The need to travel light is obviously the most important factor to consider when faced with the "what kit?" question.
As the first part of my journey is in North America - the land of plenty, I have decided to depart with what I believe to be the basic necessities and to buy anything extra as and when I need it. One area of equipment I have elected to do without is cooking gear, hoping that a combination of eating out and my propensity for raw food will stand me in good stead. Should this on-the-road gastronomy prove unsatisfactory, I will buy myself a small petrol stove and turn my hand to some field based cuisine. My choice of clothing is basically what I wear on the bike here everyday in the UK with added thermal layers for Alaska and lightweight items for the warmer climes.
On the whole, I am trying to keep my kit simple and avoid too many 'handy' gadgets, in the belief that the less stuff you have, the less there is to go wrong.
[The camping equipment must cope with cold climates] The camping equipment must cope with cold climates Camping Equipment
* Lightweight, one-man tent (Terra Nova 'Solar')
* Three-season sleeping bag (Rab 'Ladakh 600')
* Inflatable sleeping mat (Thermarest)
[All the tools have to fit into this small box!] All the tools have to fit into this small box! Tools
* Sockets: 8,10,12,13,14,17,19,22
* Combination spanners: sizes as above
* Mole grips
* 3/8" drive ratchet
* ¼" drive ratchet
* Extension bars
* Spark plug remover
* Bit holder
* Various bits - flat head, cross head, allen head
* Tyre pressure gauge
* Tyre levers
* Multimeter
* Leatherman tool
Bike Related Items
* Puncture repair kit
* Cable repair kit
* Hand pump (mountain bike type)
* 1 gallon jerry can
* Luggage straps
* Bungee straps
* Cable ties
* Disc lock
* Gaffer tape
* WD40
* Oil
* Grease
* Rags
* Manual
Spares
* Spark plug
* Front and rear brake pads
* Front and rear wheel bearings
* Head and tail light bulbs
* Main fuses
* Clutch lever
* Front brake lever
* Ignition key
* Inner tubes
Clothing
* Leather trousers
* Leather jacket
* Leather gloves
* Thermal inner gloves
* One-piece waterproof suit
* Helmet and goggles
* Thermal long johns and t-shirt
* Scarf
* Lightweight trousers
* T-shirts
* Underwear
* Socks
* Leather boots
* Sandals
* Swimming costume
* Shorts
* Sunglasses
* Balaclava
Personal Kit
* Camera, lenses, film and mini tripod
* Head torch
* Maps
* Plastic map case
* Small calculator
* Notebook
* Diary
* Pens
* Address book
* Reading and guide/phrase books
* Swiss army knife
* Compass
* Watch with alarm
* String
* Sewing kit
* Earplugs
* Rubber bands
* Small padlock
* Length of metal rope
* Matches
* Safety pins
Toiletries
* Travel towel
* Soap
* Shampoo (and conditioner!)
* Hairbrush
* Toothbrush
* Toothpaste
* Mirror
* Universal sink plug
* Lip salve
* Sunblock
* Moisturising lotion
First Aid Kit
* Plasters
* Various dressings
* Various bandages
* Micropore tape
* Tweezers
* Antiseptic cream
* Painkillers
* Re-hydration salts
* Multivitamins
* Insect repellant
* Anti-malarial tablets
* Antihistamine tablets
* Rubber gloves (ooh doctor!)
Documentation
* Passport
* Driving licence
* Vehicle registration document
* International driving permit
* International certificate of motor vehicles
* Travel insurance
* Multiple copies of all the above
* Scanned copies of all the above emailed to myself and friends/family
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Monday, September 07, 2009
Thursday, September 03, 2009
From: John Harrison
Subject: [LDRider] the last 24 hours
To: ldrider@ibdone.org
Date: Thursday, September 3, 2009, 10:52 AM
The riders remaining in the event are entering the last 24 hours of the rally.? For most of them, especially the riders trying to get to the top of the standings and the riders that have found themselves struggling to acquire enough points to be a finisher, the last 24 hours will likely be the hardest ride that they have ever experienced.? They will have to dig deep into their energy reserves, their experience, and their souls to find that something that it takes to finish well in this the Iron Butt Rally.?
For those that are out and are not going to be finishers this time, the end of the rally will be difficult in a different sort of way.? Some will have to recover physically, some will have to recover emotionally, and some will have to do both.? But I hope they will rest easy in the knowledge that they gave it their best effort and that they will look forward to giving it another try in the future.???
I am sitting here remembering the last 24 hours of my ride in '01.? The last day of the rally was my 40th birthday.? I could not think of a better birthday present than becoming a finisher of the Iron Butt Rally.? But achieving that was still in serious doubt.? I was coming out of Canada,? about 1500 miles from the finish line in Alabama.? I had a deep cut on my front tire being held together with super glue and my rear tire had no remaining tread and needed to be replaced, both situations were courtesy of the scenic Canadian roads and the famous Alaska Highway.? I was nearly overwhelmed when I realized that I essentially needed to do a BBG on the 11th day of the IBR with trashed tires.? Great.? I had run the numbers on my GPS's and I did not have the time to stop for anything except fuel if I wanted to get back to the finish line on time.? I did not have time to try to find a set of tires.? I did not have time to get them mounted if I could
find them.? But if I could get back to the finish in time, I had enough points for a gold medal finish, so really all I was thinking about was how to make my tires last long enough to get me to the Madison Ramada Inn parking lot.?
As I made the turn south onto I-29, the tail wind turned into a steady cross wind from the west.? I found myself riding with the bike leaned way over into the wind just to maintain a straight line.? I normally hate cross winds, but it occurred to me that not only was I riding on the side of the tire away from the front cut, but I was also leaned over far enough that I was not riding on the worn out center line of the rear tire!? If the cross winds continued and if I stayed on 29 at Fargo and rode south to KC instead of going through Illinois, it would cost me maybe 70 extra miles, but the cross winds from the plains might allow me to ride over half the distance to the finish leaned over, which just might keep me from having to ride on cords, or worse.? I began praying that the cross winds would remain with me for the entire 600 plus mile trip down I-29.? Thankfully, that prayer was answered.? I leaned my K12LT into the cross winds almost the entire
day.? By the time I reached KC, my neck and shoulders were really sore and I was really tired.? But the front tire was holding air and the rear tire was still not showing any cord yet.
