Safety Report

by Gary Klinker

August 2019

Here we are, in the peak of summer riding and Sturgis month. For any of you heading west, make sure your ride is in good shape. That includes good tire tread, fresh oil, tightened nuts and bolts, and for safety’s sake don’t overload the thing! It is a motorcycle, not a pack mule. Since I just returned from out there, I will tell you there is some construction on I 90. I know, that is a big surprise. The majority is several long stretches of one-way traffic. Shawn and I spent a week at the end of June riding in the Black Hills, Wyoming and into Montana. It was great riding weather. The area has had a lot of rain this year and everything is as green as I have ever seen it in 35 years of going out there. The only rain was overnight followed by sun and mid-seventies the next day. June and September are the best times to ride in the Black Hills. There is not that much traffic and you can really practice riding skills and cornering techniques. Bike week is a poor time for any of that as you know, if you have been out there for it. One thing that surprised me was the number of ATV and side by side UTV machines in the whole area. They are everywhere in large numbers and can run most of the roads. Another thing I’d like to touch on is the use of bike to bike communication systems. While riding we are able to talk to each other about gas stops, meals, road hazards, and critters. It really makes the ride more enjoyable and much safer. I am used to hearing “deer, deer, deer!” Depending how loud and fast she says it, is how close the deer are. Sena and Cardo are two of the best on the market. If you regularly ride with a passenger or the same group of riders, I recommend you look into using one of these systems to keep your riding safer and enhance the ride

I would like to thank Jesse Kittredge for answering my call for someone to do drawings of our vision of the Safe Rider training facility. It will be good to work with him and see what we have in mind put to paper. Buck was a big supporter of rider training and I know he would be proud to see Jesse involved with the project. I would also like to thank all the people using the HuTerra rewards and Amazon Smile programs to make donations to Safe Rider. It all helps and costs you nothing.

By the time you read this our BRC2 classes for the year will be done. The License Waiver classes were much better received than the Skills practice classes but I’m pretty happy with the participation. The first three-wheel BRC class that we ever sponsored went very well. Between this writing and when you see the Newsletter the second one will take place. I believe we will be working to have more scheduled next year. Our newest Rider Coach Savannah Rose has taught her first two classes and is doing great. I’m sure many of you will be meeting her in the future.

And I’ll close with this short commercial announcement. Remember to plan to attend the second annual Region 7D Firecracker Run August 17. The registration is from 9-10 am at the ABATE State Office in Black River Falls. The price is $10 per person. The ride sheets will give you a list of fun area locations to stop at for some required information. If you choose to be involved in the raffle drawing return to the office by 4 pm. You will get a raffle ticket for each correct stop. The ride will include interesting stops and scenic roads. Remember to support ABATE so we can continue to support your rights.

Ride Safe,

Gary