Hi all, Ride Or Die #42 June 1, 2003

Seasons have finally changed up here in the northeast. We went from cold and rainy spring to cool and rainy start for summer. Water levels are at high marks along many a reservoir, the Great Sacandaga looks to be near record height. What does this mean to all of us? More than normal areas of gravel washouts on the roads, lots of black flies to clean off the bike after a ride, and fewer days riding this spring due to rain.

I have not had any reaction to my suggestion for a ride up to the Glenmore at this time. I am not giving up, but it does not look good. Please let me know if you would be interested in doing something like this. I am beginning to wonder if anyone reads this newsletter. The usual suspects do, but other than that, I get no feedback. If you want off the list, please let me know. I hate spam and maybe this is spam to some of you....

Sorry for the rant, but lighting a fire under people is tough. We are all very busy these days and have little time for extra stuff. Try to remember what is important in life, family and friends.

My condolences go out to Danny over the loss of his wife. Godspeed Lisa.

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In This Issue:

Stats From Cycle News

News From The Field

Dr. Suzuki Says....

Feature story "East Reservoirs Plan"

Attached file -- JPG of Big Moose Lake Sunrise

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Stats - How the Manufacturers Finished 2002 - Racing - from Cycle News

# Maker #Champinships

1. Honda , 9

2. Suzuki 8

3. Yamaha 4

4. Aprilla 3

5. Kawasaki 3

6. Harley-David 2

7. KTM 1

8. Ducati 1

9. Buell 1

10. ATK 1

11. Montesa 1

12. Gas Gas 1

News From The Field

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4-24-03

Looks like I'll get plenty of opportunities to sled out in Colorado Springs!! Looking to pick up a used started road bike for Mary & possibly purchase the SV1000S for me (in silver). This is in addition to my Daytona...which still rips with the best of them. Should be arriving out in CO within the next two-three weeks.

It's been real....time to do some serious Pikes Peak riding!! Daytona Dan

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4-25-03

hey Dan,

Well if you gotta go....all the best. I will keep the roads back east open for you. Good luck in your new job, will miss riding with you. Stay in touch. later, Cato

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4-27-03

Joel, Okay day, 17 years ago today, I crashed at Mexico track and shattered collar bone, Ya, remember ?? last moto, last class, ambulance had left, you

helped and I finished lap and finish line.., no plastic medal, well to be careful today..# 248 Dick Church

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4-29-03

hey Dad,

Rode to Ed Downings for inspection yesterday, was 78"F and sunny. Did short ride locally afterwards. Still alot of sand on roads yet...watch out. later, Cato

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5-20-03

Joel, ya I over to Ken Hall's Suzuki shop for GSXR 750 inspection okay and back to 516 for first ride this year 61.5 miles. Believe tires are low on pressure. So I pump with old pump and, well, hell 20 some front 30 some rear tires. On May 18th after breakfast at the fast Norwood Diner, check oil and

gear up for ride to meet Joel and 1000 super bike at Long Lake. Okay ride to back roads, no SNOW left anywhere here, on to Rt. 56 south and fast at times, bike fine. Most running about 70 so good ride and curves fine. Rt. 30 south

from T. Lake and zoom along, pure sunny day. I at Long Lake beach park at 12:55 and watch seaplanes land and fly till 13:25 Joel comes in and said was longer than thought, ya. We up to Mobil gas ok but no air so back to Stewart's and free air hose great and food and ice tea ok. Talk stuff and look pictures then I thank manager for free air and we ride south to Indian

Lake good. Talk abit at Adirondack Motel parking 'till black flies eat on us. Bye and Joel south I north okay. About T. Lake I feel a bite on neck under helmet strap, move head, no help, left finger up and try slide in but not quite. Got to Rt. 3 and 56 T jct. and was a car accident there and all agency people working scene. On north Rt. 56 fast and good, even S. Colton S curve

fine, no stones, etc. back by Woods and to 516 at 17:12 ok. Was a 219.6 mile ride, sunny, great goin' . Now have 7710 miles on good bike. Yes, it was a F. Black Fly bite on neck...Later. # 248 Dick Church

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5-20-03

hey Dad,

Good report, hope to have next Ride Or Die out sometime this week. Have to write up my east reservoir trip as well. Next days off for ride, Wed and Thur of next week, may have scheduling problem. Will stay in touch. later, Cato

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5-23-03

Joel, okay on weather and all at 516. On May 20th I to Norwood by back way and at clean corner of Grove St. at town limits, 2nd and wized rear tire some, ya! fun.

Was to Ken Hall's Rt. 68 Suzuki shop for oil filter, oil and else. Ken and other rider did go down boring Rt.401 to Shannansville, Canada road race last sunday. He to go back when school on for next level race session. Ken okay, mechanic-well see if my GSXR 750 stays together. Mech. said front tire 2 lbs. off, rear at 36 lbs. okay at Stewart's free air.

