Gold Wing Road Riders Association

Transcription

1 Gold Wing Road Riders Association Chapter AB-A A (Calgary) Newsletter CASTLE MOUNTAIN February, 2009 Wing Wag Text from the Education Division at GWRRA forwarded by Alex Middleton, Chapter Educator AB-A M y 10 best reasons the part of the road closest to the centerline is the best choice for 90% of riding situations. Here s my own personal opinions on riding safer. It's all about being seen. People aren't generally watching for vehicles traveling along the shoulder. I also encourage the fact that the more accessory lighting you have on your Honda Gold Wing, the safer you and your co-rider will be on the open road. Besides turning heads everywhere you go, lighting plays a vital role in being seen, adding extra visibility could save your life. Check out items that can make your bike safer along with the chrome bling. Examples of items that play a role in your safety are things like a (Continued on page 3) Feb 9 Mar 9 Mar 28 Coming Events Monthly Meeting Monthly Meeting First Aid Course What s Inside Montana Trip Pictures...2 Humor...2 Motorcycle Show Thank You s...4 Travel Pics...6 Safety First...8 News & Notices...9 Classifieds...10 Calgary Area Staff Listing...10

2 Wing Wag February, 2009 Page 2 Photos by: Warran & Gilda Lench his A.M. after church we were talking motorcycles and John Doe told me about a friend of his who has two bikes. One is a Gold Wing that he rides in the day light and it is comfortable. The other is a Harley that he rides at night. Why does he ride it at night? Because it makes so much noise he hopes it will scare the moose and deer off the road in front of him. Submitted by Kim Coubrough as heard by his father in Wainwright, AB

3 Wing Wag February, 2009 Page 3 (Continued from page 1) smart tire air pressure warning system, blind spot mirrors, LED turn signal mirrors, flashing headlight, brake light modulators, etc. Jackets should have some sort of reflective material on the outside so both the rider and passenger can be visible at night. If you are ever separated from the motorcycle in an accident at night, being seen at a distance could save your life. A popular and affordable safety item is a reflective safety vest. Easily worn over jackets, provides excellent visibility to oncoming motorists and can be worn over anything. Here s some of my own opinions on riding my Gold Wing safer based on my experience defending myself on our public roads. Sharing information on safety is something we can all learn about and share here together. 1. Defend your lane. Motorcycles are entitled to a full lane of traffic. Traveling near the centerline discourages people from encroaching on your lane. 2. Avoid obstacles. When traveling behind a car or truck, they may tend to "straddle" an obstacle in the road (like potholes or roadkill) rather than swerve around it. If you are traveling in the center of the lane, by the time the obstacle is revealed to you, there would be no time to react. If the obstacle is near the centerline, the car or truck will be forced to go around it, giving an indication that you should do likewise. 3. Less oil on the road. The center part of the lane is the part that gets the most oil dripped on it from vehicles passing over it. The oil slick can get slippery, especially after a rain. 4. Avoid animals. At night, the center of the road gives the most space buffer from animals running out into the road, possibly giving you time to react. Having a deer or animal alert really helps too. There are chrome stick-on types, as well as the more effective electric type. Animals can hear these when properly mounted on your bike, but we cannot. 5. Passing scenario 1: There are 2 cars behind you, 1 in front of you. You are riding in the middle of the lane, not the one closest to the centerline. The last car in line decides to pass the car behind you. He see's the gap and decides to go for it, not realizing there s a motorcycle in that lane. 6. Passing scenario 2: You are behind a long line of cars or trucks. Behind you is a stretch of open road before the next pack of cars. You are riding fairly close to the shoulder. A car in the oncoming lane decides to dart out and pass after the long line of cars. He "shoots the gap" a little too early, not realizing you are behind the cars. 7. Visibility to merging traffic. Riding the centerline makes you most visible to cars waiting at intersections to pull out. 8. Stay in their mirror. When travelling behind vehicles, especially trucks, be in their drivers side mirror as a constant reminder that you're behind them. They may be less likely to suddenly stop if they miss their turn knowing there is someone behind them, instead opting to go to the next intersection. 9. Practice lane sharing. It's develops good lane discipline to force yourself to stay in 1/3 of a lane of traffic, rather than allow yourself to wander all over in your lane. It could come in handy on bigger group rides where lane-sharing is expected. 10.Louder Horns. Having louder horns also really helps, have you ever started beeping at someone cutting you off and they never heard your stock horn. Invest in some loud chrome air horns, when you see trouble coming and beep your horn, they will hear you! There are exceptions to "riding the centerline". I tend to adjust my lane position depending on traffic situations. Curves are one possible exception. If there is a car looking to pass an oncoming semi, I will tend to move over a little to make sure they see me. Avoiding the wind blast might be another reason. Many riders recommend Installing a belly pan on a Gold Wing to reduce the effects of side winds in addition to protecting your engine and plastic coolant tank. Stay safe! WW

