire season. No, I’m not bitter.

We love Amish baseball as it is always a happy sign of spring.

Our ride eventually ran into the Susquehanna River right at Three Mile Island, without a doubt the most infamous nuclear power plant in the United States. Back on March 28, 1979 a combination of mechanical failure and human error caused the most historic nuclear crisis in U.S. history. Thousands of locals were evacuated and the near meltdown has become almost legendary. This day the only things dangerous were the fast passing cars as we stopped for that “digital” moment.

BACKROADS • JULY 2017

Heading down into Maryland we followed Shira’s lead to a small crab and seafood house in Freeland fittingly name Freeland Crab & Seafood. Great ambiance, nice outdoor seating and super seafood – it was the perfect mid-afternoon break on this hot day.

Our route brought us up and over Catoctin Park – this park gets its natural beauty from the mountain ridge that forms the eastern rampart of the Appalachian Mountains. Catoctin is also home to Camp David, although you would have to know exactly where the president’s retreat is located – for some reason they do not advertise its location.

It was a long and hot day, but the route, we hoped, offered some superior riding and did a fine job in highlighting just how wonderful these parts of Pennsylvania and Maryland really are. The final 30 miles through the mountains to Berkeley Spring were fantastic and got more than a few comments that night while folks bellied up to the bar, reacquainted with old friends and made plans for their ride for the upcoming weekend as we explored the backroads of West Virginia.

The Country Inn at Berkeley Springs, like it had in the past, worked out wonderfully and this time around we had a number of new faces joining in the fun as well.

For most it was a long hot day and so many called it an early night as we all had a seriously fun ride set up for the next day.

Day Two: Stonewall Resort Roanoke, WV After a quick but happy breakfast at The Country Inn our group began to ride out in small packs of riders.

Shira and I ended up on the road by ourselves for a bit but met up with some others as we headed to one of our first points of interest this day, the famed Paw Paw Tunnel. Built in the 1830s for the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal, the project was a long and difficult one.

Today the 3,100-foot tunnel is well worth visiting and we did just that, with a brisk ½ mile walk to and from the tunnel itself.

Page 27

Back on the road we ran along the Maryland-West Virginia borderlands, and along the way we would run into other Spring Breakers. With the day a tad cooler than the previous one, we had just about perfect riding conditions all day long.

Like the preceding day Shira had found a most excellent stop for lunch in Maryland – a small Mennonite farm café and bakery called Heidi’s. Those

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JULY 2017 • BACKROADS

who made it there were not disappointed as it made for an easy, quick and delicious stop.

The route then sped deep into the Mountain State with a combination of twisty mountain pass roads, along some long valleys rimmed with colossal wind turbines spinning in the warm May sun, and a short spat on Route 219 that was once prime riding, but has been devolved into a run of the mill, but pleasant, small highway. In truth this is the only place we got hit by a rain squall this day and better on this road than to be caught up on a twisty two-laner along the peaks with all that rain and wind.

It’s all part of the ride, right?

Still it got us to where we needed to be and by midafternoon the fabulous Stonewall Resort began to fill with bikes of all types.

The rest of the day found many exploring the ample grounds and amenities that the Stonewall had to offer and another large group poolside. Although it was a Spring Break it felt like summer and all was good in the world. Well, in our world at least.

The Stonewall seemed to be a big hit with our people.

The place is massive, having its own lake, indoor/outdoor pool, fire pits for s’mores and a number of great restaurants and an ample-sized bar.

Everything you could need after a good day’s ride.

Day Three - Free Ride in West Virginia Head West young man…or south…or north As with most of our rallies we have a number of suggestions, points of interests to visit or just general tips for riders to make the most of the perfect weather and superb roads West Virginia had to offer this weekend.

With that taken into consideration we had Spring Breakers to the north, heading toward Wheeling, to the south near Charleston and even across the big river into the Buckeye State of Ohio.

BACKROADS • JULY 2017

Page 29 Shira and I spilt up that day with her bringing a group to what she had dubbed her Sweet & Salty Ride – a roller coaster romp south through the center of the state to J.Q. Dickinson Salt and then to Ellen’s Ice Cream (of course) across the city limits of Charleston.

Others followed our Myths and Legends Ride that rode south as well, but then brought riders back along the West VA side of the Ohio River with lunch at the legendary Hillbilly Hot Dogs (Birthplace of the Home Wrecker!) and then to the town of Point Pleasant where the myth of the West Virginian monster the Mothman has its roots.

Both Hillbilly Hot Dogs and the statue to the Mothman in the center of Point Pleasant were worth the trip for those who made it – surely a long day’s ride and they are now myths and legends in their own minds.

Some followed along our Sweet 16 Ride which spent the day riding along Route 16 - one of West Virginia’s best pieces of pavement in a state full of outstanding pieces of pavement.

For those interested in both the wacky and the historical there were rides to the Allegheny Lunatic Asylum along with the Mummies of Philipi; both have become a Backroads staples.

I chose the ride that would head across the Ohio, via a small ferry (never turn down a ferry ride), and then into Marietta, Ohio.

It was interesting to note that this town was the first outpost in what was then called the Northwest Territories. I don’t think they knew just how big the USA would end up being, but they had to start somewhere and Marietta was the place. Another point of interest and what drew me back to this river city, that we have been to a few times before, was the knowledge that in the center of town there is a Mound Cemetery - an historic cemetery developed around the base of a prehistoric Adena burial mound known as the Great Mound. The mound

Page 30

itself is magnificent and you can even walk the steep stairs to the top of it. Just as impressive is the amount of American Revolutionary Officers that moved to Marietta when the United States was still in its infancy and died and were buried here. A great mix of American history both native and Revolutionary.

This conical Great Mound at Mound Cemetery is part of an Ohio Hopewell culture mound complex known as the Marietta Earthworks and is believed to have been built around 100 BCE. A superb find and mix into this day the superb roads, the great Sistersville Ferry crossing over to Fly, Ohio and those who came along on this day ride were not disappointed.

The ride back was even more entertaining as Route 16 is that good.

Later that afternoon the pool was full, as was the bar and the Stonewall’s restaurants.

It was a long day and filling night.

Day Four: To Canaan Valley Resort Sunday saw some having to leave to get back to the day-to-day, while the bulk of our gathering mounted up for a long ride through the center of West Virginia to Canaan Valley Resort.

We have been here many times and knew it was the prefect place to end this year’s Spring Break soiree. We had two versions of basically the same ride with an additional bunch of miles for those who wished. Route 72, a long-time favorite of ours, would be the icing on the day’s cake.

JULY 2017 • BACKROADS

BACKROADS • JULY 2017

Page 31 Our plan was to ride to the Cass Railroad for lunch, which we did, but I am beginning to wonder why the mountain that Cass sits below seems to be shrouded in fog each and every time we ride over it – like Skull Island, always blanketed in mist.

Lucky we had Pepe the Monkey in case King Kong showed up.

Just as we were finishing lunch the locomotive came down off the mountains in a show of steam, smoke and power.

These trains are powerful, loud and impressive and we were glad our timing worked out so well.

