New Product for a toasty as-, ah...seat.

Cold weather is here, and colder to come, a website called "Seatheater.com" has an answer to it. A seat heater from the Check Corporation quickly provides comforting warmth to the rider through the seat’s cushion to make riding on even the chilliest day more enjoyable. For prices and applications call TOLL FREE (866) 623-1063 Enfield,CT
Follow the link and check it out :
Seatheater.com

What do you have to lose?

Now those were the days

First I have to apologize for the condition of the photo, it suffered a little water damage, trust me the bike had no pink blotches neither did the tire or Diane’s hair.                                                              


        1964 Triumph 650. This is the only photo I could find of it and it is not a good representation. Not only is the photo quality an issue but the picture was taken right after the bike was registered but not done. The rear fender will be replaced with a wider fender as will the rear tire, The “Sissy-bar” and back pad will be changed along with the seat. The tail lamp will be replaced by a tombstone tail lamp. The exhaust seen on the bike was bolted on for inspection, notice the crappy aluminum bracket holding it. The pipes it will have are straight drag pipes down each side of the bike. The front fender is missing but I’ll explain that in a minute. When finished the bike will be painted gloss black with red pin stripe along the rear fender edge and along the frame up to and along the lower lip of the fuel tank. The bottom of the fuel tank and inside the rear fender will be painted gloss red.
        The second bike in the photo is Gerry Miners, the girl will be his wife…later. That bike is a Harley Sportster.

The dude wearing red, is me, in a much younger, thinner, bearded, with hair version.
         Anyone registering a motorcycle in New London in the late 70’s should remember a Asian gentleman who was a little shall I say prejudice towards Japanese bikes. I brought my Honda 550four chopped with hardtail and raked for inspection and it passed with flying colors, I knew people with Harleys where the guy looked them over like they may be carrying bubonic plague. So We bolted on the baffled exhaust and went for inspection. The first thing the inspector commented on was the loudness of the exhaust. Then he determined that the front fender was illegal and failed the bike, punching exhaust and fender failure on the inspectors ticket. The fender I could understand, it was about 6 inches long, chrome, with chrome spikes, it couldn't have stopped anything from flying off the tire.
          What to do? Me and my brother went to the Toyota Dealership in New London and took a fender off a 20" bicycle that had been abandoned at the rear of the garage. We put it in a vise and pounded it flat with a 3/4 lb sledge then used hose clamps to clamp the brackets to the springer. this done we headed back to inspection.
           Now we had a different inspector, he took the failure ticket out to the bike and had me start it, at this point he commented that it was probably the quietest chopper he had ever heard. (after all that work we didn't do to correct it). He took a look at this banged up paint chipped piece of tin crap attached to the springer and said "Yup, fenders legal length" then proceded to punch the inspection card as passing all sections, about halfway through the punches the bike decided to give a little demonstration of what it held for me in the future. The headlight assy, just fell off the bike and was hanging by the wires. Sort of a "tink" then "clunk" sound as it hit the springer, the bracket had snapped off. The inspector, still punching the ticket as passed , glanced at the dangling headlight, continuing to punch looked back at the slip and without raising his head to look at me said "You will fix that, right?" and handed me the approved inspection ticket.

Wanted

Toll Booth Attendant:  State of Rhode Island, Good pay, Benefits, Math skills not required.

The Cape Crusaders Epilog

Hooligans !!!

The club invaded the Cape on their recent jaunt, and stirred up the neighborhoods, from women in POSH Chatham locking car doors and running for cover as the club ran through, to complaints about loud parties. It was club set free; One of our members who never eats anything unhealthy ate Beef, had Fish, drank beer and Scotch. Some of the Clubs women visited a "Toy" store, didn’t stay long. Mornings had members wondering what condition they would find their sleds, toilet paper wrapped perhaps.

 Lessons learned… When the weather warms up, remove unnecessary leather clothing. Granted when the Saturday riders left to ride up to the Cape it was cool out, but by the time they arrived it was warm enough to shed the layers.

