Get up and ride on the 16th!!!
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Posted: June 12, 2014 in Motorcycle, Motorcycle advocacy, Motorcycle news, Motorcycle Rides
Tags: cafe rader, Harley, Harley Davidson, ride to work day, sport bike, Sportbike
Motorcycle TV: What’s In The Barn 2014 Review
Posted: June 12, 2014 in Motorcycle TVTags: antique motorcycle, Excelsior motorcycle, Harley Davidson, Maggie valley, Motorcycle, museum, road dog, velocity channel, what’s in the barn, wheels through time
After watching the first two episodes of this season I am….disappointed.
After a first season of decent shows I expected a second season of great shows. I don’t know if they have a new director or producer (I could look that up, but I won’t) but the overall implementation of the show leaves me wanting to go back to last year.
In the first show Dale was sent to a GPS location to find an old Excelsior. He had received a hand written note, which looked like a third grader was the author, with directions to the “secret location”. Along the way Dale grabs a deep pocket friend to pay for the bike, if they can find it. When they reach the secret location of the bike they find a garage of old parts and Harleys but no Excelsior, then they look in the rafters before “discovering” a door to the other part of the garage. Each time they enter the rooms for the first time a camera team seems to have magically appeared inside. In the end they find another third grade level note asking for $80,000 dollars for the bike. They put the money in a cigar box and leave. It was a corny as it sounds.
The second episode was not any better. Here Dale was on the hunt for the long lost “Road Dog”, the largest, ridable motorcycle built. Except it was not really lost, and shots of Dale peering through holes in a barn wall going “is that it” were almost cartoonish (again the camera team magically gets their firs). Turns out that a local Harley Davidson dealer had already bought the bike for his dealership (oh, and it started right up). The story behind the bike is very interesting and watching Dale ride it at the end was worthwhile.
All in all I am not a big fan of the new product. I will still watch the show as the content is good but the attempted “made for TV reality show hype” needs to stop as you DO NOT NEED IT.
Same rating as last year 3 out of 5 stars.
Motorcycle TV: What’s In The Barn …. New season tonight.
Posted: June 10, 2014 in Motorcycle TVTags: Dale Walksler, Harley, Harley Davidson, Motorcycle, motorcycle TV, museum, old motorcycle, what’s in the barn, wheels through time
According to my DVR there are two new episodes of this show starting tonight (June 10th). A check of the Velocity Channel’s website did not indicate that a new season was starting, or I overlooked it.
What is What’s In The Barn… “WHAT’S IN THE BARN? brings viewers on a quest that crisscrosses the U.S. for vintage motorcycles and cars. Wheels Through Time Museum curator Dale Walksler hosts this one-of-a-kind journey through America’s barns where yesterday’s junk becomes automotive Americana that he will bring back to life and sell”
The first two shows (according to DirecTV) are:
A Diamond In Dodge City – Dale is hired to buy an Excelsior but may buy if for himself.
Biker Lore – Dale is on the trail of the largest motorcycle ever built.
I reviewed the show last season and gave it 4 out of 5 stars (you can read that review here). I would expect that the production values have only went up so it might get to 5 stars this year. It would be nice if the Velocity Channel would update their website.
Motorcycle Ride for Neurofibromatosis
Posted: June 8, 2014 in Motorcycle RidesTags: AMA, Baltimore ramblers, Harley, Harley Davidson, Maryland, Motorcycle, Motorcycle Ride, Neurofibromatosis, NF, Virginia
Pulling out for the NF ride!
My daughter and I rode in a charity ride supporting Neurofibromatosis (NF). The ride was hosted by NFmidatlantic.org and the Baltimore Ramblers Motorcycle Club.
NF is the most common of the “rare” diseases. Neurofibromatosis is extraordinarily complicated. It comes in many forms, is often undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, and presents in a myriad of forms. Read more about the different types of NF here.
The event began with a pancake breakfast at Applebee’s in Timonium, MD. After everyone had their fill of pancakes the riders, about 50 or so, broke into smaller groups for the ride.
