How full is your tool box?

Deedee Ford

By DeeDee Ford

You have a project to do and you’ll need several tools to get the job completed.  You reach into your tool box and everything you need is right there.  How satisfying is that?  The same can be said for riding a motorcycle and being presented with a challenging scenario.  Do you have the tools (skills) in your tool box to get the job done?

Regardless of the number of years you have been riding, rider safety courses should be considered as part of your annual checklist.  Every year, if you have a riding season, when the season begins you check your bike out to make sure it is safe and in good riding condition.  Then you check your gear.  Is your helmet going to still do the trick if it needs to?  How are your boots holding up?  The same consideration should be given to your skills.

When was the last time your motorcycle riding skills were challenged in a controlled environment?  I dare say that this should be done at least once every year. Ask someone who cares about you whether they think you should be as prepared as you possibly can while in control of your motorcycle.  Of course the answer is YES.   There are many opportunities for you to do this.  We had the pleasure of singing up for and taking the new dual sport rider training course offered by Stayin Safe.  The class description read well as it offers “real world “, real time  travel skills.  What that means is, you ride on both pavement and dirt/gravel/mud roads while an instructor communicates with you using a one-way radio.  For many of us the roads less traveled  i.e. dirt, gravel and mud are somewhat intimidating but the reality is that you will end up on a dirt or gravel road sometime and you need to be prepared.

What better way to overcome your trepidation than by “doing” with the tutelage of a skilled instructor.  This class offers much more than this however.  When we signed up and were deposited for the class, we received a student handbook.  The handbook was a syllabus explaining the approach that Stayin Safe utilizes.  Additionally, there were instructions on how to prepare your bike and yourself for the class.  When we met up with Peter Tamblyn, our instructor for the class, we had a pretty good idea as to what to expect.  He went over the instructions and expectations for our next few days of travel and before we knew it we were wired up and ready to ride

Day one was all about learning to read the road.  Peter led our small group along the back roads and spoke to us about what he was seeing as potential hazards.  He splits the road into 3 sections and rides each section based upon the road conditions, oncoming traffic, etc.  Counter steering, body steering, throttle steering and visual steering were the basic skills we hoped to brush up on during day one.  You will learn the proper technique for each steering method and when to use it.  The crux of the Stayin Safe program however centers around three strategies.  They are, maintain a full 360 degree awareness, put the motorcycle where “they” can’t touch you and eliminate surprises.  Peter went into great length about each of these strategies.  We practiced them while riding behind him and then had the opportunity to utilize our skills while Peter rode behind us.   If you have never experienced another rider behind you, watching your riding skills unfold right before there very eyes, you should.  With Peter’s years of experience, he spoke to you about what you should be seeing for potential hazards and the process that should be going through your mind so that the outcome is exactly what you want.  With the one-way radio communication it is a bit frustrating for a talker not to be able to talk back to him however, in the long run it is what he is saying at that particular moment that matters.

Day two’s emphasis was on braking; specifically, how to do this in a controlled manner at various speeds.  Also, when to brake and when not to and if you choose to, the timing involved.  Finally, whether to use the front brake, rear brake or both.  He had asked each of us when the last time was that we practiced controlled breaking?  None of us could say that we had.  That got me thinking.  I now periodically practice controlled breaking at various speeds.  You will need to use this tool at some point in your motorcycle travels.  The more you practice, the better you will be.  I recently had an event that caused me to need to use rapid and controlled braking.  In addition to needing to stop relatively quickly, I had engine oil spraying out over both of my tires. At first I thought I had run over something that gave me a flat tire because the bike was so wobbly.  Later, I learned that what I had run over punctured my oil pan.  What I did to stabilize the bike and bring it safely to the side of the road came naturally to me.  I do not remember doing it but I did.  The bike was in first gear when I landed and I was still in an upright position.  All good!  I credit this to the many training sessions I have taken with experienced people such as Peter.  I also credit my husband Richard for he is the catalyst for encouraging all of the training.

Day Three of the Stayin Safe class was a concentrated effort to incorporate all we had learned; throttle control, controlled braking, lane choice, dirt riding etc etc etc.  We were challenged to speak out loud to our invisible passenger.  We were to explain to our passenger what we saw as hazards and basically what we would do to ensure that they would have a safe and comfortable ride.  You should try this on your own some time.  When you speak out loud somehow the information seems to sink in a bit more.

If you leave this class having learned and/or been reminded of the three primary strategies that Stayin Safe uses as it’s approach to rider training, I believe you will be a better, more prepared rider.  When we are kids we love surprises.  As we age, surprises are something we tend to not enjoy.  Eliminate surprises and stay in control!

