September 2013

The Palm Beach Knights Newsletter

The Knights Table

Monthly Newsletter September  2013

Greetings from your President   Will

You must be Crazy to Ride a Motorcycle you are going to........

By Will

OK so here is a typical conversation we all have had with a non-biker.

 Them “You have to be completely crazy or stupid to ride a motorcycle. Those #$%$@ things are dangerous!”

Me     “Yes, I know it’s dangerous. That’s one of the reason’s I like it!”

Them “you’re going to get killed, I know this guy…Blah Blah Blah… (My favorite)

Me “Thanks for that unsolicited vote of confidence and prediction of my soon to come death and dismemberment, but I try to be as careful as I can”

Right about here the conversation usually goes downhill. People telling me about how I'm going to die, seems to make me a cantankerous SOB.(more than normal)

How often have we heard that? In my case, waaaaay too often. Sometimes I give a sarcastic answer (no really I do) sometimes I try to explain how much riding means to me. Family, friends, and passionate cagers (yes, I know we are all one also) are Hell bent on saving us from our own folly. Of course to them they just think our bulbs are a bit dim. Anyone with just the slightest amount of grey matter wouldn't go near one of those two-wheeled death machines. (oy!!) “It’s too risky, I would never do it” they intone piously. (yea no shit) Why do they always shake their heads when they say this? The best is them telling me this while they're smoking a cigarette. Eh, excuse me, but….schmuck!

Alright, in a small part, they are right. There is a certain amount of peril involved in managing a motorcycle. There’s also risk involved in driving on Florida Turnpike, even in a tank. It’s purely insane to do it at night anywhere in the middle of Florida. I swear those freakin Deer are just waiting for me!! The trick is to manage the unavoidable  risks and to not take dumb and unnecessary ones.

Obviously the State of Florida agrees with me, because it is now mandatory to take a motorcycle rider course in order to get your endorsement. Keeping those mental and physical skills we learn sharp, we should actually consider practicing once in awhile. I hope to have a training day for the Knights, as soon as I can find someone qualified to do it. (no it ain't me) Many abilities can be lost in as little as six months if they aren't practiced. Knowing good cornering and curve-riding techniques doesn't do us any good if we don't practice them. (In Florida that’s not often)

It is also important to know your limits.  We must remember that some of those limits change continuously and we need to adapt our riding style to conform to them. We Florida bikers are experts at going straight, but when we hit the Mountains of Georgia, we have a big surprise coming. Last year I rode the “Gauntlet” in Northern Georgia and was surprised by my lack of skill in tight corners. With a little time and practice, I got better…not good, but better. Just watching the video" Turn of the wrist" helped, but that is no substitute to practice.

Superior riders try to not get themselves into situations necessitating superior skills. Taking dumb risks is a request for misfortune, and a never ending lecture from everyone that knows you.. If we keep pressing our limits, we will eventually be able to exceed them, and I don't think I need to write about the gory consequences. We all like to test ourselves. One example is riding faster and faster through a familiar curve. Knights, let me tell ya that can be a BAD idea. When we've pushed our grip on the road to its limits and there’s something unpredicted in the road halfway through the curve, you're in trouble and you will find yourself with a very (for guys) distinct feeling in your favorite spheres, dry mouth and an increased vocabulary. Slowing down and putting distances between us and a hazard is workable risk management. Replacing worn tires as well as picking the correct ones helps keep us securely stuck to the road. An article about Darksiding(using a car tire)  will come at another time. Not to mention TCLOCKS (wait, I just did)

Part of the challenge of motorcycling is risk management, and it wouldn't be very enjoyable if we listened to all the haters out there and surrounded ourselves with a shell of safety devices.  However, it is more fun if we don't have to worry about the dangers we generate for ourselves. I'm just sayin…..

Well we've done it!  We have reached our first anniversary. This year has gone by very fast, and we have grown enormously. Usually I would have had a party for us, but circumstances didn't allow for that(sorry). I will make up for it with a Holiday get together. It's has been driven home lately how lucky I am to have made such good friend in this club. We have been down thousands of miles of roads together and I can't wait for the thousands to come. Thank you all for making this the best club out there!!

Members, if you are interested in being part of the leadership team, see Will .

We need Tailgunners, and Road Capt. 

I know of some people I'd like to see as part of the team who would make a great road Capt., but it's voluntary. So I won't put you on the spot by asking.

