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The Monthly Newsletter of the Jerseypine Cruisers Motorcycle
Touring Club
June 2013
EDITOR’S CORNER
Welcome to the June newsletter. In this issue we are graced with
three (3) articles from Mr. Giggles himself. It must mean that
there is no more winter grime to wash off his Wing giving him
plenty time to wax poetic.
On the cover of this issue I feature no photo’s. (I figured out
how to do without them and
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
want to show off). I look forward to seeing all your smiling
faces at our meeting. This is where we update you on the latest
details for our upcoming events.
Remember that articles, trip reports and photos are always
welcome here and I will make sure that they get into the newsletter
reading more or less the way you send them to me. As always, the
more, the merrier! +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
View From the Side
There have been a number of activities during the month of May.
We started off the month with a choice of Sunday breakfast runs.
Joe Fiedler led a large group at 8 AM to the Rockford airport for
the Fly-in/Drive-in Pancake Breakfast. It was a great day to be out
for a ride! For our usual breakfast run time, Ken Vicker led a
group out to Huntley for the Boy Scout pancake breakfast.
The first campout of the riding season was very well attended.
There were several first timers at the event as well as the usual
cast of characters. Saturday was a great riding day as we wandered
around the Wisconsin countryside led by Steve Mendel. The
mosquitoes were out in force but that didn’t dampen the spirits of
the campers.
Honoring those who have served, George Gauss and Don Malina led
a group that participated in ceremonies at several cemeteries on
Memorial Day.
The tour directors have officially begun leading the Sunday
breakfast rides in May. Several runs have visited pancake
breakfasts and supported various worthy causes. I’d like to thank
Steve Czyz for stepping up and leading the breakfast run on May19th
while the rest of the tour directors were in Brodhead.
Nine Cruisers came to visit my school to thank the fourth
graders for creating the movie for me. My principal told me the
students needed to know that their work was appreciated so I got a
date and time set. We presented the class with JPC certificates of
appreciation and gave them a chance to ask questions. The students
asked about several of the patches and tried on some of our vests.
It was an interesting experience. Later that afternoon at
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the staff meeting, I had several teachers want to know why my
“Biker Friends” were in the building. Who knows…maybe next year
we’ll be guest speakers in all the classes!
The "Gang of Nine" (Club?)
Madam President presenting Certificate of Appreciation to the
4th Grade Class.
Future Cruisers'?
Turning to June, we have a variety of events on the calendar. We
start off the month with the Cinnamon Roll Ride on June 1st where
we’ll be cruising up towards Orfordsville for a late
breakfast/early lunch. On June 8th, we’ll be hitting the greens for
some mini-golf, pizza and a nice ride. There is an ice cream ride
planned for Father’s Day and the following week, Ken McCall will
lead a three day trip to the covered bridges of Indiana. There are
flyers on the JPC website for all of these events.
See you down the road…
Sandy
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========================
Don't expect to find words of wisdom here!
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June Birthdays
Ed Vandyck 6/8
Lynn Vicker 6/8
Dan Kunysz 6/10
Joe Hill 6/20
Roger O'Lena 6/22
Andy Grabowski 6/29
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Fly-In Breakfast May 5th
What a great ride!!!!
The weather was nice and cool, yet not cold….dry and yet
damp…sunny yet cloudy.
Leading a ride is only as good as the attendees that ride it!
Thank you to Bob Graeff for sitting in for the missing Steve
Penczak, who is on holiday in Europe somewhere with his “First
Wife” Lucy, actually I was hard pressed to figure out the
difference between those two but I believe Bob’s bike is usually
MUCH cleaner.
I tried a few new things this time.
1) I had Bob and Hugh leave from the traffic light as we left
from the other exit egress, they formed kind of a rolling lane
keeper ( I hesitate to use the term blocker) with the result that
all the rest of the bikes got out at once….worked out very
well.
2) I ditched Rte. 72 after crossing Rte. 47 and headed out on
all back roads to the Airport.
A 4-wheeled pre-ride last Saturday morning reminded me of a
traffic light to avoid at Big Timber & Rte. 47; I remembered
from a ride we took last year that this light only gives us 15
seconds to make it through the intersection. This was not
sufficient enough time for some of us seasoned riders that take
their time at busy intersections to make it through this light, so
I altered the route accordingly.
I did come across a spectator on our way to Rte. 47 on Rte. 72.