I would encourage anyone who rides to take this class.  It was informative, challenging and fun.  Peter is a wonderful and patient teacher who has a lot of experience.  You will definitely feel as if your tool box is more complete when you finish with this class.

By J.D. Dooley

I have been both backpacking and motorcycling for more than 30 years. But it wasn’t until recently that I, like many others, decided to combine the two with motorcycle camping. Also, I have worked for an outdoor outfitter for 11 years so I have had the ability to test many combinations of gear and brands.

While motorcycle camping is somewhat akin to car camping – in that you don’t actually have to physically carry all of your gear – it is also similar to backpacking in that the size and weight of your gear matters on several fronts.

First, you can’t carry a huge cabin style tent and a cot on you bike. Instead, you need the type of gear that a backpacker carries ­­– light, small high-quality items that will stand up to the road and trail while keeping you comfortable in all types of weather. You will notice that “high-quality” is in bold. I can’t stress the importance of that enough, especially if you are traveling to the more remote mountainous regions where it may not only be a matter of comfort but survival. In Alaska, and even along the Blue Ridge, night can drop into 30s without warning. If your gear is wet, you are in trouble.

While there are many reliable brands on the market I will give specifics that are high quality and reasonably priced.

First lets look at the basics, tent or hammock and tarp, sleeping bag and sleeping pad.

Tent

Rock 23

Choosing a tent is not complicated but there are a few things to consider such as weather protection and temperature range versus ventilation. The ideal tent for Florida may not be the ideal ten for Alaska however, most modern tents have a body comprised largely of screen and a rain fly that extends nearly to the ground. This combination is good for most spring, summer and fall motorcycling. The North Face Rock 23 is an example of a three season tent that would fill the bill for nearly all moto camping needs. It retails for $188.99.

Hammock

Eagles Nest Hammock

I would be remiss here if I didn’t mention the camping hammock. On a trip I was on earlier this month three out of ten guys slept in an Eagle’s Nest Outfitters (ENO) camping hammock ($54.99). And two of them were over the age of 40. Hammocks are cheap, light and pack very small. You do have to find two appropriate trees (usually not a problem) and you will probably want a tarp. You get a basic tarp from any discount store or ENO has one for $79.99. Although I’ve never slept in one I am yet to meet a user who doesn’t like it.

Sleeping Bag

The world of sleeping bags can get real confusing real quick. Let’s break it down to the two basic considerations; the filler material and how warm it will keep you at certain temperatures.

Sleeping bags are either filled with down or synthetic fibers. Both will keep you warm but down is lighter will pack much smaller. Down, however, is slow to dry and loses its insulation properties when wet. Synthetics are bulkier but are typically less expensive and retail insulation properties when wet.

Mountain Hardwear Sunrise 50

The temperature rating of a sleeping bag is the best guess by a manufacturer as to what temperature the average person will feel comfortable in the bag on a pad. You should buy a bag based on the temperature that you will be using it. In the summer a 50 degree bag may fill the bill. I have one and use it rarely outside during the summer but find it perfect for bunkhouses, lodges, hostels and camping cabins.

If you are a “hot” sleeper you may want to buy the bag based on the actual temperature rating. If you are a “cold” sleeper you may want to purchase a bag rated for a lower temperature than you expect to encounter. In other words, if you are fairly certain that the temperatures are going to be in the 30s or 40s, buy a twenty degree bag. You always vent it to be cooler but you can’t generate more warmth.

Is there one that does it all? Sadly, no. If there was I’d have one. Instead, I have a twenty degree bag that I use in the 20s, 30s and low 40s and the fifty degree bag that I use from the high 40s up. I also have a fleece sleeping bag line that will add warmth to either bag or suffice as a stand alone bag if the temps are greater than 65 degrees.

Also, I carry only down bags but I am very careful not to get them wet (more on that to come). A good summer bag is the Mountain Hardwear Sunrise 50 for $169.99

Sleeping Pad

Therma Rest Neoair

You are going to want a sleeping pad. Firstly, it’s certainly more comfortable that the hard ground. But, perhaps more importantly, a good pad provides a layer of insulation between you and the cold ground.

I have carried the tried and true Therma Rest Trail Lite ($59.99) for more than 10 years but the good folks there have just release an newer, better pad that retains more insulation, has a higher loft and packs smaller called the Neoair. It’s a little pricier at $139.99 but if I didn’t already have a pad I think I’d spend the extra money for the comfort.

Cooking

I’ve eaten lots of trail food while on the trail but personally, I like to eat at restaurants while motorcycling. Nonetheless there are times when that is not convenient.

Camping stove come in two basic flavors; liquid, or “white” gas (a variety of gasoline) and isobutane/propane blended fuel.

