We have Assistant Chapter Directors!
Thanks to Arnie and Veronica for volunteering as our new assistant CDs. Arnie and Veronica will serve as ACDs in 2009 and be ready to become Chapter Directors in 2010. Arnie has already started preparing for the job and we will have their paperwork in process soon.
Be sure to congratulate them and thank them for taking on this new responsibility.
Both Arnie and Veronica bring a lot of leadership and experience to the Chapter.
Jean ans I look forward to working with them this year.
Hooray!
The Firehouse Kitchen is Finished
Chapter P is so fortunate to have such nice place to hold our meetings and we all want to show our appreciation to the firehouse.
The fire company has finished a long awaited remodeling for their kitchen and we will be assisting them in filling the drawers with items to help make it complete.
This is the list of things needed for the kitchen and our Chapter has agreeded to provide them. Look over the list and choose an item or two you would like to donate and call Jean Carr to let her know your choice. Please bring your items to the November meeting so we can help finish the kitchen. Thanks for your help for the firehouse and our hists.
Can Opener- Chapter will buy
Cookie Sheets
Dish drainer and mats
10 cup coffee maker
Rug for in front of sink
Plastic spatulas
Large spoons
Measuring spoons
Measuring cups
Soup ladels
Dish towels
Dish clothes
Oven mitts
Pot holders
Lets Ride!
November
1 Halloween Party Pre Party Fluvanna Co Roy Lewis Lead
2 Lunch Ride –Staunton Diner Sunday
16 Monthly Meet--
December
6 Williamsburg-- Decorations Ride
We have two new couples in the Chapter
Thurmon and Bernice Durrett live in Afton and are long time bikers. Thurmon works for the Post Office and Bernice is in the Social Security Administration.
Al and Shirley Campbell are building (literally) a home in Shenandoah Crossing near Gordonsville. They ride a white 1800.
Welcome all!
Ride Challenge 2008
The results are in and we await Chapter X's news of their riding. We have all agreed that putting our dinner off until January or February will be more enjoyable for all. Stay tuned for more news.
I
MAINTAINING RIDER SKILLS
I started riding in my mid-twenties when I was a Mechanical Designer in the Harley-Davidson Engineering Department. It only took a year of riding all-year round in Wisconsin to turn me into a Hill Climber and an Enduro Competitor. In those days I had the skills to ride a 175 Mile Enduro averaging 25 mph with 75% of the time off the road. I’ve ridden through snow, on ice, down railroad tracks, through sand pits, quarries, and marshes with 2 feet of water. I’ve ridden almost continuously over the past 44 years on 10 different machines ranging from 50cc to 1800cc.
Well that was then! You’d think with all that experience I could handle anything that would happen on the road. But some of the things that happen on the road, these days, make my heart start pumping and the adrenaline flow.
I consider sometimes that my Pride and Joy, I now ride, is worth more than any of our cars. My wife reminds me of that every time I add another accessory. Where I used to take pride in mud all over the bike, I don’t even like bugs on this one much less a scratch. As I was riding on one of the Virginia Tour routes, through some of our beautiful country side, I was thinking “What if I had to take this Pride and Joy of mine off of the road to avoid an accident?” Would I be willing to do that? Could I handle it if I did? I truly don’t know! The thought of running my wing into a culvert and possibly through a barbed wire fence is quite unnerving.
We’ve all ridden down a sunny Virginia highway, looking at the mountains, grassy slopes, blue skies, enjoying the beauty of our natural surroundings, in a carefree (a word very close to careless) state of mind. What we should be doing is staying alert to potential road situations, anticipating vehicles coming wide around the blind curve ahead, a deer carcass lying in our lane, or the way the road may curve as you go over the next rise. On a two-lane road with two or three cars approaching, have you thought about presenting yourself by moving to the right side of the lane, so the 2nd or 3rd oncoming drivers can see you? Some side roads are unpaved. Have you prepared yourself to deal with gravel on the road at the intersection?
It’s easy to make yourself concentrate and stay alert to road conditions when your are driving the Tail of the Dragon. We need to stay just as alert and focused when we are on a weekend ride. We need to get ourselves properly rested before a ride to help maintain our alertness and focus. Make it a practice on every ride to make quick stops, do serpentines, and proper changes in your lane as you go through curves and around corners. Consider taking riding courses; as refreshers, if you have already taken them. Most of all, have fun and ride safe.
Chapter Educator,
D. Michael Traver
VISIBILITY
Is not just being seen
By D. Michael Traver
Chapter Educator
In the Wing World Magazine last month, there was an article about seeing a motorcycle from the perspective of a truck driver and I began thinking about importance of being seen and seeing. Consider, if you will, Who do you suppose is less likely to run into trouble. The rider who can see others well or the rider who others can see well?
Who is less likely to have an accident - The rider with superior visual skills or the rider who is the most conspicuous? Combining these is ,of course, the best situation. But, if you were to choose only one, which would you choose?
All of us choose to be as conspicuous as possible through the use of bright colored clothing and adding lights to our machines. I wonder, however, how many of us give any thought to our visual expertise.
Again, consider if you will, 45 to 55% of motorcycle accidents are single vehicle (only involving to motorcycle), average 50%. Of the remaining 50% (multi-vehicle) accidents let us assume that motorcyclist are responsible for half of them which adds another 25%.
That would make motorcyclists responsible for 75% of the accidents!
The factors that enter into an accident, where the rider is concerned, is physical ability, anticipation, perception, attitude, mechanical functioning of the machine, and various visual factors. Of these various visual factors only one, visual acuity, that is 20/20 vision naturally or corrected, will help avoid 75 to 90% of all visibility-related risk factors.
The ability to see clearly and well makes the most critical difference to a skilled riders survival on the road. The ability of others to see you clearly is exceptionally important also but it is secondary to your own vision. Your eyes tell you everything you need to know about the road in order to put your machine where it needs to be at any given time.
A short list of vision factors includes detractors and enhancers.
Detractors include Old prescription lenses, cheap sunglasses, steam on the shields, bugs, and dirty water from the road.
Enhancers include a Clean scratch free face shield, current prescription eyeglasses, and high quality sun glasses.
Ride Safe and have Fun!