Volume 4, Issue 11 November The WASH UMCI Newsletter of Washington State

Transcription

1 The WASH

2 Table of Contents Announcements & Tid Bits Happy Thanksgiving International Reps Rant State Reps Rant Todays News Columbia Basin News Inland Northwest News Cold Weather Riding: 13 Tips to Keep You Warm For Sale Area Reps and Breakfast Schedules Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 13 Page 15 Page 17 International Website Washington State Website 2

3 Announcements & Tid Bits Seattle/Puget Sound Area Lunch Rides Cover Photo Ed Glasgow of Everett, WA Early 1949 I bought a 1946 Harley Davidson, 74 cubic inch flathead. It was a real challenge seeing as I had never owned or ridden a bicycle! It belonged to a WWII Vet. I was 18 years old. I sold it in late In October 1951 I was drafted into the US Army and was sent to Korea. I served my tour of duty and was released at Camp Carson, Colorado, 18 August, I returned to Galena, Illinois and farmed with my dad until January At this time I had been married to my one and only wife Patricia, on 26 October We had a son by the name of Jay. Sooo! I was released from the Army a SFC E-L, but really there was no big need for soldiers in The recruiter told me he would see what he could do. Boy was I lucky! He managed to get me PvT E-2. I forgot to mention I bought an Indian Chief in 53 and sold it the same year. Back to returning to the military, the wife Pat, agreed to a 3 year hitch as long as we didn t have to go overseas. I was sent to Baumholder, Germany, 4 November, Pat and Jay joined me in February We had to pay for the airplane fare ourselves as I didn t have enough rank for the government to pay for the flight. Come along October 1970 we are back in Frankfurt, Germany and I received orders for Viet Nam. I returned to Ft Dix, NJ in October 71. Spring of 1972 I bought a small 350cc Honda and rode it 4500 miles. Sold it one year later for what I paid for it. October 1976, we were sent to Wurzburg, Germany. While there I purchased a small Italian H.D; it was a perfect piece of junk! Our last assignment was Ft Lawton, WA where I retired on 31 October, Reason I grew old! In 1993 the wife said I needed a hobby. I told her I don t golf, love to hunt but too much red tape and then I replied, I used to ride motorcycles and here we are 24 years later and 9 motorcycles and 3 Honda trikes! Ed 3

4 Happy Thanksgiving 4

5 International Reps Rant Hi to all! When I took the job of International Rep everyone that voted to elect me said if you need any help I m here or you have our support. Well I am taking you up on that, I need your help in finding a suitable place in Montana to hold our 2018 International. If you all could go online and search for RV Campgrounds. Look them over, maybe contact them and see what they have to offer. Then if you find one that you feel would work for us, I or another State or Provincial Rep will be assigned to look further into the spot. I think the criteria are as follows: 1. Restrooms and showers enough to accommodate 80 to 150 people so at least 3 men s stools 3 ladies and at least 2 showers 3 would be great. 2. RV spots for rent for those that have RV s, and how close hotels are to the campground. 3. Pricing for Tent camping, how many tents per tent site. Do they have Tent sites with electricity handy for c pap machines? RV sites pricing and for information is there cabins. It is really important to get the name of the person you spoke to, and if they feel they would like to host a Motorcycle Rally, some will not! I would appreciate anyone s help in this. It s very important we do this now so we can get our ride calendar set. I have not gotten very many questionnaires back that I sent out in August. Please fill them out give me your opinion or tell me to go to hell, at least I would be getting a response. We talk about promoting our club, talking to as many riders or just people that might have questions, but I think we don t see instant results and give up. That is the wrong thing to do! I had a lady 2 years ago at our Connell Spring Banquet ask me about the UMCI, I didn t even know she rode. She contacted me about a month ago asking if I was still involved? I told her our Columbia Basin meeting place and time. Low and behold, Sunday at our meeting she rode in on her Can Am. It was only about 35 that time in the morning, so she is tough. She stayed for breakfast and seemed to have a great time, so maybe another member. So it may not be instant, but plant the seed and see what follows, it may surprise you. Remember please, this is your Club and it is a great club to be part of. Get involved in your club wherever you can, it will not only make you feel more of a part of UMCI, but you will meet some fantastic people in the process. Again, please give the questionnaires to your Area Rep so we can figure out what direction to go. If you have not received a questioner ask you Rep about it. What weather is left for riding please Ride Safe Ride Lot s but most of all have a ton of fun Very Respectfully Kevin and Kevi Besel. Oh and by the way I rode my motorcycle to our breakfast first time in 3 years and it felt so good. Back in the saddle for sure. 5

