Wanderers Newsletter
January, 2002
Editor: Pat Sammarco
Ó2001San Diego/ Wanderers
Motorcycle Club
www.sdwanderers.org
A few Words from Our President, Bill Edwards
After a painful two mile walk this morning, I felt my duty regarding getting ready to go back to work was done
for the day. After lunch, I came home and parked the truck outside so I could fool around with the bike some.
Getting my leg over it required moving it some first, since the garage is so cramped. I remembered reading that
subsequent model years of this bike had somewhat softer seat padding than my '98 had, and when I sat on it I found
this to be noticeably true. That's a good thing. Should make longer rides more comfy. I also noticed the bike
felt heavier than I remembered. It's not though. The new handle-la-bras felt good, but I may want to adjust them
a bit. And I predict the little flyscreen will work fine for a person my size. I also put some stuff in the saddlebags...they
lock! And added another coat of wax to the paintwork. Have I mentioned I ordered a new helmet last week? Not
sure when that'll arrive at the shop....they'll call when it's in. Anyway, the big thing today (for me) was actually
proving that I could push that heavy bike around some, and then back it up whilst sitting on it. Can't go for
a ride if I can't park it again when I get home, heh?
What else? John Q., there's a cover story on that new Buell your son is lusting for in the current issue of Cycle
World, just on the newstands in the last few days. They also review the new Warrior, and two new Honda's.
On last year's FYAO ride, we got side-tracked away from Mt. Laguna due to all the tourists headed up there to throw
their kids out in the snow. It was a bummer traffic wise. I hope there's no snow tourists up there on Jan. 13.
for this year's ride. Heck, I hope I can GO on this year's ride.
I hope I can go on the New Year's Day ride too! That's going to be a good one, the weather will be great.
Ray Trussell (from SDMC list) says that Boulder Creek Rd. does indeed go all the way through from Descanso to Engineers
Rd., AND that it is paved. He says it's great in the Fall. Sometime when we're in the mood for LOTS of slow twisties
and great scenery, heh? Gary S. says it was dirt and rough going, though, when he tried it a few years ago.
Well folks, two great rides coming up soon to start 2002 off right. I sure hope everyone can make these rides,
and I encourage each member to....have fun and Ride Safe in the New Year!
Regards,
Bill E.
The Impromptu Ride
From Mike Calderone
Thanks for the company guys. Except for some of the crazys on the freeway a nice ride.
John Q, Rod, Don, Grumpy and I rode up the coast, part freeway and part Hwy 1 to San Clemente where I stopped at
Swallows for an O'Douls and everybody else went for food at Rallys across the street. Grumpy, being grumpy, made
it clear the way back would not be straight and less freeway, we decided on Ortega Highway. It wasn't bad, weather
was overcast and cool but not cold. We stopped at Lookout Mountain for that great view and then headed on back.
John, Grumpy, Rod and I stopped off of Old 395 for coffee around Fallbrook. Don went on back via freeway. I tried
out my new electric gloves, very toasty, that kind of stuff can spoil you. We caught no rain, told you guys I was
lucky about that stuff. Anyway,good company, a nice ride on the bike, can't think of a better way to spend a day.
End Of The Century Ride
From: "John Q
It doesn't matter where you come down on the "which year, 2000 or 2001 began the new century" argument,
the 20th is definitely over as of today so.......
Thanks to Mike Calderone who invited the club to join him this morning for an impromptu ride. We ended up with
five bikes. Mike, Rod Fleming, Dick Useted, Don Presten and myself. It was promptly dubbed the "End Of The
20th Century, No Doubt About It" ride.
We started in Rancho San Diego, followed the coast to San Juan Capistrano where we stopped for lunch at a 50's
style diner. Lunch was followed by a well paced ride over Del Dios highway stopping at the Overlook to do some...uh,
overlooking. Eventually old 395 took us to Rainbow for a round of coffees then home on a CHP littered stretch
of the I-15. The riders of the black and white BMW's were all occupied collecting motorists autographs. Looks
like they're in for a busy evening.
Just over 200 miles total. Thanks for a great day Mike.
Happy New Year
John Q.
