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Vol. 3 - Issue 8
| August 2012
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I. Team Ride West members...WIN!
Every spring the Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) puts on a promotion designed to "rev up" riders across the country. The cost of entry is providing your e-mail address, which presumably gets you ads from motorcycle product companies. As a dealership employee, I am ineligible to enter, so I do not know how much of a boon or hassle this is.
In any case, Team Ride West is doing very well with this promotion. In the spring, I put out the word, put a up a poster or two, deal out entry cards at our dinners, etc. In 2011, Harvey Gilkerson won $250 worth of assorted products, and for 2012, Team Ride West member, Tony Basile has been notified that he has won a Tour Master Flex Series 3 jacket! Two for two is not bad!
Hope we can keep out a win streak alive next year!
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II. What You Missed - The Summer Bike Swap!
We had our second customer bike swap event of the year, July 13th and 14th, and it was a terrific success. Thanks to all who provided, purchased, and sold bikes during the event. Check out the photos below!
 
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III. Picture Perfect
Paul Fison's BMW K 1600 GT - appropriately "farkled"
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Content Editor: Dave Preston Production Editor: Allison Joy Almario |
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IV. Team Ride West Events
**Please check the website frequently for changes.
August
8/1-5, Wed-Sun - Rally In the Gorge, Stevenson, WA
8/4, Sat - Team Ride West ride, 9:00am, Ride West BMW
8/5, Sun - DEMO RIDE #5, 10:00am, Ride West BMW
8/10, Fri - 2Fast Track Day, 7:30am, Pacific Raceways
8/11, Sat - Teach McNeil BMW Stunt Show, South Sound BMW
8/10-12, Fri-Sun - Riders for Health Scavenger Hunt, Brinnon, WA
8-20-24, M-F - Sound Rider Sasquatch Ride
8/21 Tu, 2Fast Track Day, The Ridge - We'll be there!
8/21 Tu, Team Ride West Dinner, 6:30pm, Cafe Veloce
8/24-26, Motorcycles and VME, Lemay Museum
Fri, 8/24 - Welcome Reception, Cash Bar, 4pm-7pm
Sat, 8/25 - Concours & Music Festival 8am-9pm
Sun, 8/26 - Ride to Rainier Motorcycle ride with VME, 9am
8/24-26, Fri-Sun, Hoh Rain Forest Ride with AltRider
8/25, Sat, PSS Maintenance Class #1, 9am, Ride West BMW
8/31, Fri, 2Fast Track Day, 7:30am, The Ridge
September
9/8, Sat, Team Ride West Ride, 9am, Bellingham
9/15, Sat, PSS Maintenance Class #1, 9am, Ride West BMW
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V. A Rider's Journey - Chennai to Seattle to Leavenworth and then..
Meet Anand Namasivayam. Anand was raised in India, and started his riding 'career' in 1992 on a Hero Honda 100cc bike his father let him try. Unused to motorcycles but eager to learn, he revved the little engine and then let the clutch go. His first ten feet of motorcycling involved an entirely unintended wheelie!
In the past two years Anand has become a very active member of Team Ride West. He has gone on several Team Ride West rides and the Demo Rides as he gains experience with bigger bikes and learns exactly what kinds of bikes he likes. He currently owns a 2009 BMW K 1300S in lava metallic orange and a 2010 BMW F 800GS, also in lava metallic orange.
**Please continue to read more of Anand's amazing journey by clicking on the link below.
READ MORE.. of Anand's Journey | View Photos of Anand's Journey
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VI. You, Me, You Tube, We... Etc.
We have our own Team Ride West web site page on the Ride West site. There you'll find lots of information, links to ride videos and slide shows from past adventures.
Check our new video of the 2Fast Track Days 2012!
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VII. HOH, HOH, HOH...In August
 Ready to Ride? AltRider's 2nd Annual Hoh Rainforest Ride Join AltRider for the 2nd annual Hoh Rainforest Ride at the epicenter of Washington State's Olympic peninsula on August 24-26. Prepare to be enchanted as you ride through the moss covered forests while catching glances of the beautiful vistas as you zip past them on various terrains.
