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Colorado Rider News and Motorcycle Rider News Merge to bring you more updates and events

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By Laurie Montoya, Editor, and Publisher

Colorado Rider News and Motorcycle Rider News have MERGED to bring you a more regional and national look at motorcycle riding and what is going on in your area and nationwide. In March 2022, you will begin to see more diverse coverage, more writing contributors, and a more in-depth event calendar for those who take road trips and attend rallies all over the country.

What does this mean to you the reader? MRN will break down our articles and advertising by regions: West Coast, Rocky Mountain, Midwest, Southwest, and Northeast to still bring you the local coverage, but give you the ability to read about national news by region.

Audrey Paulus
Morning Stretch
Stretch is a new inspirational writer to CRN and avid rider in the biker community

Since 2018, Colorado Rider News has brought the Colorado powersports community great articles event coverage and focused on biker-owned businesses within our Colorado community. Publications have gotten slick and filled with so much advertising that you can get thru an issue in a few minutes. With the help of writers Audrey Paulus, Belt Drive Betty, and Morning Stretch with Stretch McClure our writers gave you the pulse and information you wanted to read about. Our success has resulted from our grassroots effort to go back to what Powersports publications used to be….things that matter to the rider.

As Editor and Publisher, it was vital to me to get motorcycle awareness out, keep riders safer on the road, and hopefully give them things to think about when or how they ride. This type of monthly publication isn’t easy, and being smaller our publications stayed more with local advertisers who helped get our message out. It was more important this publication wrote the stories we wanted to write and that readers wanted to read.

In 2020, we launched Motorcycle Rider News in Las Vegas, Nevada, with a year-round motorcycle riding and ATVing community with an old western flare. There are so many national parks, including the grand canyon to visit. Most traveling to California or the west coast tend to ride right thru, but our publication focused on great overnight day trips that riders can take to see all that Nevada and Arizona have to offer.

Shannon “Dazzlin” Ventoro
Nichol Jackie Zamora

MRN worked with great writers who had the pulse on the powersports community, such as Shannon “Dazzlin” Venturo and Nichol Jackie Zamora, who brought to the publication the charitable aspect of what the riding community does every week to help!

The pandemic brought many challenges to keeping these publications going, and our online publication has seen rapid growth and increased followers on social media. Therefore, we have decided to merge the publications and publish 2-3 hard copy issues each year and bring more content thru our website and social media.

We want to THANK each and every reader for their commitment to CRN and MRN and we hope that this new venture will enable us to bring you more and better content, and reach a larger demographic of riders.

International Motorcycle Shows Announces 2022 schedule

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FEBRUARY 14, 2022 BY MOTORCYCLE RIDER NEWS 

Santa Monica California – Progressive IMS Outdoors, the nation’s leading motorcycle tour connecting enthusiasts with a wide array of Powersports brands, today announced the dates and locations of its 2022 tour. Produced with Progressive Insurance as the title sponsor for the 13th consecutive year, the eight-city series will revisit three markets that hosted the indoor version of the International Motorcycle Shows (Colorado, Arizona, and New York) and return to five markets that IMS Outdoors visited last tour (Chicago, Pennsylvania, Atlanta, and Northern and Southern California).Tickets will go on sale on March 24 at www.motorcycleshows.com.  

Heading into the sophomore year, the experience-focused event will bring back the popular two-wheel and four-wheel demo programs, eBikes, shopping, custom and vintage bikes, and music, while also offering more chances for enthusiasts to engage with brands and their riding community, from ride-ins and races to speakers and charitable efforts.

“The launch of IMS Outdoors was an exciting challenge that armed us with learnings we look forward to applying on the 2022 tour, including an expansion of the highly successful demo program, growing our electric footprint, and adding more experience-focused offerings,” said Tracy Harris, SVP of Progressive IMS Outdoors. “The Powersports industry is amid a transformative period in time as new brands emerge, such as bespoke and electric companies, and we welcome an all-new generation of riders. We are so proud to cater our event to the changing needs of the industry and reunite everyone from new riders and kids to life-long enthusiasts.”