Members of the Ramblers guided us through the back country of Maryland for about an hour and a half before we finished at their clubhouse. The ride itself was quite nice, we only had to dodge giant farm tractors twice! 🙂
There were a few vendors and food available at the clubhouse along with door prizes and 50/50 draws. There was also several vintage motorcycle to look at including an old Indian and a 1953 BMW. After hanging out for a while and talking with the volunteers from the Mid-Atlantic NF and the Ramblers Eryn and I headed for home. BTW the Ramblers are one of the oldest AMA motorcycle clubs in America, founded in 1929.
Much to my worry, the sky started to darken and the closer to Leesburg the more rain drops we felt. Luckily we missed the down poor by a bit and made it to the garage dry.
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- lined up waiting to go
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- Eryn talking with NF volunteers
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- Drawing for door prizes
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- Eryn won XXL gloves! She is 5 foot even and 100 pounds!
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- Bad picture but the dark stuff… but you can see the green on green
Whites Ferry: C & O Canal Motorcycle Ride
Posted: June 7, 2014 in C&O Canal, Motorcycle, Motorcycle RidesTags: C&O Canal, Harley, Maryland, MD, Motorcycle, Motorcycle Ride, national park, VA, Virginia, White’s Ferry
Whites Ferry C&O Canal Stop
Location – Whites Ferry
Mile Marker – 35.5
Historical Comments –This stop on the canal is named for the actual ferry with which it shares the location. The ferry predates the canal by more than half a century and is still in operation today as the only ferry on the Potomac River. You can read more about the Whites Ferry ferry here.
Ride to Site – Riding to Whites Ferry requires you ride through farm land. Be on the lookout for slow moving farm equipment. Pay attention as well for deer and other wildlife crossing the road. There are multiple speed cameras in and around the nearby town of Poolsville.
Amenities – The ferry operates a small grocery/deli during the summer months, the area has picnic tables, boat ramp, restrooms.
Road Conditions (from main road) – All paved and in decent condition
Railway Situation – None
Parking Lot Conditions – Hard packed gravel, use a kickstand puck.
Main Attraction – Whites Ferry, $3 for motorcycles to cross the river.
My Thoughts – The canal site itself is interesting. After crossing the river you can, at the traffic light, turn left and head into Leesburg or turn right and head back towards Point of Rocks, MD (another stop on the canal tour).
Map
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- On the road to the Whites Ferry C&O Canal Stop
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- What is left of the canal at Whites Ferry
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- My bike at Whites Ferry C&O Canal stop
Motorcycle stuff: I was on the radio again this week!
Posted: June 5, 2014 in Motorcycle radioTags: Harley, Harley Davidson, Motorcycle, ntn radio network, ntnradio, radio, sport bike, Sportbike
The NTN Radio studio (Phil in the fore and Chis on the board)
I was asked back to guest host on the DWAGHOUSE motorcycle radio again. That make two weeks in a rows! The show is broadcast live on the internet Tuesday 6-8PM EST.
This past weeks show is now up in podcast form (available at the link above and iTunes). So if you have time check it out and drop me a note if you like it…if you don’t like it well, grandma said if you can’t say something nice don’t say anything! 🙂
You can also get linked to the podcast on the DawgHouse Facebook page.
Motorcycle TV: Biker Battleground Phoenix
Posted: June 4, 2014 in custom motorcycle, Motorcycle, Motorcycle Rides, Motorcycle TVTags: Biker Battleground Phoenix, custom motorcycle, dirty bird concepts, Harley, History Channel, motorcycle TV, motorycycle
The History Channel now has a website for their new series. The Biker Battleground Phoenix website does not yet have much but, there is a “Sneak Peak” video available.
According to the site the show is about….
“Phoenix, Arizona—where the country’s top motorcycle builders compete day and night. It’s a dog-eat-dog world, where buyers are willing to pay upwards of $150,000 for a fully-customized, one-of-a-kind ride. Biker Battleground Phoenix follows the temperamental and talented bad boys of the bike business. In their world, showcases are for pride and bragging rights, competition is cutthroat and money talks. When egos and passion collide, the aftershocks echo across town.
