Sep/Oct 2012 - Tri

From the Editor...
The election process starts with nominations in September and
nominations will be held again in October. The election will be
held in November.
In order to be nominated for a position you must be a member
in good standing for the previous 12 months.
In order to eligible to vote, all dues must
have been paid in full by the July, 2012
meeting. If your dues were not paid by
that time then you will not be eligible
to vote in the November 2012 Officer Election.
Labor Day is a United States federal holiday observed on
the first Monday in September (September 3 in 2012) that
celebrates the economic and social contributions of workers.
Oregon was the first state to make it a holiday in 1887. By the
time it became a federal holiday in 1894, 30 officially celebrated
Labor Day. Following the deaths of a number of workers at the
hands of the U.S. military & U.S. Marshals during the Pullman
Strike, President Cleveland reconciled with the labor movement.
Fearing further conflict, legislation making Labor Day a national
holiday was rushed through Congress unanimously and signed
into law a mere six days after the end of the strike. The form for
the celebration was outlined in the first proposal of the holiday:
A street parade to exhibit to the public "the strength and esprit
de corps of the trade and labor organizations", followed by a
festival for the workers and their families. Labor Day has come
to be celebrated by most Americans as the symbolic end of the
summer and in high society, Labor Day is considered the last day
of the year when it is fashionable to wear white or seersucker.
Page 1
My favorite time of the year is upon us. All the tomatoes are
ripe from the garden, the basil is picked and made into
homemade Pesto and the cooler weather tempts me daily to get
out and ride. Although the daylight doesn't last as long in the
fall, the cooler temperature make riding even more enjoyable so
I have added included an article on payment problems and
handling uneven surfaces since the fall brings great harvest
festivals but they're often accompanied by off road conditions
for parking and fallen leaves that mask hazards. Charlie Dresden
has been working out the various routes for the Ride for History
while Bill Hendrickson has been busily preparing for our annual
Chili Fest and is organizing an internal taste testing and
collecting donations for prizes/raffles/etc. There are pictures
from some of our recent events and rides (several TSH members
ventured out to Sturgis so while you enjoy some pictures in this
edition, stay tuned for the next edition when we'll have some
tales from the road.) In the spirit of history - a nice article from
1990 on TSH and of course some delicious recipes to make for
your fall gatherings.
And while we said goodbye to our friend Bob Armstrong, we
welcomed extended family and celebrated exciting life events
with our fellow TSH members (details, page 3).
As always, ride safe, have fun
and consider sending in some
highlights or thoughts from
your upcoming rides or events
for our TSH members to enjoy!
Holly Bailey
Riding Through History...
Here's a chance to enjoy the rich history of Delaware County and get your History Passport stamped while logging some miles with
friends. Wrap up the day with food and festivities at Harrah's. For more information: http://www.dchs-pa.org/
Page 2
TSH Family News...
Welcome to Tri-State H.O.G.
Do you have a new little one to love or did you or a family
member recently tie the knot or accomplish something special?
Email the details and any photos you would like included to
[email protected] for publication in the next newsletter.
Please join me in extending a hearty Tri-State HOG welcome to
our new members who joined our ranks in July. From left to
right: Dave Linahan (Asst. Director), Dave Dambroski (2011
Ultra Classic), Joe Mirasola (Director) and John Burke (2012
Ultra Classic).
~~~~~~~ Congratulations to Dave Linahan ~~~~~~~
who welcomed his granddaughter
Brynne Kathleen Tiernen
born on August 26th at 6:15 pm
weighing in at 7 pounds 12ounces
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Congratulations to Chrissy
Mc Closkey,
daughter of Danny & Joann Mc Closkey,
who has been accepted to the
Tyler School of Art for Architecture at Temple.
Best wishes for continued success in your future endeavors!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On August 17th, 2012
Barry Sisco &
Karan Montone
And our new members who joined our ranks in August. From
left to right: ), Greg White (883 Iron), J Dave Linahan (Asst.
Director), Louisa Frazier (Sportster), Joe Pacholek (Wide Glide)
and Christina McCloskey (Associate Member).
were married!
Best wishes for a lifetime
of love and happiness!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lady of Harley...by Mary Wilson
Hope everyone is enjoying this beautiful
weather. Below are some ideas for activities.
There are some with dates, but others we
can plan. If you cannot make the next
meeting, but would like to attend an event,
please send me an email at
[email protected].
Here we go:
 National Harbor, MD - maybe an overnight, can be planned
at any time of year
www.nationalharbour.com


Viking Cooking - thought this might be fun to do after riding
season, either in Bryn Mawr, Pa or at Harrah's
www.vikingcookingschool.com
Yuengling Brewery Tour-Saturdays-April through December
http://www.yuengling.com/breweries/pottsville/
And a couple more to throw into the mix
http://www.tikibarpa.com/
http://www.juliussturgis.com/
Chili Challenge...
It's that time of year again and in an effort
to put forth an awesome vat of chili at
that Annual Chili Fest in October, Bill
Hendrickson has decided to spice things
up and have a competition within the club for
the right to represent Tri-State HOG.
