The Palm Beach Knights Newsletter
The Knights Table
Monthly Newsletter March 2015
Greetings from your President
Will
KFFK
·
So, after months of nothing but Ramen Noodles, you've saved up enough loose change to put down a deposit on your first
motorcycle. An exciting new world with leather jackets and without traffic,
right? Sure, but there some other…stuff, too. Stuff no one else has told
you about becoming a biker.
At anything over 10 mph, a bee in the
face/neck/any exposed body part will feel — and this isn't an exaggeration at
all — like you've just been shot with a rubber bullet. And, in its final
throes, the bee will sting you. Probably in the face, because it’s trapped
inside your helmet.
Bees have also evolved the extraordinary ability
to find gaps in your waterproof, hermetically sealed riding suit that nothing
else, not even a drop of water, can penetrate. The bee will always find a way.
Normally, it’s around your neck, plunging down your chest and stinging you as
many times as possible before your frantic self flagellation manages to squash
it. But sometimes, it’ll find its way in around your waistband, then proceed to
sting you on the genitalia. Really, this does happen and likely will happen at
some point in your riding career. Car drivers will pass by flummoxed by the
odd, leather-clad man frantically stripping on the roadside while hopping
around with a swollen face.
Forget the TV weatherman, you’re going to develop a better ability to read
weather radar maps, cloud formations and wind patterns than anyone with an
actual degree in the field. And that’s because the weather is now absolutely
critical to your day-to-day life.
Can you make it home from work before the storm
hits? If so, what’s your latest time of departure, chosen route and necessary
average speed to make that possible?
Before you had a motorcycle, you always tried to find the quickest and most
direct way to get around. In a car or truck, it was efficient and practical to
do so. Now that you have a bike, you’ll be willing to go 100 miles out of your
way to visit a store or restaurant that has the same stuff as the one in your neighborhood.
You’ll find yourself with entire States between you and home, amongst strangers
and in strange places that you never knew existed, just because. You’ll tell
your family you’re just going out for a quick ride, then return hours,
sometimes days later, not entirely sure where you have been. And it won’t
matter, because you were riding.
4. Manholes, Paint and Tar Snakes
Utility companies go around placing large, slick metal plates in the road,
precisely where motorcyclists need to ride or, in intersections, put their foot
down. In the dry, that’s no big deal. But, in the rain? A wet manhole (no
sniggering, please) becomes a deadly skating rink. Put a foot on one and your
boot instantly slips, meaning you’ll drop your bike. Hit one while turning and
you’ll be laying on the ground.
Road markings take on a new life in the wet,
too. Nearly as slippery as manhole covers, they can make the back end of your
bike weave around as the tire hunts for traction. Even under the gentlest of
acceleration.
So scrimped and saved to buy your first bike, and now your friends are going to
want in on the action too. No, not by going out and buying their own, but using
your new pride and joy. Most are just going to want to pose for a new Facebook
profile picture on it, but some are going to swear riding competency and want
to take it around the block. Don’t let them, they’ll inevitably return holding
only a par of (now detached) handlebars and a story about how it’s not their
fault.
Complete strangers will start approaching you,
too. Normally old men, who will want to recount stories of the old Triumph or
Norton they once rode. They’ll tell how your bike reminds them of it. Well,
until they realize your bike is Japanese, at which point they’ll look shocked
and walk away.
Before you bought your bike, you were content to be a sheep. You’d complain, of
course, other people’s driving was never as good as your own, but you were
seemingly powerless to do anything about it. You just say stuck in the flow,
merrily texting and tailgating away.
But now that you've ridden a bike? You’re
suddenly hyper aware. Not just of the risks and the bad driving and that nasty
pothole six corners ahead, requiring a specific line begun now to avoid, but of
the utter ridiculousness of it all. That guy in the $100,000 Porsche? What a
poseur, that thing is slow. That guy driving the eight-passenger SUV all by
himself? How unnecessary. All these thousands of people sitting in a traffic
jam? That’s it, this car’s going on Craigslist.
Visit any forum and you'll find novel-length screeds on the rights and wrongs
of whom you should acknowledge while out on your motorcycle, and how. Should
you wave at people on scooters? Will that thug on the sportsbike come chasing
after you should you fail to salute? Do cruiser riders count?