WANDERERS TREASURER RPT - 12/22/2001
1. 11/17 Last reported balance = $720.08
2. 11/18 Rod Fleming - plaque = $101.99(-)
3. 12/01 Pat Sammarco - Nov nwsltr = $ 21.38(-)
4. 12/22 12/22 Current balance = $596.71
Notes:
1. Available Funds:
Current treasury balance = $596.71
*Nwsltrs 01/01 - 4/02 @ $28/mo set-aside = $140.00(-)
Available = $456.71
2. T-Shirt liability set-aside has been deleted.
3. 38 paid memberships** - 59 total members.
4. All listed members paid thru 04/02.
*(Remaining nwsltr expenses from present thru 04/2002)
**(Mbr app recd fm Jonathan Semer early Nov, no dues
will be added officially when dues recd)
WANDERERS PATCH ACCOUNT SOLD
1. 11/17 Previous reported acct bal. = $ 39.00(-) 36
2. None sold during reporting period
3. 12/22 Current patch acct bal. = $ 39.00(-) 36
Avail patches: Don P - 5
John Q -8
Rose F -1
Gary S -0
Avail =14
Regards, Gary Steinweg
Wanderers Treasurer
Check these out
Wanderers,
For those who couldn't make it to our December club meeting, the minutes (thanks Rose) are posted on the Website
in the "Meetings" area.
Also a bunch of new rides and a camping trip are posted in the "Future Rides" area for your planning
pleasure.
Cheers
John Q.
Club Webmaster
Websites of interest
Headlight Test
This page could be interesting for anyone considering purchase of expensive aftermarket headlight bulbs. Tests
were performed using a car but the charts are...uh...illuminating.
http://www.overboost.com/story.asp?id=102
JQ
Information on the "Art of the Motorcycle"
www.guggenheimlasvegas.org
Ride Schedule
January 1st, 2002
Our Third Annual "New Years Day" Ride: Check the website for details.
Our Third Annual "New Years Day" Ride: 10 am start (late enough to get rid of the night before blahs)
from Dennys in Kearny Mesa. The route will be up El Camino Real, through San Marcos to Vista on 78 then north to
76 and pickup Sleeping Indian, Live Oaks Park and Mission Roads to Rainbow, Rice Canyon and Courser Canyon to Lilac
Into Valley Center to Fat Ivor's for lunch.
After lunch we'll head south to Woods Valley with maybe a stop at Nates But Farm, down around Lake Wohlford into
Escondido where everyone can take their own route home. Lots of twisty roads and great scenery.
North County riders, contact Grumpy to coordinate a pickup time and place.
Don's Freeze Out Ride - Sunday, January 13
(Looking forward to dusting of the motorcycle once again...) Mark you calendars!!! for the third annual "Don
Presten's Freeze Out Ride"
This ride has only one goal. Go as high as possible, on motorcycles, without hitting roads that require chains.
Temperature is NOT a factor - it is NEVER too cold to ride. Normally this route takes us to the 6000 foot level
of Sunrise Highway, were we stop for a pot luck of hot coffee and muffins.
We will meet at Grossmont Center (Starbucks) for the trip up at 9:00 am with a 9:30am departure. Note: We will
head up via Highway 8 to Pine Valley, so a Packards secondary meeting point is not an option here (I have a reason
for that - we are not going anywhere near Ramona...too warm!).
Last year, we were met with 70 degree temperatures
at the top - the year before, it was below zero (with the wind chill), so the weather this year is a dice throw.
Bring lots of layers, your digital camera, a thermos of your favorite hot liquid and a snack.
The ride to the top is a short one - this will allow those who have plans only to hit the summit and then head
home to just make a morning of it. Those who wish to continue with us will be lead the rest of the way via the
Sunrise, back down to Pine Valley via the scenic route and lunch there. We'll then head toward old 94 with a stop
to visit Blackjack. Finally, we head into East Country for the final stop at Starbucks in Rancho San Diego (Bill....did
you catch that part?).
Don't miss this one - serious bragging rights are involved.
Don Presten
don@presten.net
http://www.presten.net
February 3
Viejas Brunch Ride-The Casino serves up one heck of a Buffet on Sundays! Rod Fleming will lead this one making
sure we don't get to Viejas by any sort of direct route. Departure time/place TBA.
Awaiting a Date
Ron Growels First Ever "Riddle Ride". We will gather at Starbucks @ Grossmont Center for a 9 am ride
meeting and start. Ron will provide "riddle clues" for each destination which each ride leader will
attempt to decipher. (This is a nifty twist on the rotating leads of the Anti Destination ride). Plan on Lunch
at Fat Ivor's (ribs) with the riddle quest to continue afterward. You will not be "required" to lead
any part of the ride so don't let that stop you from enjoying this one.
