Go Home Winter...You're Drunk!

On the first day of spring, Wednesday, there was more than a foot of snow in many parts of the North-eastern U.S.

Two weeks ago it was probably 15 - 18C...ahh!

If you look at the calendar it’s spring, but winter is holding a firm grip on us...arrrgh!

New Bike

After OnStar Dave and I made a trip to A Vicious Cycle in New Dundee and back to pickup a bunch of accessories (aka Farkles) for my new Suzuki V-Strom 650 it seemed like the weather was taunting me to take that clean new bike out for a first ride.

I suited up in some warmer clothing and ventured out (without electrics) to go for that ride about 4:00pm. I tried to stick to the cleaner, and drier roads but some puddles were unavoidable. I took it for a run on some surface streets and from the top of the 404 to Aurora Road and back. 

20 Signs of Spring In The GTA

Here are 20 signs of spring in the GTA:

1 Yes, a snowstorm is here but it will officially be spring in three weeks.

2 Mort is analyzing the maximum lean angle of his Kawasaki 900

3 It’s coyote mating season. Fluffy and Pookie are incidental, so keep them inside. The wild dogs are on the prowl.

4 Andy is cobbling a new Humber Instructors spring/summer/fall instructing schedule
5 The eastern sky is light by 6:30 a.m. Daylight Savings Time starts March 10, 2013

Bucolic/Pastoral ride around the Isle of Man

Utterly death defying speeds. I've only witnessed that calibre of riding once. 

Mort pulling into the Timmies to procure a prime parking spot.

Fred

What a RUSH!

Click here for video

Saturday Scoot

After spending most of the day cleaning out the garage decided to reward myself with a little tour of the town. Took a while for the tires to round up after sitting all that time. Felt the handling a little sluggish so I decided to check the tire pressures. 

Unlike some of you, I don't have a Tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) so I pulled over on Kipling and pulled out my trusty gauge.

Remembrance Day Ride 2012 - Fred

Wow...Great weather for a November. Ten bikes and fourteen people showed at the Timmies in Woodbridge for what most likely will be the last ride of the season. 

It was an eclectic mix of bucolic backroads including a tour of Palgrave country estates all ridden with a gorgeous fall backdrop and balmy temps. In fact, according to Paul we broke a 74 year record for warmest day!! 

Remembrance Day Ride 2012 - Al

Autumn leaf caught in Lynn's Kawi

This morning, looked out the window and witnessed wet pavement and patchy blue sky through my bleary eyes.

Appears the overnight thunderstorms had subsided giving way to a beautiful day

While Lynn was getting herself together, I rolled the Kawi’s out of the garage to the curb.

I could feel the warmth building in the air. It’s going to be a GREAT day for a fall ride.

Chili Ride 2012

Lynn with her chili at Timmies

Thanks Al,

For leading a vunderful ride out to West Montrose and Elora Ont

Disappointingly, the "Kissing Bridge" was closed (likely having it's lips plumped) but that's OK cause it was a fine day for riding. 

After Elora Tony and Jody escorted us through the heart of Guelph where I have an interest in a commercial space.

Big Chute Ride - Marine Railway

The day got off to a less than auspicious start…Text message early in the morning from Don, “Hey Fred,

Heather say’s the Petro Can service center has been shutdown all summer”. A quick change of plans

to relocate the meeting place. Sent out a quick e-mail and text to everyone as to change…Not soon enough

for all. Call from Darek at 9:10. "Where are you guys, I’m hungry and need a coffee?" I call Donna and her and Dave

are also at the Petro Can…Yikes!...A quick set of new directions and 10 min later everyone’s at the new meeting place.

Evening Therapy

Decided to snub my nose at the high gas prices and burn a little petrol on two wheels this evening.

Seems like life's aches and pains get smoothed over after few hrs in the saddle. 

As big Al likes to say...

"Let the good times roll baby!"

Fred

Pa Labour Day Long Weekend Ride Highlights

Bruce checking his communicator 

Saturday morning 13 bikes coalesced at a Timmy’s oasis in Niagara on the Lake exit 38 B off the QEW
The weather prognosticators were promising a fabulous weekend
A 7 a.m. huddle was rather an early start for some riders considering they were coming in as far away as Ajax, Rockwood and Woodbridge
Tony P, from Rockwood, having just completed a midnight shift had only 3 hours sleep under his belt.

Donna's Rochester Run

Fellow members,

 -Under sunny skies a group of six undertook the first annual Dinosaur BBQ run to Rochester NY..

 -At the Tim's, Peter told some tall tales from his 10,000 mile western escapade.(we're still waiting on the hard copy)

  e.g In order to breathe at 14,000 ft you need to take 20 tums before riding Pikes Peak in Colorado.

Screaming Eagle

Hi everyone.

My name is Kacper but my parents call me Kacperek because I am little:)

I am 6 days old.

I will be a biker too,I heard like my father said to my mom: "he is future member of UCC and maybe a future president"-I like it:)

but for now I have not much 2 do,so I am eating,sleeping and "shit...ing" a lot,

when I am hungry I am screaming of course,my father said the noise is like screaming eagle Harley's pipe,also he said if I will scream more like that,than few weeks he is going for motorcycle trip around the world for at least 5 years.

Ya,right:)

SE ya in few months,maybe in the winter time when uncle Al will invite me to breakfast at the Zet's Restaurant

Darek

Freddy's Lake Simcoe Scoot

As his signature tour, Fred does a splendid scoot around Lake Simcoe 

The sidestand was snapped up at 10am sharp and by the time we got to Barrie Kempenfest was in full swing

Had lunch in Orillia and then meandered along the eastern shoreline of Lake Simcoe

Before entering the palatial environs of Jackson's Point we had to wait and cross over a swing bridge 

Friday 13th Port Dover

Northern Ontario helmet apparel

After a hearty breakfast at Timmy’s, left this morning just after 9am

Cruised via Hwy403 and the backroads of beautiful Haldimand County - Jerseyville Rd., Cockshutt Rd., County Rd #3 and entered Port Dover through New Lakeshore Rd bypassing the throngs of bikers paddle walking their bikes along Hwy#6

Canada Day Long Weekend Gap Ride

After a quick huddle, Saturday evening, a daunting decision was made to ride out to Deal's Gap the following morning.

Lynn and Donna  booked reservations - via Expedia.com - Holiday Express in Elkins WV followed by an overnight stay at the Hampton Inn Boone NC and then 3 nights at the MicroTel Inn, Bryson City NC

Oakville Noise By-Law - Video

Today, attended Oakville's motorcycle noise compliance voluntary testing at the Town Hall. A new noise by-law 2008-098 specifically targeted to motorcycles comes into effect July 1, 2012. Individuals who violate the noise by-law - a motorcycle exceeding 92 dba at idle or 96dba at 2000rpm - could face a minimum fine of $400

Click here for video 

Bowling Night

STRIKE!

Humber College - Easter Weekend Basic Course

Yes...officially the 2012 motorcycle season began last weekend with the first Humber basic weekend course

This weekend, again, a full complement...eighty students

A chilly 2*C Saturday morning turned out to be a very pleasant afternoon...an abundance of blue sky

After a balmy Easter Sunday morning, dark sinister clouds to the north started to roll in accompanied by gusty winds...arrrgh!

Oakville Muffling Motorcycles

"Oakville Muffling Motorcycles"

I believe, Belfountain was first in Ontario to introduce noise restrictions on motorcycles.

So, who's next?

Would you believe it's the Town of Oakville?