Back Road Giro - Spring 2009

I know it's been a while, but I'm not very consistent. Too much to do and not enough TIME!!!

Back Road GIRO went off great with 24 riders ready for some Cycle Therapy! the weather was perfect and everybody had a great time. One front flat on Paul's Honda was the only casualty. The scenic ride along the Genesee River, through the Windmill Farm, then back around Rushford Lake was the highlight of the day. Thanks to the Western NY BMW Club for the sponsorship and Northeast Cycle, Perry Cycle and All Cycle for the awards.

The next Back Road will be in August at Dave Foley's All Cycle. We'll keep ya updated.

We tried the Dirt Road Duro for fun but the weather didn't cooperate. Two riders showed up for some "wet" back roads after which the sun came out and "tried" to dry us out. We'd love more interest. A free ride, So. Go. Allegany Co. has the best one lane back roads ever.

I missed Rhinebeck this year but got to go to the Wellsville Music Fest where a good friend, Richard Srapy, put together a Motorcycle/Scooter Ride from 12:00 - 4:00 Saturday. They closed off Main Street and set up bikes for display. It was hard to make a choice... 1068 Kawasaki W1 was The Ride. Lots of old, old scooters, a '46 Indian and OSSA had the most on the day.

Well, Mid Ohio is closer... and the Glenn Curtiss Museum Ride In.

More later.

Harris

Posting from March 26th - Dave Foley's ALL CYCLE new location

So we think Spring is here? March 26th? WNY? Usually. I DON’T THINK SO!! Warm, dry weather has us going but still that snowstorm could be coming. I’ve seen snow in this area at the end of April!

FUN-WOW! Got to ride woods yesterday morning with the “Perry Cycle Boys.” Paul’s been doing his Wednesday morning ride for years and whoever with whatever shows at 8:30a and rides until 11:30a: dirt bikes, trials bikes and an occasional wheeler. 585-237-3031 (Paul’s shop is Perry Cycle Works on Route 39 outside Perry, NY).

The warm, dry weather gives me time to set up the “Back Road Giro” – get to ride, mileage, figure out times and set up checkpoint locations. It takes time but doing it on a motorcycle is fun!!!

We’ve already received a few registrations and my daughter Aimee says, “Best to pre-register so we have a good idea of how many riders, t-shirts, etc.” Having somebody do most of the work is really great. Plus I get to spend time with my grandson, Jack – we road my Honda 110 Trial, 1970 Yamaha HS1 90cc, and the Honda TL T250 on the lawn across the road. He LOVES it!

Lately we’ve been busy working on the building for the new Dave Foley’s ALL CYCLE in Cuba, NY (Previous location was next to the old Jac-n-Mary’s up by Rushford Lake, NY). Dave’s new place is located on the corner of Cuba Lake Road and Route 446. He’ll be open April 1st oat the new location – 716-968-3570 or just stop it to check it out. The August Giro will start at this location and the ride will go through the beautiful countryside of Cuba Lake and the surrounding area.

-Harris

Videos 2008-2009

Check out the videos below for some serious Ice Racing and other fun.

Snow X Cuba Lake - 2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItdQhQeqoLw
Motard, Batavia NY - 2008
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZmCJnq_yWo
Supermoto, Batavia, NY - 2008
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUNIpnXmd2k
Me on the 1970 Yamaha HS1 - 2008
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPk9RXNbE-Y
Me on old racing motorcycle - 2008
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MCVSPKrjSU
Murphy vs. Applenuts in Slow Race - 2008
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3cvtsyFiys

Enjoy!

What? It's WINTER???!!!

Can’t tell by the pictures of our ice racing days; winter can be fun with the proper gear. “1st through 5th – Go DAVE GO!!” (Check out the pictures posted to the Photo Gallery)

Just a little update since the “Wet Road Giro”:

I’ve been working on a 1976 TL 250 Honda for my vintage trials ride this summer with the Niagara Trials Riders (NTR) for the Western New York area. We ride a 3-part series for a number plate and a lot of great friendships. They have a very unique scoring system and you can get involved through the NTR website: www.ntrtrials.com for a great time and Old bikes.

A 1968 BSA Lightening became mine this past summer with a 1981 inspection on it. Chrome tank and beautiful seat were about the only things to catch my eye (& the price!). The motors is in Michigan getting rebuilt and the rest will have to wait as my 1971 BSA Thunderbolt is next.

Hanging out at Dave Foley’s All Cycle in Rushford, NY this cold season has given me the opportunity I’ve never had and at (almost) 50 I will pursue Ice Racing 2009. (Check out the pictures posted on the Photo Gallery) Foley and his crew of dirt bike nuts meet at the ice track almost every Sunday on Cuba Lake, NY – the fishing is great too. I studded up my Greeves Griffon as the secret weapon – maybe I’ll get out there this Sunday.

I want to stop and thank my daughters for the website; Melanie (www.sisarinaservices.com) gave this to me for a present and Aimee helping me to update the content. Movers & Shakers.

The Giro in April is back my popular demand!! Everybody loves a small bike ride (250cc or smaller) through the rolling hills of Western New York. The windmills are the “Avenue of the Giants” – 168 so far and more to come. This year we want to make it more of a competition: checkpoints with times to make it more interesting and maybe awards at the end of the closest ones to the original time. We will register bikes and riders, do a short slow trial and then off to the first checkpoint. We will provide maps and a rescue truck. Team efforts will are allowed and a minimum 120 miles will be covered.

So much for winter – plenty of time to think and wait for that first long road ride. Back roads, sun shining… with no particular place to go.

Harris

'Wet' Road Giro

October 25, 2008: Time wasn't on our side as the rain turned to a steady downpour! The last 16 miles were going to be the wettest and at 15-20 miles per hour it took a long time.

So goes the Wet Road Giro for October 2008. All week long the weather said "rain moving in Saturday afternoon" - it looked good. 10am start time - maybe we'll beat the rain - no chance.

Saturday morning started out overcast and raining steady as I loaded some extra bikes into the truck. By the time we left, it hadn't changed much but the further we went, the harder it rained!!

Great turnout for this time of year and in rainy weather. Eight was enough, I guess, as we headed out for another 'tour of the Windmills' atop the rolling hills and back roads of beautiful Western New York. More fun than you can imagine, road riding 'little ole bikes' through some of the most scenic landscape.

Thanks to all in attendance. Check out the pictures from the 'Wet' Road Giro. I look forward to the last Saturday of April 2009 for the next "Back Road Giro".

Harris