Rumblings – Page 66 – Azusa StreetRiders International

December 30, 2016

Planning your First Day or Weekend Trip in 2017

Maybe you’ve just got your first motorcycle and want to make sure it’s well used. Maybe you’re a moto-commuter, but you’re looking for a good recreational ride. Regardless of your reason, it’s possible you have never taken a full day trip on your motorcycle. Where should you go? What should you bring? How do you plan out your first day ride? Everyone’s got to start somewhere.

Planning a Motorcycle Day Trip

If you have never planned a day trip before, you might feel a little overwhelmed at the prospect. Fortunately, it’s not nearly as difficult as it seems. All you need to do is sit down and approach planning systematically. You might be surprised if the trip practically plans itself!

Where Should You Go?

The most important aspect of planning any trip is deciding where to go and how to get there. When all is said and done, this is the part of your trip that will leave you with the most memories.

I suggest choosing a “destination ride,” where you choose an area of the state with great views or a place you have never been before. This can make a trip especially memorable as you experience a scenic route for the first time from your bike or travel to that national park in your state you have always wanted to visit.

Let’s take a look at a few things you should consider as you decide where you will go.

Ride Length

The first thing to do is determine how far you want to go. That begins with recognizing how far you can go. Ask yourself this question: How long do I want to be gone? Be reasonable with your expectations, especially if this really is your first ride. Or First ride of the new season. You might think that you can handle a 12-hour day, but it simply isn’t worth finding yourself burned out from riding when you’re several hundred miles from home. You might want to plan your first trip at eight hours or fewer. At the end, if you think it was too short/long you can always make the next ride longer or shorter.

Categorizing Your Time

Motorcycle trips are best spent admiring the views on scenic roads and enjoying the sights and sounds of your destination. Make sure that you allow yourself plenty of time to do both. You might want to break out your time into separate categories like riding, recreation, meals, breaks and extra.

Of course, you will need to spend time riding – that’s part of the fun! Just don’t fall into the trap of thinking you can travel four hours one-way in an eight-hour day. There will not be any time to do anything else before you have to turn around and go home. Spend about a third of your time on the road. Make sure that you allow yourself plenty of time to see different attractions. Your recreational activities should be roughly the same amount of time that you spend riding.

The other third of your trip is split among meals, breaks and extra. You can decide exactly how to split up your ride, but make sure you give yourself enough time to eat and rest. And what exactly is extra? Nearly every trip includes the unexpected – unanticipated traffic, a flat tire, or mechanical issue. Or additional attractions worth seeing or a 30-minute discussion with a fellow rider at the gas pump. Of course witnessing. By planning for these things in advance, you ensure that your overall plan isn’t interrupted. If you don’t like the thought of getting home early, plan some tentative stops as part of your extra time that you won’t mind cutting out if you need to – and make sure they’re towards the end of your trip.

Planning the Route

Once you know how long you will actually be on the road, you can begin to plan an actual route. Since you only have a certain amount of time allotted to riding, how far you can go is largely dependent on how fast you can go. If you stick to highways, you can go a lot farther, but you might miss out on some great views. Even if you don’t think that scenery is for you, plan a route that incorporates the road less traveled for your first ride. You might be surprised how much you like it.

There are several ways to pick a riding destination. You might already have somewhere in mind, and that’s okay (as long as it isn’t too far). But if you just want to explore somewhere you’ve never been and know nothing about, there are plenty of online tools to help you.

Using Online Resources to Choose a Ready Route

There are several great resources with routes that others have already tried and tested. Here are a few that you can check out:

MotorcycleRoads.com – All you need to do is make a few clicks to see great routes that others have already created. Each route is given a score for scenery, road quality and roadside amenities, making it simple to gather a lot of great information at a glance. A user-rating system allows you to easily see how popular a given route is with other site visitors.
Sunday Morning Rides – With a slick interface and plenty of options, Sunday Morning Rides allows you to identify a route in your area and easily access relevant information via Goggle Street View or Goggle Earth.
Open Road Journey – You can enter a location in the search bar to find routes that others have added nearby. It includes a description, a map and an option to download the route to a GPS unit.
BestBikingRoads.com – It’s easy to zoom in and click on a specific route in your area. Each route is rated on a variety of factors (including corners, visibility, hazards, etc.)

In some cases, the routes available in your area may not be exactly the right distance for the trip you want, but they can be a great starting point for getting ideas.

Setting the Date

Once you’ve got your trip planned out, it’s time to set a date. You may have already started with one in mind, but if you haven’t, you might want to consider if any events are occurring at your destination. Participating in festivals or other events is a great way to enjoy the local culture and make your trip that much more memorable.