6 State Reps Rant Hi to all! It seems like winter is coming sooner than I want, but we are in Eastern Washington and the saying here is, the weather changes by the minute not the season. But, it is getting time to winterize the bikes and settle in for the winter. I spoke to an old timer in the store the other day and he said the coyotes have really thick fur right now which he said means a long cold winter. We have had some 25 s overnight here and I was not ready, garden hoses still hooked, no winterization done at all. I talked to Richard, our prior State Rep. He said he was getting ready to go back and help with his brother, he said Cancer had come back. Our prayers are certainly with Richard and his family in this time of crisis but, sounds like his brother has beat it once and has a positive attitude about beating it again. I hope to get over to the Spokane, Seattle and Okanagan area breakfast soon, it just seems like time is going by so very fast. But, I promise you I will get there and to all of the breakfast locations in our area. I want to thank those reps for keeping things going. As you can see by the top of the page, I have set our State Rally for July 6th th, 7 th and 8 th, 2018 for the Pine Near RV Park in Winthrop. Looks like a really nice place. So jot that down on your calendar there are a lot of pretty rides in that area. That is all I have for now. Just want to encourage everyone to talk to as many as will listen about our club, it pays and there is more interest out there for our club and for our type of riding. Until we meet again God Bless and stay healthy!! Kevin and Kevi 6

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8 Columbia Basin News Hi from Columbia Basin. I hope this note finds you all in good health and high spirits. We had a small turnout at our breakfast but, did have the pleasure of a new rider checking out our club and UMCI. Lynette Crauthers rides a Can Am and had seen us at our Spring Banquet about 2 years ago. She talked to me then, but hadn t heard from her until about a month ago. It goes to show you that when you talk about the club it may not happen instantly but a new member may be in the wings. It pays to talk about our club is the bottom line. We discussed the fact that we are trying to get a place in Montana to have our International Rally, most thought that would be fun. It is hard to pick a place for 80 to a hundred people without seeing it. I told the group if they had stayed at a place in Montana they thought would be suitable or had a friend that had a good feeling about a RV spot that would work, to let me know. Gordon and Jan Dale from Cashmere came to the breakfast. They were on the way to visit friends in Montana so they checked out the Two Bit RV in Libby, Montana, but they reported that there were not very many showers or bathrooms to accommodate our group. So still looking. Any help that you might give us is very welcomed. We discussed our Christmas Party and I told the group I would get ahold of Mel and Max and see if the rec area was available. Haven t seen either of them at the meetings this year, our loss for sure, but they are on a different path. I closed the meeting with a 50/50 drawing and of course I didn t win anything but Jan who said she needed gas money to go to Montana, won both of the pots. I m sure glad that we could help in your travel. lol. Until we meet again, November12th, 9.00 A.M. Ride Safe and Ride lot s if possible. Kevin and Kevi 8

9 Inland Northwest News Congratulations to the new Inland Northwest Officers Charlie Crane & John Fast (Reps) Billy Leonard (Treasure) Tom Wills (Reporter) 9

