DOVER, Delaware— Current and retired police gathered for the Wall to Wall Memorial Ride at Legislative Mall last Saturday morning. At around 9:30 a.m., the motorcycle riders left the Delaware Law Enforcement Memorial, where the names of the state’s fallen police officers are etched in stone.
Three hours later, they arrive at the National Law Enforcement Memorial at Judiciary Square in Washington where more names were written. The ride is meant to draw attention to the memorial and raise funds for maintenance. Half the ride’s proceeds will support the monument; the rest are given to the state chapter of Concerns of Police Survivors, or COPS who help rebuild the lives of families of law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty. The organization’s programs include retreats, counseling, scholarships, and kids’ camps.
The ride’s sponsors included Dunkin Donuts, Walmart, the Delaware Police Chiefs’ Foundation, and J. R. Gettier and Associates.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Police advise riders and drivers to be more aware of each other as they hit the road after the long winter months. As the weather warms, motorcycle riders are ready to roll but it usually takes a little while for other drivers to get used to sharing the road to motorcycles again.
“Cars aren’t used to the motorcycle traffic in and out of lanes. It’s a good time of year to start being observant and watching lanes before you switch,” said Capt. Donna Greenwell of the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.
But it’s not all on the drivers. Police say those on two wheels need to do their part, too. According to Greenwell, they should not ride in blind spots and must be cautious riders.
The motorcycle accidents in the state was caused by drivers, others by the riders, or a combination of both, so police are urging everyone to keep their eyes open and share the road safely because it’s only going to get busier.
“The warmer it gets and the less rain we get, the more motorcycles you’re gonna see out there.”
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — This June 2, 2013, the fifth annual Lt. Chuck Margiotta FDNY Memorial Brains Brawn Bravery Motorcycle event will take place. This event will serve as a fundraiser for a scholarship fund in honor of Chuck Margiotta, a firefighter who gave his life on 9/11.
Mike Margiotta, his brother, is the family member behind the Lt. Chuck Margiotta, FDNY, Brains, Brawn, Bravery Motorcycle event held every year in early June. The event is a day-long celebration which combines friends, food and fun with Chuck’s and Mike’s love for motorcycles and his buddies in the Rolling Thunder riding club.
This year’smotorcycle run is scheduled in June 2, which will begin at Farrell (2900 Amboy Rd. in Oakwood). The registration will start from 10 a.m. until noon. The ride concludes back at Farrell where the food, beverages and classic rock and roll music will go on for many hours.
The cost for the activities is $20 for riders (passengers ride for free) and all proceeds (donations are welcome and accepted) go toward the Chuck Margiotta Scholarship Fund. This money will support a full four-year scholarship to a student/athlete who wants to attend Farrell, but needs the financial support to do so.
Margiotta said the event could not thrive without the various donations and services provided by businesses from all over Staten Island as well as New Jersey.
For those seeking more information about the event or the scholarship, visit www.ChuckMargiottaScholarshipFund.com. You can also email Mike at mix28@aol.com or call 718-698-9494.
ASHTABULA TOWNSHIP —The Concerned Motorcycle Riders of Ohio (CMRO) Region 13 host an annual motorcycle run each year to raise money for the Special Olympics of Ashtabula County.
“This run is huge for us,” said Pam Burnett, of the Ashtabula County Special Olympics. This is about the 15th year for the ride. All the proceeds from the run benefit the athletes in Ashtabula County.
The annual run, held at Lake Shore Park, is the kick-off event for the riding season. The run is held rain or shine, and despite the somewhat chilly temperatures, the sun was shining.
The Rev. Phillip Miller, of St. Frances Cabrini Parish in Conneaut, blessed the bikes before they embarked on their journey. The run started and ended at Lake Shore Park with stops at several other parks in between.The run also featured a bike show, with the Special Olympics athletes judging it.
CMRO will host six more runs this year, most of which will serve as fundraisers for local organizations. Last year, the group donated more than $9,000 to various organizations in the county, Tackett said.
To read the original article and to get updates about the upcoming motorcycle run, click HERE.
TUPELO, Mississippi. Bikers ride in order to raise money to help fund Operation First Response. More than 300 riders and their motorcycles departed Tupelo’s BancorpSouth Arena, headed for Southern Thunder Harley in Southaven Saturday morning.
The purpose of this charity event is to raise money to help fund Operation First Response, which covers all five branches of the military for emergency financial relief. According to bikers who participated on the event, it’s the least they could to do show their support to soldiers.
