Ho-Ho-Ho!

It's time! Time to celebrate being Buckeye State Lady Riders!! Join us at the home of Rose Nicol, our Ride Coordinator, from 5pm to 8pm this coming Saturday for our Holiday Party. Spouses/significant others are welcome--and, in fact, encouraged by the other members' SOs to please come. Most of you have already elected what dish you will bring to pass along, but late-comers are still welcome.

Click on the event posted on the blog calendar to get the address, or call/email Rose. (She is much, much better about timely responses than I am!)

I hope we see you there!

--Margaret

More Holiday Parties!!!

If you're not all holidayed out with our upcoming meeting on 12/10 at Rose's, here's more opportunities to hang out with more of our Women On Wheels® sisters to the west in Dayton.

The Wright Lady Riders of Dayton are having two get-togethers in December.
12/1/11: Spaghetti Warehouse Dayton at 6pm. 36 West 5th Street, Dayton, OH 45402.

12/15/11: Golden Corral at 6pm at Golden Corral on Miller Lane. 6611 Miller Lane, Dayton, OH 45414.

If you're interested, please e-mail Deb Posey (sndyesop@yahoo.com) to let they know you're coming. Everyone's welcome! They're a great bunch of ladies and it's a wonderful opportunity to make more friends.

- Christine

Attention! Mileage Contestants!!

Today is the last day to put miles on your bike that count for the 2011 Mileage Contest. If you entered the mileage contest last spring, don't forget to note your mileage at the end of today, and then send it in. Here's the form. You can print it out and mail it in, or you can send the necessary information in an email to: annualmileagecontest@womenonwheels.org.

The mail-in deadline is much shorter than it was for the spring entry. YOUR ENTRY MUST BE POSTMARKED BY NOVEMBER 15th!! (The caps are for those procrastinators out there, aka as myself.)

Remember to not forget! :) Oh, and Happy Halloween (don't want to forget that either.)

Margaret

I've not ever thought about using this site for this kind of feature, and maybe it should have a separate tab. (HAH! Hold your breath waiting for that to happen!)
My neighbor sent me an email that a friend of hers has a motorcycle to sell, and just thought she'd FYI me. Here's the write-up:

It's a 2006 Harley-Davidson 883 Sportster XL Low with only 7000 some odd miles on it. It's in mint condition and is black with lots of chrome. It's got a detachable windshield, detachable sissy bar with passenger backrest pad, passenger foot pegs, smoke tinted turn signal lenses, chrome headlight ring, thumbscrew seat anchor, leather tank bra, Sundowner seat, chrome fender accents, chrome crash bars/engine guards, chrome helmet lock, and hard leather Harley-Davidson lockable saddlebags. I'm only asking $6,000 for it. It's an excellent bike for a really good price. I've never had a problem with it and it's had all of the factory milage maintenance done on it and will come with all the paperwork to show for proof.

If anyone is interested, contact email me at columbus.wow@gmail.com with the word "Sale" somewhere in the subject heading.

:) Margaret

Here's to S'more

A big WOOT! to Susan for hosting the Tuesday BSLR meeting. The bonfire was great, the weather was fabulous, and the company & discussion were equally excellent. T-shirts were distributed, and even though the logo is printed and not silk-screened, everyone seemed please with them. Best fun: toasting marshmallows and making s'mores--I haven't done that in ages. Cider was good, too!

We discussed plans for our Christmas get-together--details to be firmed-up at the November meeting. Christine brought us up to speed on some national details, noting once again that Ohio lacks a State Ambassador. We discussed the qualifications for that, and it is strongly recommended that the applicants have some experience as, say, an officer in WOW, although I can foresee that a person who already has some managerial or facilitative experience could also step into the role. Anyway, if someone is interested, let me, Dru, Susan, Rose, or Christine know. (Especially Christine: watch her do a happy dance once you tell her you're interested!)

We also discussed rides, and Debby Drake mentioned that AD Farrow offers a wonderful opportunity: an educational meeting on group rides and what you should know about them. She is going to let us know when the next one(s) are scheduled. That would be a nice winter diversion, I think!

Lastly, a roster (thank you Sandra for that excellent suggestion) was circulated with all of the active members listings for phone/text, and email. That way we know how to get in touch with whomever is inspired to coordinate a ride. If I have your name on that roster and you weren't at the meeting, I shall be shooting off an email to verify your email. Really! I took this info off of what WOW national has for you, so if it isn't what you'd prefer us to use, let us know. Also, it may be good for you to know if WOW national has old or incorrect info. Typo's do heppan, yanno.

T-shirts Ordered!

A bunch of us met at Dru's for the September meeting, during which pizza and ice cream were consumed, the pending T-shirt order was discussed, and members placed their orders. I just now pressed "send," and the order is in! (I ordered extras of just about every size, so no worries if you missed the meeting and want one.) They will be $25 each, and they should arrive in time for our next meeting.

