I just watched the trailer for a new motorcycle related documentary/movie. “Sit Stay Ride: The Story of America’s Sidecar Dogs” looks like it could be awesome. The film is a full-length documentary produced and directed by husband-wife team Eric and Geneva Ristau.
I am going to order a copy after the Christmas holiday is compete.
The film captures “15 dogs, 18 people and 3 wheels” and 25% of proceeds will go to animal rescue organizations. Motorcycles, dogs and a good charity, what more could you ask?
Good news if you are one of the lucky ones to have or are going to ride “The Dragon”.
If you ever watch any of the hundreds of videos of folks riding or driving this stretch of US Route 129 or if you have ridden on the road yourself you know at large trucks are as much as a hazard as anything else on the highway. Often times these truck take up more than both lanes as they try and navigate the 318 turns in 11miles and way to many times have caused terrible accidents.
The good news is that Tennessee is now following the lead of North Carolina in banning truck over 30 feet in length from traveling on the Dragon. While I am sure this will not end accidents on this highway, the ban can only improve the situation.
According to this article “1.4 million vehicles that traversed the Tennessee side of the Dragon between 2010 and 2012, there were total of 204 crashes — with motorcycles making up 82 percent of them.” During that period there were six deaths and one was due to an accident with a tractor trailer.
Signs informing truck drivers of the new restrictions will be installed in early 2015.
Debbie and road the Dragon and the nearby Cherohala Skyway a few years ago with a bunch of our friends. We left Northern Virginia, taking the Blue Ridge Parkway to Deal’s Gap. After riding those two road we went north through Chattanooga to Louisville, KY then to Parkersburg, WV.
STORM CHASER POWERS ACTIVATE!
The trip from Parkersburg back to Virginia was the hardest part of the entire 1400 mile ride. Hurricane Irene, which was not supposed to make landfall here, turned right into us. We rode through at least three squall lines before pulling into the garage just minutes before the main storm hit us.
STORM CHASER POWERS DEACTIVATE!
If you have not ridden the Tail of the Dragon, you need to add it to your bucket list. It is well worth your time.
Not sure what to get for the motorcyclist/biker?
I have complied a list of 9 items for you to consider (again everyone does 10 and 11 is to many for me 🙂 With the exception of the idea for a new helmet, most of the items listed here are under $100 US.
Tire Puncture Kit – Might be a good idea to have one available. Make sure you know what kind of tires they have (tubed/tubeless). For example, if they have tubeless tires this kit from Stop and Go has everything they would need for a “quick” fix on the road.
Micro Tire Pump – If the puncture kit does not include (or you don’t prefer) CO2 cartridges then a small pump might be for your rider. Plus with one of these small pumps you can top off your tires anytime you need. The Slime 40001 motorcycle tire inflator is small and has a lot of good reviews.
Battery Tender – If I was lucky you read my post on preparing a motorcycle for winter storage. One of the items on the list was the use of a battery tender to ensure the battery survives the cold. I can recommend Battery Tender Battery Plus, I have been using it for a few years without problems. It comes with every connection your rider should need to hook up the battery to life support.
New Riding Gloves – There are so many types and styles of gloves available there can be no one recommendation. Take a look at what your rider currently has; if the gloves are well worn you might not be wrong by just replacing with the same brand/style.
MotoAmerica Tickets – The new all American road race series was released their schedule for 2015. If the MotoAmerica series is coming to a track near your home, tickets for you and your rider should be on your gift list. If you are outside the US consider local race series or even MotoGP.
New Helmet – Is your rider’s helmet more than five years old or has some damage? Consider getting her or him a “gift certificate” for a new helmet. I recommend the certificate because you will never get this one right…the wrong size, style, color, make, model, visor would only disappoint both of you.
Movies – Whether you buy DVDs or download here are a couple of classics (IMHO).
The World’s Fastest Indian Easy Rider
Across the Dirt: Dirt Bike Documentary Long Way Round
Chrome – Riding a Harley Davidson? It would be hard to go wrong with chrome. If you are not sure what chrome to buy find a dull or dark part of your riders Hog, go to the dealership and point out the spot on a like bike.
Membership in the AMA – It does not matter what you rider rides or where they ride the American Motorcyclist Association (or similar organization if you are not in the US) is there to help ensure that our rights are not infringed. There are different types of memberships and you can get roadside assistance as one of the options.