Setting a date is largely up to you, but there are a few things you might want to be aware of. Check the weather ahead of time. Sites like The Weather Channel or Weather Underground are great for this. You should also remember that in heavily populated areas, larger roads (and sometimes smaller ones) can become congested during rush hour. You may also experience heavier traffic during events or holidays.

What Should You Do?

Once you know where you’re going, you need to decide what you’re going to see or do while you’re there. Take a look at your route. Be sure to include both your destination city as well as other places along your route.

There are a number of useful web sites that display information about things to do in practically any location in the United States. A few of those resources are listed below.

Virtual Tourist – Browse things to do and restaurants to eat at listed by real people (many of them locals or residents). The user-content aspect of Virtual Tourist means that it misses a few items picked up by other sites, but it also includes a few unique details you might not find anywhere else.
Scout.me – With a focus on events more than locations, Scout.me is a great place to discover what’s going on in a given location. It features a number of great categories, such as Culture and Outdoors. It will also display details for nearby locations.
Yelp – Search an extensive database of local businesses, complete with reviews and other details. Yelp is a great site to find restaurants to eat at. If you want to cut through a lot of the noise on the site, access theArts & Entertainment category for a few points of interest.
Trip Advisor – While it is primarily a site devoted to flight and hotel bookings, Trip Advisor also has an impressive database of tourism attractions. After you search for a city under Destinations, click Things to Do or Restaurants at the top of the page.

Timing

With as extensive as these online resources can be, you might find too many things to do even in the smallest of cities. Decide in advance how long you want to spend at each location. That way, you’ll make sure to see everything on your list, and you won’t plan so many things that you run out of time.

Alternatively, if you prefer not to set time limits, you might just want to place each item in the order you’d like to accomplish it, understanding that you will not see everything. When you run out of time, you simply head home.

Restaurants

Of course, if you are going to be gone all day, you will need to find yourself at least one good place to eat. You can always pack a lunch if you prefer, but choosing a local restaurant is one more way to get to know the area and enhance your overall experience. A nice meal at a local favorite is a good way to meet people and get great food. Avoid hitting up chains or other establishments that will not add to the unique aspects of your trip.

Gas Stations

If you’re going for a particularly long trip, don’t forget to identify where you plan on filling up your tank with fuel. There are some stretches of country where gas stations are few and far between. Don’t forget that some stations are listed online that may have gone out of business. It never hurts to call in advance just to find out if you’re worried about gas station availability.

Rest Stops

Identify locations on your route where you can take a break if you need it. Since breaks are factored into your trip’s schedule, you shouldn’t feel like you don’t have the time to stop

What Should You Bring?

If your motorcycle is outfitted with some sort of luggage, you’ll be able to take a little bit more with you. If your bike doesn’t, you might want to pick up a day pack or saddlebags. At the very least, you can use a backpack. Other than a bag, there are a few things you might want to consider taking along.

Cash

If you plan on doing anything that costs, you definitely want to bring along something to pay for it. Don’t forget that you will also have expenses for meals and fuel. But even after that, you may come across toll roads in your route that you were not aware of. You may also need money to pass through certain national parks. It helps to look into those details in advance, but it never hurts to keep a little cash on you just in case. Don’t forget that while credit cards offer an extra level of convenience, it’s best to carry cash as well since some places still are not set up to run plastic.

Appropriate Gear

Bring along appropriate riding gear like jackets, gloves and boots. It’s important to be comfortable to avoid getting rider fatigue. And definitely don’t forget safety gear like your helmet.

Aside from riding gear, make sure you wear appropriate clothing for your excursion as well. You might consider multiple layers of light clothing that you can take off if it’s too warm or put on if it’s too chilly.

Mobile Phone

Your mobile phone is your lifeline in the case of an emergency. Make sure you bring your phone along and that it’s in a secure (and dry) location. Remember to completely charge it the night before your trip to make sure it has plenty of power.

Navigation

If you’ve never been along the route you’ve planned for yourself, make sure to bring some sort of navigation. Today’s technology makes navigation easier than ever with GPS units. Some are able to mount directly to your bike’s frame or handlebars. Use this setup if you already have it, but it isn’t essential if you don’t. Also, many modern phones include GPS navigation software that operates in essentially the same way. Either way, make sure your device is fully charged in advance.

If you do not have a GPS unit. Paper Maps are still as useful today as they ever have been. In fact, some maps are available that are specifically designed for motorcyclists. If you do not already have a map, you can print one online using a service like Goggle Maps.

Food

If you are not the type that likes to eat out, you can pack a lunch. But even if you are, you might want to bring along some snacks. It’s also important to take water with you to make sure you do not get dehydrated.

