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Foods and Us

Before I begin this month's newsletter article I must put in a disclaimer that I am not a dietitian, or medical professional.

It is a well known fact that most Gold Wingers ride to eat and/or eat to ride. If anyone wants to know about how good the food is at any of the local eating establishments all they need to do is find a Gold Winger and ask him or her. We definitely know all the good places to eat.

This is the time of the year when many of us have joined in fellowship and gone on "color rides" and have joined in many of the fall festivities that abound in many of the local communities. Then at the end of this month is the beginning of the "holiday season" with THANKSGIVING. Many of us have a lot to be thankful for. All of which means food and consumption of food.

Have you ever noticed that after you have eaten some meals that you are ready to take a nap. But then after you have eaten other meals you seem to have renewed energy and can go out for another couple of hundred miles. What brought my attention to this difference on how we feel after a meal was a paper that was brought to my attention a few months ago. The paper had a list of foods that are Sleep-Inducing and those that are Stimulants. So I thought that it would be nice to share this list with you my fellow Gold Wingers and anyone else who may read E-WING NEWS.

Let me start with the foods that are in the Stimulant group: Avocados, Beef (aged), Cheese(aged), Chicken, Chocolate, Coca Cola, Coffee, Figs(canned), Fish, Garlic, Ginger Ale, Horseradish, Pickled Herring, Sour Cream, Soy Sauce,Sprouts, and Yogurt. These foods contain Tyrosine/Caffeine and I am sure that there are other foods out there that fall into this group.

Now lets take a look at the foods that are Sleep-Inducing: Bananas, Cheese, Eggs, Ice Cream, Lobster, Meet (Beef), Milk, Pineapple, Potatoes, Turkey, and Valerian Tea.

Now I know why that after some meals I want to crawl up on the sofa and take a nap and at other times I am ready to go. For all these years I had been under the impression that the reason I was ready to nap after a nice Thanksgiving dinner that I had eaten too much.

Now what does this have to do with Rider Enhancement? Probably not a whole lot in itself except for the fact that when we ride it is a good idea to be as mentally alert as possible. Then again the more we know the better it gets!

Thanks,
Wayne Stewart
E-Wing News
Rider Enrichment Coordinator

If you have something you would like to share with other wingers or have something you would like to see discussed regarding Rider Education, please send e-mail to me at gwrider70@hotmail.com . We appreciate your inputs.

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Motorcycle Tires 101:

Many of us that ride Honda, Gold Wing motorcycles are aware of the importance of proper tire care and maintenance. No matter what brand tire you put on your motorcycle it will last longer if maintained properly. Many of you reading this are already aware of what it takes to properly maintain your tires. For you this is just a refresher of what you already know. For those of you who haven't had very much experience with motorcycle tires I hope this will help.

Tires have a tendency to lose air over time. A tire will lose 1 PSI(Pounds per Square Inch) per month. Your tires are subject to ambient temperatures, for every 10 degrees Fahrenheit of temperature change you can either lose or gain 1 PSI of tire pressure. In the autumn your tires will have a tendency to lose pressure. Likewise in the spring you will notice that your tires will gain pressure. In the autumn or spring where morning and afternoon temperatures can change as much as 30 degrees it is important to check tire pressures often. For every 5 PSI that your tires are under or over inflated you will be losing 25% of your useful tire life. It is important to use a good quality tire pressure gauge to check your tire pressures.

Over inflated tires will wear excessively in the center and will cause your ride to be harder. Your tires will not give to the road's irregularities that they were designed for. Your tires heat up from road friction; this will cause even higher tire pressures. Tire manufacturers allow for heat build-up when they design tires.

Under inflated tires are dangerous to ride on. Under inflated tires will not properly support the weight of your bike. Excessive flexing of the tire's sidewalls will cause the tires to heat up beyond what the manufacturer designed them for. Simply, your motorcycle will not handle properly especially when riding the twisties.

Do not check your tire pressure when your motorcycle is sitting out in the hot sun. Your tires will attract heat, which will make your "cold" tire pressure inaccurate. Also don't check tire pressures right after a ride while your tires are warm or hot. Allow your tires to cool in a shady area for a couple of hours. Always check your tire pressure when your tires are "cold"

Tire manufacturers recommend that you check your tire pressures at least once a week. It also recommended that you check your tire pressure daily when you have had new ones put on. Sometimes when tires are newly installed they will not seat properly and will leak excessively. If this leakage is persistent then you will need to go back to your tire dealer and have them take care of the problem.

A few words about tire repair. DO NOT plug a motorcycle tire. If you catch a nail or other sharp object in the road, plugging a motorcycle tire should be used only as a temporary fix to get you to the first available tire repair shop. To properly repair a puncture the tire will need to be removed, the hole plugged and then patched on the inside of the tire. Most of us don't have the equipment to do this kind of tire repair. If your tire is not properly repaired you are putting yourself and your loved ones in a dangerous situation. After a tire has been repaired your tire will need to be balanced.

