Salt Lake Motorcycle Rider

Some Fun Info to Live by!

2011-10-17T19:30:00.004-06:00

These are the 10 points about talking with the police that everyoneshould know by heart. If you are part of a group, make sure every single personin the group knows and obeys these rules.

1. Shut up. Do not try to explain anything. The only wordsout of your mouth are from the points below. Don't try to convince them thatthey're wrong about the law. Don't start talking about your rights. Be preparedfor this to be very uncomfortable; ignoring someone is not pleasant. Many copsare perfectly nice people who should be joining your ranks — but you are notinteracting with them socially, you're interacting with them as a suspect.If you're "left alone" in/near a cop car or jail, you are beingrecorded. Even if you think it makes you look good, or you feel like anasshole for not responding to the nice cop just doing his job: just shut thefuck up. Seriously. DontTalk to Police

If you get asked any questions, especially if you're in cuffs, there isexactly one phrase you ever say: "I'm going to remain silent and Iwant to talk to a lawyer." Keep repeating it if they continue. That'llhelp make them stop asking you.

2. Don't snitch. Trust your buddies not to snitch. Snitching will nothelp you. They will play you against each other, including showing you afake confession from your friends; don't believe it. Don't speak on anyoneelse's behalf, don't say anything about what someone else did or didn't do, evenif you think it makes them look innocent.

3. Don't lie. Cops can and will lie to you (so don't trust 'em), but notvice versa. Lying alone will land your ass in jail.

4. Don't resist or be rude. Don't even passively resist, like by goinglimp. Never, ever, ever, ever physically resist the cops. At least in the US,you're not at risk of being randomly shot unless you resist. You willget better treatment if you cooperate.

5. Don't insist on Miranda warning. You don't have any right to itunless you're about to be interrogated anyway. By the time you're arrested theyprobably already have enough, so they don't need to ask you anything. GettingMirandized is actually against your interest; if you aren't then theymight fuck up. So again, shut up.

6. Don't agree to any search. Say explicitly, if they make any movewhatsoever to pat you down, search your stuff, look in your pockets, etc:"I do not consent to a search." When asked why, just repeat yourself.Don't empty your pockets; that's a search too! However, do not resist;if they search you anyway, let them. It'll get thrown out in court if you wereright; you'll go to jail if you resist no matter what.

7. Show ID when asked unless you're certain that you are in a state thatdoesn't require it. If in doubt, clearly tell the officer e.g. "I'm happyto comply with that if it is a lawful order and I am required to by law, but Iwill not do so voluntarily." If they say you have to, do. You'll get itthrown out later if they didn't have the right to insist.

8. Have your lawyer's phone number witten on your arm. All of your stuffwill be taken away if you get booked, before you get your phone call. Find acriminal defense lawyer at https://www.martindale.com,call them to verify that they'll serve for your group if needed, and distributethe number.

9. Be patient. It'll take time; they might take you down for questioning(remember to *say nothing*); etc. Keep your cool.

10. Know your detainment status. The US police interactions you can haveare: purely "voluntary" interaction (can walk away at anytime; still get interviewed; might be seriously intimidating); Terry stop(patdown for weapons only); detainment ("reasonable suspicion",temporarily not free to go, no right to search, possible handcuffs for"officer safety"), and arrest ("probable cause", right tosearch everything on you and nearby, definite handcuffs, possible Mirandawarning).

Ask the officer "am I being detained, or am I free to go?"; if theysay you're being detained, don't pester them about whether you're underarrest, because they just told you what your status is. If they don'tanswer or say you're free to go or "just talking", tell them that asfar as you know you're not being detained and start walking away. Ifthey stop you, then they have de facto detained you, which you can useagainst them in court.

Finally, if at all possible:

11. Videotape everything. Have two people who are not involvedtape it from opposite angles, at least a few feet away. They are not tointeract with or interfere with you or the police in any way; their job is strictlydocumentation, in case you need it in court or for your media campaign.

They should try to get a good shot of the officer's badges, so you canID them later, without interfering. If possible, try getting closer footage orasking names when they're not busy making the arrest, so they're calmer.

12. Coordinators must not participate in any action that couldget them in trouble, even if it's the morally right thing to do. This includesdocumenters, liaisons, and lead organizers. Their job is not to protest; it'sto help the protesters, and you can't do that if you're in handcuffs.

There is one and only one reason you should ever be talking to thepolice, in their professional capacity: if you are the designated policeliaison.

If you are, again, don't say anything about what anyone did or didn't do. Stickexclusively to business matters. Figure out what the other side wantsand how you could give it to them in a way that minimally inconveniences yourgroup. If they want clear passage of the sidewalk, move. If they want to cleanthe park, help them! (You should be helping make the park better anyway.) Bereasonable; don't just be obstinate on principle. But likewise, don't bebullied; if you're certain that their request is unreasonable, tell them you'llget back to them, check with your lawyer, and then come back saying thatno, that's not going to happen.

Stay safe and SHUT UP.

Is bigger better?

2011-09-12T22:36:00.003-06:00

We actually went and looked at the bike I am thinking of getting. Since they actually still had a 2009 brand new on the floor, it had been marked way down. It was a fantastic price, but the sales men had no interest in coming over to help us. If they had I would have asked what they could give me on trade for mine and what my payments would be. Most likely I would have bought a bike yesterday.
We also went to the Honda dealership to look to see if they had anything Rob would be interested in, they really didn't, but he did like the Stateline, just not enough to want to buy it. They tried hard to push the deal but he is very practical and knew he was not going to be buying. He looked great on it, and it is a 1300 CC so it would have been everything he needed and more.
Eventually I will go bigger, just not sure when. Honestly I cannot wait to do it. I am sick of feeling like my 650 is holding other back when we group ride.

Thinking of going bigger

2011-07-06T16:39:00.000-06:00

I have been kicking around the idea of getting myself a larger bike lately. I love my Yamaha V-Star 650 but there are times that I could use more power out of the bike. I know with as much as I love my bike I am most likely going to stay within the Yamaha brand, but still not sure what I would get.
I am thinking that an 1100 cc would be more than enough power for me without having to do another upgrade again down the road, and its a size that I think I could easily handle. From what I can tell most of my after market accessories from the 650 would also fit the 1100 meaning less in the way of upgrades.
I am looking to people I know for advice and ideas on what I should get both model and size. I still owe a bit on mine so I am paying extra each month in order to pay it down faster so that I can be in a position of trading it in or selling it to use the money as a down payment.

I am torn in many ways because most of the time, I dont notice the need for something bigger, but on the occasions when I do notice it, it can be very frustrating because I feel like I am holding the rest of the group back. One thing I can say for sure, I love my Yamaha and would get another one in and instant!

