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Here's The Motorcycle Touring Made Easy eZine
November 09, 2009

Motorcycle Touring Made Easy

....the eZine
....inside this issue

Prepping for the Holidays!

This month we are dedicating this issue to riding for the holidays. With holidays upon us and the cold working its way in we would like to discuss something dear to our hearts. That is, giving back.


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Welcome to the Motorcycle Touring Made Easy eZine
Our goal with our website is to provide motorcycle touring information to others that would like to get involved or know more about motorcycle touring. We've spent the last two years gathering information and getting it together on the site and now with our eZine we're looking to bring you more and up to date information directly to you. Feel free to forward this eZine on to all your friends and if someone has sent this to you, please go to our home page and subscribe to get your own monthly copy. Just fill out the form and your there!

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Prepping for the Holidays
As the winter months work their way in, a good majority of us start to ride less and less. Depending on your location the weather could be anything from a couple feet of snow to blazing sun and warm temps.

Either way, now’s the time to let others know that bikers aren't just big bad dudes and babes that ride around bucking the "system" and that we do care about others. Get with some of the local groups that are putting together toy runs or fund raisers and join in on all the fun and fulfillment that you will receive just by being a part of it.

In our area the Blue Knights put together an annual toy run to the Salvation Army. It brings bike from all around the area. We have license plates from neighboring states, people riding over a hundred miles for a coffee and doughnut and the chance to put a smile on a child's face. Bikes from all walks of life coming together for one common cause.

If you have never been on a ride like this, let me tell you what you're missing. First off you are missing one heck of a bike show! The bikes that are gathered range from customs, street bikes and touring bike to antiques, rare bikes and some that you just have to look at and say "What the .....". It is a great place to gather and talk with others that share the same thing that you do and that's riding.

The ride itself is something that has to be experienced. Getting anywhere from a hundred bikes to a thousand bikes together to ride in one group, escorted with police motorcycles blowing through all the traffic lights and waving to all the onlookers young and old alike. The ride is usually nice and slow and all just take their time getting to the finish point. For our ride it was about five miles, but took about fifteen minutes to get there. So a nice leisurely ride.

And what awaits for you at the end? Kids peaking out the windows of the place that you are dropping off the gifts. Their eyes like pancakes trying to take dibs on the gifts that they won't even see for a couple months. The smile on the faces of the workers as the pile of gifts and food keeps growing and growing. What a way to start out your holidays with the warm feeling of helping out someone you don't even know and knowing that it really matters.

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Out on the Road - Riding and Safety
One thing that I need to make sure to discuss is a little bit of safety when riding in large groups like this. Even if you are use to group riding you should heed a few words of advice here. First off for some, this may be a first time experience for some in the group. They may be in awe from all the bikes and not be paying a lot of attention. This is a must when in a group like this due to what we call the accordion effect. One person stops upfront and the next thing you know, everyone is stopping and usually much quicker. So make sure to leave some buffer room.

Try to stagger the bikes as best you can, don't have someone directly beside you. This gives you a bit of room to move around things like pot holes and obstacles in the road.

Also be aware of your escorts. They will be driving past you to get in front to block the upcoming intersections so pay close attention to your mirror. And if for some reason you need to stop and pull over, pull way over and out of the way so that others have room to get by without causing any issues.

And Most Of All...... ENJOY THE RIDE!!

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If you have any information you'ld like to discuss, we have our new forum up and need YOUR input to get some great and current discussions going. Plus a new area to post "For Sale" items. See our Forum Here



Judy and I hope that you've enjoyed our eZine and if so, please send it on to your friends. If you have any tips that you would like to see posted on our site go to our tips page. We'll get them on our site and maybe use it in our eZine as well.

Also feel free to Contact Us with any questions or suggestions.

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