Many of you tow trailers with your "Wing". Do you know that tire manufacturers will not warrant your tires if you tow a trailer with your motorcycle? Motorcycle tires are not designed to tow with. If you have had a flat and you are towing do not plug that tire, even to get it to the next
exit. The excessive stress that is caused by towing will not allow the plug to stay seated and will come loose within a few miles.

Only clean your tires with mild soap and water. Some products on the market that make your tires shine are petroleum based. Petroleum based products do not play well with the rubber that your tires are made of.

Your tires are the only things between you, your motorcycle and the road. It is up to you to insure that they are properly maintained. Proper tire inflation is very important especially to the way your motorcycle handles and how long they will last between tire changes. Anyone who has had to replace tires knows how expensive they can get.

To borrow a phrase that is used by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, "The more you know the better it gets".

Thanks,
Wayne Stewart
E-Wing News
Rider Enrichment Coordinator
October 1999

If you have something you would like to share with other wingers or have something you would like to see discussed regarding Rider Education, please send e-mail to me at gwrider70@hotmail.com . We appreciate your inputs.

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Rider Education

From your Ohio District Educator

I have to agree with some of the newsletters I have been reading. Where did the summer go? Here it is almost the end of September and the riding season is now winding down. This year has been a good year and a bad one. For some of us, part of the year was not so good when we had our accident. The parts that were good - good riding and being with our GWRRA friends. All the rallies were great. Region "D" had some very good rallies, the Region D rally. The weatherman was good in keeping us with good weather, but he forgot to turn down the furnace. The blacktop at the range for field events and Top Gunn was hot. I am glad to see so many of the members came and enjoy themselves. Soon Carla and myself are heading for that land down under and visit some members down in Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji. After spending, a few weeks traveling we will be back to go to the Region D and District meetings in November.

If possible would like to see all the CRE's at the District meeting. We will have our meeting on Saturday, around 10:00 AM and will run through the day until 5:00 PM. Bring all the members names at your Chapter and update your Levels Program while you are there. We will be talking about forms, levels in the safety program. We will talk about different things that have come up throughout the year so everyone understands our program. Our meeting will run in conjunction with the CD meeting.

Remember the fall season is coming upon us; be alert in the mornings when it is cool out. Frost and dew will be on the road as well as on the streets. Black ice can be anywhere so be careful and keep your eyes open for any hazard. Also soon the leaves will start to fall; some of you have leave rides to see the season change. Again, be aware leaves can be deadly, wet or dry they can cause a big problem if you are not alert and aware of your surroundings. Be careful coming up to and into corners, leaves and debris can be sitting there waiting to get the unaware rider. At least this time of year we do not have to talk about helmets and coats or jackets, because the weather gets cooler and the warmth of the jacket and helmet helps protect us from the cold and damp weather. The same as it does throughout the season.

We have in the works several Skills Days and Safety Sunday's coming your way. Please CDs, mark them on your calendar so your members will know when they are. We are trying to get this out so you can have it for your ride schedule. The dates we have, the places are close but not confirmed, and so if you would at least mark the dates down we well get the place and time to you soon. Jim Hodges well is sending out flyers for more information. If something important comes up please call Jim, I will be back October 24.

Safety Sunday West Feb 27, 2000 Dayton, Ohio area
Safety Sunday East March 26, 2000 Medina, Ohio area
Skills Day West April 29, 2000 Nelsonville, Ohio Hocking Collage.
Skills Day South East May 20, 2000 Fairborn, Ohio TBA
Skills Day North West May 21, 2000 Tiffin, Ohio

We plan on having it set up on Skills Day that Trikes will be able to perform in our course and we will most likely have a separate range set up for Trikes and Sidecars. Will be checking the range for size this year. We will let you know when we have everything finalized. Hope to see a lot of members there testing their skills in a safe environment. We are setting these up so you can get the rust out of the old bones before the riding season gets fully under way. Have a safe and enjoyable year of a riding season winding down.



Ride Safe, Ride Smart
Larry, & Carla Stiles
Ohio District Educators
October 1999

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Helmets

I recently received an "E" mail concerning children and helmets. The question was raised, "Are there any suitable children's helmets on the market?" After searching the "net" for a couple of nights, I did find a couple of manufacturers that offered a "child's" helmet. More disturbing was the number of manufactures that offered helmets that ranged from size XXS to XXL. This tells me that most helmet manufacturers make one size shell and then offer different padding for the different head sizes.

