The gang’s all here!
Stan Brein
It’s the beginning of the year—time to visit those resolutions from last year and recalibrate for the coming year. First resolution: Ride more! Every motorcyclist says that at the start of each new year. But this year, let’s really mean it! Reflect back on the reasons you learned to ride in the first place. Where and when were your best rides? What did you enjoy about them?
While you may not be able to recreate those past memories, vow to make some new ones, hopefully with new friends and acquaintances.
Now, are you taking care of your ride during the cold weather? Long pauses without riding require making sure that the battery is being charged on a tender/maintainer and the tires have proper inflation. Open those saddlebags and trunks to see what is in there from the last ride. Are there items you carry that need replenishment, such as latex gloves, CO2 cartridges, and the first aid kit? Are the lights and other electronics in proper working order? Even if it’s raining or sleeting (heaven forbid), you can spend time with your ride getting it prepared for that clear day when you want it ready to ride. We still have another month where we need to keep the snow/ice tires or the chains handy for riding in the really bad weather.
Your dedicated Motorcycle Club board members met on Jan. 9 to plot the future of club activities. Representatives are Mike Conley, Scott Baker, Stan Brein, Vicki Baker, Dave Riddle, Ron Bane, Keith Breiner, and Reggie Rother. These folks spend countless seconds working and planning for the good of the club and members. We are pleased to welcome Jeff Stieber as an at-large member of the board. We look forward to his knowledge and experience in trip planning.
The annual Safety Briefing meeting will be on Feb. 20 at the clubhouse. Mike Conley will lead the briefing. Riding in a group is more challenging than riding as an individual. We discuss protocols for handling several riding conditions, like approaching intersections, riding formations, breakdowns, bike-to-bike communications, and several other situations. The meeting allows those who have ridden in our club to share experiences and to help with the Q&A. It’s always good to have a refresher!
Speaking of riding, upcoming trips include a lunch ride to Rico’s Place in Muenster on March 27, The Bayou Adventure on April 7 to 12, and a lunch Ride to Clark’s Outpost on April 16.
If you are interested in joining us for a breakfast or a lunch, please contact a club member for information. Who knows, maybe a motorcycle is in your future.
See you on the road!
Beware of cagers, and keep the rubber-side down!