From there we headed north and stopped in at the Radio Observatory at Green Bank – home to many astronomical projects and the SETI Project searching for extraterrestrial life. They might have looked at the Stonewall’s bar the night before.

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JULY 2017 • BACKROADS

Continuing north we made our required stop at The Front Porch for coffee and pie with a grand view of Seneca Rocks and then we scooted up to Canaan for a final night of the Spring Break – making it in just an hour or so before a cold front would push through with some heavy rains overnight.

Timing is everything, right?

Day Five – The Journey Home That Monday saw the rains that had soaked the region pushing off to the east and riders gearing up for a slightly soggy ride to wherever they called home.

We had our own plans, riding up into Virginia, searching out some secret government installations for Seymour O’Life and then overnighting outside of Gettysburg.

These events always seem to fly by for us. Each one is months in the making and then they are done, but we are pretty certain that almost everyone had a heck of a good time and we are looking forward to our Fall Fiesta through New York State and our recently announced Summer Squeeze this month in Vermont.

If you have not ever attended a Backroads rally now is the time. We promise a few things – great roads, good times, fun and adventure and, especially, some of the nicest and most genuine riders you will ever meet. See ya on the road!

ERIC MILANO GUEST TOUR GUIDE @ BACKROADS’ SUMMER SQUEEZE JULY 16-19, 2017

BACKROADS • JULY 2017

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The Readings….Why is this so important!?

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776 The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen United States of America When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation… each year on July 4th, as the nation celebrates its birthday, some think of it as just another holiday and a time to barbeque, watch baseball and play with the family. But here is a thought for you.

Near our offices, in the town of Newton, New Jersey, there is a special event that is held every year on this day - the reading of the Declaration of Independence.

This Fourth of July will mark the 241th anniversary of the declaration made by 56 men stating the United States was no longer part of england’s rule when they signed the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia. To commemorate that day, as they have done for each many years now, local residents of the region will read the document word for word at the Newton Square.

We have made it a point to ride over for the last few years and when you really hear the words, when you let them strike you and you really listen, you will understand why we are who we are… and why we have more potential than any other nation on the planet.

These readings happen all over the place and we know they will have a reading at the Washington Campground, on Middlebrook Road in Bridgewater Township, just north of Route 22 this day too.

Here you will learn about the original 13 Star Flag – but more on that in a later issue.

Search about your own town, region or county – chances are that someone will be reading these mighty words and it is a great excuse to go for an early day’s ride and to learn a little bit about our own American history.

There is no better way to start the 4th of July!

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JULY 2017 • BACKROADS

The Worlds of Motorcycles

D

words: Michael Delaney

uring a discussion with a non-rider at dinner, she was amazed at how many different motorcycles and riders she sees on the road these days. I complimented her on her keen observational skills, for indeed much of the non-riding population sees us as one big outlaw group – the stereotypical persona that Hollyweird has broadcast for decades.

I have always said that a study on and about the different flavors of motorcyclists would make an excellent thesis.

This took me to jotting down just how different and varied our motorcycle world or worlds truly are.

Please know this is very tongue in cheek and that I think riders who laugh best can laugh with and at themselves and I represent many of these examples.

So with a slight nod to Jesse Watters‌ Welcome to my Worlds.

Adventure World

It is so easy to start here in Adventure World. Here all the riders have quit their jobs, sold their homes and children and have started down the unbeaten path convinced that nobody else has EVER done this. That the passage they are on just miraculously appeared and could have no way been made by those thousands who have done this same thing long before.

The bikes they ride can be varied, but many riders here simply orbit Adventure World and never really land and are easy to spot, as they ride titanically tough looking machines, usually from Germany, but Austrian, British, Japanese and some American machines can be found in orbit too.

Their sticker-infested decoupage-style luggage that they carry around can be so big and wide that it can put semitrucks and even some freight trains to shame.

Almost all the photography in stories, articles and magazines from this planet invariably portray these machines in various stages of distress, crash and general upendedness. A journey without incident is frowned upon and viewed with distaste and aloofness.

On this planet there are no paved roads, no fuel stations, no sanitary bathrooms and sometime no toilet paper.

Garden hoses spew out mud and grit instead of just water. It is a tough world where only the burly survive.

BACKROADS • JULY 2017

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American Cruiser World

This was once called Harley world, but in the ever-expanding universe that was created after the Big Bang of 1903 in Milwaukee this has evolved into a world that encompasses many machines – unless said machine wakes up one day and closes its doors. ‘Tis a fun world.

The entire planet is made up of giant rallies and miles and miles of beachfront roads clogged, like sclerotic arteries, with thousands of bikes going nowhere fast, but all having fun.

These jams are interconnected with hundreds of miles of empty desert scenery. Changes in trajectory come along gentle curves, there is an obvious lack of police presence and the open bars all serve the coldest American brew all day long.

On this planet men are all beefy (even if they are not) and the women all babes (even if they are not) – and both helmets and tops are optional on American Cruiser World.

Dealerships here dwarf NASA’s Vehicle Assembly Building.

Time and space have their own issues because the loud thunderous noise and vibration coming from this planet tears the time/space continuum fabric like a ripped wet tee shirt but, speaking of tee shirts, this same anomaly allows guys with shirts that say “Bike Week 1958” to hang with the 2017 crowd in cruiser-style bliss.

Another oddity on this world, due to the time/space issues, is that the week always starts on a Friday afternoon and ends on Sunday night. There are no Mondays through Thursdays. Odd, but that is how it is on American Cruiser World.

Bavarian World

In this universe George Patton was never born and thus never won the war for the Allies and, in Milwaukee, 3700 West Juneau Avenue is the address of a Berlin-based braugarten.

On this world the blue & white roundel is everywhere and Bayerische Motoren Werke can do no wrong.

Burning oil is the norm, everyone uses two turn signals and the BMW ON magazine is the size of War and Peace and is published weekly.

On Bavarian World people are married wearing modular helmets and Aerostich suits and the wedding bands play only “oompah” music. On this world there are no chain hotels - just miles and miles of endless camping sites and hundreds of thousands of Kermit chairs. Quiet time is 11pm worldwide.

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JULY 2017 • BACKROADS

Squid World and its Wannabe Moon

This is a truly topsy/turvy world.

Populated almost exclusively by youngish riders – both male and female – they ride overpowered, cramped sport machines, that make no street sense outside the pit rows of various motor courses that dot this planet. For sure there are the occasional older rider found in this part of the universe, but they can usually be identified by their earned skill, amount of real riding gear they wear and their sad yearning for days gone by.

On this world the younger riders can easily be identified by the hot looking bikes and incredibly expensive fullfaced helmets that are set off by their shorts, tee shirts or hoodies. Baseball caps are worn backwards.

Bragging rights are not gotten by how many miles you have safely ridden, but how many on one wheel.

On the nearby Wannabe Moon the riders can be spotted in their multi-colored leathers, ballistic nylon riding suit and high-viz vests.

The riders on this moon have the very latest in gear – whatever the big mags have coronated as the hip new stuff. They have multiple lights on their machines, which draw more power than China’s Three Gorges Dam Powerplant can supply. Their bikes throw out so much illumination they are routinely tracked by the International Space Station and NORAD.