Camera

Don’t finish your trip with just memories. Take along a camera and take pictures.

Emergency Kit

Nobody likes it when bad things happen, but those who do not prepare like it even less. Make sure that you have an adequate emergency kit for unexpected problems.

A good emergency kit incorporates items for both you and your bike. A simple motorcycle repair kit is important. Keep a few spare parts and tools to fix common issues – flat tire, bad spark plug, etc. You don’t have to bring the whole toolbox with you, just take along what you need for minor repairs.

Just as your emergency kit should have basic repair parts and tools for your bike, it should also have a simple first aid kit. Even if it’s nothing more than small bandages and a tiny bottle of pain medicine, you’ll be glad you have it if you ever need it.

It’s not a bad idea to purchase an emergency phone battery just in case your mobile phone dies unexpectedly and you need it. Take along a list of emergency phone numbers as well. You may feel that this is unnecessary if you have relevant numbers stored in your phone’s memory, but if it is damaged on your trip, you’ll still be able to call important people from a payphone. You might want to look at tow services along your route in advance and write down their numbers just in case your bike breaks down.

You might be able to think of other items to pack along as well. For example, rain gear would be nice if you find yourself caught unexpectedly in a rainstorm.

How Should You Prepare for Your Ride?

For one thing, you should always perform any needed maintenance or repairs on your motorcycle before your riding day ever comes. You’re going to be quite a distance away, and it’s best if your bike is in top shape for the trip.

Pre-Ride Inspection

T-CLOCS Inspection Checklist

T-CLOCS is a mnemonic acronym developed by The Motorcycle Safety Foundation and designed to help with pre-ride inspections. Each letter stands for a vital motorcycle component that should be checked.

Tires – Check the tires for any problems. Check the air pressure.
Controls – Check all levers and the brake pedal. Ensure that both front and back brakes function properly.
Lights – Make sure that all lights (including turn signals) operate.
Oil – Ensure that oil levels are appropriate. Fill up the motorcycle with gasoline.
Chassis – Check the suspension and drive system (chain and gears). Make sure all nuts and bolts are sufficiently fastened.
Stands – Ensure that the stand doesn’t swing down when you’re riding and that it securely holds your bike when you’re not.

Tell Someone

Before you go, tell someone about your trip: where you plan to go, when you plan on returning, etc. Give them your specific route and the spots you plan on visiting. This is important in case of an unexpected event.

You might also find someone to go along with you. There’s nothing better than going for a ride and sharing the memories with friends.

Conclusion

Now you know how to plan and prepare for a day trip, even if you’ve never been on one before. Remember these key points:

Determine how long you want to be gone.
Categorize your time before you plan a route.
Utilize online resources to find ideas for a route.
Map out a route ahead of time. You can use a tool like Goggle Maps.
Set an appropriate date for the trip.
Identify the attractions you want to visit and how long you want to be there.
Make sure you don’t forget to take important objects like cash, a mobile phone, navigation methods, an emergency kit, etc.
Complete a pre-ride inspection before you go.
Tell someone where you’re headed.

Once you’ve been out on the road, let us the ASR Family know how your trip went. Share it with us post about it on our web site. We would all love to hear about your great ride/trips.

Enjoy the 2017 Riding Season

Michael Theodore

National Road Captain

December 30, 2016

Controlling Your Lane

Controlling Your Lane

Two wheels are enough to own a lane

Lane position should be chosen based, among other things, on establishing escape routes, making yourself visible to others, staying out of the blind spots of other vehicles, and road conditions. What is often overlooked, in my opinion, is the concept of ‘controlling your lane’.

For example, assume you are riding on surface streets in a city and are stopped at a traffic light preparing to make a right turn. Logic suggests that you should be in the right track of your lane, but it is safer, I suggest, to be closer to the left track.

Why? Because while nearer the left track of your lane you CONTROL the lane. There are people that upon seeing you in the right track with your right turn signal flashing will slide their vehicles into the lane beside you and try to share the lane – to get a jump off the line when the light changes.

That you only have two wheels is of no consequence – you OWN the whole lane that they would try to share with you. If you were to change your mind and elect to not make that right turn, you would be in trouble. Worse, should that sharing vehicle actually decide to make a right turn too, you could easily be forgotten (in his/her blind spot) and they could drive right over you while making that turn.

Controlling your lane is as important as any other consideration when you choose your lane position.

Michael Theodore

National Road Captain

December 26, 2016

New Life Resolution

I’ve been thinking about how at this time of the year, every single one of us makes a New Year’s resolution. Not only do we make a New Year’s resolution but we put thought and planning into it.