The ride from KC to Tennessee that night seemed to last forever.? Even though I did not have enough time, I had to stop a couple of times for a few minutes of rest in order to safely continue.? I won't go in to the depths I sank to, mentally and physically, as the clock ticked down.? But lots of things went through my head.? I thought about the tires as I watched the GPS clock count down my ETA.? How long would they last?? I thought about all the prep I had done for the rally. Was it all for just a DNF? I thought about all the great places I had been, including getting to ride to Alaska for the first time.? What a blessing it had been to get to see all that scenery had been.? I focused on staying alert and feeling for any sign of a tire going soft.? I strained to watch for any road debris that might be waiting to reach up and cut short my quest.? I thought about my family waiting for me at the finish line with my birthday cake.? I thought
about how close I had come to achieving my goals for the rally, but in reality, it did not look like I would make it to the finish in time unless everything fell into place perfectly.
As morning dawned and I approached Nashville, there was an accident that had traffic backed up for miles.? Oh no!? I don't have time for this! I had to find a way around it or I would be time barred.? It took some work to get through it, but soon I found myself south of the Music City with clear sailing.? I would be into the penalty points, but if the tires held, I would finish.? The rally theme song came to mind and I found myself singing 'I can see clearly now, the rain is gone...".? And trust me, the only place I ever need to be singing is inside of a motorcycle helmet at 70 mph.? I found myself double checking to make sure I had the right exit plotted in the GPS, I could not afford to miss it and have to backtrack.? I was both elated and exhausted when I managed to roll into the parking lot of the Ramada with my tires still holding the rims off the pavement and with my time only a little ways into the penalty points.? A bunch of my friends
gathered around me and I remember thinking "don't forget to put the side stand down, don't drop the bike on them".? After getting checked in and scored, I went back to the bike to check the tires.? There was a white strip of cord showing most of the way around the center of the rear tire, with a few threads hanging out.? If I had not had those miserable crosswinds, I don't think I would have made it back.
The baked Alaska that was served by the staff at the finisher's banquet to those of us that went to Alaska was great.? When the points were tallied, I found that I had managed to complete my three goals for the rally: to finish, to get a gold medal, and to get a top 20 placing.? It was the hardest ride I have ever done and the most memorable.? The friends I made during that time remain friends to this day.?
The birthday cake that my wife and boys made for me and brought to the finish line in '01 had a map of the USA on it with a little motorcycle tracking all over the place.? The hugs that came with that cake felt even better than rolling into the Ramada Inn parking lot on worn out tires.? It was a special way to cap off riding my first Iron Butt Rally.
My prayers will be with the '09 riders as they converge on the finish.? I am guessing that some of them may find themselves going through emotions and thoughts similar to what I experienced in the closing hours of the event.? I hope they all make it in safely and achieve the goals that they set for themselves.?
John
IBA#203
Subject: [LDRider] the last 24 hours
To: ldrider@ibdone.org
Date: Thursday, September 3, 2009, 10:52 AM
The riders remaining in the event are entering the last 24 hours of the rally.? For most of them, especially the riders trying to get to the top of the standings and the riders that have found themselves struggling to acquire enough points to be a finisher, the last 24 hours will likely be the hardest ride that they have ever experienced.? They will have to dig deep into their energy reserves, their experience, and their souls to find that something that it takes to finish well in this the Iron Butt Rally.?
For those that are out and are not going to be finishers this time, the end of the rally will be difficult in a different sort of way.? Some will have to recover physically, some will have to recover emotionally, and some will have to do both.? But I hope they will rest easy in the knowledge that they gave it their best effort and that they will look forward to giving it another try in the future.???
I am sitting here remembering the last 24 hours of my ride in '01.? The last day of the rally was my 40th birthday.? I could not think of a better birthday present than becoming a finisher of the Iron Butt Rally.? But achieving that was still in serious doubt.? I was coming out of Canada,? about 1500 miles from the finish line in Alabama.? I had a deep cut on my front tire being held together with super glue and my rear tire had no remaining tread and needed to be replaced, both situations were courtesy of the scenic Canadian roads and the famous Alaska Highway.? I was nearly overwhelmed when I realized that I essentially needed to do a BBG on the 11th day of the IBR with trashed tires.? Great.? I had run the numbers on my GPS's and I did not have the time to stop for anything except fuel if I wanted to get back to the finish line on time.? I did not have time to try to find a set of tires.? I did not have time to get them mounted if I could
find them.? But if I could get back to the finish in time, I had enough points for a gold medal finish, so really all I was thinking about was how to make my tires last long enough to get me to the Madison Ramada Inn parking lot.?
As I made the turn south onto I-29, the tail wind turned into a steady cross wind from the west.? I found myself riding with the bike leaned way over into the wind just to maintain a straight line.? I normally hate cross winds, but it occurred to me that not only was I riding on the side of the tire away from the front cut, but I was also leaned over far enough that I was not riding on the worn out center line of the rear tire!? If the cross winds continued and if I stayed on 29 at Fargo and rode south to KC instead of going through Illinois, it would cost me maybe 70 extra miles, but the cross winds from the plains might allow me to ride over half the distance to the finish leaned over, which just might keep me from having to ride on cords, or worse.? I began praying that the cross winds would remain with me for the entire 600 plus mile trip down I-29.? Thankfully, that prayer was answered.? I leaned my K12LT into the cross winds almost the entire
day.? By the time I reached KC, my neck and shoulders were really sore and I was really tired.? But the front tire was holding air and the rear tire was still not showing any cord yet.
The ride from KC to Tennessee that night seemed to last forever.? Even though I did not have enough time, I had to stop a couple of times for a few minutes of rest in order to safely continue.? I won't go in to the depths I sank to, mentally and physically, as the clock ticked down.? But lots of things went through my head.? I thought about the tires as I watched the GPS clock count down my ETA.? How long would they last?? I thought about all the prep I had done for the rally. Was it all for just a DNF? I thought about all the great places I had been, including getting to ride to Alaska for the first time.? What a blessing it had been to get to see all that scenery had been.? I focused on staying alert and feeling for any sign of a tire going soft.? I strained to watch for any road debris that might be waiting to reach up and cut short my quest.? I thought about my family waiting for me at the finish line with my birthday cake.? I thought
about how close I had come to achieving my goals for the rally, but in reality, it did not look like I would make it to the finish in time unless everything fell into place perfectly.