Great day for a ride!

2011-07-03T02:02:00.000-06:00

After all the bullshit and drama over the last few months that finally came to a head this week making us close down the group, we were able to get in a Fantastic ride today.
The President of a local RC that we really like all the members of, reached out for help to pick up a new bike he was buying for his father in law. We rode to meet him at which point I jumped on the back of his and my husband rode mine (since mine is a much smaller engine there is no way we could have done freeway speeds over Parley if I rode on the back of min with my husband)
I was just such a nice relaxing and enjoyable ride that I am glad we did it. It felt like the fun of riding is back finally! Just a great day all around!

Start of a new chapter

2011-07-01T10:21:00.001-06:00

Sadly, we have decided it was time to dissolve the group due to a couple of people who unfortunately just could not act as if they were older than 5. After a few incidents of drama that we worked really hard to smooth over and get past, these 2 individuals just had to keep their shit going and Rob and I just got tired of it. So earlier this week I made the move to shut the group down and we have decided to move in a different direction for ourselves.

I am actually very excited to work our way down a new path, get to meet new people and to have the drama, poor me, pity queens out of the picture. It actually feels really good for the first time in a while now! So going forward I still intend to post about great rides we do, and places we see, but also how things go with the path we have chosen for ourselves! I think its going to be a very positive move for both of us!

Vegas for the Wedding

2011-06-22T21:49:00.000-06:00

This weekend (June 17-20) 6 members of the group including myself took a road trip to Las Vegas to be there for my oldest daughters wedding. We actually split the trip down into two days, with the first night being spent in Beaver, UT approx 227 miles from Vegas the the next day we pushed on to Vegas.
The trip started off with what could be considered a bad omen, or some may consider it a good one. Guess it depends on how you look at it.
We were riding in the staggered formation as we usually do, with my husband leading the group and I was sweeping (riding in back to help anyone that needs to pull off). At one point the lead bikes noticed some Antelope on the west side of the road and signaled the rest of us to be aware in case they came into the road. Unfortunately while we were looking at the Antelope most of us failed to notice the two baby deer who were sitting on the east side of the road in the weeds. Suddenly they got spooked and ran right into the road in front of us. The first 4 bikes in the group hit them both, each hitting one of them at least once, some hit them twice.
This was very scary for me riding in the back watching it, I was so scared that someone would go down and get hurt, but every one of them kept the bike up, rode through it and stayed safe! They all did a great job!
We got to the first hotel around 9pm, checked in and went to grab a bite to eat, then went back to the hotel and had a couple of beers.
The following morning, we grabbed some breakfast at a local diner and moved on the Las Vegas. It was great, I had a great friend who I consider a brother meet us in Mesquite with his wife to ride into Vegas with us! It was nice to see them and have the chance to ride with them, He had actually just earned his patch from the MC he is part of the Saturday before! I was very excited for him!
We got to Las Vegas, took some time to rest and get cleaned up before heading over to the wedding. The ceremony was nice and the kids did great!
After the ceremony my husband and I took the kids to the strip to take some pictures of them together, then they went to their hotel and we grabbed a cab back to Freemont Street and the hotel.
Later that evening my friend and his wife met us, and came to our room to catch up and have a few drinks since we were not able to contact the others to meet up with them.
Saturday we celebrated one of our members 40th birthday, she got a lap dance and a few drinks at a strip club, and she had a blast!
The company was great and I was glad to have my family in Vegas with us.
The ride bike did not go so smooth, we had once bike that actually caught their saddlebags on fire, another one that overheated and one that had the tail lights go out.
We hit a little bit of rain on the way back, but we all had the rain gear handy and it passed quickly. Everyone seemed to have a good time, and it was very nice to share it with the others!

Antelope Island

2011-06-12T01:01:00.000-06:00

Today our group took a nice relaxing ride from Salt Lake to Antelope Island. It was a very nice day out, not too hot, not cold and blue skies!
One of our members invited a couple of his co-workers for the ride, and they were both great people. I hope we get to see more of them. They rode great and they were very personable and fun at stops.
We also had a couple that is thinking of joining the group come out to meet us for the ride. They are very nice people and seem to fit in pretty well....hope we didn't scare them off!! LOL
Once we got to Antelope Island, we took a nice relaxing ride around the island. We actually saw some buffalo this time, that was really neat to get to see some of them. They were right off the side of the road just grazing.
After the ride we decided to stop for ice cream, some of our riders did not have time to stop so they continued home while a few of us stopped. The ice cream was good, the company was Fantastic!! I love our group and days like today when the ride is tight, and everyone is in tune with each other that make me so happy to have started the group.

Memorial Weekend Southern Utah trip

2011-06-05T00:27:00.003-06:00

For Memorial weekend, the group decided to do a 2 night/3 day trip to southern Utah. The first day was fantastic, we rode from Salt Lake to Blanding, with stops in Wellington and Green River for gas. We arrived at the hotel at apporx 6pm, then went across the street and had a really nice dinner. The diner we ate at had great burgers, and I had the Navaho taco....it was very good. The only bummer was that Blanding is in a Dry county....so no beer for us!

Day 2 we rolled out after a good breakfast, but the winds were crazy! They were 65-70mph winds that we fought and fought until we hit Kayenta, AZ. At that point we decided to stop and spend the night instead of pushing on to Kanab. We then got settled into our rooms only to find out that its on an Indian Reservation....so again, dry county! We ended up eating that night at the hotel restaurant, the meal was OK, but nothing great!

Monday we had almost 500 mile to get home since we had shortened our day on Sunday. But the skies were clear, no wind to deal with, just a long ride home.

This was the first long trip for the little dog, she did very well, no crying or carrying on in her bike carrier, and many, many bikers had to come and check out her set up when we would stop for gas. I think she had a good time.

Elko Jamboree vs Vegas Wedding

2011-05-06T01:28:00.000-06:00

Last week I found out that my oldest daughter is getting Married in Las Vegas on June 17th. This is the weekend of the Elko Jamboree, so it has caused a little anxiety. I did not want to flake on the group, but I really should be at the wedding. Rob and I decided we are going to Vegas for the wedding and the best part is we have such a great family that about half are also coming to Vegas with us!! I love my chosen family!
We are still going to make a great weekend out of it, my friend who lives down there is taking time off to spend with us and its going to be great!

Bag for the puppy

2011-05-01T02:20:00.000-06:00

I finally broke down and spent the money on a Motorcycle pet carrier, got it this week but the weather has not been cooperating, I am hoping to get her out in it next week to get her used to it.
Its made my TBags, and is very nice! I am impressed with the construction and the hooks, straps for mounting if you do not want to mount it to your sissy bar, I look forward to may rides with her behng me!

