Rumblings

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Announcement from the National President

New Azusa StreetRiders Support Shirt.
New Azusa StreetRiders Support Shirt.

Praise the Lord Brothers and sisters:
I need to tell you about a change we are making. Effective November 18, 2015
Our current Azusa StreetRiders support t-shirts will become a member’s only t shirt.
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We will be selling new support shirts, with a new design, with the biggest change being,
The New Azusa StreetRiders support t-shirts will not have our patch on the back of it.
Only members will have shirts that have our patch on it.

These shirts will come in two colors ( orange or dark gray ) and will be available in long sleeve and short sleeve. These shirts will replace the shirts our state coordinators sell as well. Coordinators will need to contact sis. Diaz or myself to make arrangements to exchange the members only shirts in their inventory they use on there tables at events for the new support shirts.

 

They are being ordered and will be available very soon in our store on the www.azusastreetriders.com    website

Rev. Anthony Storey
Azusa StreetRiders
National President

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COLD WEATHER RIDERS How To Tackle Winter Like A Pro

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COLD WEATHER RIDERS
How To Tackle Winter Like A Pro
WINTER RIDING TIPS
Colder months bring their own challenges for motorcyclists. With a little bit of planning and a positive attitude, you can make it through to the warm rays and blue skies of spring. Here are some tips to help you prepare for winter.
WINTERIZING YOUR BIKE
Sometimes, Old Man Winter—and holiday travel obligations—simply can’t be beat, and you have to put your bike away for a month or three or four. A few simple steps can help ensure your motorcycle will be ready to ride when it’s time.
First, if at all possible, store the bike inside a garage. It’s amazing how much damage can be done by exposure to the elements, even in a few months.
But before you put it away, take a little time to check the following:
Gas: Top off the tank and add the recommended amount of a fuel stabilizer. This additive will keep your gas from breaking down and leaving a gunky brown “varnish” on the inside of your carburetors (assuming your bike still has carbs). Then start the engine and run it for several minutes to make sure you get the treated gas distributed throughout the fuel system.
Oil: Oil starts out golden and clean, and winds up black and dirty. This is bad. The contaminants in the oil can be corrosive, and you don’t want your engine parts sitting in a corrosive bath all winter. So do yourself a favor and change your oil just before the bike goes into storage.
Coolant: Because most motorcycles don’t get a lot of use in sub-freezing temperatures, many riders overlook the importance of checking their coolant for protection against winter freeze-up. Use one of those floating-ball testers to make sure your coolant will resist freezing in the temperatures you experience. If you need to add any, make sure you use the type of coolant recommended by your manufacturer.
Battery: Some modern motorcycles can put a slight drain on a battery to run a clock, maintain radio presets or operate an alarm system. If you’re in this situation, make sure you have a charger system in place to keep your battery alive. Otherwise, at least make sure it starts the winter with a full charge, and give it a recharge every month or so. I keep My bike on a battery manager all year when not in use I simply plug it in.
Other stuff: Some will insist you should store your bike with the tires off the ground. This is a great idea—if you can arrange it. If not, inflate both tires properly, put the bike on its center stand, if your bike has one and every week or so spin the front tire to avoid flat spots. Also, a good coating of wax will help preserve your paint and chrome, and a breathable cloth cover can keep off dirt and dust.
Do it right, and all you’ll have to do come spring is turn the key, press the starter button and begin racking up the miles again.
ANY WEATHER, ANY TIME
