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Oakland Police Dept. Drill Team Returns to Redding
The Oakland Police Dept. Drill Team will be back to perform at this year's Big Bike Weekend. The drill team is comprised of officers from the Oakland Police Department's Traffic Division, and their performance is made up of many routines that have been around since the Drill Team was formed in the early 1940s. These are the same motorcycles they ride during their regular tour of duty. You can see them perform on Friday and Saturday on the main driveway at the Convention Center.
The Oakland PD will be joining the Redding Police Dept. and other competing motor officers for the Green Light Escorted Remembrance Ride. Prior to departure, we will hold the Public Service Memorial as we honor those in public service including Oakland's Sgt. Mark Dunakin. Details on the ride route will be forthcoming.
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Taylor Motors is proud to be a sponsor of Big Bike Weekend! Right now the Taylor family is offering special values on previously owned vehicles, including most major brands, each one covered by either the remainder of the original factory warranty or the exclusive Taylor Motors 12 month/12,000 Service Protection Plan. |
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Clint Ewing Makes First Appearance at this Year's Big Bike Weekend
Clint Ewing will be stunting on the main driveway during this year's event. Clint successfully completed the longest motorcycle ride through a tunnel of fire that measured 60.96 m (200 ft) long at Universal City, Los Angeles, on January 27, 2008. The record was attempted for the NBC TV Special "Guinness World Records Live -The Top 100."
Clint rides rides a Honda 2009 CBR 600rr. He'll be performing three times on Saturday. Clint will be stunting at popular motorcycle rallies in Sturgis and Las Vegas, at NHRA events and the Canada Stunt Competition in Vancouver. Clint will be performing three times on Saturday. |
That's a Speed Trap
By Monty Hight, Retired CHP Officer
The other day, I stopped in at the Redding Area CHP office to shoot the bull with the boys and in these sessions, high boots are a necessity. Anyway, the issue of speed traps came up. I am told that on a regular basis, citizens call in and complain that when the airplane is working speed enforcement that is what the citizen believes to be a speed trap. As many of you may or may not be aware of, speed traps are unlawful here in California.
Here is what the California Vehicle Code states regarding speed traps;A"speed trap" is either of the following:
(1) A particular section of a highway measured as to distance and with boundaries marked, designated, or otherwise determined in order that the speed of a vehicle may be calculated by securing the time it takes the vehicle to travel the known distance. (2) A particular section of a highway with a prima facie speedlimit that is provided by this code or by local ordinance, if that prima facie speed limit is not justified by an engineering and traffic survey conducted within five years prior to the date of the alleged violation, and enforcement of the speed limit involves the use of radar or any other electronic device that measures the speed of moving objects. This paragraph does not apply to a local street, road, or school zone. So what does this really mean? The first section is talking about an officer having measured out a specific distance, let's say ¼ mile. The officer then sits back off the roadway in a location where he can observe the vehicle as it passes the first mark of the distance, it may be a tree, billboard, milepost marker or cardboard box. The officer then starts his stop watch and times the vehicle as it travels between that mark and his second location which is marked in a similar way. Once the vehicle passes the second mark, he checks his stop watch and if the vehicle is traveling at a certain number of seconds, he has calculated the vehicles speed through those two points. The officer than enters the freeway and makes an enforcement contact. Where the confusion lays with this concept, is that the aircraft is determining its ground speed with time and distance as the aircraft is pacing a vehicle. There are markings laid out on the freeway that are visible from the air. Generally they are stenciled wide white lines or an airplane on the shoulder of the roadway and they are exactly one half mile or one mile apart. These are land marks that the pilot uses to determine the ground speed of the aircraft. To confirm the vehicle's speed, the aircraft is positioned to the right rear of the suspected vehicle. The power is then adjusted to enable the aircraft to either stay an equal distance behind the suspected vehicle or allow the vehicle to pull away from the aircraft slightly. To compensate for any head or tail winds, the true ground speed of the aircraft is determined by computing the length of time it took the aircraft to pass between the previously discussed fixed distance markers at one half or one mile intervals. After being satisfied that the aircraft stayed even with or allowed the suspected vehicle to pull away slightly, the ground speed of the aircraft was determined to be even with or slower than the speed of the suspected vehicle. The time and distance formula is to determine the