A couple of our members were walking down the street in P town wearing their chaps...      enough said?

And who stole the night managers chair out of his office?

 

From the New Haven County Chairman:

Members of the NLMC,
Thank you all so much for your generous contributions to the American Cancer Society. Our team came in third place, with just under $1400, with donations from club members, family, friends and workplace colleagues. Not bad for participating in the Kick It Motorcycle Event for the first time.

Special thanks to Theresa, Mike and Randi, Cary, John, Guy and Steve (Murphy) for joining us in the ride this past Sunday. There were over a 1000 bikes that participated. And we had beautiful weather (after a cold morning start).
We appreciate the club's support for this worthwhile fundraiser.

Thanks again,
Steve and Joanne Natale

Florida County

The news from the Sarasota County leader (Florida) is positive, and the Casa del Craigee is up and running

Pavilion Work continues

While a group of the Club was enjoying the last weekend of summer in Cape Cod Massachusetts and another group was participating in The “Kick it” Ride for Cancer out of Danbury Ct., a small contingent was hard at work at the Clubhouse. They removed the windows at the south end of the building, cut the concrete entranceways and placed the two doors for the Pavilion. (Photos available on the Club Socials link of the webpage). Tonight everyone is cordially invited to attend a dust party. The club needs to be cleansed of the concrete dust so tonight is a dust party, everyone is invited, so COME ON DOWN !!!
/,

The Cape Crusaders

The Plan: A Club ride to Cape Cod on Friday morning, returning on Sunday, in between: Whale watching, store hopping, pools, Party.  Four of us had to work Friday, so our plan: to meet at the Equinox diner in Old Mystic on rte 27 Saturday morning ride up and join the Club. So 8am Saturday morning we met and two bikes (Rich and Dan), one trike (Ginney) headed for Cape Cod I stayed behind and watched them go. I seem to be suffering from left side bodily issues, lower back, wrist, ankle, knee, and leg. The wrist is probably carpal and not a problem, the back and leg are in a word a Bitch, so now I have had a shot in the ass, new drugs and a patch, 24 hours on my back (alone) and no bike while the loopy drug lasts. So I hope the club has a great time, Dan promised to call and rub it in, and hopefully will make the next ride.

Thursday's Mystery ride

The group met at David's drive in on rte 85 in Chesterfield per the norm for the Thursday night before meeting mystery ride. A.O.B. was at 6pm so we left at 614pm with 18 bikes, The club rode up rte 85 into Colchester, picked up rte 16 to route 207 and took that east to Lebanon Green. At Lebanon the ride proceded south on 87 to Franklin and route 32 to route 2. Route 2 to route 163 to 82 and Old Colchester road to Moxley. Temperatures dropped a tad so it was gloves and chaps were a must.
        Steve and Joann Natale promoted the cancer ride for Sunday, and since a lot of members will be in Cape Cod the bucket was passed to take up a collection for the ride. Total was $270.00 from the members.

Ideas or Stories?

I have only been filling in for Ron on the blog for a little while now and already have emptied my brain. (there wasn't that much there to start with).

 So if you have any stories, anecdotes, questions, or information you would like to share, forward it to me and I will be more than happy to post it.

Need work done?

There is a new addition to the Club Webpage, it is the "Membership Business Directory" , so if you need to have some work done check out the site and see who does what. If you have a business and want other members to know what you offer, contact Adriane and have yourself added to the list.

Shhhhhhhhh.

Following in the footsteps of Golden Colorado, Boston Massachusetts is trying a voluntary noise reduction plan. Golden Colorado has a program called "Silence is Golden" to reduce excessive noise, The Boston Police Department is stepping up to the plate with "Pipe Down, Please". The program is targeting Bostons north end streets. Starting with known motorcycle hangouts the police department are circulating informational pamphlets reminding people of the noise ordinances and the benefit of public quiet.

