More Motorcycle Monkey Business for 2013!

Reminiscing over last years riding season, I can’t believe the number of new motorcycling experiences I was able to add to my list. Quite remarkable when considering I’m embarking on my 30th year as a licensed (and non-stop) rider. And I’ve got to admit, one of the rides ranking near the top of my list happened on Canada’s famed Mosport race track and in a race sidecar motorcycle – I was the “monkey”!

The term "monkey" refers to the rider in the sidecar swinging from front to back to assist the pilot in steering. The opportunity happened with the Canadian VRRA (Vintage Road Racing Association) during their Mosport festival race venue. In-between the days races the VRRA host a “try the sidecar ride” to most anyone who signs up (some restrictions and need to have full gear). The sidecar owners make their machines available and host a few laps around the track. It’s a generous opportunity, asking but a few dollars donation to the club. How could I refuse?

My pilot was a sidecar racing veteran - a husband and wife team - Paul and Marie Whittaker. In this case Paul was the bike’s pilot and Marie the monkey. Marie gave me the run down on the “monkey-business” - specifically the manoeuvres giving me some stationary practise in pit lane before getting out there. The “monkey’s” distribution of weight by laying down up front and low; then up to knees, shifting back and over the pilot’s passenger seat at the right time, are key to cornering the sidecar and to its corner speed. Teamwork at its finest and no walk in the park for the monkey – a lot of hard work.

So off we went! I was totally up for the fun, but as Paul got up to speed, I continued to muff up most all corners we took- I just couldn’t get myself into position by the time he  needed to turn the bike into  the corner. Frustrating! Climbing forward, climbing back...gosh I needed a few more yoga classes or a more flexible race suit! The challenge of getting into position to coincide with each corner was tricky. I was not providing Paul any assistance to manoeuvre the corners! My lack of familiarity with the track was a further disadvantage. 

With one lap behind me now I thought I’d certainly be better at the my role for the second lap. I started to watch Paul for indications such as when I should move - seeing if I could anticipate by his motions, again, as I didn’t know Mosport. At one point I raised up my hand so he could see it and waving to the right with my thumb pointed intending to say "right turn corner now?” Well, he took that as a signal to exit and that I’d had enough and wanted to go in. I suppose that was easily mistaken as we happened to be approaching pit lane and the exit of the track. Darn, I was disappointed! I wanted more and especially more time to get the job right. 

I climbed off thanking Paul (and Marie) while Paul readied to take the next rider. The tingling in my arms lingered for a while and  I felt as though they'd been stretched in length - you know, like a monkey’s! I was definitely not in shape for the task.

I’m so pleased to have added this to my motorcycling experiences. Though it wasn’t as thrilling to me as being the pilot or as racing on two wheels; the experience is incomparable to anything else motorcycling. Indeed, don’t pass up the chance if you have the opportunity.

As we ride into 2013, I hope your year will be filled with ever more new motorcycling experiences. They need not happen on the track- some can be as simple as touring to a new region or taking out a scooter for the first time during a demo ride.

Take it from me, every aspect and form of motorcycling offers up its own unique sensation- more fun than a "barrel of monkeys" - you might say!

Happy New Year riding!

Thanks again VRRA, especially to Paul and Marie Whittaker!

These fabulous photos by Richard Coburn, 

Coburn Photography www.coburnphotography.ca

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Sidecar Smarts (ala Wikipedia)

The sidecars are often classed by age or engine size, with historic sidecar racing often being more popular than its modern counterpart. Older classes in road racing generally resemble solo motorcycles with a platform attached, where modern racing sidecars are low and long and borrow much technology from open wheel race cars. In all types of sidecar racing there is a rider and a passenger who work in unison to make the machine perform, as they would be almost unrideable without the passenger in the correct position.