10 Cold Weather Motorcycle Riding: 13 Tips to Keep You Warm Despite the fact that spring is technically around the corner, it snowed this week, and it s not at all unheard of for Dayton to experience snow in April. That said, this topic has come up quite a bit in the past week; obviously quite a few guys in my circle of riding friends are chomping at the bit to get back out on that road. Winter Riding tips may be viewed as a little late considering that we re on the verge of spring, but cold spring mornings apply to this theory just that same as winter afternoons. Prepping the Rider First off, you can absolutely run out and buy top of the line Klim gear or an Aerostich Roadcrafter. While I don t have any of that stuff, I m sure their street credit is likely founded; my method is more about making small purchases and combining them with your existing gear to extend your riding season, or worst case, get you out of a jam on short notice. 1. Layer up Base layers are all the rage now from a lot of the moto-gear manufacturers. I admit, I have invested in a dual material Triumph thermal, but for the longest time I ve used polypropylene and/or micro-fiber long-johns under my riding jacket and pants. Obviously you need to make tactical decisions with your thermal layers; you need to keep the heat in, but also have the mobility to operate the motorcycle. Under 40 F I usually throw on a thermal layer between my jacket and T-shirt; under 32 F I usually go with a long sleeved shirt in lieu of the T-shirt; and under 25 F I start getting into apocalypse mode, which usually involves at least a sweatshirt. 2. Use your rain suit Some of you are probably thinking, I thought he said winter weather? Cutting the wind is your number one priority, fortunately the wonderful water resistant qualities of your rain suit also work to block the wind. Using a rain suit as a winter garment even gives you options, you can layer up with thermals under your motorcycle gear, and if you still get cold you can put your rain gear on over it. On the other hand, you can use your rain gear as an additional layer under your motorcycle gear. I personally prefer the latter because I hate the sound of my rain jacket fluttering in the wind (on top of the extra wind resistance), but folks with traditional textile gear may also prefer this method as mesh jackets are all but useless in winter. 10

11 Cold Weather Motorcycle Riding: 13 Tips to Keep You Warm, continued Get a good set of Gore-Tex boots If you have perused The Gear section of Moto Adventurer, you may have seen some of these items before. I have recently acquired a set of SIDI Canyon Boots; ultimately I bought these boots because I needed a good waterproof Adventure/Touring boot, however, considering their Gore-Tex waterproof nature, they also double as excellent cold weather boots. Needless to say, you don t necessarily need Adventure boots, but a good set of waterproof boots will help you cut the cold air. 4. Wear a solid set rain gloves, and don t forget the squeegee! Are you detecting a theme here? Same story, winter weight gloves, and definitively waterproof. I have a cheap set of rain gloves I picked up at a local dealer a couple years ago; those go a long way when it s above 40 F, but when things get close to freezing, you re going to need some dedicated winter gloves, maybe even electric, but more on that in a minute. The other important piece here is the squeegee. Yes, I m all about the squeegee; it s super convenient in the rain, however the winter piece here is fog. On more than one occasion I have left the house at around 35 F and foggy. As I rode out of the humidity of the river valley, the temperature actually dropped and the fog literally froze to my face shield, which is where the squeegee comes in. Just be prepared. 5. Install a Pinlock or dual lens visor Segueing from my fog and squeegee comment, fog on the inside of the visor is another problem you need to be prepared for. When it s 40 F, cracking the visor for additional airflow to clear the fog isn t all that bad. However, once it s sub-freezing, the frozen air stings pretty bad in your eyes; at those temperatures, I don t recommend cracking the shield above 10 MPH if you can avoid it. I had a Dual Lens visor for my GMax helmet that was 99.9% fog-proof, rain or cold weather. At some point here soon, I will be getting a Pinlock visor and insert for my new Scorpion EXO- AT950 helmet for all the same reasons. 6. Wear a neck gaiter or balaclava From about 55 F and down, I wear my neck gaiter religiously (some readers probably already do this as well). As I started accumulating better gear and my cold weather riding tolerance increased, I also picked up a motorcycle specific balaclava. The neck gaiter is great, but I actually found that the skin under the helmet vents started to sting from the little bit of air that squeezed through. 11