Many of us pray that we make the right decision, a decision that will effect our entire year or perhaps even our entire lIfe.

Most years I make New Year’s resolutions and stick to maybe 10% of the original plan. Sometimes only get about 10% of the things on my list accomplished and sometimes I have everything on my list accomplished but after the year is only about 10% over, I usually give up and go back to the way that I did things the year before.

With lots of thought and prayer I have made up my mind that this year I absolutely refuse to make a New Year’s resolution. Why?
You may be thinking that is a little extreme, But trust me I have put a lot of thought and prayer into this decision.

I do not want to focus on something that will change me for a temporary time. I do not want to focus on a New Year’s resolution, I want to focus on my New Life Resolution..

When I say my New Life Resolution I am not talking about my life here on earth I’m talking about life eternal in the presence of my creator.
I want to concentrate on my new life in the presence of the L-rd.

I looked up what a New Year’s resolution was on the Internet and here is what I found:

Wikipedia makes this statement.
A New Year’s resolution is a tradition, most common in the Western Hemisphere but is also found in the Eastern Hemisphere, in which a person makes a promise to do an act of self-improvement or something slightly nice, such as opening doors for people beginning from New Year’s Day.

Wow. Are they actually serious? A tradition in which a person makes a promise to do an act of self improvement or something slightly nice, such as opening doors for people beginning each year on New Year’s Day.

Something slightly nice. Wow, how impressive is this?

People actually make New Year’s resolutions to be slightly nice to other people.

We should be more than slightly nice to people, we should treat them with love, care and compassion and this is not something that we should do as a New Year’s resolution, this is something that we should do automatically because we are Christians.

I want my resolution to be more than a year resolution of treating people slightly nice here on earth. I want my new life resolution to be one that is focused on helping people get to heaven. One that is focused on them being prepared to spending eternity in Heaven.

I am pretty sure that my New Life Resolution does not include being slightly nice to someone.

But It does include killing them with kindness.

It does include being compassionate about the way I treat people.

It does include loving the lovable and the unlovable.

It does include focusing on helping people secure their eternity in the presence of the L-rd.

It does include feeding the homeless.

It does include visiting the jails.

It does include inviting people to church.

But it will never, let me repeat, never include being slightly nice to someone.

Instead of being slightly nice, as Christians, we need to go above and beyond when it comes to how we treat others.

Mark 12:29-31 says:
“And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.”
‭‬‬‬‬
Ephesians 4:32
“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”

Romans 12:10
“Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;”

We need to treat others with respect and kindness. You notice I did not say slight respect and slight kindness.

The best gift you can give anyone, is telling them about Jesus.

Sunday night at work I was working side-by-side with one of my partners that I work with. We started talking about or weekends and how we spend them. I told him that my weekends usually consist of going to the jail to minister to people, outreach,fellowship and Church.

We had a good long talk about church and G-d. He shared a story with me that absolutely touched my heart.

A story about a man, two young boys and a fishing trip.

He told me this story that he had heard about a Christian father that had taken his young son and his friend from school on a fishing trip over the weekend.

The friend of his son had a hard home life and they thought that this may be an opportunity to bond with this young man, witness to him and maybe even invite him to church.

While there were on this fishing trip the three of them were out fishing in their boat and the two boys fell overboard.

I don’t know all the details of the story but both boys were drowning in the water.

The father only had the time and the strength to rescue one of the boys.

Which one of the two boys do you think that the father saved?

His own son or his sons friend from school ?

The answer is his sons friend from school.

You may think how could this father not save his own son?

But this father knew that his son was saved and would make it to heaven and he also knew that his sons friend from school did not know Jesus as his savior and he wanted to save him so he could give him an opportunity to be saved.

And opportunity to make a New Life Resolution.

We have to start putting soul winning as our top priority.

My New Life Resolution is to share the love of Christ with every single person that I meet.

I am not personally satisfied with telling people about Jesus when it is convenient, sometimes you have to go out of your way and make it happen.

Going out of the way to tell people about Jesus is my New Life Resolution .

Most of us in ASR are faithful in our attendance to church, but when is the last time we actually invited someone to church.

I’m not talking about inviting somebody to that special service two or three times a year.

I am challenging each and every single one of us to make it our New Life Resolution that we invite somebody new to each and every single service of 2017.

I absolutely love fellowship with other Christians, but I f I truly want to follow my New Life Resolution, we need to take this message that we believe in to all the world.

ASR does this as a church but what about us as individuals?

If it comes to fellowship with the saints or witnessing to the sinners, which will we choose. I will choose the sinner.

The year 2017 will have no New Years resolutions for me. Instead I am choosing a New Life Resolution.