Depending on the manufacturer of the helmet, your child could be wearing the same weight helmet you are. Now one has to ask the question. Are my child's neck muscles developed enough to be able to support a helmet? As much as we want our children to enjoy our hobby with us, how much are we willing to subject them to? Those of us that have taken MSF safety courses have learned about risk and how to manage risk. As adults we accept the fact that there is a certain amount of risk involved with motorcycling and we have accepted that risk as part of the enjoyment of riding. If we are going to involve our children in our hobby, then it is our responsibility as an adult, parent, or grandparent, to insure that they are wearing the proper safety equipment. An important part of that safety equipment is a proper fitting helmet. The same criteria that we as adults use to insure a properly fitting helmet is what we should look for in a helmet for our "little ones". If you are not sure what to look for check out the web site http://www.bellhelmets.com/98site/helmets_fit/html/fit.html
The manufacturers that I found who offered children's helmets are HJC and Aeon. The price ranged form $60 to $100 depending on manufacturer, quality, and style. Most were open face but there is a full face helmet offered also. The children's helmets are offered in two different sizes - Small/Medium and Large/Xlarge. The padding in a children's helmet is designed to compress as a child's head grows. This being he case I would think that once you fit a child to a helmet that you do not allow that helmet to be used by different children.

If you put a helmet on a child and it is too loose then it will not do its job properly. If you can remove the helmet with the chin strap fastened, the helmet is too loose andwill fall off your child when he/she needs it the most. Remember your child's safety is in your hands.

Thanks,
Wayne Stewart
E-Wing News
Rider Enrichment Coordinator
September 1999

If you have something you would like to share with other wingers or have something you would like to see discussed regarding Rider Education, please send e-mail to me at gwrider70@hotmail.com . We appreciate your inputs.

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Ride Safe

From your Ohio District Educators

Finally, we are getting some relief from the heat wave that has hit us for the last several weeks. Looking back to some of the newsletters, several Chapter educators did a fine job in telling their members what to do in this heat. Long sleeve shirts were ideal for this kind of weather because it protects you from the sun, and you could spray water on your sleeves to help keep you cool. Besides, the gloves and long sleeve shirts protect you from skin rash and sunburn.

It is amazing how many members are starting to ride their motorcycles without helmets, no long pants, short sleeve shirts, and no gloves. Indiana, Michigan and the Ohio Rally had numerous members riding with no due regard for their safety. I will be the first to say I will not enforce this issue. It is an individual right to do what they want. We are not the police force, and what you ride in is totally up to the members. I just cannot believe these members have total disregard for their safety. I guess it is hard to comprehend this, with all the accidents we have had in Ohio alone. So far, we have had 19 motorcycle accidents and the worst thing is we had seven in going, coming, or during the National Wing Ding. Out of this, we had one fatality, Jim Joyce. I have no idea how many the total Region had but you would think someone would start thinking of their own safety and start riding with proper gear on. Remember, just because it is hot does not mean you are safe. The roads are becoming increasingly aggressive in that the road rage is among us. So please be careful out there and enjoy the rest of the riding season.

Well the rallies for Indiana, Ohio, Michigan are done and we have one more big one to attend, that is the Regional Rally of Region "D" in Lima, Ohio. Come on over and enjoy this wonderful event. The staff have been working very hard to get this ready for all of you. Those Chapter Directors, please inform your Chapter Educators if they would like to learn more about rider education, and Levels program, contact Jim Hodges or me at the Regional rally. We are in need of Chapter Educators to help man the Rider Ed booth on Friday September 3rd. Ohio has the booth from 10 - 4. If enough members show up they would only need to help for an hour or so, then they are free for the rest of the rally. Any member who is interested in Rider Education can help. Remember Jim and I will not be the District Educators forever. Therefore, we need others to learn so they can someday take over when we move on. Any questions call or write to my email.

The District Rider Education Cookbook is getting under way and we would like to thank all the chapters for supporting us in this. Each recipe will have the chapter who sent it in with it. We hope to have it done by the district meeting in November.

Jim and I are working hard in getting the flyers out for the Skills Day and Safety Sundays for next year. This way you will have them so you can put them in your ride schedule. We will have Skills Day East and West and Safety Sunday East and West next year. East will be Safety Sunday around the Cleveland area and Skills Day may still be at Dresden or may move it elsewhere. TBA. West Skills Day and Safety Sunday will be in the Dayton area. We hope to get more people to attend. If you have any ideas or safety issues you would like to see, let us know and we will see what we can do. Remember this is for you, the member.

Please ride safe and enjoy the rest of the summer, and we will see you at Region D rally.

Ride Safe, Ride Smart
Larry, Carla, Jim and Sue, District Rider Ed.
September 1999

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Dehydration

Why do we stop often when we are out and about on our motorcycles? Could it be because of those uncomfortable seats that most of us have? No, I don't think that is it. Could it be because of the size of our fuel tanks and gas mileage? No, I don't think that is it either. Am I a player? Maybe it is because riding makes us hungry and we need to nourish our bodies often? No, that isn't what I am thinking about either. How about the facts that we need to quench our thirst that has developed over the last hour or so. Now this is more in tune to what I am thinking about.