Boston has introduced a ordinance that calls for the EPA stamp on all approved motorcycle mufflers operating in the city, a bike without the stamp will earn its owner a $300.00 fine. The law was approved by City leaders but in currently held up in appeals.

To read about the program:
http://www.northendwaterfront.com/home/2009/9/9/pipe-down-please-new-motorcycle-noise-reduction-program.html

Photo models wanted

Adriane is updating the pictures on the "Club Gear and Etiquette"page of the Club website. I am looking for members who would like to wear the Honor Guard shirt, vest, and Ascot, Also someone to wear the shirt, vest and black helmet.
Correct Honor Guard gear is Ascot with Club Patch, Vest with Large patch on back 6" down from collar, Brass badge on left side, Black pants, White shirt with sleeve wheel and flames graphics, shined black shoes. (On bike uniform, Gloss black half helmet replaces Ascot.)
Also want people to wear their regular vest with correct placement of patches.
Large 12" patch on back approx 6" down from collar, Official brass nameplate on left front, American flag above badge, (Nothing goes above flag). Small club patch on right vest front.
Other patches and pins o/k.

If you have the gear (with the correct patch locations) contact me at hotrail13@hotmail.com to have you photos taken. I will then forward them to Adriane for posting.

Need a different scooter?

Check out the "Wanted and For Sale" section of the Club website, (link below) VStar 1100 Custom, Harley Sportster, Honda Goldwing,Kawasaki Vulcan 2000 Classic LT, and a Honda VTX1800N. Whether its a replacement bike, a different size bike or a backup you're looking for see what members are selling.

Have something you want to sell , use the Club site to have it posted.

http://www.newlondonmotorcycleclub.com/forsale.html

"Comand Decision"

Someone made a command decision the other day, probably the Commander, Fearless Leader, Numero Uno, El Presidente', The decision lead the Club to today's cruise. 10am A.O.B. although we were missing a large chunk of the regulars we still fielded 17 bikes and 19 members. The ride ran straight up rte 395 into Massachusetts (yes, helmets). There was a reported tractor trailer accident around exit 99 but the area was clear by the time we went through. The destination....(drum roll) Carl's Oxford Diner !!! Yes the very place Steve wanted to report to the American Heart Association last year. And it is still just as good, a side order of sausage still fills a plate, as does any side order there. As an example a "small" side order of Ham and beans finds a 12" plate arriving a your table with two giant ham steaks and a three inch pile of beans. With five people at our table and a couple side order plates along with the main course plates meant that areas of the table did double duty, for example, my coffee cup doubled as a side order plate holder. You also need a Algebra degree to read the menu.

After eating it was brought up that Tom had mentioned at Thursdays meeting that the Monson Mass Hill Climbs were being held today. So after asking around to see who wanted to do what, Jim took the main group back towards home on the back roads while I led 6 bikes and 8 other members north on 395 to rte 20 west, once we cleared Stourbridge, traffic lightened up and there was good running until we hit Brimfield. I forgot that Summer weekends means the Brimfield Antique/Flea market is going full swing so we moved along at 3mph checking out the local deal searchers. Clear of Brimfield we arrived at Palmer Mass, Home of the Steaming Tender Restaurant, (someone remind me to mention that to the E board for a trip, good food and atmosphere, an old Railroad station at the meeting of two railroad lines, one being the major freight line to Boston.), Anyway, we picked up rte 32 south (using two blockers to control the intersection) and arrived at Monson. $11.00 per person and we were parked at The Quaboag Riders MC hill Climb. I have to extend my thanks here to the Quaboag Riders for inviting me in past the gate to get better photos. They stated that other Clubs are always welcome. After watching the show for a while we headed south into Ct. (removing our helmets 2 feet inside that State line). In Stafford we stopped for fuel and Ice Cream.