We're probably going to do the taste testing at the September
12th meeting so be ready to put your palate to work and pick a
winner. Watch your email for details.
Have a great day!!!
Page 3
Fourth of July Parade... Photos courtesy of Bill Bailey
There was also an article in the Daily Times that mentioned Tri-State.
http://delcotimes.com/articles/2012/07/05/news/doc4ff5046d84479818439634.txt
Additional photos have been loaded to our Facebook pages and website.
Bob Armstrong
Rest in Peace
It is with heavy heart that we said
goodbye to our friend and fellow
Tri-State HOG member.
Page 4
Tri-State HOG is a great organization because of its members and one of the things I noticed as I started talking to
different members each month at the meetings or activities is that we have some really fascinating people with
interesting talents, careers & hobbies. Some members who are bit more shy than me (insert hysterical laughter here)
have asked about adding a column to help them get to know the other members better so hopefully our members will enjoy this column
and help me out by ensuring a ready supply of submissions for each bi-monthly newsletter.
, one of our club's officers and main
man for TSH Products, has been a member of Tri-State HOG for 4
years although he has been riding for 30 years. Skip (pictured left
with his wife Barbara) rides a gorgeous Tri-Glide and a Sportster. He
started riding when he was 18 and enjoys the feeling of freedom
that comes with riding, although he admits he has always loved
speed. Although Skip manages to get to many of the TSH events, he
enjoys the Christmas parties and picnics with the picnics among
his favorite activities.
In 30 years of riding, Skip has enjoyed many adventures but his
favorite was his 23 hour ride to Myrtle Beach. He currently lives in
Drexel Hill and is enjoying retirement. Skip has two stepchildren
that he "thinks the world of and loves immensely." Although he
didn't have any favorite quotes or quips, one thing he did share was that he thinks that "this club is the greatest." Personally,
I know many would say the same about Skip.
Editor's note: I inadvertently labeled a photo from the Memorial Day Ride in the July/August TSH Newsletter as "Does Skip
need a nap?" - the photo was actually of Jim Hay - sorry about that - once again my eyesight failed me!
has been a member of Tri-State HOG for over 10 years. She currently rides a Honda Sabre 1100cc and
has been riding for 18 years. Beth's philosophy on riding is "there is nothing like a good ride to clear your head." She says
"being a woman rider, I am aware of the juxtaposition of the power I have yet vulnerability of riding. It can be very spiritual."
Beth enjoys the TSH Christmas parties, picnics and rides and loves seeing the club get together enjoying our friendships.
Beth's favorite riding memory was a woman's trip to West Virginia as
it was filled with beautiful scenery, winding roads, even a road sign
indicating this It wasn't as scary as it looked.
Beth resides in West Chester and works at a title
company doing real estate closings. She is also a
notary public.
Beth has a brother in WA state that learned to ride
about 3 years ago and she thought it was fun giving
him tips on gear, riding, etc. When she's not riding,
Beth loves to play in the dirt (gardening) and enjoys baking. She is
also an NRA instructor for certain disciplines. The picture to the
right is from the 2011 Tri-State HOG Calendar for the month of
September.
Skip and Beth both won Harley Davidson picture frames for submitting their member profiles at the June meeting.
If you're interested in participating in our Member Spotlight section, please send me ([email protected]) your completed
questionnaire or drop off your completed questionnaire at the next meeting for feature in an upcoming newsletter.
Page 5
Tri-State HOG's annual summer picnic was once again a
huge success. Charlie Dresden led a ride from the Granite
Run McDonald's through the beautiful back roads to Dean
Keyes' home. It was a gorgeous day filled with fun, great
food and camaraderie. A good time was had by all.
Well, Smaltz's is doing it again! They’re giving away a fully
customized brand new 2012 Harley-Davidson XL883N that they
call the "Bobster". This Sportster was fully customized by their
Service Department and you have the chance to win it!
THANK YOU DEAN!
Before you know it, fall will be here and we'll be in high
gear getting ready for our annual Operation Warm Coat
Drive. There are loads of "Back to School" sales underway
already so while you're out getting the little ones ready for
a new school year, consider picking up an extra coat to set
aside for our annual drive.
Zucchini Apple Sauce Loaf...from Holly
Bailey
Want to know what to do with that bumper crop of zucchini in
your garden - here's a tasty treat:
Tri-State H.O.G. is on facebook? Check us out for
news and member updates at:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/tristatehog/
Your Favorite Rides?
by Charlie Dresden
I'm collecting information about your favorite rides for the
Delaware County Historical Society's historical site awareness
and benefit. This information will become part of an
information packet being put together for the day of the ride.
I'm hoping with all your input, we can gather a treasure trove of
information creating a "value add", and ultimately aiding in
D.C.H.S.'s fund raising effort.
I'm thinking we can divide the information into three categories,
local, state wide, and lower 48 (or even North America)? An
example might be you like Rt.82 in Chester County, and/or
Rt.125 in Pennsylvania, and/or The Needles Highway in Sturgis,
SD. List as many as you like, the more information the better.
Thanks in advance for your help assisting D.C.H.S. with this
effort.