Many, not all of us that ride, have jobs where we are not out in the hot sun all or even a large part of the day. As a result of not being out in the environment all day our bodies are not accustomed to the harshness that it subjects us to. I am going to take the assumption that most of us don't ride very much during the week between the hours of 8 A.M. and 5 P.M. Now I
am going to put it on the line and guess that many of us don't ride to work but drive in an air-conditioned vehicle. I am almost willing to bet that a vast majority of us work in an air-conditioned environment. Another assumption I will make is that most of us live in air-conditioned homes. By now you are wondering where I am going with all this. Very simple. A vast majority of us Gold Wing riders don't work or ride out in the elements as a matter of course during the week and our bodies are not used to it. As a result of this observation we must make frequent stops to cool off and get liquid nourishment. I know that there are a few that are an exception to what I have stated.

During the summer when it is hot and humid our bodies tend to perspire as a method of cooling itself plus as we breathe we are losing moisture from our bodies. For the most part we really will not feel the effects of our bodies dehydrating until it is late in the game. If we are out in the sun and let things get out of hand we can end up with a heat stroke, and we don't want that to happen.

Most of us live in a comfortable environment and are not accustomed to the harshness that nature can dish out. Our bodies need not only the nourishment of our favorite restaurant but more importantly that in the form of water. Many of us prefer to drink pop or coffee because of the caffeine and/or taste. But these types of beverages have a tendency to constrict the blood vessels causing the flow of blood to slow down.

If you feel thirsty then chances are you are already dehydrated. One of the ways to know if you are dehydrated is when you urinate. Normally your first urination of the day is dark yellow and as the day progresses it gets lighter in color. If the color of your urination continues to stay dark during the day when it normally lightens that is a sign that you are dehydrating and need to increase your liquid intake.

Besides most of like to stop often to show off our bikes anyway so why not use that time to get a drink of water and enjoy each other's fellowship. After all isn't that a great deal of what riding a Gold Wing is all about. Most of the fun is getting there and I would like to see everyone get there
safely.

Thanks,
Wayne Stewart
E-Wing News
Rider Enrichment Coordinator
August 1999

If you have something you would like to share with other wingers or have something you would like to see discussed regarding Rider Education, please send e-mail to me at gwrider70@hotmail.com . We appreciate your inputs.

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Leap of Faith

,"A Leap Of Faith"

Do you remember the first time you stood on a diving board, ready to make your first jump into the water below? Chances are you weren't entirely confident of what you were about to do, but you gathered your courage, stepped forward, (closed your eyes?), and jumped out into thin air, taking that leap of faith. The first time was nerve-wracking, but it didn't take long for it to get to be downright fun!

Often it's the same with some of the things we do in motorcycling; sometimes people can't seem to work up the courage to make that first jump. Have you ever watched others out on the range at a Parking Lot Practice, or taking a Motorcycle Safety Foundation Rider Course, and thought "Gee, I'd like to try that but I'm too nervous. Maybe I'll drop the bike, or maybe my skills won't be as good as someone else's, and people will laugh."

Well, I'm here to tell you that it doesn't happen that way. I've been a GWRRA member for ten years now. In that time I've participated in, or overseen, many Parking Lot Practices, taught several dozen MSF courses, taken or observed several dozen more, and have spent hundreds of hours with others in "unorganized" range practice.

In all of that time I have never once heard anyone laugh at, or make fun of, another person for a blunder on the range. Those who work at their riding skills know that 1) they were once less-skilled (no one starts out riding at an expert level), 2) they will possibly be the next to slip up out there, and 3) the person is out there giving it his or her best, while others stand by watching or never even show up.

One thing that I have found out for sure is that people respect anyone who's out there trying. Another is that no one ever
becomes a worse rider when spending time practicing. Thirdly, everyone that I talk to agrees that they always feel better about themselves and their riding skills after time on the range.

So what do we have to lose by range practice? Well, it's true that you can drop your bike. There's always an element of risk involved, but you already knew that, didn't you? That's why we always wear the proper protective gear and clothing whenever we ride. If our skills are less than they should be, better that we should discover that in a safe and protected range area than out on the road.

What do we have to gain by range practice? Practically everything. We learn more about our bikes, ourselves, our strengths, and our limitations. We reduce our level of risk in our street riding, thus improving the odds for ourselves, our loved ones, and our fellow group riders.

As we approach cooler weather and the beginning of the fall riding season, think about what you fear the most about practicing with a group of friends, and weigh those concerns against all of the benefits to be gained. Then come join us, as we have fun making ourselves safe and better riders. All it takes is a leap of faith.

Be careful out there,

Dave McElderry
Region D Senior Educator
August 1999

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Co-Rider Techniques

You as the co-rider can be a great help to your riding partner if you do some of these things. Communication is the beginning of a good riding team. It is very important for the rider to communicate with the co-rider and vice versa. If for instance, you are coming upon a hairpin curve, it is a good idea for the rider to say "tight curve ahead". This should prompt the co-rider to look through the curve with the rider. This way you will be in sync with the bike and with the rider because you are both looking in the same direction. If the co-rider is looking off in the opposite direction, that may cause some unsteadiness and may throw your rider off balance, thus not making a smooth transition into the curve. If the co-rider is looking through the curve with the rider, the bike will be more steady, thus giving him the opportunity to react more smoothly if something were to be in the curve such as gravel or a stopped car.