2021 Tour Results: 

  • More than 35,000 motorcycle demo rides were taken across the eight-city tour
  • Nearly half, 44%, of attendees were new to riding or prospective riders; IMS is a catalyst for industry-wide growth and is driving new customers for exhibitors and event sponsors
  • The introduction of SxS and eBike demos were well-received and indicated the community’s growing interest in adjacent products
  • Influenced by IMS’ award-winning Discover The Ride program, three different programs put more than 1,600 adults and teens on a motorcycle for the first time
  • Nearly 1,700 kids rode two-wheeled balance and battery-operated bikes with Strider, Harley-Davidson, and Husquvarna

Harris continued: “We could not be more excited to announce this year’s tour schedule, which was built in partnership with the industry’s leading OEMs. Our team is working diligently to produce an even more robust event that brings the love of riding to life and look forward to sharing more details regarding activations and participating brands with our community soon.”

IMS 2022 Schedule: 

  • COLORADO
    The Ranch Events Complex
    June 17-19, 2022
  • CHICAGO
    Goebbert’s Farm
    June 24-26, 2022
  • PENNSYLVANIA
    Carlisle Fairgrounds
    September 16-18, 2022
  • NEW YORK
    The Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
    September 23-25, 2022
  • ATLANTA
    Venue TBA
    September 30 – October 2, 2022
  • NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
    Santa Mateo County Event Center
    October 21-23, 2022
  • ARIZONA
    Westworld of Scottsdale
    October 28-30, 2022
  • SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA  
    OC Fair & Event Center
    November 4-6, 2022

Tickets go on sale on March 24 – save the date on your calendar and visit www.motorcycleshows.com for more information on the 2022 tour.   

Preview – 2022 Colorado Motorcycle Expo

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https://online.flippingbook.com/view/588258155/

Colorado Rider News is proud to host the Expo guide for the 2022 Colorado Motorcycle Expo.

Want to know who is VENDING?

Plan out your strategy for seeing everything?

Here is a preview of all that is going on at the Colorado Motorcycle Expo – click here

Heated riding gear in Colorado

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JANUARY 25, 2022 BY MOTORCYCLE RIDER NEWS LEAVE A COMMENT

TFLBike is Colorado-based, and we ride whether summer or winter. Buying the kit, you need to start riding with a heated vest and gloves is expensive, though. Motorcycle Rider News shares a TFLBike product review on heated riding gear and is the reward worth the investment.

What costs less is stacking layers when you go out to ride, but many jackets can restrict your movement and get in the way. Plus, nobody wants to carry all those layers everywhere you go once you dismount.

We teamed up with Revzilla to test out some basic Gerbing gear and see if it is worth the price. TFLBike can be found on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram

Please take a minute to watch this video and give us your thoughts

https://youtu.be/AMJDugBd-gg

Motorcycle Safety BEGINS with ME? What Does That Mean in TODAYS Terms?

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For several years, the tagline Watch for Motorcycles or Look Twice Save a Life really hasn’t had the punch that we riders would hope for. The biker community continues to be injured in epidemic numbers. In 2021, the State of Florida had over 5k accidents and over 500 fatalities. Colorado and Nevada during a pandemic saw a 33% increase in motorcycle accidents and fatalities. This is no longer a local issue, but a national problem that requires motorcycle riders to take a different approach, which is to BE READY and INFORMED.

Today we will talk about 3 topics

  • Trauma kits versus First Aid Kits
  • Accident Scene Managment Safety classes
  • Motorcycle Insurance and why the cheap becomes expensive.

Trauma Kits versus First Aid Kits

At first glance, it might be easy to confuse a trauma kit with a first aid kit. Both are bags full of medical supplies. And they may even carry some of the same equipment. So to understand the difference, you must look at the underlying focus of each type of medical kit.

First off, a first aid kit is designed to treat basic, superficial wounds that people suffer every day. They help with injuries such as small cuts, scrapes, and stings that don’t require a hospital or a doctor. These are the type of injuries most often treated with a first aid kit. Most first aid kits include bandages, burn cream, antiseptic, and over-the-counter medications

On the other hand, a trauma kit is designed to treat severe, life-threatening injuries long enough to treat the injured until paramedics or EMTs can arrive on the scene.