First ride of the season

2011-05-01T02:15:00.000-06:00

Our group got out for its first ride of this season together on April 16th. Not a bad day out, sun was shining and it was approx 65 degrees. We decided to to the same loop through Tooele we did last year kind of like a tradition. This way its a short tide just in case the weather decided to act up.
We had a great ride, even ran into a DUI checkpoint and talked to the officers there for a minute. I will add some video once its been completed,

Just for Laughs

2011-04-13T03:40:00.003-06:00

A cop stops a Harley for traveling faster than the posted speed limit, so he asks the biker his name.

'Fred,' he replies.

'Fred what?' the officer asks.

'Just Fred,' the man responds.

The officer is in a good mood and thinks he might just give the biker a break and, write him out a warning instead of a ticket. The officer then presses him for the last name.

The man tells him that he used to have a last name but lost it. The officer thinks that he has a nut case on his hands but plays along with it. 'Tell me, Fred, how did you lose your last name?'

The biker replies, 'It's a long story, so stay with me.' I was born Fred Johnson. I studied hard and got good grades.

When I got older, I realized that I wanted to be a doctor. I went through college, medical school, internship, residency, and finally got my degree, so I was Fred Johnson, MD. After a while I got bored being a doctor, so I decided to go back to school.

Dentistry was my dream! Got all the way through School, got my degree, so then I was Fred Johnson, MD, DDS.

Got bored doing dentistry, so I started fooling around with my assistant and she gave me VD, so now I was Fred Johnson, MD, DDS, with VD.

Well, the ADA found out about the VD, so they took away my DDS.

Then I was Fred Johnson, MD, with VD. Then the AMA found out about the ADA taking away my DDS because of the VD, so they took away my MD leaving me as Fred Johnson with VD.

Then the VD took away my Johnson, so now I am Just Fred.'

The officer walked away in tears, laughing.

Brass Balls Ride

2011-04-03T15:34:00.001-06:00

Saturday April 2nd we went on the Brass Balls Ride. It was put on by one of the local Riding Clubs called the B.A.S.T.A.R.D.S. They are a terrific group of people, and they pulled this event together perfectly.
There were 10 of our members that were able to attend the ride. Its very different from what we normally do since it was a pub crawl. It was a good time, riders were able to ride from bar to bar at their leasure, making the big cluster that you see a lot with charity rides non-existent. There was the initial take off that had all the bikes riding in a line, and that was a great thing to see. Everyone there seemed to really know how to ride as a group and keep others around them safe.
At the last stop there was a raffle and a few of the members of our group won different things and all the money raised was donated to the Christmas Box House. I great day with a ton of great people!!

Southern Utah afternoon

2011-04-01T00:10:00.002-06:00

Rob and I decided to take a car trip to Southern Utah today to check out a ride we are going to be doing over Memorial weekend. We wanted to double check distances between gas stop and places available to stay at in different places along the way. It was a very nice road trip, we finally decided to stop in Kanab and spend the night before hitting the road tomorrow to finish the route. We both had a nice relaxing time to just drive and check out all the scenery. For me its the first time I have been to this part of the state and its beautiful!

Oil Change day

2011-03-27T07:44:00.000-06:00

We got the group together to get all the bikes that needed it oil changes. While the guys were in the garage changing oil in 8 bikes, I was in the house with some of the other wives sewing the fun type of patches on everyones vests. It was a great time, we had a lot of good laughs and got a lot done. Now all the bikes are ready for the upcoming season so we can just RIDE!
Now if only the weather would cooperate! We got snow yet again here in Salt Lake last night. I really hope this is the last snow storm we will be seeing! We have so many great rides planned, some are already on the calendar, others will be posted soon.

To Wave or Not to Wave?

2011-03-13T03:03:00.000-06:00

I found this on another blog and had to borrow it because it made me laugh so hard. I hope you all enjoy it like I did.

I love motorcycles, and I love riding. Like many of you, what first drew me to bikes was not just the experience of riding, but the feeling that I'd become part of a special community—a brotherhood, really. Nothing calms me more than a long ride down the interstate, waving to the members of my beloved clan. Except when I pass Harley guys. I hate Harley guys. Hate, hate, hate. When they pass me on the highway, you know what I do? I don't wave. With their little tassle handlebars and the studded luggage and the half-helmets—God, they drive me crazy.

You know who else I hate? BMW guys. Oh, I do hate those guys. I don't wave at them, either. They think they're so great, sitting all upright, with their 180-degree German engines. God, I hate them. They're almost as bad as those old bastards on their touring motorcycles. You know what I call those bikes? "Two-wheeled couches!" Get it? Because they're so big. They drive around like they've got all day. Appreciate the scenery somewhere else, Grampa, and while you're at it, I'm not waving to you.

Ducati guys—I don't wave at them either. Why don't they spend a little more money on their bikes? "You can have it in any color you want, as long as it's red." Aren't you cool! Like they even know what a desmo-whatever engine is, anyway. Try finding the battery, you Italian-wannabe racers! I never, ever wave at those guys.

Suzuki guys aren't much better, which is why I never wave at them, either. They always have those stupid helmets sitting on top of their stupid heads, and God forbid they should wear any safety gear. They make me so mad. Sometimes they'll speed by and look over at me and you know what I do? I don't wave. I just keep on going. Please, don't get me started on Kawasaki guys. Ninjas? What are you, twelve years old? Team Green my ass. I never wave at Kawasaki guys.

I ride a Honda, and I'll only wave at Honda guys, but even then, I'll never wave at a guy in full leathers. Never, never, never. Yeah, like you're going to get your knee down on the New York Thruway. Nice crotch, by the way. Guys in full leathers will never get a wave from me, and by the way, neither will the guys in two-piece leathers. And I'll tell you who else I'm not waving at—those guys with the helmets with the loud paint jobs. Four pounds of paint on a two pound helmet–like I'm going to wave back to that! I'll also never wave at someone with a mirrored visor. Or helmet stickers. Or racing gloves. Or hiking boots.

To me, motorcycling is a like a family, a close-knit brotherhood of people who ride Honda's, wear jeans and a leather jacket (not Vanson) with regular gloves and a solid-color helmet with a clear visor, no stickers, no racing gloves and regular boots (not Timberland's). And isn't that what really makes riding so special?

Nice couple of days for riding!

2011-03-13T01:32:00.000-07:00

The past couple of days have been nice enough weather that we were able to get the bikes out for some riding time. Its been awesome! Thursday we got out and ran some of our errands on the bikes, the weather was nice enough that I was even able to ride without gloves most of the time.
Saturday Kents family had invited the group over for breakfast so we all met up and rode over there as well. This was a good ride since Lisa has only had her bike a few weeks and has not had the chance to get it out and really ride it. She did very well riding in the group and keeping things nice and tight. Today was much cooler than Thursday but still worth getting out for the ride!
I am itching for the weather to get nice for good, and stop with all the back and forth! We have our first ride on the calendar for April 16th, I really hope the weather cooperates!

