WING NOTES

Newsletter of the

August 2004

Australian Wing Riders Association (Qld) Inc

P O Box 719, Ashgrove

Queensland 4060

www.auswingriders.com

Wing Notes

August      2004

EDITOR:.............Clint Lovell

Phone:  07 3398 3437

Mobile 04 1819 2040

E-Mail:     info@auswingriders.com

WING NOTES is produced with the object of keeping members informed about matters of interest to AWRA members.  A copy of each issue is sent to every financial member of the AWRA.  Copies are also distributed to selected motorcycle dealers in the greater Brisbane area.

Submissions for inclusion in WING NOTES should be with the Editor no later than the Friday following the monthly meeting, i.e.: Friday after the 1st Monday of the month.

DISCLAIMER:  Although WING NOTES will endeavour to reproduce submissions in their original form it reserves the right to edit submissions as it sees fit.  Views expressed in contributed articles in WING NOTES are not necessarily those of the AWRA or the Editor.  WING NOTES is produced with care, in good faith and from sources believed to be accurate at the time of writing.

The Editor Writes & Secretary’s Desk

The President Speaks

Ride Report – Christmas in July

Ride Report – The Cassie Doyle Memorial Ride

Ride Report – Bill & Mary’s Ride – 18 July 2004

Rider’s Story – What Else Can Go Wrong?

Ride/Social Calendar

Meeting Minutes (Members Only)

Click on a title above to go to that item
Click on any AWRA Logo bike to return here

The Editor Writes…..

Hello All

The magazine this month has been compiled in joint effort by Charleen and myself.  I’ve taken a truck to Perth and flown back since the meeting.

We are currently car-less.  With bikes being our only transport, we thought the drought might break.  It rained last week just not enough to wash the roads.  These conditions of long dry spells followed by showers of rain make for slipperier conditions than we’re used to.  Also car drivers seem to forget how to drive in the rain when there hasn’t been any for some time.  Just one more element to keep the adrenalin pumping.

In the meantime, enjoy the dry cool days, go for a ride whenever possible.  It won’t be long before the humid summer is upon us.

Contributions for this magazine can be emailed to info@auswingriders.com or posted to 47 Breslin St, Carina, Qld 4152.  Photos and slides can be scanned and returned.

Clint

The Secretary’s Desk

Hi Everyone

Well our social calendar is filling up fast at this time of year.  We have 20 names for the Bundaberg weekend – 18/19^th September, so please check with Bevan if you haven’t put your name down.

We have 15 couples for our Christmas weekend 26/27^th November – Noosaville.  Please contact me on 3366-7288 if you wish to join us.  What a great time, we get to enjoy our rides, parties and great company!

Latest update on our bike, Thommo has purchased some lights to go on the back. So, we will be looking forward to looking brighter in the near future – we have a long way to go before we catch-up to Gecko & Kay and Winston though!

See you all soon – ride carefully.  NB.  Thommo is on good behaviour for 12 months with 1 point – his court appearance is this Monday 9^th to plead his case.  No points involved, just a fine – keep your fingers crossed.

Ride safely, and keep warm,  Valerie

The President Speaks……                           

It's been a bad month for those of us riding to work, and especially those riding to Main Roads and parking where I park.  They say bad things come in threes and so it has been.  First the guy from the floor above on a BMW came off in what appears to have been a single vehicle accident.  Badly broken legs.  Next, a guy from down stairs on a Honda was T-boned by a car, another broken leg.  Last of the group was my mate, Trevor, whom I talked about a couple of months ago.  He dropped the Diversion after hitting radiator coolant on a roundabout.  Broken rib, badly broken thumb and an insurance write-off.  These don't include the rear-ended Harley I rode past a few days before Trevor's accident and another rear-ender, a Ducati rider, killed in Carina by an over-the-limit driver.

Could these have been avoided?  Who knows?  Having been rear-ended by a driver picking his sunnies up off the floor, yes, if the driver had been alert but nothing I could do.  Having been down the road myself on an oil slick, maybe.  Sometimes these can't be avoided as they happen too fast, but a greater safety margin may have helped.  Having been swiped by a car, again, yes if the car driver had been looking and maybe if I had been a bit further away from the centre line.  We've all had the single vehicle falls so I'll leave that up to you to decide.