2/3 cup Butter
2 cups Sugar
2/3 cup Brown Sugar
2 Eggs Beaten
1 cup Apple Sauce
1 cup Grated Zucchini
3 ½ cups Sifted Flour
½ teaspoon Baking Powder
2 teaspoons Baking Soda
1 teaspoon Salt
1 teaspoon Cinnamon
½ teaspoon Nutmeg
1/3 cup Water
1/3 cup Orange Juice
½ cup Chopped Walnuts
Cream together butter and sugars. Beat in eggs. Stir in apple
sauce and zucchini. In a separate bowl, sift together the rest of
the dry ingredients. Add to zucchini mixture. Gradually add
water and orange juice mixing well. Add nuts. Pour into 2
greased & floured loaf pans and bake at 350°F for approximately
60 minutes or until a pick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Please email your list to Charlie at [email protected].
Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more details on the
Harrah's, Hannum's and DE County Historical Society Poker Run
scheduled for September 30, 2012
Page 6
Also, I shred/grate then freeze 1 cup bags of zucchini so you can
pull them out in the winter and make some of this yummy bread.
This makes a really nice gift to take when visiting!
Hannum's and our Ride Captain, Charlie Dresden, have
developed a ride calendar to provide a consolidated view of all
the great ride opportunities. Check it out at:
http://www.hannumshdmedia.com/default.asp?page=rideschedule.
September
6th - 9th - PA Rally on the River, Northumberland, PA
For more information, visit the website at:
http://www.parallyontheriver.com/
6th - 9th - Roar to the Shore, Wildwood, NJ
For more information, visit the website at:
http://www.lightningcustoms.com/roartotheshorenj.html
13th - 16th - Delmarva Bike Rally at Ocean City & Salisbury, MD
and Seaford, DE
For more information, visit the website at:
http://www.delmarvabikeweek.com/
14th - 16th - Thunder in the Smokies Rally (in the Great Smoky
Mountains of Maggie, NC) - For more information, visit the
website at:
http://www.thunderinthesmokies.com/Upcoming%20Events.htm
20th - Dinner Ride to Sonic - - DETAILS TO FOLLOW...
22nd - 23rd - Motorcycle Extravaganza, Split Rock Resort, Lake
Harmony, PA - For more information, visit the website at:
http://www.mextrashows.com/
30th - Harrah's, Hannum's and DE County Historical Society
Poker Run - See Page 2
________________________________________________
Ladies - Did you find yourself shopping for more beach
cover-ups than bikinis this summer?
October
3rd - 7th - Myrtle Beach Bike Week - The Carolina's largest fall
motorcycle event. For more information, visit the website at:
http://www.myrtlebeachbikeweek.com/
7th - Breakfast Ride and Pagoda Visit - Riding to the Exton diner
Guys - Did you overindulge in the yummy summer
barbeques and are no finding some of those jeans just a
bit tighter than they were?
for Breakfast and then heading up Duryea Drive to the Pagoda.
More details to follow.
Are you ready to head into the holiday season looking and
feeling your best? Perhaps you have a reunion, wedding
or other special event coming up and you are ready to
uncover a whole new you. It's not easy to shed those
extra pounds and tone that body. Maybe you've lost some
weight and want to tone up even more to show off the
results of your efforts.
Sometimes you just need a little extra motivation and
someone to push you when you feel like giving up. If you
are ready to take that next step and ride the road to the
best you yet, give Jim a call and do something for you!
Page 7
October 20th 11 AM - 4 PM - Hannum's Octoberfest/TSH
Chilifest - DETAILS TO FOLLOW...
If you are interested in events in other areas,
check out the event calendar at:
http://www.motorcyclemonster.com/motorcycle-events.html/.
It's a great tool if you are planning to travel and want to find
out what is happening locally.
Blue Comet Diamond Run - photos courtesy of Danny McCloskey
On the Road Again...
Cowtown Rodeo 8/21/12 - photo courtesy of Trisha Closta
Blue Comet Diamond Run - photos courtesy of Danny McCloskey
continued on next page...
Page 8
photos courtesy of Fred Tropea & Robby Rez
Page 9
Continued from previous page...
Continued from previous column...
TSH at Hagerstown Bike Week
Carlisle Bike Week
photo courtesy of Danny McCloskey
photos courtesy of Ed & Vickie Montgomery
Chrissy loves riding with her Dad & TSH, but unless she inherits
his bike, she has informed Danny that her first purchase will
most likely be a Hayabusa. He'll keep working on that. Here she
is with on the midway with "Wee Man" and the Mini Brawlers at
BIKE FEST.
Tom DiCecco in Snowmass CO
If you have photos of your travels that you would like to
share with the club, please email them to me at
[email protected] along with a brief description.
Enjoying the mountain beauty before heading to Sturgis.
Page 10
Lobel, Kaufmann & Anastasia - The Biker's Lawyers ®
WHEN ACCIDENTS HAPPEN -- WE'VE GOT YOUR BACK!
1-877 -CYCLE-LAW
www.TheBikersLawyer.com
(215) 545-4300
Please feel free to call us anytime for legal assistance in any matter. OUR FIRM PRIMARILY HANDLES
MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENTS, but we also handle all types of injury claims, including vehicle accidents, slip and fall
accidents, defective products, medical malpractice and job/work related accidents. (Unless there is a recovery, there is no
fee).
