Bike Night at J&J Quick Stop in Sylvan Springs AL

Rode out to a tiny quick-mart on Hwy-269 last night to grab a free hot-dog, and meetup up with Zukilover and his crowd. When I rolled up at 6:15, there were already 30+ bikes in the lot, and I figured it was in full swing at that point. By 7pm, there seemed to be close to 100 bikes, and quite a few interesting varieties.

Inside the store, you will find the common quick-store/gas station supplies, alongside a biker gear store...an interesting mix.

You can see a few more pics here

Find more bike nights in Alabama

Lock 17 ride to King's Point

A little less spontaneous than last Sunday, we planned this ride the night before, and posted in the new rides section. After meeting up at the Crack-Barrel, we wound our way thru Hueytown to find a nice surprise out in the woods - River Cafe - great hamburgers, fries, and an interesting menu of frozen items, with plenty of cold beer, cold-air, and comfortable environment built for the hungry biker.

After dining on the delicious fare, we continued the journey onto the Warrior River. Nice twisties, decent paved roads, with just a bit of gravel in a few of the turns. Lots of other places to explore out here, when you have the time.

Eventually, we arrived at King's Point, the end of the road, and another place to wet our whistle. Not quite as nice as the previous stop on the inside, but they did have cold beer. Outside, was much more scenic, with a few picnic tables overlooking the lake on the Warrior River, a nice boardwalk, and a few boats passed by as we rested.








On Sunday - all the regulars show up..

Spontaneous Sunday Ride thru Alabama

It looked like another boring Sunday with yard work and remodeling a kitchen being the highlights of the day. Then, while returning some emails, in popped a dude to the chatroom. He mentioned that he would like to go down to Chilton county and get a peach, and I said that is a great idea, and when and where do we leave from? About that time, another member pops into the room. So all the sudden, we have 3 guys, ready to roll, on a short adventure to rescue fruit from the trash pile. I make it sound like it was much easier than it actually was. There was really several minutes of discussion, via chat, and a phone call, and then we all had to take a quick shower, so it was not all fun and games, lots of prep time(35 minutes or so, including the shower, getting dressed etc.)

So I meet the first rider in McCalla, fueled up, had a quick chat(the in-person kind), and rode down a few minutes to Green Pond (I know, I should have taken a pic) to endure about 10 minutes of the Green Pond police starring at us while we were in the Q-Mart lot discussing the ride and meeting each other (this is the first time I have met either of these guys).

Nice ride down to Maplesville, and had to stop for a train, where I notice another group of riders hiding under the shade of a closed old building. So I could not resist the temptation to stroll over and introduce and find out what they were doing today. Just like me they were riding down from Birmingham, cruising thru peach country.

So we moved on down to the Peach Park at I-65, and had some delicious home ice cream and, and decided to mozy down to Indian Hills Resort(since we were so close, and one of the guys had never been). So a quick ride across, found us with cold beverage in hand, discussing various topics. As the Sunday crowd thinned, we decided to check out an interesting pub we had passed on the way in, just across the river.
This place was nothing short of different. On the river, 100 yards off hiway-22, just below Mitchell Dam, is what we will call No-Name Pub, because nobody asked what the name was. We had access to the pub, upstairs, and the boat house, complete with couches and chairs, pretty cool, and something certainly different.

I guess the point I am trying to make is that we all had a blast, it was all spontaneous, started in a Chat Room, and I saw stuff that I probably never would have known about had I not jumped on this ride. Maybe we should all start trying to get in on a ride?

Interesting satistics from the Hurt Study

A few interesting stats from a crash study done in 1981:

***The median pre-crash speed was 29.8 mph, and the median crash speed was 21.5 mph, and the one-in-a-thousand crash speed is approximately 86 mph.

***Motorcycle riders with previous recent traffic citations and accidents are overrepresented in the accident data.

***The motorcycle riders involved in accidents are essentially without training; 92% were self-taught or learned from family or friends. Motorcycle rider training experience reduces accident involvement and is related to reduced injuries in the event of accidents.

***More than half of the accident-involved motorcycle riders had less than 5 months experience on the accident motorcycle, although the total street riding experience was almost 3 years. Motorcycle riders with dirt bike experience are significantly underrepresented in the accident data.

***Motorcycle riders in these accidents showed significant collision avoidance problems. Most riders would over-brake and skid the rear wheel, and under-brake the front wheel greatly reducing collision avoidance deceleration. The ability to countersteer and swerve was essentially absent.

***Seventy-three percent of the accident-involved motorcycle riders used no eye protection, and it is likely that the wind on the unprotected eyes contributed in impairment of vision which delayed hazard detection.

***Less than 10% of the motorcycle riders involved in these accidents had insurance of any kind to provide medical care or replace property.