New Addition

2011-03-06T06:20:00.000-07:00

We got a new addition to our riding group on February 6th! I got myself a Chewiener who we named Kiwi and she will be riding on my bike with me when the season starts! She is so silly right now, but all puppies are right? I have been socializing her and getting her used to all the members of the group by taking her to any event that it is possible. She has had the chance to go to several of the other members homes and meet their doggies as well.
She of course came in and took over the whole house, she is sure that everything here is hers, this includes the pugs toys, the cats toys, as well as the pug and both cats!
I look forward to riding with her, and hope she is going to enjoy it as much as I enjoy hitting the road!

Upcoming Season

2011-03-06T06:12:00.000-07:00

The group held our annual planning meeting at the end of January, we talked about what day rides people want to go on as well as a week long trip we will be taking to Lake Tahoe and the surrounding areas. We also talked about how well the group is doing and the great group of people we now call family!
I am very excited for this upcoming season, there are a lot of changes we will be making and all of them will benefit the group in many ways! I cant wait!!!
If any of my readers have ideas for single day rides, please feel free to throw them out there, we are always looking for great places to take the bikes.

A Hockey Afternoon

2011-01-23T08:14:00.000-07:00

Saturday 1/22/11 our group got together to support one of the son of a member at his little league hockey game. It was so fun to watch the kids get out there and skate their butts off to score. The game ended with our team winning 7-1!! They did an Awesome job!!
As a group we love to get together any time we can, and we have been just as active through the winter as we would be in the summer. The biggest difference is that we are doing things that allow us to really get to know each person very well. That is something you do not get as easily when riding season is here since everyone is on their bike and there is not as much time to just sit and talk. It has been a great winter so far, we even had a few that got the bikes out despite the cold weather and rode to the game! Dont get me wrong, we are all itching for winter to be over so we can all get out and ride, but we make the most of the cold season by becoming closer as a group!

New Years Eve!

2011-01-01T22:52:00.001-07:00

For New Years Eve as well as the 10th Anniversary of 2 of our members we had a party to celebrate both occasions. We had some great food as well as a great bunch of laughs.
During the party many were drinking and enjoying the relaxation! Our party Hostess set up a game of "The Newlywed Game" that was a riot to play. Its always fun watching all the guys try to one up each other! LMAO
Some partied harder than others and did not get the chance to toast at midnight but for the most part everyone made it to welcome the new year!! It was a great time had by all, and I just want to say how blessed Rob and I are to have this extended family!

Christmas Party

2010-12-20T23:50:00.001-07:00

Our group had our Christmas Party on December 11th, it was such a good time! We all got together with the kids & spouses to celebrate the end of the year as well as the holidays. We had tons of great food including 4 smoked turkeys and all the sides we could ever imagine to go with them! The beer and wine were flowing freely and everyone was having a great time.
We created an area for the kids so they could play Wii, board games, color or just sit and hang out. We also had a scavenger hunt to keep them busy at the start of the party.
After we all got plenty to eat we did a gift exchange game that is always a bunch of fun, and we had tons of great laughs to go with it!
All in all we had approx 48 people there, loads of great food, and as many good times as we could squeeze in!! Cant wait for the New Years Eve bash :)

Friday Meetings

2010-11-27T03:30:00.001-07:00

A few months back we started having Friday meetups at the Wendy's in Jordan Landing. They are pretty casual, pretty much you attend if you can, and if you cannot then it is not big deal. We do not request RSVP's for these get togethers. They are simply a way for the current group to get together when they are able and also a great way for new people to come on out and meet us to see if our group may be a good fit for them.
Tonight we decided to deviate from our usual spot due to Black Friday and not wanting to be anywhere near Jordan Landing today in order to avoid the shoppers. Of course as is my luck the KFC I chose was closing down at 7pm for their company Xmas party! So off to plan B....we walked next door to McDonald's and has some slop there before going to Derf & Shellinut's place to hang out for a while. All in all we had a great time, it just kills me that this is the one night that KFC closes early for a party! Damn Murphy anyhow!!

Group Thanksgiving

2010-11-21T01:23:00.005-07:00

We had a group Thanksgiving today, it was a great time! We had about 36 people show up, it was a very large crowd, and the food went over well, everyone laughed, everyone had a good time visiting with each other. Even the kids were enjoying themselves. I can't wait to do it all again on the 11th or the Christmas party!

We had three turkeys and still ended up running short on turkey meat! Obviously everyone really enjoyed them. It almost seems as though we've ran out of most food this time. We will definitely make sure that never happens again! A lot of fun had by a great group of people I love the family we've chosen!

Melanie "Spudd", John "Horndog", & Cody

Rob & Betty "Boop"

Me "Spazzn" & Ron "Cowboy"

Lisa, Trevor, Melanie, Betty, John, Landon, Chelsie, Bryce, John Rayborn

James & Cowboy talking and Denise

We got our first real snowstorm of the year tonight :(

Adult Toy Party

2010-11-07T16:27:00.000-07:00

We decided to have a Co-Ed Adult Toy party yesterday, it was so much fun! About 13 of the group came out for it and we had so many good laughs! It was worth doing for sure!!
I cannot believe how much fun everyone had, we had a few drinks and some snacks to round the day out. I know keeping activities going through the winter months will help keep the group close like the family we have become!
I am so thankful for the whole thing every day, I have met some of the best people ever through riding!!

The end of a Fantastic Season

2010-10-25T21:51:00.000-06:00

Here in Salt Lake we got our first snow storm of the year today with several others to follow over the next week. I think its safe to say that riding season is over for now :(
As a group we will continue to do things together a few times a month, including the weekly dinner meetings at Wendys in Jordan Landing. We have a lot of fun things planned such as a group Thanksgiving dinner the Saturday before, a Christmas party in December.
We also have outings to places around town such as the Aquarium planned. I feel that we have become a family who love to ride together instead of just a bunch of people who go on rides together. I love the way the group is working out, and I can honestly say I am very happy to have each and every member!!
So while I am very sad to see riding season ending, I am glad we have each other and lots of fun stuff to keep us close over the winter!

Group "vacation" ride next season

2010-10-25T21:43:00.002-06:00

We have been trying to decide on a group ride that is approx 1 week long for next season. We have gotten lots of ideas but trying to come up with ideas is hard. Any suggestions from some of you seasoned cross country riders would be great!