Iron Butt World

Long are the highways on this world.

Hundreds, sometimes thousands, of miles of asphalt crisscross this world and wind their way down one side and then up the other. You can ride forever for the roads quickly pass anything and everything of interest and wonder.

Here on Iron Butt World every restaurant is at least 278 miles away, the top selling sustenance is any type of energy bar with peanut butter and most motorcycles come stock with 48-gallon fuel cells that can be refueled by Boeing KC-46 Pegasus tanker aircraft.

Occupants of this world have their DNA ingrained to ride for more hours than there are in a day.

They are more comfortable on their bikes than their beds.

With that in mind real hotels have long since been banned on this world with thousands of hard picnic benches that shake violently every 20 minutes to wake up riders who have laid down on them to catch a little bit of shut-eye.

On this planet the CERN Super-Collider is used, not for scientific experimentation, but as a long distance test track. Years of evolution have hardened their buttocks so stiff that they are literally the toughest riders in the world.

Yes, these are my worlds – how is yours doing?

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BACKROADS • JULY 2017

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JULY 2017 • BACKROADS

LEE PARK’S

with CHRISTINE

Christine giving pointers after the first range excercise.

FIREHOCK

In keeping with our ever recurring theme of making yourself a better rider you should know we try to practice what we preach and late in May I got to scratch off two things that were on my Bucket List – one riding through downtown Poughkeepsie at 7 am on my birthday (Huge, I tell ya!) and the other was to take the Total Control Riding Advanced Rider Clinic.

Here in the northeast Lee Park’s School is administrated and taught by well known riding instructor Christine Firehock and a crew of talented instructors. It is held a number of times throughout the year at the campus at Dutchess Community College, in Poughkeepsie, New York.

The course is given in two parts - Level One and Level Two. This weekend we’d have time for only one and, as you would think, a rider must take the first day’s course before moving onto the second.

This Saturday we’d be taking Level One and we arrived at 7:30am at the school, bringing along the two things every student must have - an open mind and a willingness to learn.

If you can not be teachable than why bother?

Christine, and her husband Mike, have been on the teaching and mentoring side of motorcycling for years and it shows with their easy manner and the way they can get their points across in a unique and sometimes amusing fashion.

Up and coming instructor Christine explains controlled Kyle was also part of the Mike watches the rest of the rolling on-off of the throttle crew, doing all the heavy liftcrew going through their paces. ing, as was his dad Tom who helped in more ways than we could imagine when we arrived.

The early part of the class was spent in the classroom with different exercises and discussions of motorcycles, riding techniques and what would be good or bad for your motorcycle while operating it.

BACKROADS • JULY 2017

Traction management was a key topic as was proper and even throttle control and trail braking (which is my friend). Although some of the topics that were discussed have and will be discussed in other schools as well (there are universal riding truths out there kids) some other areas were brought up that opened my mind to other paradigms.

Vision was an eye opener as we compared predator vision to prey vision and how working with one versus the other can allow for far smoother, more graceful and safer riding all around. I’d tell you which, but you should go take Total Control and let Christine fill you in.

We even touched on more cerebral points as well with a sprinkle of eastern mysticism and philosophy.

The latter part of the morning and the full afternoon was spent on the wide and long range that was all ours.

No traffic, no Bambi and no skunks.

They fixated on Mephitidaes.

In the morning we worked on trail braking and throttle control and after lunch (most of us chipped in on pizzas) things got a bit more intricate with body position being worked on each and every rider individually.

Christine would sit us on our bikes, have us take the proper body position for a turn and have the rest of the crew hold the bike as she tipped us over to find the ‘sweet spot’ where the bike would balance itself. Very eye-opening indeed.

To me it seemed that most students were fairly new to riding or returning to the sport after some time off Correcting body positioning

Page 39

and we even had one couple on a Ducati Panigale taking in the finer points Total Control would show us this day, but with the addition of a co-pilot – whose job is far more than just sitting on the back.

After lunch and after we were all briefed and corrected on proper turning and body positioning, we did a series of exercises using all we had learned and talked about earlier in the day. Like most good schools each lesson learned was built on the previous.

Later in the afternoon Christine was working with me one-on-one on correcting and perfecting my position on my BMW R1200GS when she sat on the bike and asked for the keys.

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JULY 2017 • BACKROADS I did not know she was going for a ride until she did.

Like a motorcycle version of Prima Noctum - she had her way with my bike and, boy… was it impressive.

It is one thing to kinda know your machine can be heeled over so far, but far more extraordinary to see it done by someone who has never ridden this particular bike before.

Christine has the riding chops to back up her ample knowledge and easy-going teaching skills. All of the inChristine commandeers the GS and shows Brian what it can do. structors do.

I was impressed at seeing the GS so far leaned over and the smile of her face Mike takes Carlos’ co-pilot for a tilted ride. while she did this, and it spurred me onto leaning even further into the next set of exercises with gratifying results.

This was an all day class and went into the early evening. Christine and crew had made a promise to us in the beginning of the day that we would be better, more confident and skillful riders and then came through with that promise.

We think everybody there had their skill level brought up a few notches and I also know that many might not have thought they could do what they were doing on their machines when they first arrived.

The Total Control ARC, which cost $375, is an excellent middle ground between the MSF ERC and a track based school such as Reg Pridmore’s CLASS. If you feel you are a rider who is looking to bring up his or her level as you move forward with your own riding skills, talent and comfort then you might like to look at this course.

They do offer a second day – called Level 2 – which takes what you will learn on day one to an even higher level.

You can log onto Christine’s website at kickstartmts.com to find out schedules and additional prices.

Ye olde landmark tavern

Fire Pit • Free WiFi Cooked-to-order Breakfast Heated Pool • BYOB

5 Spacious Rooms starting at $100.00 Tavern and Dining Room Menu Serving Hours: Mon-Sat: 5-9pm Sunday: 2:30-8pm

We welcome everyone from a lone rider to a full chapter

Seasonal April ~ December Member of

Featured in ‘We’re Outta Here’ In the heart of great riding • Between Syracuse and Utica

344 Route 100, West Dover, VT www.BigBearsLodge.com 802-464-5591

Riverside Cafe & Lodge, nestled on the Beaverskill River in Roscoe, NY CIA-trained chef • Motel rooms and cabins • Free wi-fi Excellent base location to explore the lower Catskills

Cooperstown • Finger Lakes • State Forests

Route 20, Bouckville, nY • 315-893-1810 • www.yeoldelandmark.com

Quoddy Head Station B&B • Lubec, Maine See the Sunrise First Quoddy Head Station is located on West Quoddy Head in Downeast Maine in the historic seafaring town of Lubec. It's adjacent to Quoddy State Park with a 5 minute walk to West Quoddy Light.

For a Romantic Getaway or Group Outing, Quoddy Head Station is a perfect destination for your next motorcycle trip. 9 private units — 5-bedroom Station House, Keepers Cottage, the Cabin, the Camp and 4 Lodge apartments.