We reviewed, in our usual chatty fashion, how to best communicate ride info, especially with the capricious nature of autumn weather now in full swing. Please remember to check your emails often for short-notice rides--it will be more accurate than the calendar. Also, please, please RSVP Yes/No/Maybe, and if you are a Yes or Maybe, send your phone number along with your reply. Get the ride leader(s)' phone number if you don't already have it. Then check your phone for texts the day before and the day of the ride to see if the ride has been changed at all, and let the ride leader(s) know when you are leaving for the meet-up point.

Facebook is an excellent way to organize a spontaneous ride, but remember not to put any personal information out there--it is not an invitation-only site, it is pretty public. PM's and emails are the way to go for specifics.

Speaking of which, there will be a ride on Monday for those lucky devils who have Columbus Day off. Rose is taking us to a Serpent Mound south of Columbus. Meet-up point is the Marathon station near Bolton Field, departure from same is 10:00 AM. I hope you can make it! Should be a gorgeous day, but I always pack for eventualities, especially in Spring and Fall.

Pix from the Honey Fest (Saturday, September 10th)

Arrival! (Annie, Marla, Cathy, and Susan)

Big thanks to Annie, who led us on a fun & interesting ride from Motohio to Lithopolis. Sure beat what Margaret had picked out!

Some of the booths at the Honeyfest. This happened to be the view from the port-a-potty. (Which was first class, btw. They had water, soap, and a sink!)

Yes, there were bees, and honey. This man is having an entire beard of bees applied to his face. I didn't stick around to watch.

Susan, the Honey Princess (she's from Texas), Margaret, and Marla

Outside the Wagnall Memorial Library, Marla and Rosemarie size up the giant birdhouse. That mark in the middle of the pillar is a large crack. And from a certain angle, it's a little crooked.

Part of the Wagnall (as in Funk & Wagnall) Library.

Cathy, Susan, Marla, Margaret pose as people who frequent libraries.

A Change in the Weather

I went riding yesterday. Early enough that it was still chilly and breezy, although, thankfully, the rain had gone. I don't think I met any bikes on I-71 heading out, although there were a couple on the way home. It was kind of funny; A friend and I texted each other, noting the weather, etc., neither one of us saying whether we wanted to bail on this ride. I kinda did, frankly, but I was only on my first cup of coffee. I tentatively put it out there, did he still want to ride? He did. Well, I wasn't gonna be the one to call it quits! We went, and had a great time. Halfway to his home in Wilmington, the sky cleared, and though breezy, the day was lovely.

This had me thinking about fair-weather riding, and fair-weather riders. I occasionally hear about or read about "posers" from some of my fellow riders--you know, the intrepid ones that have auxillary gas tanks, or ride until they can only ski, etc.

I don't hold to that philosophy, that fair-weather riders aren't "real riders." I think the closest I might say is that they aren't hardcore, perhaps. Even that I say unwillingly. Here's the thing: riding is supposed to be fun. What is fun for you is your call, not anyone else's. If you enjoy challenging yourself in the elements, or long distances, or rocks out in the desert, that's great. If you love having the wind in your face on 75-degree days, and can wait quite happily until the next one comes along, that's great, too. It's just another version of riding your own ride. By all means, try new things, challenge yourself, or occasionally take yourself out of your comfort zone (that can help expand your comfort zone,or at least keep it from shrinking.) But don't fall prey to someone else's definition of a real rider. If you are a real person on a real bike, you are a real rider. Period.

All of that is a prelude to our next BSLR meeting, by the way. It will start at Dru's house on Tuesday, September 27th. She will lead us on a ride to Deer Creek, where, yes, there is ice cream nearby. If the weather is contrary, we will stay at Dru's and order pizza. If you don't want to ride because it will be dark when we leave, or because it is getting colder, that's simple: don't. Take the car. And do not let what any of the rest of us do dictate what you will do. Even more importantly, don't let anyone dictate how you should feel about how you do it!!

Oh, and that friend of mine? He laughed at me because I was wearing my Gerbing's heated jacket and gloves when it was 50 degrees and sunny. Pffft! If he wanted me to ride, I wasn't gonna be cold doing it.

A Honey of an Idea!!

This weekend The Honey Festival is in Lithopolis, and as most of you know, Dru is a beekeeper. She will be there this weekend, and hoping some of us will stop in. Margaret and Susan are planning to leave from Motohio at 9:30 to go and support the bees, and Dru. Apparently there is music and all that other good festival stuff, too.

The following weekend, the 17th, we're thinking about a ride down to the Hocking Hills. Interested? ;)

Ice Cream Tonight!!