We enjoy a pastime that has a high level of risk.  I have learned from experience that we don't heal as quick as we used to and now Trevor is learning the same lesson.  Ride safe, take care, expect the unexpected and maintain the best possible safety margins.  Above all,

Keep the shiny side up

Bevan

New location - 65 Jalomy St.  Boondall   Qld  4034

Please ring for an appointment

As this is a private residence – NO cold calls at premises please.

Christmas in July – Australian Woolshed – Social 10^th July 2004.

We have 24 members booked for this social event, and Thommo and I are real nervous as we do not want to disappoint them like our Fishbowl evening.  So, we have checked and booked-in very carefully.  The venue looks very good and the staff have been very pleasant and efficient – all good signs.

We have decided that we are travelling by car and to support this decision the weather is looking cloudy with showers.  No helmet hair for a change.  Our meeting place is the BP Garage at The Gap, and we arrive at 5-35pm to find our trusty leader Bevan and Therese on their wing, Deb. & Eric in their car with Gecko & Kay, and Turbo & Wendy also in their car.  We have Bear & Jayne with us, followed by Larry & Annette, and after waiting for another 15 minutes we all agreed it was safe to leave for the venue.

We duly arrive at the Woolshed at 6-15 pm.  Our tables are reserved ‘Wing Riders’ and the Christmas decorations add a nice touch but they are nowhere near as pretty as Kay’s twinkling lights, and Gecko’s blinking heart!  We were closely followed by Mary & Lionel, Peter & Michelle, Ken & Joanne and Neville & Jennifer.  Last but by no means least Mal & Tina arrive – very quietly – Tina has no voice!  Say no more, look out all those who took advantage of Tina’s plight, as you will find out later – Tina has a l-o-o-ng memory, and it may end up in print!!  Go Tina!

The 4-piece band is loud but very good, why do they have to have such loud speakers?  The banjo really makes you tap your feet, the boys need a few more drinks before they will catch up though.  Meanwhile, Turbo has re-appeared in his Santa suit to give our happy bunch an even more festive spirit, and there are plenty of photos of us posing with our own Santa – thanks to our resident photographer – Deb.

Again our own Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers – Larry and Annette were the first couple to get up on the dance floor closely followed by Mary & Lionel.  Ray needs a couple more scotches before I can coax him up onto the dance floor even though the music is great.  Eventually, we are on the dance floor and we valiantly try to follow the steps, not too well, Ray is hungry – hurry up dinner.  At last, the chefs arrive and the queue is started on the other side of the room and it was well worth waiting for.  Then came the opportunity to join in the others on the dance floor.  Noticeably absent were Bear, Eric – sore foot, Peter & Michelle, Ken & Joanne, Neville & Jennifer and Mal & Tina (Tina’s excused) but not the others! 

We had a couple of progressive barn-dances, including a Macarena and I was pretty exhausted after this session.  But it was excellent and we really would like to find more venues that offer this very sociable form of entertainment.  Anyway, now it was a good time to sit down, catch my breath and enjoy a very delicious dessert.  During this time prizes were being drawn for the raffle tickets that had been sold to support the St. John Ambulance.  Our group were dual winners with prizes for Wendy who won Emma Page jewellery, and Mary won a bottle of wine.  Then a surprise – a special presentation for the most festive outfit going to our own Turbo in his Santa suit, and he chose a bottle of white wine (for Wendy), what a guy!  This good fortune really topped what has been a very enjoyable evening, and we were keeping our good spirits going right up to 11 pm. 

Thank you to everyone for coming along, getting into the festive spirit and making it all such a success.  I will have to send a thank you to the Woolshed as well, for a job well done.  I think I will keep them on the register for future reference, and to encourage more dancers!

The Cassie Doyle Memorial Ride

The Cassie Doyle Memorial Ride is an annual event held on the Gold Coast to raise funds for the Leukaemia Foundation.  Over the past few years I have meant to get involved in this ride.  Lionel usually goes but when it comes around, I seem to forget about it and then get reminded later.  This year was a little different with TJ from Gold Coast HOG, Cassie Doyle Memorial Ride Ride Captain, seeing us at BP Staplyton one morning and inviting the club to participate.  The committee decided our participation would be a good thing and scheduled it into the ride calendar; unfortunately it clashed with our normal ride day.

Following what seemed like acceptance of the proposal, Ride Co-ordinator Wendy invited TJ to attend our meeting and speak about the ride and how the AWRA could assist.  The response from members was overwhelming and TJ was inundated with members registering.