Riverside Cafe & Lodge • 16624 Cty Hwy 17 • Roscoe, NY • 607-498-5305 www.riversidecafeandlodge.com • GPS: 41°58’09”N • 75°01’32.6”W

Visit our website for more details www.quoddyvacation.com Call Bill Clark for reservations 877-535-4714 • info@quoddyvacation.com

BACKROADS • JULY 2017

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words + images: DeeDee Ford It has been several years now that Richard, my husband, has talked about wanting to get a one-piece Aerostich motorcycle suit. He commutes at least two hours round trip when he teaches motorcycle safety and feels that this suit would be ideal to allow him to have his clothes on underneath and just pop out of the gear. He has put the time into researching all there is to know about Aerostich clothing and talked with others who he has seen on the road who wear them. Decision made; Richard wants a one-piece suit. Being the great wife that I am, I designed a motorcycle route from New Hampshire to Duluth, Minnesota and presented it to him. He said, “Heck ya, let’s go!”

About one month later the day has come when we are to depart. The house sitter is in place, bills have been paid, bikes have been serviced and we are sooooo ready for some fun. Our adventure began on a Tuesday and was to last 11 days, 10 nights of lodging and 11 days of excitement. We have reserved only 3 nights of lodging. We set out that morning at 5:00 am. The temperature was a cool and refreshing 55 degrees and the sunrise was gorgeous. The first day was going to be our longest travel because we wanted to be at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on Wednesday. Day 1 we travelled from New Hampshire to Findley Lake NY. The route I chose was not the shortest in miles but seemed to have more scenic landscaping. So after about 660 miles we arrived at our destination. One of the things I like most about motorcycling is the need to adapt. The day’s temperature started at 55 degrees but the high for the day was 91 - layers on, layers off. The day was beautiful, sunny and the sky a deep shade of baby blue. Exactly what we needed and have been longing for since the plan was hatched. When we arrived at the hotel in the evening there was a guy sitting on the bench outside the hotel. He was leaning over and had his hands cupping his face; looked a bit anguished. When we got off the bikes he immediately told us that the bike over in the parking lot that was in pieces was his. He went on to tell us that he built it himself and was waiting on a part. You could clearly see this bike was a stripped down bobber, complete with a PBR beer can used as a cover to conceal where the muffler and pipes had been welded. I couldn’t believe looking at

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The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has only been around since 1983 and has 775 inductees. The 2016 inductees include Deep Purple, Cheap Trick, Chicago and the Steve Miller Band. Not sure what took so long for Chicago!

Research showed that room rates were high so we pre-booked a room 20 miles outside of Cleveland in Westlake Ohio. We enjoyed the ride through the city and to our hotel. The day was hot, so the first thing we did was find the pool. Refreshing and much needed. We walked to a local brewery called The Sibling Revelry, a family run brewery that has a cool vibe and good beer but does not serve food however they do often have food trucks on site. This particular evening there was a pizza truck offering homemade pizzas. Beer and pizza, I think so! What we enjoy most about breweries and wineries is that these folks take a raw product and make something good out of it; same for carpenters and anyone who works with their hands. On the way back to the hotel, just before we reached our own, there was a Doubletree Hotel.

Y’all know what they are famous for, right? Cookies! So we walked in nonchalantly and like we owned the place only to find out that they now only give the cookies out at check-in. Perhaps there are others like us who enjoy their cookies too and now they have had to create a policy.

Oops, sorry but they are sooooo good.

From Westlake we rode through Ohio, Indiana and into Michigan. We made a brief stop in Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids, Michigan. Grand Rapids has a dozen or so breweries, too bad we have many miles to go or we could partake in some. We did buy a few bottles for our evening happy hour to take place at our destination which was yet to be determined. By far the most aggressive drivers of the whole trip were in Grand Rapids. My word, they were fast, erratic and just overall crazy. The cars are merging left and right for on ramps WOW! I was wondering if they drink too much beer or not enough?

Maybe it was the heat. With finger on the horn just in case, we got through the traffic and further towards the U.P. of Michigan. We found lodging in Cadillac, Michigan, a cute and small town.

The next morning we were out the door at 8:30 am with our sites on Lake Michigan. We have not touched Lake Michigan before so we were looking forward to it. We have lived near the ocean for most of our lives and are used to the big waves and salty water. Lake Michigan, as it is so vast. looked more like our Atlantic Ocean than a lake. On this day the wind was fierce and there were waves. So far not much different than the ocean however when feeling the temperature, like bath water, you know you are not in the Atlantic.

This part of Michigan is loaded with cherry trees. Cherry signs were everywhere “Washed Cherries For Sale”. We stopped at a road side country store and bought a couple of pounds. The cherries were delicious and not a blemish in the bunch. Further down the road we stumbled on to a farmers market.

We saw cherry pie, cherry strudel, cherry wine, cherry, cherry & cherry.

Yummy!

Route 739 • Dingmans Ferry, PA • 570.828.1920

the flat pan seat that this guy rode this bike from Illinois. He said he felt like a kid on Christmas morning waiting for the Fedex truck to come. Another wonderful part of motorcycling is that it opens up dialogue between people. Even people that don’t ride seem somewhat intrigued when we arrive at a destination all geared up. The night was uneventful, we had lousy takeout (it’s only a meal) and went to bed.

Today is Rock and Roll Hall of Fame day. The high temperature for today was 96. The city of Cleveland was the sight for the Republican National Convention, which was only a few days away and we knew this going in. We got into the city with no issues, found a great FREE parking spot and enjoyed the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This was my first visit and what I found interesting were the outfits. Some I would wear today, like the bell bottoms with peace signs on them, others not so much. This place was happening with tourists. They had cool kid bands playing in the lobby and could these youngsters put on a show! Richard reached for his earplugs only to be reminded that he left them on his bike.

JULY 2017 • BACKROADS

BACKROADS • JULY 2017 Some interesting cherry facts: Michigan produces both tart and sweet cherries Michigan ranks 1st in the nation in the production of Montmorency tart cherries Michigan ranks 4th in the nation in the production of sweet cherries 70-75% of Montmorency tart cherries and 20% of sweet cherries grown in the U.S. come from Michigan The northwest counties of Michigan grow most of Michigan’s cherries Traverse City, Michigan is home to the annual National Cherry Festival and is the Cherry Capital of the World Be sure to visit during July and August to get some delicious cherries for yourself.

In addition to the cherries, lavender is quite prevalent. If I could have, I would have brought home a lavender wreath.

I was admiring a wreath that a lady had just purchased and she placed it on my head and said I could wear it instead of my helmet. The wreath smelled great and looked beautiful but no room for that on either bike, so we carried on.

We stopped for lunch at a spot I found online called Harbor Springs Winery. The food looked fantastic on their website and they did not disappoint. No wine for us today but really good food. After lunch, Richard signed up for the “Squash Pull.” This is where you buy some squash to send catapulting in the goat pen. Wow what a great way to feed the goats and make a little money too. Most of the people who were pulling this massive rubber band ended up hitting the goats with the squash. Not sure the goats are happy with this comic routine. We travelled further to a little town called Indian River where we overpaid for a very average room. This is peak season for this area and they are getting “high dollar” rates. The room was clean - so there is that!