The next thing to think about is the co-rider's body position when the motorcycle is stopping. When coming to a stop, the co-rider should sit up straight with their back pressed toward the tour trunk and their eyes toward the horizon. This will put most of the co-rider's weight on the back tire, thus allowing the brakes to work at their optimal stopping power. If the co-rider is leaning forward when the motorcycle is stopping it will change the stopping dynamics of the motorcycle. There is one more thing to think about. Co-riders don't have the best frontal view and when the motorcycle is stopping, it is so tempting to peek around to see why you're stopping. Stop to think for a minute which shoulder you look over when you peek. Do you tend to look over the RIGHT shoulder? If you do this, you are causing the motorcycle to lean more to the right, thus causing the rider to have to take his right foot off the brake to steady the bike, thus decreasing the braking power. If you want to look, that is fine, just look over the LEFT shoulder.

Another thing for the riders. Make your co-rider as comfortable as possible. Add whatever you have to to your motorcycle to make your co-rider comfortable, whether it be adding armrests or whatever. If your co-rider is miserable, you will be miserable. There is one final thing you can do to make the ride enjoyable for your co-rider that won't cost a dime. If there is a big bump in the road ahead, warn your co-rider. Your co-rider's spine is right over the rear axle of the motorcycle. It hurts them more than you when they catch a hard bump or rough road. When you as the rider warn the co-rider, they can get prepared by leaning forward a bit and change their spine alignment with the rear axle.

Working together rider and co-rider can have a fun and safe ride. That's what motorcycling is all about.

Lori Rowland
Former Chapter Rider Educator
July 1999

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Protective Gear

As the Ohio District Educator, it sometimes is hard to bring things to peoples' attention. We in Rider Education try very hard to tell a story or show others what proper riding gear can do for them. Then we go out to ride and the ego trips move in and the members ride with no helmets, short sleeve shirts, sandals, shorts, all thinking that it CAN'T happen to them. As a MSF Instructor we tell our class riding motorcycles is a great sport, it involves risk, we need to learn to reduce that risk. It is not, you will never have an accident, it is, when is it going to happen? Some of you that read this will laugh, thinking he deserved it, others will say it can't happen to me. If I can get the other sincere ones, then I have saved a life, or someone from being hurt bad.
First I want to say thank you to all of you who have called me, e-mailed, cards, mail. It was very nice to hear from you when you're hurt and down. This is why GWRRA is what it is today. It's not the organization, it is the members and how we respond to our fellow members. We look over each other, help when we can, and most of all stand by the ones who are hurting.
I had just finished teaching a weekend class for MO in Toledo, a MSF/RSS and was leaving Monday afternoon on April 26, 1999 to go to Wheeling, WV for a youth safety conference for 1200 kids, and I was to talk to them on motorcycle safety. I was traveling South on I-77 around the 120MM, doing a cruising speed with the flow of the traffic at 50 - 55 mph. I was in the left lane about 4 seconds behind a semi. Everything was going real good when all of a sudden the semi in front of me slams on his brakes and smokes the trailer tires on his trailer. He slammed them so hard that the trailer started bouncing and slid into the concrete divider in the middle. I then started to put on my brakes and was apparently in sandy conditions and started to slide toward the concrete divider also. They think my trailer tire hit the concrete and it pushed my handle bars left and I went off the bike at 50 mph. Everything else is done through the police reports and eye witnesses. They said that I bounced several times and was just missed by a pickup in the right lane who avoided my head by 12". I continued down the road where I ended up face down across the center line. As I lay there thinking of the sound I heard in my helmet as the road scraped the paint and helmet away, that I was alive. Then I heard a crunching sound, and raised to my feet as a white car stopped just 2 feet from me, because as he was stopping, a red car behind him was stopping, a semi (number 2) slammed into the red car at full force of 55 - 60 mph and drove this car under the white car. God was on my side because the gentleman in the white car saw what was happening behind him and put every ounce of weight on his brakes so he would not run me over. The police and witnesses say that had I stayed on the motorcycle that I would have been killed by the second semi which would have drove the other two cars into me and I would have been put under the semi in front of me. As I am standing there I look at my right hand and it is the size twice what it should be, my right hip hurt and felt airy since it took my jeans right hip side off. I could not find my bike, I thought the white car ran over it. They told me to sit that I was hurt. I wanted to know where my bike was. I looked toward the area I was traveling and saw a deep rut going through the grass on the right. I started walking that way and found my bike had gone 250 feet down a 20 foot embankment and flipped over ending upright still on. I started down the embankment. When I could not use my left leg correctly, I knew then I was hurt more than I thought. I finally got to the bike and turned her off. Both mirrors were gone, fairing was cracked, light bars bent, but the trailer stayed with the bike because of the chains. The hitch was turned 180 ", that was how much force it took. The EMT's came and I was put into the ambulance and taken to Mercy Hospital in Canton, Ohio. They removed my helmet, which is now a show and tell, my gloves, and leather, which as well with the helmet. My pants were cut off of me ( no modesty here) and my jacket which was a MSF jacket had wore through the right side where I had the only road rash besides my right butt. I was taken to x-ray where to their surprise I had no broken bones, only severe contusions of my hips and hands. My full lace boots saved my feet and ankles from injury. Had I not been wearing the proper riding gear, I would have been hurt far worse than I was.
I know it is a free country and you ride the way you want. GWRRA Rider Education will only advise you what you should wear. Why do we insist that all field events or GWRRA functions you should wear proper gear? Some members have told me to go to hell, that they well ride the way they want. My Chapter Educators get the same abuse. I will not stop telling people to wear a helmet and proper gear. Why, because I like to be told to go to hell? NO, because I care about every one of you. You are a member of GWRRA, you are my family, and if I or any one of my CRE's tells you to wear your gear it is because they care about you. Next time someone tells you, don't be mad at them, thank them. Because if I or anyone else doesn't and something happens to you, then we didn't do our job and care about you. Motorcycling is the greatest sport that we love. Yes the risks are there everytime we ride. Please reduce that risk by wearing your safety gear. Let's have fun while we are doing it. Members won't go to Level IV (Masters) because they feel they can't get a long sleeve shirt on, it doesn't look cool. Fine, just think what your spouse thinks when they see you with no skin. Be safe and ride safe. Keep the rubber side down, and reduce your risk. My helmet and gloves will be at the Buckeye Rally. Hope everyone has a wonderful summer riding our wonderful Wings. YES, I have a new one. Picked her up Thursday May 20. She is a 1999 Pearl Green Gray SE. Yes I rode it, took a DEEEEEEP breath and got on board. See you all down the road