Jetboil Flash

The isobutane/propane blended fuel is stored under pressure in a canister. The fuel is easy to use, creates no mess and ignites and burns easily in temperatures above freezing. The drawback is that it is difficult to tell how much fuel is remaining in the canister so you always end up toting around an extra one. It is difficult to properly dispose on the empty canister on the road but most retailers will take them back for recycling. Also, they perform very poorly in temperatures below 32 degrees Farenheit and at high altitude (above 10,000 ft).

Recently a cook system that has gained immense popularity is the Jetboil, an all-in-one stove, pot, bowl combo. The stove is powered by an isobutane/propane canister which, along with the burner, nests in the pot.

Whisperlite International

I prefer a gas stove such as the MSR WhisperLite International since it runs off something  which you are more likely to have access … gasoline. It is especially useful for remote regions and traveling abroad, especially south of the border where blended fuel canisters may not be available. It runs best off of white gas such as MSR’s own fuel or Coleman fuel but in a pinch you can run it just fine from regular gasoline which is more plentiful in Central or South America. Pots are also available for nesting the WhisperLite such as the MSR Alpine cookset at $49.99

Packing it all

Tent, sleeping bag, pad and pillow are in waterproof bags.

Chances are, regardless of the bike’s maker, your panniers will not accommodate all of your camping gear. Many use a large waterproof duffle bag or SealLine dry bags. The reason being, I can store the tent, and sleeping pad in one. Then, if need be I can open it in the rain to set up the tent while my sleeping bag, pillow, towel and dry clothes remain sealed in the other bag until after the tent is successfully erected. I have used these bags on canoe and kayak trips for years and they are completely waterproof under all conditions. I use a clear one for the tent so I can easily identify it. I use a colored one for everything else because it’s tidier to look at than all my clothes and such crammed in a transparent bag. But that’s just me.

That about covers the basics so now here are a few extras that will make camp life a bit more enjoyable:

Quick-dry clothing. Wear 100% synthetic quick dry clothing. Once wet, cotton clothing stays wet. That includes tee-shirts and jeans. Synthetic hiking clothes will dry overnight hanging in a tent or on you while you ride if you got soaked before you had a chance to don your rain gear. Check out the Columbia Omni-Dri pant, the Mountain Hardwear Wicked Lite Tee and the Ex Oficio Give N Go Boxer.

Dry set of clothes that you never, ever allow to get wet. I’ve had trips that lasted five days when the rains never stopped. At the end of the day it’s nice to have that one set of dry clothes (socks, pants, shirt, undies and maybe even a fleece top) even if it means putting wet clothes back on the next morning. Fortunately, most campgrounds have a laundry but primitive sites and many national forest sites do not.

Petzl Tikka Plus 2

Headlamp. Long ago the hands-free LED headlamp replaced the flashlight. I have one on the bike at all time as well as in the glove box of every vehicle I own. My favorite is the Petzl Tikka Plus 2. It has a red light to use for night vision that also flashes and can be used as a safety flasher in emergencies.

Fire starter. Handy if you plan on building campfires. Little fire starter bricks are available at most major grocery stores or you may slice a fire starter log into several chunks and store them in zip lock bags for future use.

Book, 12 hours in a tent in the rain can get old.

Laundry bag. I use a kitchen size garbage bag and roll it closed. After I get home it can be repurposed for its originally intended use.

Camp shoes. After a long day in boots flip-flops or Crocs feel pretty good around camp.

Camp towel. Backpacker for years have carried a towel similar to the Sham-Whatzit. If you have to set up your tent in the rain these fast drying, super-absorbent towels make quick work of interior puddles and even wet bike seats in the morning.

First aid kit. Really, you should have one on the bike already. The Adventure Medical Kit is small and light and has the essentials.

Toilette paper. You’ll only forget it once.

Well, like on any good camping trip I’ve probably forgotten something but this should be enough to get you started. If you have any questions feel free to shoot me an Email. See you around the fire.

Click photo to enlarge.

Tent, sleeping bag, pad and pillow are in waterproof bags.

Camp is set at Willville in Meadows of Dan, Va.

A night of thunderstorms soaked the tent fly.

Even after a night of thunderstorms the interior is dry.

Even the boots in the vestibule are dry.

Before we could leave the cafe at lunch on our Sinday ride, several phalanx of HD riders fired up and hit the road.  Phalanx? Look it up.