12 Cold Weather Motorcycle Riding: 13 Tips to Keep You Warm, continued... The Schampa Pharoh facemask is constructed with two materials, a comfort thermal layer over your head that is also covered by the helmet, and a wind breaking chin curtain to block the brisk air below the chin bar. It takes a little getting used to, but the full face coverage also helps keep the visor fogging down. 7. Wear Latex gloves in a pinch A few weeks back I published How cold is too cold to ride? That day was pretty nuts, but it was one of a short list of days I actually put on a set of latex gloves before putting on my normal winter riding gloves. The latex helps lock in some of the body heat while not sacrificing a whole lot of flexibility and feel. This trick isn t going to buy you a substantial amount of additional comfort, but when it s 7 F outside, every bit counts. 8. When all else fails, buy heated gear In my case, the extra money I ve saved by not buying a Stitch, I ve invested in heated gear. I will even go as far as to say that heated gear was an arm and a leg just a few years ago, but these days heated gloves are only a few dollars more than a lot of standard winter gloves currently for sale. I currently have a set of Tour Master Synergy 2.0 Heated Gloves along with a Tour Master heated vest. I admit, I have recently resorted to using the heated vest, and I stand by my previous opinion, the lack of heated sleeves makes no sense at all. I expect I will be upgrading to the heated jacket liner as soon as possible. For cold blooded folks, you can also invest in heated pants, and even resort to heated socks and boot insoles if you so choose. 9. Chap stick seriously I hate Chap Stick, with a passion. It s all waxy and gross; can t stand it. This one isn t necessarily about staying warm, however, after a long morning in frigid temperatures, I know I m desperate to do something about chapped lips. It s gross, and a goofy topic to be discussed among men, but find some at a service station, and put it in your (exterior) winter jacket pocket; you can thank me later. Preparing the Bike Without going into a long spiel about the concerns of corrosion, T-CLOCS, tire grip, and air pressure, let s assume you already understand the importance of those things, and focus on trying to stay warm. There are a few extra farkles you may want to invest in to extend your riding season. 10. Slide on some heated grips This may sound very European, but I don t understand why more motorcycles don t have heated grips fitted as standard. I have pretty much decided that heated grips are a must for every bike I own. I had a set of Bike Master heated grips fitted on the Speedmaster. 12

13 Cold Weather Motorcycle Riding: 13 Tips to Keep You Warm, continued... Those were pretty decent down to about freezing, but fell short not long after. I now have Oxford Heaterz on my Scrambler, which are superb. Based on my current experience, heated grips are more effective, and get more use than heated gloves. Beyond prepping for extreme cold, you ll find yourself wearing your summer gloves sooner in spring, just because you can turn up the heat a little. Just keep in mind your bike s alternator capacity before plugging in every electric item you can buy; I suspect most modern machines can handle it, but I doubt your 82 Nighthawk is prepared for that kind of draw. 11. Bolt on some hand guards or Hippo Hands Hand guards are another must on my winter motorcycle (which is currently my only motorcycle ). Hand guards come in many shapes and sizes; from the off-road Bark Busters type, to the winter wind protection variety. Longtime followers of the blog will also recall my DIY piece on hand guards for the Speedmaster. Crafty folks can buy acrylic sheets from the hardware store and bend them to suit their needs; it s not much for crash protection, but it will at least keep your hands warm. I ve also heard lots of stories about folks cutting up bleach bottles and strapping them to their bars to stay warm. In my case, push is rapidly approaching shove, after my whole single digit excursion, I will probably be investing in a set of motorcycle mitts. A lot of folks call them Hippo Hands, but several brands make these mitts, including Bike Master. They re pretty affordable, and from what I ve heard, paired with heated grips your hands are downright cozy. If I m going to attempt more single digit rides, a set of mitts may be the only way to get it done while keep my fingers intact. 12. Invest in a windshield or fairing This probably goes without saying; guys at the helm of a Wing are probably saying Winter? What s that? However, for the rest of us mortals, wind management is a lot easier with a good shield. I m somewhat of a hold-out in this department (I prefer the fly screen), a good shield is probably going to be one of the most expensive items you purchase to stay warm. I personally would rather have the heated gear, however if you re cold blooded, you might want to put a little extra in the budget. 13. Clip on a throttle lock Similar to the comment about latex gloves, if you don t have a throttle lock, get one. You may never ride long enough to use it on any normal day, but on a cold morning, having the ability to reach down and grab the jugs is invaluable. 13

