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After riding Ohio State Routes 83 and 339 on Saturday (Sept. 4), I did a shorter and less technical route on Sunday. I had a lot to do around the house during Labor Day weekend and couldn’t spend a lot of time on the road all three days. I made Sunday my short ride day and decided to explore a section of freeway I hadn’t ridden before.

When my plans to visit the National Motorcycle Museum over Labor Day got put on hold by my bank account, I devised three northeast Ohio rides for that weekend — and they didn’t disappoint.

Of all the motorcycle events I attend each year, the Motorcycle Sport Touring Association’s Mail Pouch Fly-By rally is perhaps the one I look forward to most.  As best I can recall, the Fly-By was the first MSTA regional rally I attended and — though I now don’t live too far from the rally’s host…… Continue reading Three Things I Am Looking Forward To at the 2021 MSTA Mail Pouch Fly-By Rally

My first motorcycle ride of 2021 was a scant six miles long, but it was one of the meaningful rides in my 14 years of practicing the motorcycling lifestyle. I didn’t go anywhere exciting, didn’t stop anywhere noteworthy or break some personal mileage record. It was meaningful because it was a symbolic victory for me, and I haven’t had many victories lately.

Those who have talked with me about motorcycle touring have more than likely heard me use the phrase, “It’s better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.” This maxim applies to many aspects of packing for an overnight motorcycle trip, but really hits home when it comes to riding gloves.

After a few busy weekends, I finally had a free day to get some saddle time in on Oct. 25. The rather chilly few hours on the bike with two friends in tow featured some good times on fun, twisty southeast Ohio roads, as well as some experience riding in the cold for the least-seasoned member of the group.

Of all the tours I had planned for 2020, the Michigan Johnny Cash ride was the one I most wanted to get done this year. On Aug. 22-23, that mission was accomplished. The ride is part of my ongoing riding project for which I am riding to all the places in the United States mentioned in the Johnny Cash song, “I’ve Been Everywhere.”

Trip Description I will not be able to attend this year’s MotoAmerica round at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, so I decided to take a two-day ride to Spartanburg, S.C. and back to get a ride on the West Virginia Turnpike this year, as well as photograph my Yamaha FJR1300 at several scenic overviews I discovered…… Continue reading Tour Report: Down South Ride 2020

Well, it was finally done in the wee hours of the morning on June 7, and I still don’t know how to feel about completing my Iron Butt Association SaddleSore 1000 ride. On the one hand, it’s great to have a membership in the IBA pending. That said, the ride was anything but exciting. For…… Continue reading Looking back on my SaddleSore 1000