As morning dawned and I approached Nashville, there was an accident that had traffic backed up for miles.? Oh no!? I don't have time for this! I had to find a way around it or I would be time barred.? It took some work to get through it, but soon I found myself south of the Music City with clear sailing.? I would be into the penalty points, but if the tires held, I would finish.? The rally theme song came to mind and I found myself singing 'I can see clearly now, the rain is gone...".? And trust me, the only place I ever need to be singing is inside of a motorcycle helmet at 70 mph.? I found myself double checking to make sure I had the right exit plotted in the GPS, I could not afford to miss it and have to backtrack.? I was both elated and exhausted when I managed to roll into the parking lot of the Ramada with my tires still holding the rims off the pavement and with my time only a little ways into the penalty points.? A bunch of my friends
gathered around me and I remember thinking "don't forget to put the side stand down, don't drop the bike on them".? After getting checked in and scored, I went back to the bike to check the tires.? There was a white strip of cord showing most of the way around the center of the rear tire, with a few threads hanging out.? If I had not had those miserable crosswinds, I don't think I would have made it back.
The baked Alaska that was served by the staff at the finisher's banquet to those of us that went to Alaska was great.? When the points were tallied, I found that I had managed to complete my three goals for the rally: to finish, to get a gold medal, and to get a top 20 placing.? It was the hardest ride I have ever done and the most memorable.? The friends I made during that time remain friends to this day.?
The birthday cake that my wife and boys made for me and brought to the finish line in '01 had a map of the USA on it with a little motorcycle tracking all over the place.? The hugs that came with that cake felt even better than rolling into the Ramada Inn parking lot on worn out tires.? It was a special way to cap off riding my first Iron Butt Rally.
My prayers will be with the '09 riders as they converge on the finish.? I am guessing that some of them may find themselves going through emotions and thoughts similar to what I experienced in the closing hours of the event.? I hope they all make it in safely and achieve the goals that they set for themselves.?
John
IBA#203
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
I went to the Iron Butt 2009 Checkpoint on Wednesday August 26 Scoring opened at 5 pm
at the Pheasant Run Resort in St Charles Illinois. I left home at 8 am on Wed and got caught in rain 50 miles from St charles. (sometimes heavy) and got there kinda wet. Glad I had a waterproof jacket on. My gloves were soaked and upon taking them off my hands were black from the dye or ink. I then hung around the iron butt people and watched them come in and they had some cool stuff. I took a bunch of pictures. I went to bed around 10 pm and was asleep by 1030pm. I then woke up at 420 am and looked out the hotel room door to a steady rain. I looked at the news on tv and saw it was supposed to rain all day so I decided to head for home and left at 5am.It of course was dark then and I couldnt see very well with the rain. I then was following a car along west 90 and he went up a off ramp and followed him because I was following his tail lamps. That excursion took me 15 miles out of the way as there was no west bound on ramp nearby. I then found my way back to 90 and continued home. I then was making good time and decided to take interstate 94 north when I was getting close to Lacrosse. I had always taken 90 west to rochester but thought this would be cool to try. I think it was a little further but it had waaay better scenery. I would recomend this way for anyone who has a little more time to spare. I posted a few on my flicker acount.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Sunday, August 09, 2009
Sturgis year was a lot of fun this year. My plan was to leave home Thurs July 30,spend the night in Sturgis, Fri am travel 400 miles to Denver, Sat am go on a ride in the moutains that the Denver BMW Club was putting on, then at noon head back to Sturgis, stay one night and go home Sunday Am.
I did leave home on Thursday but upon ariving Thursday night a person where I was staying took me around town and I saw so many changes on the North side of town that I decided to stay there till Sat night and investigate.
(That and I was tired from the 600 mile ride)
The town was about 90 percent setup by Fri night with huge crowds of bikers already there.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Monday, December 31, 2007
Biker Links
Official Website: http://www.motorcyclemonster.com
The Motorcycle Monster is a motorcycle event page designed for Motorcycle enthusiasts. Whether it's motorcycle events, a poker run, Street Bike Gathering, TV, radio, video, or just motorcycle rally information, the Motorcycle Monster will have it all.
Official Website: www.perewitz.com
Dave Perewitz, Da Man - Perewitz has been a major influence in the custom motorcycle industry for 30 years. Dave was hooked on motorcycles in 1967 when he bought his first bike, a 1964 Harley Davidson Sportster.
Official Website: www.raysmcshowworld.comm
Ray’s M/C Show World is the official judging service of Donnie Smith Invitational Bike shows. With over 13 years of experience, Ray Kittel is the premier custom motorcycle show judge in the upper Midwest.
Official Website: www.lichterphoto.com Micheal Lichter Photos, Biker Photos
Official Website: www.dragspecialties.com Drag Specialties, 'nough said!
Official Website: www.bikerschoice.com Biker’s Choice is one of the world’s leading distributors and marketers of name-brand parts, accessories and apparel for the American motorcycle aftermarket.
Official Website: www.kuryakyn.com KuryAkyn Motorcycle Accessories
Official Website: www.houseofkolor.com House of Kolor - Custom Painting
Official Website: www.vipermotorcycle.com New Viper Motorcycle - Top Speed of 150MPH
Official Website: www.salinasboys.com
Salinas Boys - Custom HotRods and HotRod Sleds... Cool stuff
Official Website: www.hotmatchcustomcycles.com
HotMatch Custom Cycles has been around since 1997, but Mat Hotch has been building custom bikes for most of his life. His dream started in a little garage in California where he searches for the Art of Perfection. The best Custom Choppers and parts. Quality isn't cheap... it's priceless.
Official Website: www.DDCustomCycle.com
DD Custom Cycle is where cycle dreams become reality! DD Custom Cycle creates elite custom motorcycles for people who want total riding satisfaction. Dave Dupor - DD Custom Cycle
Official Website: www.paulyaffeoriginals.com
Paul Yaffe Originals (PYO) - This guy really knows his custom bikes and he has some great parts to offer also.
PYO is constantly pushing the envelope when it comes to custom parts for your custom project or Harley-Davidson such as Frames, Sheet Metal, Wheels, Mirrors, License Plate holders and Pipes.
