Finally, Spring

by Gary Klinker

As I write this a few days before Easter it looks like Spring may really get here. It has been a long cold wait. I’ve had a few rides but am still way short of other years at this time. First thing is to thank everyone who took time to attend Lobby Day. It was a very good day for making contacts and getting our message across. Since we are all about motorcycles, we need to be sure there are always motorcycles available, along with the gas to run them. We can’t have one without the other and if we don’t speak up now it could be too late. 

By the time you read this Safe Rider classes will be running, the first being the last weekend of April. The BRC classes are now filling in August. The BRC2 classes are also filling up, so sign up now. Our three prospective coaches are busy studying and preparing for their training. From this writing to your reading, we have a lot of work to do on the range to get things ready. One glitch is that the State Patrol has a recruitment class going and our access to the range to prepare is somewhat limited. We will be ready to go. 

I hope by now everyone has their bike serviced and ready to ride. Our main rides have been ready for a while, and I just picked up the 2004 Suzuki SV 650 that I bought. I’ve had a few rides on it and it is great fun. One big reason to be prepared is the upcoming ride to DC for Bikers in the Beltway. I have not attended for a few years. It looks like there may be four or five of us riding out. It makes a good ride out and back, but riding in DC really sucks. There is talk about coming home by way of Pickerington Ohio to see the American Motorcyclist Association Museum and Hall of Fame. It has been over twenty years since I was there. 

Once again, I’ll stress getting out and practicing skills to knock off the winter rust. Braking, swerving, looking through curves, and smooth transition from throttle to brakes and back again are skills to keep you safer and to make riding more fun. Let’s all pledge to get out and put on more miles this year than ever before. It is always a good goal to have. 

Ride Safe, 

Gary