Letter from Rick
I hope everyone brought the New Year in with a BANG and ready to get down to the business make 2019 the best year yet.
Yeah I’m combining January and February into one issue. Things will get back to normal in March.
For me, this year will bring more destinations outside of South Carolina. Destinations include Key West, NC for a wild horse tour, and destinations in Virginia and Georgia. Not to mention motorcycle camping. This should prove to be interesting as I have not done this in some time.
The Easyrider Bike Show Tour has come and gone. Check it out inside this issue! Anyway, looking forward to a year full of riding and adventure! Come along for the ride by liking my Stories From the Road page.
See ya on the road!
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Ride safe! Ride Often!
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Ride Safe
Counter Steering a motorcycle
What is counter steering or handlebar steering? Well, in a nutshell, counter steering is another way of steering a motorcycle right or left. In other words, push forward on the left handgrip to go left, push forward on the right handgrip to go right. Handlebar steering, as the term implies, is making the motorcycle go left or right by turning the handlebars accordingly. Well, isn't that sort of done intuitively? I decided to perform some experiments of my own.
The results were surprising. On my Fat Boy, I was primarily using the handlebars to steer for speeds below 15 MPH. That's to say that whichever direction I turned the handlebars, that's the direction the motorcycle would go. Big deal you say. Ok, so using the same experiment at speeds above 15 MPH, I noticed I wasn't using the handlebars as much to steer. Instead, I was using my body to lean the direction I wanted the motorcycle to go. Leaning your body works reasonably well until trying to negotiate a curve at higher speeds. The faster I was going, the more lean that was required to get around the curve, increasing the challenge to get around the bend. I might add, for my Fat Boy, I would reach a point that no matter how far I leaned, it seemed the bike would not respond until I let off the throttle. Not a good feeling when the pavement is running out, and you're heading off the road! I needed a technique that would reduce the effort required to round the bend at higher speeds.
and placed a single cone down on the pavement. Using the handlebar steering example, I rode below 15 mph towards the cone. To avoid the cone to the right, I actually turned the handlebar to the right. Mission accomplished without incident. Returning to my starting position, I performed the same test avoiding the cone to the left. Handlebar steering came into play and mission achieved.
Ok, so now I wanted to experiment with handlebar steering above 15 MPH. Using the same two examples above, I approached the cones around 20 MPH. Wow, I instinctively began my avoidance maneuver farther away from the cone,AND I used my body to lean for both trials!
But what about counter-steering? Is it really better than leaning with your body to get around a curve? Again, using speeds less and greater than 15 MPH, I found that handlebar steering STILL came into play at speeds lower than 15 MPH. However, with speeds above 15 MPH, using the counter-steering technique, I was able to maneuver to the left or right of the cone by merely pressing forward on the respective handgrip without leaning at all, and with little effort!
Wanting to try the counter-steering on a reallife ride on a twisting road, I approached the curves at a safe rate of speed. For curves bending right, I pressed forward on the right handgrip and pushed forward on the left handgrip for curves bending left. I was surprised how little effort was required to negotiate the bends! I knew then that counter-steering would become a riding technique during my rides!
So, to test out this 'counter-steering' technique, I found an abandoned parking lot
However, it’s proving to be difficult to change old habits. But I’ll continue the transition until it’s a ‘no-brainer,’increasing my confidence riding into turns and enjoying it more!
Waterin’ Hole
Red Anchor Pub and Grill, located at 39 and 391 Crossroad near Moneta, SC, is managed by veteran and biker Jay Wilson. I had the pleasure of attending a couple of fundraisers at this pub and must say that I had a great time! The people there are laid back and featured a great band with room for dancing. Can’t dance? Then if pool is your thing there are a couple pool tables to enhance your billiard skills. For those times when there may not be live music, a jukebox featuring music for anyone’s taste. During my visit, the bartenders were friendly and remembered what I was drinking. The drink prices were reasonable and I felt like this was my home bar. I haven’t ordered food at this pub, but I’m sure I’ll be back and give it a try! The great and welcoming atmosphere will surely
have people coming back or booking their next party at Red Anchor!
For the ladies who would like a pair of angel wings, you can get your picture taken with the wings that are painted on the outside wall. Word of advice, if you’re short, be sure to stand on something. Wouldn’t want a pair of wings on the side of your head!
As one reviewer put it, ‘If you enjoy great people, music, drinks, food on occasion in a super cool setting, then you need to put
Rick Hood
Easyrider Bike Show Tour
Easyrider Bike Show Tour
It was the morning of the Easyriders Bike Show Tour. For the last three years, I had attended this event. However, last year’s Charlotte tour was not the best, so I was a little skeptical this year’s show would be any better. When I saw that the venue had been moved, there was a feeling of renewed optimism within me.