Many of the bikers are former military and have returned from Afghanistan, Iraq and even Vietnam. They say events like this are worth every dollar raised.
When the charity motorcycle ride was originally put together, the intent was to do it for one year. However, organizers say as long as there is a need, they’ll continue to ride and raise money to help out the soldiers, rain or shine.
This is only one of the many charitable acts bikers in Mississippi like to do annually because it shows they care for those who are in need of extra assistance. The ride is one of three scheduled for this year.
May 21, 2013, Scotland – THE nationwide campaign seen offenders receiving a fine or having their vehicles seized.
Road safety
Motorcyclist speeding at 126mph and other offences were detected in a three-dayroad safety crackdown. Offenders received a fine or had their vehicle seized in the nationwide campaign held between 7am on Friday and 7am yesterday morning. Some drivers face court over offences.
Over the weekend, many road users were caught over speeding, some drives dangerously and carelessly while others are driving without insurance or valid motorcycle driver’s license. There are people also who were caught driving vehicles in need of repairs.
Police had a particular focus on motorbikes during the campaign and of those caught speeding 39 were bikers.
Inspector Ian Paul, head of the Motorcycle Trunk Road Patrol Group, said: “The weather was not great over the weekend, with most areas in Scotland seeing at least some rain, which kept some riders at home. However, despite the bad weather, there are motorcycle riders who didn’t take the heed of road safety and place themselves in danger by riding in the rain.
“Hopefully the weather will improve and Police Scotland will maintain high visibility patrols throughout Scotland to educate and where necessary enforce all aspects of road safety legislation relating to road safety,” Mr Paul added.
Their priority is working with the community to keep people safe. Road users especially motorcycle drivers are advised to take road safety seriously and to comply with road traffic legislation.
The origins of the very first motorized bicycle can be traced back to the second half of the 19th century. It was in 1867 when a Parisian Ernest Michaux, fitted a small steam powered engine to one of his fathers ‘velocipedes’, or ‘Michauline’. This has became the first model of bicycle with pedals at the time.
The Hildebrand & Wolfmüller became the very first motorcycle available for purchase by the general public in 1894. Only a few hundred examples of this motorcycle were ever built, however, as engines became more and more powerful and designs began to outgrow their humble bicycle origins.
Today, there are three major types of motorcycle and typically seen with many variants within each subcategory. Street legal motorcycles include cruisers, sportbikes, and scooters, while off-road bikes include many types designed for dirt-oriented racing classes such as motocross. Finally, there’s the dual-purpose motorcycle that consists of the dual-sport style, which are made for off-roading but also include features that make them street legal.
According to Steve Swindlehurst, the enthusiastically passionate motorcycle instructor with the Grande Prairie Regional College program Ready To Ride, the passion to ride a bike is a little crazy. Riding a motorcycle is a different way to take in the scenery; a different way to take in the world as you drive around you can actually smell the rain.
The Program..
Ready to Ride Motorcycle Program
For two years, Steve and his wife, Heather Swindlehurst, have been crisscrossing the Peace Country region together. Working in tandem, they teach novice motorcycle enthusiasts everything they need to know when riding a motorcycle, including how to mount a motorcycle.
They provide 4 hours of studying motorcycle defensive riding theory inside the safety of a classroom, and an additional 16 hours of on-bike training. This includes on-road and gravel riding, low speed exercises, and emergency and safety maneuvers.
Throughout these two-day, 20-hour course, riders will learn the latest in motorcycle defensive driving theory and riding skills, and will be prepared for acquiring their Class 6 Motorcycle Road Test.
Steve Swindlehurst agrees that motorcycling can be a dangerous activity, however you should learn how to drive defensively while being in tune with your surroundings, and most importantly, be highly aware of your comfort level and skill. Riders are encouraged to wear motorcycle helmet andriding pants and other safety gears for protection.
The GPRC Ready to Ride Motorcycle Safety Program runs an estimated 26 to 34 classes per year, with a 10 student per class maximum. All motorcycles are included in the cost of $550, but it is mandatory that all students bring with them their own safety equipment.
To inquire about classroom availability or to simply find out more information, you can do so by logging onto the GPRC website, and searching for the Motorcycle Safety Program.
May 4, 2013, Autoevolution posted tips and suggestions on how to beat the summer heat.
They say a motorcyclist who rides much throughout the year is seldom dry, as he or she is either wet from riding in the rain or wet from sweating. Those who are familiar with long rides just know that the blessed state of “I’m 100% OK” is quite a rare thing.
