Just a little Poetry for the Biker in you... 

Riding Thru
 
Under the wheels,
Under my feet,
Pass mile upon mile
Of old fields of wheat.
 
And out of the corner
No the tip of my eye,
There are fields of green
Just passing right by.
 
No matter how much
I have in the bank
Or how much I owe
On this bike I now Thank
 
The mercy of nature
For the fields I see
And the fertile Land
In the heart of me.

Amanda Mapel

THE REASON

You sit behind the handlebars,
while the engine plays it's tune,
you ride by soul, more than touch,
as if guided by some acient rune.

You think, as we all have,
you look within as you ride,
without thinking about it,
without thought for pride,

for true bikers don't ride for glory,
or for the rewards of other men,
but for the simple joy of riding,
That's not a what, it's a when.

Like the tale of man an machine,
growing together old,
Something not understood,
by those not of our fold.

Or the joy of building,
a new ride and friend,
that will be ridden,
until the end, of life or of the road,
for in this life we chose,
there is not a lot of difference,
between the two of those.

Preacher, 5/2004

    The Weather is changing, summer is just around the bend, as we welcome the warmer weather we all need to know what roll WATER plays in our every day lives as we ride. So here are a few tips on not getting Dehydrated. Drink up before you feel thirsty..

First do you know what dehydration is?..

What Is Dehydration?

    Dehydration is a condition that occurs when someone loses more fluids than they take in.

    If you ignore your thirst, dehydration can slow you down.

    Our bodies are about two thirds water. When someone gets dehydrated, it means the amount of water in your body has dropped below the level needed for normal body function. Small decreases don't cause problems, and in most cases, they go completely unnoticed. But losing larger amounts of water can sometimes make a person feel quite sick,lightheaded,leg cramps,vomiting and diarrhea.

Do you know the sings of Dehydration ?

Signs of Dehydration

    To counter react dehydration, you need to restore the proper balance of water in your body. First, though, you have to recognize the problem.

    Thirst is one indicator of dehydration, but it is NOT an early warning sign. By the time you feel thirsty, you might already be dehydrated.

         Symptoms of dehydration are:

         1. Feeling dizzy and lightheaded.

2. Having a dry or sticky mouth.

3. Producing less urine and darker urine.

4. Cool and Clammy arm,legs and face.

5. Color around your mouth might be a little gray or blue.

6. Confusion, mental fogginess.

7. Not making good choices.

8. Slow reaction time.

9. Shallow breathing.

10. Saggy skin.

11. Low blood pressure.

As the condition progresses, a person will start to feel much sicker as more body systems (or organs) are affected by the dehydration.

Types of People are at a Higher risk for Dehydration

Some people are at a higher risk for dehydration and heat-related illness during the summer (work or play). The people at higher risk include, those who:

1. Rarely exercise.

2. Are overweight or obese.

3. Have had a recent illness with vomiting or diarrhea.

4. Have had a previous heat-related illness.

5. Drinks caffeine beverages .Keep them to a minimum.

6. Takes medications, such as antihistamines and diuretics, and most pain medication can cause dehydration.

Do you know how to Prevent Dehydration ?

Preventing Dehydration

During summer you loose 1 liter of water from your body every hour. It is important t drink a few glasses of water every hour to keep your body well hydrated. Orange juice is a good substitute to water as it is high in Vitamin C content and has all natural sugars in it. Your body will not have to work as hard to processes this sugar.. Do not drink tea and coffee as they tend to dehydrate you. Keep a bottle of water close to you and sip on it constantly. Do not wait to be thirsty to drink water.

WATER is usually the best choice. Drinking water does not add calories to your diet and can be great for your health.

Water will cool your body core down faster than any other fluid, If you drink a sugary drink it will take your body 2 times longer to cool it's self down because your body has work harder (heat up) to brake down the sugars before it can cool you down, the same plays true to any kid of alcohol drink. So if you are feeling any symptoms Sit in the shade or someplace cool and drink water. In general, dehydration is preventable. So just keep drinking that H2O for healthy hydration

You can also Drink sports drinks as they contain electrodes. They prevent loss of water from your system. But don't drink more than 1 sports drink in 2-3 hours you still need to sweat. To help keep your body cool.