You could spend every moment of your ride waving
at anyone and everything, which is just mental. It’s probably best just to get
on with the task in hand and ride your bike. Unless you see another riding
unwittingly approaching a speeding trap, in which case it’s your sacred duty to
tap the top of your helmet. Got that?
Your new motorcycle likely came with an owner’s manual, full of specifications,
technical drawing and suggestions on how to not end up with a worthless pile of
parts stacked up in your driveway. You can see engine and all of the important
bits and how hard can changing your oil be, anyways?
Take the time to read up about any work you want
to do online, talk to knowledgeable friends and spend some money on acquiring
the correct tools. And yeah, it’s not that hard.
Oh my god, you hit the rev limiter! Forgot to adjust the chain! Your tires are
2psi off! Relax. Your motorcycle is a lot tougher than you would think. It’s a
highly capable feat of modern engineering and, part of its design process is
devoted to making it stand up to your ham fisted abuses. Yes, you can take your
bike on a trackday. Yes, you can take it on that weekend road trip. Yes, you can
ride it fast and hard and put it away dirty. Your bike’s not going to melt in
the rain.
10. The Boogers
Probably the least glamorous part of riding a motorcycle is the stuff that’s
going to start coming out of your face. Live in a city? You’ll be inhaling so
many carbon particulates that your nose will quickly clog up with black goo,
then start leaking it down your face. Ride in the cold? Your nose will run the
entire time. Kicking the snot off your upper lip will keep it from spreading
across the rest of your face, then drying into a crusty mess. After every ride,
you’ll blow your nose and it will come out black, brown, yellow and, if you've been riding anywhere dusty or around a nasty chemical plant, likely red too.
You need to carry a hanky and you’ll need to wash that hanky every couple of
days, because you will be using it, heavily.
Who has the COOLEST VEST ???
At this time we have NEW large patches.. If you'd like to have a club vest let me know.
NEED A SHIRT ? SEE WILL!!
LONG & SHORT
SLEEVE SHIRTS AVAILABLE
$20 short sleeve $25 long sleeve
Don't forget to pay your dues!!
Starting on April 1st. All dues will be $20 per year. Just $5 increase.( .41 cents per month)
There is a link on our main page on our website on how you can pay your dues.
As always if you have any questions, just contact me and I’ll try to explain. Thank you for your support.
I now can take any payment with my PHONE at any ride !!!
To pay your dues or any other payments to the club, you can pay by Paypal or credit card. Or give cash or check to will!!
go to:
https://www.paypal.com/home
and send money to:
pbknightsmrc@gmail.com
David Rhodes
3/6/1966
Skip C
3/21/1943
Stanley Joseph
Mar 22
Ken Adair
Mar 24
Lauren 3/30
Phyliss 3/22
We have been having some really awesome rides /TIMES: and we have been very busy!!!!!!!!!!!
We had 8 different activities this month.
Monthly Newsletter March 2015
Greetings from your President
Will
KFFK
Will
KFFK
·
So, after months of nothing but Ramen Noodles, you've saved up enough loose change to put down a deposit on your first
motorcycle. An exciting new world with leather jackets and without traffic,
right? Sure, but there some other…stuff, too. Stuff no one else has told
you about becoming a biker.
1. Bees & Animals
Bees are a pretty innocuous creature, so long as they're in the backyard. Sure,
if you hassle them, you might get stung, but in general, they leave you alone
if you leave them alone. Get on a motorcycle, though, and the humble bee is
transformed into a weapon of mass destruction.
At anything over 10 mph, a bee in the
face/neck/any exposed body part will feel — and this isn't an exaggeration at
all — like you've just been shot with a rubber bullet. And, in its final
throes, the bee will sting you. Probably in the face, because it’s trapped
inside your helmet.
All of that takes place while you're attempting
to operate a relatively complex machine in busy traffic with absolutely nowhere
to pull over safely. (YES THIS HAS HAPPENED O ME !!!-Will)
Bees have also evolved the extraordinary ability
to find gaps in your waterproof, hermetically sealed riding suit that nothing
else, not even a drop of water, can penetrate. The bee will always find a way.
