2023 November

by Gary Klinker

Classes have ended for this year. By way of numbers trained, we are ahead of last year. Total for 2023 is 230 students compared to 179 in 2022. With new Rider Coaches this number should increase next year also.

The new curriculum with no classroom portion seems to work well. Our new Rider Coaches did a fine job and we look forward to many years with them. We also have another candidate ready to go for certification next year. He is a Marine vet who was certified by MSF years ago. He trained riders on the bases where he was stationed so he is already experienced.

The Meeting of the Minds trip was well worth it. The sessions were very good. We set the MRF legislative agenda for the coming year. There was a lot of motorcycle safety information, including riding demos and a breakfast meeting for anyone involved in rider training. As always it was like a large family reunion with brothers and sisters from across America. All very passionate about our rights and safety as riders.

As for the ride, Danny, Mike, Bob, Shawn, and I left Racine on Wednesday morning in rain until about halfway through Chicago. The rest of the ride was uneventful. To avoid tolls we rode interstate 80 and State roads to Harrisburg. It has been about forty years since I crossed I-80 almost every week as a truck driver. It is in very good condition and has always been a scenic ride.

The real fun started on the ride home. By Saturday the tropical storm had moved on land in North Carolina and moved up the East Coast. That would include Harrisburg. It rained all day Saturday and was still raining hard Sunday as we packed for home. For safety’s sake we decided to bite the bullet for tolls and ride the PA turnpike. In case you did not know it, the PA Pike is the most expensive toll road in the world. (As Joe Biden says, “no lie, look it up.”) We had rain most all the way to Ohio, about 250 miles. Shawn and I are used to rain and in our Aerostitch suits it is not a big deal. Just makes for a miserable ride. My problem was my tire pressure monitors were telling me I had dropped four pounds of air through the day. I had my suspicions. That night at the motel I pulled a nail out of the new rear tire that was less than a week old. I always carry a plug kit and 12-volt air compressor. It would have been no problem except my tire plugger broke and poked a hole in my hand. While I did first aid, Danny made a parts run for a new plugger-thanks buddy! The plug held air all the way home safely. The ride home also included more rain for about half of Chicago again.

NOTE: Plugging motorcycle tires is an emergency repair to get home. It is not recommended, and no shop will do it due to the liability. A plugged tire should be replaced right away. That said, a plug kit and compressor are about the size of a pound of butter and can save your trip, especially when most bike shops are closed on Monday. All in all, it was a great weekend and trip.

Now I can haul the class bikes to the shop for winter service and focus on bow hunting for the next month.

Ride Safe,

Gary