Official Website: www.bourgets.com
Roger Bourget Motorcycles - If ya know Roger ya know he is a speed junkie. If it doesn't burn ass-phalt then it's just not fast enough. Low and long... check out his sleds.
www.choppersinc.com
Choppers Inc. - Billy Lane From the Psycho Billy to the stuff the Chopper’s Inc. hasn’t even started building, we hope that you will see that making top quality machines of signatures style and exceptional skill is what we love, and what we live.
Take a ride on a work of art! It will change your life. They put heart and soul into every bike they build. See what they’re talking about. Check out their site.
Official Website: www.strokersdallas.com
Rick Fairless - Strokers Dallas Rick Fairless and his crew at Strokers Dallas have one of the slickest custom motorcycle shops to be found anywhere. They sell custom Motorcycles, choppers, American Ironhorse, Big Dog Motorcycles, v-twin, big twin, small twin, and provide late model big twin motorcycle service. They are Dallas' largest reseller of factory custom and custom motorcycles.
Official Website: www.youngchoppers.com
Hank Young Choppers - Using our in-house frame jig and our extensive CNC machine shop, we use the latest technology to build the stripped down choppers and hot rods of yesteryear. With quality engineering and attention to detail, you can be assured of a functional and unique piece of automotive artistry."
Official Website: www.mitchbergeroncustoms.com
Mitch Bergeron Customs - Mitch has been building customs for over a decade. He fabricates, chops, and bends metal to his will. He's won many Easyriders shows. Cool stuff from a cool shop.
Official Website: www.kendalljohnsoncustoms.com
Kendall Johnson Customs - Kendall has been pumping H.P. since the early 80s and building one-of-a-kind custom motorcycles for clients all over the United States. As a result, Kendall has become widely known for his reliable big-HP motors."
Official Website: www.exilecycles.com/
Exile Cycles - Russell Mitchell, He's got a clean, lean and tough European styling. He's never built a bike in any color other than black.
Official Website: www.echelonmotorcycles.com
Echelon Motorcycle Company - Fast, cool, low, quality and craftsmanship. It's all there. It's art in performance.
Official Website: www.rookecustoms.com
Jesse Rooke Customs - Jesse started his custom bike business with his first bike, Dina. He has the chops to become world class. Check him out.
Official Website: www.bikerpros.com
Bob Kay, industry motorcycle dude, has started Bikerpros. They market the Roadmax right-side six speed transmissions.
Official Website: Motorcyle Events Website: Click here for MC Events
Official Website: Marketing & Promotions provided by Horsepower Marketing
Providing Internet Promotions, publicity, Website design, multimedia and direct response solutions in the PowerSports, racing, custom manufacturing and Hot Rod industries.
Official Website: http://www.motorcyclemonster.com
The Motorcycle Monster is a motorcycle event page designed for Motorcycle enthusiasts. Whether it's motorcycle events, a poker run, Street Bike Gathering, TV, radio, video, or just motorcycle rally information, the Motorcycle Monster will have it all.
Official Website: www.perewitz.com
Dave Perewitz, Da Man - Perewitz has been a major influence in the custom motorcycle industry for 30 years. Dave was hooked on motorcycles in 1967 when he bought his first bike, a 1964 Harley Davidson Sportster.
Official Website: www.raysmcshowworld.comm
Ray’s M/C Show World is the official judging service of Donnie Smith Invitational Bike shows. With over 13 years of experience, Ray Kittel is the premier custom motorcycle show judge in the upper Midwest.
Official Website: www.lichterphoto.com Micheal Lichter Photos, Biker Photos
Official Website: www.dragspecialties.com Drag Specialties, 'nough said!
Official Website: www.bikerschoice.com Biker’s Choice is one of the world’s leading distributors and marketers of name-brand parts, accessories and apparel for the American motorcycle aftermarket.
Official Website: www.kuryakyn.com KuryAkyn Motorcycle Accessories
Official Website: www.houseofkolor.com House of Kolor - Custom Painting
Official Website: www.vipermotorcycle.com New Viper Motorcycle - Top Speed of 150MPH
Official Website: www.salinasboys.com
Salinas Boys - Custom HotRods and HotRod Sleds... Cool stuff
Official Website: www.hotmatchcustomcycles.com
HotMatch Custom Cycles has been around since 1997, but Mat Hotch has been building custom bikes for most of his life. His dream started in a little garage in California where he searches for the Art of Perfection. The best Custom Choppers and parts. Quality isn't cheap... it's priceless.
Official Website: www.DDCustomCycle.com
DD Custom Cycle is where cycle dreams become reality! DD Custom Cycle creates elite custom motorcycles for people who want total riding satisfaction. Dave Dupor - DD Custom Cycle
Official Website: www.paulyaffeoriginals.com
Paul Yaffe Originals (PYO) - This guy really knows his custom bikes and he has some great parts to offer also.
PYO is constantly pushing the envelope when it comes to custom parts for your custom project or Harley-Davidson such as Frames, Sheet Metal, Wheels, Mirrors, License Plate holders and Pipes.
Official Website: www.bourgets.com
Roger Bourget Motorcycles - If ya know Roger ya know he is a speed junkie. If it doesn't burn ass-phalt then it's just not fast enough. Low and long... check out his sleds.
www.choppersinc.com
Choppers Inc. - Billy Lane From the Psycho Billy to the stuff the Chopper’s Inc. hasn’t even started building, we hope that you will see that making top quality machines of signatures style and exceptional skill is what we love, and what we live.
Take a ride on a work of art! It will change your life. They put heart and soul into every bike they build. See what they’re talking about. Check out their site.
Official Website: www.strokersdallas.com
Rick Fairless - Strokers Dallas Rick Fairless and his crew at Strokers Dallas have one of the slickest custom motorcycle shops to be found anywhere. They sell custom Motorcycles, choppers, American Ironhorse, Big Dog Motorcycles, v-twin, big twin, small twin, and provide late model big twin motorcycle service. They are Dallas' largest reseller of factory custom and custom motorcycles.
Official Website: www.youngchoppers.com
Hank Young Choppers - Using our in-house frame jig and our extensive CNC machine shop, we use the latest technology to build the stripped down choppers and hot rods of yesteryear. With quality engineering and attention to detail, you can be assured of a functional and unique piece of automotive artistry."
Official Website: www.mitchbergeroncustoms.com
Mitch Bergeron Customs - Mitch has been building customs for over a decade. He fabricates, chops, and bends metal to his will. He's won many Easyriders shows. Cool stuff from a cool shop.
