Posts Tagged ‘Motorcycle Ride’

The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride

Posted: October 27, 2013 in Motorcycle Rides
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dgrI have never heard of this motorcycle ride before but I am very intrigued.  I ran across the link in while just surfing around and I think I may participate in next year’s event, if there is one.

You get dressed in nice clothes and ride your bike in support of several charities.  I like the idea and will be keeping an eye on their website and the local groups Facebook page.

According to their website the event began in 2012 and has now spread to over 100 cities.  This year they raised over $250,000 dollars supporting Prostate Cancer Foundations in several countries.

If you have time check out their website! (the photos are from the DRG website and the DGR Washington DC Facebook site)

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Nolands Ferry – C&O Canal Motorcyle Ride

Posted: October 26, 2013 in C&O Canal, Motorcycle Rides
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C&O Canal: Nolands Ferry

C&O Canal: Nolands Ferry

My most recent stop on the C&O Canal is Nolands Ferry.  For background on what I am doing with the C&O please look at this post.

Location – Nolands Ferry

Mile Marker – 44.6

Historical Comments -The reported location Martha Washington crossed the Potomac River on the way to visit George Washington at Valley Forge.

Nolands Ferry is also a Paleo-Indian period archeological site listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  More information on the archeological site can be found here.

Ride to Site – Getting to Nolands Ferry requires you ride through abundant farm land.  Be on the lookout for slow moving farm equipment.  Pay attention as well for deer and other wildlife crossing the road.

Amenities – picnic tables, boat ramp, restrooms

Road Conditions (from main road) – First half paved, second half hard packed gravel/cinder

Railway Situation – Underpass

Parking Lot Conditions – Hard packed gravel and cinder, use a kickstand puck.

Main Attraction – Boat ramp

My Thoughts –This site is primarily a boat access point for the Potomac River and a rest stop for those using the C&O trail.  It is interesting in that the road to the amenities passes through what, I think, is the remains of the canal and lock.

Map

The area around Nolands Ferry

The area around Nolands Ferry

 

Riding the C&O Canal on a Motorcycle

Posted: October 26, 2013 in C&O Canal, Motorcycle Rides
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DSCN0124Since the C&O Canal is nearby and there does not appear to be any motorcycle ride discussions or comments about the sites I decide to do just that, discuss the C&O Canal from a rider’s point of view.

You will have to bear with me on this as I am not going to hit all the sites immediately but as I get around to them.  I might have them all by the end of the year, next year!   😉

I have already stopped at a couple and I will go back and redo them with the intent of what a rider should expect when going to each site.

Some things you should know about the canal as a whole:

  • At many of the stops is at least one railroad track to cross to reach the canal site.  The railroad is one reason the C&O Canal became obsolete.
  • The C&O Canal is a National Park.  I am going to get a lot of the information from their website and resources.  The park website will display alerts when there are issues with one or some of the park sites.
  • You cannot get to all the canal sites unless you hike or ride a bike.  Vehicle traffic is limited to only some parts of the park and is mainly acts as trailheads or boat ramps.
  • Conditions at the sites that allow vehicles will vary extremely due to weather conditions.
  • I am sure there will be more but that is all I have for now!

The layout I intend to use to describe each site is as follows:

  •    Location – Which stop on the canal path
  •    Mile Marker – as stated by the National Parks Service
  •    Historical Comments:  What was this site about?
  •    Ride to Site – What the ride is like in the immediate area of the stop.
  •    Amenities – Restroom, picnic area, etc.
  •    Road Conditions (from main road) – What to expect when you turn off the main highway
  •    Railway Situation – ground level, overpass, underpass
  •    Parking Lot Condition – paved, gravel, etc
  •    Main Attraction –
  •    My Thoughts –
  •    Map – just a clip of the area around the stop
  •    Pictures – my photos of the site.

If you have any suggestions on adding/changing the above list let me know.

