Saturday, October 3rd, 2009
Saturday, October 3rd, 2009
Unfortunately another wet day! I didn't ride (see Fall Flood Run below) but I hung out for the free donuts at Sammy's and showed up later for the awesome food and silent auction at the Grey Fox. Met a lot of great people who are dedicated to preserving motorcyclist's rights. Soon the federal government will be tying the granting federal highway funds to state's that already have or pass helmet laws, just like was done with the .08 limit. And while it is probably true that both would save lives, I personally believe that I have the right to choose whether or not I wear a helmt. That whole pursuit of happiness thing you may have heard of. If you ride and are not an ABATE member, you owe it to yourself to check them out. They are on the front lines of supporting bike'rs rights. http://abatemn.org/
Saturday, September 19th 2009
I got there bright and early, just as they were putting the finishing touches on the breakfast bar. Mmmm... a hot fresh breakfast is the perfect way to start the day! It quickly warmed up as the parking lot filled with bikes (and bikers) of every shape, size and color. Couldn't have asked for a better day, weather-wise. I tag along with some guys that have been doing this for a while, and like a lot of people, their route changes a bit from run to run. This is great for me because I don't know where I am going.
Our first stop this year was the Nawti Hawg in Diamond Bluff. Unfortunately it was also my last stop. When we got parked, one of the guys mentioned that my bike had been throwing sparks for the last couple of miles. Sure enough, the wires on the regulator had burnt off.
We checked out the scenery and had a relaxing refreshment in the shade. Luckily for me, my bike started (probably only because I had it on the charger the night before when I was prepping for the ride and encountered what I thought was just a low battery). So I headed for home, taking the long route so as to stay on the main roads in case it died on the way and I needed to phone a friend. Not quite what I had hoped for but I guess it could have been worse. Bike is in the shop for a fresh top end, so I hope to actually make it through a Flood Run without a breakdown. C'mon spring!
Saturday, June 6th, 2009
The Carver Kids Ride was a good time albeit too wet. Photos at photos.bikerbomb.com
Special thanks to the Zuhrah Cycle Corp, the City of Carver, the Carver County Sherriffs, Sammy's Hideout, SBM Investments, Harvey's and all of our fantastic sponsors and dedicated volunteers!
Updated on Wednesday, May 27th, 2009
I got my bike back today. And I couldn't be happier. I had to take the chopper out a couple of times just to ease the withdrawals but it still needs some work and I am waiting on some of the parts. New carb and pipes and maybe a front brake would probably go a long way towards putting on the finishing touches. And new hand controls and mirrors. And the seat redone.
I am pleased to announce that Biker Bomb Dot Com is an official sponsor of the Carver Kids Run on Saturday June 6th, 2009 hosted by Sammy's Hideout in Carver. A lot of people are working to make this a great event. We are proud to join the following corporate sponsors in support of the ride for the American Diabetes Association's Camps Needlepoint and Daypoint and the Shriner's Children's Hospital :
Along with hundreds of other companies and individuals who donate money, goods, food and their time to provide funding for these outstanding organizations.
Until next time...
~Dave
Saturday, April 18th, 2009
The morning started out a bit on the cool side. The ride from Chaska to Lakeland was uneventful with the exception of one oversized white cooler in the middle of 494, thankfully not in my lane. There were already a bunch of people there when I rolled in a little after eight. Had an awesome breakfast and then tried to assist the professionals with parking. By 10:30 there had to be close to a thousand bikes if not more.
This was my second attempt at a Flood Run, last fall my brother had a little mechanical mishap that shouldered us for the day, and I haven't actually made it down the whole way but that is one of the greatest things about the Flood Run is that it is pretty much up to you where you go. You can go with the group, follow the entire route or customize it to fit your needs. Either way, you just go with the flow.
It turned out to be a beautiful day to ride, enjoy some amazing scenery and make some new friends. The majority of the towns love this run for the business it brings, traffic and parking are pretty good in the towns we went through and frankly, there are so many places to go to in the area that you could hit a different bar each run for years. Not that I endorse drinking but let's be honest, the majority of people have a drink or two./p>
There is a fairly significant police presence to handle the increased traffic and hopefully keep people from doing stupid shit. We made four or five stops at various places up and down the route before heading back towards home around six, up the back roads out of Red Wing. I had the pleasure of riding with some of my brother's friends and fellow volunteer parking professionals (I am still an apprentice). My bike started acting up in Lakeville so I limped it home on the back roads, missing the day's last stop at Renegade's. Hopefully I can get it fixed quick.
All in all, the Flood Runs (Spring and Fall) are well organized events that everyone should experience. This has to be one of the longest running runs there is. They have been putting it on for 44 years now. That's amazing and a credit to the hard work of the Flood Run committee and their fantastic volunteers, raising tens of thousands of dollars for the Gillette Children's Hospital and other charities.
I can't even begin to put on a number how many bikes were out... five thousand...ten thousand, maybe? It was really cool to see that many people out riding around or just hanging out. I figure the money spent on gas, drinks and food by thousands of bikers provides a bit of an economic stimulus. I hope so because it is a beautiful area to ride with lots of nice places to eat, drink and enjoy the beautiful scenery.
Until next time...
~Dave
I love to ride. To me, there is nothing that provides the feeling of freedom more than riding a motorcycle. The feeling of being at one with your bike and the road and everything around you. I've ridden bikes for 25 of the last 35 years.
I was lucky to have some friends who had dirt bikes in junior high. I got my first bike, an old 350 Honda Scrambler that my best friend had dumped, the summer before my senior year. When I got out of vo-tech and landed a job, I bought a sweet full dress Suzuki GS 850 S. Almost all of my friends had bikes and we put on a lot of miles and from what I remember, had a damn good time doing it. I sold the Suzuki years later when my son was born and remained on solid ground for ten years.
I had wanted a V65 Magna from the first time I had seen one (just after I bought the Suzuki), so before the divorce was even final I found one that was really clean and well cared for. The V65 was an amazing bike and incredibly quick and fast. Maybe a little too fast. Beat a couple of built vettes. Definitely a lot fun though and a good investment. I sold it for $200 more than I paid for it after riding it for 3 years.
Now I ride an 84 Harley Davidson Electra Glide, one of the last shovelheads. I put on a couple thousand miles a year. I usually go on 2 or 3 bike runs a year, a couple rides with friends and a lot of cruising around. These days I am a "pleasure" rider, I don't ride to work more than a half dozen times a year.
But I love to ride.