Road racing sidecars began to change away from normal motorcycle development in the 1950s with them becoming lower and using smaller diameter wheels and they kept the enclosed "dustbin fairing" banned in solo competition in 1957. By the 1970s they were using wide slick tyres with a square car like profile, the rider kneeled behind the engine instead of sitting on a seat and the motor of choice was generally a 500 cc two stroke. In the late 1970s sidecars began to appear with hub centre steering and later the engines moved to the rear of the rider, to lower the centre of gravity further still, making the sidecar very long. Sidecars raced in the world championship known as Superside are all hub centre long monocoque framed machines, the most common being LCR, ART or Windle, with 1,000 cc four-cylinder four-stroke engines, the most popular being the Suzuki GSX-R1000.

These at club and national level are known as Formula One sidecars, as opposed to Formula Two. Formula Two sidecars are short front engined bikes, which must have a frame made of steel tube and have leading link forks as monocoques and hub centre steering is banned. Engines are 350 cc two strokes or 600 cc four strokes. F2 sidecars are raced in their own championship but are often on track at the same time as the F1’s, but competing for their own points. Since 1990 at the Isle of Man TT, the Sidecar TT has been solely contested by Formula Two sidecars as Formula Ones were deemed too fast, then lapping at 108 mph (174 km/h) average. By 2006 however, F2s were faster than this lapping at 116 mph (187 km/h).

Somewhere in California a Woman's Having Fun .. in Free Motorcycle Boots

Our MOTORESS commerce items are certainly going well in our online shop! I get such personal pleasure in being able to provide terrific products which I've either created or used myself. It’s not often you’ll find items for women in motorcycling / scootering endorsed by another woman. 

About a month ago we had a very determined shopper - Ms Colette Jue of San Francisco California who purchased a gift certificate. It took her three credit card attempts where the third card finally went through. The others were declined. She purchased one of our gift certificates in the amount of $250. How nice, a gift which would certainly make someone very happy.

The next day Ms. Luan Nguyen Thanh from Westminster, California went through our shop and purchased our new fabulous ankle high Drift boot by Exustar. She also purchased a few lipsticks, our mineral bronzer and shimmer powder- using the gift certificate Colette bought the day before.

Promptly and with pleasure, we shipped the boots and cosmetics. 

Then, a few weeks later, our online banking partner Moneris took back the $250.00 from our bank account (a charge-back). Evidently, the transaction was fraudulent and Ms Colette Jue never authorized use of her card.

After much debate and paperwork substantiating our actions to the situation, we were still not able to reverse the loss. As Colette did not authorize use of her card, nor did she receive the goods, there was little we could do.

The loss, with shipping, cost of goods, etc. totalled $300. on our side.

And though frustrating; mostly in that our banking partner didn't stand behind our integrity and faulted us for processing the card – I didn't feel any anger at the fact of being ripped off by a devious crook.

No, I actually felt quite complimented  - as this person, a woman, so desired these motorcycle boots and our cosmetics that she went to great lengths to acquire them. For heaven’s sake, she committed a crime to have them!

That’s truthfully flattering in my books.

But mainly, I thought that she obviously needed them much more than we did.

Of course my business can’t afford to incur losses like these regularly. It hurt indeed, but lessons learned where now additional procedures are in place to avoid such an occurrence in the future.

And best of all, when I imagine this woman on her motorcycle or scooter, enjoying her fabulous free motorcycle boots along with her Beauty Gear accented lips and bronzed glittery face; a happy feeling takes me over- now  ...that can't be bought or stolen!

Riding a Motorcycle Japanese Style

Let me tell you – it is pure heaven to ride a motorcycle in Japan! And appropriately my first moto-voyage had to be on a Japanese brand –a Honda CB 400. The fact alone of experiencing Japan was awe-inspiring in itself. This beautiful culture of ancient standing and etiquette's; delectable special cuisines - all that and the addition of riding a motorcycle just moved me beyond anything I could have imagined. I really never thought it would be as fantastic as experienced. The roads are perfect. They twist, they turn, and they disappear through tunnels and climb to heights of spectacular views. They border coastlines of unbelievable tropical scenery. And when the scent of pine or coastal sea dissipates from the air, it's quickly replaced by incense or soya cooked food aromas arousing the senses –as only a motorcyclist can experience in the open air – of Japan!