C&O Canal National Park

Monocacy Aqueduct C&O Canal

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Motorcycle TV: Top Gear (USA) in Sturgis

Posted: October 23, 2013 in Motorcycle TV, Product Reviews
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I was disappointed after watching Top Gear (USA) at Sturgis last night. It started out quite strong with the guys on scooters and completing challenges to move up to bigger bikes. But it went down hill from there.

Rutledge wrecked his scooter, on purpose it appeared to me, to lose the first challenge (this is a guy that claims to have two bikes in his garage). He would later go on to drop a Street Glide twice. The guys who won the challenge (Adam & Tanner) began riding Yamaha 250’s but also began wearing full face helmets. From this point forward there were times I was not sure that they were on the bikes, I got the feeling that “stunt doubles” were used.

The next challenge was to ride three members of a band (I forget the name) across town to the Buffalo Chip. Adam ducked out and got a side car, Tanner stopped at a bikini bike wash and Rut stopped to allow his passenger to get water and cigarettes. It was here that the most contrived moment of the series let alone the show occurred. Rut accidentally knocked down two bikes.

First, I am not sure he even touched the bike to cause it to fall into the second bike. Second, the bikes looked like 1980’s dual purpose motorcycles that might not even run. Third, no one prevented him and his passenger from leaving, I have been at rallies where this has happened, folks do not let you leave until the owners of the other bikes arrive.

OH, and of course Tanner won the overall contest and got to race a car against a motorcycle.

Overall, I think this is the worst episode of Top Gear (USA) ever. I love the show as a whole and watch it every week but this one just sucked.

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Holy crap….. Elk chases couple on motorcycle!!!!

Posted: October 22, 2013 in Motorcycle news, Motorcycle Rides
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It’s all fun and games until the elk gets an attitude!

Kinda like the eailer post where a wolf chased a motorcycle!

Motorcycle TV: Top Gear (USA)

Posted: October 21, 2013 in Motorcycle news, Motorcycle TV
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Top-Gear-USAThis week on Top Gear the boys go to Sturgis.  History Channel describes this episode as:

“The Top Gear hosts embark on a two-wheel road trip through South Dakota to the world’s largest automotive event, the annual Sturgis Bike Week. Starting out on scooters and needing to pass challenges to progress to the bigger bikes they’ll need to ride to fit in at the rally, the hosts go through hell as they close in on Sturgis. The winner will race a super-charged Ariel Atom against a 200 mph sports bike, while the loser will have to take part in a stunt, courtesy of HISTORY channel’s newest series, American Daredevils.” 

While a lot of folks do not care for this version of the famous BBC show, I enjoy it.  The biggest issue I have with the show is that Tanner (the professional racer) always wins the contest to drive the hot cars.  Come on, I want to see one of the other guys wreck a $200,000 car!

Motorcycle TV: Café Racer

Posted: October 20, 2013 in Motorcycle TV, Product Reviews
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Café Racer TV

Café Racer TV

This TV show has been around for a while and its fourth season is set to start on the 6th of November. It is presented on the Velocity Channel (part of the Discovery Network).

As the name implies Café Racer covers the bikes, builders and life style of the Café Bike scene. I have watch the show for the last two years and it is enjoyable. My favorite show was the one where they connected the café bike scene to pin-up girls!

I enjoy this show and my DVR is already set to record.

 

 

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Motorcycle Ride to Winchester Motosports

Posted: October 19, 2013 in Motorcycle Rides
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Well this was the first day of the fall that I needed chaps for a motorcycle ride.  Pulling out at 7:45 AM the temp was 45F, cool before I began moving.  My wife had to work today so I followed her to her favorite breakfast stop Chick-fil-a.

Shenandoah River

Shenandoah River

After eating our breakfast she went to work and I began my ride.  With my destination of Winchester Motosports set I had no particular route in mind, so I decided to take “River Road”, County road 606, which I picked up at its intersection with VA Route 7.  This road follows the Shenandoah River for about 10 miles.  The views are picturesque now but in a few weeks when the leaves reach their peak color it will be spectacular!