Come join us

2010-10-23T07:44:00.000-06:00

Even though sadly our riding season here in Utah is coming to an end due to winter coming on, that does not mean you cannot come out and meet and join our group. We will still be having many event and get togethers to keep our family tight over the non-riding months.
We have a get together to go to a haunted house this weekend, we have a Christmas party as well as a group Thanksgiving dinner coming up.
We get together regularly on Friday nights to hang out, usually we re at the Wendys in Jordan Landing at 6:30pm. So just because its getting colder does not mean we are not active! Come check us out!! Salt Lake Valley Motorcycle Riders

Group site

2010-10-17T05:01:00.000-06:00

After some recent changes that the group hosting site made that have made it quite hard to navigate the site we have decided to move our group to a new hosting site called Big Tent. So you can now find Salt Lake Valley Motorcycle Riders at https://www.bigtent.com/groups/slriders
This new hosting site has more features and just really works nicely for the group. As of November 1st the original shortened link www.slriders.tk will also take you there.
I am very excited for the new year and all the fun things we have planned! We have such and Amazing group and I consider every one of them family!! I am lucky to have such a great group of people around me to do this with!!

Southern Utah Ride

2010-10-17T04:55:00.000-06:00

We organized a ride to Souther Utah and it was FANTASTIC! We started off on 9/10/10 (I know it has taken me a while to get this posted, damn busy life right now) We rode from SLC to Green River, UT and stopped for a great burger before heading on to Goblin Valley. I have lived in Utah my whole life and have never been to this area....I dont know why, but I will be going back! The colors and rock formations are just Amazing! After Goblin, we moved on to Torrey and stayed at The Rim Rock Inn. It was a nice motel, priced pretty good and we were able to all stay in the same place have a few drinks and not have to drive anywhere!! It was a really nice evening!
We had a total of 6 bikes 8 people that went, one of whom had just purchased her bike the Saturday before we left and she did a great job! As a group we tried to keep her in the middle to keep an eye on her and you never would have known she had just gotten her bike!!
The number of laughs we had on this trip made the whole thing perfect, the weather was nice, just an all around great ride!!
We spent our second night in Beaver, UT and the ride from Torrey to Beaver through Escalante was just so pretty, we are going to plan a trip just to check out that area.
The staff at the Best Western Butch Casidy Inn could not have been better, the rooms were nice and the price was good! I cannot wait to make it back to this area to check more things out and just get away!!
The video is below.

Helper Arts Festival Ride

2010-08-24T13:39:00.001-06:00

The group took a nice relaxing ride from Salt Lake City to Helper, UT for the annual Arts Festival on Saturday August 21st. It was a FABULOUS day out!
We started around 10:30 in the morning with a total of 6 bikes riding from SLC to Helper. The ride getting down I-15 was pretty typical...a whole lot of idiot cage drivers and just being on extra high alert to be sure everyone was getting through traffic with no incident. Once we got off I-15 onto US-6 it was a bit more relaxing. We stopped at the base of Spanish Fork Canyon on US-6 for a quick gas stop then headed up the canyon.
Normally the traffic in the canyon can be pretty nerve wracking (even in a car) but it was not as bad for our ride. I was very pleasantly surprised. This is the first time I had been through this area on the bike, but I am very familiar with it since I have family who live in Price, so I have been through this canyon hundreds of times throughout my life. I have always had a very high level of respect for the canyon area on US-6 since it is one of the deadliest roads in the U.S. due to the way people usually drive it.
We took our time, doing the speed limit and seeing the sights of the canyon on our way through, it went really well, everyone arrive safely in Helper to enjoy what the small town Arts Festival had to offer.
We ate a bunch of fried food for lunch, including some fried Snickers Bars, 3 Musketeers, and fried Twinkies!! YUMMMM!!
The temps were a bit hot while walking around, but while on the road they were great!
All in All it was such a nice day I am very happy we did this ride and I cannot wait to do it again next year!

Upcoming Events

2010-08-15T11:09:00.001-06:00

I cannot believe how fast this season is going! It seems like just yesterday I was going nuts to get out for a ride but the snow was in the way!
We still have quite a few things on the calendar for the group, and I am looking forward to every one of them!! I am also very excited to sit down with the group this winter and start looking at what we will be doing next season!!! We have been trying to decide what trip we want to take as a group next year...we are thinking 7-9 days. Maybe Mt. Rushmore, or the Pacific Coast Highway. There have been a few things thrown out. I am looking forward to looking at all the ideas and making a decision.
The next event we have is a ride to Helper for the Arts Festival they put on every year, it should be a nice ride and good afternoon! I cant wait!! If you would like to come out and meet the group and come on a ride, click the title of this post....it will take you to our calendar!

Ride through Heber/Tabiona/Kamas

2010-08-15T11:01:00.002-06:00

We took the group out for a scenic ride yesterday. The ride started a little bit later in the day with a 12:30pm start time. The weather was nice and temps not too hot even with starting later in the day.
We left from Sandy and rode to Orem to pick up a couple more members of the group, from there we rode up through Provo Canyon. The canyon was very pretty, the view through that area is always very nice! With it being a Saturday afternoon the canyon was pretty busy with the boaters trying to get to the various reseviors for a fun filled afternoon, but we were able to ride at a good pace, kept the group together and enjoyed the scenery.
After a stop at The Hub Cafe in Heber for some lunch, we then continued on Highway 40...(this was the hardest part of the ride for me since this is the area were the accident happened last year and we lost a member of our group) The other members of the group really enjoyed this area, the temps were great and the traffic was minimal. We turned off onto SR-35 towards Tabiona....I had never been through this area and I was very impressed with the beauty of this area and the ride was nice! There are some nice canyon roads that are a very nice relaxed ride, very little traffic, we did see a couple of animals, a deer and a moose.
We then looped around through Kamas, got some gas, took a quick break and then back home via Provo Canyon. It was a nice ride...and of course the company was AMAZING! I am so happy to have the group we have, everyone just makes it all worthwhile!! I am only sorry that we had members who could not make the ride with us this time, that is the only thing that could have made this day any better!!

Lazy Saturday Ride in Tooele County

2010-07-18T21:44:00.001-06:00

Its been a few weeks since we got back from Elko, we have done some great rides but I have been pretty busy with the group, work, and school.
We had a really nice quiet ride starting in Magna then heading out I-80 to Tooele with a stop at Jims Family Restaurant for breakfast. From there we rode out through Stockton, then on through Johnsons Pass by Dugway. It was a really pretty ride, I cannot remember the last time I had been through the Johnsons Pass area and I had forgotten how nice the ride is. It has some nice curves but nothing too crazy or hairy. Traffic is pretty quiet, so you can easily cruise out through the area.
Once we got over the pass area we rode through Dugway then on to Granstville before heading back to West Valley (after a stop for ice cream at Lakepoint to help break up the heat a bit).
It was the hottest day of the year so far, I had to question why we were headed out to the desert and not to a canyon, but we all endured and enjoyed! I have added some pix and the video my man shot for us! Enjoy!! If you are interested in joining the group and going on some great rides go to https://www.bigtent.com/groups/slriders and sign up!