Most of the riders will be aboard their bikes during the warm season between May and September. However, riding in the blistering sun, and not knowing how to defend yourself against the unforgiving heat can easily take away the joy of riding and can even lead to serious problems.
There are several issues to consider before a rider went out for a long ride. First, check the weather forecast. Second consider how long your journey will be or how long you will be riding into the day and lastly, check your riding gear and remember about your potential health issues. Doing all these will increase the chances of having a successful day of riding.
How to beat the heat when riding in a how weather?
1. Know your enemies
There are two archenemies when it comes to riding in very hot weather: dehydration is the biggest evil of all and then there’s the rest of physiological effects of sun/heat on the human body and mind. When exposed to excessive heat, the human body attempts to balance and counteract the overheating process by sweating. Evaporating water cools down the area and this is the way in which our bodies fight against excessive heat. When exposed to excessively high temperatures over an extended period, some individuals might experience nausea, nose bleeding, increased heart rate, sensory delusions and many other nasty effects that are not to be desired, especially when riding a motorcycle.
Knowing the way your body reacts to heat exposure is the key element for taking the best precautionary actions and counter-balance the negative effects.
2. Water and minerals are your best friends
When sweating, the human body eliminates a huge amount of essential minerals that are to be found in the bodily fluids. One of the main things when it comes to preventing the effects of dehydration is trying to re-establish the natural mineral balance in your body. Only water will not do, special beverages, such as Gatorade and the likes of that are more than soft drinks: they help bring back the normal level of minerals in the body.
Aside from these drinks, dioralytes or Oral Rehydration Salts are also good. Dioralyte solutions are pretty much the same thing but in a slightly different shape: they are powdered mineral compounds that can be dissolved in water, sometimes coming with certain fruit flavors.
When going for long rides, dioralyte bags are far more convenient as they take up a very small place in your luggage and can be mixed on the spot whenever needed. When riding in very hot weather, it’s crucial to remember to rehydrate periodically. Depending on how much every individual sweats, drinking a small amount of water periodically is a very good way to prevent dehydration.
3. Why avoid dehydration?
Many people believe that dehydration equals thirst and once you had some water, things are back to normal. Dehydration is in fact many times more dangerous than the mere sensation of being thirsty. Medical studies on the negative effects of dehydration states that people should try to avoid dehydration as much as possible, by drinking enough water, before the strong sensation of thirst is present.
Riders should know that feeling a bit thirsty is the initial alarm that the body needs more water in order to keep functioning well. There is a very thin line between “alright” and “very bad” unfortunately when it comes to dehydration. According to studies, a mere 2% drop in hydration levels is already causing short-term memory to become fuzzy, makes some basic math and mental associations seem like harder tasks and so on.
Mild to moderate levels of dehydration lead to fatigue, muscle weakness, decreased concentration, headaches, dizziness or lightheadedness and more. Even more, dehydration makes blood be thicker than the usual, and this will cause the heart to work harder in order to pump the low-pressure fluid into your veins, causing unnecessary stress and decreasing the levels of oxygen reaching the cells.
This will also lead to rapid breathing, as the human body will attempt to supplement the oxygen intake. In more advanced situations, drowsiness may also ensue, increasing the risks of making a severe error hundredfold. Finally, if dehydration occurs, the body will regulate the amount of sweat, thus trying to preserve the water resources: less sweating equals less cooling, and there we go, a very dangerous snowball effect that can turn out extremely nasty results.
It really makes no difference which way you replenish your water resources while on the road, as long as you do it. What you eat and drink just before starting off your journey on the road can prevent dehydration.
Remember that certain types of food and beverages will require bigger amounts of water to be processed by the human body and they might have a negative impact on the water levels. Drinks such as alcohol, coffee, black tea and similar beverages that contain caffeine will cause more frequent urination and need large amounts of water to be processed.
On the other hand, dishes with high-protein content need water for breaking down the proteins, while a diet based on high-fiber content tends to eliminate water by associating it with fiber excretion. Remember that the biggest water consumption is caused by the simple sugars, as they need very much water in order to be metabolized. Candy bars and similar sweets are draining more water from your body than you could imagine.
A balanced meal before the trip will help you stay in better shape (water-wise) and is a key element for “beating the heating,” if a very subtle and often overlooked one. Ride safe and be cool, see you soon with another episode.