Tonight's meeting is at the Euro Bike Night on Grandview Avenue in Grandview Heights, smack dab in front of Jeni's Ice Cream and Stauf's Coffee Roasters (where we met in January.) To Google the address, use 1277 Grandview Avenue Columbus, OH 43212. There is "real food" available at Spagio's next door, and there are a few other eateries down the street--notably a Panera's, among others. :) I am partial to them.

Tonight's agenda will be T-shirts, patches, and, possibly, business cards. And chit-chat. And ice cream.

Did I mention ice cream?

See you there!

Margaret

Another sad story

We hear about those terrible  motorcycle accidents all the time from the news, papers, our mothers and our friends.  I don't know why this one upset me so much but it did and I just have to unload my sadness.
 A cyclist was on the freeway a couple of days ago and put on his brakes to avoid some debris in his lane.
The car behind him ran right into him killing him. Well the article says he didn't have  a helmet on. Judging by the picture on the news it wouldn't have mattered much if he did. They never mentioned if the driver of the car was paying attention, was driving too close to the motorcycle because they were in a hurry to get home, or maybe the driver of the car was on their cell phone??? That didn't seem to come up only that the motorcyclist didn't have a helmet on. What about the car/truck that dropped the boards in the middle of the road? Why weren't they cited for not having a secure load? I hate to be a bummer but I care about my fellow riders.
Please be safe out there and always anticipate the worse because no one is looking out for us but ourselves.  Live to ride, ride to live!
Dru

Membership Has Its Privileges. And Responsibilities.

In your July/August 2011 (duh!) issue of Women On Wheels® magazine, several pages are devoted to upcoming elections for three upcoming positions on the WOW Board of Trustees. There are four people vying for those places, however, so members need to vote to choose which three get the job. Starting on page 10, the whole process is explained and the candidates' biographies follow.  Please vote. And please, follow the instructions about handling the ballot exactly as it is explained to you. Note that photocopies will NOT be accepted; it has to be the actual ballot in the magazine.  Lastly, note that the postmark has to be not later than August 31.


Does this date seem vaguely familiar? That's because the deadline for entering the annual mileage contest is August 30th. So, for those procrastinators (you know who you are! I am one of them.) it is not too late, but really, do it now. Just do it. Go here, find the Annual Mileage Contest form, and follow the instructions. I highlighted the form, brought it to my computer, then filled out all the little spaces. I then sent it as an attachment in an email to the address listed on the form. Not hard, really! You just have to do it. Yes, I am addressing the procrastinators again, 'cuz I know how it is, being a card-carrying member of the Yeah, I'll Get To It, I Promise Club.  They will also list our mileages by state, so even if you know you aren't going to win individually, contribute to the team! Send it in!


On pages19 & 20, there is information and a ballot for State Ambassador nominations. If you are interested, contact me and/or Dru. We have to sign your ballot. 


There is also a personal cumulative mileage count, btw. Click on the here (essentially the same link as above), and check out that information, too. It works on the honor system--you have to tell them when you have met another goal, such as the 5,000 mile mark, 10,000, etc. But this time, as you reach a mileage mark and send in the info, you get a bar pin to had to your WOW pin. You can jingle like a five-star general! Bigger miles end up with patches. Remember, these are any miles you rack up after you become a WOW member. Not just miles gained during WOW functions, but all your miles ridden. However, it doesn't include any of your pre-WOW mileage. No, it doesn't. Just let it go . . . ;)


Remember to vote, remember to submit your mileages soon if you haven't yet, and remember to ride safe & have fun!


--Margaret

Pix from the BBQ at Dru's

Fun was had by all! While we played in the pool . . . 

Rod slaved over a hot grill in the hot weather.

We ate good food.  Really good food.  Some of it was even good for us.

Yes, as a matter of fact, that is a homemade pumpkin roll.

We hung out together.

Reno (foreground and four paws) hung out with us, too!

Dru contemplates Coke vs. lemonade.

Talking, laughing . . . your basic good time.

 

Dee and Maggie from Rumble Pack joined us.

Rosemarie needs to work on her ATTGATT.

Dru gives Cathy a hand backing up.  Note the darkening skies on the left.

Debbie loves her new bike.

Even good times must end!  Some left earlier than others, but nearly all of us got caught in some serious rain on the way home.  Wish everyone could have made it.  Maybe we'll catch you next year!

The BBQ at Dru's!!

It's time! July will has more rides and more ice cream, and on July 24th, we will have a cookout at the home of our co-director, Dru. She has a lovely, spacious house and grounds, and a swimming pool. There is ample room for all. Even if you have not been regularly attending rides or meetings, we would love to see you here!


An Evite has (finally) been sent out. Margaret is new to Evites, and hopes fervently that anyone who was hoping for an invitation received one. It was fairly easy to do, but when it comes to the final "send" phase, I, um, hesitated. For over a week.  Sorry.  IF YOU DON'T receive one in your email, please let me know, via email or PM on Facebook! One of the nice features of Evite is that you get to make comments, such as what you would like to bring.