A decision that will start now and will not end every year on New Year’s Eve.

Let us, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭16:15‬ ‭KJV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

This is my New Life Resolution.

Re. Jim Curley
National Vice President
Azusa StreetRiders

November 30, 2016

We Are God’s Roadblock To Depression

It has been promoted & has pretty much become common knowledge that during the latter holidays of a year on towards the first few days a new calendar year, basically from Thanksgiving to New Year, more people suffer from the mood disorder known as depression than any other segment of the year. The World Health Organization estimates that approximately 350 million people around the world suffer from this dreaded disease. It is also because of this very real disorder that attempted & successful suicides soar during this time of year. Most who encounter it feel like it is a passing season in their life & that they can outrun or handle it on their own. However, it is a very complex psychological state that imposes many physiological effects on the sufferer & prevents them from being able to function properly and/or routinely.

Let me say from the outset that I believe in the miracle-working power of God & His ability to unequivocally heal any individual overwhelmed with the clouds that depression brings. However, it has been my experience that the majority of the people that I have seen endure & overcome depression most have overcome the hopelessness of depressive despair by working & drawing strength through the resources of an outside source. Some of the things that I have found to help are:

Talking with your pastor, doctor or a licensed counselor
Attending regular church & worship services
Releasing grudges & forgiving those who have hurt you
Building a consistent prayer life
Maintaining a personal relationship with the Word of God
Reducing the stress (& drama) in your life

For those of us who have dealt with or know the reality of what it means to suffer with the gloominess of this very real illness, we also know that those who are hurting usually never ask for help or advice. Whether it is out of pride, denial or ‘simply not wanting to bother anyone with their problems’, the seriousness of the outcome can be the same. So the purpose of this article is to help educate & remind everyone to be on the lookout for those around you who may be suffering. Here are ten common warning signs:

Continual sadness
An attitude of self-loathing
Loss of interest in activities
Irritability & isolationism
Anxiety
Loss of energy
Disturbed sleep patterns
Changes in appetite or body weight
Uncommon reckless behavior
Suicidal tendencies

If you’re suffering from depression, please contact any of your ASR Chaplains. We would all be happy to talk to you & help you through the effects of this issue. You are not alone.

For the rest of those reading this article, during this Christmas & holiday season, please listen & pay attention to those around you. Your intervention & gentle words of encouragement may not just save a soul. It may save a life.

Evangelist Robert E. Eades

ASR National Chaplain

(502) 750-2174 (call or text)

robert.eades@azusastreetriders.com

November 30, 2016

Fear Can Kill You Turn it into RESPECT

Theo’s Zen And The Art of Motorcycle Riding

Fear can kill you – it leads to riders freezing at their controls in an emergency and taking no corrective action whatever. It leads to doubts that are self-fulfilling. “I can’t make that turn!” Finally, it leads to dangerous reactions such as ‘grabbing a handful of brake lever’ instead of doing a CONTROLLED panic stop.

But we, ALL OF US, were afraid to begin with. How to get over it should be the question you answer because by observation you know that virtually all of us did just that.

My suggestions are simple:

Convert fear into respect. Understand and acknowledge that the sport is dangerous and that what you must do to survive it is UNDERSTAND everything you can about it. Ignorance is the cause of a great deal of fear.
Make sure that the motorcycle is ALWAYS mechanically sound. Your life depends on just two wheels, it only makes sense to insure that they are well maintained.
Practice and then practice some more. Practice in all kinds of environments, not just a parking lot. Practice in the rain. Practice on gravel. Practice on dirt. Practice stopping and starting on a hill. Practice stopping quickly (in a parking lot!) Practice going fast (speed limited by law.) Practice going SLOW – this IS important!
Be prepared. You cannot practice enough to have experienced everything – the car that moves into your lane at freeway speeds should be an event that is new to you. The unexpected does happen – often. Sometimes, unfortunately, things break – even if properly maintained. In other words, you should assume that sooner or later you will find yourself getting off your motorcycle unintentionally (it falls over in a parking lot with ten of your friends watching you.) You should be dressed to not only survive that experience, but so that you will be uninjured or minimally affected by that dismount.

Now, to go back … your objective should be to convert fear into respect. I do not mean respect merely of the dangers or of your motorcycle – those are the least of it. You need to develop a respect of YOURSELF – an absolute regard for your ability to CONTROL the motorcycle at all times. An immense pride in YOUR ability to make it – that is, that 100 horsepower machine – do exactly what YOU want it to do.

When that happens, you have won.

It is not for no reason that we ride our motorcycles with grins on our faces.

Keep, that contact Patch between the lines.

