Mojo Crew,

I am an avid rider and reader currently serving in a support role in Afghanistan. I was very impressed that when I visited your site to check organized rides this summer I saw the yellow ribbon in the headline.

Thanks for the support of the mission here, it means a lot.

Rufus Nelson, Guelph, Ontario. (Kandahar Afghanistan)

 

Glenn, I am a senior–well almost– 64 this year and I recently purchased another bike–an ‘04 Shadow 1100. My old 87 Beemer K100LT was getting a bit too heavy and too tall for me. I needed something lower and easier to handle. I was not looking for power, just enough to get me around. I do about 12,000 klicks per year on the bike, mostly to work and back and weekend runs. I spent a lot of time looking at the Suzuki 800’s and Kawi 900 and Honda 750’s–all the cruiser styles with the shield and bags and all of that. I found this 1100 to be what I felt good on.

When are you going to do some comparisons and such for these sizes for us old geezers to review when we are looking. We are not entry riders and we have lost the need for speed etc., just looking for something a little lighter to handle and that will still get us down the road in relative comfort.

Thank you and best regards–happy trails this summer.

Dave Alexander

 

Gwen, that piece about Paddy’s trek left me wanting more, you tease! Why not step back a little into Paddy’s previous emails, and start a monthly feature of Paddy’s trip? (with his permission obviously). Then, hopefully, catching up in a few months with real-time.

Secondly, in response to the Say What? letter from Cordell Clarke:

Getting my wife interested in my love of motorcycles too was difficult.

I used to ride in the UK. When I came to Canada I wanted to ride, and started to ride with a friend here. Unfortunately, later on, my friend lost his life in an accident. The net result of this was that my (now) wife asked me not to ride any more. I instantly agreed. Fast forward about 6 to 8 years and my wife’s cousin and I started to get into dirt riding, taking some lessons and days out at ‘Trail Tours’. My wife is no fool and could obviously see I was getting the bug again; being the honest chap I am, I told her as much. Eventually I discussed with my wife that I wanted to get back on the road.

There is a danger, as there is with driving and walking, but there is also training and experience to counter those dangers; while you can not control all facets of risk, with good training you can enhance your awareness and ride in a manner to give yourself the best possible chances.

Stepping off the soapbox, my wife and I agreed that we would BOTH take a motorcycle safety course (with RTI), me to gain my license in Canada, and her to understand the risks and safety aspects of riding. If she then felt comfortable with how I rode, I’d get a bike and be back in the saddle.

After the course, my wife agreed that you can ride a bike and be in control…two weeks later my wife asked if she could get a bike of her own. She claims she will never ride “b!#tc$”, she needs to be in control of her own bike.

We bought a Honda CBR125 for her first bike. Her skills continued to improve such that I think it’s time for her to upgrade this year or next, if she wants to.

There is no better way for me to enjoy my love of riding a motorcycle than to have her along with me, and enjoying it.

Moral? If your wife isn’t interested in pillion, invite her to consider pilot!

Garreth Jeremiah

Great News! Paddy has agreed to share some of his adventures with us, hopefully starting with the July issue. Glad your wife has joined you in yoour travels!

Gwen

 

Dear Editors:

I live in the U.S., in northwestern Iowa, and am graduating with a B.A. this spring. I am 51-years-old and have a lifetime of riding behind me. I plan to tour the “border” areas between the U.S. and Canada along western Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and maybe as far west as Alberta. Of course, this is still a bit tentative. I will probably use my 1949 AJS model 18 with period sidecar to do it. I was attracted to your publication because of its obvious high standard of literacy–something that has become rare in American magazines.

If this is a project in which you might be interested, please let me know. I would like to receive, as well, your guidelines for submissions, and I will try to find out how I can acquire a hard copy of the magazine for further stylistic and editorial guidance.

Thank you

Mark Straka, Iowa

 

Awesome story about Stu’s excellent Inuvik trip, only leads to more similar trips for readers and writers alike.

Looking forward to our June Alberta/ Montana/Utah/Idaho/Washington/BC cruise.

Keep up the great work. See you on the road.

Kevin McLaughlin. Leduc, Alberta

 

I met The Times Cycle Team on Thursday while passing thru to California. They where trashing on the bike trying to clear up a high speed miss. Super nice guys and still took the time to chat. I took a picture, wished them luck and left.

After reading about them in your March/April 09 issue (A Long and Not So Winding Road) I now know the rest of the story.

Thank you and keep up the good work.

Malcolm Cook