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Road Rage

A Topic Worth Discussing

Most of us have heard about "road rage".  Did you know this is not a new or recent subject?  It has been traced back to 1915, entitled: "some automobilists abuse their rights and heedlessly run over the rights of others".  The perception is a driver who snaps and goes charging down the crowded highway of the 1990's.  Road rage is not a recent phenomenon, and it includes all drivers and or riders.  Automobilists, large and small trucks, motorcyclists, everyone and anyone.  Here are the contributing attitudes to road rage:

(1) Running over the rights of other motorists. 
(2) Running red lights or jumps the gun before the light has turned green.
(3)  Cuts in and out, races, and gets ahead of everybody else. 

People are beginning to lose control....They get frustrated at the backups on our freeways.  They get angry at other inconsiderate motorists, their tolerance level overflows.  They explode.  And motorists are using tons of speeding metal as deadly weapons.  Polite drivers are becoming as rare as rain in August.  We have a serious situation on our nations highways.  How can you combat this national problem? 

(a) First, be aware that road rage exists. 
(b) Know that you are not exempt from these very angry people. Aggressive behavior has no gender.  The age group most responsible for these reported acts of violence is between the ages of 18-30.  There are reported happenings from middle-age people from35-50.  Since 1990, there has been over 10,000 reported acts of traffic aggression and now it has become a monumental concern to Public  Safety Officials and insurance companies across our nation.  Do you entertain any of these above mentioned attitudes?  Please stay off the highway until you can rethink your reasoning, or maybe seek professional help to assist your decision making process. 

(c) Be extra aware of these attitudes, and work at not allowing them to affect you personally.  What can you do when you encounter an aggressive motorist?
(d) Keep from making direct eye contact with that person.  Keep from responding to their obscene gestures. 
(f) Allow them plenty of space to get out of your way. 
(g) Keep from confronting or agitating them and the situation personally.  Most violent acts reported have resulted in the use of fists, knivesguns and their personal vehicle as weapons used to vent their uncontrollable rage.  These people are dangerous and will stop at nothing just to prove a point.  Remember the old rules of the road teachings?  Be courteous to all motorists.  Allow them the right-of-way.  Give them a break when you think they need it by reducing speed or letting them go first at a stop sign.  We are all out on the road to travel from point A to point B safely, without mayhem, and to enjoy ourtraveling adventures for as long as we are able to tour.  Honey gets a better response than does vinegar.  Defensive driving is our first line of defense against crashes.

Courtesy of Indiana Assistant District Educators:  Thomas & Caroline Albin
May 1999

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Safe Trailering

At Cabin Fever February 1999, Jim Hodges OH ADE gave a great seminar on trailering.  Here are some of the points made in the seminar

SAFE TRAILERING

Goldwingers have been pulling trailers behind their bikes for many years.  The early trailers were generally homemade from various pieces and parts that ingenious bikers were able to assemble and pull behind their Wing.  Now there are many vendors that offer well engineered and aerodynamic trailers that we can just buy and hook up to our scooter and take off.
 However, we still have a great responsibility to make sure that we are properly maintaining the trailer, properly hooking the trailer to the bike, properly loading the trailer, and properly driving the bike and trailer combination.  The following points are summarized from the GWRRA Trailering seminar given by Pete Woodruff and discussions with John Preston President
and CEO of Bushtec, a high end cargo trailer manufacturer.