As a reminder, it is important to choose the best MOTORCYCLE and auto insurance to protect you and your family from
injuries caused by a careless driver, therefore:
We have repeatedly stressed the need to have uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage on your MOTORCYCLES
and cars and trucks and we recommend that you purchase $100,000.00 in such coverage. It is relatively inexpensive.
Having uninsured and underinsured coverage on your BIKE and car or truck will protect you and your family from the
possibility of severe losses resulting from an accident. Having uninsured and underinsured coverage of $100,000.00 will cost
a little more, but the cash differential is small compared to the potential losses you or your family may suffer. We think the
small savings is an inadequate substitution for the right to be able to receive adequate compensation for injuries to you or
your family. If you don’t have uninsured and underinsured coverage, you DO NOT have to wait until your policy
renews to purchase the coverages. You should call your insurance broker immediately to secure this coverage.
Remember, what an insurance company may call “full coverage” is not always full protection. You do not have full
protection on your BIKE or car or truck if you don’t have uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage.
ALL MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT VICTIMS IN PENNSYLVANIA HAVE THE FULL TORT OPTION APPLIED
TO THEM, HOWEVER every auto policy in Pennsylvania has either a “full tort option” or “limited tort option” threshold.
If you purchase the “full tort option”, you may file a claim regardless of the injuries you sustain. The “full tort option” will
add to your premium. On the other hand, if you have the “limited tort option” on your policy, you must prove that the
accident caused a “serious impairment of a bodily function”. There are certain exceptions that apply to the “limited tort
threshold”; however, since the introduction of this threshold option, many legitimate and serious injury claims have been
dismissed by judges and juries who have found these technical requirements of “limited tort” were not met. Despite the
additional cost, it is very important to choose the “full tort option”.
Happy and Safe Riding!!
Dan Anastasia attended our August meeting where he presented
this information on motorcycle insurance and legal options.
Page 11
A Legacy of Caring...
Thanks to John Wheeler for submitting this article from 1990
Although many of the names, faces and locations have changed,
Tri-State HOG members have consistently been finding a way to
lend a helping hand to those in need. We're celebrating our 25th
year and Brad Alman has ordered patches to commemorate the
milestone and they will be on sale at upcoming meetings. Twenty
five years of support to organizations like Camp Joy, Operation
Warm, Loaves and Fishes, Domestic Abuse Project and countless
others through our various fundraising efforts and partnerships
with other clubs and members of the motorcycling
community. That's quite and achievement and
something for which we can all be proud so give
yourselves a round of applause. Thank you all
for your continued community support!
Giving Back...
The Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry is a non-denominational,
non-sectarian food bank that supplies food to those in need in
an area, and is staffed completely by volunteers.
If you are planning to attend the monthly TSH meeting,
would you consider bringing a non-expired canned
good or non-perishable food item for donation?
Thank you for your kindness and generosity.
Page 12
Going Somewhere?
Cooler weather is headed our way and the temptation to do some longer trips or weekend
getaways is definitely there. These 3-wheeled motorcycles (3WMC) are becoming more
popular and lend themselves to handling cargo with style and ease. I know there are at
least a few club members who have them so I thought it would be helpful to include some
tips I found in the Motorcycle Safety Foundation's (MSF) booklet "3-Wheel Motorcycle
Riding Tips." For more information, there is also a link on the last page of this newsletter
to the Student Handbook's for both the Basic Rider Course as well as the Three Wheeled
Basic Rider Course.
Page 13
Artwork for Sale...
If you haven't found that birthday gift or perhaps something for
the Easter basket, Donna Plaisted has hundreds of ink sciencefiction fantasy art prints as well as animals, people, scenery,
objects, etc. available for sale a great prices. She also has many
color prints of Ireland and the western US. All of the art work is
unframed and is for sale way below gallery prices. To check out a
sample of her artwork, go online to www.gicleeartworld.com
and click on the letter "P" and she is the second artist down. As
for pricing, contact Donna directly for a better deal. She can be
reached via e-mail at [email protected]. So
whether you're in the market for a gift or looking for that special
accent to display in your own home, check out these incredible
pieces of art and contact Donna for a great deal.
For Sale or Rent...
Do you have something for sale or rent?
Are you looking for something specific that
maybe someone else would like to sell or
give away? If so, this is the place to share
the information with the club. Email the
details to [email protected]
Services Offered...
Partylite is the world's largest direct seller of
candles, candle holders and home accessories.
Kathy Ulmer is a Partylite Consultant and can
help with your shopping needs. She can be
reached by phone at 484.553.1223 or email at
[email protected]
to arrange a book party or to place an online
order. To check out their products, visit:
Leather Repair...
One of our members recently had a jacket lining repaired by this
company and was really pleased with the results and pricing. If
you need some leather work done, consider BellaChini.
http://www.partylite.com/en-us/Default.aspx
Catering...
Wally's Dog House offers
onsite catering for block
parties, private parties, and
corporate events.