Official Website: www.kendalljohnsoncustoms.com
Kendall Johnson Customs - Kendall has been pumping H.P. since the early 80s and building one-of-a-kind custom motorcycles for clients all over the United States. As a result, Kendall has become widely known for his reliable big-HP motors."
Official Website: www.exilecycles.com/
Exile Cycles - Russell Mitchell, He's got a clean, lean and tough European styling. He's never built a bike in any color other than black.
Official Website: www.echelonmotorcycles.com
Echelon Motorcycle Company - Fast, cool, low, quality and craftsmanship. It's all there. It's art in performance.
Official Website: www.rookecustoms.com
Jesse Rooke Customs - Jesse started his custom bike business with his first bike, Dina. He has the chops to become world class. Check him out.
Official Website: www.bikerpros.com
Bob Kay, industry motorcycle dude, has started Bikerpros. They market the Roadmax right-side six speed transmissions.
Official Website: Motorcyle Events Website: Click here for MC Events
Official Website: Marketing & Promotions provided by Horsepower Marketing
Providing Internet Promotions, publicity, Website design, multimedia and direct response solutions in the PowerSports, racing, custom manufacturing and Hot Rod industries.
Saturday, December 02, 2006
Nov. 30, 2006 — It was the shocking story — and unbelievable surveillance video — that riveted the nation. A young McDonald's employee humiliated, forced to strip and then to perform a sexual act in the back office, during her work day.
This horrifying ordeal changed one woman's life forever, and put one man on trial, accused of masterminding a bizarre and elaborate hoax. If convicted, David Stewart faced 15 years in prison on charges ranging from solicitation of sodomy, to impersonating a police officer.
Watch "20/20" Friday at 10 p.m. ET
Louise Ogborn was always willing to take on extra shifts at McDonald's in Mount Washington, Ky. Ogborn's mother had health problems and had recently lost her job, so the 18-year-old did whatever she could to help make ends meet.
On April 9, 2004, Ogborn offered to work through the restaurant's evening rush, trying to be helpful and make a few extra dollars.
"I was just going to eat and then clock back in and help until somebody else came along that could help," she said.
But Ogborn couldn't have known that her noble gesture would turn into a terrifying ordeal that she says will haunt her for the rest of her life.
A Startling Accusation
Ogborn was called into assistant manager Donna Summers' cramped office and told that Summers was on the telephone with a police officer.
"She said, 'Here she is. This is the girl you described,'" said Ogborn. "She told me to shut the door."
Summers told Ogborn that the officer on the phone had their store manager on the other line and that he had described her and accused her of stealing a purse from a customer.
"I was like, 'Donna, I've never done anything wrong,'" Ogborn said. "I could never steal — I could never do anything like that. I don't have it in me."
But inside the back office, which had now become an "interrogation room," Ogborn's protests fell on deaf ears.
"She said, 'Well, they said it was a little girl that looked like you in a McDonald's uniform, so it had to be you.'"
It was Ogborn's word against the accusation of a man claiming to be a cop, and she was given a choice: submit to a search or be escorted to the police station.
Listening to 'the Voice'
Ogborn was told to empty her pockets and surrender her car keys and cell phone, which she did. Then the caller demanded that Summers have Ogborn remove her clothes — even her underwear — leaving her with just a small, dirty apron to cover her naked body.
Summers says she never second-guessed what she was being asked to do, as she firmly believed the person she was talking to was a police officer. Ogborn says she trusted her manager to do what was right.
Because it was a busy Friday night, Summers had to leave the office to check on the restaurant. The man on the phone demanded that another employee be left to watch Ogborn until the police arrived and Summers chose 27-year-old Jason Bradley.
"He [Bradley] takes the phone and they're telling him to have me do certain things and drop the apron," she said. "He wouldn't have any part of it."
Bradley walked out in disgust, leaving Summers with no one to watch Ogborn. Then the caller made an odd request, asking Summers to call her fiancé to have him watch the girl.
Summers says she did as she was told.
"I honestly thought he was a police officer and what I was doing was the right thing," Summers said. "I thought I was doing what I was supposed to be doing."
Surveillance video shows Ogborn broke down in tears.
Two Hours of Torment
Within 15 minutes, Summers' fiancé, Walter Nix, entered the office where Ogborn tugged at the small apron that barely covered her top and exposed her legs up to her buttocks.
Again, Summers says she didn't question the caller and completely trusted her fiancé to be left alone with the girl.
Ogborn says she wanted to run, but that it would have been too humiliating to run through the restaurant naked.
Nix, a 43-year-old exterminator, began following the caller's commands, ordering Ogborn to drop her apron, bend over and stand on a chair.
Then — as ridiculous as it sounds — he told her to do jumping jacks to shake loose anything she might be hiding. Ogborn says that was just the beginning of two more hours of torment.
The demands became more and more bizarre. When Ogborn says that when she failed to address Nix as "sir," the caller tells him to hit her violently on the buttocks over and over. At one point on the video, Ogborn was "spanked" for almost 10 full minutes.
"He told me I was asking too many questions, so he was told to hit me," she said. "I just said, 'Please don't do this.'"
By the end, red welts could be seen on the woman's body.
During it all, Summers periodically came back to the office, and each time, Nix threw the apron at Ogborn, telling her to stay quiet.
"I begged her every time she came in the room," Ogborn said. "'Get me out of here. Please get me out of here."
Ogborn says she even asked the assistant manager to call the police, but each time, she says, Summers told her, "No, we're still waiting for the cop."
Summers denies Ogborn ever asked her to call the police or that the girl pleaded with her.
Ogborn says that after more than three hours of dehumanizing treatment, Nix — again on the instructions of the caller — forced Ogborn to perform a sexual act.
The caller then told Nix to hand the phone back to Summers and instructed her to bring in someone else.
This time, she had Thomas Simms, a 58-year-old maintenance man who worked at the restaurant, get on the phone with the caller, but Simms refused to comply with the caller's strange demands.
"Tom told me, 'This man is asking … for her to drop her apron so I can see her without the apron,'" she recalled. "And I said, 'Do what?'"
Summers frantically called her manager, Lisa Siddons, who the caller claimed had been on the other line all along. But when Siddons answered her phone, she said she'd been sleeping.
It was then that Summers realized, she'd been had.