From: Motorcycle Accident Cause Factors and Identification of Countermeasures, Volume 1: Technical Report, Hurt, H.H., Ouellet, J.V. and Thom, D.R., Traffic Safety Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90007, Contract No. DOT HS-5-01160, January 1981 (Final Report)

Install an air-horn on your bike

But why install an air horn? My bike already has a "horn"? For some reason, bike makers believe that the size of your horn should be proportionate to the size of the vehicle. Trains and semi-s have huge air-horns, and the smaller you go, the smaller the horn. Maybe scooters should have those old school thumb-triggered bells like the old bikes had?

Wrong!

The most vulnerable people on the road should have the biggest horn. I got tired of riding and not being heard when someone thought about doing something stupid, like sharing my lane with me.

The video DOES NOT do the horn justice, it sounds like a high-pitched train. Works at 70 MPH, and so far I have only used it inappropriately.

I will post the notes/pics if anyone is interested, but it comes with good instructions, and it is maybe an hour project, easy as cake, and I love my new toy!!

Also, a nice review of the horn is here

Spring Bash '08 - Albertville AL

The North Alabama Air, Car, and Bike show in Albertville was organized by real pros. This was more of an air-show than anything else, but lots of vendors, several antique and classic cars, and a handful of bikes surrounding the biker vendor. Not so much a bike show, but a good excuse to get on the bike and show up. Nice, small air-show, and it looks like everybody in Marshall County showed up for this event.

Faunsdale Biker Rally - Alabama's wildest biker event

It has been a weeks since the biggest biker rally in Alabama, and I am still chuckling about what I saw. Oh sure I have seen naked people before, but never on a bike, at midnight, riding around a big, dirt track. That was a real treat. The biggest surprise was the BYOB, and whatever you can put on the back of your bike(or in your RV, or the trailer pulling your bike). That's right, no rules about beverages, except they do NOT sell alcohol there. So it turned into a quick trip down the road to Demopolis.

This was the single largest rally I have ever been to, and would guestimate 1,500-3,000 campers-RVs, tents etc., plus another 5,000 possibly in/out folks. Hard to gauge the real traffic due to everyone moving around alot, as there was much to see. In addition to the main stage, for music, wet-t contests, etc. there were "community stages" set up out in the village, where the real debauchery took place. Stripper poles surrounded by RVs, nice light-shows, PA systems, and portable tiki-bars with singing automatons. The food was typical festival-type food, but enough to keep you alive.

If you wanted something different to eat, you could ride down the road less than a mile for the Annual Faunsdale Crawfish Festival, going on at the same time.

I would suggest making this a bi-annual trip, I had a blast.

Find out more about Faunsdale Bike Rally here


Faunsdale Biker Rally - Alabama Spring 2008

1st Annual 'Giving Back is the New Black Ride'

The Hoover to Tuscaloosa charity ride started out at a great location - the Iron Horse, where we picked up donuts and coffee, before the ride down. Escorted all the way to Tuscaloosa by the organizers-Xcell Academy. We rolled into Rhythm and Brews downtown to a buffet of chicken fingers and wings - enough to feed 100 hungry bikers, and Desperate Measures- a local band playing rock, blues and even a country tune. Great time, good atmosphere, and good people all around. Next time they will have more than a week to prepare, and should have more than 100 participants, and will certainly be a MUST RIDE.

Deal's Gap - Biker Paradise in the south

I know Bama Rides is about motorcycling in Alabama, but I thought I would share one of the most amazing trips I have taken on a bike. Deal's Gap is considered a Mecca for bikers in the southeast, a journey every adventurous rider should take at least once in a lifetime, but I would suggest even more often. Also known as "Tail of the Dragon", this 11-mile section of U.S. Route 129 is located on the border of Tennessee and North Carolina in the Smokey Mountains. Just driving thru this region is incredible, and the ride I am describing is the cherry on the top. I have been to the Nantahala before, paddling, camping, and always thought the scenery was "nice", and the water is 55' year round. When we arrived at "The Store", there were about 50+ bikes, and no cars in the parking lot. Bikers everywhere, a lodge, restaurant, and gift shop. On the side there was the "Tree of Shame", where victims of the dragon can hang the parts he spit out. After a few minutes of gathering our thoughts, we hit the Tail, and it was a quick ride, and very confusing, as there were so many unusual factors - banked turns, and foot-peg scrapers, knee-draggers in every corner, mixed in with an occasional car. The rise and fall of the road has not been captured by any video or pics that I have seen. The 80 ft. drops off many of the corners are not seen in video either. It all ended too quickly, and the sun was going down. All I want to do is go back, and spend a bit more time exploring the surrounding areas, broken up by a few more trips thru the dragon.

We rode in on the Cherahola Skyway - it sounds like an amusement park ride, but it is better. This place is incredible, and the single most scenic places I have ever traveled. Breathtaking at 5,400 feet, it runs thru the Cherokee and Nantahala National Forests for 36 miles. The long sweeping turns, unlike Deal's Gap, are pleasant to cruise and sight-see, just don't get too focused on the view. There are lots of places to pull over. You gotta go.