While cold temperatures and cloudy skies can try to put a damper on your riding, there’s a lot to be said for experiencing the changing landscapes of fall and winter on two wheels. While I don’t advocate riding in truly treacherous conditions (ice and snow, for example), with some commonsense, you can stretch your riding season out considerably, even if you live in the northern United States. I love to ride in the winter. I just make sure there is no ice out on the roads before I head out. I do not ride at night though in the winter months only during the day.
Unlike summer, when you can just throw on the same jacket, gloves and helmet any morning, autumn and winter temperature swings mean you need to think before you ride.
In many parts of the country, it’s not uncommon to see temperature swings of 20 degrees or more from morning to afternoon. That may not matter much when the high and low are 80 and 60, but it can make an enormous difference in your comfort level when the numbers involved are, say, 40 and 20. With the chilling effect of air flowing past at 65 mph, the perceived difference to exposed skin can be 20 to 30 degrees or more.
Here’s a simple, three-step program to help dull the sting of those colder temperatures.
STEP 1: PRESERVE BODY HEAT
Remember the last time you were at an overcrowded event? Remember how hot it got? That’s a real-world example of one important fact: The human body is a pretty good source of heat. So as the temperature drops, your first priority should be to preserve as much of that heat as possible. Here are a few tips:
Think layers: What keeps you warm it isn’t just the material in the clothes you wear. It’s also the air trapped inside. That’s one reason why a few lighter layers are better than one heavy one for fall riding. Plus, layered clothing allows you to fine-tune your comfort level by adding or subtracting a layer in variable autumn temperatures.
Build a base: The stuff you wear right next to your skin is called a base layer, and it can be incredibly important in staying warm. Old-school cotton provides warmth, but if you sweat, it’ll stay damp, and you’ll get chilled. Synthetics like polyester wick away perspiration to give you more consistent warmth, and they adapt better when the temperature goes up. Looking for an unconventional choice? Some well-traveled motorcyclists swear by silk long underwear for its combination of warmth and comfort.
Get fleeced: Remember when you were a kid and your mom dressed you in so many layers of winter clothes you could hardly move? It didn’t work for throwing snowballs then, and it won’t work for operating a motorcycle today. What you need is a light insulating layer that fits comfortably inside your riding jacket. Consider an inflatable vest, which makes maximum use of the insulating properties of trapped air. Best of all, you can adjust the level of insulation by adding or subtracting air through an inflation tube.
Adapt to conditions: Lots of riding jackets offer liners you can zip in when the weather gets chilly. Some are just thermal vests, which can leave your arms unprotected from the cold, while others have an entire inner jacket for maximum warmth. Remember, though, that this is likely to be the layer you’ll want to shed first when the sun gets high in the sky. So plan space to carry it on the bike.
Get dressed inside: If it’s chilly in your garage or the parking lot of your hotel, be sure to put most of your gear on indoors. There’s a fine balance here—you want to retain the indoor heat, but you don’t want to seal everything up and start sweating. You might want to zip that last zipper just as you’re headed out the door.
Have a glove strategy: Some riders carry as many as four pairs of gloves on a cold-weather ride, with heavy gloves, lighter gloves, glove liners and rain gloves. There’s good reason to take this element seriously: Your hands are the most important interface between you and your bike. When they get cold, your ability to operate your bike safely is compromised.
Cover your head: If it works for ninjas, it can work for you. We’re talking, of course, about wearing a balaclava—a thin head-and-face covering that allows only your eyes to show. Sure, you look funny. But you’ll be warmer. You can find balaclava’s in motorcycle shops or outdoor stores. Just make sure the one you buy is thin enough so you can still get your lid on.
Wear a full-face helmet: It may seem obvious, but a full-face helmet can keep you much warmer than an open-face lid. The trade-off is that you risk fogging your face shield, so keep it cracked while moving, and be ready to open it wide when you stop.