TRAILER MAINTENANCE

Tire Pressure

Many motorcycle trailers use the small diameter tires.  They should have a tire pressure marked on the side wall.  These pressures are generally 35 or 65 psi.  A tire with a pressure marking of 65 psi was designed for a boat trailer and probably does not belong on a motorcycle cargo trailer.  You must determine the proper pressure for your trailer and your "standard load".  John Preston suggests that you load you trailer as you normally would and then take some white shoe polish and paint a four-inch stripe across the tire width.  Take the trailer for a five mile drive and then look for even wear of the shoe polish across the tire.  Adjust the tire pressure in two pound increments until you achieve even wear.  This will then give you the maximum footprint on the ground that will give you the maximum tire life.

Wheel Bearings

Wheel bearings must be greased periodically to assure minimum friction and wear of the bearing.  Some bearings have built in seals that protect the bearings from external dirt and are less likely to need frequent service.  Other bearings are open to the elements and must be re packed with grease more often.  Regardless, it is important that you lift the trailer off the ground and turn and shake the wheels to be sure that there is not excessive wear in the bearing surfaces and that the wheels turn smoothly and quietly.

TRAILER HOOK-UP

Hitches

Most bike trailers use the standard 1 7/8 inch or 2 inch ball coupler that are used on automobiles.  Generally the coupler has an adjustable shoe on the bottom that determines how tightly the coupler attaches to the ball.  The goal in this adjustment should be to have the shoe tight enough that there is no wiggle between the ball and the coupler, but not so tight as to cause binding between the ball and coupler.  On receiver type hitches this adjustment is fairly easy.  Just remove the hitch from the receiver and hold it in the coupler while you make your adjustments.  Hitch balls should also be lubricated to prevent metal to metal contact and subsequent wear of the surfaces.  This does not mean that large gobs of grease must be applied (which eventually will find its way to your new jeans pant leg), but a thin film of even a light lubricant like petroleum jelly (Vaseline) will prevent wear.  An even cleaner solution is a small square of wax paper placed between the ball and the coupler to provide lubrication.  Keep a supply in your trunk and use a new piece each time you hook up.There are two schools of thought on the subject of swivel hitches.  Some people feel that they are a waste of money and others feel that they can help avoid trouble in an emergency.  John Preston installs them on all Bushtec trailers.  His reasoning is as follow.  If you have a trailer attached and lay your bike down in a parking lot (forget the kick stand?), the bike lays down almost 90 degrees and the rotation available in a regular ball and coupler is only 40 some degrees.  Therefore something, either the trailer tongue or the hitch is going to have to bend to make up the difference.  Either way, some permanent damage is going to occur.  Also, at highway speeds, if there is something in the road like a 4 X 4 and you miss it with the bike, but one of the trailer wheels hits it, that side of the trailer is going to fly up in the air.  If the ball and the coupler don't have enough rotation available to allow for that sudden flight, the rotational energy is going to be transmitted to the bike and could kick it over.  The choice is, of course, up to the individual.  Swivel hitches are available for most trailers.

Safety Chains

The law requires the use of them.  Some states require that two chains be used.  Regardless, they must be strong enough to keep the trailer attached to the bike in the event something fails in the hitch system.  When using two chains they should be crossed to form a cradle to keep the trailer tongue from driving into the ground.  It is also highly recommended that the bike have a mud flap on the rear tire.  Not only will it help protect the trailer from road grime and stones thrown from the rear tire, but it will also prevent the tongue from hitting the rear tire in the event of a separation.

TRAILER LOADIING

Tongue Weight

The industry rule of thumb is that the tongue weight should be 10 to 15 percent of the trailer weight.  Tongue weight is a direct function of the position of the cargo in the trailer.  If you are carrying an ice chest on the tongue, the loaded weight of the chest must also be taken into consideration.  When loading the trailer, the heaviest items should be positioned over the trailer axle.  Generally you should have a standard way of loading items into the trailer.  Experiment with different tongue weights and different loading techniques until you find a combination that works well for your situation  The trailer should follow straight and true behind the bike with no "wagging" at any speed.  Tongue weights can be measured with a bathroom scale, but must be weighed with the hitch at normal hitch height.

Trailer Weight

Your manufacturer should provide a GVWR or gross vehicle weight rating for your trailer.  This is the total weight of the trailer empty weight, the cargo, and any accessories you may have added such as luggage racks, spare tire, light bars, etc.  It is your responsibility to be sure that you have not exceeded the manufacturer's GVWR.