If, perchance, you forget to bring your bathing suit, it may--ahem--be a good idea to bring a complete change of clothes. ;) No, I wouldn't.  Of course I wouldn't! (Probably.)  But we are all adults here, and the time for Jr. High self-consciousness is lonnnng gone.  Have fun!

The Ride to Dawes

Was fun! After the early thunderstorm swept through--it delayed our departure--the air was humid, but pleasant while we were moving. 

Once we got to the Arboretum, however, the air was still and hot. Dru's bike braved the sun, but the rest of them huddled in the shade, along with their owners (and Dru herself). Happily, we discovered there is a driving path through to the lake & tower, so we were moving again.

Up on the tower, Susan tries to get the view of the hedge straight on her camera.

This is how it comes out, otherwise. ;) The arbors below spell out "Dawes Arboretum," and I'll bet the view from a plane is impressive. The lake and surrounding lanscaping are very pretty, too.

We ate at the Jack Town Pub--fun on the shaded deck, great staff--and spied a potential ice cream location en route. Maybe the meeting after next.

Some of you are busy packing or thinking about packing for your WOW Ohio weekend . . . enjoy! And tell the rest of us about it at the Ice Cream Run on Tuesday!

--Margaret

Calendars/Events

This week on WOW:
Margaret finally posts about her trip to Mid-West WOW (see below.)
The calendar is chock-full of riding opportunities this week. (Does anybody know how full a "chock" is?)

• Ride to Work Day is today. It's not too late to go back and get your bike at lunchtime!
• 10:00 AM tomorrow: meet at Motohio for the BSLR trip to Dawes Arboretum. KICKSTANDS UP--as in we leave at 10. (Hint: be there before 10, and be ready to leave at 10. Gas stations are nearby.)
• Motohio Dinner Ride this Wednesday leaves from Motohio only, and goes to Peggy Sue's. Where they have pie. (Need I say more?)
• Throttlin' Thursdays is at the Pub in Gahanna. Many, many bikes to gawk at.  (This week's band is Soul Annex.)
• The Ohio WOW weekend is this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. It's in Lake Hope, and sounds like a beautiful location. A bunch of you signed up, and I'm a little jealous. I'm planning to ride out there on Friday, although I can't stay for the weekend. Who all is going, and can we meet and ride out together?

Cheers, and hope to see you out there this week!

--Margaret

Mid-West WOW Conference

Well, here's the true confession:  when Northwind Riders says "conference," they mean "social get-together." They were a lot of fun, and very friendly and welcoming. They were so pleased that someone from Ohio made the trip, but now I am challenged to meet the same goal as WOW president Cris Baldwin: to double the attendance from our chapter next year! Cris rode from St. Louis, MO to attend, and together, we were the state of MO-hio, population: 2. 

But they never let us feel like outsiders! Here is the pre-ride group photo. That's Josey on the back of the bike:

We went to beautiful Nauvoo, IL, founded by Joseph Smith and overlooking the Mississippi River. The river is in the background of this photo:

  Below, you can see the Catholic church spire, far left, and the re-built Mormon Temple on the right. 

The ride consisted of 30 bikes: many Honda VTX 1300s, some Goldwings, and a variety of Harley full dressers. Along with my li'l 650 and two 250cc scooters! All were welcome, and all kept up just fine.

I relearned Mexican-train dominoes, and met a bunch of truly cool women. They've been having this get-together for about 20 years--it used to be a camping trip. Moved the venue to the Stoney Creek Inn a couple of years ago and voila! attendance doubled!

Big Changes to General Meeting!!

In a stroke of what I personally consider to be brilliance, your intrepid officers hit upon a new idea for conducting the BSLR meetings for the summer . Whatever business needs to be conducted will be done so briefly, in the parking lot, on our bikes (to keep it brief, y’see.) Then we ride to . . . to . . . (here is the most brilliant part, get ready) . . . ice cream! You like? We like a lot!

At the ice cream destination, we can then mingle and chat, choosing whichever topic interests you most.  Share ride stories, ideas, favorite gadgets, bring out pics of your dog, whatever.  Of course, this also means that more of the every day information will have to be gathered and shared online. I think we will try emailing out a notice to everyone when there is an update on the blog site, so you can see it there.

So, for our first jaunt, we will meet at the Panera restaurant parking lot--there is some shade in the back, look for motorcycles.  Our first ride will be to Knight’s Ice Cream in Westerville, so latecomers are welcome to meet us out there. We can then start entertaining ideas for our next ice cream place--all areas are welcome. I think it would be especially cool to go to different areas of the city--perhaps your neighborhood? 

Let us know what you think!