I believe the predicted rain may be farther south of here. Could use some here. I to be over to woods, work soon today.

Ride plans for weekend or..? Later, Dick Church # 248

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5-27-03

Hey Joel-

Sorry things happened so fast and furious, Mary & I have been out here for 3 weeks now (as of today)! We went looking at bikes a couple of weeks ago (a used one for her perhaps), couldn't help but notice the 2003 GSXR 1000 in Silver!! Very sharp and very very fast. I'm still interested in the SV1000S as I like the V Twin concept. Too many things to take care of however before I go and buy another bike. Looking at a mountain bike as well. Take care and give me a call sometime: Daytona Dan

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5-28-03

hey Dan,

Good to hear from you. Yep the GSXR is a sharp bike. The SV....well, I would have to see one up close. Not sure about that frame above the engine. It some how looks thin from the shots I have seen. However I am also thinking about getting a sport touring bike that I can take Theresa for rides on. Probably in a year or two.

Let me know how you guys are doing out there in the west. Where you are living and what it is like. Will call you sometime soon, promise. later, Cato

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5-28-03

Super bike Racing this weekend at PPIR (Pikes Peek International Raceway). Mary & I will be there for qual/practice day (Sat). The raceway is about a 30 minute drive from our hose.

The SV is sporting a trellis frame...much like that on many Ducati's. Beefy enough. For $8k, it's hard to turn up?? Later, Dan

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5-30-03

hey Dan

Sounds like the racing will be good, keep an eye on Mladin...GSXR ace. Hopefully Ben Spies will be back on his GSXR600 and also in the Formula Extreme class. Had a little 'get off' last weekend at Road Atlanta. Wish I could join you guys...will have to catch the highlights on Speed channel. later, Cato

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Dr. Suzuki Says.....

Dr. Suzuki says: When fast riding, approaching a corner, ALWAYS give bike MORE lean then needed. You can always straighten it up when IN corner,

but CANNOT lean it over more if NEEDED once INTO corner. I have witnessed the 'off corner' action happen few times when I on tracks, yes, where bike had to go high and nowheres but OFF top edge and on brakes. Not to worry about a low side Jethro, probably a long ways off from that action. Low side?, been there, done it. Next time maybe....

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East Reservoirs Plan

I sat down and opened my map book. I was looking for a new route to ride on my GSXR. To find a road I had never traveled before, not sure of where it would take me.

Planning this ride into unknown territory would require a close study of the road map. Curvey, well maintained roads were the number one priority. However, sightseeing from the cockpit of a motorcycle can be alot of fun as well.

I decided to follow a southerly direction and soon the route was coming together. To make the journey interesting, I need 'tourist traps' of sorts. You know those cheesey road side signs advertising outlandish attractions. Well for me it is sort of like that. Instead of real tourist traps, I look for sections of road that offer plenty of turns and twists. Perhaps a scenic overlook or modern building marvel will guide me.

First on the hopeful special sections would be the Schoharie reservoir. Maybe I would find it like the Pepacton reservoir. Although not nearly as large a body of water, it did hold promise of having a road running along the waters edge.

From there I would head on down to the Ashokan reservoir. I had heard that Rt28A ran along the south side and was fairly twisty. This was an area I had never been to before on a motorcycle. When I was a little boy, my dad raced whitewater canoe on the Esopus river in this area. My memory is alittle foggy about what the roads were like around there.

Now this was about as far south as I wanted to ride, I needed to figure out how I would return home. Heading west would have put me over near Liberty and Rt17. Not a bad way to head, just not towards home. So I looked east and saw I wasn't that far from Kingston.

I could take the Kingston-Rhinecliff bridge over the Hudson river and go east to the Taconic parkway. Go north for about 15 miles and then work my way back west to the Rip VanWinkle bridge.

At that point, I would ride back into the foothills of the Catskills, picking my way up through Albany counties hill towns and back home.

All this I recorded on a small piece of paper, listing each route number in order, with a town or village nearby with it. I would make reference to this list from time to time, as there were many roads and turns ahead.

With the route planned out, I was quick to get going. Packing light, I took a bottle of water, granola bar, cell phone, and camera. Gas stops would not be a problem, as I would be passing through many villages along the way.

My special sections or tourist traps, really turned out nicely. While I did not find the route a super twisty way, the sightseeing more than made up for it.

I spent some time and shot pictures at the Schoharie dam, the outlet of the aqueduct into the Esopus river, and the Ashokan dam. I also got to ride over the Kington-Rhinecliff bridge, a very high and long span. On the Taconic parkway, I stopped at a scenic overlook for a pitstop and checked in with Theresa via my cell phone.

The pre-plan made it happen. The extras are all bonus features, real surprises just waiting to be found.

Cato

5-30-03