Normally, it’s around your neck, plunging down your chest and stinging you as
many times as possible before your frantic self flagellation manages to squash
it. But sometimes, it’ll find its way in around your waistband, then proceed to
sting you on the genitalia. Really, this does happen and likely will happen at
some point in your riding career. Car drivers will pass by flummoxed by the
odd, leather-clad man frantically stripping on the roadside while hopping
around with a swollen face.
Animals, too, have been put on this planet for
the specific purpose of performing Kamikaze missions on passing motorcyclists.
In rural areas, deer will wait in the roadside undergrowth, listening for the
approach of a bike. At the very last second, when it’s far too late for you to
take evasive action, they’ll fling themselves into your path, or maybe just
leap straight for your head.
Even domestic animals like to get in on the act.
Cats will test your reflexes by bolting from underneath cars to underneath your
wheels. Dogs will feel it’s their duty to hunt you down.
2. You’re Now An Expert Meteorologist
Forget the TV weatherman, you’re going to develop a better ability to read
weather radar maps, cloud formations and wind patterns than anyone with an
actual degree in the field. And that’s because the weather is now absolutely
critical to your day-to-day life.
Can you make it home from work before the storm
hits? If so, what’s your latest time of departure, chosen route and necessary
average speed to make that possible?
Will it dip below freezing on your commute
tonight? If so, should you pack your heated gloves or is the ride short enough
for simply your heavy duty winter ones?
Is the rain today going to be light, meaning you
can get away with leather or heavy, meaning you need that Bibendum suit?
Slicks, road tires, intermediates or full wets
at the track day next week? You’d better know for sure, because that deposit is
non refundable and it takes four days for tires to arrive.
3. Say Goodbye To A and B
Before you had a motorcycle, you always tried to find the quickest and most
direct way to get around. In a car or truck, it was efficient and practical to
do so. Now that you have a bike, you’ll be willing to go 100 miles out of your
way to visit a store or restaurant that has the same stuff as the one in your neighborhood.
You’ll find yourself with entire States between you and home, amongst strangers
and in strange places that you never knew existed, just because. You’ll tell
your family you’re just going out for a quick ride, then return hours,
sometimes days later, not entirely sure where you have been. And it won’t
matter, because you were riding.
4. Manholes, Paint and Tar Snakes
Utility companies go around placing large, slick metal plates in the road,
precisely where motorcyclists need to ride or, in intersections, put their foot
down. In the dry, that’s no big deal. But, in the rain? A wet manhole (no
sniggering, please) becomes a deadly skating rink. Put a foot on one and your
boot instantly slips, meaning you’ll drop your bike. Hit one while turning and
you’ll be laying on the ground.
Road markings take on a new life in the wet,
too. Nearly as slippery as manhole covers, they can make the back end of your
bike weave around as the tire hunts for traction. Even under the gentlest of
acceleration.
And then there are tar snakes: cracks in the
road filled with liquid tar. In the winter, that tar freezes and becomes strips
of black ice. In the summer, it melts and feels pretty much the same. The
cracks they’re installed to patch tend to be in the heaviest sections of wear
on the road. You know, like the apex of a corner or downhill, approaching a
corner, where you want to be braking. They couldn’t have been designed to catch
you by surprise any better.
5. Friends & Strangers
So scrimped and saved to buy your first bike, and now your friends are going to
want in on the action too. No, not by going out and buying their own, but using
your new pride and joy. Most are just going to want to pose for a new Facebook
profile picture on it, but some are going to swear riding competency and want
to take it around the block. Don’t let them, they’ll inevitably return holding
only a par of (now detached) handlebars and a story about how it’s not their
fault.
Complete strangers will start approaching you,
too. Normally old men, who will want to recount stories of the old Triumph or
Norton they once rode. They’ll tell how your bike reminds them of it. Well,
until they realize your bike is Japanese, at which point they’ll look shocked
and walk away.
6. You Become A Better Car Driver
Before you bought your bike, you were content to be a sheep. You’d complain, of
course, other people’s driving was never as good as your own, but you were
seemingly powerless to do anything about it. You just say stuck in the flow,
merrily texting and tailgating away.