Saturday we departed our room at 8:30 all geared up. The outside temperature was 43 degrees. Yowsa!

Today is Mackinac Bridge day; or the Mighty Mac as the locals call it. Today we elevate ourselves from “Trolls” to “Youpers”. Trolls, they tell us, are people who live under the bridge. Youpers are U.P. (Upper Peninsula) folk. The Youpers say being a Youper is way better than being a Troll. Time will tell. I had heard some stories about the Mackinac Bridge being difficult for a motorcycle to traverse. I called a trusted friend who put me at ease. He was right it was very

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Page 44 easy. There are two lanes going northbound and two lanes going southbound and one lane on each side is grated while the other is paved. The bridge is some 5 miles long and really high but we have definitely been over higher bridges. The wind on the day we travelled over it was calm. I suspect that on a windy day it is much more difficult. It is a very pretty ride as you have Lake Michigan on your left and Lake Huron on your right; both magnificent.

4 US dollars gets you over the bridge, which is a bargain compared to the GWB separating NY from NJ. Fifteen bucks these days, right?

As we entered into the U.P. we kept seeing signs for “Pasties”. Every little store, gas station and restaurant was advertising “Pasties”. So we stopped to see what this was all about. The store we stopped at obviously gets asked, “What is a Pastie” a lot because they have the proper way to say it and the list of ingredients printed on the wall. The proper way to say pasties (we were thinking cover ups for body parts, we were wrong) is past-ee. Basically, this food is a lot like the pepperoni rolls or hand pies that the miners would take in their lunch boxes.

They consist of potatoes, carrots, ground meat and seasoning baked in really good dough. A pot pie hand pie without the gravy. Some put ketchup on them, others hot sauce. We ate them as is and enjoyed them. We had beautiful scenery with Lake Michigan on our left travelling Route 2. We had a pretty good pace of travel going since we left home. One of my finest memories of this trip is pulling over on the side of the road, grabbing our motorcycle covers and sitting on the very empty, yet awe striking beach with my best friend. We took off our boots and stuck our feet in the sand. I can’t be near water without going in so I took off my gear and went in. Cool but not cold and no salt! Very refreshing. We enjoyed an hour or so at the beach, dried off and continued along Route 2 as

JULY 2017 • BACKROADS we made our way to the Michigan/Wisconsin border to the town of Iron Mountain where we found a room for the night.

Sunday when we woke up it was raining. We moved under the portico for loading and gearing up. Quickly, we became the entertainment of the moment. Curious travelers wondered why we wouldn’t “wait out the storm”.

Others wanted to know where we were going and where we had been. After some discussion and education on motorcycle touring, we were off. This was our first day of rain but it didn’t last long. We were headed for Duluth where

we would stay for the evening followed by a Monday morning appointment at Aerostich. The road we were travelling (Route 2) had some really bad rain a week or so ago which caused washouts. We were cautioned that some of the road could be closed and that it would be over a two hour detour to get to Duluth. The road in question was closed to trucks but motorcycles and cars were able to travel through. We were relieved because we wanted as much time in Duluth as we could get. We were staying downtown so we could walk the area with ease and enjoy all that the city has to offer. We arrived in the early afternoon with plenty of time to explore. Duluth is a working city with the waterway all around it yet it also has great restaurants and shopping. We changed quickly and headed down the boardwalk, along Lake Superior to Fitgers. Fitgers is a local brewery that is pretty cool. They have several bars and an outside patio. We decided to sit on the inside bar which

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BACKROADS • JULY 2017 we were told has all of the beers that they currently have on tap.

One of the beers listed was an intriguing, spicy beer. I told the bartender that I would have that. He suggested I try it first. He said it is made with habanero and jalapeno peppers and you will either love it or hate it. I loved it! It was a sipper but really good.

We walked down to the drawbridge, enjoyed the mechanisms that make that work and found a lovely outside seat at an Italian restaurant. We talked about our Aerostich day tomorrow and we were both excited to see this Mecca of riding gear.

We were up early Monday. Our appointment was at 9:00am at Aerostich but we wanted to get there at 8:00 when they opened so we could browse for a while before Richard was fitted for his suit. We arrived at 7:45 and milled around the outside checking out the open air seating area that they have attached to the warehouse that houses their business. When they opened we went in and were greeted by friendly staff. Donna was our first contact and the person who would be assisting Richard with his purchase today. She was awesome! She knows her product and is extremely helpful yet didn’t voice her opinions about what to buy. Perfect! Richard tried on many different sizes and after a few hours made a decision and a purchase. Booyah!

I then decided while I was there, why not try on some of the gear myself?

I did just that. I did not make a purchase that day but I have all the information necessary to make a purchase should I decide to do so. Donna brought us on a tour and explained the process when making gear and showed the various departments, like the one that adds the pockets.

She said that an experienced garment maker (not sure that is their official title) can make a suit in a day and a half while an inexperienced person would take two weeks. Wow, the value of a well-trained team member, eh? The service that we received and the way we were welcomed at Aerostich was really great. Also, they don’t charge your credit card until they ship the suit which would be sometime in October. Currently, they are experiencing a backlog due to insufficient material that they had just received. I am guessing that not everyone

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JULY 2017 • BACKROADS

wants to travel to Minnesota to purchase motorcycle gear. You really don’t have to. Donna told us that you can send them your measurements or look for one of their travelling ‘pop-up’ locations, which they do from time to time. Their gear is an investment which will last you a very long time and can you really put a price tag on protecting yourself while enjoying your favorite sport? We think not.

travel tips we utilize: If you have called a hotel to check on availability and they do not have any rooms available, try TripAdvisor. We used this method several times when a hotel was fully booked and got a room.

Hotel Tonight is an app you can download and search for hotel rooms in a specific location or your current location.

Some days we would eat lunch out but to minimize the “restaurant food” which gets old after a while, we would find a local grocery store for our dinner. This approach also allows you to really relax after a 10-12 hour day.

We were out for 10 nights and 11 days and we only made 3 room reservations at the destination cities in which we had obligations. This allowed us flexibility as to how long we travelled each day and to stop anywhere we wanted when we saw something that intrigued us. We only had one bummer room reservation on the trip.

Twice during the trip we made reservations at brand hotels which allowed us to cancel by 6pm on the day of arrival. We liked this because if gave us flexibility. We would know by 4pm whether or not we would make it to that city or not and could change the reservation without incurring cost.

Wear a CamelBak hydration pack when touring. How refreshing on a 90° day to have water available when you need it? Dehydration can come on quickly when it is hot out.

Tell your credit card company you are travelling so you experience fluid use of your card without interruption.

If you are riding with other motorcycles, share the leader position. Sometimes boredom and/or fatigue can set in and changing your position within the group can minimize this.

Most of all have a positive attitude. This sport we have chosen is supposed to be fun!

It allows us the opportunity to be challenged and rewarded.

See and smell the world!

