JackFlash

This is a plea to any of you that are teetering on the fence about coming to Newark today for Dream Ride 2012. It's sunny outside with not a mention of rain in the forcast. Today Sunny, with a high near 57. West wind 7 to 10 mph. It's time to get up, suit up, boot up, saddle up, and come on down to 1058 East Main St. in Newark. Meet up has been moved to 12:30 pm, so you still have time to ride in and say hi to everyone. It's "t" minus two hours and counting. Don't be left out and wish later that you had at least come for the meet and greet. I'm not sure if the Dream Ride is officially still on due to the previous weather outlook but the meet up seems to be, and the weather is looking a lot better than thought two days ago, with the sun shining brightly and hardly a cloud in the sky as I look out the window right now. I'm hoping this is a day I'll be happy about taking a day off of work for. Bring a camera and a smile. I'll be looking forward to meeting as many of you as I can. Stop me and say hi. I'm on a black and silver/grey Suzuki GS 500F with saddle bags. See you there. ~ JackFlash :biker:

I'd settle for a replicator. In Star Trek a replicator is a machine capable of creating (and recycling) objects. Replicators were originally seen used to synthesize meals on demand, but in later series they took on many other uses. I'd like a pizza replicated right now unless someone can beam one over. Don't forget the mushrooms.

I didn't see the gravel by-pass around the "bridge out" on Brownsville Rd., just south of Rt 16. No worries. I just discovered the by-pass today when I went for a nice little 40 mile ride after work. Maybe the two young trigger happy cops I saw on East Main, standing outside their vehicles with something in their hand that looked to me like a radar gun when they pointed it westward towards east bound traffic was something different. I've been wrong before. I remember the bridge on 78, and the traffic light there. That was a strange set up with a one lane road and a traffic light in the middle of nowhere.

Nice bike.

Today, Wednesday, October 3rd 2012, I rode the Dream Ride that is coming up this Saturday, October 6th. I left the meet up place this afternoon. It was a bit chilly so I put the liner in my riding jacket. Under my jacket I wore only a tee-shirt. I should have put on my riding pants over my blue jeans and taken a sweat shirt with me, but I didn't. As the sun was going down I was wishing I had. One small "hitch in the giddyup" is that within the first five miles of the route there is a bridge out. I've messaged NinjaDoc about that and offered an easy work-around that will keep us off of Rt. 16. You can say it's a little shortcut. He said he's fixing that for us. Something to know is, as I was returning to the East Main Street meet-up place at the end of my ride, the Newark Police had set up radar across the street from where we start out and down the street where we will begin our short "bridge out" detour. So, as you approach our starting point, be on your toes and be aware the speed is 35 MPH through there. Another place to be cautious is, as Rt 668 meets Rt 22, where we make a right turn and go up the hill into Somerset, off to the right I have seen a cop pulled off on our side of the road but facing us as we approach. It a 35 MPH zone there too. In Somerset, the route continues through the "town square" through a Round-A-Bout or a traffic circle, if you prefer. Traffic to the right has the right of way here, so don't just go zooming through. You may have to pause or stop, to let other traffic into the circle. This location is where the "loop" portion of our ride begins and ends. We will return on the south side of the square and turn east, to the right when we come back. Go into the traffic circle and out the other side. Rt 668 turns left one block after the square onto S. Market St. Be ready for it. It can sneak up on you before you know it. The "loop" portion of our trip has fine roads, well marked, some freshly paved, and patches here and there. There are twisties marked 15 MPH that are hidden just beyond your sight. Being alert to signs indicating curves ahead and suggested speeds for those curves will help to keep your bike shiney and dent free. Though I've only been riding since April, I pushed the threshold today and once almost missed a sharp curve to the right, pushing me into the left lane and almost straight off the road. I'm glad no traffic was coming from the other direction. I did return home a much more experienced rider and improved my riding skills nicely on this trip. The ride north out of Malta, along the Muskingum River on Rt 669 was especially enjoyable. Pillion riders (2-Up Navigators) will have plenty to appreciate as scenic vistas present themselves in numerous ways along the by-way. I highly suggest that Co-pilots mount GoPro's so that we can enjoy more than just a pilot's perspective when we go to view our Dream Ride 2012 adventures on YouTube in the following snowy months ahead. Other than nearly skidding off the road, my ride was uneventful. I didn't see any cops. I didn't have any problems with rednecks. There was very little traffic. The leaves are turning their colors and looking quite nice, not yet reaching their peak of color. Watch for leaves on the road as they begin to fall and make for a slippery surface. Leaf-watching tourists will be flocking to the Hocking Hills area to enjoy the fall colors, especially on the weekends. They may not be watching for you, so you be watching for them. Another reminder is that where roads may be dry on the hilltops, in the valley where little sunlight shines through, a road wet in the morning may easily remain wet all day. I noticed this today and just wanted to point it out. My return ended riding west into a colorful sunset back to our starting point. It was a fun day, one I wish I could have shared. Hopefully you will enjoy it as much as I and the weather outlook will improve. For now, the current forecast for New Lexington, Ohio 43764, as near the geographical center of our trip as I can estimate, for Saturday is: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 52. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible. ~ Jack ~ :biker: .