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VIII. Dinner at Cafe Veloce
We enjoy a fine time and great food at Café Veloce for our club monthly dinners. "Our" night is the 3rd Tuesday of each month. Most people arrive between 6:00 and 6:15pm, and by 6:30pm we have looked at each others bikes sufficiently to sit down to order food. We're in the "club" room in inclement weather and out on the deck when the sun shines.
This month's TEAM RIDE WEST CLUB DINNER will be on Tuesday, August 21st.
Cafe Veloce is located in the Totem Lake mall area north of Kirkland and south of the Bothell/Woodinville I-405 exits.
Directions to Cafe Veloce:
- Heading north on I-405 take exit 20B (NE 124th St) and then the ramp to Totem Lake Blvd. You will go through the traffic light to 120th Ave and Café Veloce is to the right just past the auto parts store.
- Heading south on I-405 take exit 20 (NE 124th St) and turn left on NE 124th Street. You will go through two traffic lights and then take a left on Totem Lake Blvd. Into the right lane, and right at 120th Ave to the restaurant.
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IX. The Ride West Difference
Say you're chatting with friends about the varied events and rides you're enjoying with Team Ride West. Say further that these friends ask you, "What makes Ride West different?" Here are concepts we would thank you for putting across - the "Magnificent Seven."
1. With Team Ride West, more rides, dinners, and events than anyone else.
2. More in-store sales, swap meets, seminars, classes, etc. than anyone else.
3. Ability to purchase insurance for your bike, home, and auto - all in-house.
4. More demo bikes, and longer demo rides, than any other dealer.
5. New for this year - our track school and track day support program.
6. Service Department capable and happy to work on any brand.
7. Wide assortment of used bikes of all brands.
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X. Team Ride West Concept Ride Procedures
Team Ride West rides are referred to as "concept rides" because route and destination changes may evolve during the day depending on the wishes of those on the ride, the weather, and events of interest we may find along the way. The initial route directions will be sent out by e-mail a few days prior to the ride, but it is not required that everyone on the ride follow the same route or reach the same destination!
Here are the guidelines that we follow:
- Arrive at the start of the ride (usually Ride West BMW) with a full tank of fuel and funds for fuel, food, and other expenses during the day.
- Sign in and receive the printed instructions if needed. (Pause - if you do not have both a motorcycle endorsement on your license and insurance on your motorcycle, we ask that you wait until you do to ride with us.)
- Be VERY careful as we turn out of the Ride West parking lot onto 16th. Cars can and sometimes do turn left from Lake City Way onto 16th - potentially at a lethal speed.
- Once on the ride, find a group to ride with of 3 to 5 bikes - based on friends, model, experience, style of riding, and/or desired pace.
- Allow LOTS of space around you - front, side, and rear. Do not "tailgate."
- At major intersections that involve a turn, make sure the person behind you (in your group) has seen the turn before you accelerate away.
- RIDE AT YOUR OWN PACE - always.
- Pass on the left - well over the centerline. Do not pass on the right - EVER, under any circumstances barring dire emergency.
- Use hand/foot signals as needed. There's no required guide to these.
- On the way home, once past the final group fuel stop, it's every person for him/her self. You may drop off at your exit or street without the need to let the entire group know - but mentioning your intent at the final stop is a nice gesture.
- Other groups of motorcycles? - pass them very carefully with lots of room.
- For groups larger than 15 bikes or so, we will expect people to take some responsibility for following the route directions and/or others in the group, or for finding their own route. This rule is called "YOYOMF" for "You're On Your Own My Friend." Kudos to Bill Hucks for coming up with the phrase, although his version is just a bit more colorful.
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XI. Pithy Words to Ride By...
"Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, and me, riding a dual sport...chose both of them!"
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