Get up!
January 26th, the alarm gently, very gently, reminds me it’s time to get up and face a bike ride to Charlotte. It’s dark. Oh yeah, I can’t turn the lights on because it upsets the wife.
With my legs hanging from the side of the bed, I sit there a few minutes to get myself together. Running my feet along the carpet, I find my ‘ghetto’ shorts and slip them on as I’m walking towards the kitchen for that first cup of Joe. Ok Mickey Spillane I’m not, it was Folgers ok?!
Gently lowering myself in my recliner, I could hear the bubbling noise of the water running through the coffee maker. My mind now somewhat alert, I’m thinking about the Easyriders Bike Show tour that I’ll be riding BJ too this morning. My thoughts are interrupted by little dog feet clicking across the ceramic floor in the kitchen heading my way. That could only mean one thing.
Mitzi, the owner of the little clicking dog feet, was standing on her hind legs looking at me with big brown eyes waiting for our morning walk. Oh, I was so ready for it… NOT. But the coffee god was with me, and the pot had finished brewing. With cup in hand, Mitzi and I head out the door for her morning constitutional.
Our morning walk quickly reminded me it would be a cold ride to Charlotte. With Mitzi on auto walk, my thoughts turned to getting my things together for the day’s event.
Mitzi fed and back in bed, I gather my things to take and wear to Charlotte. Camera, check. Extra batteries, check. Freeze-outs (long johns on steroids) check. Did I mention it was 30 degrees? Chaps,
I slowly back out of the garage, clearing any thoughts of feeling cold from my head. LET’S DO THIS!
check. Phone charger, check. Phone check. BJ loaded,
Anticipation
The ride up I-77 was uneventful, and my electric gloves were worth the purchase price and freezeouts are my friend, but my right chaps leg kept unzipping. Nothing a little duct tape couldn’t fix. Next stop, Park Expo and Conference Center.
After pulling into the parking lot, I was happy to see a ‘Bikes Only’ parking section that was near the door. Once inside, I saw that this one venue was actually three venues in one. The 104,000 sq.ft. Liberty room was the main venue. That is, the stage, motorcycles, and vendor booths were here. The Independence and Freedom room housed the cars and older motorcycles.
My feelings of optimism were not disappointed!
The three distinct sections of this year’s Easyriders Bike Show Tour organized the event to a level that everyone could appreciate.
The Search
Carolina Chrome’s senior photographer, Vici Amanti, had invited me to stop by and visit her and the Chrome Babes!
So, I’m walking around the Freedom room and see no signs of the Carolina Chrome booth. I then search in the Independence room and still no sign of the booth.
Now, where is the Carolina Chrome booth?
By now I’m getting tired and need to sit down. So, I head towards the café to sit a while when I realize the Liberty room would be the last chance to find Vici and the babes and I would call off the search. Seeing one of the Chrome photographers, he guided me to the booth where Vici and the babes were. At last!
Now I’m ready to take pictures! Reaching in my pocket to retrieve my phone, it’s not there! Wait, where’s my phone. Now I don’t
have to tell any smartphone enthusiast the sinking feeling that settles in your stomach. I search my brain where I could have possibly lost it. Nothing. No clue. Nada, Zilch. Looks like it’s the Canon Powershot and me.
The Bikes
I came to see bikes and I was not disappointed Here are some of my favorites.
Pappy
Some Fun Stuff
http://easyridersevents.com/bikeshow-2019-charlotte.php
Vici Amanti & Carolina Chrome Babes
There are LOTS of cars and motorcycles to be seen at Easyrider. But not many get to share the event with the Carolina Chrome Babes, Karisa, Ashtyn, Brittany, Ashley, Alyssa, Jynx, JoJo, Becca and Vici (AKA Mama). Here are a few pics from Easyrider! You’ll need to bring your own babes!
Jynx, Karisa, Alyssa
Vici ‘ Mama’ Amanti and Yours truly
JoJo, Karisa, Mama, Ashley
Rare sighting of the man himself
Chris Lonsberry
Riding into the sunset and a fork in the road
After a gratifying day of shooting Easyriders, I head home, in the dark, and cold. Did I mention I don’t like riding at night? Oh, by the way, I had left my phone on the kitchen table. Needless to say, I was relieved. But Vici (aka Mama) came to a fork in the road. Not able to make a decision, she decided to take it with her!
WTF (what the fork)
In My Opinion
Rick’s thoughts on just about anything
Punxsutawney’s Phil emerged from his hole and predicted an early Spring. With that said, I have some advice to prepare for my Spring camping.
