The Easter Bunny has returned to wherever it is he goes for the year — most likely eating the vegetables in my garden all summer long. With the passing of this holiday we notice that the weather is getting warmer and the days are staying light longer. You know what that means, don’t you?
Of course it’s the season of the weekend motorcycle runs for charity. As each day brings us closer to the really warm weather of summer, well, as warm as it gets in NEPA. Here are some upcoming rides in brief. Keep checking the Weekender for more updates each week.
April 19 — WVMC Mary Beth Richards Memorial Poker Run
April 26 — Noon-6:30 p.m. Swap meet extravaganza at Dragon’s Lair
May 24 — Caring For Carrie Ride starts at Luzerne County Fairgrounds, ends at Konefal’s
May 25 — Band of Brothers Memorial Day ride in the Ashley parade
June 14 — WVMC SPCA Run
June 21 — Poker Run/Benefit Concert “For The Kids” Crossroads Inn, Mountain Top
July 12 — Stephanie Jallen Paralympic Ride
July 19 — WVMC Charlie Burke Memorial Poker Run
It can be a daunting task just to choose which ride to participate in each weekend. These rides are becoming very popular fundraisers. There are many more that will be run this season, but these are the ones listed currently.
As we all start to feel the itch to get out there on our bikes, there are a few things that you should do before you strike out on a long distance ride. First, if you haven’t already done so, look into taking one of the many safety courses offered by Penn Dot and taught in locations close to you. These are great refresher courses no matter how long you’ve been riding. Taking these courses may also get you a discount on your insurance. That alone is a great reason for taking the courses. It is also a great place to try out that new bike that Santa may have gotten you for Christmas but you couldn’t ride until now. It is a great way to get to know your bike in a very controlled area under the supervision of experienced instructors.
The next important thing is to make sure that your registration and inspection are current. The inspection will find any issues that you might have with your bike and get these problems can be remedied before you hit the road and cause yourself or others problems. And of course, all vehicles need to be registered in this state. Both of these measures will ensure that you are street legal and road ready. Don’t forget your insurance, that too is a state requirement.
On your bike itself there are several important areas that need attention after sitting in the garage or under the back porch all winter long. After dusting off the winter’s cobwebs, be sure to check all of the electrical wires for any damage by rodents. Check the tailpipes as well to see if no squirrel or field mouse made his winter vacation home there. Yes, it does happen! Especially if you live out in the country. These repairs can become costly depending on the amount of damage. Damage in this area may also be hard to spot, so examine the wires starting where you have easy access. It may be hard to think like a squirrel, but it will help you catch any chewed or raw wiring.
While you’re at it, take a good look at your tires. Depending on your riding style and how many miles you rode last year you may want to get some new rubber for the baby. If you didn’t ride for a year or two and are just getting back on the bike, you should definitely look at new tires. This is the part of the bike that stays in constant (or else you’re in trouble) contact with the pavement. I would recommend that you also pack in your gear a tire patch kit in case you have a flat anywhere on the highway. You should also keep a tire pressure gauge in your gear so that you can check the pressure at any time. Low or decreasing tire pressure makes your bike hard to steer and may lead to a tire blowout or crash.
While we’re talking tires, there’s one other area that is often neglected on the spring opening or later maintenance, and that is the brake fluid. Check it and change it! It would really not be great to have your brakes go out after your tire ran flat and you couldn’t slow down to get out of the way.
So before you hop on that steel horse, take the time to make sure that it is road ready and safe for a long and enjoyable riding season. Hope to see you on the many charity and club rides over the summer.
w
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