dress for winter

STEP 2: BLOCK THE WIND
You can be wearing all the layers in the world, but if they don’t prevent the wind from getting in, sooner or later, you’ll get cold. So consider these strategies for fending off wind.
Stop it cold: Make sure your outermost layer is windproof. Leather is pretty good at this, and so are some high-tech fabrics, but you probably already have an effective wind-block layer in your tank bag—your rain suit. No, it doesn’t add warmth, but it can be remarkably effective in keeping the chill out.
Watch where clothing overlaps: When the wind is blowing at 65 mph, it will find its way through any cracks in your cold-weather armor. Take the time to pull your gloves completely over your jacket sleeves and clinch them down tight. At the waist, “weave” upper and lower layers over each other—pants over base-layer top, fleece pullover over pants, rain suit pants over fleece pullover, jacket over rain suit pants, etc.—to keep the wind at bay. Finally, make sure there’s no gap between your pants and boots.
Don’t stick your neck out: When it comes to heat loss, one of the most vulnerable areas is your neck. Even a simple bandana can help, but there are products made specifically to protect this area.
Don’t forget the bike: You don’t have to wear all your wind protection. A fairing, even a small one, can make a tremendous difference in cooler weather. In addition, many dual-sport bikes and adventure-tourers come with hand guards that serve as mini-fairing’s for your hands. Don’t have a fairing? A well-packed tank bag can be almost as effective in blunting the wind.
heat
STEP 3: ADD HEAT
Few things in life beat the sense of well-being that comes from riding down the road on a chilly day all toasty warm. You can get that feeling with electric clothing.
What’s especially nice is that most electric garments offer some level of insulation when they’re turned off, too, meaning they’re perfect for variable fall weather.
Here’s what’s out there:
Going electric: In the beginning, electric clothing for motorcyclists meant vests. That’s still a good starting point, because if you can keep your body’s core well-heated, your extremities should stay warmer, too. These days, though, they have come a long way for motorcycle riders. Now you can choose from electric jackets, liners, pants, chaps, gloves’s and socks. If your alternator is up to the challenge of powering them, those pieces can generate enough heat for extended forays in sub-freezing temperatures.
Hand warmers: Like other electric clothing, heated gloves turn your bike’s generating system into protective warmth. Here, though, it’s more than just comfort at stake. Warm fingers handle the throttle, brake and clutch more safely than stiff, frozen digits. Plus, electric gloves can often be thinner than their fully insulated counterparts, making for better control feel.
Hot bikes: Instead of wearing your heated gear, you can outfit your bike with electrics. Heated handgrips come standard on some models, and they’re available as options on some other bikes. Some companies sell do-it-yourself kits to warm up the grips on almost any machine. Want to get your heat from another direction? Try a heated seat, available as a factory option  for a variety of bikes. There are aftermarket company’s out there with a heated seat for almost every bike. On my Ultra Limited I have heated grips along with my heated seat and passenger seat and backrest. I use my full heated gear jacket liner,gloves,pants and socks when I ride in the winter months. And this has made one huge difference in why I ride and can stay out all day long riding in the cold months.
Hope these tips helped you out some remember if you do ride in the winter months slow it down some ride safe.
Michael Theodore
National Road Captain

 

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A word from our Chaplain

 
There is an urgency!
 
One of our ASR families is in need of immediate prayer. They have a 14-year-old girl that is struggling with spirits that are causing her to cut herself & to express herself in very dark ways. This young lady received the Holy Ghost when she was six (6) years old & has a heart that is very sensitive to spiritual things. She lives her Apostolic faith in a difficult public school environment where she is bullied for her faith & because of how she dresses. Although she continues to love God & invite friends to church, she is involved in a strong supernatural battle that threatens her very spiritual existence. She is very talented in art but as she struggles her sketches becomes more & more dark. 
 
There is an urgency…& on the heels of our first Spiritual Warfare Conference held last week in Louisiana, we are “Armed & Engaged!” 
 
While this wonderful family enters this time of spiritual warfare for this child, I am calling for all of our members & their families to bind together in prayer & fasting, as if this were our very own young person, & not let them face it alone. Let’s stand in the gap for this young lady. Her eternity may just hinge on our response. 
 
There are so many other needs and/or similar situations within our organization. So, if your heart is stirred by this family’s plight OR if you know of another pressing need in our ASR family, please join with me on a 3-day prayer & fasting chain next week (Wednesday, November 4th – Friday, November 6th) for deliverance, victory & healing. I have also posted in this month’s publication of Rumblings our current list of prayer requests that we can fast & pray over as well. Also, if you would desire one, we have prayer cloths available that can be anointed, prayed over & sent to you. So, during this unified 3-day venture of prayer & fasting, you can fast one, two or all three days; your choice. But, together, let’s see what the Lord will do!
 
Please text, call or e-Mail if you intend to be involved.
 
Be blessed!
Pastor Robert E. Eades
ASR National Chaplain
(502) 750-2174 (mobile – call or text)
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Prayer Requests

Here is a list of known prayer requests. While I may not have a lot of details on some of these, the Lord knows all of the needs. Let’s mention their names before the throne.

 

John Thurik
Robert Thompson
Joyce Knight
Everly May (Joey May’s daughter)
Pastor Joe Jarvis
J. C. Panska
Pete Olson (Kansas City Chapter VP)
Ron & Monica Condon
Cheryl Culver
Victor Diaz (Bro. Diaz’s brother)
Maria & Kayla Diaz (the Diaz’s daughter & granddaughter)
John Oliver (Bro. Cobb’s father-in-law)
&, of course, the Beall familyThank-you for being faithful in praying for the needs of our members, their families & loved ones.

