Gadgets Are Cool!

In the next couple days I head to Las Vegas to attend the Consumer Electronics Show also known as CES. This show is the largest gathering of electronics manufacturers in the Americas and premiers most of the coolest things you can buy in the tech world.

If you are watching this space over the next few days I will showcase the products that will best work for those of us that like riding and want to better the experience with electronics.

I will also be attending another show in Vegas that happens at the same time. For info about that show simply drop me a line!

Do Cars Make People Rude?

Yesterday I had a great day, but one particular bad part of that day was dealing with a downed rider.



The rider's name is Josh and how he came upon his misfortune that day it not really of concern, he ended up off the side of the road injured.

As riders, if we see someone down we stop, it is simple as that. There is no thought process other than , get off the road safely and get to the downed rider to make sure they are OK, or help them.

Yesterday, I had something that I never really thought about brought firmly into focus. Drivers of cages (cars and trucks) when they see a downed rider must not give a shit. I saw a least 30 vehicles drive by as we were helping Josh (probably more as I was not looking and counting them all.) I guess they were thinking, "Oh, stupid guy" or "Those things are dangerous." Who knows.

One thing is for sure, not a single person in a car or truck stopped to help, nor did anyone even bother to stop and ask if we needed help. I had to send one rider 5 miles down the road to get my wife in my truck to take Josh a mere 3/4's of a mile to the town of Tortilla Flat. Maybe people in this day and age do not realize that there still are areas that have no cell service or even telephone service, but for 10 miles in either direction of the one road to Tortilla Flat, there is none.

So, if ever find yourself driving by an accident scene and you think maybe you should ask if all is OK, stop and ask!


BTW, Josh is doing well, I say this for the rider's....who always care.

Sorry About That!

If you happened to get a rather rude looking photo in my Happy New Year post I sincerely apologize.

Lesson learned and I will never hot-link a photo again. I can't understand why someone would do something so sick, and it seems that their service provider agreed as well.

Hope you have a Happy New Year and fear not, you'll never see something like that again.

Traditions

Starting the year off with a ride is something that we love here in
the West. So much so that traditions have evolved from the casual
ride. The best thing about riding is that with two wheels you gain
many friends.

My Ride today was an annual ride that ends up in the town Tortilla Flat on AZ88 in Arizona. The road is a local favorite and many riders bring out their vintage bikes. The best part of the day is that all types of rider's get together, talk and have fun looking at cool bikes.

I can't image a better start to the year!

New Year's Resolutions

In the final hours of 2007 there will be many people making resolutions. Some will be the normal, lose weight, eat better, drink less and of course visit family more.


For me personally I am very happy sending into 2008. I have some personal goals that I have set for 2008 and some professional ones as well. Goals are important of course and when you set them you should make sure you have a plan to hit them and that they are realistic in the first place.

Whatever your resolutions may be I wish you luck in meeting them and please have a Happy and Safe New Year!

Making Things Right

Cleaning up a road is never a bad thing, right?



I know that I don't think that way. And neither do at least five other guys that helped me clean up one of our favorite road before the hordes of bikers were to hit it on New Year's Day.

Tortilla Flat, which is on AZ88 is a traditional spot to meet on Jan. 1 and being as such I was worried that the condition of the road in after the most recent storms would leave riders who are unfamiliar with the road in a bad way.

That bad way was lying in the road in the form of gravel and sand.

Well after today the road is a little better and a lot safer. I know that personally I will be happy for that!

One More Off The List

Bartlett Lake 12-29-2007, yep I finally have ridden this road!




Kind of interesting considering all of the places I have ridden that I had not yet been on this road. I mean heck, it is only about 40 miles from my house and within the Valley.



I guess I can chalk it up to not knowing the road and always waiting to go with someone else, but now that I have gone I can certainly say I will be going again and soon. Thanks to my friend Rick the ride was safe and enjoyable and without a performance reward.

One thing is for certain, I will be getting a RADAR detector in the coming year, it is just getting a little too easy to get nailed and liking roads with stupid speed limits does not help.

2 more days and we start another year....man they sure go fast!

Ready For More Riders?

Well, with assassinations (is it really an assassination when the person holds no office?) and all the other turmoil it seems we are headed for $4 a gallon for gasoline by Spring.



That means more people will be looking into better economy vehicles (read motorcycles.)

Hopefully as more people start riding, non-riders will start to see riders more often. Of course if we get a whole bunch of new riders maybe some day we can hope for a national lane splitting law, that will get us out of breathing fumes and off to cleaner air. I mean, that's the kind of green I am looking for.

As the year winds down, I am excited for 2008. I know, I have already stated that, but honestly if I could fast forward a few days, I probably would.

The Countdown Begins

Yep folks it is that time of year, things are winding down and the end is near.



Not the end of days, just the end of the year. Yup, it is time to hang a new calendar and start fresh with a new year.

2008 holds promise as all years do, but honestly 2008 should prove to be a stellar year for fans of motorcycles and riding in the US of A.

The coming year will have more racing here in the US and even better coverage from abroad.