We’re talking about life-threatening injuries from situations such as car or motorcycle accidents. Tragic events when getting someone stabilized and transported to an emergency room is of the utmost importance. In such situations, most over-the-counter first aid kits are not nearly enough, and a trauma kit is best.

Now, it’s important to keep in mind that the primary focus of a trauma kit is to save lives. This means they often forgo items that might alleviate a victim’s temporary discomfort and pain. Why? Because these items are considered secondary to keeping them alive.

It’s a bag full of life-saving tools designed to keep someone’s vital functions working.

Trauma kits on your bike can be vital to stabilizing an injured rider until medical assistance can arrive. Trauma kits can be purchased for a reasonable amount given the care they can provide to render aid. If you are interested in getting a trauma kit, there are some motorcycle organizations that can help you get the trauma kit you need.

If you are interested in making the PLEDGE today to have this life-saving item on your bike, BikerDown Foundation offers riders a fully loaded trauma kit that will fit easily on your motorcycle – click here. You can also contact RoadGuardians (ASM) also offers a fanny pack trauma kit – click here

Accident Scene Management Classes

ASM has trained over 40,000 motorcycle riders thru their nationwide instructor and class hosts

For 10 years, BikerDown Foundation with the help of RiderJustice, Full Throttle Law, and other sponsors has sponsored Accident Scene Management Basic (ASM) and Advanced classes to give motorcycle riders basic training. ASM has trained nearly 40,000 motorcycle riders through the expertise of its instructors. ASM is the largest motorcycle trauma training organization in the world and classes can be done in-person or online.

Rider Justice ASM Basic class shows riders how to properly roll over a victim so that they can prepare to remove them from the road.
M. Busch got her Trauma kit at the Full Throttle Law ASM Basic Class

The basic 100 series class teaches you what to do in the first 5-30 minutes after a crash until professional help arrives. Some of the topics you will learn are helmet removal (many believe you don’t do that, but what if the rider isn’t breathing and needs CPR?), securing the scene, rescue breathing, moving the injured rider, controlling bleeding, and much much more.

Class attendees completing their ASM Basic Class in Las Vegas

Good Samaritan Law

Legal concerns can come up at the scene of an accident. Questions on legal issues come up in our basic and advanced classes, and there is a part of our instruction that deals with this. Many students ask me, “If I help someone at the scene of an accident, will I get sued successfully?”  Fortunately, in most states, there are statutes that legally shield you from liability. In Colorado, we have Revised Statute  13-21-108. This is the Colorado Good Samaritan Law.  In Nevada, there is NRS 41.500. The statutes in both states say that you are shielded from legal liability when rendering aid at the scene of an emergency or accident. There are some things you have to remember for this to apply. First, the person you are helping is not a person you are required to treat, and you are not there being compensated as part of your job. For example, Paramedics responding to the scene are not covered as it is their duty to respond and treat them. Volunteers on a rescue squad are protected from liability even though they have to react as they volunteer. 

Second, if you act in good faith and do not do something completely negligent, you are protected under the Good Samaritan Law. There is a scene in a funny movie where a woman performs a minor surgical procedure on someone she believes is choking. She has never been trained to do this and only saw the procedure performed on a television show. This woman would not be shielded from liability. For the record, we do not teach minor surgical procedures in Accident Scene Management, not even the advanced class.

Motorcycle Insurance and what that really means after an Accident

Call one of our motorcycle attorneys TODAY and get your FREE Insurance Reviews

Insurance coverages/Reviews – Bike insurance, 2nd to safety gear, motorcycle insurance is the most essential item you can have for your bike.  It outranks 85.00 Harley-Davidson shirts, cool chrome accessories, jackets, and rain gear….it outranks everything.  Without good bike insurance and add ons such as under-insured or uninsured motorists, the injured riders will be surprised how un-insured they are and what the current bike insurance covers.  RiderJustice.com, Full Throttle Law, Upstate Biker Lawyer, and Two-Wheel Attorneys has always offered any biker a FREE insurance review to discuss what your existing insurance covers.  In Colorado at the Colorado Motorcycle Expo, be sure to stop by the Rider Justice booth in February and get their suggested levels of insurance to keep you covered in the event of an accident.