There was a rather large coyote standing alongside the road in full
view of everyone, who was trying to coral a goose (if one believes
Mike O’Malley), I think he was in awe of the almost glowing "yellow
bikes" as we went by, as if to say…”Whazzz up nice bike”(Ed. note:
I had no idea how to edit this.)
What a great idea to take the back roads. Rte. 72 is a good,
clean, curvy road but also plagued with many slow-downs, many
stops, and mild congestion. My adjusted route took us out Melms
Road, which is neither the best-maintained road nor the curviest,
but with very few stop signs, and
the few that we did come upon, because of the lack of traffic,
we did rolling stops at them. It certainly proved to be a good
alternative to Rte. 72. In comparison to last year’s ride we made
it to the Rockford airport about 30 minutes faster. Speed was not
the real issue but the lack of congestion and traffic lights was
the difference.
The crew that puts on this annual event does a great job and is
able to handle large groups well, so I think maybe we should make
this one a regular breakfast ride each year on the first Sunday in
May. Similar to the 3rd Sunday ride to VFW in Genoa, creating a
kind of a quaint tradition. This will help out future Tour
Directors because we will have one more annual event on our
breakfast ride calendar that the they do not have to arrange.
Unlike last year we were not pummeled by a torrential downpour
as we left the airport. I led part of the group back East via some
roads that I have not been on before with 2 wheels…always a good
day when that happens. With others in tow, Ken McCall headed to
some unknown planet or something, one never really knows and at
times, even Sandy is not aware of his plan.…wonder when they finely
made it home?
Good ride Good weather Nice roads Great bikers to ride with
Don’t get any better than that.
Mr. Giggles ================================
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Mr. Giggles and Friends
From The Bleachers
Summer: Spring has whizzed past us and summer weather is upon
us! I hope that at this late date all of you have long last shaken
the dust off the bike cover, removed it, and got out there to start
enjoying this new riding season.
Sailing in the Caribbean
Bike Blessing:
Saturday, April 27th a number Cruisers’ joined the approximate
300 bikes and 400 fellow riders for the annual Bike Blessing at
Willow Creek to help us all kick off our riding season. As is usual
for Cruisers’ most showed up early to allow for some tire kicking
as well as to partake of the free coffee and sweet-rolls. After
the
blessing seven of us met up with four riders that Joe had
arranged to meet with us and we all took off on a three hour ride
that Joe led ending up at the El Puerto restaurant in Fox Lake. The
lake was still physically enlarged from the recent rains but the
restaurant and parking lots were high and dry. I can report that
the food was quite good and hearing no complaint from others I can
only assume that the rest felt the same.
Motorcycles:
A number of the things we do to, and with, our motorcycles
wouldn’t make financial sense to non-riders. I mean if we looked at
a cost-benefit analysis of owning the bike that we ride and making
the changes we make (improvements?) to our rides there would
probably be little impetus to do what we do. Our motorcycles are
more an emotional investment than a physical one. We certainly
don’t need a $20 to $30,000 bike to get us from "point A to point
B”, and we certainly wouldn’t try to tell any sane individual that
we ride a Gold Wing, Harley or any other big-bore motorcycle to
conserve fuel and save some money on transportation. No! We must
admit to having a motorcycle addiction and must realize that there
is precious little help out there to cure us of this affliction,
but then again, how many of us want to be cured?
Retirement July 2010, my last day at work (See the big smile)
from left: Cary, Jinny (my boss), Jacki and Kathy..
The only trouble with retirement.....is you never get a damn day
off!…………..
Steve *****************************************
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A BLESSED DAY TO RIDE
April 27th myself and a few fellow members joined the HRR (High
Road Riders) for their annual Bike Blessing at the Willow Creek
Complex (a city within itself).
The turnout was huge, maybe 300 + bikes of all makes and types.
Every time I see this kind of gathering memories of the Midnight
Tour come flooding back.….glad they are memories (good ones from a
safety stand point…we were lucky). The HRR do a great job of
separating, grouping and organizing the bikes and riders, all with
separate leaders and tail gunners, and all attendees get mapped
copy of ride route in case anyone gets separated. Well done
HHR!
The JPC where represented by Steve P, O’Malley, the Wenzon's,
Herman V, Dave & Marie, Don M, Brown Card Gregg, and me. When
the festivities were over there was a mass exodus from the lot
headed for the end point which today was Fox Valley Harley,
including Don M who decided to brave the ride and get in on the
free food.
We headed out on our own ride, a quest to check out the El
Puerto Mexican restaurant in Fox Lake that Ken Vicker had mentioned
at last month's meeting. Mike O. soon dropped off the ride. He
stuck around long enough to get a ride in but not long enough to
know not to push himself and hurt his recovery. I hope that soon he
will be riding with us full-time.