Elko Motorcycle Jamboree

2010-06-27T11:18:00.001-06:00

Took a few days to get time to post this but that is just how good the Elko Motorcycle Jamboree was!
We left on Friday and rode to Elko from Magna; the ride there was GREAT! When we rolled into Elko we got there just before the motorcycle parade they do, so there were people lined up on the main street waiting for it to begin. As we rolled into town with the 12 bikes in our group we got waved to all the way down Idaho street. It was fun!
After some time to clean up and get checked into the motels we went down to the area that has all the action to do some shopping & get some dinner!
The next day we met up for breakfast then we got to watch a motorcycle rodeo....that was fun to watch. Different events such as "Moving at the slowest speed...without putting your feet down" another event were the passenger had to take a bite out of a hot dog on a string as they rode by it! It was all a great laugh. After that it was off the the main area again for more shopping before dinner. After dinner we got to watch a great Kiss tribute band called Kiss Army do a set while meeting other bikers & hanging out talking to some old friends. All in all...it was a Fantastic weekend!
We had 12 bikes and a total of 16 people...it made it very memorable.
If you have never been to a Jamboree in your area, you should check it out! Having the chance to meet all the other bikers who come out as well as the fun of shopping with the different vendors...it cant be beat!

Memorial Day Roadhouse Ride

2010-06-01T23:47:00.001-06:00

With our Saturday ride having been rained out yet again, we decided to do a casual ride on Memorial Day since the weather was looking pretty good. We got some of the group together for a ride from Salt Lake City to Morgan, UT to have some lunch at a place called Kelly's Roadhouse. Its a very biker friendly bar & grill in a small town that makes a pretty damn good blue cheese bacon burger!
The ride up was really nice, traffic was not bad at all and the group rode great! I totally love riding sweep and watching the group when we are riding tight. It is one of my favorite things!!
Everyone had a great meal then we took our time getting back, riding through Parleys Canyon...not one of my favorite things since most of the cages drive it like they have had a recent lobotomy! I don't like driving it in the car and on the bike it makes me tense, but it was still a good ride home as well. Nice formation, everyone enjoying themselves and we all got home safe and sound.
Overall...A FANTASTIC day!

Rain Rain go AWAY!

2010-05-22T19:53:00.001-06:00

Due to the crappy weather we were not able to get out and ride today as planned. It was a bummer to have to cancel the ride!
We still made the most of the day by going to Heber to The Sidetrack Cafe for a good lunch and some great laughs with some of the group. I really enjoyed hanging out with the ones that were able to still come! It was a great way to make the most of the wet, dreary situation.
Next weekend is the Evanston Memorial Freedom Rally, we will be doing that as a group and I am really looking forward to it. I think it will be a great time!
Anyone in the area feel free to check out the calendar and come along, all are welcome!
Evanston Rally Ride

Shriners Ride Benefit 5/16/10

2010-05-16T19:17:00.004-06:00

Our group decided to participate in the Shriner Hospital Benefit Ride today. We had 6 members of our group that could make it. Rob and I took the day off work to go out and ride for a good cause.
Unfortunately whoever organized this ride failed on a grand scale! They have been doing it for 15 years now, and it gets bigger each year. This year I would estimate we saw about 700 bikes there, I have no idea how many showed that could not park in the main parking area.
They did not have maps of the route for riders, when I went up to the registration area to ask for one I was told they had 1 map and it stays at the registration desk. WTF? You have this many people and the only way to know the route was to stand around the registration desk and try to memorize it?
When it got close to kickstands up time one of the Shriners people got up with a megaphone and tried to verbally tell everyone over the crowd of people what the route would be. Again...WTF? But whatever, its a big group we will just follow along.
We got rolling around 10:15am and I am sure it took a while to get all those bikes on the road, the police had blocked off State St in order to allow everyone to get out and onto the freeway, from there....Chaos!
People were all over the place, we had a lot of riders that were working hard to use proper group etiquette and ride with respect, but many that were riding like they are the only one on the road....in and out of traffic, in and out of the group, it was frustrating.
This also made it less than a surprise when traffic came to a stop just outside of Park City due to the fact that two bikes had collided and 3 people had been hurt. We rolled up on it before police or ambulances had arrived and it was a mess.
At that point someone came back saying that police wanted everyone to clear out and continue the ride, and that is what needed to happen, having several hundred motorcycles stopped on the freeway was not helping traffic to say the least.
The problem was that from there, the 2 lead bikes they had where long gone....they had passed long before the accident even occurred so that left a very large group of bikes with no clue what the route was.
Our group continued on to the exit that we remembered hearing them say was the first stop and found that a large amount of bikes had stopped there and none of them knew the next step. I had actually decided before we got there that I was done with this ride and we will not be doing any more charity rides.
We left there with 2 other members of our group and continued on to Heber for a nice lunch, then Rob and I rode home from there through Provo Canyon.
It was nice to be home and relax!
Everyone needs to be safe out there!

Golden Spike National Park 5/15/10

2010-05-16T18:56:00.003-06:00

We took the group of approx 26 bikes on an afternoon ride to Golden Spike National Park today. It was a nice day for a ride, wish it had been a bit warmer but other than that, the weather was pretty nice. I think we topped out at 70 degrees. Golden Spike is in Northern Utah, just shy of the Idaho border actually. We had a pretty nice ride and had a great time seeing the area of the railroad that joined the country. We got to see a reenactment of the ceremony they did when the railway was finished, it was cute!
When we got home we washed about 38 pounds of bugs off the bikes and got them back into tip top for our next ride! I cannot believe how dirty they had gotten. I will be adding some video and pics from our ride once I get my camera back (I accidentally sent it home with my oldest daughter) So check back later in the week to see the sights of the ride! If you would like to join a great group of people to ride with, feel free to check us out at https://www.bigtent.com/groups/slriders
Be safe out there!!

Brandons Ride Benefit 5/8/10

2010-05-11T21:54:00.002-06:00

On Saturday May 8th our group attended a benefit ride called Brandons Ride. Its a ride that is done to benefit fallen and wounded soldiers in our area.
Unfortunately I was not able to go on this ride with my group due to severe back pain from my sciatic nerve. I was pretty bummed about not being able to go. I tried, got geared up and went to the meeting point but realized pretty quickly that continuing on would be painful and unsafe so I took myself home and left the rest of the group to ride on with Rob. For me....it sucked! For the rest of the group, they had a great ride! Rob got some video footage of the ride so check it out!

