Saving Monies and Practice

I've been trying to come up with ways to save the club money, I was looking into fire alarms recently and found one that should save "big" money. What do you think?

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More Practice

Monday night practice assorted photos

Hey !!! Look who's leading !!!, For what it was worth...it was a surprise to him too.

They call it Monday night Practice, But lets tell the truth here, they would be there if you called it Monday night shuffleboard. It's about being on the bike, It's about competition, Hey..It's about kids and their toys...what's the word I'm looking for?  Oh yeah....FUN.

klay

One Word

Being "The Guy" people turn to, to have their bikes worked on is not always a cool thing. Sometimes you have to pick the bike up and take it to the shop...

"Sweet"

Fun in the dirt

Crews were back in the dirt today (Sunday, August 30th), finishing up the dirt work, today it was filling, leveling and tamping. Soon it will be time to destroy the wall (I love destruction) to put in the two doors and then add the floor.

Other Things to read

Sitting in front of your computer, looking for something to do, have you checked out the Long Riders section of the New London Motorcycle Club site. Rides to Alaska and Newfoundland.

Or try http://evertalaska.blogspot.com/ Everets blog with some fantastic photos,

Then there's http://sites.google.com/site/ridingfullthrottle/ Les and Adriane's riding full throttle site.

Loud Please, Let me Rant!!

It was mentioned at last nights meeting that new laws may be coming our way regarding motorcycle exhaust noise. The use of non- OE exhaust will be deemed illegal. Exhaust decibels and manufacturer stamps must be in place.

The following is an excerpt from the AMA site:

"Since its inception in 1924, the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) has maintained a position of strong opposition to excessive motorcycle sound."

It is my opinion the AMA "AMERICAN" Motorcycle Association does not support ALL motorcyclists. Reading their report Home>>Rights>>Rights Resources>> Position Statements.
"Excessive Motorcycle Sound" they state that loud motorcycles are the major source of motorcycle prejudices. They are concerned that people associate loud pipes with motorcycle trouble. They go on to list what they feel should be done to solve this problem.

1. Owners should not modify their bikes from OE. (What ever happened to the Americans freedom of choice).
2. Event Organizers should take steps to make loud pipes un-welcomed. (Imagine what kind of turn out a organizer would have if only quiet bikes were invited).
3. Motorcycle retailers should discourage the replacement of OE pipes. ( This is a county based on the Free Enterprise system, If the dealer can make money on accessories and labor they should be allowed to)
4. The Motorcycle industry and the Safety Community should educate customers and riders that excessive sound can be fatiguing, thus impairing good riding skills and judgment, making riding less enjoyable. (Why do they want to EDUCATE everyone to their way of thinking?, Fatiguing?, impairing riding skills and judgement?, Less enjoyable?. You want to hear fatiguing have your wife in your ear for the entire trip on an intercom, Riding skills and judgment, if you truly have have riding skill exhaust noise should not be a problem any more than having a headset with a stereo in your ears and talking GPS. As a matter of fact I'd rather hear what the engine is doing, it's part of riding a bike opposed to sitting in a car. Enjoyable?, try riding next to a bike playing Elton John over it's speakers, then tell me you had a great ride.)

The list continues, my favorite is: Manufacturers Producing Motorcycles that meet the appropriate Federal Standards continue to educate their dealers and Customers that louder exhaust systems can decrease the performance of motorcycles. (Are they confusing mileage with performance? Usually a open or less restrictive pipe with the correct jetting or programing increases Horsepower.)

Whether you agree or no, I believe the main problem with motorcycle public relations is the action or actions of those riding them. Doing high speed down the highway on the white lines while traffic is bumper to bumper is dumb and dangerous. Doing wheelies in traffic same thing. If something goes wrong these motorcyclists endanger not only themselves but those around them. I agree speed is a blast, tricks are fun and take skill, but open areas where they endanger no one else seems to be the intelligent thing to do.

As far as noisy bikes, Who do they effect? The car they passed, how long did it take? The couple sitting on the porch? Is the bike there or did it go by. Who does the loud pipe actually effect? It effects the rider himself and/or the guy behind him on a ride. Since the chances are pretty good that the guy behind has a loud bike. what's the problem. I've ridden behind bikes with open pipes and it can get old, but its his choice and if I have a choice I'll take the sound of the wind and the exhaust any day over the sound of someones stereo blasting away parked in the driveway of a neighbors house, or on the bike next to me...The exhaust note is one of the reasons I ride.

My opinion is simple, freedom of choice, if he or she chooses loud and it bothers me, I don't ride near him or her. For many bikers the exhaust note is one of the favorite reasons to ride.

Stats

Motorcycle deaths are on the rise, why? A look at the NTSB site shows an increase in Motorcycle reported deaths every year since 1997. There are many possible reasons for this but no organization can come up with anything definite. Helmet laws are regularly blamed, by the public, because it is an easy target, but no official organization will back that answer because there are no specific studies. It is also hard to determine if a helmet would have saved a persons life, plenty of speculation but no definites. There are also no studies showing how many persons received severe injuries to the brain or body (while wearing a helmet) leaving the victims fully dependant on others.
One thing is sure, motorcycle related accidents are up , here are a few of the reasons.

1. More motorcycles are on the roads than ever before.
2. More inexperience people are driving them.
3. More older riders with reduced reflexes are driving them.
4. Automobile drivers have more distractions than ever before including Coffee holders, Cel phones, Nav systems, Stereo systems, etc.

What we can do is be more alert to the dangers, don't ride relaxed, and always expect the unexpected.

MUD PARTY !!!