From Stafford I led the small group down 32 into Tolland where I took a side road, I figured I would add a little mystery ride to the day, it turned out to be a pretty good mystery because even I had no idea where we were. At one point Rick pulled up along side and asked if I knew where I was, I gave him a positive NO. Rick led us the rest of the way down through Tolland and Mansfield, through Columbia and then on an excellent plate scrapping side road which led to 207, at which time he handed the ride back and headed home leaving us to the ride down 16 to Colchester and home.

Slideshow up on youtube. http://www.youtube.com/user/klayofthemystics

Portraits

Am looking to get photos of everyone with their bikes.

Compassion

As we enter the chillier part of the year and into the down right cold parts, and we are dealing with wet leave covered roads, then ice and snow, as we are freezing our external parts off and spending meeting nights eating and meeting instead of riding, one of our members will be cruising the warm sunny roads of Florida. I'm sure he'll be thinking of us...yeah... HA!

Autumn "True Story"

A couple years ago a friend of mine was out in his yard doing lawn work, I myself absolutely hate lawn work, and painting, and plumbing and any type of manual work but I digress. He was working in his yard when a sport bike came up the road. My friend lives on the outside of a corner on a slight hill. As he was working, the sport bike came speeding up the hill, banked into the corner went into a quick series of tank slappers, left the road, proceeded up his lawn where the front wheel sunk into the soft lawn and cartwheeled sending both the bike and its rider in different directions. Never being one to get excited about anything and unable to be compassionate when regarding stupidity my friend walked over to the crash site (noticing the amount of torn up yard he would have to repair). He looked at the bike with its Arizona plates with clumps of his lawn protruding from it's plastic covers and quickly determined that the rider was probably in the Navy. (Another strike against him as my friend is ex-Marines). The rider was getting up, a little wobbly with a clump of my friends damaged lawn protruding from his helmet and visor area. My friend waited for the rider to fully right himself and showing all the concern he could muster, asked, "O/K?" . The rider still a little dazed, shook his head yes. My Friend looked straight at the guy and said, "THIS is NEW ENGLAND" (as if it should be enough information for anyone intelligent), he paused, the said "They're call LEAVES" turned and walked back to where he was working.
I write this because there maybe people new to the area, or natives who have forgotten that Autumn is on the way. So remember, the trees are going to start losing their leaves soon, so make sure you have your rakes and tarps, I myself prefer a lawn mower with a mulching blade,or someone else to do it, I'll pay,(anyone in the Club offer leaf removal service?)

Klay

Getting ready

Your fingers burn with pain, your lips dry and crack, the amount of time and energy it takes just to lift your leg to apply the brake, Leaves and sand on the road, not to mention those patches of ice, give us pause for thought, but we ride. That time of year grows closer everyday. Some of us will park the bike for the winter not finding it enjoyable to ride, others of us ride on because riding is life and must go on.

So we put on our chaps, thermals, helmets, face masks, heavy leather jackets, jacket liners, sweatshirts, thick socks, winter gloves, neck protectors or scarves, lip balm (see Paul), and goggles. Still the cold soaks through. That engine sitting beneath you producing all that heat in the summer seems to forget how in the winter. We can't move, we can't bend. but we can ride.

Some of us have heated gear because we have found that without heated gear everything is harder to do, slower to accomplish, and more painful. So we get all dressed up and plug into the bike turn up the heat to 90 degrees and we ride. It's 15 degrees out, the wind is blowing and we are toasty warm, the only reminder of the thermometer is our uncovered faces, so we ride...warm and toasty, our muscles work, are reflexes are quick, so we ride.... our faces are numb...but we ride... smiling...cracked bleeding lips are of no importance...we are riding.

What it's about

An open strip of road in front of you and a motorcycle, who could ask for more. Freedom.

"Pickles and Wings Ride"

Eight members met at Freindlys in Norwichtown for Breakfast on Monday the 7th. The ride is for fried pickles, Hot wings and scantily clad girls...yes...Hooters in Warwick RI.