I guess in part the upper room at the Cafe acts as a reverb chamber.  All we could do was sit there and laugh as one Harley after another fired, revved up, and road off.  It was impossible to converse for a period of time.  So, I wasn’t going to share this, but after today’s luncheon interruption I changed my mind, go ahead and check it out:

I had shown this video to my son earlier, and got to see him laugh more than I’d seen in quite awhile.  So, why is Harley bashing so satisfying?  I think this is a fair question, the answers to which may shed light in that dark place of our souls, you know, the place that is responsible for the weird fact that riding is fun at all for grownups.  I mean, just because a HD is underpowered, overpriced, doesn’t handle, are often fiddled to make an unholy racket, and have lousy brakes, its still a legitimate form of cycling fun, isn’t it?

Many of us have or have had HD’s, and they can be a lot of fun, but it is quit a different thing than riding a sport or sport/touring bike.  My most recent phase of cycling began with a Suzuki Savage, a 650 single cylinder pocket cruiser, with lots of torque, and not much else.  But, it was very satisfying to putz up and down the parkway at or below the speed limit. Admittedly, when on a more competent bike, riding the speed limit isn’t that much fun, so there is sort of a trade off.

So, what is a cruiser?  Well, it is image, as well as a particular machine configuration.  The configuration is what is called in Britain and on the continent, feet forward.  Feet forward is a riding position that is similar to sitting in a rocking chair with your feet flat on the floor in front of you.  The cruiser riding position is initially comfortable, natural, and familiar, sitting bolt upright with your feet out in front.  Scooters also utilize the same riding position.  The feet forward position works pretty well until speed demands better rider control, and wind pressure dictates getting down out of the wind stream.  As distance ridden, speed, lean angle, and the need for control increase, the cruiser feet forward position becomes progressively less viable.  Part of what is going on here is the need to get your feet up and out of the way when leaned over, but even more so, is the need to get more of your weight forward.  As riding becomes more aggressive, more and more control is established by having more and more weight on the front wheel.

So, there is also image, based on association with loners, outlaws, and criminals, made glorious on the silver screen, thanks a lot to Mr Easy rider, Dennis Hopper,  RIP. Check out Dennis’ filmography, quite impressive.

So, for many cruisers, in addition to a feet forward riding position, is the bad ass image, and a machine that features a lot of torque.  In addition to HD, all four Japanese cycle makers have a line of metric cruisers, generally more capable, with more advanced engineering, and a toned down version of the BA marketing image, think Honda Shadow.  Remember, BMW tried their hand at a cruiser not that long ago, gave it quite a try before they gave up.  The BMW C was a very stylish bike, had an extremely high level of fit and finish, was made to sound American with some special models such as the Montauk, and did not sell well.  I personally was attracted to the bike, looked at a used one, but discovered that they were geared very low, would be revving pretty high at interstate speeds, and lost interest.  So BMW got the “slow” part right, but sort of missed the Bad Ass part.

There was also, briefly a variant of the cruiser, called the power cruiser.  Honda made the original Magna from 83 to 86, and Yamaha answered with the V-Max which they still make.  These were both feet forward bikes, but with water cooled V4 very potent motors, torque and a lot of horsepower, plus more contemporary suspension and brakes, for the day anyway.

If you go here http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/news/4216203 you will see a list of contemporary bikes that Popular Mechanics considers to be power cruisers.  Other than the V Rod and the Triumph Rocket III I would disagree with PM, so what do they know about bikes, or anything else for that matter?

Somewhat related to the power cruiser, is the naked bike or street fighter, an approach pioneered largely by Ducati with their Monster series, and of course now many makes have a street fighter.  About all this marketing stuff amounts to is to strip the fairing and or touring equipment off a spot or sport touring bike, and try to horn in on the Bad Ass aspect by calling it a street fighter.  Give me a break.  You get a stripped down, lighter weight, maybe cleaner looking bike, and maybe a bike in which you can look thru the engine to the other side of the bike, like the older British twins.  Personally, I don’t think this street fighter designation means much of anything, and most of them have a lot more in common with the UJM, that is Universal Japanese Motorcycle, think 1970′s on on 4 cylinder Honda 750 up to todays 1400 cc inline fours without a fairing.

While discussing the taxonomy of bikes, particularly looking at cruisers, something must be said about the in line V twin.  The inline V twin is almost synonymous with the cruiser, but not quite.  Ducati has fabulous V twins, that are anything but cruisers, as did Vincent, back in its day.  Most modern V twins use an alternate firing cycle.  Harley, however, has both cylinders fire in the same cycle, which gives that unique syncopated sound, potato potato potato, which they have copywrited, and which does tend to produce more torque, as the twin cylinder engine functions more like a big single cylinder engine, think older John Deere tractors.