Now, if I could just find the police stealth mode on my bikes, everything would be fine.

Christmas Rocks

The best gifts are the surprise gifts that you never expect. Things
that you think are totally cool, but would never ask for. This year I
got the coolest ever from my wife. Heck, she even gave it to me early
so I could use it at track day. Nothing beats a cool pit vehicle. Now
does it?

Track Day Fun

Sometimes riders take it off the street. They do it for a variety of reasons, to go fast, to have bragging rights and then my favorite reason, to practice skills.

Practicing in an environment that is void of other traffic, pedestrians and the police has advantages. Attention still needs to be allocated to road conditions, but since the path is repetitive it certainly is not at the level of normal street riding.

If you ever want to hone your skills, practice in a safe controlled environment such as a Track Day.

I spent Sunday hanging with some friends and support TEAM AZ's track day by providing a tent and chairs for a new rider clinic. Hopefully this will grow in the future, because supporting safe riding is never a bad idea.

Oh, and in case you are wondering, that is One Fuzzy from the SWR Forums railing through the corner!

Dab Nabit!!

If you ride enough you meet these guys, and they usually have their
hands out asking for money.

This guy was actually nice in the fact he gave me and my friend a "Wasting Finite Resourses" ticket. It is a way in AZ to collect cash without assigning points. They get revenue and we get no points. I wish all tickets were like this.

It was an awesome day for a ride, maybe just a little chilly, but awesome none the less.

Riding Does Have Risk

Practice practice practice and always ride within your limits, leaving extra space and time for any unforeseen complications or conditions....why?

Because you never know when you will need that extra limit to be able to save yourself. If you ride at the complete edge you'll never have a chance.

Take a look here as a friend follows me on a simple ride. I even warn the guys behind me of the road conditions ahead near the end and even knowing the road throws me a loop. If I would have hauled ass into this corner the outcome would have been a different film for sure.

Be aware, ride safe and live to ride another day!

Bike Night

Hanging out, shooting the shit and having fun. Sometimes riding is
about the destination.

And, the friends you meet on the way.

Tonight I stopped by the TT Roadhouse in Scottsdale, AZ just for a
different pace.

We never listen, do we?

I think sometimes being a rider has to do with going places that just
don't or won't go. I had to not go to one of my favorite spots today
just to get this shot. But hey, it is the little things, right?

848 Unveiled!

Chris Rice of Ducati Superstore in Phoenix, AZ unveils the new Ducati
848.

Happy Birthday to My Wife

They say behind all great men you will find an even better woman.

Today is my wife's Birthday, so I am doing the proper thing and giving
her an awesome day!

Complete of course with dinner and wine.

GoPro Motorsports Unboxed!

I just received a GoPro Motorsports for review, you can find all the photos at the link below.

Click for Photos

Additionally, I will be posting an initial review in the next couple day and a more intense review later.

That Time of Year - Part II

If you are a guy and you have a wife/girlfriend, you know this view.

Ah yes, waiting for the shopping to get done. Hey, it is the price I
pay to ride pretty much all the times I want.

The good news is that the rain has stopped and we are just about ready
to roll!

Update! - Rain Still Sucks!

Man, I've about had it with the rain. Not only rain, but cold and it is tearing up the roads as well. Mostly just straight ones, so I guess that is OK.

They say we will be getting a break this coming weekend, but time will tell.

Oh and also, the cold, did I mention it is freeking cold?? As soon as the parties are over I am just diving into it and getting back in the swing of things, because honestly it is NOT that bad.

Good news is that today I sort of got the go ahead to ride to Ohio in July.

The planning will commence immediately!

Yeah, Yeah East Coast, Laugh It Up!

I always say we have 360 days of riding in Arizona, and that is true.

The issue is that those 5 days usually fall on the weekend and on a day I could actually ride.


GRRRRRRR!



Image from weather.com

The Day We Were Caught Off-Guard.

December 7, 1941, The Day that will live in Infamy.

Never did we think we the United States could be caught so Off-Guard.

Of course, we would be again....just 59 years, 9 months and 4 days later.

Every Year on THIS day I take pause to remember, to honor and to respect those who gave theirs lives to keep our country free.

Living in Arizona we hold the position of knowing our State with never be a named Battleship again, as our sits at the bottom of Pearl Harbor.

Let's try not to forget again...

Bike Night Rocks!

Yes, I live I'm the best place on the world to enjoy bike night
outdoors in December!

This particular location is Hooters in Mesa, Arizona. The local Harley Dealership Chester's holds a bike night every Thursday and this one had the patio and inside packed.

Outside were a good 40 bikes of all sorts.

Wings, beer and Hooter's, does it get any better?

Happiness Delivered Daily

It is sight that brings glee to many a rider when thy are tied up
working and cannot ride.

Even though you are not riding at least you are getting new stuff!

That Time of Year

Yes, it is that most wonderful time of the year. Hopefully we have all
been good boys and girls and the big guy will bring us what we have
wished for all year long.

Only 20 days left, so get shopping for your favorite motorcycle gear!