At the scene of a motorcycle crash:

  • Do not move your bike from where it landed after the impact.
  • Take pictures of the entire scene, including your bike, the car, the intersection and debris.
  • Get contact information from any witnesses.
  • Take videos of witnesses explaining what they saw.
  • Take a picture of the other driver’s insurance card.
  • Make sure a police officer comes to the scene and files a report. (Never, ever, ever exchange insurance information with the other driver and leave the scene. You need that police report.)

Motorcycle Awareness begins with US, the motorcycle rider.

So in the event of an accident, having these 3 things in your arsenal will not only protect you and help you recover, but also help you help others. We must take control of our ride, in the event of an accident that trauma kit, ASM Basic class that you took, and the right kind of insurance, can actually help you SAVE LIVES of a friend, family member or complete stranger on a ride.

American International Motorcycle Expo Trade Show Returns to Las Vegas – January 19-21, 2022

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JANUARY 12, 2022 BY

The Powersports industry has seen a rapid increase in participation and double-digit growth in sales and accessories. The pandemic has given consumers more time to enjoy powersports items and the uptick is shown in the diversity of their toys including a growing number of motorcycles purchased in 2021.

AIMExpo offers an immersive experience you simply cannot get in a digital setting. By providing a platform to engage with colleagues, key exhibitors, distributors, media outlets, and influencers, as well as learn about and discuss the important issues currently facing our industry, AIMExpo brings the industry together in one place, at one time.

AIMExpo provides the powersports industry a 3 day, trade only (not open to the general public) event that delivers the right products, the best deals, and powerful education at the right time of the year.

AIMExpo is one of the single most important events for the North American Powersports Industry and gathers the North American motorcycling and powersports industry into one place, at one time so you can

Here’s all the reasons dealers and manufacturers should attend:

  • See new 2022 Distributor, OEM & aftermarket products
  • Engage face-to-face with OEMs, distributors and hundreds of aftermarket brands
  • Save money with exclusive show specials during prime buying season
  • Acquire insight and inspiration; Engage in thought provoking & motivating conversations
  • Learn, grow and evolve your business through education sessions led by industry experts

Motorcycle Rider News Senior Writer Dazzlin will be in attendance providing us with some great articles and updates.

For more information on this event, please click here

Morning Stretch – Never Leave a Friend Behind

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Morning Stretch
Stretch is a new inspirational writer to CRN and avid rider in the biker community

Never leave a friend behind. Friends are all we have to get us through this life–and they are the only things from this world that we could hope to see in the next.

A good friend can tell you what is the matter with you in a minute. He may not seem such a good friend after telling, but he is still a friend. In prosperity our friends know us; in adversity, we know our friends.

True friendship is like sound health; the value of it is seldom known until it is lost. But on the other side friendship is delicate as glass, once broken it can be fixed but there will always be cracks. If you once forfeit the confidence of your friend, you can never regain their respect and esteem.

It is true that you may fool all of the people some of the time; you can even fool some of the people all of the time, but you can’t fool all of the people all of the time.

I want a friend who tells me the truth to his or her knowledge, not let me fail by withholding what truly needed to be said. And like I said before when you’re in jail, a good friend will be trying to bail you out. A best friend will be in the cell next to you saying, ‘Damn, that was fun!

Well, it is Friday for me, Have a Great Weekend!

Letter From the Publisher – Fall is Finally HERE!

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While Global Warming is a topic that many would like to debate, there is absolutely no doubt that in Colorado, we have experienced one of the warmest summers on record this year with temperatures rising above 100 degrees for more extended periods.  We Colorado riders are so fortunate to head up the mountain for relief when the temperature is unbearable in town.

The fall season is here, and fall colors are upon us, and you only have a week or so before all those beautiful fall colors will have fallen softly to the ground, and in a blink of an eye, winter riding will be upon us….are you ready.  Halloween can be seen in every store, with Thanksgiving not far behind.  I then realized that we are but a blink away from the Children’s Hospital Toy Run and  86 days away from Christmas.  Where did our summer go?