A few weeks ago a phone call was received from the Leukaemia Foundation inviting the group to participate in a newspaper article about the ride.  Our involvement was sought, as it was the first time we had participated as a group.  The short notice caught me out and also others with close proximity to the coast and the ability to take time off during a work day.  Winston came to my rescue and presented himself at the appointed time to be interviewed and photographed with Pauline Hanson.

And so to the ride.  Gathering at the BP Staplyton was an experience in itself with the temperatures dropping to some sort of ridiculous level, (suffer the little children who live in Ipswich or had to leave extra early from the north side) and the need to be at the Gold Coast by 8:00am.  Gecko and Kay were there to meet us but were waiting around for the official ride group to arrive later in the morning.

Arriving at Sharks, we registered, were allocated pillions and managed to find the sausage sizzle and coffee queues for breakfast.  That was easy as they were long and slow moving, as you would expect at that hour.  Winston had obviously impressed and he was allocated the VIP role of carrying Pauline.  Turbo and I were not trusted with paying passengers and were given the cameramen instead.

9:00am and we rolled out of the car park under police escort to get us on to the freeway.  My fun started immediately with the cameraman wanting to get pictures of the group leaving, then wanting to be back up the front again when the group arrived at the next stop.  Not an easy task when there are 270 bikes, multiple cars and traffic lights in front of you.  Down the highway and onto the Murwillumbah road for the first stop at Melaleuca Station.  Not sure what the idea of this stop was but the coffee soon ran out and the other 80% didn't get one.  I don't actually think it was a coffee stop, just a break for the pillions.  The coffee just happened to be there for the normal visitors and in rolled over five hundred people.  A loan of a visor for a lady who was terrified of bikes so they put her on a dual rear seat trike so she had nothing between her and the road and was wearing an open face helmet.  Not happy Jan!

Back on the road again, over the Burringbar Range to Mooball, left to Pottsville and on to a resort at Cabarita Beach for the real smoko.  After smoko, it was back on the bike, "I want to be at the front to get film of the leaders, then stop and get film of the group on a corner, then be at the front to get the group arriving back at Sharks."  OoooooK?  Great ride back up towards and through the coastal range coming back onto the coast through the back of Burleigh.  Eric, up near the front at that time, spotted the Club ride group at a "T" intersection north of Murwillumbah and managed a short chat before passing out of range.  A short stop to regroup at Burleigh and hear reports of some one who had taken a fall.  Apparently a solo rider and only her pride hurt.  The only other fall I know of was a rider with a passenger about twice her size that took a low speed tumble turning into Sharks at the end of the ride.  Not bad for 273 bikes.

Back at Sharks at 2:00pm with the bikes parked, pillions unloaded and unkitted, it was into the venue for lunch and entertainment.  A beautiful lunch was provided and the initially long bar queues fought with aplomb and the entertainment started.  Following a very moving speech by Laura who led the ride as TJ's pillion, telling of her battle to her current remission state after finding out she had leukaemia at 18 years of age, was some top class entertainment provided by the men trying out for the best looking pair of red jocks and the most tattoos, again in their jocks.  A few songs from a former contestant of Australian Idol followed.  Why these people consistently believe entertainment means turning up the volume to unbearable levels and screaming through the microphone is beyond me.  I think everyone had similar thoughts if the limited applause was any guide.

An auction and raffles to raise a few extra badly needed funds was augmented by the softies amongst us who bought the bears on the tables, in my and Lionel's case, complete with the flag that listed the Australian Wing Riders as a participating club.  We suspect that if Bear had been with us, the Biker Bear may have gone for a lot more than $500 and the Bundy Bear mirror, well, the sky could have been the limit.  Winston tried to get it for him but the bidding was going too high.

273 riders and around 260 paying pillions.  The oldest pillion, 82 years young, plenty in their 70's, for another it was her 7^th ride.  My cameraman's previous motorcycling experience was riding a postie bike.  I'm sure the other guy's have stories to tell of their pillions enjoyment and experience.

All in all a great day and I'm glad we took part.  By the time we left, Winston was already making arrangements for our participation next year.  I think he was trying to book Pauline again.  My thanks to Lionel, of course cause he's usually there anyway, Winston, Clint, Eric, Eddie, Turbo, Geoff, Ken, Nev and Rusty for your support and participation on the day.  11 bikes from AWRA, not a bad effort, I hope I didn't miss anyone.

I'm looking forward to doing it again next year with an even stronger representation.

Bevan.