Michael Theodore

National Road Captain

November 30, 2016

All Roads Are Not A like Tourers take note

All Roads Are Not Alike Tourers take note

Those of us that tour with our motorcycles have learned something about the roads across the country that might not be obvious – they are all different.

I mean that they are made of different materials, the quality of their surfaces varies considerably, they might be pristine and immaculate in one place only to become pot-holed war zones a few miles farther along.

The curves in one section of a road can be well lighted, perfectly banked, and of consistent radius while only a mile away a similar curve can be dark, decreasing radius, covered with ‘tar snakes’, and have roadside weeds higher than your head.

Why?

It seems to me that what we are seeing is simply a manifestation of the very real differences in County and State wealth and quality of their various maintenance personnel.

The Interstates are consistent in quality and design. The various State and County roads are not.

So, the message here should be obvious: As you cross a County line be sure to be ready for changes in road surface and quality. Slow down and experience the workmanship and care of the roads in a new County for a few miles before believing that you can take that next blind curve as fast as you are used to driving.

Michael Theodore

National Road Captain

November 28, 2016

Is it spring yet?

With the signs of fall all around and winter quickly approaching I am reminded that, with the exceptions of a few blessed souls living in the southern states, our riding is limited to a few days between now and spring. I am also reminded that, even during the winter months, the Azusa StreetRiders is a ministry. The motorcycle is simply a tool that is utilized in our ministry. Even though we must endure the winter months with limited riding, our ministry can and must still flourish. Here are just a few quick ideas to help retain our focus until spring.

Connect / follow up with contacts, acquaintances, and friends made during this past riding season. Use the winter months to build a friendship and relationship with those that you have been able to meet over the last few months. This is also the perfect time to teach Bible studies to these individuals. Prepare them for continued fellowship throughout the upcoming riding season. Remember that even as we use our motorcycles as the tool to connect with people, God desires to use US as the tool to lead them to Him!!

This is also a time that we can prepare our chapters for continued outreach during the next riding season. This can be a time to brainstorm ways to improve and build upon the current ideas that were utilized during this past year. It can also be a time of preparation to implement new ideas and strategies that will spur new growth and relationships this upcoming year.

Above all, we must remember that our walk with God supersedes our ministry. It is of upmost importance that we remember that it is all about Him. As we grow our relationship with Him, our personal ministry will be a byproduct of our love for Him. We must allow Him to prepare us for our ministry by spending time with Him and becoming like Him. Although this must be our primary focus year round, the winter months are a great time to spend a little “extra” time with Him while we don’t have the distractions of summer.

Although we may have to put the kickstands down for a few days, we can ill afford to allow this to be a time of dormancy for the ASR. The ministry must continue strong through the winter months. I encourage you to not limit your ministry within the ASR to the time that you are on your bike or to a specific season of the year. There is still work to be done. “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few.”

Michael Luttrell
Secretary
Azusa StreetRiders International

October 31, 2016

Stay Safe During the Autumn Season

Some bikers put their motorcycles away after Labor Day weekend, but many look forward to what can be some of the best riding weather. If you’re planning on riding during autumn, make sure your bike is safe and ready to handle the change of the season.

Here are a few safety reminders to help you stay safe and avoid a motorcycle accident, even as the leaves begin to change:

Check the Mechanics

After the summer riding season, your bike may need a tune-up. Check that all parts are functioning correctly and that you have good tread and air pressure in your tires. Make sure your fluid levels are good and that all controls are working properly.

Wear Proper Clothing

Autumn has many temperature changes. It can be quite chilly in the morning and still reach the mid-70’s or 80’s in the afternoon, depending on where you are. The best thing you can do to adjust to the changes is to dress in layers. You should never wear cotton as a base layer. Use thermal underwear or something with a synthetic blend as your base layer. On top of the base layer, wear comfortable riding attire. Don’t wear a hoodie, but rather a zip-up sweatshirt or shirt.

Beat the Wind With Leather

It might be too hot to wear leather during the summer, but it’s perfect for fall. Leather motorcycle jackets or chaps or leather pants can protect you from the wind and keep you more comfortable while riding. They usually also have removable liners.

You can wear riding boots with synthetic liners and wool socks. This combination will let your feet breathe in case they get warm.

Finally, it’s a good idea to wear a pair of synthetic glove liners underneath your leather biker gloves and pack fingerless leather gloves in a storage compartment. You’ll be able to switch in the afternoon when you get too warm. Heated gear is perfect for fall riding weather.

Also bring multiple pairs of gloves with you if you use your bike to commute. A thick pair could be ideal on a cold morning, but on your ride home, if the temperature has picked up, you might want something lighter or fingerless.