So, to bring this discussion to a close, what about Eric Buell?  Eric is/was a very race oriented innovative designer, who tried his best to bring HD kickin and screaming into the 21st century.  Sorry Eric, but that ain’t bad ass anuff, never mind that a Buell would run circles around the comparable HD in all departments.  Too bad, cause that syncopated V twin in a decent chassis makes a hell of a bad ass motorcycle.  In my book, bad ass is a slim bike and engine that lets you drop your feet straight to the pavement, with a lot of butt kicking torque plus power up to say 110 mph, but leaving most of the vibration at home.  In other words, a modernized HD Sportster.  Back in the day, early 60′s I learned to ride on a Sporster, in an age when 650 cc was a big English bike, the Sportster’s 883 cc was totally Bad Ass to me, and the HD FLH at 1200 cc was, well, a HOG.  In the ultimate irony to me, the HD affectionadoes, Harleyistas (?), consider the Sportster a “girly” bike.  That’s it.  I was going to show you a picture of my granddaughter’s (3 1/2 yrs old) pink plastic electric jeep, parked next to Poppi’s BMW.  Oh well.

Dave Johnson
Boone NC
The Kilometer High City

BMW 1100RT ’2000′
Honda Magna V65 ’84′

By J.D. Dooley
Where: Iron Horse Motorcycle Lodge
Location: Stecoah, NC
Price: Camping $15, Bunk $25, Semi Private Room $75.95, Private Room $89.95

The Iron Horse Lodge

The Iron Horse Motorcycle Lodge in Stecoah, NC is perfectly situated amongst some of the best riding there is. The lodge is only a short distance from the Tail of the Dragon and the Cherohala Skyway, not to mention Fontana Lake, the southern terminus of the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park as well as hundreds and hundreds of miles of paved and unpaved motorcycle nirvana.

Tucked away on 39 secluded acres the Iron horse offers camping, rooms and cabins with weekend dining.

The dining hall offers dinner on Friday and Saturday evenings. Last weekend Friday evening’s choices were the pulled pork plate, beef brisket plate or BBQ chicken plate each of which included your choice of collard greens; baked beans; baked potato casserole or broccoli cheese casserole all for $8.95.

On Saturday they took it up a notch with the choice of either prime rib ($15.99) or Salmon ($12.95) both of which included salad bar, baked regular or sweet potato and a dinner roll. Make sure that you reserve dinner ahead of your stay. They take walk ups but on a first come first serve basis.

Creekside, behind the lodge.

The dining hall doubles as a social pavilion with a wall size surround sound TV with satellite/VCR/DVD, pool table, karaoke, and camp store with the requisite T-shirts and souvenirs. You can also check your Email or weather on the public computer or take advantage of the free wi-fi if you have your own device.

Hi-tech aside, some of the best society can be found spinning yarns around the outdoor patio campfire. It doesn’t get much better than enjoying a cold beverage around a crackling fire while swapping tales about that day’s ride. You’ll find Harley guys, Beemer guys, V-stromers, wingers and sport bikers alike holding court on the latest moto heroics and idiocy. But in a nice quiet way.

Owners John and Charlene Powell have created an atmosphere that is surprisingly serene and tranquil for a place designed to handle more than a hundred motorcyclists. The overall vibe is laid back and quiet … peaceful. It’s not what I expected but certainly one of the things I respect. The facility is well run and the staff is friendly, knowledgeable and helpful.

Accommodations

Creekside cabin

The cabins offer private and semi private rooms. The semi private cabin rooms face either the creek or the mountain and have either one queen size bed, one king size bed, or two twin beds. All room prices are for double occupancy. All linens and towels are supplied, and the rooms include air conditioning, ceiling fans, and heaters. Creekside Rooms are $75.95 per room per night plus tax. These rooms have a view of creek with a sliding glass door that opens onto a covered deck. Mountainside Rooms are $65.95 per room per night plus tax. Those rooms face the mountain and do not have a deck. On either the Creekside or Mountainside rooms a bathroom is shared between two rooms.

Two story cabins.

The luxury private cabin rooms overlook the Iron Horse grounds and are located on the second floor with private bath, heat and air conditioning for $89.95 per night plus tax. All private cabin rooms include a private bath. one king size bed, or two twin beds. All room prices are for double occupancy. All linens and towels are supplied, rooms include air conditioning, ceiling fans, and heaters.

The bunkhouse

An increasingly popular feature among motorcyclists is the bunkhouse option. As its name suggests, it is simply a room with several cots and shelves for gear storage. While perhaps not exactly the lap of luxury, at only $25 a night a comfortable cot in a climate controlled room beats a night on the ground. Pillows, sheets and a blanket are provided along with the bunk so you don’t even need to carry a sleeping bag.

Campsites by the Creek.