When 606 leaves the river (and changes names several time) you weave through backcountry Virginia until you reach the intersection of US Route 50 and 606.  I was tempted to turn around and ride 606 again but I moved on towards the Royal Enfield dealership.

As I mentioned a few posts ago I found Winchester Motosports when I looked at the new Royal Enfield Continental GT website.  I thought it would be neat and visit the store and check out the bikes they had on hand.

When I arrived I meet Ed and the owner Carl. Turns out that Winchester Motosports is not only a Royal Enfield dealer but is also a Moto Guzzi dealer.  They are also one of the largest motorcycle consignment resellers in Northern Virginia.  They were also, at one time, dealers in Victory and Triumph bikes.

Carl is a very gregarious guy who, you can easily tell, absolutely loves what he does.  His knowledge of the bikes he sells (or sold) is immense.  I really enjoyed my conversations with Ed and Carl!  If you are interested in Enfield’s, Moto Guzzi or a used bike of any kind I would consider Winchester Motosports as a first stop. WP_20131019_026

After ogling the bikes for a bit it was time to start for home as the weatherman said that rain was coming in the afternoon.  Weaving through more back roads, I ended up on US 340 and then hoped on VA Route 9.  About an hour or so later I was back in Leesburg.  Round, trip I put on 125 miles on a pleasant, but cool, fall day.

There was one big negative on today’s ride.  I dropped by phone and now the screen is krap and the pictures are not right.  Nearly all the photos on this site have been taken with my Nokia 928 phone.  I have been very happy with this phone and camera.

 

Ride to Sugarloaf Mountain…..No Motorcycles Allowed

Posted: October 19, 2013 in Motorcycle Rides
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Sugarloaf Mountian

Really?????

I can see Sugarloaf Mountain from my home.  I was told that the entire mountain is a park and that we should go and check it out.  Well today I did and was GREATLY disappointed.  Motorcycles are not allowed in the park!

I noticed the administration building across the street from the entrance and decided to find out why I was prohibited from entering the park.  I spoke with a member of the board of directors (Stronghold Incorporated) and he stated that the entire board a voted to exclude motorcycles due to noise.  In particular the “whiney” noise of some bikes.  He pointed to my HD Ultra Limited and said that those were mostly ok but it was impractical to exclude some but not others.

The noise, he said, interfered with the numerous weddings and social events held on the mountain and at the mansions located on the park (the mansions are quite impressive.  That they had received many complaints from the attendees of the parties and weddings and it was not practical to bar bikes on the certain days and not others.

As our conversation ended he stated that if I wanted to go into the park that it would be ok.  I declined the offer on principle.

 

Royal Enfield Continental GT

Posted: October 18, 2013 in Motorcycle news
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I have always had a desire for a Café Racer.  As a kid I want to get a Honda CB350 and convert it to a Café bike.  Never happened, but it has always been in the back of my head.  I have been tempted to convert the wife’s Harley Sportster into a Café Bike but she is not very keen on the idea.  But if she upgrades ………

Cafe bike

Royal Enfield Continental GT

A friend of mine sent me a link to the new Royal Enfield Continental GT.  This is a good looking modern Café bike.  According to the literature, its 535cc engine produces 30 horsepower, not sure if that will get you to “A Ton” (100MPH) but it would be fun to find out.

Looking about the internet for pricing, I think the bike may be a bit pricey.  I get the impression that it will be around $7000 dollars, about the cost of a Harley Davidson Sportster. But, you would not have to convert the GT as you would the Harley. But, I doubt the resell value is anywhere near comparable between the Royal Enfield and the Harley Davidson. But, which would be cooler to tool about on?  Both work for me.

Alas, I cannot justify another bike in the garage nor can I afford one (I do not start to work until Monday).  Turns out that there is a Royal Enfield Dealer near my home, Winchester MotoSports I might just ride over and check out what they have.  The Continental is not scheduled for release until late November but they may have other bikes in stock.

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