aircraft's speed. In essence, the airplane is pacing the vehicle, in the same fashion that a patrol vehicle paces a vehicle. The pilot then contacts the ground unit and you get to meet one of California's finest. The second section is basically stating that law enforcement can not go out on some roadway, let's say that has a 55 m.p.h. speed limit and post a 35 m.p.h. speed limit sign and start issuing citations while the officer is using radar to those folks who are just passing through, without having that same stretch of roadway properly surveyed and engineered and basically justify to the court why the speed limit should now be 35 m.p.h. when it had been 55 m.p.h. This concept of measuring a vehicles speed by time and distance is by definition a "speed trap" and is currently unlawful in California. There are several of our neighboring states where this practice is lawful. Arizona has photo enforcement for speeding violators which is exactly this same concept. Just to clear up how I know so much about measuring a vehicle's speed between the cardboard box and dead cat in the roadway, back in the early 70's, pre-CHP times, I was in the Air Force and that's how we did it in Nebraska. I would never have considered stooping to something like that here in California. I can already hear several of you from here saying 'yeah right'. So while you are out checking out the shoulders of the freeway for cardboard boxes, please remember to just go out and enjoy the ride. I would like to thank the officers with the Northern Division Air Operations unit for their assistance with the article. |
Big Bike Weekend sponsor Redding Yamaha Seadoo will be holding their annual River Run on June 27. Be sure to mark it on your calendar and register early.
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AMA News
Department of Interior releases 383 pages related to potential lockdown of 13 million acres of public land.
The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) is calling for full disclosure on current National Monument designations that could affect as many as 13 million acres throughout the West. This follows the limited release by the Department of Interior of only 383 out of more than 2,000 pages of internal documentation related to the consideration.
On May 5, a markup in the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources could have forced H.Res. 1254, which would require full disclosure, to the House floor. However, despite bi-partisan support, a motion to favorably report the measure was not agreed to by a vote of 20 yeas to 22 nays. In a separate motion, a voice vote agreed to report H.Res. 1254 without recommendation. That means the decision to bring the resolution to the House floor rests with Committee Chairman Nick J. Rahall II (D-W.Va.) and House leadership.
At the heart of the issue are numerous potential National Monument designations, which would make it easier to close the affected 13 million acres to responsible off-road motorized recreation. The current effort draws on authority provided by the Antiquities Act of 1906, which allows the President to exercise executive privilege to unilaterally designate national monuments without input from local officials and residents, or their congressional representatives.
"It is troubling that the Department of Interior has not released the full draft document for the public to review and consider," said AMA Vice President for Government Relations Ed Moreland. "We are eager to understand the full scope of the document and the rationale for seeking these designations, and we will continue to ask for full disclosure on this matter."
U.S. Rep. Rob Bishop (R-Utah) also called for the Department of Interior to release all documentation behind the move.
"By refusing to turn over thousands of pages of documents to Congress about this administration's potential plans to lock up millions of acres of lands, they have destroyed any remaining illusions about being transparent," said Rep. Bishop, who serves as chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus. "If the DOI has nothing to hide on this issue, then why not hand over 100 percent of the documents to once and for all prove to the American people that they are not planning a massive land grab out West?..."
AMA Members and other concerned motorcyclists and off-highway vehicle enthusiasts can follow developments on this issue at AmericanMotorcyclist.com. |
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BBW Update
Updates are ongoing to the site and we will be opening online registration in June. New features to the website will include the list of vendors who will be at this year's event, and site maps of the Convention Center layout.
Registrants will have four opportuities to win money at this year's event. Friday will be a poker walk and Saturday and Sunday we will have poker runs. You don't need to go on a poker run to win money ... we will again offer the activity card for those wishing to go on a guided ride or attend some of the clinics. Registration will be $30 for basic registration which will include your t-shirt, pin, poker runs/walk, activity card, and parking. In addition, we will again be offering a bike show competition and bike games for registrants. The Green Light/Remembrance Ride and VIP dinner at Win-River Casino will be offered for an additional charge.