Motorcycle camping - often referred to as a fun excuse to test someone’s rock bottom. Are you looking for adventure backcountry camping in the Great Smokey Mountains, a weekend at the state park, or maybe you’re using it as a trial for a partner, or friend, you’re thinking of abandoning? If your choice is the latter, by merely adding gnats and tent instructions made by an absolute moron, you will sift through the psychos and decide who you want to keep as a loved one. Sadly, if that psycho turns out to be you, professional help is available in the yellow pages. For the rest of us, some resources can help you achieve your camping bliss. Following is a guide to help.
Preparation – To avoid being the source of ridicule during the next bro gathering at the local water hole, consider the following. Should I bring someone with me? Secondly, choose camping gear based on my decision. The advantage of the company is someone will drag me to safety if I get attacked by a bear. However, this isn’t a problem if I choose someone who runs slower than me. The disadvantage is someone will be mad when they get attacked by a bear, and I leave them to die. In this case, my gear should include a vinyl cable
to string my food from a tree branch furthest away from me. Bringing company will determine my type of campsite.At a car campsite, I can quickly shove this person in the trunk of a car, (reference above why you’re going camping) but in the wild, I have to be creative. Well, it seems I’ve lost the map, Dennis. How about I find civilization, and you sit here and wait? Great! Here’s half of a Cliff’s protein bar. I should be back in ten to fifteen days. On the other hand, designated sites allow me to hear the campers in the location next to me as if they’re in my tent. I can catch up on things like Grandpa’s knee replacement, Brewer’s bowel movements, and Sally’s child delivery. If you’re unlucky, your dreams will involve… well, it’s best not to get into it. You will have a hard time sleeping for the next few months.
Activities - For most people, camping is a hike, eat, sleep, repeat. I love all those things. But I can add more variety to my journeys by including downtime into my trips to eat, drink, and be merry! Should I go hiking? Nature, exercise, wildlife, mountains, rocks, blah, blah, blah… I should need no other reason to hike than to be able to snot-rocket the contents of my nose on the trail and shrug it off as usual. In civilization, I would be ridiculed and abandoned. But in the wild, I will be honored; as it is a gesture of solidarity, an action that says, There isn’t much holding me back from eating a roach for lunch. Games. My favorite adult game is Truth or Dare. Campers take turns either answering a question (a truth) or performing a dare. The rules are simple. Each camper takes turns as the asker, spinning a bottle to choose which camper to question.An example of a truth: Where is the strangest place you have peed or pooped?An example of dare: Let the group play a song by slapping your butt cheeks till someone guesses the song.
Another story of mine is the time I let someone ride BJ (my bike) on the Tail of the Dragon and crashed into the Tree of Shame. Hey! I didn’t say the stories had to be true!
Survival – Survival skills are best learned while camping, said no one ever. I take the time to learn lifesaving skills like how to start a fire, purifying water, or finding edible foods by staying in a Holliday Inn Express. How do I start a fire? It worries me that this is the first question. Officially, fire is best left in the hands of professional candle lighters and teenagers without strong authority figures in their life. Unofficially, starting a fire is like matching Tupperware lids some people can do it, some people can’t. It’s frustrating, and most end up completely losing their junk and buying new Tupperware. There are two ways to start a fire: the normal mode or the redneck way. With the usual way, you use words like “lighter wood,” as in “This lighter wood should start the fire in hopes it will one day provide warmth for my buddy and me.” The redneck way involves a different vocabulary: “Hold my cigarette while I pour some gas on it,” “WATCH THIS BUBBA,” or “BUBBA! PUT IT OUT, PUT IT OUT!” In the beginning, you may not have a Southern accent, but after siphoning gas out of your buddy’s motorcycle and using it to create a fire that ultimately destroys your friend’s bike, you will.
Last but not least, drinking water. The average human can live 5 to 7 days without water. However, after 3 days serious side effects like constant skin irritation, hallucinations, and the swelling/ cracking of the tongue could appear.
Heck, I’ve had this after eating a 3-year old fruitcake at an office party. NO ONE FILLED ME IN ON THE CHRISTMAS
JOKE! OK! So, using my newly acquired fire starting abilities, I will gather some water in a pot upstream from where my camping buddy is standing and boil it.
I hope my guide to camping has filled some voids in your camping life. Whether you’re looking for adventure backcountry camping in the Great Smokey Mountains, a weekend at the state park, or maybe you’re using it as a trial for a partner, or friend, you’re thinking of abandoning, you’ll find useful tips in Rick’s Guide to Worry-Free Camping!
See ya on the trail!
Rick Hood
I’d like to take the time to send out my deepest sympathies to Bobby Corbett on the loss of his wife Vicky. She was a friend of mine and loved by many. You are missed.
https://www.youtube.com/user/hoodboomer
@storiesfromtheroadtravel
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