2Wheeltips

These are words; I thought I would never say,
But, I do not feel like riding today;
It is warm outside and the weather is clear,
But, I feel like staying inside today my dear;
I hear the rumbling sound from afar,
I do not take my eyes away from the peanut butter jar;
Is it depression or is it feeling sick,
But there is something in my heart, just didn’t click;
There on the floor, my boots do they lay,
My jacket is hanging, saying to my jeans, Let’s ride anyway;
Am I going crazy is this what I hear,
My bike will take off without me inside my gear;
My gear is telling my bike, let’s go,
One depressed rider does not stop the show;
There is a question that I need to ask myself,
Why is my head in the peanut butter jar-- and I can’t think of nothing else;
Maybe, you who are reading this, the question you can answer,
The days you do not feel like riding or being a dancer;
You hear the music playing your favorite tune,
Your soul does not move and you feel gloom;
I think I know what I need to do,
Get my head out of this peanut butter jar, and talking to you;
I heard it said, and I have said it before,
Just grab your gear and head towards the door;
Jump on your bike and go for a ride,
To be sure the wind will wipe the tears from your eyes;
The soul of your heart that is feeling low,
When you throw your legs over the iron pony, your soul will glow;
How do you know, how do you know, I hear you ask,
Because I’ve been there and took on the task;
When you want to ride, but don’t feel like it,
Just go to the garage and on the bike just sit;
Before you know it, that will not be all,
Your inner soul will hear the call;
Before you know it, down the street you will be,
Passing me by and grinning at me.

    I remember my first ride very well.  It was a warm summer day, we were to meet not far from my house and the group consisted of some 40 motorcycles.   As I pulled into the parking lot I remember the feeling of excitement and nervousness knowing that I was about to embark on a new journey that would take me into adventures I had never entered before: the roads we were going to take and riding in a large group for the first time.

    Riding in a large group can be daunting for a new rider but it doesn’t have to be if you are with the right group of riders and you follow some simple rules.  It is a very satisfying feeling riding with friends and sharing your experiences together, meeting at a location after the ride to talk over a nice meal before heading home. 

    The most critical piece of information that I can forward to you is to begin by choosing your company very carefully.  Do not go on a group ride through the twisties if you find yourself going wide through turns and crossing the center line when the bike gets a little fast for you.  If you are going out with people you don’t know, you may want to remind them before the ride that you are new to group riding and that you may ride slower than they are used to.  Ask that you ride near the front of the group so that you help set the pace.  You don’t want to get lost as they ride off without you or have to double the speed limit to catch up after everybody else has been scraping the chrome off their exhaust pipes through the turns.

    Don’t be shy.  Keep in mind that at any point you feel uncomfortable, give someone in the group a signal to let them know you will be cutting out of the group and heading home.  Just let the group know what signal you will use before you begin.   Be aware that you should carefully choose the location for departing the group so you do not confuse those behind you and possibly endanger others around you.

    Listen carefully to your group leader before the ride.  I can’t tell you how many rides I have participated in that someone didn’t listen to the pre-ride instruction or simply ignored it and created unnecessary headaches for the entire group.  If you find yourself in a group that gives no instructions before the ride explaining hand signals, group formation, scheduled stops, and additional pertinent information, I would advise that you skip that ride and wait for another day.  It is also a good idea to swap cell phone numbers with your group leader before you begin so that if you do get separated before during the ride you can eventually get in contact with someone to let them know if you need help or if you are just going to head home.  Always show up with a full tank of gas.  Experience has taught me that it can be frustrating to the entire group when they are ready to begin the ride and someone yells out that they have to stop for gas as soon as everybody pulls out of the parking lot. 

    Keep in mind that some group rides travel the highway to get to the entry point for the back roads.  If you aren’t comfortable with the highways, check with the group leader to see if the highways will be used either on the ride out or the ride home.  EZ pass is a wonderful invention.  Some parts of the country use different versions of the electronic toll payment system.  If you currently do not own one, I strongly suggest you get one as they make group rides so much easier when traveling long distances.   If you don’t have one and aren’t planning on getting one, make sure you have your toll money in an easily accessible place while you are riding.  Again, it’s frustrating and sometimes dangerous when the group has to pull off the highway waiting for you to catch up because you have to take off your gloves, reach into your pocket and fish for a twenty dollar bill, then wait for change and try to stuff nineteen bills into your wallet.  Find out ahead of time how the group will handle cash tolls.  Sometimes they will ride ahead at a pace just below the speed limit and you will be responsible for catching up.  This can be problematic because you lose your position in the group and end up directly in front of the sweep (last) position.