4 Wing Wag February, 2009 Page 4 THE CALGARY CHAPTER OF THE GOLD WING ROAD RIDERS ASSOCIATION WOULD LIKE TO THANK AUSTIN D'ARCY AND HIS STAFF FROM THE SONY STORE CHINOOK FOR THE USE OF ONE OF THEIR 32" LCD TV'S. HAVING THE USE OF THIS TV HELPED MAKE THIS MOTORCYCLE SHOW A TERRIFIC SUCCESS. I would like to Thank all those members that helped to put on the Motorcycle Show this year, through volunteering for shifts, submitting photos, and donating the use of equipment. Without this generosity the Motorcycle Show would not be possible. Alex Middleton Chapter Educator AB-A

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6 Wing Wag February, 2009 Photos by: Warran & Gilda Lench More Pictures from the Montana trip Page 6

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8 Wing Wag February, 2009 Page 8 If you are interested in attending any courses please contact Alex Middleton at rider goldwing calgary.com to express your interest or for additional information. Scheduled Courses: First Aid Course for March 28, 2009 which is a Saturday. The course will cost about $35.00 and anyone interested in taking the course please contact Alex at the above address. WW Writers Wanted 1020 Meridian Rd. N.E. Calgary, AB T2A 2N8 If you have a story about your recent motorcycle adventures we would love to share it with the other GWRRA members by publishing your story in the Wing Wag. Please your stories to Lisa Miller at goldwing calgary.com

9 Wing Wag February, 2009 Page 9 1. We all like to travel on our Gold Wings and one of the special things about travel is the memories we capture with our cameras. Why not share some of your favorite photos with other GWRRA members. Please send some of your favorite travel photos with a brief caption for the new section Travel Pics on page 6, please be sure to tell me who took the picture so credit can be given. Send your pictures to telus.net in either.jpg or.gif format. WW

10 Wing Wag February, 2009 Page 10 Classified Ads The Classified ads are free to all members and associates of the GWRRA. While advertised items do not have to be Gold Wing related, we do insist that all ads pertain to motorcycling. Ads will appear on a space available basis for one month. Should you wish to continue to run your ad for a second or succeeding month, you must resubmit or renew your ad. Deadline for submission is the 25th of the month preceding publication. To post an ad or if the item is sold or the offer withdrawn, please contact Lisa Miller at: goldwing calgary.com CLASSIFIED ADS Synthetic Amsoil Oils and Filters available thru Brian Perrin. Special pricing for G.W.R.R.A Members. Arrangements can be made to pick up at monthly meetings. Contact Brian Perrin by at goldwingcalgary.com or call to order. FOR SALE: Cool vest XXL $25.00 Phone # CALGARY AREA STAFF Chapter Directors Jim & Dorothy Baker (403) chapter goldwing calgary.com Assistant Gary & Susan Premech (403) Chapter Director assistant chapter goldwing calgary.com Quartermaster Brian Perrin (403) goldwing calgary.com Newsletter Editor Lisa Miller (403) goldwing calgary.com Treasurer Darryl Snyder (403) goldwing calgary.com Ride Coordinator Rod Banman (403) ride goldwing calgary.com Rider Training Don Martin (403) rider goldwing calgary.com Rider Education Alex Middleton (403) rider goldwing calgary.com Rider Course Terry Burrell (403) Instructor goldwing calgary.com Social Coordinators Carol Myers (403) social goldwing calgary.com & Susan Premech (403) social goldwing calgary.com Membership Darryl Minsky (403) Enhancement goldwing calgary.com Coordinator & Webmaster January 50/50 Winner Marie Holden GWRRA TOLL FREE NUMBER (CANADA & US) NATIONAL LEADERS Executive Director Melissa Nordeoff (623) Natl Dirs for Cdn Ops Ron & Carol Hodgson (403) Natl Rider Ed Director Dave Hay (205) Region J Directors Phil & Margaret Craven (250) District Directors Ross & Audrey Woolsey (780) NOTE: addresses in this publication are displayed in a manner that will deter automatic address harvesting programs. This step is taken to reduce unsolicited to any addresses we post. We regret any inconvenience caused for our legitimate visitors. REMOVE ALL THE SPACES IN THE ADDRESS TO MAKE IT WORK.

11 Wing Wag February, 2009 Page 11 EVENT SCHEDULE DAY/DATE EVENT AB-A SPONSOR Feb 9 February Monthly Meeting Mar 9 March Monthly Meeting Mar 28 First Aid Course Monthly Meetings Monthly meetings are held on the 2nd Monday of each month. This is a time to share information and to meet old and new friends who like to ride together for FUN, Safety and Knowledge. See you at the next meeting at the Fox Hollow Golf Club, 9th Street and 32nd Avenue N.E. 6:30; Meeting at 7:00 PM. Friends for Fun, Safety, and Knowledge Come ride with us...everyone Welcome! For the latest updates on what we are doing and where we re going, check out our website: Rain, snow or shine, we meet for breakfast every Sunday morning about 9 AM. This is a great year round way to stay in touch with your GWRRA friends. So, if you have missed the opportunity to join us for breakfast recently, why don t you come on over to the Fox Hollow Golf Club, 9th Street and 32nd Avenue N.E.

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