One Christmas in the early 70’s, I received a dazzling Huffy bicycle that continues to rank as one of my favorite presents of all time. This speed demon had a purple metallic-flake frame with shiny chrome fenders, ape hanger handle bars, and a special edition banana seat.  I couldn’t wait to get outside to ride that beast!

Only one problem; that Christmas day there was so much snow and ice covering the landscape that it was impossible to ride.  For seven straight days I woke up, looked out the window and wondered if this would be the day, and for seven straight days the answer was NO!  I was so freakin’ frustrated!

Fast forward some 30 years…

Today I find myself dealing with that same frustration all over again.  Last week I received a 2010 Star street helmet from Bell Helmets.  It has a matte black finish with a white racing stripe down the center.  I also got a pair of Tour Master Response SC Road Boots from RidersDiscount.com that are Steve McQueen cool, but with 18″ of snow covering the ground and more on the way, I have been unable to use any of my nifty stuff.  For seven days I have awakened, looked out the window and wondered if today would be the day, and for seven straight days the answer has been NO!  My frustration is accumulating like the 3 foot snow drift outside my window.

So what’s a guy to do?  How should I deal with all of this pent up frustration?

Perhaps I should…

• double up my meds.
• lay in the snow while wearing my gear and make a snow angel.
• sing happy songs.
• ride the motorcycle carousel at Chuck E. Cheese

My wife suggested I gear up, go to the garage and close all the doors, then start my bike and pretend I am riding for a half hour or how ever long it takes! :)  Any other ideas?

I admit there are times I don’t wear all my gear.  I know better, but sometimes if I am running a quick errand or taking a short trip, I just don’t. Big mistake!  This video features a friend and fellow motorcycle blogger, Bill Dwyer, (Atlas Rider), from the Phoenix area.   Bill, is a longtime rider and ATGATT advocate.  After working on his Ninja this weekend, Bill, decided to take it on a test run around parking lot of his apartment complex.  Well, I will let him tell you what happened next…

I guess today is an exciting day for women and men a like.  Yep, February 14th, 2010 a day of romance, sweets, and NASCAR!

I can see it now, the wife has dressed up in her newest pair of sweat pants and over sized Homer Simpson tee.   She is looking forward to some fine dining with her man at the Golden Corral Buffet then perhaps a little shopping at the new Super Walmart.

You however, have a very different idea of how this special day will be played out…  Sleep in till 9:00 a.m.  have the little woman whip you up a fancy breakfast of bacon, sausage, biscuits, eggs, grits, and a Bud.  Turn on Fox TV’s pre-race coverage and sit on your fat ass until the checkered flag.  Good times!

Whatever this day has in store for you be it romance or exhaust fumes.  I wish you and your special someone a very happy Valentines Day!

Time once again to showcase the two things that make life very interesting.

Ever thought about hanging it up?  Ever ponder the possibility of no longer riding a motorcycle?  For some these may seem like the most ridiculous questions of all time, for others they are a harsh reality.  Why would anyone consider giving up something as rewarding as motorcycling.  Here’s 4 reasons some people give up riding…

1.  Lifestyle changes.

While visiting a forum on Sunday I read of a 30 something who recently became a first time father, and although passionate about riding he understood the inherent dangers associated with motorcycling and therefore made the choice to quit.  For others it may be a new marriage,  a promotion at work that requires more of ones time, or perhaps the loss of a job.

2.  Illness

Dealing with a devastating illness requires the total focus and attention of a person and their families.  More times than not, this leaves one with no time, energy, or capacity to endure the arduous nature of cycling.

3.  Aging

A good friend of mine is currently dealing with this issue.  He says the bike seems heavier, the miles seem longer, and his reaction time just isn’t what it used to be.  As long as he encounters “no problems” out on the road all is fine.  But he questions what happens if something goes awry.  What if he drops the bike and no one is nearby to help, or he can’t make that emergency maneuver in time?  For him the question isn’t how long can he keep riding, but rather how long can he keep riding safely!

4.  An Accident

Many riders suffering from injuries due to a motorcycling accident, disclose that while convalescing they war within themselves about whether they should find a safer hobby.  Some do!

These are but a few reasons one time passionate riders decide it’s time to call it quits.  I am certain for most it is a difficult choice and one which all of us will face at one point or another in our lives.

~Caskie Stinnett

With an afternoon void of pressing issues and a short supply of pipe tobacco, I decided to visit “Kings Rook 4″,  a mom and pop tobacco shop located in Tipp City, a small community 35 minutes northwest of Springfield.

Kings Rook 4, has been around for years and has garnered quite a loyal following.  Leah, the white haired proprietor, is up in years and opens the store if she has nothing more immediate on her agenda, I recommend you call ahead!  I first heard of the quaint tobacco shop some 8 or 9 years ago from a good client of mine, but simply had never taken the time to visit.  Today was the day!

Tipp City, was established in 1840 along the Miami and Erie Canal, and boast a population of just under 10,000 residents.  Commerce has blossomed on a section of Main St. now deemed the “Historic District,” and the business owners are working hard to recapture the glory days of this canal towns past.

Tipp, as it is called by the locals, is a short motorcycle ride from Springfield and is easily accessible by a variety of routes.  From Springfield I chose to ride Interstate 70 west to I-75 north, then eastward on 571 which takes you straight into the heart of the Historic District.  This is not the most direct way, but I wanted to open the RT up a bit and my doctor says a little highway speed is good for the  soul.

After an exhilarating ride, I arrived downtown and upon securing my gear, leisurely strolled past the shops.   On my right was the Grounds for Pleasure Coffeehouse, across the street, Sam and Ethel’s restaurant, next door, Browse Awhile Books, and nearby, Kings Rook 4.