A "MUST-DO" MOTORCYCLE QUIZ
By Fran Del Santo
Answer these questions and see if the laws that Government is considering, or have proposed, will affect you and
your style of motorcycling.
1. Do you ride a motorcycle? Y / N
2. Do you go to shops other then a name-brand dealer? Y / N
2a. Have you added anything to your bike that was not original equipment? Y / N
3. Have you bought any bike parts by mail? Over the internet? Y / N
4. Have you started a run at a motorcycle shop? Y / N
5. Does your club get freebies from these shops? Y / N
6. Do you read any cycle magazines that use "after market" advertisements? Y / N
7. Does your organization put flyers in motorcycle shops? Y / N
8. Is your bike more than a couple of years old? Y / N
9. Would you mind having your bike inspected or smogged regularly? Y / N
10. Do you want to still be riding a motorcycle 10 years from now? Y / N
If you answered "yes" to a few of these questions, then you better start doing your homework about upcoming
legislation and be ready to get on the phone to your representatives in the Assembly and Congress.
Be ready to write your Senator and the President. Be ready to ride to the State Capitol and get in the politicians
faces. If we let them adopt the tighter "Geneva" emission laws, if we let them ban after-market parts,
then we will have lost another Right. Another Right along the path of losing the Right to Ride. If you ride a
cruiser or a sport bike; If you ride on-road or off-road; then it's time to get on the ball and get political!
Join A.B.A.T.E. or A.M.A. or any Motorcycle Rights Organization. Start your own! Support legislators that support
your right to ride. The politicians are watching YOU to see what your reaction is.
Do it now, or No Whining Later!
The Great Escape
By John Del Santo
The Bad Guys have you surrounded!! The Mangler on the left will try to kill you… the Butcher on the right is setting
you up for a long hospital stay… the Crusher closing in behind you will put you in traction an a neck brace… it's
time to ESCAPE ! If you start looking for an escape route now, it may already be too late
In the breeze! It's nice to imagine a nice ride along the highways and byways, concentrating on the sights, checking
out the trees and mountains, the sunset and the sweet thing in the convertible in he next lane, and letting the
other traffic worry about itself. Yeah… It's nice to imagine that, but if we ride in that state of mind we better
have our papers in order, and be holding a really fat health insurance policy.
As we are riding we need to constantly survey the traffic moving around us. Are you in the blind spot of the guy
in the next lane? Or is he in yours? Move up or back a little bit. (escape route). Are you in heavy traffic and
have a tailgater hanging on your back? Come off the throttle for a couple of seconds… That'll open up some more
following distance in front of you, (escape route) and will encourage the tailgater to go somewhere else. A glance
in the mirror shows a small pickup, three cars back, approaching WAY too fast! If he hits the red car, will the
red car be knocked into your lane? Into you? It's time to shift into another lane now, before it happens. (escape
route).
While waiting at a traffic light, a good position is to be close to the side of the lane, with your front wheel
pointed a bit towards open space, so if you hear a screech of brakes coming in behind you, you're ready to move!
(escape route). There's a heavy stripe of grease in the middle of the roadway near intersections, so we approach
intersections in the tire track… that decreases your stopping distance. (a good healthy following distance IS an
escape route). Does the driver in the car at the next stop sigh see us? Can you make eye contact? Are you ready
to swerve or gas or brake if that guy makes a sudden left turn across your nose? (escape route). A mile up the
road we see brake lights pilling up… squeeze your brake now to flash your brake light and wake up the dude behind
you, and check out the best lane to be in before you get to the trouble spot. (escape route).
So as we ride along, we make it a game! If the guy on the car phone does this, where do I go? (escape route). The
driver in that car next to me just glanced at his mirror, but I'm in his blind spot. Should I give him a honk on
my horn to make sure he's aware that I'm here? If that traffic that is building in front of me comes to a sudden
terrible stop, do I have enough stopping distance? … enough stopping distance to stop smoothly enough so the guy
behind me doesn't plow into me? By playing the game, constantly assessing the situation and preparing your possible
escape routes, and with a certain amount of luck, you'll be ready when the real killer situation erupts.
WHEW! That sucker almost HAD me !!! But we were ready. We made… The Great Escape.