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THE ORGANIZER WORK HARD TO PROVIDE YOU WITH A FUN SAFE RIDE. WHILE WE WELCOME SUGGESTIONS, WE WON'T CHANGE RIDES THE WEEK OF THAT RIDE. I'M SURE THAT THEY WOULD LOVE TO HEAR ANY IDEAS FOR A FUTURE EVENT.

While we try to mix up our rides as much as possible, it's highly unlikely that I'm going to please everyone all the time. I hope everyone has been enjoying the rides that  have been on our schedule so far. I am always looking for feedback and new ideas. Your participation is what makes this club great.

If you want to see a OUR ANNIVERSARY VIDEO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXpuaCP7f_g&feature=youtu.be

MEMBERS GETTING OLDER!!  

Happy Birthday to:

Paul Mana			9/7/1947
Matt Jones			9-Sep
Steve Seide			9/26/1948
Paul Sachse			9/29/1960

We have been having some really awesome rides:

Ride to Cafe 27

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Always a great ride. Not too far, but some really nice roads and scenery. Both Tim's join us on this ride, it was good to see them again. After a cigar break at Holiday Park, we headed across the street to Cafe 27.

Always an interesting atmosphere. The food is good bar type stuff. The server's are always nice to look at. While sitting there a storm rolled in. We waited around for awhile, then some of us took the western route back, while the rest headed East.

Once again the Knights showed that the weather Gods love us as we avoided the brunt of any bad rain. One bonus was that Echoes got his patches sewn on!!

Viking

"Good food nice ride for a hot day-highway blast! Was great to see everyone and meet a couple of members I hadn't met before."

Punta Gorda Village Fish Market & Restaurant was cancelled, we will revisit that one at a later time.

101 Ocean, Ft Lauderadale

Greenis lead and organized this ride while I was otherwise occupied. I was told it was exactly what a nice beach ride should be. Perfect weather and little traffic.

will SAID

"Nice job Steve! Sorry I had to miss this one. I know what a great ride that is on a Sunday. We'll do it again soon."

Bike Bash Motorcycle Drag racing/Join the Knights for a day at the Races!!

A real nice event that inspired a need for speed!! We started with a great lunch at Duffy's, which was cooler and better than the food at the track. We then headed over to the PBIR. Greenies was excited by the Swap meet sign...2 tables and not much on them. We then checked out the bikes and they were impressive! I think the highlight of the day was the Spiderman bike. 196+ miles an hour in 1/8 miles.

When that bike took off, we felt it in our chest!!! A little warm, but only threatened to rain. Great time....maybe next time one of us will give it a go....maybe not. 

Steven Cohen - Gunner said

"Great destination. Thanks Will!"

UPCOMING RIDES:

10th Annual Run to the Heartland

Captain Hirams-Sebastian

Big Bertha’s Fish Joint

August newsletter

The Palm Beach Knights Newsletter

The Knights Table

Monthly Newsletter August  2013

Greetings from your President   Will

How to lift a fallen motorcycle

(Or oh  @$%$&  I dropped my bike!!!)

By Will

There are few things more stressful than the sight of your motorcycle lying on the ground. Although I can't help with that sick feeling in the bottom of your stomach, I can guide you through getting the bike back up on two wheels.

One day at our regular meet up spot, we watch from the window as another rider( an older guy from the American Legion) came into the gas station and promptly dropped his bike. 

After we got him upright, it got me thinking, and writing

" what if we weren't there?".

 It’s a gut-wrenching sight for a motorcycle owner; you’re pride and joy lying on its side. I remember when it was me! I was following as Tail-gunner, when the ride leader took a turn down a road he didn't know (just went where that GPS told him to).  The first 50 feet or so was black top, so no problem. Then the road unexpectedly turns into a soft sandy Hell hole. Even though I was only doing about 20MPH, the road grabbed me and pulled me down.  I remember lying there on my back about 10 feet from the bike thing “OK, this is a bad view of Helga”.  My head did hit a rock (insert your own personal joke here), but what hurt most was my pride. After the rest of the group finally noticed I was horizontal, the job of getting the Valkyrie upright began.

Now the first thing on your mind is getting the bike upright and checking for damage. Between the bike’s weight (about 850 lbs.), soft or hot surfaces and sheer awkwardness, picking up a motorcycle can be dangerous and cause serious injury (especially at my age) if done incorrectly or under poor footing.