-Eat plenty of fruits, if you are feeling dehydrated. They are normally cooling and add water to your system. Eat fruits with high water content like melons and berries.

- AVOID spicy food. The spices will cause heat to generate in your body and make you perspire more than needed.

-Visit the toilet frequently to eliminate unwanted water and toxins from your system. This helps to clean your system and make room for new proteins and water.

-Always wear clothes suitable to the weather and wear a hat in extremely hot weather to prevent heat stroke.

What we all need to know about.

Bikes and Dehydration

As we all know being out on the bike will dry you out faster than any other way. The wind blowing that 80-105 air and the hot air coming up from the pavement is a killer. So keep a bottle of water within reach at all times. Warm water is just as good as cool water. This is the best way to keep from drying out. Keep your sunscreen on this will help keep the water in your body and keep you from getting a sun burn, all at the same time. Having a sunburn will also cause you to become Dehydrated.

Summer Motorcycles and Hydration

June 21st is the official start of summer which means that the days are getting longer and giving us more motorcycle riding time. With longer days comes more sunlight and higher temperatures which means we need to ensure we follow the rules of motorcycle hydration. To keep riding at our peak efficiency one of the key things to remember is to keep our bodies hydrated with pure water. If you don't drink enough water, you risk becoming dehydrated.

We get dehydrated from exposure to direct sun, higher temperatures, and high humidity. We lose moisture from our bodies naturally through breathing and perspiring. Together with the longer riding times in the summer, this increases the chances of our bodies getting dehydrated.

If you are not drinking water and it is hot and you are not sweating, be careful, this could be a sign that you are nearing heat stroke. A couple hours before riding you should start drinking water. Liquids with caffeine in them won't work because they act as a diuretic and push water out of your system. If you must have a cup of caffeine, make sure you drink 8 ounces of water for every cup of coffee,tea or soda that you drink.

Dehydration has a cumulative effect. For example, if you are 2 percent dehydrated on Monday and don't drink enough water to hydrate, then on Tuesday if you don't drink enough water, you will be at least 2 percent dehydrated plus Tuesday's loss.

To keep your body working at peak efficiency, the rule of thumb is to drink 1/2 ounce of water for every 1 pound that you weigh. For example, if you weigh 120 pounds, then you should drink 60 ounces of water, or approximately 8 - 8 ounce glasses of water a day. One way to tell if your body is hydrated enough is when you urinate. If your urine is clear, then you are hydrated. If it has a strong odor or is yellow in color, then you need to drink more water.

Motorcycle hydration means keeping your body hydrated while riding your motorcycle in weather that could be dehydrating. One method is to carry bottled water with you and stow it in your saddlebags or tour-packs. You can partially freeze the bottles to keep them cold or store them in an insulated cooler bag. When you stop to take a break you can dig it out and drink. To use this method you must take time to stop, but in higher temperatures it is better to sip your water every 15 minutes or so, rather than drink more at longer intervals and your body also needs more stretch time in higher temperatures. You can also have a hands free Camel-back filled with water . The downside of this method is that when the temperatures soar it is not a good time to go for a long distance record without taking frequent breaks.

As extra protection, wearing a lightweight, light color jacket can improve your motorcycle hydration by preventing the sun and wind from drying your skin out and robbing you of moisture.

Whatever your choice of water breaks, make sure that you follow motorcycle hydration safety measures so you can keep your body riding at peak efficiency.



Ride Safe and Keep Hydrated

Riding on a motorcycle with a friend is one of the most fun things you can do. It can be an even more enjoyable experience if the passenger understands and follows a few simple rules. To be the kind of passenger riders want to ride with, remember the following:

1. Wear clothing that will give you some protection in the unlikely event of a spill. As a minimum, you should wear the following to protect yourself:

• Footwear that protects your feet and your ankles (hiking boots are good).
• Durable pants--leather is best; lacking leather, you will have to make do with jeans, work pants, or something similar.
• An abrasion resistant jacket that zips or buttons up close to the neck (again, leather is best if you have it; a nylon flight jacket or parka are satisfactory, and a Levis-type jacket will do in a pinch).
• Durable gloves.
• Eye protection--ideally, the helmet you borrow or own should have a face shield for comfort as well as protection. If it does not, goggles are good, and glasses (dark or prescription) will do.