We then met up with 4 bikers that I have connected with, and
ridden with from the “NoNameMC” on Facebook. It was a real pleasure
to again ride with Joan, Amy, Larry, and Joy, they have similar
riding styles as we Cruisers' and all of us just want to ride with
the minimal BS, share lots of laughs and enjoy the twisty roads….it
is that simple. I have ridden with some of them (and even some
others of this group) in the past and feel very comfortable\safe
with having them “mix it up” with the JPCs. I would not hesitate to
ride with them any time…thanks for meeting us Joan and the spending
some good time with us.
This was NOT one of my best endeavors at creating a route…sorry
guys. I enjoyed the roads that I must have ridden before,
thankfully I forgot if I did, so they seemed like a new
adventure…the good affects of getting “more seasoned”. I did not
have a “comfort stop” planed on the 75 miles ride, bad plan and I
know better (I will do better next time I promise)…I still liked
the route and will be using it on one of my FART rides this year.
Therefore, the CB call came in for a “comfort stop” via my tail
gunner Steve. I was scrambling to find the nearest place and low
and behold stumbled on the Busy Bee Restaurant in Wonder Lake so
this is where I stopped. I myself took advantage of the
opportunity, as a wise member once told me “never pass up the
opportunity to PEE”.
Plan B. It turns out that the No Stop planning on my part, took
it’s wear and tear on the riders physically and ones that had time
restraints,.
we passed a bar\restaurant on the way to Busy Bee and decide to
blow off the scheduled destination as the route was getting too
long..BUT that place was closed for a private party…. but back to
Plan A. I did go inside to confirm the closure, and asked if we
could join them any way….that went over like a lead balloon.
Plan A. Well the scheduled destination was only 11 miles away.
El Puerto is a neat place right on the Nipersink Lake and when the
water level goes down one can see the pier, the food was really
good I had the combination fajitas and a few had a soup dinner that
was the size of Steve’s helmet, with what looked like a half of a
chicken inside. So mark this as one your places to go when in the
Fox Lake area….don’t ya hate when Ken Vicker is right? I know Lynn
does.
Mr. Giggles *****************************************
Joe, what hair color do they put on the driver's licenses of
bald men?
******************************************
http://www.elpuertorestaurant.net/http://www.elpuertorestaurant.net/
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Brodhead, May 2009
Jun 1 - Cinnamon Roll Ride -Frank Wenzon
Jun 7 - FART Ride-Joe Fiedler
Jun 8 - Mini Golf-Mike O'Malley
Jun 16 - Ice Cream Run-Joe Fiedler
Jun 20 - Old Farts Coffee - Funky Java - Villa Park
Jun 21 - 23 - Covered Bridges -Ken McCall.
Jun 25 - JPC Board / Membership Meeting, 7:30 p.m. at Des
Plaines Elks Club
Jun 28 - FART Ride-Joe Fiedler
Jul 4 - Parade & Picnic-George Gauss
Jul 12 - 14 - Duck Creek Campout-Bill Lindwall
Jul 18 - Old Farts Coffee - Funky Java - Villa Park
Jul 19 - FART Ride-Joe Fiedler
Jul 23 - JPC Board / Membership Meeting, 7:30 p.m. at Des
Plaines Elks Club.
Jul 26 - FART Ride- Joe Fiedler
Jul 27 - JPC Autism Fund Raiser- Mike O'Malley
Corp of Engineer's campground in Kentucky,
July 2009
June
SU M T W TH F SA
1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
July
SU M T W TH F SA
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30 31
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Reports From the Board
We just returned from the Spring Campout and want to thank Steve
Mendel and Ken McCall for a great event! The weather was great and
the riding outstanding. On Saturday, Steve led a relaxed paced ride
allowing us to enjoy the beautiful Wisconsin back roads as well as
the breathtaking scenic vistas. It was perfect in every way!!!
As we move into the new riding year, let’s support our Editor,
Steve Penczak, and submit newsletter articles. It’s another way to
share important info and describe those special rides (and we know
ALL rides are special)!
On behalf of Ken Vicker, Meetings and Programs Director,
remember that we now have a couple of new additions to our monthly
meeting festivities.
First of all, the “Crap Table” will be set up during each
monthly meeting. Feel free to donate those motorcycle related items
that have been sitting around, perhaps collecting dust, in your
garage or basement. And …take home anything you’ve brought that is
still on the table at the end of the meeting, including the
dust!