Switch to a Half- or Full-Visor Helmet

Cold air can be harsh on your eyes, so switch to a Department of Transportation-approved helmet.

Bring Your Rain Gear

A raw, chilling rain can cause hypothermia quickly, especially if you’re not wearing the best riding attire. Always pack your rain gear, just in case. 11 percent of all vehicle accidents are caused by rain. Make sure you’re prepared in every way you can be for it. I am part of that 11%.

Watch for Riding Hazards

Fallen leaves can be very slippery and cause accidents, and many deer are more active during autumn – especially during dawn and dusk. Keep your eyes out for any riding hazard so you have time to react.

Following these guidelines can help you make the most of your fall riding season and enjoy the weather before any snow sets in.

Michael Theodore

National Road Captain

October 31, 2016

To Plug Or Not To Plug A Tire

In October I ran over my second Nail of the riding season Of course both nails I ran over were on brand new tires of under 2,000 miles nice. So I thought why not post this.

Flats happen. But how to repair punctures in tubeless tires—and even if they should be repaired—is a tricky subject. It all depends on whom you ask. The truth is riders fix flats all the time. Do you plug it or do you buy a new tire? You could be plugging away indiscriminately with limited knowledge of the proper repair process or the risks associated with riding on a repaired tire. We will explore the issue from several angles so you can make a more informed decision if you “pick up a nail” on the road.

One of the reasons a concise answer on plugging punctures is so elusive is because each tire manufacturer, which every tire-plug manufacturer will ultimately defer to if pressed on the subject, has its own take on the topic.

Continental, Michelin, Pirelli position on dealing with punctures is clear as day: Don’t even bother carrying a plug kit. “Call a tow truck,” is how one VP of marketing replied when asked what to do when you get a flat. These tire manufacturers assert that there are too many variables involved, from the puncture to the repair, and that there is simply too much at risk in terms of rider safety and liability to condone it, even in an emergency. Most dealerships and repair shops share this sentiment. I agree on this. I have a very good friend who owns a motorcycle dealership and will not plug a tire period. Also My own Harley dealership will not plug a tire do to safety issues. Of course other dealerships want your money and disregard the safety factor. Ok with that said.

Fair enough. After all, your tires are the only part of your motorcycle that connects it to the road, and a rapid deflation resulting from an improper repair or unseen internal damage could cause a lot more parts of your motorcycle to make contact with the road. Even so, a canned “no” is not what riders want to hear when they just got a flat on a nearly new, $250 tire. Um I got my second nail in a new tire this summer. What are those odds two in one summer.

Ok other brands, specifically Avon, Bridgestone, Dunlop, and Metzeler, offer an opinion that’s more in line with what consumers would hope to hear: Yes, punctures can be plugged in an emergency situation, and a repair that both fills the wound (plug) and seals the damage (patch) that is installed by a professional can even be considered permanent if specific criteria are met.

While Avon, Bridgestone, Dunlop, Metzeler, and the RMA (the Rubber Manufacturer’s Association, the nation’s preeminent voice on the topic of tires) all agree that a combined plug/patch applied from the inside of the tire is the only acceptable permanent repair, each group has its own requirements and restrictions. Here are a few areas they all agree on.

Everyone who says that you can plug a tire (including tire-plug makers) agree that the repairable area is limited to the crown of the tire. “You cannot plug a sidewall because it doesn’t have the structure to hold the plug”. Not even the entire treaded area is fair game, since “closer to the sides the carcass flexes too much and the seal won’t take. The repair has to be within the belt package, which limits the repairable area to the center 50 percent of the tire. There must also be at least 1/32 inch (0.8mm) of tread remaining on the tire. Any less and the tire could flex too much to retain the repair.

The size and shape of the damage is another important factor. Tears or oblong punctures cannot be permanently repaired, and opinions on the size of round holes that can acceptably be repaired run the gamut from 3 mm (Avon) to 6.8mm (Dunlop). Assuming the puncture isn’t too big (research suggests that 90 percent of all punctures are the size of a 16-penny nail [4.1mm] or smaller) and was made in the right area, the tire will still need to be dismounted for inspection and have the appropriate plug/patch installed.

Beyond those very basic guidelines, opinions begin to diverge. As an example, Avon prohibits tires with “wound on” belting or tires with a speed rating higher than V (up to 149 mph) from being repaired, while Bridgestone contends that any repaired tire forfeits its speed rating and is limited to 80 mph. Dunlop says that any tire that’s previously seen a liquid sealant is excluded from repair, while Metzeler simply defers to “your country’s regulations” to determine if repair is legal in the first place (in America it is). When it comes down to it, if you really want to know the specifics for your tires, your best bet is to contact the company embossed on the sidewall. Basically this is my own opinion here that all tire manufactures will sell you their tire but will not honor the warranty if you put a plug in it.