    Group formations are generally positioned two ways: either staggered or single file when staggered formation is not possible.  Staggered formation is simply all bikes riding in one lane; one motorcycle riding over to the left side of the lane the next bike is riding about one second behind and to the right side of the lane.  The following two bikes are riding the same position only two seconds behind the bike directly in front of them.   If you visualize the group looking from the top down, you could draw a zig-zag line from helmet to helmet along the group where the distance between the moving bikes is never less than two seconds apart from one motorcycle to the next directly behind them and never less than one second closer to the bike over in the opposite side of the lane.  If you are in the left side, you don’t want to be any closer than one second to the person to your right.  If you are on the right side, you don’t want to be closer than one second to the person to your left.

     One very common accident that occurs in group riding is an accordion style crash where a rider up front stops short and everybody behind piles up behind them.  This is usually a result of poor spacing and target fixation.  The time it takes for you to get to the person in front of you in the event of an emergency stop cannot be less than what it would take to either evade what’s in front of you or stop safely.  The reason for the one second between you and the person next to you is to allow enough room for an evasive maneuver.  If you are riding directly next to someone, you can’t use the entire lane if necessary without hitting the person occupying the same space. 

    There are a million reasons why people crash; the one that always strikes me as being the one easiest to avoid is when a rider tries to keep up with the person in front of them and finds themselves outside their personal ability.  If you are out riding with the group and suddenly you find yourself in tight twisting roads, switchbacks, reduced radius turns where your pulse is rising, you start hitting the brakes because you keep heading for that center line, slow down! I mean slow down to the point where you feel comfortable entering the turns and exiting them.  The experienced riders understand that those roads aren’t for everybody and that there will be another day to ride those types roads.  One thing to keep in mind when out there is that you need to ride your own ride and not feel pressured by anybody or to ride beyond what is comfortable to you or your ability. 

    Another common mistake is that riders love to look at what they don’t want to hit.  It’s called target fixation and is a difficult habit to break.  While riding in a group, do not fixate on the person in front of you, do not stare at their back tire or tail light.  Keep your eyes on where you want to go, not where you don’t.  The same goes not just for group rides but for all of your daily riding.

    One debatable aspect of riding is when someone drops out of your group and leaves a space to be filled in.  There are some that feel that all of the motorcycles directly behind the open spot should slide up to fill in the position.  This may work when the group comes to a complete stop.  However, if this were to happen at speed, all of the motorcycles will have to pass directly abreast the bikes offset to them to fill in the space.  If any rider should need to change lane position to make an evasive maneuver, the result would be catastrophic.  In my opinion, it is much safer to shuffle left to right to avoid having to pass other riders in the same lane.  This should be discussed in the pre ride instruction to avoid confusion.

    Another important issue to remember when riding in groups is to remember the traffic laws.  It may sound silly, but if a light is red, it means stop!  Do not feel obligated to blow through a red light to keep up.  Do not ignore the stop signs to maintain the group's integrity.  We want the cars to share the road with us while we ride; we need to do the same for them.  Never assume that a car will stop simply because you are with a big group of bikes because most will not.  When following another rider, they may have enough room to make that turn before the Toyota comes barreling through from the left, but you may not.

     I find that the simplest way to look at group riding is to take all other riders out of the equation except for the two riders closest to you.  The rider offset to you in front is the person leading you, the rider offset behind is following you and is relying on you to lead them.  The rest is just traffic.  Obviously the riders other than those I just mentioned are important because they provide you with signals letting you know of hazards in the road and upcoming turns, stops, and setting the pace for the ride, but in order to reduce the workload it is easier to break your large group ride down into a small three person group within the large group. 

    An issue I have had over the past few group rides that I have participated in is that there has been a breakdown in communication at some point along the way.  A critical time in group rides is making turns where the entire group has the greatest possibility of becoming separated.  If you think of your group as the small three person set, when coming to a turn or fork in the road, check your mirror to ensure that the person behind you is still there.  If they are not, stop before making the turn so that when the rider behind you sees where they need to turn.  If this pattern is followed all the way to the front of the line, all the riders ahead will notice that the riders behind them are stopping and waiting for the person behind them.  Eventually everybody will catch up and the ride continues; think of it as a motorcycle bread trail.    

    It is advisable that an experienced rider with a good list of contacts, first aid kit and some first aid knowledge should ride sweep for the group.  Sometimes, bad things happen when riding with a group.   Something to keep in mind is to keep calm and focused on what is going on around you.  A good sense of situational awareness is a great asset.  As trained EMT’s, we were always taught that you need to keep yourself safe first.  The same holds true for accidents and breakdowns in group rides.  First and foremost is to ensure that you keep yourself out of dangers such as oncoming and passing traffic.  Do not panic, stop your bike safely and park it carefully, ride the bike to a smooth stop, and watch for hazards on the side of the road that could cause problems such as drop offs and soft shoulders.  Then deal with the problem calmly and think about what needs to be done.  Talk to those around you and come to a decision together that gets the best results.  Sometimes roadside repairs are possible; just make sure that the area is safe to work on the bike.  Never leave a rider alone to deal with a problem.  If it looks like the bike needs to be towed or it is going to be impossible to make a quick repair, it may be necessary to have the group continue on and have someone stay with the disabled bike and rider.