There are also many tent sites to choose from at $15 if you bring all the equipment. For $40 Iron Horse will rent you a tent, sleeping mat, sleeping bag, pillow, sheets, towel and washcloth.

There are both men’s and women’s bathhouses. Both have a private dressing room with each shower. Hair dryers are provided in the bathhouse as is a washer and dryer. I have spent four nights in an Iron Horse bunk house over the past two years. Each occasion was during a time that the facility was nearly at capacity and each time the bathhouse was kept amazingly clean throughout the visit.

Overall, the Iron Horse Lodge is a first rate motorcycle resort and a great place to base a multi day ride.

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By J.D. Dooley
Where: US 321 Blowing Rock, NC
Address: 8146 Valley Blvd, Blowing Rock, NC 28605
Price: Lunch from $7.95 Dinner from $9.95

Just off the Blue Ridge Parkway, Sledgehammer Charlie’s, locally owned and operated by Chase Luddeke and his father Chuck,  is one of the newest offerings in Blowing Rock, NC. If you enjoy fresh smoked brisket or pulled pork barbeque,  delicious custom burgers or huge burritos you have to give Sledgehammer Charlie’s a try.

Outside Dining at Sledgehammer Charlie's

Meat lovers can try either the pulled pork or beef brisket specials. The pork is slow smoked for 12 hours. After it comes out of the smoker it is hand pulled and offered with your choice of three homemade sauces. Or try a plate of slow smoked beef brisket. The brisket is dry rubbed and smoked for 12 hours.  Then they slice and serve it with Charlie’s own Brisket Moppin’  Sauce.

The lunch special comes with a generous portion of meat and two freshly prepared sides. Choose from Cole Slaw, baked Beans, smoked corn, Texas toast,  fries, homemade chips or veggie skewers. For two dollars more, the dinner special comes with more meat and three sides.

Pulled Pork Lunch Special

If ribs are your thing, Sledgehammer Charlie’s are rubbed in a secret herb blend, and left to absorb the flavor overnight.  Then they are smoked for hours and slathered with homemade Sledgehammer sauce. A half rack is $14.95  and a full is $19.95.

Sledgehammer Charlie’s rotisserie chicken halves are dry rubbed and left to season overnight. Then they slow-smoke rotisserie the birds until they are tender and juicy.  From the smoker they make their way to the grill, where they are finished off  with homemade Sledgehammer sauce.

Smoked Brisket Lunch Special

There are five custom burgers to choose from including Ole sledge, a 1/2 lb burger, topped with smoked bacon, grilled onions, melted cheddar, and Sledgehammer Sauce served on a hearty bun with lettuce, tomato and pickles; the Purgatory topped with jalapenos, pepper jack cheese, a

touch of our homemade wing sauce and sour cream  served up with fresh lettuce and tomato and the Hawaiian inspired Big Kahuna which is marinated in Jamaican jerk spices and served with spicy mustard, fresh lettuce and topped with juicy grilled pineapple.

You can also design your own burrito with choice of  flour, tomato basil,  spinach or wheat tortillas and fill them up with your choice of chicken, steak, pork, veggies or tofu. They are served with rice, black beans and grilled corn and topped it with queso,  salsa, sour cream and served with a heap of tri-color tortilla chips. There are also several extras you can add such as sun dried tomatoes, roasted red peppers,  jalapenos and feta.

The welcoming atmosphere inside Sledgehammer Charlie's

There are also eleven sandwiches from which to choose, served with a generous portion of Charlie’s chips, from $6.95 to $8.95.

There are no shortcuts at Sledgehammer Charlie’s. Each dish is meticulously  prepped and  prepared. Care is taken to make each serving unique.

To reach Sledgehammer Charlie’s from the Blue Ridge Parkway take the US 321 Blowing Rock exit near milepost 292 and turn toward Blowing Rock.
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Pipestem Resort State Park
By J.D. Dooley

Where: Pipestem Resort State Park, WV
Location: Near Athens WV
Price: $87 (Standard Room) – $182 per night (Executive Suite)

The entrance to Pipestem Resort State Park.

Pipestem Resort State Park near Athens, WV is known as the “Crown Jewel of West Virginia State Parks.” I remember visiting this park as a child and thinking then that it would be a great place revisit. It never occurred to me that it would be 30 some years later and on a motorcycle, not a Ford Fairlane.

There are a number of way to get to Pipestem Resort from Boone, NC. The fastest, about three hours door to door, would be to make your way to I 77 north to Princeton, WV, then 14 miles north to the park for a total of 150 miles. But that’s not how we roll.