They serve sausages and all
beef hot dogs and they can
also do hamburgers.
You may have seen Wally's at Hannum's last summer, Smaltz's
this summer and various local car shows - with proprietor
Michael Greskoff in his signature white Chef's coat and hat.
Power Washing and
Window Services...
If you're hosting a special event and looking for a fun solution
for food services, contact Michael at 610-453-6544 or via e-mail
at [email protected].
Are you planning some winter / spring
maintenance around your home or
deck? Do you need of some help with
power washing or window services?
If so, consider hiring our fellow TriState HOG member, Chris Mulioli for the job. He can be reached
at 610.639.4621 or via email at [email protected]
Page 14
Check out this shovel for sale - a gorgeous 75 Electra glide with a
sidecar. It has been in storage since 2009 but was used daily for
15 years. A top end in 2008 new heads, jugs, tank shift and a red
white and blue flame on bike and sidecar. Tub has a small hole
in it but is fixable trying to get $9000 for it.
2006 Harley Davidson Softail Deuce FXSTDI - $11000
(Folsom, Pa - Delaware County)
Excellent condition only 2200 miles Vance Hines Long shots
w/stage 1 kit. Factory alarm. Have all original parts. $11,000
If you're interested, call Mike at 484-995-5907.
If anyone is interested, call Tony at 610-308-1048 or email him
at [email protected].
Check out this gorgeous 2002 Super glide with only 8,000 miles
(and only 2,000 miles on the engine). Over $30k invested in the
bike and asking only $10,000 to make it yours. If you're
interested, please contact the owner's brother, Rick Abt at
[email protected].
Watch for Motorcycles...
Stickers (large and small) as well
as lawn signs are available. Stop
by the next monthly meeting to
get some stickers for your home
and vehicles. Lawn signs are now
available at Hannum's Media.
...
(or in this case nonsense)
Page 15
Special thanks to
who has worked really hard to
bring this all together for us once
again. It's sure to be a great day
with lots of food, fun, fashion
and friendly competition.
from our September meeting
will be awarded the honor of
heading this year's
To make this event successful,
help is still needed for
decorations, manning tables for
the Poker Run registration,
donations for the silent auction
and much more. Note that
donated items needn't be new or
extravagant. We can bundle
smaller items or include them in
a gift basket so every donation
helps.
Please bring any items for
donation to the September or
October meeting.
Come on out and enjoy a great
day with your fellow Tri-State
members and meet people from
our neighboring chapters who
plan to join us and get in on the
Chili Competition.
Guacamole
2 Peeled & Diced Avocados (should be ripe but not too mushy)
2 tablespoons Freshly squeezed Lime Juice
1 - 2 Minced Garlic Cloves
4 or 5 Finely Chopped Basil leaves or 1 tsp dried crushed basil
¼ cup Finely Diced Red Pepper
2 tablespoons Salsa (I used Pace Chunky)
2 tablespoons Thinly Sliced Scallions
1 tablespoon Minced Cilantro
Garnish Dollop of Sour Cream
from Holly Bailey
Serve with Tortilla Chips and fresh vegetables. I leave the Avocado pit
in the bowl to prevent browning.
Peel and mash 1 avocado. Mix with lime/lemon juice, cilantro,
garlic, basil and salt. Dice remaining avocado, fold in mixture with
red pepper, salsa and green onion. Garnish with sour cream.
When making this for Halloween parties,
spread the guacamole on a round platter,
put the sour cream in a pastry bag and
using a small round pastry tip or cut a
very small opening in the bag, pipe 5-6
concentric circles on top. Using a tooth
pick, I pull the tooth pick back through
the sour cream in 5-6 equidistant lines to make it look like a spider
web. I slice a black olive to make a spider body & legs and place
them on the web. Very spooky!
Page 16
Whether it's winter freeze thaw cycles or heavy traffic
and vehicles damaging the asphalt, you will inevitably
run into uneven road surfaces so I found an article that
will help you understand and prepare for dealing with
these situations. Ride Safe!
Pavement Problems...by David L. Hough
"On my cross-country trip last summer I was surprised to see that highways in general have deteriorated over the past several years. One
major hazard I encountered was deep ruts in paved roads. And they were surprisingly hazardous. Crossing North Dakota on US2, I
encountered four distinct ruts matching the wheel tracks of heavy trucks, for mile after mile. The left lane also had ruts, but they weren’t
as bad as in the right lane, so I’d move over into the left lane when traffic allowed. But at one point my front tire hooked on a rut and the
bike headed for the right lane in spite of my attempts to hold it. One instant I was in the left lane—the next instant I was in the right lane.
Fortunately, the right lane wasn’t occupied at the moment. But the unplanned lane change really got my attention. Pretty unnerving at
highway speed.
Road Ruts
I’d already encountered bad ruts north of Toronto in Canada and on I-75 in Michigan, and I would find more ruts passing through the
Spokane area in eastern Washington. Apparently, both heavy trucks and studded tires create ruts in the pavement, and road crews just
aren’t able to repave as quickly as the ruts are being generated. The ruts seem to be most prevalent in northern central states and
Canadian provinces where the temperature varies widely between winter and summer.