I would like to make a note here, Windham County had about a 1/4 of their group here, Hartford County had their entire group, and New London County had a paltry four, What does that say for New London County? At 10am it was A.O.B. and the group ran up Scotland road to Baltic and rte 97. Up 97 north to Waldo road. Left on Waldo (it is westward and the ride is east but we like the twisty bits) . Waldo to rte 203 north to Route 14. A right on 14 gets the ride heading east. Route 14 through Scotland, Canterbury and Moosup. From Moosup through Stirling to Rhode Island is new Asphalt smooth and true. The ride continued east across rte 102 onto the Old Plainfield Pike and more new asphalt. The pike to rte 12 south along the west and south edges of the Scituate reservoir and across the Scituate dam to rte 116. South on 116 to 117, 117 to rte 1 and Airport road and Hooters.

After Hooters the ride went south on rte 1 through Apponaug and East Greenwich to Wickford and rte 102. Route 102 to route 3 then route 3 west where three bikes broke off on 165. The remaining five continued on route 3 to Westerly where 1 bike left at exit 1 to I-95 and another to route 78 and route 2. The last 3 took route 234 to Old Mystic and a stop at Clyde's Cider Mill before breaking up and heading their own ways.

A Maze ing if corny

What do you know about Turkeys? (other members aside), a little foul info goes a long ways. It can get you though confusing places. Like ...Mazes...

EKONK!!! The Turkey Farm, you know...the Brown Cow...ICE CREAM...rte 49... Come on !!! Youve eaten there. Well this ain't that one...it's the other.

Confused?

Don't be

The Ekonk Turkey Farm has a Maze. 8 Acres, over three miles of paths. They call it Localmotion, a learning system about local foods. Answer the trivia and move on thru the maze.

The farm used a tractor with GPS to cut the double planted fields creating a giant Turkey maze.

$10.00 gets you access to the maze and the farm, pumpkin patch and hayrides.

September 4th through November 8th Wednesdays through Fridays 3pm to dusk

Saturdays and Sundays 11a to dusk.

Ekonk Turkey farm (The other one) 515 Lebanon road North Franklin Ct

Ride of the Damned

Sunday Tom led the troops on the "Ride of the Damned" I was unable to make this ride and I was perplexed by the rides name, at first I thought it was a ride to a Dam, Quabbin perhaps, but there was no mention of helmets being required. Thomaston maybe? but then I thought of Tom, and since he named it, I changed my direction of thought. Tom considers the Club to be full of Fat, Grease, and Meat eating heathens... so it is a restaurant, but which one.

I am told the ride had 17 or so bikes, that proceeded across the Connecticut River via the ferry then along back roads to Guidas for Hot Dogs. From there the members went there own ways.

Road kill

Another creature crossed my path today, I don't know why, I seem to attract critters. Cruising down Old Colchester rd. the critter ran across in front of me to the cost of it's life. I turned around and checked...The town has no sign indicating a wildlife crossing in the area.

I wish they'd mark the roads to let you know.

New footage and Alaska

Two new Slide shows are up on youtube, the "Ahn run" and working on the "Pavilion". Since snapfish won't allow me to load photos there I've gone into the movie business. I did remove the little league film, it only had 24 views so what the heck.
http://www.youtube.com/user/klayofthemystics#grid/uploads

I've been reading Evert's Alaska Blog and there are some unusual shots of "Old Red" . I've made it as far as Alaska with them and it is well told with great photos. If it were the Cowboy days, "Red" would have received a bullet looooooong before Alaska.
A "Real" cowboy woulda done it.

As for the low mounted video camera I mentioned being mounted on the highway bar, good angle bbuutt aa lliittttllee sshhaakkeeyy.

What happened?

I love Summer, getting out before the sun is up, tee shirt weather, cruise the back roads, everything is quiet, traffic is light and all is right with the world. Same with dusk and night riding, it is calming, just cruising feeling the warm soft air and smelling the summer smells. So...did I miss it? We had a long wet spring, Summer came on the calendar but that's it. A few hot and warm days and now its back to jacket weather, mornings and nights are down right cool. Did I miss Summer?