At the time of my visit, mid/end November the daily average temperatures reach 18 Celsius- perfect riding weather. In fact, in this climate most Japanese ride all year long –only when the snow stays on the roads in Tokyo do they park the bike or scooter. And even then, it’s never for very long. I imagine in summer though, when temperatures soar accented with high humidity, it would be less pleasant.

The days shorten quickly; it’s dark in Japan at 17.00 just like in Toronto this time of year. And once the sun disappears behind the mountain tops, it becomes very chilly.The climate varies a few degrees here and there affected by its mountainous influence or surrounding coastal waters. The island is lovely and lush covered in a thick green blanket of forest; vibrant with reds as autumns colours begin to decorate its landscape. 

Before departure to Japan, many friends expressed their concerns about me riding within Japan’s “LHT”– left hand traffic system. Well, it’s not my first time and I had no troubles adjusting to taking up my lane positions etc. on the left side of the road. I’ve driven and ridden in England and when living in St. Maarten, I’d often visit neighbouring Anguilla – a British island using LHT (just a ferry ride from French St. Martin port). Though I admit, once in a while a prompt would come forward in my brain of confusion and question– “hey what are you doing on the left side of the road!?” One of those conditioned muscle memory thingy’s.  On a plus note, the LHT system allows for some curb hugging sharp left turns. Much more fun than sharp right turns here in the RHT (right hand traffic) system.

The roads are narrow yet, really, I didn't notice as my years of riding (and living) in Europe, travelling through narrow village streets is common place. Road surface is well kept, clean and really quite perfect. There are no potholes, litter or junk on the road. The speed limit is lower, usually 80 km/h to 100 km/h the expressways. You can imagine this is the part I found most challenging. Those perfect sweeping roads, little traffic or no congestion made it a difficult task to keep under control. Interestingly, the speed signs can be adjusted electronically and apparently there are cameras everywhere, though I never could seem to find one.

Toll booths are common and frequent on Japan’s national expressways. They are expensive to use and are based on distance travelled. You collect a ticket when entering the expressway and then pay further along on a machine. Honestly, I would not have figured this out alone- thank goodness my Japanese good friend took care of this for me. Of course, residents can purchase an electronic toll collection.

To sum it up, I've been touched by Japan! What an incredible experience. Of course  adding Japan to my list of  motorcycle riding  experiences is certainly any moto enthusiasts' dream. 

Though the basics of riding remain the same, this Japan experience, the stage set by Nippon’s culture, as you can imagine, compares to none. I really can’t wait to return again, and I hope soon!

Oh yes, I really must tell you about the ride up Mt. Nantai along Lake Chuzenji! This was too incredible! Hideo-san, local friend (former motorcycle racer and Formula I test driver) escorted us up and down Mt. Nantai through chicane after mountain twist-crazy! He knew the mountain well and could not be kept up with on his big Triumph Bonneville.

I think I’ll be sharing quite a lot of Japan here for the next while –but for now ...Sayonara!

Riding Lake Temiskaming on Harley-Davidson Road King Classic

This past August I took a four day ride on the mighty Harley-Davidson road King Classic up North [of Toronto]- around Lake Temiskaming. The tale of this exploration starts like this …"the fragrance of fresh birch and pine was invigorating! Golden rod and wild grasses along the road’s shoulder leaped forward with a punch of colour. The road shone..."   and this just one scene within this special ride. The full story continues here.

If you enjoy touring on a motorcycle and being surrounded by a simple quiet setting, I'm certain you’ll enjoy the read. And just as the article affects me, I hope it will do the same for you- prompting memories of great summer rides.

Gosh even now on this on cold and raining December day, and just looking at this picture- I can feel the sun on my face! And as I look to the bike, I can feel the warmth the bike's seat has absorbed as I set myself into it readying to ride away. Mmmm... reflections, the next best thing!

And the route, definitely a must to ride if you’re planning to visit Ontario!

Full Link: 

http://www.northernontario.travel/motorcycle-touring/riding-lake-temiskaming