Antelope Island Ride 4/24/10

2010-04-26T00:09:00.003-06:00

We had a FANTASTIC group ride out to Antelope Island yesterday. The ride was with a combination of people from my group Salt Lake Valley Motorcycle Riders and the Utah Motorcyclists group on Facebook. I posted and coordinated the ride for both groups and I must say...the turn out was Amazing!
The start time for the ride was at 10:00am, so Rob and I decided to get there around 9:40 in order to grab a quick bite to eat before most of the group started to roll in. Imagine my surprise when we rolled up to the meeting place to see no less than 20 bikes already there and waiting! It was Great! Needless to say by the time I rolled in and gassed up I had people coming over to introduce themselves as well as people from our group coming over to say good morning...by the time we got done talking to the people we needed to it was time to roll out....
At about 10:10 we had everyone staged and we hit the road. Rob leading the group of 32 bikes, I was riding sweep. It was really cool to see! We rode from Salt Lake City to Antelope Island, after paying the entrance fee we rode around the island to see some of the sights, with a couple of stops to let everyone see the scenery and get some photos.
From there we headed back with some stopping for lunch while others continued home.
All in all it was a Spectacular day for a ride with a Fabulous ride thrown in!! I am thrilled to have had such a great ride this early in the season and I look forward to many, many more. We met some really great people and really enjoyed the entire day.
Rob used his new GoPro HD video recorder and mounted it to his rear fender to catch the group as they rolled behind him, it turned out nicely.

My sweetie after he collected the entrance fee from everyone to help expedite the entry process into the state park.

Part of the group staging at the begining

As we got going on the freeway

Tooele Loop

2010-04-17T19:30:00.002-06:00

We got the group out for a ride today, started in Magna, rode out I-80 to Tooele for some lunch at the Dairy Delight. We had burgers as big as your head then rode on through Stockton to Lehi before heading back to the city on I-15. It was a FANTASTIC ride, the weather was nice and the group rode great!
We had 12 bikes on this ride and everyone did a really nice job keeping the formation tight and staying together. I rode lead and it was so nice to see the line of bike in my mirrors all day!! Although I must say that I have learned that leading a group can be very exhausting. You are constantly looking at the stuff you always have to but also checking mirrors to make sure the group is all together, your not going too fast and leaving big gaps and trying to anticipate moves far enough ahead of time to allow for all members to change lanes, turn or take the right exit when its time.
At one point while riding out by the Deseret Chemical Depot we passed a Golden Eagle eating a deer he found on the side of the road, it was an amazing sight!
We have some video my husband took with the sunglasses I got him for Christmas while riding sweep. (He was not able to get the Eagle, he had taken off by the time Rob got to that point in the road)
All in all the ride was approx 135 miles, not a long one just a way to get the group out and get some riding in, wash of the cabin fever!! :)

Short but great!

2010-04-13T23:43:00.000-06:00

Our group finally got a bit of a ride in last Saturday! We met for breakfast then did a short ride, approx 45 minutes...I know, not much but it felt sooo nice to be out riding and to have the chance to ride with at least a couple of people from our group.
Only 4 of us were able to get out and ride but we did get to see more of our members at breakfast.
We have a longer ride planned for this Saturday and so far it actually looks like the weather is going to cooperate! (We are keeping things crossed) We also have more of our members who will be able to join us as well.
Anyone who wants to come is more than welcome, we are meeting up at the Chevron in Magna at 8400 W 2700 S at 11:00 am. We will be riding out through Tooele and coming back by way of Saratoga Springs/Lehi. Should be a couple of hours worth of riding total! I can't wait!!!

Sad start to the 2010 riding season here is Salt Lake!

2010-03-22T23:45:00.001-06:00

Unfortunately the riding season here is not off to a very good start.
During a local charity ride on Sunday March 21, 2010 called the Bi-Polar Ride, sponsored by a local club called The UMF two riders collided causing fatal injuries for one of them, injuring his mother who was riding as a passenger and also injuring the rider who hit him.
My heart goes out to the families of all involved! I cannot imagine how the rider who survived is feeling at this time, but I sincerely hope he can heal from this!
As someone who witnessed a horrific accident last year that took the life of a friend I hope everyone out there remembers the importance of being EXTREMELY alert and aware at all times. Not only of the cars around you since they always seem to be out to get you, but when riding in a group remembering that group riding requires even more attention to safety by all parties.
I hope we can keep this year safe going forward, last year was a horrible year for motorcyclists and I do not want to see a repeat!!

Please be safe out there, lets all make it home from every ride!

Pix

2010-03-12T16:02:00.000-07:00

This is the Sissy Bar and Luggage rack I put on as well as the engine guards and highway pegs.

Bike Pix

2010-03-12T15:59:00.000-07:00

This is what my bike would look like if it were a Harley...lol (notice the oil spot under it)

Accessories

2010-03-06T22:02:00.000-07:00

I finally got most of the accessories on the bike today.
New Engine Guards, Highway Pegs, Sissy Bar, and Luggage rack. I decided to not use the mirrors I had purchased with the Flames on them due to the size of the actual mirror being way too small for my comfort zone. I tend to check my mirrors quite a bit, and like to know the location of everything around me so I decided there is no way I could use the little ones without being extremely anxious all the time. I am kind of bummed because I love the way they look!
One thing is for sure...I am not as impressed with Kuryakyn as I should have been with the prices they charge, I expected to be blown away by the products. Not so much! They look nice, and they are solid but installation was a pain in the ass!
That aside, I am VERY excited to get out on the road now that I have the pegs installed. I know it will be even better on the long rides...lets get this season started!!

New Parts

2010-02-24T01:58:00.000-07:00

I have finally ordered some highway pegs to make those long rides even more enjoyable, a sissy bar and luggage rack, and some new flame mirrors for my bike! I cannot wait for all my goodies to arrive so I can take the next steps in making my bike more personal and comfortable! The sissy bar was one thing I was unsure about. I really like the look of my bike without it, and have been very hesitant to adding one but I finally decided that the convenience of having the luggage rack and something to strap some luggage to would be better in the long run. I am sure I will be glad I made the choice before too long.
I will post some pix after I get all the goodies on the bike!!
Be safe out there, see ya on the highway!!!

Group Brunch

2010-02-06T15:41:00.000-07:00

Most of the group got together today for brunch and some time to just hang out and shoot the breeze about motorcycles and upcoming rides on the calendar. It was a great time! I really love the way everyone has been open to getting to know each other. Riding with a group of friends is definitely much better than a group of people you don't really know.
I am glad to see everyone getting along, being able to joke and laugh and truly enjoying each other.
I can't wait to get our group on the road!