     In the event of a crash, do not be afraid to call an ambulance.  Sometimes the rider may be in shock and not realize the danger they are in.  Internal injuries can sometimes not show themselves until much later and in certain cases can be fatal if left untreated.  Do not cave into the pleading of the rider to refuse medical assistance when common sense tells you otherwise.  The bike can be replaced or repaired later, just take note of all the facts that may be needed hours or days later; write them down.  These may include contact info for the fallen riders’ family, what medical facility the rider is being taken to and where the motorcycle is being taken for storage. 

    Group riding can be an awesome experience, especially for the first time.  Remembering to ride your own ride helps when more experienced riders feel like showing off their motorcycle skills and keeps you from riding beyond your ability.  Breaking down the large group into a small group helps reduce your mental stress.  Finally, when choosing a group to ride with, stay away from the showboats; let them impress the kids.  You, on the other hand, should stick with more responsible, level-headed individuals.  Go out there and share some memories!

I am proud to be an American and ride an American made,
What does that really mean, when you are not riding a cage;
I went to the dealer and my money he received,
He told me it was American made and that is what I believed;
5,000 miles later, I had to go purchase a part,
Would you know what saw, and beleive me it was not God;
It started my mind to thinking and it became real clear,
That what I was riding was not American made, my dear!;
I know some who have paid $9,000 and more,
To replace the chrome and other parts to make her glow;
When on the box or package you do read,
American made is not the name that is there in deed;
Some other country name you will see,
If this is so, how American made can it be?
Well they tell you to buy the clothes, because they are an orginal brand, Well just pull back the label and look inside the pants;
Those at the top, really do not care,
just as long as they can take your money, I know, I been there;
The mind of those who are not at the top,
will fuss and fight and kill you over a pop;
The mind of those who are not at the top,
is only one place that they will really shop;
But, if one really took the time to take a closer look,
and read the labels, their very soul would shook;
The mind of those who are not at the top,
will turn their nose down on others,
and when they see you riding by, they will say you are not a brother;
I know that I am stepping into a deep zone of rage,
to mess with another man's ride that is not a cage;
Because I am writing this,
I by no means is throwing a dis;
If it is going to be an American made,then make it all the way,
so that your parts and clothes will read, made in the old USA;
When I am riding, and the iron pony,
after, I have given you my money;
I want to know is what I am riding is legit,
Is it really 100% American made, is it?

Many bikers don’t know that you should never buy a used helmet. Helmets are good for protecting your head in only one accident. Afterwards it is time to get a new one. If the helmet is used, you have no way of knowing if it has been in an accident or not.

What tempts many into getting a used helmet is how it appears on the outside. Except for a few scrapes it looks fine.

But it’s not the external shell that protects your head, it is the internal foam. To prove this, we contacted our friends at Snell Memorial Foundation, the folks that do helmet testing. You will find the “Snell sticker” on the back of all helmets that have passed their tests. They were kind enough to send us the remains of a tested helmet and did us a favor by cutting it in half so we can see the internals.

With the exception of a few scrapes, the external shell is intact. But, on the inside, you see the foam layer is compressed where it was hit during testing. Once the foam layer is compressed, it does not expand and the helmet loses its ability to protect your head. Also note in the pictures that the foam layer has separated from the outer shell and is completely unattached and free to move around. Those tests, by the way, simulate a rider falling off a bike and hitting their head on the ground.

So, the next time you think about buying a used helmet, think again. A few dollars saved is not worth the risk of a serious head injury if the helmet is no good.  You can get a brand new tested helmet for $10.00 more than some of the ones you see on eBay and other places. Better safe than sorry. 

When do I need to stop, is a voice that I hear,
It is a sound that comes from my inner ear;
I read the books, and classes I do take,
but will I stop before its to late;
I recognize the all the signs, I see,
but are they really there for me;
Is there such a thing as going too far,
especially when you are not driving a car;
What about two wheels that you are on,
can you go too far, where far becomes gone;
What is it that you are talking about,
because what you are writing is not clear, and I am out;
I don't have time to waste,
Just because you are typing up space;
You know we bikers do not call a car by its name,
The word we use is "cage", it is a biker's thang;
You make me wonder are you a real biker that ride,
or are you a wanna be, who is full of jive;
So as a reader, I have an answer for you,
I can tell you what you need to do;
Save up some money so you will not become poor,
don't try to sell your prose from door to door;
Buy yourself a bike to ride, and a safety class do take,
your writing is getting on my last nerve, give me a break;
Well Mr. Don't like what I write, tell me when do I stop,
In the background when you hear the sound of the 2wheeltips cop;
What is that sound, I must ask,
When Carol says to you, "your poems are a blast!"