Tongue Height

Trailer heights vary.  Motorcycle heights vary.  Hitches vary.  Therefore, you must determine the proper tongue height for your combination.  You should load the bike to its normal traveling condition including rider and co-rider and load the trailer to its normal traveling condition and take some measurements.  Your goal is to have a one to two degree downward attitude on the trailer tongue.  The reason for this is that in a hard stop, the front of the bike normally dives down and the rear of the bike raises.  You want the force of the trailer to push the rear of the bike down, not help to raise it more.  You might have to use some personal innovation to achieve this.  You may be able to buy a taller or shorter ball, or you may have to modify the position of the coupler on the tongue, but it is important the proper height be achieved.

PULLING THE TRAILER

Pre-Ride Checks

Before you get on the bike when you have a trailer attached, you should make some pre-ride inspections.  Is the coupler securely attached to the ball?  Grab the tongue and pull up hard.  Be sure the coupler is properly latched and secured.  Check the safety chains.  Make sure they are securely fastened.  Open "S" hooks are not as reliable as screw type chain links
or hooks with spring keepers.  Check the function of the lights-marker, stop, and turn.  Make sure the trailer lid is securely closed.  Take a walk around the trailer and make sure all is in order.

On the Road

With today's lightweight and aerodynamic trailers, it is easy to forget that it is back there when you are cruising along with 1200 or 1500 cc's of bike.  However, your stopping distance is going to be significantly increased with the 350 pounds of extra weight.  You must give yourself a little extra safety margin when preparing for a stop.  And don't forget the extra length when turning a corner or passing another vehicle.  Always remember that the rider is ultimately liable for any damage the trailer might cause.  Make sure that you have taken all the proper precautions to assure a safe ride.

Jim Hodges OH ADE
April 1999

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Leathers Really are Worth the Price

Leathers REALLY are Worth the Price

With the cold weather now coming to a close (we hope) we are beginning to get our Wings ready for the 1999 riding season.  Although it is still cool to ride and since it is only April or May when we start to ride, mornings and evenings will still have cool weather.  We must be prepared for this.  Wearing leather is always good anytime.  We are not speaking of fake leather, we are talking of good quality.  Though pretty expensive, wearing leather chaps and heavier jackets can save you in a fall.  There is ample proof that these provide far more than protection from the cold.  In studies of "survivability" of various garment materials to a 50 MPH ride on asphalt, for example, denim lasted no more that FOUR FEET before wearing through.  Kevlar, on the other hand, lasted EIGHTEEN FEET.  However, standard motorcycle quality (about three times heavier than fashion jacket material) lasted EIGHTY-SIX FEET.  That is more than 20 times as effective as your jeans in protecting your hide.  Now we see those who think nothing of riding in short sleeve shirts or halter tops and think it is cool.  If the unfortunate happens and you go down, how much protection do you have then? 

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Ultimate Trust

Riders, we all know how complicated piloting our Wings can be. Over 2400 separate skills have been identified in operating a motorcycle. Most of the time we're using many of them at the same time. We make split-second decision, coordinating two hands, two feet, eyes, head, and body. We have to have a lot of faith in our abilities to take our machine out on the road. Can you imagine anything that requires more trust? Well I can!

Put yourself in the place of your Co-Rider! She (or he) is putting herself at the same risk as you are, but has very little control over what happens out there. Certainly she can be your second pair of eyes, and that's an important contribution. There are other ways she can take control in an emergency situation (has your Co-Rider had a Co-Rider Seminar lately?), but for the most part, the moment-to-moment operation of the motorcycle is out of her control.

Have you ever been a Co-Rider? I have, and I'm not ashamed to say that I didn't care for it very much. It's not that the skills of the people who I was riding with weren't up to par. They were good riders. It's just that it takes an awful lot of trust to put yourself almost completely in someone else's hands when it comes to a higher risk activity such as motorcycling.

Many of us take our Co-Rider for granted. They climb on the back and enjoy the ride, scenery, and our company. They place their well-being with us, and seldom say a word about it. Oh sure, maybe if we get going too a bit too fast in the twisty-curvies, or if they think we might not be noticing that car that looks like it might pull out from the side road. These situations may cause a word of warning or a bonk on the helmet, but for the most part they let us carry on the business of piloting the Wing with little comment or interference.

When someone puts that much faith in us, their faith deserves to be well-founded. If we don't take the steps to improve and maintain our skills, we're doing our Co-Riders a terrible disservice. In most cases, the Co-Rider on our Wing is also our Co-Rider in life - the person to whom we've committed ourselves through thick and thin. Do they deserve for us to be less than 100% out there on the road?

When we participate in a MSF course, arm ourselves with the very important requirements necessary to advance in the GWRRA Levels Program, or just go out and practice in a parking lot, there's a lot more at stake than just our own well being. Give you Co-Rider a lot of credit for putting so much trust in you and return the compliment by making sure that you don't betray that trust out there on the road where it means so much.

From the December issue of the Region D Rider Education Newsletter
Dave McElderry
Region D Senior Educator
March 1999

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