Recently I and the other hosts from the ”DawgHouse Motorcycle Radio” show watched the motorcycle movie “On Any Sunday, The Next Chapter”. The movie is an updated version of the original “On Any Sunday” which was filmed in 1971 and nominated for an Academy Award in 1972. The new movie was directed by the son of the original film, Dana Brown.
Dana’s “Next Chapter” follows a path similar to his fathers in that he works with the big names in modern motorcycling. People like Travis Pastrana, Robbie Maddison, Marc Marquez, Wayne Rainy, Dani Pedrosa and many others not so famous make up the cast. The movie has a heavy focus on motorcycling racing with MotoGP, Motorcross, Flat Track and other types of racing well represented.
The movie opens with a humorous moment of a dad filming his little daughter (4-5 years old). She is struggling to lift a mini bike but refuses any help, after getting it up and getting on her dad starts to talk to her when she takes off like a bullet. Dad drops the camera and you hear him trying to chase her down… it was much funnier in the movie. Next it moves on to Robbie Maddison riding through an Olympic style Bob Sled track and then jumping from a ski jump ramp. You may have seen this same footage on You Tube but it was SPECTACULAR on the big screen!
The filming of the entire movie was exceedingly well done and, if you can, you need to see it on the big screen. The section on motorcycles in Vietnam motorcycling was awesome but might underwhelm on a small screen. Check the film’s website to find out if it is coming to a theater near you soon unfortunately movies like this don’t spend much time on the big screen.
On the down side, movies like this need sponsorships to be made. Sponsors REALLY want their products portrayed and in this case they were, to the verge of being over the top. Red Bull, KTM and Skull Candy were all over the movie like sticky fingerprints on your face shield, I can’t blame them or the director for this as it is a necessary part of modern film making… but a lighter hand would have went a long way. Also, it would have been nice to get something from the east coast motorcycle scene in the final cut (maybe a scene from a DawgHouse broadcast LOL). These are the reasons I debated 4 or 5 stars, but the high quality won me over.
In addition to the racing the movie discusses how motorcycling families, overcoming disadvantages and just how motorcycles makes your life better.
Well this is one way to become an artist on your motorcycle!
The DawgHouse Motorcycle Radio…The #1 Motorcycle Show in the US
Click here to get to this week’s Podcast
Great interview with 15 year old Jayson Uribe an American racing professionally in Europe.
Discussion of latest SOA episode “Faith and Despondency “
Review of On Any Sunday, The Next Chapter
Discussion of Royal Enfields, Lighting Motorcycle, The Polaris Slingshot in Texas and Alpinestars Airbag Jacket.
Williamsport Visitor Center and Cushwa Basin
Location – Williamsport Visitor Center/Cushwa Basin
Mile Marker –99.6
Historical Comments – Built in the 1830s the Cushwa Basin was developed as a major point on the canal for the loading/unloading and turning of barges. The area around the visitors and the canal itself is steeped in history. Some of the historic highlights of the area include:
Williamsport considered for the nation’s capital
Multiple civil war battles fought to capture, sabotage or destroy the aqueduct.
Gen. Lee used pontoon bridges to cross a flooded Potomac after Gettysburg.
In 1920 a boat bumped the aqueduct wall which caused it to collapse taking the wall and the boat into the creek below.
Ride to Site – The visitor center and basin is off main street Williamsport. Good signage easily directs you to the site.
Amenities – Visitors Center, public restrooms, parking, boat launch, bike rental, all normal amenities in the town of Williamsport.
Road Conditions (from main road) – paved
Railway Situation – none
Parking Lot Conditions –Pea gravel but the edge between the pavement and the parking lot is on a slight hill and appears to suffer damage from water runoff, pay close attention to your line of travel.
Main Attraction – This should be one of your main stops even if you do not want to stop at many (or any) other points along the canal route! Williamsport is only stop where you can visit many of the major canal structures in one place. Here you can see, all within a half mile:
The Conocheague Aqueduct
The Cushwa turning basin
A railroad lift bridge
A Bollman Iron Truss Bridge
A lock house (Lock 44)
Visitor center exhibits
Recreation of canal boat rides (during summer)
My Thoughts – As noted above this is a great spot to learn about the canal. It is easy to get to as it only a few miles from from Interstate 81.
Map 
If you are in the Northern Virginia area today (12 November 2014) at 4:45PM consider joining the DawgHouse crew at the Regal Cinema in Sterling Va to watch the this movie.
I JUST WANT 2 RIDE!! 