Sunday, the day after Tropical Storm "Danny" drops gallons and gallons of water with 45 mph winds, the Club needs your help to finish up the pavilion foundation. With the footing and knee wall done its time to fill, level and tamp. So come on down and join the "Fun in the mud". 7am A.I.M. (--- IN MUD) Your old enough now, you can get all dirty and muddy and not have to answer to your mother, (wives maybe).

Crete

A visit to the Club today finds the concrete has been poured for the footings of the pavilion. So if you notice anyone missing, you may want to inspect the area now before the work goes any further. Where's Dunn?

A trip back at 5pm found the forms in place on top of the footings for the next pour.
Mikey ben bizee.

Pavillion Progress

Saturday Members worked at the club and excavated the area on the south side of the building, and put in the forms. A small amount of water filled the trench but with the aid of a couple buckets and a small pump it was kept at bay.
Monday the town of Montville inspected the forms and approved the work for pouring the footings.
Progress Continues

The time below (is a fantasy) believe me, I did not post this at 5:58am. Twas 9:03am

Beaver Tail , Jamestown RI

The Plan

10am A.O.B. at Dunkin Donuts in Montville, those gathered, with packed lunches and drinks headed east to meet a second group at the MacDonald's on route 184 in North Stonington, Exit 93. With the combined groups, 20+ bikes, the Club would again brave the broken shoulders and pot holed strewn highways and bi-ways of the Ocean State, for the Hurricane Bill Run. A ride across the smallest state in the country to sit at Beaver Tail on Jamestown Island to check out the storm surge as Hurricane Bill passes out at sea.

The Journey

After picking up the Exit 93 group the club ran west on 184 and north on 49 to Voluntown Ct. After a short stop to effect a repair on a members bike, We picked up 165 east across RI.. Rte 165 has to be one of the worst roads (paved) in the area with the word paved used loosely (Loosely..like the pavement) . The Club then took 3 to 102 east to rte 1A in Wickford RI and then 138 into Jamestown. The weather was sunny and bright, hot and that sticky, Humid like being wrapped in Saran Wrap Humid. Hitting the Jamestown Bridge that changed, the air was thick with the smell of the sea and salt,and the breeze was cool. The traffic on Jamestown was moderate with almost everyone on the island heading to the same place we were. I took a few photos from the bike, including a few backwards over the head shots (got some really nice pix of the white line on 49).

The Destination

Parking at Beavertail was at a premium but after a little waiting and idling and waiting the Club found a grassy area near the Lighthouse, once off the bikes members broke up with some heading to the rocks and waves and others staying in the shade of the trees. Lunches were eaten and sunburns collected. The waves were pretty much normal with reports of the storm surge having been the night before, but it was still impressive and everyone enjoyed the view.

At this point I can report no longer on the ride since i hijacked six other bikes and took them back over the Jamestown bridge and up 1A to rte 1 then 95 to 195 and over to Hot Leathers in East Providence. Funny thing about Hot Leathers, you can need one thing you could need nothing, but you will buy something and if you're lucky it is actually what you went there for. Leaving East Providence we grabbed 95 North to 146, one bike dropping off t rte 6, we traveled up 146 to 295 to 44 west into Ct. In Putnam I approached the 395 overpass with five bikes behind, came out under the bridge with two. (deserters). In Putnam we found rain, it was a nice cool quick rain, not enough to get you soaked, also not enough to wash the oil off the pavement which I found out at a light when I applied the brakes and the back of the bike decided to start figure skating. No loss, no crash, and no stop at that light. From there it was across 44 to Willimantic and points south.

As I mentioned in the last BLOG I downloaded photos into "NLMC Socials" having lost access to Club rides, then I lost access to that album, and it turns out no photos downloaded. So I am looking into alternative Photo sites online and I will get with Adriane on that. Perhaps there maybe a new link in the future...

OH MY GOD...IT GETS BIGGER!!!

Hey, has anyone told you that if you click it it gets bigger? Well...Try it out below, Click on a photo !!! Don't worry, you won't go blind.

WORK PARTY!!!

On Saturday August 22nd Club members met to destroy the lawn at the Club. The plan was for an early breakfast then right to work, someone seems to have gotten confused and everyone went right to work. This club has a large group of members and each has various backgrounds, (due to witness re-location rules we can't delve too deep here) but getting a group of them together usually means one or more has the knowledge, equipment and willingness to get the job done correctly. With the sun shining bright the equipment was brought out and people got dirty (especially mike). The trench was dug, the area leveled and forms placed. Some of us even learned a thing or two. The area is now ready for the inspector to come down and then it will be time to play in the cement. Two other chores were completed as well, the meeting room was swept out and the grilles are now usable.

No blood was spilt in the building of the pit and forms, no animals were harmed, any reference to peoples living or dead is purely coincidental, the views seen here are not those of the clubs but blah blah blah...

For the full set of photos of the day be sure to check out NLMC Socials on the links page of our website. If you can see them let me know, because after downloading them to the site I was locked out ...again.... This makes two album sites I have no access to, Socials and Club rides.

There are two new movies on Youtube, They are a video of the ride up to Vermont and a slide show of the day both accessible from the club links page. Thursday I dropped off instructions on how to access them from the website, copies are available at the clubhouse. Being locked out of Snapfish it looks the Ahn run photos and Narragansett/Point Judith pictures will be put together as a slide show and placed on Youtube also.

klayofthemystics

O/K

I add this photo simply because I can, and for you to say..."What the .."

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Meeting nights

On Thursday nights the club meets at Davids on route 85 for a mystery ride then arrive at the club for the meetings and occasionally food.

Another thing the club seems to enjoy is burning things, anything they can find.

But I believe the best part is the Camaraderie

I have found that its not just the bikes, and it's not just riding, it's being with the people you love

klay