Please feel free to contact me directly with any prayer needs you may have. Also, if you desire one, we have prayer cloths available that can be anointed, prayed over & sent to you (Acts 19:12).

Be blessed!!

Rev. Robert E. Eades
ASR National Chaplain
(502) 750-2174 (mobile – call or text)
robert.eades@azusastreetriders.com

 
 
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Greetings From The National Vice President

Just a Quick reminder that I am always here if anyone needs anything. I’m just a phone call or message away. I am exited about everything going on with The Azusa Streetriders these days. I am looking forward to watching this ministry continue to grow.

With that said I want to take the time to remind all of you that just because the riding season is near over or at least slowing down, our ministry is not. This is an excellent time of the year for making connections, developing relationships and helping those in need during all of the upcoming holidays. Licensed or not every member of ASR is a minister of the gospel. Let’s show the world what it truly means to be apostolic.

Let’s take this time off from riding that is coming near, and find a place to get involved. Whether it be teaching home Bible studies working in a food pantry or food kitchen or just flat out every day witnessing. Remember this Thanksgiving and Christmas there are many who will go without unless we show them the love of Christ. It’s simply starts by inviting them to church and loving them.

Hope to see you all soon.
Rev. Jim Curley
National Vice President
Azusa StreetRiders

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A Word From Our Chapter Presidents

Greetings from the Sikeston, MO chapter of Azusa StreetRiders:

Just wanted to update everyone about the August 29th event we co-hosted with Pure Freedom Motorcycle Ministries. It was a awesome day! We had approximately 45 bikes and 100 guests attend. We had a ride in the morning, a “blessing of the bikes,” games in the afternoon and a band from Cape Rock-N-Roll Church played music. Lots of venders, free food and tons of prizes were given out. Thanks to the many local business for sponsorship and donating prizes.

The evening concluded with a testimony and the preached Word from Reverend Elliot of Illinois, a founding member and formerly of Satan’s Choice M/C of Canada. He is now an Apostolic minister.

We want to thank Pure Freedom Motorcycle Ministries, Bro. David Cobb (ASR Missouri coordinator), and the members of MOKAN Azusa StreetRiders for helping us represent Azusa StreetRiders and our churches well in our community. Special thanks to all members of Christian Tabernacle and Sikeston First Assembly for the countless hours that went into preparation for this event. Plans are under way to make it even bigger and better next year. God bless…

Ken Vaughn 

President 

Sikeston Chapter of Azusa StreetRiders

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Touring Tip: Five Common Sources of Motorcycle Accidents & Strategies For Avoiding Them

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Defensive Riding Techniques –