2. You should also attempt to dress appropriately for the weather. If you have not ridden very much, you probably do not realize how hot or how cold it can be on a motorcycle. If it is hot, it will feel a lot hotter while you are riding; if it is cold, it will feel a lot colder while you are riding. Ask the rider for advice about dressing for the anticipated conditions, but don't compromise your minimum level of protection as described above.

On hot sunny days, one trick is to wear an extra large white shirt over your jacket. It will reflect a lot of heat and help keep you cool. In general, it is easier to dress safely and comfortably for a cool day than for a hot one. Lastly, don't wear anything loose and floppy (like a long scarf or bell bottom pants) that could get caught in the rear wheel, sprockets, drive chain or belt, or any other moving part of the motorcycle. You could injure yourself, and might cause an accident.

3. Wear a securely fastened helmet that fits properly. Most riders have extra helmets and will be glad to loan you one. A helmet should be a snug fit; it should not be possible to twist it around on your head. The strap should be pulled as tight as you can get it. You can test for fit, and to see if the strap is tight, like this: grasp the chin bar of a full coverage helmet, or the edge of an open face helmet directly over your forehead, and try to pull the helmet backwards off your head. If the helmet winds up on the back of your head, tighten the strap or get a helmet that fits.

The rider can show you how to put on your helmet properly and easily (you kind of roll it onto your head from the front). If you ride often, you will eventually want to buy your own helmet. Just about any motorcycle shop can help you pick out a suitable helmet that fits you correctly.

4. Before you attempt to mount the motorcycle, make sure that the passenger foot pegs are down. (They fold up when not in use, and it is easy for the rider to forget to put them down for you.) If you don't know where the foot pegs are, have the rider point them out to you.

Also, beware of the hot exhaust pipes. Make sure you know where they are, and don't let your leg or any part of your body touch them as you mount or dismount the motorcycle. They can give you a severe burn right through the heaviest pants.

5. It is customary to get on or off the motorcycle from the left side. Always wait for the rider to tell you it's okay to mount or dismount. If you start to clamber on (or off) when the rider does not expect it, the sudden motion of the motorcycle will be disconcerting. You could even pull the motorcycle over, a big no-no.

6. Here is the best way to get on a motorcycle, and the method almost all passengers should use: extend your right leg over the seat, and then slide gently up onto the seat. Put your feet on the foot pegs and you are onboard!

If you are not able to do that because you are a tiny person or a child, this will work: put your left foot on the left passenger foot peg, lean your body way over the motorcycle, and gently step up until you can swing your right leg over the seat and ease yourself down. You must keep your body low and lean over the motorcycle as much as possible while you get on, to help the rider keep the motorcycle balanced. The weight of your body, if it is too far out of line with the weight of the motorcycle, could pull the bike over, still a big no-no.

A person reasonably close to normal size (male or female) should not need to use this method to mount a motorcycle, and a heavy person should not attempt it under any circumstances. It is all a question of balance; the rider is not strong enough to force a big motorcycle to stay upright if you cause it to get out of balance.

To dismount, just reverse the process you used to get on. With a little practice, getting on and off will become second nature.

7. Once you are on the motorcycle, plant your feet on the passenger foot pegs and keep them there. You absolutely do not want to bring your foot into contact with the rear wheel, drive chain or belt, or the hot muffler. Never attempt to help the rider hold the bike upright when it is stopped. Keep your feet safe by keeping them on the foot pegs at all times.

8. Place your hands on the rider's hips. That is the best way to hold on to the rider, and it keeps you in touch with the rider's movements. Keep your weight centered over the motorcycle. Try not to move around any more than is necessary, particularly when the motorcycle is stopped, as it affects the balance of the motorcycle.

9. Motorcycles turn by leaning (banking like an airplane), not by steering like a car. So don't be alarmed when the motorcycle leans over to go around a corner. To position yourself perfectly for a turn, just look over the rider's shoulder in the direction of the turn. If the motorcycle is turning right, look over the rider's right shoulder; if it is turning left, look over the rider's left shoulder.