Instead, a more inspiring ride is to take Hwy 194 through Todd to West Jefferson, then US 221 to Independence, VA (60 miles). Where you can pickup US 21 north to Wytheville, VA which includes crossing the Jefferson National Forest (30/90 miles). In Wytheville take US 52 north back into the Jefferson National Forest. After 10 very scenic miles you will come to the Big Walker Mountain Lookout (10/97 miles). …

Big Walker Lookout Store

Big Walker Mountain Lookout and Country Store (http://www.scenicbeauty-va.com/) At 3,405 feet, Big Walker Lookout affords one of the most spectacular views of the Virginias. On a clear day climb the 100ft observation tower and you can see five states. This is a good stopping point for lunch. The Country Store offers café fair and snacks.

From Big Walker Lookout continue north on US 52 to Princeton, WV. Some of this, unavoidably, follows I 77 for a few miles (37/137 miles). From Princeton take WV 20 through Athens and Lerona 15 miles to the park entrance (15/153 miles. About 4 hours travel time without stops). As the photo above attests, you can’t miss the entrance.

Aerial Tramway to Mtn Creek Lodge & Restaurant

The park boasts two lodges, 26 fully-equipped vacation rental cabins, an 82-site campground, restaurants and modern conference facilities.

But the highlight of Pipestem is the aerial tramway. The enclosed cars carry you on a six minute ride of 3600 feet along some outstanding scenery to the Bluestone River Gorge and Mountain Creek Lodge and Restaurant below.

McKeever Lodge

My wife, Melissa, and I opted to stay in the McKeever Lodge which has 113 rooms and suites. Some rooms have views of the Bluestone Gorge. The executive suites offer wet bars, King size beds and some have Jacuzzi tubs. The lodge also offers an indoor heated pool, game room, saunas, and exercise room. Wireless access is available throughout the lodge and in most guest rooms. We chose a room with a Gorge view which in prime season go for only $98 a night.

Bluestone Dining Room, the restaurant in the McKeever Lodge, is a full service restaurant. We both enjoyed our meals. I had steak, but then I always have steak.

We played miniature golf ... Guess who won?

Melissa, more the gourmand, had mountain trout. Also on the property is the Black Bear snack bar with burgers, dogs and the like.

Also on the property, and accessible only by the tram, is the 30-room Mountain Creek Lodge. The rooms offer cable TV, telephones and a relaxing view of the Bluestone River.

Also only accessible via the tram, The Mountain Creek is a gourmet restaurant and seats dinner by reservation only. The restaurant offers complimentary continental breakfast for Mt. Creek Lodge guests.

If you are a golfer as well as motorcyclist, there are two golf courses, an 18-hole par 72 championship golf course, designed by Geoffrey Cornish, and a challenging 9-hole par 3 course. In case you’re wondering why I bring that up in a motorcycle story, they offer club rentals so you can combine as motorcycle/golf weekend.

If you are my kind of golfer you will enjoy the miniature golf as well as a variety of other activities including paddle boating, canoeing, fishing, bicycling, horseback riding, hiking, an observation tower, lighted basketball courts, horseshoes and archery.

Enjoying the view from a room at McKeever Lodge

Nightlife is a little limited but there is an outdoor amphitheater offering weekend summer entertainment including music and plays.

For the ride home I like to choose a different route when possible just for the variety. This ride back to Boone encompasses more rural West Virginia before returning to Boone via Tazewell, Marion and Troutdale, VA. I added a leg that goes through Welch, WV. Omitting that leg will shave an hour off the trip.

From Pipestem head back toward Princeton, WV on WV 20 (15 miles). Continue on WV 20 for 10 miles until it intersects with US 52 in Bluewell, WV (10/25 miles). Take US 52 north to Welch, WV (28/53 miles) In Welch take VA 16 South all the way back to Jefferson, NC, (116/169 miles). This route travels through beautiful countryside and passes by Virginia’s Hungry Mother State Park before bisecting the Jefferson National Forest again near Mount Rogers. In Jefferson, NC, NC 194 back to B

oone gets you home. (26/195 miles Approx. 5.5 hours)

Of course you can jump on I 77 at Princeton. From there it’s only 45 miles south to I 81 at Wytheville.

We thoroughly enjoyed Pipestem Resort State Park and felt that, for the money, it is one of the best resort values in he southern Appalachians. And, for motorcyclists, there is no bad way to get there.

The View from McKeever Lodge

Maps

Leg One from Boone, NC to Pipestem Resort State Park


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Leg Two from Pipestem Resort State Park to Boone, NC


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By Tim Hayes

Brakes are a motorcycle component that receive little attention, when the pads are worn out, change them.