:) Margaret

Trip to Longaberger

After this stop in Granville at Whit's frozen custard Rose, Lynn and Susan drove onto see the basket! We've only lived in Ohio forever and just now are seeing it for the first time. It is impressive in real life. Photos don't do it justice. Almost summer like temperatures, but no rain.

Race For the Cure

The hairs on my arms are still standing, my face hurts from smiling and tears of gratitude flowed freely. It was so much fun. The inpiration that was given and recieved was amazing. Survivors of the disease, came to each of us to say Thank you. AD Farrow provided free coffee and donuts. and one block away; a port o pot. Super weather and it doesn't get any better than that.  All for a good cause......

This weekend has a smorgasboard of opportunities for the Buckeye State Lady Riders! First of all, there is the "Tunnel of Thunder,"  hosted by AD Farrow, which is a mainly stationary gathering of bikers, who await the runners/walkers of the Susan G Koman 5K Race for the Cure this weekend. It is an early opportunity to get out there with fellow bikers and cheer on the exhausted participants as they finish the last portion of the race. There are compensations, though: you get to have coffee and donuts while waiting, then sit and rev your bike, or stand and cheer. BSLR riders are meeting at the UDF on Linworth Rd and 161 at 5:45 a.m.; OR at AD Farrow Harley on W.Broad St at 6:1:5. From there we hope to follow the bikes into the tunnel area at Broad and Chestnut. Note that according to AD Farrows website, you stay until the last finisher finishes. Schedule is until 11-ish. (Hope they have lots and lots of coffee. And restrooms.)

Two of our members will already be up in Napoleon, OH for a weekend seminar sponsored by the Napoleon Harley-Davidson dealer there. I had thought we could ride up and say hello, but the seminar will be in full swing by the time we would have arrived. They will have to have fun without us, but I know them; they are more than capable of filling the bill. ;)


Instead, I'm going to the Women Only Event at the Highpoint Harley-Davidson . They are hosting a safety seminar, given by the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Following that is a viewing of one of Jerry Pallodino's Ride Like A Pro DVD's, then a scenic ride (around 4:15) to Mount Victory for dinner. I'm leaving from the Northwest Meetup Point at 12:30, if anyone wants to join me!


Did you notice the pictures from our Friday ride? At the next meeting, we will go over the best pics, and everyone can vote on which one gets submitted to WOW national for the contest.

May the Fourth be with you. Happy Star Wars Day!! Also: IRFD approaches

Okay, got that out of my system. Honestly, a friend of mine is making Yoda cookies, so upon inquiry, I found out that today is a geek's holiday. (She called it that, I'll have you know!)

And now, onto our own celebration. This Friday is International Female Rider Day.  What does that mean? Not a whole lot, and yet very much, depending on how you look at it. It is the day the motorcycle community has established to recognize that, basically, there are women who ride motorcycles. It used to be a very rare thing indeed, so much so that we have--mostly in the past--been subject to the ridicule that our gender has had to endure whenever we've encroached onto traditionally-male territory. You'll still get it, from time to time. Mostly now it shows up when someone feels the need to attribute a certain type or size of bike as a "girl's bike" (intentional pinkness, there.) You know the sneering tone that goes with that, I assume? Well, as always, that sort of attitude says volumes about the speaker, and nothing about the rider or bike in question. One might even be tempted to speculate on the speaker's need to compensate for something . . . but, I digress. ;)

Right. Female Rider Day. It's just a moment to acknowledge, and celebrate, the many and ever-increasing number of women who ride their own rides. Riding pillion takes a different kind of courage--one I don't have, personally--but this day is about the ones that grab the bars and shift the gears. So, how do we celebrate it? Mystery solved: WE RIDE! Together, separately, with guys or without 'em. In other words, just another day for many of us. But a reminder, really, that every day that we ride is a great day. It's also a day to remember those who went before us, such as Bessie Stringfield or Dot Robinson.

Women On Wheels® has its own way of acknowledging IFRD, too. There's a photo contest, and the entries will be judged at the International Ride-In this summer. Among the rules: the photo can only be taken on May 6th. Some of us are planning a ride that will include some of the covered bridges northwest of here. Rose is plotting out the route; I believe she and Susan have already sent out invites to most of you. If you haven't received the info and want it, you know how to reach us! Also, feel free to do your own photo shoot if you can't come on the ride. We can only submit one photo from our chapter, but it would be fun to get together and choose it! The more the merrier--that's the whole point of women riding on International Female Rider Day.

Lets Ride!!!

This Saturday, April 9th we are heading down to Motor Sports of Dayton for the Victory demo rides and the Bike and Safety day.  We will be meeting at the Meijer (close to the gas pumps, it is a large parking lot) on 665, the address is 2859 London Groveport Road,  Grove City, OH 43123-9035.  Take off time at 10:00 sharp.   Plans are to take back roads, with travel time being 2 hrs to get there.  We will plan to head for  home around 5:00.
Thanks to Rosemarie for making the plans. 