The first rule of picking up a fallen motorcycle is to find a few people to help. The second rule, if you don’t find any help the first time, keep looking or ask for assistance again! It’s one of the reason’s we are better off being part of The Palm Beach Knights MRC, we always have a fellow Knight around to help. (And make fun of you)

Ideally, the people offering to help should be riders themselves. Obviously, you don’t want anyone else to get hurt, but with the motorcycle already lying on the ground God knows you certainly don’t need any more damage.

OK, now before any attempt is made to lift the bike some personal preparation and understanding of the steps are needed;

1)      (this may be the hardest) Make sure you've calmed down, thinking clearly, understand what needs to be done and physically able to lift the bike. Make sure that the bike is OFF!! STOP %$#$ cursing!!

2)  Always follow the golden rule: keep your body and back straight, and lift only with your legs. WARNING DON"T DO IT THAT WAY AND YOU WILL MISS A FEW RIDES!!! Just ask Greenies.

3) Maintain control of the motorcycle and never twist your body while lifting.

4)   Check the motorcycle for damage before riding it again. A lot of little thing can be fixed right there to get you home.

5)  Be aware not only are motorcycles heavy, but have awkward shapes with pieces that move and parts that can be really freaking hot.

 In an ideal world, you should practice lifting your bike under the training and supervision of a qualified professional who evaluates and coaches your lifting technique(no not me).  You'd be hard-pressed to find many riders who have taken the time to learn this little used technique. Indeed most bikers with any type of experience with this come from either lifting their own motorcycle or friends after some sort of mishap. 

I learned from a demonstration at Run to the Heartland in Sebring.

So there you are, far from home maybe a little banged up and not in the best moods looking at your motorcycle lying on its side and exercising your new found vocabulary. Here are some detailed step by step hints to help you through the daunting task of lifting your motorcycle.

Don’t Panic!  

(stole that from )

The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams 

  

The very first step as you’re looking at your baby on its side is to breathe. Breathe again. Take a few minutes to calm down. Tell yourself that this happens to everyone at some point in their years of riding. There is an old saying that there are 2 kinds of bikers those that have gone down, and those that are going to. Remember that your motorcycle isn't going anywhere and unless you and your bike are located in a dangerous area there’s plenty of time to pick it up. Seeing your bike lying on its side can be a traumatic experience, but as mentioned earlier, it happens to everyone at one time or another.

Take a good look around

I realize that your attention is focused on the motorcycle lying helplessly on the ground, but take a moment to understand where you are and what’s going on. Are you and the bike in danger from other traffic? If there was someone else involved in the accident make sure they’re busy looking for insurance information and not the quickest way to escape.( I would take a lot of pictures with my phone...just sayin) 

If the motorcycle isn't in the flow of traffic and you've been involved in an accident it may help to leave it on the ground until law enforcement arrives on the scene.

If the motorcycle ended up on its side from a series of unfortunate events involving only yourself; (or a #@$% GPS) Think about the surface your lifting from? Is there gravel? Is the pavement wet? Are you right next to a ditch? Are standing in dog shit? (Just seeing if you’re paying attention) You've just dumped your pride and joy, the last thing you need is to end up slipping and getting pinned under your bike. That would just be a cherry on an embarrassment sundae, and people always have a camera these days!

Check out the motorcycle

If you smell gasoline, put out the cigarette Einstein and work with caution around the motorcycle.

Note which side the bike fell on. If the motorcycle is lying on its right side, put the kickstand down and put the motorcycle in gear. Be careful you don't lift the motorcycle up and then flip it onto its other side.  At the demo in Sebring some little gal flipped right over...Now that’s funny!!  Set the motorcycle on its kickstand and park it safely. 

Time to lift!

Facing Away from the bike turn the handlebars to full-lock position with front of tire pointed downward. Find the "balance point" of the two tires and the engine, engine guard, or footpeg  The motorcycle will be fairly easy to lift until it reaches this point because it's resting on its side. Once you start lifting from there, you are responsible for the most of the weight of the bike.

"Sit" down with your butt/lower back against the motorcycle seat. Be very careful to keep your back straight and your head up. Put your feet solidly on the ground about 12 inches apart, with your knees bent slightly.

With one hand, grasp the handgrip (underhand, preferably), keeping your wrist straight.