Apparently my friend Scott, had called Leah earlier that morning to warn her of my impending arrival, because the moment I entered the shop she exclaimed, “You must be that Springfield fellow.  “Indeed I am” I replied, and with that simple introduction we became friends.

Leah, gave me a quick tour of the store then left me to browse uninterrupted.  With an adequate supply of cigars safely tucked away in my humidor this day’s focus was on securing a few new blends of pipe tobacco.  One by one I removed the old tobacco canisters from the shelf and slowly sampled tobacco blends like, “Peaches and Cream,” “Nougat,” “Blue Note,” and my favorite; “Harvest Moon.”  Nothing calms ones nerves better than a perfectly blended mixture of pipe tobacco.  After a long while, I made my final selections and bid Leah “good day.”  It was time to head home.

My brief visit to Tipp City was pleasurable and one I will definitely do again, it’s the kind of place my wife would enjoy.  I can see us browsing the boutiques, sipping coffee at the outdoor cafe, and thumbing through some old books now out of print.  If you should find yourself sashaying down Main St. in this little community, be certain to drop in on Leah and pick up a few ounces of “Harvest Moon” tobacco. On second thought, you probably should call ahead.

There is nothing  more appealing than women and motorcycles. In their honor, I am doing a series of posts entitled “Woman and Motorcycles”  I hope you enjoy.

When you love motorcycles, but the calendar only shows February, you are most likely jonesing for a two wheeled fix.  So you can image my excitement when I realized the 34 World Championship of ICE Racing would make a stop at Hobart Arena in Troy, Ohio, just 30 minutes from my home.

As many of our readers are aware, I have become very acquainted with riding a motorcycle on ice, but believe me, these ICE riders showed me how it was done.  Gary Densford, and his son Brent, of International Championship Events (I.C.E.) gave KTRSD unlimited arena access, but we chose to spend much of our time in the pit area talking with the riders and learning more about their motorcycles.  We found them to be a great bunch of men and women who are competitive,  addicted to motorcycles, and have an unquenchable need for speed.

A long line of fans arrived early at the arena, braving the wind and bitter temperatures which had plunged into the mid teens.  The gates opened at 6:30 p.m. and the stream of people from all walks of life, quickly filled the 3500 seats of Hobart Arena anticipating a night of fast paced racing excitement, and I am certain they got their money’s worth.

The evening begins with the lights going out save one blinding spot light sharply focused on the pit entrance to the ice.  As the music gets louder the crowds enthusiasm rises to a fever pitch as the announcer introduces each of the riders participating in this nights competition.  The riders are from every corner of our country and range in age from eighteen to fifty- eight. The racing schedule consists of eight heats of motorcycle racing, an LCQ race, followed by the main event.  As well as quad racing.  It is a full night of motorcycle excitement.

THE BIKES

The bikes are state of the art made by all the major manufactures we are all familiar with.  They are lightweight and incorporate a modern, extremely powerful, 4-valve head, 4-stroke single cylinder engine.  All the machines are matched by horsepower and weight to create and maintain parity with the race teams.

These motorcycles are equipped with only a rear brake, a kill switch for riders safety, and incorporate Silver Rocket .160 studs on the tires.  Aside from a few minor modifications the bikes are mostly stock.  Here’s a list of the bikes used…

• ATK - 450
• HONDA - CRF450R
• HUSQVARNA - TC450
• KAWASAKI - KX450F
• KTM - 450SX
• SUZUKI - RM-Z450
• YAMAHA - YZ450F

The power of these motorcycles is evident from the start, and with great riders on the throttle, it is full out racing till the checkered flag.  The action is fast, loud, and competitive.  If you ever get the opportunity  to attend an ICE sponsored race do so.  It is a fantastic way to be close to the sights, sounds, and smell, of motorcycles  in the dead of winter!

March 3
DAYTONA® Flat Track (Daytona Beach, Florida)
TT

March 4
DAYTONA® Flat Track (Daytona Beach, Florida)
Short Track

May 1
Yavapai Downs (Prescott, Arizona)
Mile

May 29
Illinois State Fairgrounds (Springfield, Illinois)
TT

May 30
Illinois State Fairgrounds (Springfield, Illinois)
Mile

June 5
Gas City I-69 Speedway (Gas City, Indiana)
Short Track

June 19
The Red Mile (Lexington, Kentucky)
Mile

June 26
Allen County Fairgrounds (Lima, Ohio)
Half-Mile

July 10
I-96 Speedway (Lake Odessa, Michigan)
Half-Mile

July 31
Calistoga Fairgrounds (Calistoga, California)
Half-Mile

August 7
Hagerstown Speedway (Hagerstown, Maryland)
Half-Mile

August 14
Beulah Park (Grove City, Ohio)
Half-Mile

August 22
Peoria Race Park (Peoria, Illinois)
TT

August 28
Indiana State Fairgrounds (Indianapolis, Indiana)
Mile

September 4
Illinois State Fairgrounds (Springfield, Illinois)
Short Track

September 5
Illinois State Fairgrounds (Springfield, Illinois)
Mile

September 11
Canterbury Park (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
Mile

October 9
Yavapai Downs (Prescott, Arizona)
Short Track

October 10
Yavapai Downs (Prescott, Arizona)
Mile

AMA Pro Racing is the premier professional motorcycle racing organization in North America, operating a full schedule of events and championships for a variety of motorcycle disciplines. Learn more about AMA Pro Racing at www.amaproracing.com.

“To awaken quite alone in a strange town is one of the pleasantest sensations in the world.” – Freya Stark