This horrifying ordeal changed one woman's life forever, and put one man on trial, accused of masterminding a bizarre and elaborate hoax. If convicted, David Stewart faced 15 years in prison on charges ranging from solicitation of sodomy, to impersonating a police officer.
Watch "20/20" Friday at 10 p.m. ET
Louise Ogborn was always willing to take on extra shifts at McDonald's in Mount Washington, Ky. Ogborn's mother had health problems and had recently lost her job, so the 18-year-old did whatever she could to help make ends meet.
On April 9, 2004, Ogborn offered to work through the restaurant's evening rush, trying to be helpful and make a few extra dollars.
"I was just going to eat and then clock back in and help until somebody else came along that could help," she said.
But Ogborn couldn't have known that her noble gesture would turn into a terrifying ordeal that she says will haunt her for the rest of her life.
A Startling Accusation
Ogborn was called into assistant manager Donna Summers' cramped office and told that Summers was on the telephone with a police officer.
"She said, 'Here she is. This is the girl you described,'" said Ogborn. "She told me to shut the door."
Summers told Ogborn that the officer on the phone had their store manager on the other line and that he had described her and accused her of stealing a purse from a customer.
"I was like, 'Donna, I've never done anything wrong,'" Ogborn said. "I could never steal — I could never do anything like that. I don't have it in me."
But inside the back office, which had now become an "interrogation room," Ogborn's protests fell on deaf ears.
"She said, 'Well, they said it was a little girl that looked like you in a McDonald's uniform, so it had to be you.'"
It was Ogborn's word against the accusation of a man claiming to be a cop, and she was given a choice: submit to a search or be escorted to the police station.
Listening to 'the Voice'
Ogborn was told to empty her pockets and surrender her car keys and cell phone, which she did. Then the caller demanded that Summers have Ogborn remove her clothes — even her underwear — leaving her with just a small, dirty apron to cover her naked body.
Summers says she never second-guessed what she was being asked to do, as she firmly believed the person she was talking to was a police officer. Ogborn says she trusted her manager to do what was right.
Because it was a busy Friday night, Summers had to leave the office to check on the restaurant. The man on the phone demanded that another employee be left to watch Ogborn until the police arrived and Summers chose 27-year-old Jason Bradley.
"He [Bradley] takes the phone and they're telling him to have me do certain things and drop the apron," she said. "He wouldn't have any part of it."
Bradley walked out in disgust, leaving Summers with no one to watch Ogborn. Then the caller made an odd request, asking Summers to call her fiancé to have him watch the girl.
Summers says she did as she was told.
"I honestly thought he was a police officer and what I was doing was the right thing," Summers said. "I thought I was doing what I was supposed to be doing."
Surveillance video shows Ogborn broke down in tears.
Two Hours of Torment
Within 15 minutes, Summers' fiancé, Walter Nix, entered the office where Ogborn tugged at the small apron that barely covered her top and exposed her legs up to her buttocks.
Again, Summers says she didn't question the caller and completely trusted her fiancé to be left alone with the girl.
Ogborn says she wanted to run, but that it would have been too humiliating to run through the restaurant naked.
Nix, a 43-year-old exterminator, began following the caller's commands, ordering Ogborn to drop her apron, bend over and stand on a chair.
Then — as ridiculous as it sounds — he told her to do jumping jacks to shake loose anything she might be hiding. Ogborn says that was just the beginning of two more hours of torment.
The demands became more and more bizarre. When Ogborn says that when she failed to address Nix as "sir," the caller tells him to hit her violently on the buttocks over and over. At one point on the video, Ogborn was "spanked" for almost 10 full minutes.
"He told me I was asking too many questions, so he was told to hit me," she said. "I just said, 'Please don't do this.'"
By the end, red welts could be seen on the woman's body.
During it all, Summers periodically came back to the office, and each time, Nix threw the apron at Ogborn, telling her to stay quiet.
"I begged her every time she came in the room," Ogborn said. "'Get me out of here. Please get me out of here."
Ogborn says she even asked the assistant manager to call the police, but each time, she says, Summers told her, "No, we're still waiting for the cop."
Summers denies Ogborn ever asked her to call the police or that the girl pleaded with her.
Ogborn says that after more than three hours of dehumanizing treatment, Nix — again on the instructions of the caller — forced Ogborn to perform a sexual act.
The caller then told Nix to hand the phone back to Summers and instructed her to bring in someone else.
This time, she had Thomas Simms, a 58-year-old maintenance man who worked at the restaurant, get on the phone with the caller, but Simms refused to comply with the caller's strange demands.
"Tom told me, 'This man is asking … for her to drop her apron so I can see her without the apron,'" she recalled. "And I said, 'Do what?'"
Summers frantically called her manager, Lisa Siddons, who the caller claimed had been on the other line all along. But when Siddons answered her phone, she said she'd been sleeping.
It was then that Summers realized, she'd been had.
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Segway
NEW YORK (AP) — Segway Inc. is recalling all 23,500 of the self-balancing scooters it has shipped to date because of a software glitch that can make its wheels unexpectedly reverse direction, causing riders to fall off.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, which is cooperating with Segway on the voluntary recall announced Thursday, said consumers should stop using the vehicles immediately.
Segway has received six reports of problems with the Personal Transporter, resulting in head and wrist injuries. The vehicles were previously known as the Human Transporter.
Segway is offering a free software upgrade that will fix the problem. The upgrades will be done at Segway's 100 dealerships and service centers around the world, according to Segway spokeswoman Carla Vallone, and the company based in Bedford, N.H., will pay to ship the devices to the appropriate center if need be.
It is the second time the scooters, which sell for about $4,000 to $5,500, have been recalled since they first went on sale in 2002. The 2003 recall involved the first 6,000 of the devices sold, and involved a problem that could cause riders to fall off the device when its battery ran out of juice.
Segway Chief Technology Officer Doug Field, who has been involved with the development of the device since its earliest days, said the problem that sparked the latest recall was found while the company was testing its new model. He said a very unusual and specific set of conditions can cause the problem.
The scooter's speed is determined by how far forward the user leans, and if the rider leans too far forward, a "speed limiter" pushes them back to keep the device at its maximum speed of 12.5 mph. The problem happens after the speed limiter tilts back, the rider steps off the device and then gets back on it quickly.