As stated, every manufacturer that permits permanent repairs says that an off-the-rim inspection is mandatory. Why? Since tubeless tires are unlikely to bleed all of their pressure at once when punctured, it’s possible for the rider to be unaware of a leak and cruise along on a deflating tire. This isn’t uncommon and leads to the possibility of internal tire damage, either from overheating or from the puncturing object gouging the tire’s inner surface after deflation has occurred. My opinion here is I do believe that with the tire heating up then cooling then heating up again causes the plug to work its way a little lose.

Additionally, escaping air can creep between the plies of the tire, encouraging tread separation. This scenario is of particular concern on steel-belted tires (the majority of motorcycle tires on the road today are steel belted) since any ingress of moisture can cause the steel strands to rust and eventually fail.

Any damage to the structure of the tire could lead to a catastrophic failure, and a thorough inspection of both surfaces of the tire is the best way to nip a catastrophe in the bud—that, or just replace the tire, which is always the first recommendation, regardless of who you ask.

Great, but what if you can’t replace the tire or dismount it for inspection and repair because, say, you’re in the middle of nowhere with no cell service and a descending sun? “If you need to get off the side of the road, you do what you have to do to get to a safer location.”

That’s where the myriad aftermarket tire-plug kits come into play. Common options include the ubiquitous rubber-impregnated ropes, Stop & Go’s mushroom plugs, Dynaplugs’ brass-tipped ropes, Gryyps’ screw-in “cargols,” and liquid products from Slime and Ride On. Each product has its own purported benefits, whether it be ease of use or affordability, but the underlying idea is that they’re all emergency repairs. Out of all the options, mushroom-style plugs like those sold by Stop & Go are the only form of temporary repair endorsed by manufacturers, namely Avon and Metzeler. And don’t forget that once you plug the tire, you’ll still need to inflate it.

If you began reading this piece with a firm stance on tire repair and now feel like you’re standing on shaky ground, I apologize. As I said in the beginning of this post, how you should go about dealing with a flat really depends on who you ask. And, ultimately, the only person left to ask is yourself. Hopefully after reading this you are better equipped to make your own decision. As you know I’m all about safety and I do not plug a motorcycle tire. This is all up to you.

It used to be a solid no,“But opinions have evolved.” The original cause for concern was tire flex, which could cause the tube to overheat and rupture. However, today’s tubeless radials are more rigid and unlikely to cause issues when used with an appropriate-size inner tube as an emergency repair, but other manufacturers, including Bridgestone and Metzeler, still prohibit it.

A tube may serve as an acceptable way to deal with a punctured tire, but if you are considering carrying a tube (and the tools needed to remove the wheel and tire), why not just carry the appropriate patch/plug and perform a more reliable, potentially permanent repair?

AIRING UP

Because Sometimes You Want More Pressure In Your Life

There are numerous ways to plug a punctured tubeless tire and lots of methods to re-inflate it too. For side-of-the-road repairs, the three most common sources of pressure are CO 2 cartridges, compact electric compressors, and old-fashioned hand pumps.

A compressor that runs off your bike’s battery offers unlimited air supply anytime you need it, but these devices can be bulky and expensive. Manual pumps like those used for bicycles (high-volume pumps designed for mountain-bike tires are the way to go here) also offer unlimited fill-ups, but they also require a tremendous amount of elbow grease!

CO 2 cartridges are another popular option. They’re compact and easy to use, but it takes a lot of them to fill a tire (six 12-gram canisters will inflate a 180/55-17 tire to about 20 psi according to tests), and you can only use them once. When discharging CO 2, keep in mind that the gas exiting the canister is extremely cold (about -50 Fahrenheit), so protect your hands and remember that the tire pressure will rise quite a bit as the gas warms to ambient temperature; there’s no need to inflate to final pressure with the canisters.

Another option for airing up in an emergency is a parasitic hose with two clamp-on female ends. This device isn’t commercially available but should prove easy to assemble at home and will allow you to draw pressure from another vehicle’s tire in an emergency.

So do you Plug your tire or Not.

Michael Theodore

National Road Captain

October 28, 2016

A Big Welcome to our New Coordinators

The National Board of ASR is proud to announce the following new state coordinators.

Brother Mike Rohatch – Oklahoma

Sister Urissa Goodin – Texas

And Brother Jim Boyle – New Jersey

Please lift up these new coordinators in your prayers and if you know of any apostolic motorcycle riders or of any opportunities in these states please get a hold of these new coordinators.

Rev. Jim Curley
National Vice President
Azusa Streetriders