S.B. 106 MOTOR VEHICLE NOISE EMISSION STANDARDS

2010-02-01T23:56:00.002-07:00

This is a current bill being addressed in 2010 legislature. PLEASE email your representatives on how you feel about this change.

S.B. 106 MOTOR VEHICLE NOISE EMISSION STANDARDS
41-6a-1626. Mufflers -- Prevention of noise, smoke, and fumes -- Air pollution control devices
(1) As used in this section:
(a) "A-weighted sound level" means the sound pressure level measured by the use of an
instrument with the metering characteristics and A-weighting frequency response prescribed for sound level meters.
(b) "Excessive or unusual noise" means any sound made by a passenger motor vehicle
or a motorcycle at any time under any condition of grade, acceleration, or deceleration which exceeds 90 db(A) on a highway with a posted speed limit of more than 35 miles per hour or 86 db(A) on a highway with a posted speed limit of 35 miles per hour or less:
(i) measured using an A-weighted sound level; and (ii) based on a distance of 50 feet from the centerline of travel.
[(1)] (2) (a) A vehicle shall be equipped, maintained, and operated to prevent excessive
or unusual noise.
(b) A motor vehicle shall be equipped with a muffler or other effective noise
suppressing system in good working order and in constant operation.
(c) A person may not use a muffler cut-out, bypass, or similar device on a vehicle.
(d) A person may not operate a motor vehicle which produces excessive or unusual
noise on a highway.

To contact your legislative representative. Go to http://www.le.state.ut.us/ . Then to find your reps, click on senate and district maps. Type in your address and send your opinion to both your reps listed. People have a hard enough time noticing bikes. This law would make it even harder. Some say that Loud Pipes Save lives...in some cases, I would agree, but it does not matter if you agree with that or not...the bottom line is, we should have the option to have the pipes we want on our bikes!!

Finally!

2010-01-30T20:27:00.000-07:00

With the weather today being nice (at least for January) I was finally able to get the bike out and go for a ride today!! YAY
It was not a long ride, we did about 30 minutes; but it sure felt good to get out and run the bike for bit. I also got to try the new jacket I got for Christmas. Until now I have been riding with a Cordura jacket that I really like, but I got a new leather riding jacket from Santa that I really love. It comes down over my hips far enough that it does not allow a draft. I also love that it does not have the traditional collar on it so even zipped all the way it does not rub on my neck. Most of all...I love that its nice and warm! Made riding today very enjoyable.

Lets get rid of the snow!

2010-01-29T20:48:00.002-07:00

Well, I finally got the first ride of the season on the Salt Lake Valley Motorcycle Riders calendar today.
I decided that by end of April we SHOULD be safe from the snow, and as long as it is not raining that day, we should be good for a few hours on the bikes.
I chose Antelope Island State Park as the first ride for us, and took a drive out there today to look at the route, see if it was worth taking the group out there and get an idea what the scenery would be for us.
I have lived in Utah my whole life but had never been out there...not sure why because its a nice drive, very relaxed and I think its going to be great on the bikes!
I am hoping to get a few decent afternoon rides in before then; and maybe even with the members of the group....but officially (at least for now) this will be our first group ride of the year!!
I cannot wait!

Cabin Fever!

2010-01-22T17:47:00.000-07:00

While out running errands today we passed a couple of people who were out riding. While I am looking at them thinking "Wow, that guy has got to be frozen solid, and a little bit crazy" at the same time I am also thinking "I wish I were crazy enough to be out riding!"
I am getting cabin fever BIG TIME! I cannot wait for the weather to let up enough that I can get a couple of hours on my bike!
I find myself in the garage a couple of times a week just sitting on him while he warms up and begs me to get him out to run around!

Here's to hoping Spring comes earlier than later this year, and we can all get out and RIDE!

Planning Meeting

2010-01-17T16:06:00.002-07:00

Well we had our first meeting as the new group last night. It was a planning meeting to get everyone together & get a couple of rides on the calendar for this year.
It went really well!! Everyone had a good time, we got some laughs in & got a couple of rides on the calendar as well as some great ideas for rides we want to do once this cold lets up!
It was too much fun talking with everyone and hearing all the new members ideas for rides. I am so excited for this season I can barely stand it!!
Everyone was pretty excited to put the Polar Bear Ride that is sponsored by the Salt Lake Motorcycle Club on our calendar as our first ride of the year. It will be a cold one since it's on March 21st...but it will be worth it!
Then of course there was plenty of discussion about the Elko Motorcycle Jamboree in June, we did this one last year with a couple of our current groups members...it was a fantastic trip! Can't wait to go again this year!
So far its all shaping up to be a great season with a Totally Amazing group of people!! Stay tuned!

The New Group

2010-01-17T15:11:00.000-07:00

Hello, my name is Stephanie,

I started riding motorcycles in March of 2009 after years of wanting a bike and being told by my ex-husband that the idea was silly. I met my current AMAZING husband in 2007, and right before we got married in 2009 I bought my first bike. My only regret is that I did not do it sooner! I love riding, I love the people who I have met through riding and cannot wait to get out there for my second riding season!

After getting my bike and getting used to it, my husband Rob and I decided that it would be great to find other riders that we could go on some group rides with. We looked online trying to find a group that would fit our needs (family oriented and fun without all the restrictions of a traditional MC). We found a group that seemed like a good fit and began riding with them on some group rides. At first it seemed a great fit, and we met some Fabulous people! Then after the first couple of months we started noticing that the organizer of this group seemed to become less & less involved. As more time passed I had been appointed as an assistant organizer for the group so that made it easier to ensure that rides where being posted on the calendar as well as some get-togethers; but the group was still being run by the original owner & that left something to be desired.

From there we met up with a great group of guys that where in the process of starting a more traditional MC that was going to be a Utah chapter of an already established family MC. They turned out to be really nice people who we really enjoyed being around & riding with. Unfortunately soon after meeting them the structure of that club fell apart, leaving everyone involved with no backing from the National chapter. So again we found that our desires for a riding group are not being met.

It was at that time that we decided there was no reason we cannot set up our own group & just start from scratch. From there our group, currently named Salt Lake Valley Motorcycle Riders was born. We have a handful of the wonderful people we have met who have joined us; & I think its going to be a really great year!!

We consider ourselves a social group for all riders. We are not an MC, we are not even an RC at this time. Just a group of friends who love to ride. We are organized in order to ensure safety, but there are none of the rules, or politics that can go with wearing a back patch. We have regular get-togethers in addition to the rides we do, and we are always looking for others that love to ride and want to meet a great group of people!!

I will be using our blog as a sort of diary of our journeys as we move forward with this endeavor!