Also, Ken is encouraging members to give thought to a favorite
ride to describe during a monthly “Choice Destinations”. It should
take only a few minutes to share a favorite destination with the
membership. Last month, Ken shared details about his Choice
Destination, El Puerto Mexican Restaurant in Fox Lake.
Consequently, a group was recently led by Joe Fiedler to El Puerto
and we understand good food was enjoyed by all!
Be safe out there!!!
Lynn Vicker, Chapter Management VP
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Better Riding
What a beautiful Brodhead weekend many of us experienced this
May! How could anyone complain about breakfast at Kay's, gorgeous
weather, curvy roads, a multitude of hills and a day-ride route by
Steve Mendel and Ken McCall that could not be beat! I won’t forget
the sight of so many clumsy cows running together as our string of
bikes approached their grazing ground!
As I rode along those hills and curves, I thought of my first
Brodhead experience maybe 6 or 7 years ago. How nervous I was, how
I had to slow down and downshift through every curve which always
seemed to approach too fast, my hands gripping tighter…and praying
for divine assistance as I slowly rode down the gravelly hill to
the “lower level” at Crazy Horse Campground!
Many times, I’ve wanted to thank the JPC’s for making me a
better rider – for forcing me into situations I wouldn’t have
chosen to experience: gravel, rain, lots of curves, left-hand turns
(hated them for some reason), plenty of U-turns (thank you Joe!)
steep ascents and downgrades (there's one area in a park in
LaCrosse that comes to mind).
As in any sport, I know that one needs to practice with better
players in order to increase and improve skills and I know that
riding with the very experienced JPC members has made me a much
better rider. I wanted to take time to sincerely thank all of you
for your part in helping me to enjoy so many wonderful hours of
riding the roads of many different states, and for encouraging me
to become a much improved motorcyclist! I appreciate every one of
you!
Candi Wenzon, Secretary
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Too many Left turns
This one of those biking terms that always sticks in my craw.
Think about this, if it were not for left turns we'd be riding in
circles! Admittedly, I do ride in circles from time to time. Is it
not the riding experience that is the real point to any ride and
aren't the turns, either left or right, just an enhancement of that
purpose?
Although the science behind the term has some validity, in the
real world left turns are more dangerous than right turns only
because of oncoming traffic. Which causes one to ponder the
question, what if there is no traffic? If on a road in the middle
of a rural area, and there no traffic in sight, is it still "more"
dangerous? If you fall and drop your bike, and there's no one to
see you, do you still yell "OH SHIT"?
A majority of the populous is right handed so right turns seem
easier to maneuvered and are less stressful to the average rider
than their left turn counterpart. All objects are more visible on
right turns due to their relative proximity to the driver, but left
turns may give one more time to react with more options of escape.
So if that is the case would not left turns be safer, if not at the
least less dangerous than they are perceived?
I will also admit that I do try to arrange my stops on a ride to
be to the right for ease of access of the group. HOWEVER,
considering the safe manner that the Cruiser’s ride, left turns are
not that big of a deal. I think that left turns for cagers are more
of a threat to bikers than any other type in the traffic spectrum.
Which is proven by the fact that it is the No. 1 cause of biker
related accidents?
The Use of this term as a description of a ride is often in the
negative; for example: “Nice ride but too many left turns” This
make no sense to me! If you want to ride in a circle…ride by
yourself or with
those of a like mind…like, say NASCAR fans, horse race fans, and
dog race fans.
SOOOOOOOO. Left Turns Right Turns Bear to the Left or Right WHO
FREAKIN’ CARES…
It’s the RIDE
Mr. Giggles ================================
If you can start the day without caffeine, If you can always be
cheerful, ignoring aches and pains, If you can resist complaining
and boring people with your troubles, If you can eat the same food
every day and be grateful for it, If you can understand when your
loved ones are too busy to give you any time, If you can take
criticism and blame without resentment, If you can conquer tension
without medical help, If you can relax without alcohol, If you can
sleep without the aid of drugs,
Then You Are Probably The Family Dog!
(If you can't eat it or play with it, then pee on it and walk
away.)
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Dealing with Negative comments
The USA Four Corners Motorcycle Tour
Ten Things I Wish The Motorcycle Manufacturers Would Do
Vololights: Enhanced Motorcycle Visibility
Cars vs. motorcycles: Can't we all just get along?