Motorcycle Fatalities continue to RISE – Our biker community in Colorado has suffered 9 tragic motorcycle fatalities in the last two (2) weekends of September.  My calculations as President of BikerDown are that we have recorded 77 fatalities on the motorcycle so far in 2021.  The more significant statistic that will surprise many of you is that rider error accidents/fatalities are up this year.  That is a staggering number of deaths.

I don’t know what to say that hasn’t already been said or covered in previous issues of Colorado Rider News. Still, motorcycle awareness and safety are no longer about Look Twice Save a Life or Watch for Motorcycles bumper stickers on cars or Can you see me now As*hole t-shirts or patches.   MOTORCYCLE SAFETY MUST BEGIN WITH US!

Motorcycle awareness is now in the rider’s hands, and how experienced you are in defensive driving.  It is about how fast you ride for the conditions; it is about being more cautious when going thru intersections and stop lights.  Green no longer means GO; it means down shift and see if anyone is coming, looking both ways…before you proceed thru any light or stop sign.  It means if you see someone driving distracted…you do all that you can to stay clear of that irresponsible driver, which is almost impossible because 4 out of 10 drivers are using their phones while it is moving.  

Insurance coverages/Reviews – Bike insurance, 2nd to safety gear, motorcycle insurance is the most essential item you can have for your bike.  It out ranks 85.00 Harley-Davidson shirts, cool chrome accessories, jackets, and rain gear….it out ranks everything.  Without good bike insurance and add ons such as under-insured or un-insured motorists, the injured riders will be surprised how un-insured they are and what the current bike insurance covers.  RiderJustice.com has always offered any biker a FREE insurance review to discuss what your existing insurance covers.  Be sure to stop by the Rider Justice booth next time you see them and get their suggested levels of insurance to keep you covered in the event of an accident.

Motorcycle Safety used to refer to whether you wore a helmet.  This isn’t a debate on where to WEAR or NOT WEAR a helmet.  Now, considering helmet protection and wearing the proper safety gear IS A MUST to stay alive and enable you to recover from an accident.   Companies like Tobacco Motorwear are coming out with stylish denim jeans with Kevlar fibers in them so that in the event of a crash, it can help limit the road rash and damages to your body.  Kevlar riding shirts that you wear over your t-shirts and under your vest and will protect your shoulders, elbows and most importantly your back.  Knox armor in your leather vests or jackets that will protect your spine.  Some will say I will not spend 300 on a pair of riding jeans or I can’t afford it.  We are in a riding age where you can’t afford NOT TO HAVE some safety gear when you ride.  This year I would ask all motorcycle riders to put safety gear on their Christmas list for next year.

Calendar of Events – This month has some special events, and Colorado Rider News is proud to feature them in this issue:

October 16th – Dirty Dogs Roadhouse 4th  Anniversary Birthday Bash – who doesn’t love a party when Mark and Rob pull out all the stops for their 4th-anniversary party.  You can read more about Dirty Dogs with some great photos showing how far they have come from when they started.

October 24th – BikerDown and Rider Justice are hosting another round of Accident Scene Management classes that teach a motorcycle rider how to render aid in the event of an accident.  Class to be held at Arapahoe County Fairgrounds from 8:30 am to 5 pm.  Rider Justice is offsetting the 99.00 class rate to $40.00 to make it more affordable for all riders to have these valuable skills.  For more information, go to riderjustice.com/rj-events/ to register.

October 30th – Dirty Dogs Roadhouse – Halloween party – We all know that Mark & Rob know how to throw a party and their Halloween parties are legendary!  So, get your costume ready for a chance to win great prizes!

We welcome your comments and thoughts on what CRN can do better in the future, and enjoy the ride!

Please ride safe out there!