  1. ONCOMING, LEFT TURNING VEHICLE: This is probably the most common cause of motorcycle accidents. The driver of an oncoming vehicle doesn’t see a motorcyclist and makes a quick left turn directly in the rider’s path, leaving little or no time to avoid hitting the car.
    -Avoidance Strategy: First, it’s always helpful for riders and their bikes to be as conspicuous as possible, which is helped by auxiliary lights ride with your high beam on and high visibility riding gear. Second, look for indications that the oncoming driver may not see you: no eye contact, hands turning the steering wheel, or movement of left front wheel or just plain out on their phone. Third, ride at a safe speed in traffic congested areas, because higher speed equals longer stopping distances. Some riders, however, slow to a crawl when they see a left turning vehicle, but this is an invitation for that driver to turn in front of you! I always move to the farthest part left in my lane makes me a little more visible and gives me more room in case I need to make a fast move. I always have eye contact on that driver. And it is also a great time to use your horn let them know you are there.
  2. ANIMALS IN THE ROAD: I’ve personally experienced running into and over some ground hogs to other rodents in the road. Besides an owl and Vulture. I have the scratch marks on my helmet from that big Vulture. And it doesn’t necessarily take a large critter to take a two-wheeler down.
    -Avoidance Strategy: Constantly scan the road and surrounding terrain ahead for animals, particularly when undergrowth and trees are close to the pavement. Also, those “deer warning signs” are usually present for a reason. Be especially alert when riding in the early morning or evening, when animals are the most active. Adjust your speed and cover clutch and brake levers in high-risk areas so emergency stopping distances are appropriate for those conditions. And, of course, it never hurts to periodically practice emergency stops and swerves in a parking lot.
  3. GRAVEL ON BLIND CURVES: Riding through gravel with the bike leaned over at speed is almost certain to result in a crash. The situation worsens if the sliding motorcycle and rider cross the yellow line into the path of an oncoming vehicle—crunch!
    -Avoidance Strategy: Gravel on roadways is more likely after heavy rains, near construction sites, and at gravel driveways in rural areas. If riders assume there will be gravel around a blind curve, they are more likely to adjust their entry speed accordingly. It’s also possible to use some light braking in a curve, even with the bike leaned over, especially if the motorcycle has anti lock brakes. But the best technique is usually to avoid the gravel, stand the bike up, and apply maximum braking. Maximizing sight lines is also an important strategy for avoiding all types of hazards on blind curves.
  4. CARS CHANGING LANES: At on ramps or while riding on crowded multi-lane urban roads, an adjacent motorist may suddenly pull directly into your path, leaving little or no time for evasive action.
    -Avoidance Strategy: Rule number one is to stay out of the blind spots of other drivers. It’s also important to maximize the space cushion between the rider and other vehicles. Rush hour traffic on multi-lane highways presents the highest risk for other vehicles changing lanes into a rider. If riding at this time can’t be avoided, I’ve found the best strategy is riding in the far left lane so traffic on only the right side must be monitored.
  5. EXCESSIVE SPEED IN A CURVE: A rider suddenly realizes mid-curve that the turn is tighter than expected ( a decreasing radius curve) and panics. Instead of increasing the bike’s lean angle, the rider stops looking through the curve, stiffens his or her arms, and goes straight off the roadway. This often results in the motorcyclist crashing into a stationary object (guardrail, tree, building, etc.) or flying off their bike or road.
    -Avoidance Strategy: Pay attention to that little voice in your head when it says, “I’m riding above my skill level.” Of course, the easiest way to avoid crashing on a curve is to do what’s taught in the basic MSF course: slow the bike before entering a curve and accelerate out of it. Even a highly skilled rider always should keep some of his bike’s lean angle in reserve in case it’s needed. Remember it is ok to scrap you pegs/running boards.

Safe riding practices help motorcyclists avoid accidents and bodily injury, and they also build rider confidence and enjoyment.

Michael Theodore

National Road Captain

 

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Adjusting Your Riding Style

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Adjusting Your Riding Style

When changing the style of motorcycle you are riding, what is the most important adjustment to make? Should your riding style change?
A rider needs to make adjustments anytime he or she straddles an unfamiliar motorcycle, even for one in the same category.
The adjustments relate to such factors as the bike’s riding position (seat height and relationship between seat, footrests, and handlebars),dimensional characteristics (weight,wheelbase,steering head angle, center of gravity, tire size and tire profile), responsiveness of controls (throttle,clutch friction zone and brake pressure), and power – to – weight ratio.
Sport bikes are at one end of the spectrum, with lighter weight, shorter wheelbases, steering head angles closer to vertical, and quicker – revving engines, and they generally provide higher levels of responsiveness to throttle, brake, and handlebar input. This means you may need to be softer with your inputs until you have accumulated some miles manipulating the controls.
Safety tip: While in neutral, get a feel for how much throttle twist is needed to raise engine speed.
Comfort tip: Avoid supporting all your weight on your wrists and engage your core abdominal and back muscles instead. Keep your head and eyes up to help fight fatigue and improve visual assessment of the riding environment.
Larger cruiser models are at the other end of the spectrum, due to their heavier weight, longer wheelbases, steering head angles farther from vertical, and slower revving engines. They typically provide greater straight – line stability with more steering effort required for directional changes.
Safety tip: Consider the turning radius for slow. tight turns and U – turns.
Giving you an extra free tip here. Learning how to feather your clutch on any bike you will then be able to do any slow tight turn with ease.
Comfort tip: You might need time to get accustomed to the leaned – back, feet forward, arms – raised position.
Adventure – type bikes are fairly close to their standard/naked cousins in terms of riding style, but with your knees more forward and your mid – section closer to the fuel tank. This position brings your elbows up for quicker control and helps when transferring weight to the footrests in counter – weighted turns in the dirt or on tight roads.
Bottom line: Take your time to become familiar with a different bike. You want your control operation to be solid so you and your bike can bond for a safe, comfortable time together.
Michael Theodore
National Road Captain