Remember that any plastics can get extremely brittle and crack with the least amount of force in colder temperatures. I would be very cautious so as to not have to replace anything that can't hold up to less than normal conditions. .

Stay back!!! I have a pillow here and I'm not afraid to use it! Maybe the real issue was a brick he had inside the pillow?

I can always find good riding weather with only a few clicks of the mouse. Isn't the internet great? Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 57. http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Newark&state=OH&site=ILN&textField1=40.0677&textField2=-82.4234&e=0 Saturday Overcast. Fog early. High of 55F. Winds from the WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of Precipitation 0% http://www.wunderground.com/weather-forecast/US/OH/Newark.html Day Oct 6 61°FHigh Showers Chance of rain: 50% Wind: NNW at 7 mph Humidity: 68% Sunrise: 7:32 am http://www.weather.com/weather/wxdetail5/43055 Hi 61° RealFeel® 59° Precipitation 30% http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/newark-oh/43055/daily-weather-forecast/330114?day=6

It's official. I have now seen everything.

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I was at KFC in Newark at noon and didn't see a soul on a bike. Was I 15 seconds late or something?

This is what I'm understanding. TODAY -- SUNDAY, 30 September Ride: At noon. KFC, 38 Cedar Street, Newark, Ohio Clear me up if I'm fuzzy on this. .

:biker: Pencil me in. Keep the eraser handy in case I can't get off work.

Where do we meet for the ride from Newark, tomorrow (Sunday)? And what time? The last I checked, we're back to only a 20% chance of rain. Someone fill me in. .

I took Sunday off work for this and as of now the weather isn't looking too good for Newark. Keep me posted. Sunday: A chance of showers, mainly after 10am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 65. Light and variable wind becoming west 5 to 9 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

I'd like to get in on this if the weather is dry and I can get off work. I'll know more later next week.

Thanks for all the warm welcomes. I'm looking forward to riding with new friends.

:biker:I put in for Sunday and Monday off work. I'm ready to ride. Send me all the details so I don't miss out. ~ Jack ~

I'm interested if I can get off work. I have several days I have to burn or lose before the end of the year.

Hey folks, hi there. I got my first bike, an '08 Suzuki GS 500F in April, passed the state safety course, and got my endorsement in June. Now, I'm here, looking to find some folks to ride with. I've been riding all summer, night and day, and have been getting more comfortable in heavier traffic and on freeways. I know I don't heal as fast as I used to and things hurt longer now that I'm a little older, so I'm carefull with safety at the foremost of my thoughts as I go zooming along. It's only so much fun to ride alone, so I found your group online and through YouTube and thought I'd check things out. ~ Jack .