There is one major difference between car brakes and cycle brakes; cost. A rebuilt caliper for a typical American car costs between $20 and $30. One can spend between $25 and $50 for a new rotor. The cheapest cycle caliper is $100 and can top $500 on high end sport bikes. There are two types of rotors, solid and floating. Solid rotors are not too bad but floating rotors start at about $300 and go on up. Preventative maintenance can go a long way toward keeping cost down. …

Most manufacturers recommend changing the brake fluid every 2 years. The reason is that brake fluid absorbs moisture. As the moisture content increases steel parts start to rust and aluminum parts corrode causing pitting, which lead to leaks and costly repairs. Personally, I don’t change every 2 years. Look at the brake fluid in the reservoir and if it is milky looking or dark [brake fluid is a translucent tan] it is time to change. The only tool needed is a vacuum pump like Miti-Vac.

Floating rotors can be identified as they have an inner ring connected to the braking surface by buttons. This design allows the brake ring to  flex in relation to the solid part bolted to the hub. The buttons can become dirty due to road grime causing the brake to pulse. Cleaning and lubing the buttons will prevent costly repairs. In the following procedure do not rotate the wheel so as not to get any solvent or lube in contact with the pads. Spray the buttons with aerosol brake cleaner and allow to dry, perhaps 30  minutes. I’ve tried many lubricants and the only one that works is Break Free CLP, which is a gun lube available at any sporting goods store, including Wally World. It

dries to a wax like consistency so does not sling on to the rotor. After applying the lube to the buttons allow 12 hours for it to set up. Then using the brake cleaner and a rag clean the rotor so that no lube reaches the pads.

Another common problem is brake pulsing that is similar to a warped rotor. Before spending $300+ on a new rotor clean the pads. The same grime that causes grief with the buttons can affect the pads. Remove the pads and scrub them with a wire brush and aerosol brake cleaner and re-install them.

If anyone wants to get deeper in to any subject, post on the maintenance forum.

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Tim’s motorcycle life began with a 2 hp Puch MoPed purchased from the Sears catalog. Since that time He’s owned and ridden a variety of  Japanese and European bikes, and currently ride a Moto Guzzi V-11 Sport and a Moto Guzzi Norge.

As a teenager he started working on cars and motorcycles. This has continued as an avocation to this day. Tim does mechanical, and paint and body work and is available to help members with questions they may have.

Several years ago Tim came upon a rider whose bike had been sitting in the rain and he wanted some WD-40 to put on his brake rotors so that they would not rust. He explained that it is not a good idea to grease the brakes, point is, don’t be concerned that a question seems too basic. If I can’t find an answer I’ll find someone that can.

Join Tim on the General Repair & Maintenance Forum

By Tim Hayes

Welcome to the new Blue Ridge Moto Blog Repair and Maintenance forum. From time to time I’ll post something that is of general interest. Jump in and post your comments or start a new thread about any repair or maintenance issue.

We’ll start with the routine oil change. Sounds boring and routine but someone might pick up a piece of useful info. Particulate matter in the oil tends to settle to the bottom of the pan as the oil cools so the oil should be drained when the engine is hot. A short ride of 10 minutes or so is better than letting your bike idle in the garage. Many bikes have a magnet in the center of the drain plug. This serves 2 purposes, it collects any metal in the oil to keep it from re-circulating and enables you to see if the engine is making metal. A small bit of matter on the magnet is not unusual. Wipe it off with your finger then smear it around to see if you see any metal. Too much metal indicates internal wear. Many bikes use a crush washer on the drain plug while some newer bikes use a steel washer with a rubber integral molded seal. It is a good idea to replace the aluminum crush washer. If one is not available reverse the old seal so that a new surface faces the oil pan. Washer deformation occurs on the side joining the pan. If the rubber seal looks okay it is good to go. If there is any fraying of the rubber part replace it.

Most bikes made in the last 25 years use a spin-on type filter so we’ll keep this post to those types. After removing the filter make sure the gasket is on the filter. There have been cases of the gasket sticking to the engine so that when the new filter is installed there are now 2 gaskets; guarranteed leak. If there was any concern about metal on the drain plug the old filter can be cut apart with a hack saw. Spread the filter material out and inspect for metal particles.

Before installing the new filter put a coat of oil on the gasket so that it will not stick to the engine. Once the gasket contacts the surface tighten the filter 3/4 to 1 turn. I’ve run in to one engine, the liquid cooled Suzuki V-twin, that the manual says to tighten 2 turns after contact. I did not follow the instructions. Many years ago I had a filter on a car rupture as soon as the engine was started and dump all the oil out. Not a pretty sight. No engine will develop oil pressure until the new filter is full. If your filter is mounted vertically fill the filter will oil before installing. If this is not possible pull the spark plug wires and spin the engine 5 seconds or so, the filter will now be full and the engine will have full pressure when started.