Please let us know if you are going to join us by emailing ridecoordinatorbslr@gmail.com.  

Quick! Grab a Pen!

Tomorrow is April 1st, which is not only April Fool's Day, but it is also the start of the Women On Wheels® Annual Mileage Contest. You don't have to mail anything in yet, just write down your odometer mileage tomorrow, or at least before your next ride. (Unless you are Christine, then yes, you have to wait until tomorrow.) You can download the necessary form at this address.  The form is also in the March/April edition of the WOW National magazine. Lastly, you can take the needed information and send it off in an email. The starting mileage form must be postmarked by (get this!!) no later than August 30th! So all you really gotta do tomorrow is go out and note your mileage.

All of this information, and more, is available at the address provide in the link above. Apparently, there is also a state category of total miles ridden. Let's do our part; go Buckeyes!

Why I Have Deadlines

Al-righty then! When last we visited our superheros, the Buckeye State Lady Riders, they were whooping it up at the Panera Bread in Clintonville. A whole lot of dates and papers were passed about, fun and food was had, and  one of those co-directors (yeah, that'd be Margaret) promised to email copies of some of those rides out to the interested parties. "If you haven't heard from me in a week," she said, "email me."

The week is up today. My mother, if she knew, would have predicted that it would be done not a moment too soon. But, it is done. The following ride postings/schedules/info were emailed today:

• The WLR tentative schedule for 2011
• The WOW weekend flyer
• The Croozapalooza flyer
• The Bolton Field/Motohio Dinner Ride schedule

If you thought you were going to get one of these and have not received it, email me! If your name was on the bottom of the paper schedule, I sent it to the email address I have on file.  If you are seeking information on a ride that was discussed, but it isn't on the above list, email me!  Also, if you have a fool-proof warm weather-inducing dance, voodoo charm, a chant, or special prayer, then email that to me, I will forward it to the rest of the group (possibly the rest of the world), and maybe Spring will put in a more lasting appearance!

Oh, Bologna!

Well, our first ride of the season went without a hitch! Once we got going, of course. There were some meet-up snafus--at first it looked to be just Susan and I. However, once we got those taken care of, it was the four of us, the sunshine, and the wind. Oh, yeah, there was wind, and it takes a bit of getting used to. Tracing the west side of the Scioto River, we saw puppies, toyed with a roundabout, easily swerved past a four-wheeled obstacle, and swooped the occasional curve on our way to fried bologna at the G&R Tavern.

Personally, I find homemade, half-inch fried bologna to be . . . well . . . bologna.  I took a nibble, courtesy of a generous chapter member, and was satisfied with my selection: the chicken sandwich.  The pie was another matter. The PIE! OH, THE PIE! A giant wedge of creamy peanut buttery goodness heaped high, then topped even higher with whipped cream. There was a crust under there somewhere, but we had to work to find it.  One serving was quite enough for three riders, with another mostly abstaining. (Something about struggling into her chaps.)

We had planned to alter the return trip, crossing Rte 23 and heading toward Alum Creek, but the High Water! signs meant business. (That's not always true, btw. Just throwing that out there so Christine and Rosemarie don't think I'm utterly reckless.) Instead, we trekked back toward the Scioto, taking Rte 203 and Section Line Rd, then followed the east side of the river back to Dublin.  The temperatures were beginning to cool, the sun was thinking about leaving the sky, and it was time for home.

Hope you all make the next one.

Margaret

Roulette Details

Here are the details for the ride to G&R Tavern this Saturday:

We will meet at the UDF in front of Tuttle Mall, on Tuttle Crossing Boulevard. You can empty your bladder and fill up your gas tank there, but KICKSTANDS UP at 2:OO sharp! The route is straightforward, nothing tricky. Should high water close some of our road--we head up toward Prospect--there are alternate routes readily available.

If you are thinking you might attend , please email me at columbus.wow@gmail.com. I will send you my phone number--I don't want to put it out in the public sites. Then, come Saturday, call or text me and let me know whether you are definitely going or not.  I am perfectly happy to ride in a bit of rain or cool temps, but I am not interested in sitting around waiting at the gas station for people who aren't gonna be there! If you are "circumstance-dependant"--meaning you will ride if the temperature makes it to a certain number, or if there is absolutely no chance of rain, or if it is at least dry to start out with--please don't leave it to me to interpret which factors are in place for your decision. You decide, then let me know. Whatever you decide is good, but I can't know what each person's deciding factors are, and I would hate to assume someone wasn't coming when, after all, they were.  I would also hate hanging out at a gas station because, after all, they weren't. :)

Having said all that: the Rumble Pack was amazed we are even going to try to ride. (Sometimes, bragging rights are a little fun.)  Rock on, Buckeye State Lady Riders!