Indian Hills Motorcycle Resort Anniversary Party 2008

A few images from the Rockland Resort, a little rain never hurt anybody, right? If you have not rolled over there, it is worth the trip. If you have any other resorts we need to know about, you should let us know.

Indian Hills Motorcycle Resort - a quick visit

On Saturday we had a quick stop at Indian Hills Motorcycle Resort, a relatively new addition to the biker stop circuit in Coosa county. The will be celebrating their 1st anniversary with a birthday party next weekend starting on Thursday the 27th, and ending on Sunday. They are expecting around 2,000 riders per day for the party, so we thought we would see what this place was all about.

It was a slow day on our visit (Easter weekend), but there was still around 40 riders, and everyone seemed real laid back. The staff was friendly and welcoming, and appeared to enjoy being there. The facilities were clean and comfortable, and the food looked delicious (we did not have time to eat). They do have a decent looking menu and good prices, so it might be worth exploring further.

The main facility is large, and housed several large tables, and two pool tables. Overall, I think it would certainly be worth another trip, and maybe even worth checking out the 1st Anniversary party.

Find out more here

Most Alabama Counties '08 Challenge - Tour Alabama on a motorcycle, and win

Do you travel all over the state on your bike every year? Do you think you might travel thru more counties than everyone else? If so you should enter the "Most Alabama Counties 2008 " Challenge to win a valuable prize, and recognition and admiration from bikers from all over the world. There are 67 counties in Alabama, but you may only need to travel to 20 or so, and take a picture to prove you were there. Are you up to the challenge?

Pictures we are looking for:

Good - notice the bike in the image, and a recognizable landmark, not the best, but it is OK and will qualify as one county

Better - much better subject, identifiable, and has a bike in the frame

Enter the MAC '08 Challenge today. Find out more details HERE

Daytona Bike Week 2008 - Bama Rides

The first part of the journey started out on a spectacular Birmingham day, leaving work early on a Thursday afternoon, sunny, and the prospect of a 1/2 day of questionable weather did not hamper our ride. We arrived in Troy, AL shortly after dark, and had Mexican, margaritas and a good conversation before retiring to the home of our first host and additional rider, Richard.

After waking the next morning, we rode out in the cool morning air all the way to Tallahassee, when we encountered our first drops of rain. It appeared that we might get wet, so I suggested that 11:30 might be a good time to find shelter and a burger while this little storm "blows over".

Well after an hour of eating and discussing the fact the weather had not blown over yet, we decided to get back on the road and get a bit closer, then determine what the weather would do.

What the weather would do

Well, that was the trick now. Weather is a funny thing, especially when you have to ride 10 hours in the rain.......funny. Notice the recreation of the actual view from a bike in the rain to the right. After several stops we wound up in Crystal River, home of large population of manatees. We found vacant covered flea market large enough to hold our bikes, gear, and soaking, prune-swollen carcasses. Of course we enjoyed the hour of dryer, motionless and safe tables the market provided.

Do Not Feed the Manatees

When we arrived in St. Cloud, as I predicted, the skies cleared as we came off the turnpike........10 hours of rain, and we pull in to nice weather as we get off the bikes.

I can't remember a shower ever feeling so good.

The ride over to Daytona

The next day was blue sky, and very windy gusts as we drove over to the coast. A fantastic day for a ride, down country roads, across pastures and flatlands. As we rolled into Daytona, you could feel the energy as the ratio of bikes to cars rose to 1:1. We rolled over the bridge in only 40 minutes, ready to get into something, mainly a beer.

We parked as soon as we got across the bridge to get into the mix, and keep the bikes from overheating. Got back out on Main St. and started looking for trouble. Lots of things to see, just ran out of time to capture it all. See the slideshow below.

It was still worth the ride down, even in the rain, and will do it again, maybe for BiketoberFest?


Tragically, the next morning, one of our group - William "Bill" Bills died in his sleep after the ride. I did not know Bill well, but I enjoyed his company that day, and I was glad to have shared his last ride with him. My condolences to his family.

More about Bill


Enjoy the pictures from Daytona Bike Week 2008

Weird Roadside Graveyard - Shannon, AL

I was out riding Sunday and caught a glimpse of an abandoned graveyard between Bessemer and Homewood, in Shannon. At first glance the headstones were SO CLOSE to the road, I thought I had mistaken them for something else, but there they were. I went back to get the camera because it was so weird, headstones less than 10 feet off the road. I wandered into the forgotten resting place assuming I would find a few 100-year old headstones, fascinated with the history behind the long dead residents of Shannon. I actually found many stones dating to the late 50s and 60s, and to my amazement, a 90 ft pine tree was growing out of the center of one grave.

So there I was, wondering around in thick woods, looking the sunken gravesites over as if it were a crime scene, awestruck how so many people could be abandoned.

Definitely worth a stop if you are in the area.




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More graveyards in the Oxmoor-Shannon area here

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