Field said the actions that would cause the problem are of "very low probability, but possible, which then made us go pull every reported accident in the company's history." After the company found the six incidents believed to be related to the problem, it notified the CPSC and got the ball rolling on the recall, Field said.
Field and Segway Chief Executive Jim Norrod would not comment on whether the problem has sparked any lawsuits, and would not give any details of the injuries sustained.
"Any injury is too much to us," said Norrod.
The most famous tumble from a Segway came in 2003, when President Bush tried one out at his family's estate in Maine. The device went down on his first attempt, but Bush stayed on his feet with an awkward hop over the scooter. He quickly got back onboard and was soon cruising around the driveway on the Segway.
NEW YORK (AP) — Segway Inc. is recalling all 23,500 of the self-balancing scooters it has shipped to date because of a software glitch that can make its wheels unexpectedly reverse direction, causing riders to fall off.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, which is cooperating with Segway on the voluntary recall announced Thursday, said consumers should stop using the vehicles immediately.
Segway has received six reports of problems with the Personal Transporter, resulting in head and wrist injuries. The vehicles were previously known as the Human Transporter.
Segway is offering a free software upgrade that will fix the problem. The upgrades will be done at Segway's 100 dealerships and service centers around the world, according to Segway spokeswoman Carla Vallone, and the company based in Bedford, N.H., will pay to ship the devices to the appropriate center if need be.
It is the second time the scooters, which sell for about $4,000 to $5,500, have been recalled since they first went on sale in 2002. The 2003 recall involved the first 6,000 of the devices sold, and involved a problem that could cause riders to fall off the device when its battery ran out of juice.
Segway Chief Technology Officer Doug Field, who has been involved with the development of the device since its earliest days, said the problem that sparked the latest recall was found while the company was testing its new model. He said a very unusual and specific set of conditions can cause the problem.
The scooter's speed is determined by how far forward the user leans, and if the rider leans too far forward, a "speed limiter" pushes them back to keep the device at its maximum speed of 12.5 mph. The problem happens after the speed limiter tilts back, the rider steps off the device and then gets back on it quickly.
Field said the actions that would cause the problem are of "very low probability, but possible, which then made us go pull every reported accident in the company's history." After the company found the six incidents believed to be related to the problem, it notified the CPSC and got the ball rolling on the recall, Field said.
Field and Segway Chief Executive Jim Norrod would not comment on whether the problem has sparked any lawsuits, and would not give any details of the injuries sustained.
"Any injury is too much to us," said Norrod.
The most famous tumble from a Segway came in 2003, when President Bush tried one out at his family's estate in Maine. The device went down on his first attempt, but Bush stayed on his feet with an awkward hop over the scooter. He quickly got back onboard and was soon cruising around the driveway on the Segway.
Air Bags
MARYSVILLE, Ohio (AP) — Jeaneen Parsons' husband steered their motorcycle to the ground seven years ago to avoid hitting a passenger whose cycle went down on a twisting mountain road in Kentucky.
The couple emerged from the accident with a few road burns and frazzled nerves. The passenger's leg was shattered.
Marifran Mattson lost part of her left leg when the motorcycle she was on was struck by a semitrailer in 2004 near Crawfordsville, Ind.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was seriously injured June 12 when a car turned into the path of his motorcycle June 12. Roethlisberger, who wasn't wearing a helmet, suffered a concussion, broken nose and jaw and damaged teeth.
As cyclist injuries and deaths increase, motorcycle makers are installing more safety features — making greater use of antilock brakes and adding air bags while stressing safe-rider education and use of helmets.
Some people wonder how effective air bags will be, how much of a market exists, and how much they would save cycle owners on insurance.
Honda Motor Co. added air bags in June to its fully loaded Gold Wing, an 860-pound touring bike designed for distance driving in comfort and made near this central Ohio city.
Yamaha Motor Corp., with U.S. headquarters in Cypress, Calif., is developing an air bag system and is using a scooter with air bags for research in Japan, according to the company's Web site.
"The motorcycle manufacturers are engaging in a lot of R&D in the area of — some would call it safety, some would call it risk management," said Tom Lindsay, spokesman for the Pickerington, Ohio-based American Motorcyclist Association. "It's part of a trend."
The motorcycle industry posted $7.6 billion in sales of 725,000 on-highway bikes in 2004, up from about $4.7 billion and 471,000 bikes sold four years earlier.
Motorcycles accounted for 2 percent of all registered vehicles in 2004 but made up 9.4 percent of all highway deaths, nearly double the 5 percent in 1997, according to government statistics.
Honda's air bag system consists of crash sensors attached to the front fork of the motorcycle. The sensors detect rapid deceleration and send the information to a small on-board computer, which determines whether a crash is occurring.
The computer sends a signal to an inflator, which releases nitrogen gas to deploy the air bag, packed into a dashboard-like module in front of the driver. The process takes a fraction of a second.
The system is designed to keep the driver's body from hitting whatever the motorcycle hit and reduce the chances of the driver being thrown over the handlebars. It is not designed to protect from side or rear impacts or to protect passengers.
Honda began working on its air bag system in 1990 after determining that more than half of the motorcycle accidents that result in deaths or injuries occur when the front of the motorcycle strikes another vehicle or object.
Honda won't say how many air bag-equipped Gold Wings it plans to produce by the time the 2006 model year ends in late September, other than it will be a limited number. Last year, the 600 workers at the plant produced 60,524 motorcycles, including Gold Wings.
Parsons, 45, of Dayton, favors the idea of air bags and doesn't shrink at the added cost — about $1,500 on a $24,000 Gold Wing.
Mattson, associate professor of communications at Purdue University, where she is spearheading a motorcycle-safety campaign, also applauds Honda but said the air bags wouldn't help in many crashes, including the one she was in. And she worries that the air bags might cause riders to dispense with wearing helmets.
"I'm concerned this might send a false sense of security," she said.
Honda officials acknowledge that some people are going to question whether motorcycle air bags will be effective.
"But we've seen so many test videos — you become a believer," said Jan Gansheimer, senior manager of Honda's manufacturing/planning group.
Honda's air bag system has been tested with crash-test dummies and in one case with a human to see what would happen if an air bag deployed accidentally. Honda officials said the air bag didn't knock the driver backward or injure him, affect his field of vision or impact his travel down the highway.