Fried Bologna Roulette

Well, it's nearly here--the Roulette Ride, that is--and the weather wheel is still spinning. (Okay, 'bout done milking that metaphor.) Current forecasts are calling for a high temperature of about mid-40's, but no precipitation. Some of us will find that doable, others will consider it ghastly and no fun whatsoever.

Either category is fine, by the way. But if you are hoping to ride on Saturday, then it would probably be the better part of wisdom to not make Saturday the first time you've ridden the bike this season! Maybe not even the second, if you feel your skill set is rusty and in need of polish.

We do hope to have some Parking Lot Practice, and soon, but, as you may have noticed, the weather has not cooperated on the weekends.  I will email those who expressed interest in doing PLP when a good weekend looks likely. Conversely, feel free to email me if you think there is a good weekend ahead and I haven't sent anything out.

There are a couple of things regarding the G&R Tavern. One is that they are cash or check only. That's another way of saying NO CREDIT OR DEBIT!  Another  is that they are usually out-the-door on Saturdays around lunchtime. It was suggested to me that if we want to sit down, we should arrive by 11:00 am, or after 3:00 pm. Also, while they don't take reservations, they appreciate a heads-up when a large party is coming.

I am thinking we should aim to get there after 3:00 pm, as the temperature is rarely warm in the mornings. More details will follow, though, so keep checking back.

Ride on, ride safe!
Margaret

A Ride that Dreams Are Made Of. (maybe)

Genevieve Schmitt, editor/creator of WomenRidersNow, an online women's motorcyclist magazine, just sent this out:

Several All-Women Motorcycle Tours Taking Place This Year

Now taking reservations to exotic destinations

India? The Himalayas? Timur? (where?) Makes an all-women tour of Alaska sound downright . . . tame!  However, these are all possibilities for some serious touring, if you're interested. This year is definitely out for me, but maybe in a year or two.  I can dream, anyway!

And that's what this tidbit is for: dreaming. Especially in wintertime. It may be more than you want right now, or ever, but just know the possibility is out there.

Cheers!

--Margaret

Hooray for Ice Melt!

Okay, it is still February, and the meteorologists promise that this break in the weather won't last. But, still, the weather finally turned in our favor, if only for a little while. This caused jubilation for the women at last night's General Meeting of the Buckeye State Lady Riders, and we have gone ahead and scheduled our first ride: March 12, to G&R Tavern in Waldo, OH. (Guess we should tell them we're coming, huh?) The departure site and time have not yet been figured out, and we didn't nickname this the Roulette Ride for nothing--the weather can be mighty chancey this time of year. But the opportunity for a group descent upon the best fried bologna in Ohio is not to be overlooked, and there is also some mighty fine pie to consider.

We had a good time last night, except that some of us were hungry, and Stauf's is a coffee shop with an emphasis on the coffee. BSLR has procured the community room at the Clintonville Panera Bread (4519 North High St)  for the next four months, and has changed the meeting date to the fourth Tuesday of each month. The time will remain the same, from 6:00PM to 8:00 PM (or whenever, but the officers are determined that the agenda will be finished by 8 PM at the very latest.)

Highlights of the meeting were: lots of great and friendly women, information on various WOW chapter events in the month of June, the merits of Parking Lot Practice and plans to implement it, local dinner rides and bike nights, and reviewing the best ways to get information out to our members about all of the above. The Facebook Fan Page and the Blogsite are the most used and the most effective, so look to these for your most current updates and musings. We'd like to fine-tune how these are working, so please use the "Comments" section in each, and if they don't seem to work for you, email us.

Looking forward to March 12!!

Now, about that MSF label

On February 10, 2011's blog, Margaret went on at length about the differences between various MSF courses. She used the old names, which were still used on the registration page, even though they didn't match the new descriptions. Motorcycle Ohio has since updated the registration page to reflect the new names, that match the new descriptions. In other words:

BRC is the same as it always was.

BRC-2 is now listed as BRC-RR. (Stands for "Returning Rider") Still use their bikes, still the same material, just a new name.

ERC is now listed as a hybrid: BRC-2/ERC.  It is the same course material as when it was just called ERC. You use your own bike, and need to have at least 1,000 miles under your belt.  Apparently, next year they are dropping the ERC part, and just going to call it BRC-2.

ARC-ST is simply ARC. "ST" used to stand for "Sportbike Techniques", but it applies to all bikes, and you need not have a sport bike to take the class. You do have to use your own bike, though.

Cheers, and hopefully, see you this evening at Stauf's!