BACKROADS • JULY 2017

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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

TOURATECH DESTINO RIDING BOOTS • LOCK THEM DOWN WHILE YOU WALK AROUND On a long-distance motorcycle adventure the rider faces a lot of changes in terrain, weather and circumstance. Whatever the situation, the rider wants to be as prepared as possible and the optimum footwear is paramount. That’s why Touratech developed the Destino Adventure Boot. It’s a riding boot designed to excel on pavement, over distance, through dirt, mud and water. The Destino also has a feature that no other boot has: A waterproof inner shoe engineered to wear separately.

With Destino, a day in the saddle doesn’t have to end with wet socks or walking through camp or a restaurant in big, heavy boots. No longer do you need to carry an extra pair of shoes for off-the-bike excursions. The shoes are integrated into the riding boots and the outer-boot can lock right to your bike if you need to leave them behind while you socialize or explore.

“This is easily the most versatile boot on the market for adventure riders.”Paul Guillien, Backcountry Discovery Routes The rugged, Destino outerboot is full-grain leather, using water-resistant Outdry™ technology so it’s water resistant and dries quickly. It’s equipped with impact-resistant polyurethane toe, ankle and shin protection, an oil-resistant sole and retractable cable for locking them down when you’re walking around.

The light, sleek and waterproof inner-boot is a fully functional shoe! It’s comfortable, cool looking, washable and integrated into the boot.

Touratech Destino comes in three colors and men’s and women’s sizes and sell for $450.

Find out more at www.touratech-usa.com.

MOTORCYCLE TRAILERS

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JULY 2017 • BACKROADS

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

KERSHAW PUB KNIFE

Advertising works!

We spotted the ad that our friends at Kershaw Knives were running in our June issue and were taken with the ad itself – the well-geared rider that even was wearing a waterpack.

It sent the message that riders should be prepared and the ad was for Kershaw’s new blade the Pub. We needed one of these.

Unlike some of the other knives we have featured by this premier company the Pub is very utilitarian in its design and build.

We think of knives, like many of the Kershaw blades, as must have tools and to be used as such. Having a well-built knife on you is always a good idea.

This Pub model sports a black anodized aluminum handle and a stonewashed sheepsfoot blade. Designed by Belarussian custom knifemaker Dmitry Sinkevich, the Kershaw Pub offers unique style and a handy EDC (Every Day Carry) tool for any occasion. In addition to the modified sheepsfoot blade, the Pub is equipped with a bottle opener, flat-head screwdriver, and an ample 1” key-chain attachment.

The handle has an anodized aluminum front scale in basic black and a steel back. When open, the handle is large enough for a comfortable grip on this slip-joint-style knife.

When closed, the Pub is less than 3 inches long, but with a oneinch key chain attachment, making it easy to slip onto even a

SUMMER SQUEEZE

July 16-19, 2017

WE FOUND A COUPLE OF FREE DAYS IN OUR SCHEDULE AND HOPE YOU CAN TOO.

YEAH, WE KNOW IT’S DURING THE WEEK, BUT EVERYONE NEEDS A LITTLE BREAK.

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COME JOIN US FOR A QUICK SUMMER RIDE

IN VERMONT AND SOME TIME WITH FRIENDS OLD AND NEW.

Gray Ghost Inn • www.grayghostinn.com • 800-745-3615 290 Route 100 North, West Dover, VT

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crowded key ring. Strong detent keeps the Pub closed until you open it.

The Pub sells for a very affordable $25 and is a most excellent addition to the things you must carry on your bike.

Log onto kershaw.kaiusaltd.com to see this and all of their fine offerings.

BACKROADS • JULY 2017

fREEland cRaB & sEafood 20235 MIDDLETOWN RD, FREELAND, MD 21053 410- 357-9100 • www.freelandcrabandsea.com When traveling down and into the Old Line State of Maryland it almost seems that there is a wisp of Old Bay in the air.

If you do not know what Old Bay is…go research and then come back and we’ll continue.

Okay, while that one person is off Googling, we want to tell you of this place we stopped in while heading south earlier this yearFreeland Crab & Seafood.

We adore smallish mom & pop places like this. They are usually found roadside, offer a few tables for sitting and, more often than not, have the real deal when it comes to local cuisine.

Chrissy and company have been serving up exemplary Maryland-style cuisine for a number of years now and when we stopped by they were more than ready to deal with our small army accompanying us.

Even though it was a tad on the warm side this day, we started with a sampling of their two crab soups – Maryland-style and Cream of…

Although they pulled out a bunch of the largest Blue Crabs I have seen in a long time (and they were taunting me, I tell ya, taunting me!) we did not have time to sit for the hour plus needed to devour a dozen of these monsters in proper Chesapeake fashion. Going to a solid plan B our group went for variations of crab dishes with soft shell crab sandwiches and crab cakes taking up the plates of most of our group.

They also made up a few superb salads and you could add your choice of what they have to offer that day atop this.

Great and healthy way to go.

If you are not into the sea, then you can get pizza, burgers and the rest of the stuff you can get elsewhere – so go for something crabby – it should be the law.

Freeland Crab & Seafood is everything you would need in a roadside family owned seafood eatery on the southside of the Mason-Dixon Line. Enjoy!

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JULY 2017 • BACKROADS

TALES FROM AN ALTERNATE UNIVERSE

ALTRIDER CLEAR HEADLIGHT GUARD KIT Greg and Clem have been longtime riding buddies and have travelled to some far off destinations in their day.

Their latest journey is the long haul across the Trans-Labrador Highway. Nearly 800 miles of a mix of paved and gravel/rock/sand wash – it is quite the adventure.

Misreading their miles versus the day, they quickly begin to run out of daylight, even in the early summer. As dusk enveloped them they can see the approaching semi truck heading south and they move a bit to the right, as these truckers slow for no one.

As the truck shakes by them a large amount of debris and rock are kicked up.

There is a large bang and Greg’s bike is shook hard and the view in front of him immediately goes dark.

He pulls to the side and Clem brings up his rear.

It is obvious from the broken glass and large dent where most his headlight once was that a rather large stone, kicked up by the passing transport, has smashed his headlight into history.

It is now dark and the two limp onward to the next town – still 50 miles further on - with two bikes trying their best to use one bike’s headlights.

There are no BMW shops anywhere and this will not be fixed until and if they get back.

in an alternative universe…

Greg and Clem have been longtime riding buddies and have travelled to some far off destinations in their day.

Their latest journey is the long haul across the TransLabrador Highway. Nearly 800 miles of a mix of paved and gravel/rock/sand wash – it is quite the adventure.

Misreading their miles versus the day, they quickly begin to run out of daylight, even in the early summer.

As dusk enveloped them they can see the approaching semi truck heading south and they move a bit to the right, as these truckers slow for no one.

As the truck shakes by them a large amount of debris and rock are kicked up. There is a large bang and Greg’s bike is shaken hard but he is experienced and slows down to see what the damage really is.

He pulls to the side and Clem brings up his rear.

It is obvious from the heavily mushed, scratched and slightly dented headlight guard that a rather large stone, kicked up by the passing transport, has smashed into his headlight.

Water-cooled version

Still the AltRider Headlight Guard did its job and he still has lights, his bike has a great scar and they both have another camp-side story.

Sometimes a little preventive medicine can save you a whole lot of grief and a bundle of cash.