Ruts are a special problem for motorcycles, because of the steering dynamics. Ruts are also unnerving in a car, but easier to control with
four wheels and power steering. If you haven’t encountered serious road ruts yet, you may wonder what all the fuss is about. But once
you’ve had the bike suddenly dart sideways in heavy traffic, you’ll be motivated to understand what’s happening, and curious about
managing such situations.
I’ve observed two different types of road ruts, which we’ll refer to as “truck” and “studded tire”.
Truck ruts are four distinct grooves matching the location of the dual rear wheels on big
commercial trucks. It appears that truck ruts are formed by heavy trucks gradually pounding and
squeezing asphalt pavement into the rutted shape during the warm summer months, rather than
tires wearing away the surface. Tire studs actually grind away the road surface in the tire track
areas, creating two wider, more rounded ruts.
Studded tire ruts are more common near big cities where commuters regularly use studded tires during the winter months. The studs
actually grind away the road surface in the tire track areas, creating two wider, more rounded ruts. The problem for motorcyclists is that
front end geometry reacts in strange ways to the tire running in a rut. You may have the bike weaving from one side of the lane to the
other, or suddenly steering itself into a new direction. And you’ll also get some curious steering
feedback, such as the feeling that the front end is momentarily resisting your pressure on the grips.
Let’s first think about why this occurs, and then we’ll make some suggestions for maintaining control.
Imagine a tire riding in the center of a deep rut. So long as the tire contacts the pavement in the
center of the tread, the bike will steer straight ahead.
But remember that with a two-wheeler, the front wheel constantly steers itself from one side to the other
as it maintains the bike in a balanced state. It’s not much of a weave, but it’s a natural phenomenon with
single track vehicles. The point is, the bike won’t follow the center of a rut exactly. And when the bike drifts
over toward the side of a rut, the contact ring also moves farther over to that side.
As the contact ring moves away from center, the tire will drag more and more on that side, steering the front wheel off center.
As the contact ring moves toward the side of the tire, the tire will drag more and more on that side,
steering the front wheel off center. For instance, the contact ring moving position to the right will
tend to steer the front wheel to the right, out of the rut.
The contact ring moving position to the right will tend to steer the front wheel to the right.
continued on next page
Page 17
continued from previous page (Pavement Problems)
But remember that bikes tend to roll around the center of mass. So, the front wheel steering toward
the right will actually countersteer the bike into a left lean. And in this situation leaning left will point
the machine back toward the rut.
In this situation leaning left will point the machine back toward the rut.
Now, with the bike steering itself back toward the rut, it
probably won’t just center in the rut and rebalance again.
If the bike continues across toward the opposite side of the
rut, tire drag will again steer the contact ring out of the rut (toward the left), and that will
countersteer the bike back toward the rut again.
As the tire swerves back across the rut, tire drag will steer the contact ring left, and lean the
bike back toward the right.
All this off-center tire drag and leaning causes the bike to swerve around in the lane. The
feeling at the handlebars can be startling, because you might be resisting the swerve, but the
bike moves over anyway. And if there are two ruts side by side (as with truck ruts), balance can get very twitchy as the rider fights to keep
the bike pointed more-or-less straight down the lane.
As a general rule, the geometry of the front end will tend to stabilize the bike after negotiating uneven pavement. But with continuous
pavement ruts, the bike may not restore itself to a balanced condition until the tires are out of the ruts.
Potholes
Potholes (aka “chuckholes”) are formed when a small area of pavement begins to deteriorate, and vehicle tires push the broken
fragments out of the hole. The hole forms very quickly in wet conditions, because tires slamming down into the hole force the water (and
debris) out like a single shot from a powerful pressure washer. Potholes often form next to railroad tracks, creating a serious bike hazard.
Potholes are dangerous for a motorcycle not only because the steep edge of a hole can push the tire sideways, but the sharp edge can
bend or fracture a wheel rim. Potholes are a fact of life every spring in and around northern cities. The road has to thaw before the
maintenance crews can do any permanent repairs, and the only workable temporary fixes are to pack gravel into the holes or throw a
steel plate over the hole, or both.
Frost Heaves
Another road hazard in northern climates are frost heaves—big lumps of pavement pushed up into mounds by the freezing of the wet
ground beneath the road. Frost heaves are common every spring on Canadian and Alaskan roads. Mounds up to a foot high can occur
anywhere on the road, and you don’t want to hit one of these lumps at highway speed. If you’re heading for northern destinations in the
spring, watch carefully and be prepared to swerve between the frost heaves. As with potholes, the temporary fix for frost heaves is to
scrape the pavement level, and apply a coat of gravel. On highways such as the Alcan, that means several gravel patches every mile, for
thousands of miles. In rare instances, you’ll even get a sign. Crossing a short gravel patch isn’t a problem unless it happens to be in the
middle of a turn, one reason to keep speed within sight distance when you’re off on an adventure in the wilderness.