BILL & MARY’S RIDE – 18 JULY 2004

What a great day we had. It was in a little way unusual that the ride came to fruition but it was successful just the same.

As most of you will be aware, the Gold Coast HOG Club was having their annual charity ride on the same day that was scheduled for our monthly ride. Pretty poor planning on their part I thought. You would think they would consult us before planning anything. After all doesn’t the sun revolve around our activities? No? Oh well.

Anyway the charity that they raise money for is a very worthy cause, and it was good to see so many ‘Wingers willing to participate. I do believe however that our club is a stand alone entity, and we should not allow our other outside activities, (of which there are many), to determine whether or not we will run our pre-determined program. If Mary and I had been the only ones that could make it on the ride, it would not have perturbed us in the least, and we would think no less of those that weren’t there. I hope the same is reciprocated.

Anyway, we met at the BP Yatala / Stanmore / etc at the appointed time, had breakfast and were met with some intrepid followers. There were 5 bikes, but Gecko had to go home due to the discovery of deep cuts in his rear tyre. See!! I’m not the only one that has back tyre trouble, and no one published photos of his tyre in the magazine. Gecko then did one of the gutsiest things I’ve ever seen on a motorcycle – he rode it home to Burpengary. What a thrill seeker. I wouldn’t have been game to park it. You don’t know how glad I was to see him at the meeting. Well done mate.

Chris and Sheryl Pusey arrived on their trike to see if anyone from their Ulysses chapter were going for a ride that day and as no one came, (glad to see I’m not the only one), they came with us. Chris has replaced everything on this bike except the rider and pillion and it was great to see that he had it going so well.

We set out at 9am with Chris offering to go as “Tail End Charlie”. My CB is receiving but not transmitting so I was able to hear the panic in the followers, but not able to do anything about it. That is almost as good as not being able to hear as well. We went up over the hill, (Tamborine), via Stanmore, Bahr’s Scrub, Loganlea, and Tamborine Village and we gave the brakes a workout as we went over the cliff on Henry Roberts Drive. We arrived for morning tea at Nerang some time after 10am.

After solving the problems of the world and talking about all of the people that weren’t there over some well earned refreshments, Chris & Sheryl had had enough of us and went home. We meandered through the back blocks of the Gold Coast, checked out the spectacular sights of Panorama, and headed for Murwillumbah via Currumbin Valley and Tomewin.

I expected to meet the charity riders along the Tomewin road, and almost decided to take a different route. I wasn’t quite sure about the safety of having 400 Harley riders coming towards us with amateur pillions on board. As it turned out we didn’t meet up until we were over the range and in the relative safety of the wide flat roads between the cane fields. This turned out to be fortuitous because as we met the first group of HOGs, we encountered an out of control Harley rider. At least I think he was out of control, surely he didn’t intend to be on our side of the road. He was coming towards at a great rate of knots and no where to pull back in. The road was flat and wide with plenty of vision so I was able to lead our group through a relatively small stand of sugar cane, and the damage to the crop wasn’t too bad.

The best part was the look on the pillions face, boy was he getting his money’s worth. He was pretty confused as he had eyes like the bottoms of beer bottles, his mouth was a wide as Plymouth’s boot, and he was yelling something that sounded like SHAAAAAAARRRRK. We were a fair way from the ocean so I don’t think he would have seen a shark.

After we went past the first group of 50 – 70 bikes, I commented to Mary that I thought there would have been more than that. I was right. We met the main group as they were trying to enter the road we were on from a side road on our left. Were we glad that they had to give way to us. If it had been the other way round, we would have been really hungry by the time we got to our lunch destination.

Some of our group made contact with the charity riders via the CB and we all seemed to be having a good time. We rode on in to the Murwillumbah Hotel where we enjoyed a great meal. Mary and I had the $5.95 T Bone steak meal but there were other equally good value meals on the menu. It is definitely worth the stop there as the meal was excellent, and the service first class.

After we woke from our post lunch siesta, we rode through Cabarita and Kingscliff before rejoining the highway for the trip to our home for final refreshments and farewells. Everyone said they had a good time, and so did we. The best part of this ride is that because not many were there, and those that were there were too scared to see where we went, we will get to use the same ride when it is our turn again. That will make the third time that I have used this same ride as not many came the first time either. What a bonus.

Stay alert, stay upright, and stay ahead.

Bill & Mary Carter

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY:

It is the personal responsibility of each motorcyclist to be responsible for at least the following:

²     The roadworthiness of your vehicle (including trailer)

²     That you are in a fit condition to control the vehicle, (including trailer)

²     Make sure you have a full tank of fuel before departing on a ride.