They don’t follow trends–they set them. No tactic is off limits and no move is too corrupt. From stealing ideas and poaching employees to public bashing on social media, these guys will do whatever it takes to give themselves and their shops the ultimate edge over the rest.”
After reading this I hope this is not a “The Devil’s Ride” show for builders!
Additionally, History is sponsoring a contest to support the new show. You can register here to win a custom bike built by Dirty Bird Concepts, one of the shops on the show.
Cool….. Get your burger on guys!
Harley-Davidson riders are a close-knit community that loves wind in the face and good food.
And the good news is Harley-Davidson’s Official Grill Partner for 2014, Weber Grills, will stage the Big Burger Battle Championship at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally on August 3rd. The Weber Mobile Grill Academy will also be on site to allow motorcyclists a first-hand look at Weber’s grills and accessories and Weber will also host three hands-on grilling classes for Harley Owners Group (H.O.G) members on August 6.
Weber’s Big Burger Battle challenge is open to anyone, age 18 or older and you can submit your recipe, along with a photo of the creation HERE beginning now through June 23.
Three finalists will be hand-picked by Jamie Purviance, author of the new Weber’s Big Book of Burgers. Purviance is a national grilling expert, a New York Times best-selling cookbook author and James Beard Award…
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Motorcycle Stuff: Rides and events in June
Posted: June 1, 2014 in Motorcycle, Motorcycle Rides, RallyTags: delaware, Harley, Harley Davidson, HOG, Maryland, Motorcycle, motorcycle rally, Motorcycle Ride, ride to work, Virginia
I am sure there are more but here are a few Northern Virginia and surrounding area events of which I am aware. If you know of any others please add them in the comments.
Ride for NF – June 8th
Back of the Dragon Days – June 13th – 15th
Ride your bike to work day – June 16th
Maryland/Delaware HOG Rally – June 19th-22nd
ABATE of Virginia Rally – June 20th – 22nd
HOG Worldwide Ride – June 22nd – 23rd
Virginia HOG Rally – June 26th – 28th
Motorcycle Ride: Memorial Day Weekend Part 1
Posted: May 27, 2014 in Motorcycle Rides, RallyTags: Harley, Harley Davidson, Motorcycle, Motorcycle Ride, rolling thunder, washington harley davdidson, washington hd
Rolling Thunder 2014
Debbie had to work Saturday so I was out on the motorcycle by myself. I rode the Army bike as I was planning on entering a bike show that afternoon (see Part Deux).
The first stop of the day was the HOG Pin Stop at Washington HD. Getting there from Leesburg takes a while and it involves some of the most trafficked roads in the DC Metro area; I495 and I95.
With Rolling Thunder the next day I was surprised that there were so few bikes out and about. From home to exit for the dealership I counted 17 bikes, much much fewer than I have noticed in the past.
I arrived at the dealership about a little before 10 and was surprised again at the number of bikes. In the past, at about the same time, the parking lots were packed and the vendor areas were standing room only. Not this year, I had no issue what so ever getting a parking spot and had a leisurely stool through the vendors. I saw nothing I could live without among the tents, although I am becoming intrigued with center stands, and decided to go inside and check out the remodeled digs.
The dealership has been in this building for a long time and was looking very “long in tooth”. The remodeling was, I have to say, was underwhelming. IMHO there was no real improvement at all. The one area of the store that I though was better was a display of older bikes with large period photos behind them.
I did speak to a person, who claimed to be an employee, stated that the dealership was about to change hands and that the new owner was going to build a new building. In the DC area, and especially Maryland, that can be an expensive proposition (hey, Maryland even taxes the rain).
Mounting my bike I was back on the road in less than a minute, still no heavy bike traffic.
Part of the vendor area at Washington HD, Rolling Thunder.
HOG Pin Stop
I JUST WANT 2 RIDE!! 