But now that you've ridden a bike? You’re
suddenly hyper aware. Not just of the risks and the bad driving and that nasty
pothole six corners ahead, requiring a specific line begun now to avoid, but of
the utter ridiculousness of it all. That guy in the $100,000 Porsche? What a
poseur, that thing is slow. That guy driving the eight-passenger SUV all by
himself? How unnecessary. All these thousands of people sitting in a traffic
jam? That’s it, this car’s going on Craigslist.
7. Waving Etiquette
Visit any forum and you'll find novel-length screeds on the rights and wrongs
of whom you should acknowledge while out on your motorcycle, and how. Should
you wave at people on scooters? Will that thug on the sportsbike come chasing
after you should you fail to salute? Do cruiser riders count?
You could spend every moment of your ride waving
at anyone and everything, which is just mental. It’s probably best just to get
on with the task in hand and ride your bike. Unless you see another riding
unwittingly approaching a speeding trap, in which case it’s your sacred duty to
tap the top of your helmet. Got that?
8. Working On Your Bike
Your new motorcycle likely came with an owner’s manual, full of specifications,
technical drawing and suggestions on how to not end up with a worthless pile of
parts stacked up in your driveway. You can see engine and all of the important
bits and how hard can changing your oil be, anyways?
Take the time to read up about any work you want
to do online, talk to knowledgeable friends and spend some money on acquiring
the correct tools. And yeah, it’s not that hard.
There’s no obligation to take your bike to an
authorized dealer and working on it yourself won’t invalidate your warranty,
provided you don’t screw it up. If you don’t, you’ll end up with an enormous
sense of accomplishment, along with fresh oil.
9. Your Bike Is Stronger Than You Think
Oh my god, you hit the rev limiter! Forgot to adjust the chain! Your tires are
2psi off! Relax. Your motorcycle is a lot tougher than you would think. It’s a
highly capable feat of modern engineering and, part of its design process is
devoted to making it stand up to your ham fisted abuses. Yes, you can take your
bike on a trackday. Yes, you can take it on that weekend road trip. Yes, you can
ride it fast and hard and put it away dirty. Your bike’s not going to melt in
the rain.
10. The Boogers
Probably the least glamorous part of riding a motorcycle is the stuff that’s
going to start coming out of your face. Live in a city? You’ll be inhaling so
many carbon particulates that your nose will quickly clog up with black goo,
then start leaking it down your face. Ride in the cold? Your nose will run the
entire time. Kicking the snot off your upper lip will keep it from spreading
across the rest of your face, then drying into a crusty mess. After every ride,
you’ll blow your nose and it will come out black, brown, yellow and, if you've been riding anywhere dusty or around a nasty chemical plant, likely red too.
You need to carry a hanky and you’ll need to wash that hanky every couple of
days, because you will be using it, heavily.
At this time we have NEW large patches.. If you'd like to have a club vest let me know.
NEED A SHIRT ? SEE WILL!!
LONG & SHORT
SLEEVE SHIRTS AVAILABLE
$20 short sleeve $25 long sleeve
LONG & SHORT
SLEEVE SHIRTS AVAILABLE
$20 short sleeve $25 long sleeve
WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT!!!!!!!!!
Don't forget to pay your dues!!
For more than 2 ½ years we have managed to keep our dues at a very low $15 a year. Unfortunately due to a substantial increase in the cost of the website, we are restructuring our dues and how they are paid. It is your dues that helps keep our club running and pays for expenses you may not be aware of, such as the cost of the meet up site, decals, BBQ, Patches, club Banner and other items. We also are able to give away door prizes and gift certificates., and much more.
Starting on April 1st. All dues will be $20 per year. Just $5 increase.( .41 cents per month)
There is a link on our main page on our website on how you can pay your dues.
As always if you have any questions, just contact me and I’ll try to explain. Thank you for your support.
I now can take any payment with my PHONE at any ride !!!