This year's dates are October 8-10. On Friday and Saturday nights outdoor vendors will stay open until 7:00 p.m. Hours will be Fri from Noon-7:00 p.m. with the Green Light Remembrance Ride leaving at 6:15 p.m. Sat will be from 9:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. and Sunday will be 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
Please support all of the very generous sponsors of Big Bike Weekend who make this event possible. |
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Bringing Body & Bike Together
One of the biggest barriers for riders is the feeling that the size, weight and /or ergonomics of motorcycles are not working for them.
Following are five signs of a poor fit:
- Back pain- the seat, foot position, handlebar or a combination of the three may be at fault. Your motorcycle shop may be able to correctly evaluate your riding position and adjust those three components until you've arrived at the right combination.
- Balancing on your toes- being unable to plant your feet solidly on the ground when stopped can be a safety hazard, and it can leave you feeling like you don't have total control of the motorcycle. A lower center of mass strengthens your ability to control the motorcycle. To achieve this, lower both the seat height and suspension.
- Knees too high- a cramped riding position puts unnecessary strain on your knees, hips, feet and back. Try adjusting your foot position. Test some seats that move you forward or backward until you find the most comfortable position.
- Tired hands- a grip diameter that doesn't match the size of your hands can be very tiring, particularly on long rides. Choose a grip you can hold easily and firmly.
- Overextended reach-your shoulders, neck, arms and back all can be adversely affected by stretching too far to reach the handlebar. Also, it can make it tough to handle a bike properly in tight spaces. To correct this problem, consider a seat and handlebar combination that enables you to sit closer to the hand controls. Taller riders can just work the process in reverse, moving farther back from the controls.
A good fit is essential to great motorcycling. It impacts your safety, improves comfort and handling and generally enhances the pleasure of riding. Size, weight and gender shouldn't be a barrier to developing a great ride. |
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Ace High Leathers
Nanci Rogers from Montague California is owner of Ace High Leathers and she has seen a huge shift in her business since she started it 5 years ago. Her customer base has shifted from predominantly women to men and women alike. Two things which both riders and passengers have in common is the question of how to find apparel that fits you correctly and more importantly how to figure out just where a seat is causing you grief.
By first experimenting with her own apparel and seats, Nanci has been studying and learning about seats and why they can be so uncomfortable. In 2009 Nanci learned about a revolutionary high quality insert which is widely used in the transportation and medical industry; Pro Pad Inc. She was so taken by the product and the possibilities it presents to riders and passengers that she applied and became their Pro Pad dealer located for the most northern area of the state. Since then she has educated many riders by "getting them to think more about how where their seats hurt them not how to get a way from the pain", says Nanci "Once I talk with them about the position they are gradually moving into while riding they can then start figuring out just where the problem is. Together we can narrow down the areas that need to be changed and reshaped."
As for apparel, Nanci has found that often customers will come to her asking for alterations because the chaps just don't fit right only to receive a basic education about how you can adjust a pair of chaps to fit their shape without an alteration. She also caters to the large majority of riders who as she says "are no longer the same shape we were in when we were 30". Nanci always gets a laugh when she starts chiding her customers about how their shapes have shifted like luggage on a plane, nothing is in the same place where it started. Ace High Leathers will be holding two clinic at this year's Big Bike Weekend. The apparel clinic will be held on Friday and seat clinic will be held on Saturday. Nanci encourages anyone wishing to receiving advice on their apparel or seats to contact her before BBW as Nanci and her crew will be very busy during that weekend. Visit her website at Ace High Leathers or call her directly at 530-905-0505. |
Helmet Safety
Did you check your helmet in April for national Check Your Helmet month? If not, you may want to do it now. Your brain is the most important part on your bike.
Helmets look tough and durable, but they do have to be handled with care and they do need to be replaced periodically. There are a few rules to stick to if you're wondering if it is time to replace your helmet or not:
1. If a helmet has not been damaged, it needs to be replaced every 3-5 years depending on use. Over time, UV rays, adhesive and component aging will reduce the effectiveness of the protective qualities of the helmet.
2. If a helmet has been dropped it needs to be replaced right away. Remember a helmet is designed for ONE impact-even a small one. An impact may fracture the outer shell or compress the impact absorbing liner even though damage may not be visible.
There are also other factors that can degrade the quality of your helmet. If a helmet is stored around insect repellant, gasoline, cleaning fluids, exhaust fumes or excessive heat any or all of these factors can result in the degradation of helmet materials and protective components though the damage may not be visible. |
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