Negotiating Surface Hazards
If it isn’t obvious, you need to maintain enough following distance behind other vehicles to be able to see surface hazards in time to
change the bike’s line. But you know that in aggressive city traffic, leaving some space ahead of you is simply an invitation for someone to
dive into it. The clever motorcycle commuter learns to search more aggressively, but must also accept the probability of bike damage as
part of the deal. That’s why “commuter bikes” in northern climates tend to be “beaters”. The shiny bike stays home in the garage until
the weather and roads settle down.
A big part of maintaining control when you encounter surface hazards such as ruts is to simply be aware of what’s happening. Let’s say
you feel the bike start to waggle around, and you wonder whether it’s a bike problem or a pavement problem. Ruts are most obvious
when the sun is low on the horizon, casting shadows. And even if you can’t see the ruts easily, you know they are most likely to appear in
the wheel track areas. Moving over to the center of the lane should confirm whether it’s a pavement rut problem or a bike problem.
You’ll find it easier to control the bike on a nasty surface if you’re in the habit of countersteering rather than just thinking “lean”. That is,
to make the bike move left, force both grips toward the left. To make it move right, press both grips toward the right. Normally, it only
takes a modest push on one grip to cause the bike to change direction. But when crossing a deep rut, or swerving between two potholes,
it may require more powerful pushes and pulls on both grips. Focus on countersteering to make the bike hold its direction as the front
wheel weaves its way into and out of the ruts.
continued on next page
Page 18
continued from previous page (Pavement Problems)
Riding the Ruts
Even on a severely rutted road, there are some areas of the lane that are typically smoother, including the center of the lane, and the
very edges of the lane. So, one option for riding badly rutted pavement is to stay in the center of the lane. Bear in mind that riding in the
center of the lane isn’t hazard free. Debris tends to get kicked out of the tire track areas toward the center or sides of the lane. And the
center of the lane also collects more slippery stuff, such as oil or antifreeze drippings. It can be a big shock when a tangle of truck tire
tread, an AWOL muffler, or a dribble of diesel oil suddenly appears ahead of you in the center of the lane. So, remember to increase your
following distance to allow more maneuvering room. That also helps make you more visible to other drivers.
And what do you do when you come up behind a slow moving vehicle? You’ll have to slow down or pass. But passing on a deeply rutted
road can be very unnerving, since the bike must wiggle it’s way through several different ruts, each causing some strange feedback.
If you do decide to change lanes on a severely rutted road, try to cross the ruts at maximum angle, more like the tactics for crossing an
edge trap or railroad track. Don’t try to ease over. Rather, steer away from the ruts slightly, then swing back and attack them.
The best tactic for negotiating broken pavement and pothole-laced roads is to watch the surface carefully, and dodge between the holes.
Cars and trucks may not be able to swerve around potholes, but a single-track motorcycle can often fit between the holes, which tend to
be worse in the wheel tracks of other vehicles. All you need is a couple inches of level pavement between the bad areas.
Will the roads be better next year?
It would be great to hear that highways are getting better rather than worse, but the truth is, major highways all over America are
deteriorating due to increased traffic, more aggressive driving, heavier loads, higher speeds, and widespread use of studded tires. And
repair crews simply can’t keep up with the problems.
How About Bike Modifications?
There really isn’t much you can do to improve the behavior of a motorcycle that’s trying to maintain balance on strangely-shaped
pavement. One thing you can do to improve your odds is to ensure that the bike is well maintained. You might not notice a minor glitch
on a straight, level road, but in an abnormal situation even a minor problem can contribute to loss of control. For instance, cruising down
the superslab you might not notice loose steering head bearings, but when you suddenly encounter ruts, the bike may weave all over the
road. Worn bearings, loose fasteners, sagging shock springs, dry forks, and under-inflated tires will all reduce stability. The message is to
keep your bike maintained, not so much for the everyday ride, but for those abnormal situations in which you expect it to perform at its
limits. You already know to check your tire pressures before every ride. Don’t forget to check your wheel bearings, head bearings, and
swing arm bearings, and snug up critical fasteners such as the pinch bolts at the fork triple clamps and axles. Once every year or two,
drain and refill your front forks, or at least top up the fluid. Flush and bleed your brakes. And, if you’ve got more than 35,000 miles on
your original shock absorbers, it’s probably time to replace them.
Changing Routes
One primary tactic for badly damaged pavement is simply to find a different road—preferably one less used by commercial truck traffic.
For instance, I’d been following US 2 across Minnesota and North Dakota, and my original plan was to stay on 2 across Montana. But it
turned out to be a major truck route, and the pavement wasn’t tough enough for the job. If I’d realized how bad the ruts would be on US
2, I’d have turned off earlier. Finally, a few miles short of the Montana border, I diverted south a few miles to pick up US200, a delightful
two-lane highway with only modest traffic. Since narrow 200 isn’t a favorite of the long haul truckers, it hasn’t been pounded into ruts.
I wish I’d found an alternate route heading west from Spokane, rather than staying on the Interstate. I could have turned off onto US 2
for a few miles, then followed WA 28 and 283, quiet little state highways with less traffic and less road damage. The State highways
wouldn’t have added more than an hour to the day’s ride, but would have been much more enjoyable on a motorcycle.