²     That you obey all the traffic rules and ride in a safe manner.

²     That you ride in a considerate manner that does not endanger, or unnecessarily inconvenience other road users.

²     To be correctly attired for safe motorcycling.

²     To have fun and enjoy the day, and the company.

What Else Can Go Wrong?

Drop the Trusted and Faithful Goldwing off at 8:30am Friday morning for a 48,000 service, stating I need it for our night out at the Wool Shed. Requested 2 extra items be looked at.

1)       Check self-wired driving lights are correctly wired

2)       Fit a new mudflap I had imported from America stating it’s not available in Australia and I need it professionally fitted.

Phone call at 5:45pm Friday evening stating bike will be ready at 8:30am Saturday morning.

Saturday morning arrive to pick bike up at 9am and paid for service and extra work that was requested. Go around into workshop to ride Old Faithful home and advised that the sales rep the night before had been showing bike to customers and left the key on. Result one completely flat and chargeless battery, Very Upsetting when battery was bought less then 6 months ago. Service guy attempted to jump start it using service charger and leads without any life from the bike after 20 minutes of trying. Told to come back in 2 hours and all will be corrected, we stated that we needed the Wing that night and didn't want to find we were with a flat battery on the other side of Brisbane at 10pm. Assurance that the triple charge would charge the battery to its max. Charge within 2 hours? Asked again if I should put it on my trickle charger as soon as I get home and answer was No it will be fully charged.

Return 2 hours later Wing purring and started without a problem (this time). Riding home discovered no radio, CB or intercom working, electronic dash blank. Turn signals stopped self-cancelling. Rang company manager as soon as we got home because service department was closed to be told they would look at it Monday and nothing else would or could go wrong! Left a message for service manager to ring me first thing Monday morning because I was most upset with service!  Later that day started Wing to test electrics before night ride and ALL electrics including lights refused to show. So much for the "Nothing else could go wrong"!

Monday morning, 11am still no contact from service manager, ring and voice my anger over not having Wing over the weekend and having to drive car to night outing on Saturday. Asked to ride the Wing back to get checked, voiced my concern that it was not road worthy without electrics (lights / turn signals) working and they will have to come pick it up from home. Results, can't pick bike up for 2 days so earliest they can look at anything would be Wednesday. We then arranged our own pickup and delivery and the Wing was back at dealer within 2 hours of phone call. Advised by person transporting Wing that the back tyre was in need of serious replacement. Immediately rang service manager to voice concern about the safety check not being correct on invoice and advised after 10 minutes that the tyre and brake pads were both in need of replacement but they had forgotten to advice me or write it down on service report.

Tuesday afternoon, rang service manager and asked is Wing finished, advised that battery had been on charge since Monday afternoon and expected the charge to be completed Wednesday morning. So much for their first advice that the triple charge would solve any other charge being required! Advised that the extra Honda accessory pannier lights fitted were not recommended because of the current they use and that this was the possible cause of the electrical problem. Also the driving lights were required to have a relay and this also would have caused a problem. Stated that I had originally asked they check driving lights and correct anything needed and paid them for this request without anyone stating they needed a relay. Also advised by sales manager that mudflap had been removed because the Wing was not designed to carry a mudflap and that because of this the back panel under the license plate had cracked and couldn't hold the mudflap anymore. I then asked why they had fitted the mudflap and charged me after I requested someone professional and understanding the Goldwing fit this mudflap. No Comment.

Wednesday late afternoon, picked bike up and politely said that I would never organize a service again from this company and word of mouth is a very powerful way of advertising. Riding home I then found all stereo volume was non existent, ringing the company and telling the secretary how furious I was about the problems still not corrected. Told the manager would ring me straight back. Thursday afternoon rang company owner and told him all my problems, assured that all would be fixed. Complained about mudflap being cut and bolted 20mm onto back panel rather than keeping the full length of flap and allowing it to be bolted higher up from panel edge which would have stopped any damage occurring.