Bob Hartwig, chief economist for the New York City-based Insurance Information Institute, said the insurance benefits of having motorcycle air bags probably would be small because the devices protect only the driver and only in frontal crashes. Air bags in cars protect drivers and passengers in front and side crashes.
Hartwig also said motorcyclists who buy air bag-equipped bikes are probably safer drivers and less likely to be involved in crashes.
Safety has also gone beyond air bags and helmets. Worldwide Riders, a Cheyenne, Wyo.-based motorcycle accessories company, sells vests with protective bladders that inflate as riders are being ejected from their motorcycles.
Harley-Davidson Motor Co., based in Milwaukee, emphasizes training and driver education. The company began opening motorcyling academies in 2000 to train new and experienced riders. About 90,000 riders have taken courses at the schools, which operate in more than 30 states.
Jake Balzer, an analyst with Guzman & Company, an investment banking firm, said there may be somewhat of a market for air bag-equipped motorcycles, but questioned whether Honda will sell that many unless states require motorcycles to have the devices.
"A lot of people riding motorcycles don't even want to wear helmets," he said. "I don't see them going out and spending the extra money to put air bags on their motorcycles."
Tim Buche, president of the Motorcycle Industry Council, said many motorcyclists love new features and will be attracted to air bags.
But he said the market will determine whether the idea will spread.
"If air bags are going to be successful, they are going to be available on other motorcycles," he said. "It remains to be seen."
MARYSVILLE, Ohio (AP) — Jeaneen Parsons' husband steered their motorcycle to the ground seven years ago to avoid hitting a passenger whose cycle went down on a twisting mountain road in Kentucky.
The couple emerged from the accident with a few road burns and frazzled nerves. The passenger's leg was shattered.
Marifran Mattson lost part of her left leg when the motorcycle she was on was struck by a semitrailer in 2004 near Crawfordsville, Ind.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was seriously injured June 12 when a car turned into the path of his motorcycle June 12. Roethlisberger, who wasn't wearing a helmet, suffered a concussion, broken nose and jaw and damaged teeth.
As cyclist injuries and deaths increase, motorcycle makers are installing more safety features — making greater use of antilock brakes and adding air bags while stressing safe-rider education and use of helmets.
Some people wonder how effective air bags will be, how much of a market exists, and how much they would save cycle owners on insurance.
Honda Motor Co. added air bags in June to its fully loaded Gold Wing, an 860-pound touring bike designed for distance driving in comfort and made near this central Ohio city.
Yamaha Motor Corp., with U.S. headquarters in Cypress, Calif., is developing an air bag system and is using a scooter with air bags for research in Japan, according to the company's Web site.
"The motorcycle manufacturers are engaging in a lot of R&D in the area of — some would call it safety, some would call it risk management," said Tom Lindsay, spokesman for the Pickerington, Ohio-based American Motorcyclist Association. "It's part of a trend."
The motorcycle industry posted $7.6 billion in sales of 725,000 on-highway bikes in 2004, up from about $4.7 billion and 471,000 bikes sold four years earlier.
Motorcycles accounted for 2 percent of all registered vehicles in 2004 but made up 9.4 percent of all highway deaths, nearly double the 5 percent in 1997, according to government statistics.
Honda's air bag system consists of crash sensors attached to the front fork of the motorcycle. The sensors detect rapid deceleration and send the information to a small on-board computer, which determines whether a crash is occurring.
The computer sends a signal to an inflator, which releases nitrogen gas to deploy the air bag, packed into a dashboard-like module in front of the driver. The process takes a fraction of a second.
The system is designed to keep the driver's body from hitting whatever the motorcycle hit and reduce the chances of the driver being thrown over the handlebars. It is not designed to protect from side or rear impacts or to protect passengers.
Honda began working on its air bag system in 1990 after determining that more than half of the motorcycle accidents that result in deaths or injuries occur when the front of the motorcycle strikes another vehicle or object.
Honda won't say how many air bag-equipped Gold Wings it plans to produce by the time the 2006 model year ends in late September, other than it will be a limited number. Last year, the 600 workers at the plant produced 60,524 motorcycles, including Gold Wings.
Parsons, 45, of Dayton, favors the idea of air bags and doesn't shrink at the added cost — about $1,500 on a $24,000 Gold Wing.
Mattson, associate professor of communications at Purdue University, where she is spearheading a motorcycle-safety campaign, also applauds Honda but said the air bags wouldn't help in many crashes, including the one she was in. And she worries that the air bags might cause riders to dispense with wearing helmets.
"I'm concerned this might send a false sense of security," she said.
Honda officials acknowledge that some people are going to question whether motorcycle air bags will be effective.
"But we've seen so many test videos — you become a believer," said Jan Gansheimer, senior manager of Honda's manufacturing/planning group.
Honda's air bag system has been tested with crash-test dummies and in one case with a human to see what would happen if an air bag deployed accidentally. Honda officials said the air bag didn't knock the driver backward or injure him, affect his field of vision or impact his travel down the highway.
Bob Hartwig, chief economist for the New York City-based Insurance Information Institute, said the insurance benefits of having motorcycle air bags probably would be small because the devices protect only the driver and only in frontal crashes. Air bags in cars protect drivers and passengers in front and side crashes.
Hartwig also said motorcyclists who buy air bag-equipped bikes are probably safer drivers and less likely to be involved in crashes.
Safety has also gone beyond air bags and helmets. Worldwide Riders, a Cheyenne, Wyo.-based motorcycle accessories company, sells vests with protective bladders that inflate as riders are being ejected from their motorcycles.
Harley-Davidson Motor Co., based in Milwaukee, emphasizes training and driver education. The company began opening motorcyling academies in 2000 to train new and experienced riders. About 90,000 riders have taken courses at the schools, which operate in more than 30 states.
Jake Balzer, an analyst with Guzman & Company, an investment banking firm, said there may be somewhat of a market for air bag-equipped motorcycles, but questioned whether Honda will sell that many unless states require motorcycles to have the devices.
"A lot of people riding motorcycles don't even want to wear helmets," he said. "I don't see them going out and spending the extra money to put air bags on their motorcycles."
Tim Buche, president of the Motorcycle Industry Council, said many motorcyclists love new features and will be attracted to air bags.
But he said the market will determine whether the idea will spread.
"If air bags are going to be successful, they are going to be available on other motorcycles," he said. "It remains to be seen."
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