To pay your dues or any other payments to the club, you can pay by Paypal or credit card. Or give cash or check to will!!
go to:
https://www.paypal.com/home
go to:
https://www.paypal.com/home
and send money to:
pbknightsmrc@gmail.com
| David Rhodes | 3/6/1966 | |||
| Skip C | 3/21/1943 | |||
| Stanley Joseph | Mar 22 | |||
| Ken Adair | Mar 24 |
Lauren 3/30
Phyliss 3/22
We have been having some really awesome rides /TIMES: and we have been very busy!!!!!!!!!!!
We had 8 different activities this month.
KeKe's Breakfast Cafe
This originally was slated to be a different ride, unfortunately no one informed mother nature. The weather was a little too uncertain for us to do an all day ride to Miami, so we headed to breakfast where once again the prettiest waitresses fought over the privilege of taking care of us. A lovely young lady named Heater won the honor. Kris is still pining away for her.
Neal Alvanos said " Was I there or was I dreaming? I know, I'll check the photos - nope, none of me. Guess I wasn't there after all, but it seemed so real: Greek omelet with sausage links, whole wheat toast, coffee, and the waitress had good teeth."
Dayton 2015
Greenies organized and lead this event. While I was unable to attend, I've been told he did an outstanding job. Thanks brother!! Maybe next year.
Keith Baldwin said" Brilliantly planned and flawlessly executed, thanks Greenies!
Indian River County public shooting range
Shooting has become a favorite past time for many of the Knights. We have gone to 3-4 different ranges and this one was a very nice outdoor range. The ride there while all highway, was not unpleasant. In less than an hour we ere there and blasting away. Shooting was followed up by a nice lunch at a great country style restaurant in Fellsmere called Marsh Landing . The Catfish I had was very good. All in all a fun day.
Stanley Joseph said" great ride, good people, fun day. thanks everyone."
Aruba Beach Cafe
A mid-week ride along the beach. Other than some unusual heavy traffic and Greenies getting a parking ticket, the ride could not have been nicer. A great Thursday getaway. We also got to welcome our newest Knight Yudi!! Yudi is a great guy and has the makings of a great addition to the Knights....welcome brother. And a big congratulations to Ricky Shades for gettings his cut....that vest makes him look good!!
Rich Love said " Thanks for a great ride P's the food was very good excluding the ticket all was a great Day Thanks for including Me"
Everybody in the Pool...no not that kind
Well it was time to just have a night to hang out. Pool seemed like a good idea until I actually started to play. Boy was I rusty!! It did renew an affection I have for the game and may schedule more nights like this one. I think everyone had a great time. I am also happy to report that we managed to get Mark Buzzcap7 out to play. It's always good to see Mark and hope to see more of him.
will said"Great time hanging out playing pool. Good to see Buzzcap, hope we see more of him."
FORGOTTEN SOLDIERS OUTREACH POKER RUN
A great cause brought out the Knights for a well organized Poker Run. Even with the weather turning very warm later in the day, it was a very enjoyable time.It was very nice to see
Gerry "phish" and his lovely wife. We always are glad to see them both on any rides! Also Marc Simbo finally got a day off from work and was able to be with us. A special pleasure to see Jerry Parker up and riding with us...
I don't think anyone actually won anything, but I was 1 heart short of a flush.....oy!
Neal Alvanos said"Good cause; very well organized. Lots of stop & go town riding, but nice for a change; and an unexpected free lunch to boot."
SHORT NOTICE: Hump Day Ride
Greenies took a group of Knights for a mid-week ride. These are real nice excurstions to help break up the week. Too bad work gets in the way!!
Gilbert's Resort, the first and last stop in the Florida Keys.
Well Greenies did some strategic moves and changed this ride around a little. The weather gave us at least one more cool clear day. The Knights had a great time at Cafe 27, Chesters and Jonny Brown's. Good job Greenies.
Skip Commagere"Ride had some last minute changes but turned out to be a great day. Slick showed and Rick decided to join us too. Cafe 27 to Chester's in Hollywood then to Johnny Brown's in Delray. What a hoot. Weather was perfect."
THROW BACK PICTURES!!!!
Oct 20, 2012.
Nov 17, 2012
Dec 2, 2012
Dec 23, 2012
Feb 17, 2013
Mar 23, 2013
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