Just A Reminder

Stauf's Grandview

1277 Grandview Avenue
Columbus, OH  43212

Tomorrow's general meeting is at Stuaf's Coffee Shop on Grandview Avenue, from 6-8 pm. There is parking both on the street and behind the storefronts. Margaret's buying your first drink if you ride a motorcycle (or scooter, or trike).  In addition to meeting the new directors, we plan to discuss rides: what we want from 'em, when we want to have them, and how best to communicate about them. Oh, and bikes. We just might talk about bikes . . .

PS. I can vouch for the chai!

News You Can Use...Now!

Heads up, everyone!  Motorcycle Ohio opened its online registration on Monday, February 7th. Someday, it might be nice if we can group together and sign up for a class, but this will not be the year. The Beginner Rider Course fills very, very quickly--it looks like the first 30 or so are already filled. If you have already taken that class, though, you may find the BRC-2 to be an excellent choice. It is a one-day class, taken on Motorcycle Ohio's motorcycle, and originally designed to help "eternal permit riders" take that last step to pass the test and get their endorsement. However, it is also a very useful refresher course, especially for riders with some, but not a lot, of experience. (I have personally used it as such.) The best way to describe the difference between BRC and BRC-2? BRC will teach you how to ride a motorcycle when you've never ridden one before (such as what all the buttons and levers do, how to manage that clutch-thingy, and how to safely get the bike rolling). BRC-2 bypasses the very beginning steps of how to ride, and thus is a shorter class. Notice that the BRC class requires one evening and two full days on the riding range. BRC-2 is one day only.

No need to stop there, though. Motorcycle Ohio also offers the Experienced Rider Course, and the Advanced Rider Course. The ERC is for someone with at least 1,000 miles of riding under their belt. It is useful for any of us that wish to brush the rust off our skills. This one is taken on your motorcycle, so it's an opportunity to perform some of the road test skills on your own bike, as well as a few additional features. Yes, the dreaded figure-8 box can be done on a bigger bike, and the instructors will help you get there!

The Advanced Rider Course? It's a step up from the ERC, but as I haven't taken it yet, I can't really say. :) I'm scheduled for June ...

Remember, too, that if the Franklin County schedule doesn't suit your needs, there are other counties. Delaware, for one, still had BRC openings in May. (At least, they did a few minutes ago.)

Let's be safe, and skilled, out there!

Margaret

The Newbies Are Here!

The new chapter co-directors, that is.  Dru and Margaret have agreed to take up the position (jointly) of director of the Buckeye State Lady Riders, the central Ohio chapter of Women on Wheels® . Christine has given us a good start, and promises to be standing by to support us as we muddle through the twists and turns of blogs, Facebook, emails and director forums, meetings, agendas, and some other gucky paperwork stuff we won't bother you with.

We both are under the impression that the BSLR Facebook page (see link on the left) will let those of you who "Like" the page to comment on it. Please test it out for us! Feel free to say "hi" and to wish us well! And to wish Christine well as well! (Pun!! sort of.)

We'd like to take a moment to thank Christine sincerely for all of her hard work to get this chapter going, and for her willingness to hang in there with us as we learn the ropes. She will be retaining her membership with BSLR, but cannot hold office locally while serving on the national Women On Wheels® Board of Trustees.  We are very excited for her, and know that her greater role in WOW will serve us well.

BSLR Chapter Director Change - PLEASE READ

Hi everyone -

I am writing to let you all know that I, Christine Malazarte, have been selected by Women On Wheels(r) National to the Board of Trustees and I have accepted the position. As a result of my appointment to the Board of Trustees, I am stepping down from my position as Chapter Director of the Buckeye State Lady Riders. A replacement chapter director has been chosen and she will be introducing herself at our next two meetings on Wednesday, Feb. 16 @ Stauf's Coffee and our March meeting (time/location TBA).

It has been a pleasure and an honor to serve as the first and founding chapter director of the Buckeye State Lady Riders and I hope you ladies (and gentlemen) will continue to prosper as a group.

Please stay tuned for more e-mails regarding our latest news and events!

NOTE: If you are still interested in ordering BSLR embroidery, I am still taking care of the order. Please reply to this e-mail with your order requests.

Thanks everyone!
Christine Malazarte

P.S. If you have been using this e-mail to contact me, please forward all correspondence to my personal e-mail, supersabre@gmail.com. Thank you!

FREE Admission for Volunteering @ Cleveland IMS

Thinking about going to the Cleveland IMS Show from Jan. 30-Feb 1? Don't
buy those tickets just yet...you could attend for FREE!

The "We Ride" booth at the show that focuses on women riders (both
experienced and aspiring) is looking for volunteers to help run the
booths, pass out information, and be positive ambassadors to the sport.
So, for a small bit of your time, you get to go to the show for FREE and
talk about your love for motorcycles. How easy is that? :-)

If you're interested, please reply to director@wow-columbus.org ASAP and I will
forward your information to the ladies running the booth to have you
placed on their volunteer list.