Monday morning after riding on the Sunday for the leukaemia charity ride without intercom or music I dropped the Wing back to sort out the radio and CB problems. Requested cracked and damaged panel be plastic welded and repainted. 5 days later problems have been fixed and I can pick it up. No real apologies still, I asked about a special price to replace the rear tyre and brake pads only to be cut off half way through my conversation with "$550.00, do you want it done before you pick the bike up?" , No Thanks I need to shop around first with the other Honda dealers to make sure this price is good considering the problems and 2 weeks of the Wing being with the service department. First phone call to the next Honda dealer resulted in a saving of $170 without asking for any special price, next phone call a saving of $85.00 again without any special price. Picking up the Wing I voiced my concern about their safety checks and higher pricing to be told they know they have problems and are looking into solving them. Still no real apology or concern that word of mouth at the next Wing riders meeting will result in less sales and services from their company.

So in two weeks while I waited for my bike service and problems to be completed I was advised that

1. Pannier sidelights are not recommended to be used.
2. Mudflaps are not recommended to be fitted (even after they were given the job of fitting it and had no concerns about it when asked originally)
3. Driving lights must have a relay (even though Honda supplies them without?)
4. My problems were caused by my own wiring of the driving lights even after they were asked to inspect and correct any problems with my method. None of course were found after they originally checked the wiring.
5. It had nothing to do with their sales rep leaving my key switched on.

Oh the joys of putting your trust and hard earned dollar in a large and local company!

Ken Russell

What a way to treat a Wing….

(photo supplied by John G from the Internet)

If it doesn’t show up in the printout – this guy has the Wing so far over that sparks are flying from the underside – possibly the centre stand.

Social Coordinator  - Wendy Beddows Ph; 07 - 3812 4166  - e-mail: nnikki69@optusnet.com.au Turbo's Mobile 0421304144

RIDE DATES; Unless otherwise arranged, rides will be on the 3rd Weekend of the month, and Social rides, the following weekend, with other social events as announced through the year.

**Ride Leaders: Please check the details of your ride and let me know of any changes.  Ride leaders are also asked to organise 2 raffle prizes for their ride. Suggested value approximately $10.00 each.
Raffle tickets will be made available from Eric.

IMPORTANT: Even if you have not finalised the details of your ride, just supply the start time & location, the general direction of the ride, and the meal arrangements.

WOO'S WOES: Sometimes there are other rides of interest that some of us would like to go on, but can never find the details, so here are a few that we have found. I will try to keep it up to date.

Other Rides of Interest

Sunshine Coast Ulysses Odyssey: Fri 10^th to Mon 13^th September to be held at Maroochydore, Qld.

Registration fee: $25.00 Registration closes on Friday 6^th August 2004(registration fee $30.00 if received after closing date) All enquiries to Co-ordinator- Jan (mobile) 04 2884 3110.

Registration covers tea / coffee during the weekend, metal badge, live entertainment Friday, and Saturday evenings. Accommodation is bunk style beds @ $12.00 per night per person, (BYO sleeping bags, pillows etc.) or camping @ $5.00 per person per night.

Catering for Sat, Sun, Mon, Breakfast, $7.00 pp. Lunches $8.00 pp. Evening meals $8.00

The Ron Power Ride (in aid of Palliative Care): Sunday 10^th October.  All rides leave at 10am from ^1.Shell Roadhouse, Gailes; ^2.Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Boondall and ^3.Hyperdome Shopping Centre, Loganholme for a ride to Ulysses Redlands territory.  You choose from where you want to depart.  Cost $10 per person includes cooked meal and a ticket in Perpetual Raffle.  Live bands, badges and licensed bar will be available.

Upcoming.

Details to be announced

The following is part of an article published in the June edition of Wing World.

Ten Tips For Riders & Co-Riders

1.         Carry and drink plenty of water. Start drinking before you ride, keep drinking as you ride. If you don’t need to void liquid every few hours, you’re dehydrating. Sip, sip, sip all day long.

2.         Avoid diuretics (caffeine drinks like coffee and cola hasten water loss). If your mouth is dry, you’re already dehydrated.

3.         Wear vented, full-coverage clothing. (Exposed skin wicks away vital moisture.)

4.         When possible, use evaporative cooling (damp collars, spray bottles, etc.).

5.         Wear light, reflective colours.

6.         Time your riding. When possible, avoid riding during the hottest hours.

7.         Enter air-conditioned spaces to give yourself breaks.

8.         Wear a well-ventilated helmet. Newer helmets have much more efficient venting. Use it.

9.         Increase airflow (Air Wings, windshield vents).

10.     When possible, ride back roads (more agriculture, more shade).

A few thoughts to get you geared up for the coming summer.  Predictions are – it will be HOT. Ed.

August 2004 Meeting Minutes (Members Only)