14 Cold Weather Motorcycle Riding: 13 Tips to Keep You Warm, continued... Throttle locks aren t particularly complicated (or reliable) devices, but they re cheap, and they ll give your throttle hand a break long enough to give it a little warm up to tide you over until the next service station. This is obviously not a completely comprehensive list of sniffle gear, but it covers the vast majority of Motorcycle accessories I use or plan to buy. I ve told others, the biggest secret is having a positive attitude, layer up (in waterproof gear), and make routine stops. You ll probably be surprised how much more comfortable you are with something as simple as heated grips, which, like most of these items, won t break the bank. 14

15 For Sale 2005 Honda 30th Anniversary GL1800 GoldWing $12,000 Excellent Condition, Odometer: miles Add On Receiver Trailer Hitch, Bagger Shield Convertible Windshield, Kuryakyn Passenger Transformer Floor Boards Kuryakyn Heel Toe Shifter, Kuryakyn Back Rest, Kuryakyn Egro II Highway Pegs, Kuryakyn Plug & Play Trailer Wiring Kit Lower Saddle Bag Spoilers, Trunk Deck Spoiler, Wing Stuff Trunk Deck Spoiler Flashing Brake Light Wing Stuff Front Nose Mask, Wing Stuff Trunk and Saddle Bag Organizers and Carpet Wing Stuff Mike Mute (for wind noise), Butler Mug Holding System, Passenger Audio Controller, Rear Speaker Set CB Antenna Kit, 40 Channel CB Radio Kit, CD Changer Unit, CD Changer Attachment Kit Trunk and Saddle Bag Chrome Accents With LEDs, Other LED Accents on Highway Pegs and front of Bike Front Turn Signal LED Accents, Half Cover, Stored in personal garage Serious Inquiries: By Jack & Sunny Zeppenfield, Moses Lake, WA 15

16 For Sale 1992 Kawasaki Voyager XII 1200 Good condition, runs great! Always garaged! Approx. 46,500 miles, comes with new battery Backrest, trailer hitch with wiring and shop manual OEM speedometer gear included (needs to be installed) $2,

17 Freedom, Friendship, Food & Fun Our Only Business UMCI Representatives International Representative Wash State & Columbia Basin Rep Inland Northwest Area Rep Okanogan Area Rep & Treasure Seattle/Puget Sound Area Rep Sedro Woolley Area Rep Kevin Besel, Othello, WA Kevin Besel, Othello, WA Charlie Crane & John Fast George & Willie Penner, Okanogan, WA Irene Blanes, Mountlake Terrace, WA Duane Wood, Bow, WA Top Secret Monthly Breakfast Schedules Columbia Basin Area, 2 nd Sun. Inland Northwest Area, 1 st Sat. Okanogan Area, 1 st Sat. Seattle/Puget Sound, 2 nd Sat. Sedro Woolley Area, 1 st Sat. 8:00am, (9am, Oct-Apr), Bob s Rest., 1807 E. Kittlestone, Moses Lake 8:30am, Timber Creek Buffet, 9211 E. Montgomery, Spokane 8:30am, Contact George , for current location 8:00am, Denny s Restaurant, th St. I-5, Everett 9:00am, Hometown Café, 818 Metcalf Street, Sedro Woolley David Fitzgerald, Editor UmciNewsWash@gmail.com 17