A headlight for a BMW R1200 GS will run you well over $600. The Alt Rider Headlight Guard will set you back just $200, plus it looks great too and chicks dig it.

It seems to be protection and insurance that is well worth it to us.

Looking to avoid Greg #1’s dilemma up north, we recently installed one of these on our GS, as well as AltRider’s Glare Guard that comes recommended too.

We love finely crafted products and the AltRider

BACKROADS • JULY 2017

Page 51

Headlight and Glare Guards are certainly that.

Installation was easier than we first thought, as AltRider has very, very good instructions and we went from soup to nuts in under half an hour.

The Headlight Guard is created with a tough Lexan plastic that shields the vulnerable headlight and its scratch-resistant face will keep your path clearly lit.

The lens is held by sturdy, well-crafted stainless steel arms, which attach securely to the motorcycle frame using OEM hardware and is locked into position by the blinker stalks.

When it’s time to clean up, taking off the face is a cinch and can be done quickly and easily. With a counter-clockwise turn, the Dzus fasteners release – no tools necessary. You don’t even need to worry about a pocket to put the fastener in, because it comes with a nylon-retaining washer installed.

For a more rugged appeal you can get it in a stainless steel mesh guard as well.

The Glare Guard sits above it and does double duty – holding off any glare from the Lexan and adding a nice finished touch to the entire assembly.

Your headlight is out in front of it all, and if you do any serious traveling you surely wish to consider giving it the protection it deserves. see more at www.altrider.com.

Join Us in 2017

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JULY 2017 • BACKROADS

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Page 53

PRODUCT REVIEW

TILE MATE

A TALE OF ALTERNATIVE UNIVERSE & LOST KEYS Dinner on Canada Street in the middle of Americade was great. Super spot with a view of the crowd and superior pizza. Olivia felt on top of the world as she and her friends walked up and down the drag taking in the sites of the world’s largest touring rally.

About an hour later she got back to her bike and it was then she began to look for her keys. ”Oh, crap,” she thought. A shot of panic and adrenaline shot through her as she said out loud, “I can’t find my keys!”

Her friends all sucked up their initial disappointment and, as good friends do, began the search.

For more than an hour she and her friends retraced their steps three times. Checking the restaurant, the ice cream shop, by the bench they were sitting while enjoying an Americade ice cream cone.

Finally a guy walked up to them and asked if they were looking for a set of keys. He had found them in the gutter and spotted the girls looking around in a general light panic and assumed they just might be looking for their keys.

It was the best thing Olivia had heard all night. Thank you, thank you, thank you….

Horror story avoided, but still the entire episode ruined Olivia’s night and it took hours for her gut to stop spinning.

AT THE SAME TIME IN AN ALTERNATE UNIVERSE….

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Dinner on Canada Street in the middle of Americade was great. Super spot with a view of the crowd and superior pizza. Olivia felt on top of the world as she and her friends walked up and down the drag taking in the sites of the world’s largest touring rally.

About an hour later she got back to her bike and it was then she began to look for her keys. ”Oh, crap,” she thought. A shot of panic and adrenaline shot through her as she said out loud, “I can’t find my keys!”

Her friends all sucked up their initial disappointment and, as good friends do, began the search.

“Hold on,” Olivia said, “I got an app” Her friends all looked at her quizzically.

She pulled out her iPhone, opened up the Tile app and let the phone search for the keys. The app showed them to be down a few blocks.

The girls did a quick march up Canada Street and soon could hear the chirping of the Tile Mate, and then spotted the keys tucked into the curb, right where they had crossed the street a few minutes earlier.

“Ta da,” she exclaimed to everyone that could hear.

Keys recovered, just a few minutes lost and a potential Americade ruining catastrophe avoided.

The Tile Mate is a small and flat Bluetooth enabled tracking device that easily attaches to your key fob or anything else you wish to attach it to and allows for you to track down when said thing is lost, stolen or has gone to that place where lost socks disappear.

Lose your keys, or your wandering Grandma, just hit the app and find them quickly. It works both ways too. Have your keys but can’t find your phone? Press the Tile’s button and your phone will ring – even if on silent mode. This option happens far more than we thought and has worked every time.

The Tile Mate is very small, only 34mm (1.3 inches) square and 4.6 mm (0.18) thick and you will hardly notice it on your key ring.

The jury is still out on how the Tile Mate, that is powered by a non-replaceable battery (waterproofness) that the makers promise will last for one year, will survive the rugged duty of living on a motorcycle rider’s key chain; but, so far so good.

When the battery does fade you will have to buy a new one but, at just $25, it is easy and affordable security we think.

There is also a larger tile called the Slim, which is excellent for wallets and all sorts of other things you would not want to lose.

You can find Tile Mate and Slim online and at various big stores these days. We picked ours up at Lowes. Multiple purchases followed the first.

Why would you not want this?

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JULY 2017 • BACKROADS

Welcome to the Jungle - The Art of Learning to Ride Skillfully A column dedicated to your riding survival gency Medial Facility that BMW has on site.

To this I replied, to the entire group, that now, as we were almost done with the two-day intensive instruction, was maybe the time to not go for “that last run down the hill” or “final charge into the abyss” but rather to take it I did not watch the Oscars and, since I love movies and tolerate films, nothdown a notch or three. ing I ever loved makes it onto the Oscar Stage.

This is always a good idea – whether you are taking a riding school or But, we all heard about the debacle at this year’s Academy Awards when coming home from a Sunday afternoon ride.

Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway mistakenly announced La La Land had Not twenty minutes later this rider was down and we had our first and only taken the 89th award – only to find out - two minutes into La La Land’s acreal injury of the weekend – happening on the last exercise of the course. ceptance speeches - that they were handed the wrong envelope by PricewaI have taken a good number of Reg Pridmore’s CLASS riding schools and terhouseCoopers’ Brian Cullinan and the real winner was Moonlight. during the final classroom session Reg reminds the students to “dial it back” For a self-absorbed evening that had gone off, more or less, well this final and “to use restraint” on their final laps of the day.

Best Picture award will never be forgotten and will surely be talked about Still, I clearly remembered being passed on the inside during the last sesand the butt of jokes for years to come. I can foresee “La La Land” becoming sion by someone who did not get, or understand what Reg had just said. Not an adjective soon. only did he force me wide and across A number of things went into this We stop concentrating on what we need to do and can the line of some riders behind me (all massive mistake and remember - we learn from our errors, but pay for our sometime forget that it is okay, hell it is preferable, to dial of whom had to jostle around to keep things good), Mr. Deaf Ears then went things down at the end of a ride. mistakes. wide on the next left and crashed hard.

After 83 years at the helm PricewaNeedless, rash and very avoidable. terhouseCoopers is no longer working for the Academy of Motion Picture I think it is human nature to try to eek out the very last bit of a great ride, Arts & Sciences. That is a big payment, but how did this happen? and I know some who would say this is a male thing, but it crosses genders It really came down to the “end of the night” and “I got this” attitude from equally. the two employees of the accounting firm. Towards the end of the night they I have a female friend who had spent a week on the road touring New Engshould have been paying even more attention – instead they were tweeting. land. As she and her husband were coming home and heading on an uphill A few months ago I took a weekend class at BMW Performance Center in stretch approaching their home she dialed her machine up – finishing under South Carolina where seven other riders and I would learn how to handle the green, as it were. large BMW GS machines in the environments for which they were made.