Wisconsin, May3, 2013– According to Cycle News, Road America announced that Yamaha has become the Official Motorcycle of Road America as part of a multi-year agreement. Additionally, Yamaha will also play an integral role at the track as part of Road America’s successful motorcycle school programs to educate two-wheel enthusiasts. Endorsed by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF), Road America’s Basic Rider Courses are taught by award-winning rider coaches who have completed extensive training through the MSF and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT). Successful completion of the school’s basic rider course enables participants to obtain a Class M endorsement on their driver’s license from the WisDOT.
“The Yamaha partnership is a deeply-integrated program that will bring many new benefits to Road America,” said George Bruggenthies, president and general manager of Road America. “We are looking forward to elevating our programs and offerings as we work alongside Yamaha to bring new experiences and opportunities to fans, motorcycling enthusiasts and the many Yamaha motorcycle dealers in the region.”
As part of being an official partner of Road America, Yamaha will have a presence through multiple areas of the venue and fans will have the opportunity to purchase tickets for the GEICO Motorcycle AMA ProRacing Subway SuperBike Doubleheader, May 31-June 2 at local dealerships. As part of the Road America Motorcycle Schools, Yamaha motorcycles will be used exclusively to train beginner and advanced students how to ride safe.
The Courses
For anyone interested in learning how to ride at Road America, the Basic Rider Course or (BRC) consists of 16 hours of combined classroom and practical riding instruction. Participants in this course learn basic riding techniques on motorcycles and scooters supplied by Yamaha, along with important safety skills to minimize the risks of motorcycling.
For the experienced enthusiast, Road America offers a Level 1 Total Control Advanced Riding Clinic, developed by world-renowned motorcycle journalist and race champion, Lee Parks. This one day clinic will make a specific, measurable improvement in an individual’s skills regarding throttle control, throttle/brake transitions, corner entry, line selection, body position and corner exit.
Road America also offers Supermoto (Demo & Basic). These courses are taught on Road America’s Blain’s Farm & Fleet Motorplex, a purpose-built 1-mile paved and dirt track with multiple configurations and elevation changes.
About Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A.
Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A., (YMUS), is a leader in the motorsports market. The company’s ever-expanding product offerings include motorcycles, ATVs and Side-by-Side vehicle, outboard motors, personal watercraft, snowmobiles, boats, outdoor power equipment, accessories, apparel and much more.
About Road America
Established in 1955 as the first permanent road racing course in the United States, Road America is located midway between Milwaukee and Green Bay in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. The 640-acre, park-like grounds offer amazing viewing opportunities, fantastic concessions and high-speed excitement to hundreds of thousands of spectators each year. In addition to public race weekends, Road America offers a variety of group event programs, the Blain’s Farm & Fleet Motorplex for karting and supermoto, and the Road America Motorcycle and Advanced Driving Schools.
The month of May is the Motorcycle Awareness Month. The Department of Transportation is urging and reminding all motorists to observe road safety. It is always safe for the motorists to drive sober and trained. Department of Transportation reminds the motorists and motorcyclist to share the road and be aware of motorcycles. There is an increased in the number of motorcycles in the road during this month because of the warm weather. The motorcycle awareness program in every state is a reminder that motorists, truck drivers and car drivers should be extra careful in the road. They are encouraged to give several car lengths to avoid accidents.
This May’s campaign is a great way to increase the awareness of the motorcyclists. The riders should always wear protective gear and should stay visible at all times. They must wear appropriate gears such as helmets, jackets, pants, goggles, motorcycle rain suits and gloves. To stay visible, wear bright colour motorcycle gears. As Lubbert, the spokesperson of the Department of Transportation said, “It’s important to wear a helmet, but also full length pants, full armed jackets, gloves and boots, just to protect them in the event of a crash,” “And to make sure that people riding are fully trained”, he added.
Having a valid motorcycle endorsement, quality training on motorcycle safety and wearing safety equipment are simple, yet very important things to keep the motorcyclist from any road accident. For the drivers to be fully aware of the motorcyclists, it is important for the other motorists to understand that a motorcycle has all the same privilege as any vehicle on the roadway. When on the road, look out for motorcyclists on the highway, intersections and be aware of them because riders usually change lanes at all times. Other tip: have plenty of space in front of the vehicle and do not trail the motorcycle closely.
It is important to remember that is not safe to drive while under the influence of alcohol. If you are under the influence of alcohol or any drugs, it can decrease your perception and awareness that can lead to accidents. Driving a vehicle requires total control and concentration whether it is a motorcycle or a car. Be aware that alcohol increases the risk of crashing by 40%. Awareness in motorcycle riding is life changing. Obey these rules to keep you safe from any form of accidents. It is a must not only to yourself, but to the other motorists as well.