Laurie Montoya

Publisher

Colorado Rider News

info@coloradoridernews.com

Endurance Ride – Cool Biker Lunch and Rides Completes 1.5k Riding Challenge

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By Stormy

Cool Biker Lunch and Rides motorcycle group announced another challenge that they are hosting!  You have to ride 1,500 miles in 36 hours.  The ones that completed the 1K last year were invited to inaugurate the 1.5K in 1.5 Days challenge before it opens up to the rest of the group.  The participants were: Dave Setter, Stephen Gonzales, Steve Wilson, Rachel Baldwin, Ed Collins, Jason Ennis, Austin Prather, Kristi Strother, and myself.  Jason Massey and Steve Skalski did their 1K challenge the same day and joined the 1.5K challenge.  The route was from Watkin, CO, to Corpus Christi, TX, to spend the night and head back to Amarillo, TX.  We reached 1,500 miles near Snyder, TX, and pulled over to document it and stop the clock.  We celebrated in Amarillo over steaks and drinks at The Big Texan Steakhouse.

After I did the 1K last year with Krisi Strother to Sturgis and back, I told myself that was the last time I would do that again.  It was exhausting both mentally and physically to the point where I found myself needing to talk out loud to stay awake.  But I am glad I did this 1.5K challenge. It feels great that I can accomplish something only a few people can do.  There is no one way to measure it or weigh it, but feeling accomplished is so closely tied to our needs, desires, ambitions, and drivers that it becomes a personal achievement.  I know a lot will not understand why we, motorcycle enthusiasts, do these kinds of challenges, but we do, which is all that matters.  

Stephen Gonzales

“It sure sounded like fun after completing the 1k in a day last year.  Just like last year, after about 5 hrs. I’m wondering  what I was thinking.   After a few lost items, a check engine light, a small mishap that temporarily put one person on pause, and a couple of fill-ups, all was good.  We had taken our places in line and commenced on our trip.  Great guidance, leadership, and teamwork helped us get through it with two small celebrations of completing another 1k under 24 hrs and then the milestone of 1.5 k in under 36 hrs.  A great trip, can’t wait for another one.”

Jason Massey

“So people going for a 1K or a 1.5K challenge should be experienced riders.  It will challenge you mentally and physically.  Hydration and whatever the individual needs to stay focused are important during the ride.  5-hour energy drinks are beneficial.  Would I do this again?  Yes, absolutely!”

Kristi Strother

“The Limit

I thought I would sleep better the night I got home from a 1.5k challenge motorcycle ride. We traveled over 1,500 miles in a day and a half. My body was tired, exhausted. I tossed and turned all night, thinking about my adventure, our adventure, of pushing it to the limit (that song was stuck in my head too). I should have slept, but the road with all its hidden treasures flashed through my brain. 

Poet T.S. Eliot once wrote: “Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go.” 

I am grateful for this trip. I learned I could push through exhaustion. Plus, I made lasting memories with new and old friends, who also took the leap and pushed themselves to conquer the road, the heat, the endless miles.

We left at the crack of dawn, still dark, only the peering eyes of wildlife followed us down the road. We set out on an adventure, none of us precisely sure how we would do…or how our bikes would do. All we knew was that we were leaving Colorado for Corpus Christi, Texas with a full tank of gas and many early morning biker grins. 

We had setbacks, mostly flying off bikes; an ice chest full of sandwiches, bandanas flying off heads, a bungee cord, and even a helmet.

On the outside, we navigated the road like experienced warriors roaring through the Wasteland; on the inside, each of us had our reason for taking part in the challenge. For some, it was to put their feet in the ocean, others to beat a record; I didn’t want to pass up seeing a part of our great country that I have never seen before. Yes, the merciless sun was relentless. Gallons of water drank, too many to count. But the hundreds and hundreds of miles of green hills, golden valleys, peaceful lakes, and unspoiled panoramic views kept me aching for more. Even the long stretches of interstate, staring at the parched land and decaying houses, kept me intrigued. Who lived there? Why did they let the house fall apart?

Colorado. Oklahoma. Texas. We kept moving. Time slowed. 

I enjoyed seeing gallant horses throw their heads up as we thundered by picturesque farms; I loved the wide-eyed looks of wonder from young kids in the back seats of mini-vans, and I was touched by the show of solidarity other bikers gave as we passed through towns and even on the highway. It may seem like a simple ‘biker wave,’ but the symbolism of safety never left me. It’s a good feeling to be home… and that we all got home safe! 