You don't have to do anything else; looking naturally over the rider's inside shoulder will automatically put your weight right where it belongs in a turn. Keep your body in line with the rider's body to prevent the motorcycle from leaning more than the rider intends. (When going straight, it doesn't matter which shoulder you look over.) Never lean out of a turn; you could cause an accident that way, which is another big no-no.

10. When the rider puts on the brakes, it causes a forward weight transfer. If the rider is forced to break hard, as in an emergency, this forward weight transfer is very apparent; you will be forced against the rider, and you will start to slide forward on the seat. Don't panic. Try to keep back, away from the rider. Resist sliding forward by pressing your feet against the footpegs; use your thigh muscles to control your position on the seat.

If you slide forward, you force the rider forward, reducing the rider's control over the motorcycle. It also moves the weight distribution of the motorcycle forward, reducing the weight on the rear tire and therefore the traction of the rear tire, making it more likely that the back tire will start to skid. Obviously, none of this is desirable.

11. You can be an active participant in the ride by staying alert and being prepared. Help the rider look for potential danger, and be prepared to hang on and hold yourself back if you anticipate a need for sudden braking. Likewise, if the rider is forced to swerve the motorcycle to avoid a hazard in the road, you need to be prepared for the sudden lean and change of direction.

You can also help the rider scan for animals that may run into the road. Dogs and deer are particularly unpredictable, and you may see a deer on a hillside above the road, or a dog in somebody's front yard, before the rider. (After all, the rider is concentrating primarily on the road.) If you spot a hazard of any sort that you think the rider is unaware of, rap the rider on the appropriate shoulder, and point at the hazard in a way that brings it to the rider's attention.

Do you know what S.E.E. is ????

WELL WE DID IT.!

All the hard work the past 5 weeks has paid off. This week we will be going to PAY OFF THE BIKE!!!

This weekend we reached or goal of donation. Paul or Joe will be sending out an email letting everyone know when we will be meeting at City Cycle to write the check for the Bike, If I sound excited WELL I am, we have had a lot of hard work go into this. With a few energized people that have worked their buts off each weekend to make sure this goal was met. 

But the work isn’t over yet. We still need all of you with tickets to make sure you get out and get your donations for them. It isn’t hard you just have to say the words Children or American Legion Riders, and people are reaching into there pockets and handing you there 10.00,20.00 AND YES EVEN 50.00 OR 100.00 for there DONATIONS.

This weekend we are having a Bike Showing and Donations taken at the 5^th street Pub in Herington Kansas. (Out on 5^th street) Paul, Sandy, Joe and Melody will be there at 5pm until we sell all the tickets we have or until closing. We would LOVE to have all of you show up and help us out with this, there is going to be a Band their Hell Bent (very good dancing music.) So come out and Help us out and take time to dance and play Pool, Nine Ball, Darts and Games. Going to be a good time! Please bring a DD if you need to!

We have room at our house for you to stay if you need to.

We hope all of you are doing good with your donations if you need help with them just give Paul or myself a call and we will do our best to get together with you and get them out to everyone.

We have a few places lined up that you can bring your tickets to and get the donations for them. Just check the calendar on line www.alr240.org to see when and where they are and show up, the rest is easy!

So I want to thanks everyone that has put there all out on this.

Spring is almost here the weather is getting warmer and riding season is just around the Conner. We road to Topeka yesterday and Boy was it cold in the morning, but the ride home Well we couldn’t ask for a better day. The air was crisp, but not a lot of wind. 72 outside, it was great. We all stopped in at the Rib Crib and had a bite to eat, (let me just tell you), You get all you can eat for a great price, and GIRLS!! The cheesecake is to die for (LOL). When you see Tim Ask him about his sticky sweet Ribs. He enjoyed them to the fullest! Also I spoke to the manager of the Rib Crib and he donated 2 Tee Shirts for us to raffle off at one of the dice runs. They are real nice Bright Red Shirts.

If you have anything you want posted Jokes, Statements, Rides, Anything just send me an E-mail and I will get it out here for you.

I am still working on a forum for all of us you will hear more about this at our next meeting.

Have a Great Week