With your other hand, grip the motorcycle framework (or any solid part of the motorcycle) being careful to avoid the hot exhaust pipe, turn signals, etc. Lift with your legs by taking small steps backwards, pressing against the seat with your butt and keeping your back straight. On slippery or gravelly surfaces this technique probably won't work. On inclined surfaces this can be very dangerous. Set the motorcycle on its side stand and park it safely.

Take a deep breath, go have a beer and be happy you still can.

______________________________________________________

On a personal note:

I wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who has expressed concern and sent their thoughts and prayers for my wife. We are lucky to have friends like you and deeply appreciate it. While it will be a hard road, I know that my family will come through this and she will be healthy once again soon. FYI Sue's surgery is September 11th

________________________________________________________________________

Members, if you are interested in being part of the leadership team, see Will .

We need Tailgunners, and Road Capt. 

Don’t forget that any member can make a suggestion about a ride or an event. We are always looking for more new places to ride to. So if you know of a place or an event, make sure to suggest it on our website.

While we try to mix up our rides as much as possible, it's highly unlikely that I'm going to please everyone all the time. I hope everyone has been enjoying the rides that I have been on our schedule so far. I am always looking for feedback and new ideas. Your participation is what makes this club great.

If you want to see a video of Roscoe's Chilli fest
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-a-aByHcng
Not too early to get your Hotel ..see ride details

New member may not know that:

We have  a mileage program. The first members have already received their certificate and a decal for reaching 100k miles with the PB KNIGHTS! The next level is 5000K miles. Look on the detail of each ride to see how many miles are awarded. If you would like to see your miles, just go to the pages tab and open-

Palm Beach Knights MRC Mileage Program page.

MEMBERS GETTING OLDER!!  

Happy Birthday to:

Devon “Viking” Driscoll

8/6/1961

Marc Simmons

8/13/1966

We have been having some really awesome rides:

Ft Pierce Tiki Hut Sun Aug 04

Nice turn out for this ride. We had 9 bikes and about 13 people. Good to see lots if family join us including my daughter Kelsie. A bit hot , but a pleasant day. The route takes us along some very nice roads. We had a stop at a great spot along the way. 

As Paul Sachse said 

"Great ride with great people again! Can't imagine a better group of people to ride with."

John Stretch Park @ Lake Okeechobee(kind of)

OK , so this was a really HOT ride. As we passed the Clewiston Inn, the clock read 1:38 and (95 F). First we changed the route a little and went up to Okkechobee and then down around the bottom of the lake. We had a short stop at JS fish camp for a drink. We started out with the idea of getting subs and eating at John Stretch Park. It was too hot ! so we decided to go to the Clewiston Inn...they were closed. We ended up at Branigan's Irish Grill & Pub. Food and service were real good. Nice ride home on 80.

Neal Alvanos Said

"Hot but fun ride. Excellent company."

Ride to LaBelle for some good BBQ 

An awesome ride!! While the weather is still kinda warm, the ride was perfect. The BBQ was some of the best around. As soon as we got there we were greeted by the very friendly people that run the place. First, the had plenty of room for us(including Echoes being able to stretch out that hurt leg). Then they gave us some free soup...some of the best I have ever had. Lunch was tasty  and the free ice cream was just the perfect ending. The ride back was also very nice with just a moment of rain.

The group rode like a well oiled machine. Greenies did a outstanding job of tail gunning. All in all a real nice day with the Knights. Oh, everyone goy an 'A' on the U-TURN training!!

Tom "Echoes" Casella said "Best club out there members are great well organized and seasoned riders with such diverse backgrounds"

Pirates Cove Resort and Marina, Stuart

Sunday, August 25 (THE RIDE THAT ALMOST WASN'T)

Well we came close to calling this one because of weather. Man I'm glad we didn't. While we only had a small group, we had an awesome time. Originally we had a large RSVP for this, but for one reason or another people couldn't make it. We never got 1 drop of rain. it wasn't too hot, and the scenery was beautiful.  Neal, Gunner and I had a blast.

Steven Cohen - Gunner said

"Best ride All summer"

Member of the Month

I chose one of our newest members this month. Even though he is a new Knight, he is always positive. His attitude exemplifies what we all should be. He is also always out there promoting the club. So THANKS to our August MOTM   

Tom "Echoes"Casella

UPCOMING RIDES:

Ride to Cafe 27 -

Punta Gorda Village Fish Market & Restaurant

Florida Cafe Cuban Cuisine

101 Ocean, Ft Lauderadale