Motorcycle safety: Perspectives from an emergency room biker
Camp and cruise oin a motorcycle or ATV
Pine Bush motorcycle project brings kids closer to
graduation
Retired 72-year-old motorcycle enthusiast graduates from
Washtenaw Community College
Motorcycle buying tips for women
Jared Monti’s motorcycle serves as inspiration
Shawn Marion's Fly Motorcycle-Car Demands Your Attention
How To Plan A Motorcycle Trip
Traffic Talk: How drivers, bikers can improve motorcycle safety
on the roads
Polaris cuts price of ’14 Indian Motorcycle
VIDEOS:
Never have to wash your BIKE again
Cop breaking the law...says 12 YO
The E-Tracer
China’s Harley knockoff….
New pedal-free bicycle relies on running momentum…down under
Animals Take the Plunge
Watch an epic motorcycle trip from Alaska to Argentina
See Mariah Carey and Miguel Go for a Sexy Motorcycle Ride
New 2014 Indian Motorcycle Sneak Peek
9 CYLINDER motorcycle…crazy!!!!
Lazy summer days heading our way..........................
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Here is the link to
the website that Joe mentioned at the last meeting.
http://www.localmotohub.com/
http://www.womenridersnow.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=920&sid=bc4ed9bcc95d1ff4e93c0cd3345ed05ahttp://www.gearthblog.com/blog/archives/2013/05/usa-four-corners-motorcycle-tour.htmlhttp://www.wimp.com/oleophobiccoating/http://www.cycleworld.com/2013/05/08/ten-things-i-wish-the-motorcycle-manufacturers-would-do/http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=4pSasFQIyH8http://www.cycleworld.com/2013/05/08/ten-things-i-wish-the-motorcycle-manufacturers-would-do/http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=xzK012GjjX4&feature=endscreenhttp://www.kickstarter.com/projects/vololights/vololights-enhanced-motorcycle-visibilityhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzTKhlc_jFU&feature=player_embeddedhttp://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-drive/car-life/cars-vs-motorcycles-cant-we-all-just-get-along/article11914926/http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=1xjxg1Y7q8whttp://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=1xjxg1Y7q8whttp://www.dvidshub.net/news/107046/motorcycle-safety-perspectives-emergency-room-bikerhttp://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=uFxnBrO9n7ohttp://www.dvidshub.net/news/107046/motorcycle-safety-perspectives-emergency-room-bikerhttp://www.bellinghamherald.com/2013/05/15/3010886/camp-and-cruise.htmlhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=85VErvTqgWchttp://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=85VErvTqgWchttp://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130518/NEWS/305180332http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130518/NEWS/305180332http://www.spin.com/articles/mariah-carey-miguel-beautiful-video-motorcycle-barn/http://www.spin.com/articles/mariah-carey-miguel-beautiful-video-motorcycle-barn/http://www.annarbor.com/news/72-year-old-motorcycle-enthusiast-to-graduate-from-washtenaw-community-college-this-saturday/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhDvAqLeE8Ehttp://www.annarbor.com/news/72-year-old-motorcycle-enthusiast-to-graduate-from-washtenaw-community-college-this-saturday/http://news.consumerreports.org/cars/2013/05/motorcycle-buying-tips-for-women.htmlhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=hirsRnytTkUhttp://www.enterprisenews.com/news/x1160895933/Jared-Monti-s-motorcycle-serves-as-inspirationhttp://bleacherreport.com/articles/1646141-shawn-marions-fly-motorcycle-car-demands-your-attentionhttp://bleacherreport.com/articles/1646141-shawn-marions-fly-motorcycle-car-demands-your-attentionhttp://rideapart.com/2013/05/how-to-plan-a-motorcycle-trip/http://rideapart.com/2013/05/how-to-plan-a-motorcycle-trip/http://rideapart.com/2013/05/how-to-plan-a-motorcycle-trip/http://rideapart.com/2013/05/how-to-plan-a-motorcycle-trip/http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2013/05/traffic_talk_what_can_drivers.htmlhttp://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2013/05/traffic_talk_what_can_drivers.htmlhttp://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2013/05/traffic_talk_what_can_drivers.htmlhttp://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2013/05/traffic_talk_what_can_drivers.htmlhttp://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2013/05/traffic_talk_what_can_drivers.htmlhttp://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2013/05/traffic_talk_what_can_drivers.htmlhttp://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2013/05/traffic_talk_what_can_drivers.htmlhttp://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2013/05/traffic_talk_what_can_drivers.htmlhttp://www.localmotohub.com/http://www.startribune.com/business/207441601.html?refer=y