Trouble is she did not scrub off nearly enough speed to enter her driveway.

By the end of the second day we had all done of bit of hitting the ground – After a week-long trip, rolling safely and happily over a few thousand miles, mostly at slower speed and almost always getting up with a smile on our she ended with a tumble down her driveway – her stunned husband coming faces. to a quick stop and running to her aid.

With about an hour to go one of the guys in the class said aloud that he She was fine, but the bike – well, not so much and she was left with the had a great time over the weekend and then joked about visiting the Emer-

The Final Mile How Bad Things Happen Late in the Game

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BACKROADS • JULY 2017

Page 55

gnawing realization that she did this to herself.

We are all susceptible to this and the numbers bear this out. A survey once done of motor vehicle accidents found that three out of ten crashes happen less than a mile from home, with more than a third between one and five.

We fall into a “groove” and let ourselves get “distracted.” We stop concentrating on what we need to do and can sometime forget that it is okay, hell it is preferable, to dial things down at the end of a ride.

Think about this next time you are just about finished in any endeavor you do. Ride safe. Ride smart. Ride home.

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JULY 2017 • BACKROADS

UP C OM I N G E VE NT S CAL END AR

What’s Happening

EVERY MONTH - WEATHER PERMITTING

AUGUST 2017

Every Tuesday • Two Wheeled Tuesday at Spiegel Restaurant • 26 1st Avenue, NYC. An eclectic gathering of motorcycles served with multi-cuisine meals. Kick some tires, have some couscous, enjoy the crowd • www.spiegelnyc.com • 212-228-2894

6 • Hudson Valley Ride for Kids® Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. Sign in/endsite: Motorcyclepedia, 250 Lake St, Newburgh, NY • 8-9:30am • KSU 10am. Suggested donation $40. Full details: rideforkids.org

Every Thursday • Bike Night at the Chatterbox Drive-In, Rtes. 15/206, Augusta, NJ. Tire kicking, good food and friends • www.chatterboxdrivein.com

14 • Street Skills LLC Cornering Confidence Track Day course @ New York Safety Track, Harpersfield, NY • 585-802-9859 • www.streetskills.net

Every Saturday thru October • Bergen County Harley Davidson Saddle Up Saturday.

9am for coffee and bagels. Ride departs at 10am. Return to the dealership for FRee food and music. Proper attire MUST be worn! No shorts or sneakers. BCHD, 124 essex St, Rochelle Park, NJ • 201-843-6930 • www.bergenharleydavidson.com

16-19 • Backroads Summer Squeeze. Join us for a few days in Vermont. Details: www.backroadsusa.com/rallies.html

JUNE 2017 24 • Woodstock Harley-Davidson Pop-Up event at Texas Roadhouse, 500 Miron Lane, Kingston, NY • 845-336-7600. Games, prizes, raffles, charity drive, specials and much more • www.WoodstockHarley.com

17-20 • 3rd Annual Touratech Rally east, Huntingdon, PA. 4-day rally with opportunity for riders from around the US and the world to camp out, attend workshops and presentations, improve riding skills meet industry pros and explore fun mountain roads.

Rides for different experience levels and all street-legal motorcycles are welcome. Go to www.touratechrally.com for details and signup.

25-27 • The Dream Ride experience. Motorcycle Rally & Ride, car/motorcycle shows, activities for Special Olympics, live entertainment. For full details: DreamRide.org

22-25 • Thunder in the Valley, Johnstown, PA • JohnstownThunder.com 23-25 • Hudson Valley Motorcycles Ducati Demo Days - only stop in the tri-state area.

Demo ride your choice of 2017 Ducati motorcycle. 179 N. Highland Ave/Route 9, Ossining, NY • 914-762-2722 • HVMotorcycles.com or check Facebook for details.

25 • Motorcycle Scavenger Hunt brought to you by Bergen County and Hudson Valley Harley-Davidson. Sign in: Bergen County H-D, 124 essex St, Rochelle Park, NJ 910:15am • $20/rider, $10/passenger includes food, music and prizes. endsite: Hudson Valley H-D, 33 Route 304, Nanuet, NY. See page 7 for details or BergenHarley.com 30-July 2 • Conserve the Ride 2017 sponsored by AltRider. ADV Getaway in Palmerton, PA. $305 registration includes camping, catered meals, GPS-led rides for all skill levels, seminars, giveaways and more. Full details www.altrider.com • 206-922-3618

JULY 2017

SEPTEMBER 2017 3 • Dawn Patrol MC Labor Day Ride - Lime Dot and Route Sheets. Sign in: Bradley Gardens Firehouse, 24 Old York Rd, Bridgewater, NJ 9am-Noon with coffee & donuts. end: Dawn Patrol MC Clubhouse, 106 Robert St, Bridgewater, NJ with food, beverages, live music, vendors and more. Info: 908-722-4357 • dawnpatrolmc.com

21-25 • BACKROADS FALL FIESTA - NY STATE OF MIND TOUR. See below or full details @ backroadsusa.com/rallies.html.

OCTOBER 2017 14-19 • BACKROADS CLASS Rally. Ride to and from VIR with a small group. Details: www.backroadsusa.com/rallies.html

8-9 • Ramapo MC Club’s 41st Annual Ramapo 500. 500 miles of gorgeous scenery and backroads, free camping, onsite trailer rentals, nearby hotels, river swimming, Saturday night dinner, awards and prizes, Sunday breakfast, starter pins and finisher patches. Sign in: RMC Clubhouse/Veterans Memorial Assoc, 66 Lake Rd, Congers, NY • 7am. Details: Fred Peck (845) 300-1247 • rmc@ramapomc.org • www.ramapomc.org

15 • Ramapo MC Club Fall Foliage Tour to benefit the Valerie Fund for childhood cancer research. Guided or self-guided tour along Hudson Valley’s autumn foliage roads. Sign in: Rhodes North Tavern, 40 Orange Tpke, Sloatsburg, NY @ 9am. Details: Kent Sullwold (845) 304-3454 • kms.elec.engr@gmail.com • www.ramapomc.org

6-8 • New Jersey’s Only Motorcycle Skills Competition @ Willowbrook Mall, Wayne, NJ. Law enforcement and Civilian Divisions. Practice + eliminations July 6 + 7: 8a-4p • July 7: Competitor BBQ @ 6:30p • July 8: Finals 8a-2p • Awards Banquet: 7pm. $60 entry incl. Fri. BBQ, Sat. lunch, event t-shirt. Banquet: $10/entrant, $25/guest. For details email Tommy Johnson: tdog58@verizon.net. See page 21 for details.

11-20 • BACKROADS OF ECUADOR TOUR. Join a VERY small group of Backroads’ readers for an amazing tour with Court and Sylvain (and Salina the Wonder Dog) of ecuador Freedom Bike Rentals. See page ?? or visit their website for full details, pricing and availability • www.FreedomBikeRental.com

MARCH 2018

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