When we throw our legs over a piece of steel,
things come out of our mouths at will;
just think of some of the things you have said,
during an after thought, you felt real scared;
You used your creator's name in vain,
because a cage wanted your lane;
You might tell yourself that you ride without fear,
when you look in the mirror, a fool you see my dear;
Riding a bike is no joke, nor is it play,
Just within a moment, could ruin your day;
You tell yourself, I am looking cool,
but riding without protective gear, makes you a fool;
Oh, I guess, I just put my foot in my mouth,
Just made someone mad and their feelings went south;
I must say this fool, I have been,
while riding with my hair in the wind;
Saying to myself all the time,
I know what I am doing is a biker's crime;
But each time I read or hear it said,
that if you don't wear a helmet you will be dead;
I feel like my freedom is being taken away,
I should be able to ride any kind da way;
I tell myself it is my right,
and for that, I am willing to fight;
I tell myself, full finger gloves, I do not need,
I have tough knuckles and they don't bleed;
You saw some thing and had some luck,
and than asked your self do I have a buck;
You stop for gas and open the lid,
and found out later, deeper as you dig;
No money, no credit, not even a dime,
my mind says steal it, but it is a crime;
Ride it like you stole it, is what they say,
but if I steal this gas, I will have to ride that way;
Do not pretend that you are an angel, without any sin,
I can see behind that sweet biker's grin;
So things on my mind, I must stop hiding;
I wanted you to know, what goes though my mind, when I am riding.

two wheel tips feels the same
a lot of crappy dealers are to blame

I took my vtx in for some lizards lights
they wired it wrong and my battery said "yikes!"

There was a constant power drain
The bike wouldn't start, what a royal pain

I figured it out and unhooked everything
my battery was happy and started to sing

The dealer said it's not their fault
Had to be something wrong with what I bought

I told them that I bought it from you.
They looked around and said "you bought it from who?"

I looked at them with a pout
They said it's closing time, so you have to get out

I took my bike to the shop the other day,
Asked them to fix my bike, they said, "OK!";
I left it with them and was feeling good,
Knowing my bike would be fixed as it should;
I received a call and they said it would be delayed,
That meant that my bike would be in there another day;
They promised me, they promised me, I took their word,
I know what they told me and I know what I heard;
I had this strange feeling in my gut,
I felt that my bike would go untouched;
I have heard of stories, where they said they would fix,
and take your money and you would be git;
Now I don't want to give two wheel tips a bad name,
with the reader thinking two wheel tips feels the same;
All of this is just coming from me,
If my bike could talk it would agree;
I had a trip to Americade planned,
Hotel reservation made in advanced;
If I did not make it on time,
I would lose my deposit and my mind;
Something happened to my bike while I was riding there,
The same old problems started again and I will share;
What makes me so sure in my mind,
I knew a mechanic that used to work there at one time;
He told me of shady practices and lies,
That is why now, I have opened my eyes;
What can you do when you can't do your own work,
and have to depend on a dealer who is a jerk;
I really don't like speaking like this,
Because all shops this is not their practice;
I said, I would share what it was, they didn't do,
To be honest, I don't have a certifed clue;
30,000 miles maintenance, is what I ask,
and fix the fairing that was shaking like a blast;
The radio was making strange noise and sounds,
After, I picked up my bike and rode around;
The bike didn't feel tight like it use to would,
It felt loose like something ratteling under the hood;
I know I can't prove legit;
I want to know, did they fix it!

I know I'm invisible when I ride on the road
I know you can't see me…or so I've been told
So I ride as if no one can see me at all
It's almost like building my own safety wall!
I watch what you do and adjust my own ride
As I cruise down the highways, my time I do bide
But I never get lax and assume you see me
'Cause accidents happen when I get lazy!
Attention is paid to all things that I pass
After checking things out, I give it some gas!
But as I take special care of myself on the road,
It's safer for all, as we all surely know!

Each one must decided how far to go,
long distance or around the corner to the store;
But if you are writing a poem for others to read,
then keep it short and you will have fullfilled their need;
Now days people have a short attention span,
and don't have time to do a quick scan;
What is that in the road that I didn't see,
a great big pot hole, looking at me;
Now do I sweal or countersteer,
do I drop her down into first gear;
Afraid to stare and target fix, I become,
and right into the pot hole, I will run;
Remembering my training from two wheel tips,
I will make the bike do a little dip;
Dip to the right and dip to the left,
do it all within a single breath;
I made it around the pot hole, just in time,
because countersteering came to my mind;
I must keep it short and I must go,
I was just taking a ride to the corner store.
Anything can happen even on a short ride,
That is why I prayasIride!