Aggressive traffic on Interstates and major US highways has already taken a lot of fun out of motorcycling. The older roads are looking
better and better for motorcycling, not only because of less aggressive traffic, but also because of less pavement damage. If you
encounter nasty traffic or road damage on your next trip, get the maps out and think about alternate routes."
Cool Find...
This MG Kickstand Plate will protect your motorcycle from sinking and tipping over in a parking
area made of soft asphalt, gravel or sand. This custom made plate comes in black and blue and
will work on all motorcycles. Each kickstand plate is made from a durable heavy duty injection
plastic, with a predrilled 3/16" small hole that you can attach to a tether, reminder string, or
keychain. For only $5 you can protect your bike from potentially serious damage from falling
over.
This is a must have for enjoying all the fall festivals where the only parking option is on a field
and makes a perfect stocking stuffer idea for your favorite rider.
Page 19
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Can you find the list of words?
LIVE
BAGGER
TOURING
SOFTAIL
CHROME
CRUISER
CAGE
RIGID
TRIBAL
TRISTATE
RIDE
SKULL
Word Scramble... from Bill Hendrickson
to those celebrating birthdays in:
September
Mike Majewski, Jr.
Nikki Sapp
Keith Emmons
Tom Luciani
Pat Reynolds
Mike Majewski, Sr.
Linda Hoffecker
1st
23rd
24th
24th
24th
25th
29th
Dennis Ulmer
John Burke
Page 20
HARLEY
FLAME
BILLET
FLSTC
ROAD
GLIDE
MAP
GAS
VRSC
FXD
LEVERS
HOG
October
8th
14th
Student Handbook Links...
Basic Rider Course
http://www.msf-usa.org/CurriculumMaterials/BRCHandbook2009.pdf
Three Wheeled Basic Rider Course
http://msf-usa.org/downloads/3WBRC_Student_Handbook_2010.pdf
Primary Officers
Director • Joseph Mirasola
Assistant Director • David Linahan
Secretary • Jo Ann Sapp
Treasurer • Victoria Montgomery
Discretionary Officers
Activities Director • William Wilson
Safety Officer • Fred Tropea
Editor • Holly Bailey
Membership • Jo Ann Sapp
Ladies Of Harley Officer • Mary Wilson
Photographer • Trisha Closta
Historian • Donald Tillman
Road Captain • Charlie Dresden
Webmaster • Michael E. Majewski, Jr.
Officers at Large
Timothy Sapp
Bill Hendrickson
Leo Thomas
Charles "Skip" Shultz
Ladies of Harley®
Ladies of Harley (LOH) offers members a special embroidered
patch and pin during the first year of membership. Each renewal
year, LOH members receive an LOH pin indicating the year of
membership. You must be an active female full or associate
member of H.O.G.® to be
affiliated. Although LOH is
free-of-charge to active
H.O.G. members, the benefit
is not automatic. If you would
like to join, please call the
H.O.G. office or choose Update Membership Profile from the
navigation in the My Membership section to join online.
Dean Keyes
Joseph Unger
Thomas Luciani
Ed Montgomery
Appointed Positions
"Dot Com" Guy • Robert Daniels
Public Relations • Niki Sapp
Merchandising • Charles "Skip" Shultz
Hump Ride Com. Chair • Ed Montgomery
Last Word...
NOTE: Use CTRL + Click on the name to follow the link to their
email address or visit the club website www.tristatehog.net for
the officers mail & contact information.
HOG Overview
The Tri-state Chapter of the Harley Owners Group,
headquartered in Media, Pennsylvania, is an organization of
motorcyclists, their spouses and families. Sponsored by
Hannum's Harley Davidson dealership, the chapter is dedicated
to promoting a more positive image of motorcycling, as well as
enjoying the sport on virtually every level of activity.
Participating in charity fund-raising, community betterment
efforts and expressions of humanitarian caring, as well as many
patriotic and strictly fun runs and rides, our members come from
virtually every career path and wear white collars, blue collars,
and, of course, plenty of Harley black. New and current members
are urged to take part in all activities and should feel free to call
any of the officers for information or details and to provide
suggestions and thoughts on activities they would like to
participate in with fellow Chapter members.
Page 21
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in the Tri-State HOG
News does not necessarily represent the opinions of the
Chapter Officers or its members. It contains random
ramblings & free advice and should be treated as such. If you
are ever unsure as to the correct procedure when riding or
working on your motorcycle, consult a professional. All of the
information in this newsletter has been gathered and
summarized to the best of my ability; however, Tri-State HOG
Media Chapter, or any specific contributor or author cannot
be held liable or responsible for the correctness of any of the
information, or for damage, direct or consequential, resulting
from using any of the information or tips contained in this
newsletter. All information, advice, or tips found here are
provided "as-is" and no warranty whatsoever for degree of
correctness in terms of safety, mechanics or physics is
implied.
Harley-Davidson, H.O.G.® and L.O.H. logos are trademarks
and reproduced with permission entitled to
us as a H.O.G. chapter.
Please feel free to share your ideas, jokes,
pictures or articles for inclusion in the
September 2012 issue by emailing me at
[email protected]. The cutoff for the
November edition is 10/21/2012.