In the end, it doesn’t matter why each of us took on this challenge.  But I have to admit I do feel stronger. Sleepy but stronger. I pushed myself more than I ever have before. I learned a lot. Saw a lot. And I am grateful for my 1.5k friends who helped me find out how far I could go!

So put me on a highway

Show me a sign

Take it to the limit

One more time”

Steve Wilson

“This trip was many months in the making for me.  I’ve been planning to do a 1500 mile trek and tried to find destinations to go to.  My brother’s house, for example, is 1530 miles away from mine.  When Ed started planning this trip to Corpus Christi and back, I was excited.  About a month prior, I decided to bring my son, Gummy Bear, with me.  My wife and I lost him on 4 November 2017.  I brought his urn and made a little bed with his stuffed puppy in one of the fairing compartments.  He was as snug as a bug in a rug.  Having this memory with me made it all worth it.  Sure, I was hot, dirty, stinky, and tired… but I wouldn’t trade it for the world because I got to have an adventure with my first son.”

Steve Skalski

“This soul is more fulfilled after following leader Ed, and riding with the others for 1.5k miles in 1.5 days.  I expected it would be both physically and mentally challenging, and I wasn’t let down.  I couldn’t and wouldn’t have done it if it weren’t for you and my fellow riders. THANKS TO ALL!”

Dave Setter

“What a great team effort by an excellent group on a mission!  Doing this 1.5K in 1.5 days with 11 bikes with folks on a bike for 40 out of 60 hours (with over 2,200 total miles) was just awesome.  Everyone pulled together and got it done.  Ed Collins (a/k/a the great cat herder), thank you for your leadership efforts.  You made it happen smoothly despite a few bumps but most of all, you made it fun.  Thanks again.”

Rachel Baldwin

“This was a fun event; with this many people going, it was a challenge that we had stacked against us.  We rolled through, and the ride was well organized from the start, which was our advantage.  Everyone played an essential part.  I was overwhelmed with joy that morning; everyone was prompt, ready, excited, awake, and passing out goodies to one another for encouragement on this ride.  We were a team!   We were focused.  We paid attention to detail, and I was so impressed we had a way to check codes on our bike, holy cow!  Prepared is the word that comes to mind, even with reminding everyone to add roadside assistance, bring batteries for key fobs, first aid, battery jumper, air compressors, and the like. The stop in Corpus woke my senses with the chirps of the seaside birds and the gorgeous water view from our hotel window.  I was able to run into a childhood classmate at our gas stop in Comfort, named Matt Herrera; I haven’t seen him since 2002. It was all by chance!  I had no idea he worked there, dope!  We kept in great communication with each other.  Leaders took the lead when the dynamics changed, and we all accomplished this great task together!  Thanks for this great opportunity!  What a ride!”

Ed Collins

“Bike is ready, and I am ready; everyone is ready!  And away we go into the dark morning, eleven bikes in formation headed for the Gulf of Mexico.  Twenty-one hours later, we had come through fog, a 100-degree stretch, a few turns, and the best McDonald’s burger I can remember to arrive at our hotel.

After the group congratulated each other on making it to Corpus Christi, we went straight to bed so we could ride 500 more miles in 36 hours.  The following morning I learned the definition of a CBLR member.  We had a member develop mechanical issues the day before; we got them a tow and safe before moving on.  I had set it up to grab parts and let the group move on to accomplish their goal.  They would have none of it – as a group, they decided to wait for me … that act of “selfless group sacrifice” set the tone for my experience.  I was honored and humbled to ride with this group.”

Austin Prather

“I broke down 550 miles into day one.  I got a tow to a motel from some cool rednecks. Then I diagnosed and repaired a broken wire to my electronic throttle body.  I rode back to Amarillo to meet with the rest of the team after they completed their mission.  I rode motorcycles, fixed stuff, met people, ate steak.  It wasn’t the worst experience I’ve had.”

Join Cool Biker Lunch & Rides on Facebook and get the guidelines if anyone wants to try this challenge.  It will be an epic experience that you will remember for a lifetime.