Spring 2015 - Romney, West Virginia - May 1-3

[Dirt_Dad]

Where to begin? What a great event! Full of the awesome members of the best motorcycle community around. That is not hyperbole. Repeatedly during the weekend I heard Larry say with some amazement how respectful our group is. He deals with many different groups in the motorcycle world, and the comparisons I've heard are very flattering to us. Even the Suzuki Demo Truck driver had to comment on their experience. He's been driving the truck for several years and found this weekend to be his best experience. With respectful, intelligent riders educated on how to ride. I'm told Suzuki was very impressed and pleased with their experience at Romney.

My appreciation of this event grows every year. I'm normally a behind the scenes guy, but when 150+ people show up looking for you, that's not really possible. Contrary to what I might have anticipated, I love it. I get a real charge out of meeting and catching up with so many people with whom I share this great adventure riding passion. There are many of you I have known only on the grounds of Romney Cycles, but it still feels like getting together with old friends. I appreciate all of you who took the time to say hello and tell me what a great time you were having. Chances are I told you, "thank you for coming"...and I meant it. Without all of you coming, bringing your great adventure spirits, and sharing a bit of your experiences, this event would not exist. All of you make this event what it is, and I truly appreciate how all of you come together to form the group we had this weekend.

I don't want to sound like a an Academy Awards speech, but there are some that need to be thanked.

Romney Cycles - Kevin, Larry, Heather, TJ and all the staff: Now do you know why Romney has such a good name on the forums? I don't need to go on and on. You guys lived it. Please think of them when it's time for you to get that next bike or anything else they sell. It is so important for us to support those who support us. When you do, please let them know you appreciate the Camp N Ride. It never hurts for them to know their time and efforts are paying dividends. Remember if you want to fly or take a train, they will pick you up...or any of your neighbors you want to send their way.

H14 (ADV) - Kevin & Rhonda: Thanks once again for the coffee. Very popular as always. Wishing all the best as Rhonda recovers. Looking forward to both of you being here next year.

FireDog45 (ADV) - Steve: Thanks for the help with setting up a repository for the routes. I believe it helped make the routes much more accessible this year. Really appreciate your offer to research route sheets for next year.

TwoDogs (yamahasupertenere) - Alan: Congratulations on winning the camera. Thank you for the offer to help out next year. Checkswrecks and I had the same reaction....welcome!

Checkswrecks - Bob: As most of you noticed, Bob jumped in with both feet this year and really helped take us to the next level. I am so appreciative that Bob decided to play such a strong role this year. He brings a lot to the table and I'm very happy to say he'll be doing it again in 2016.

Raffle participants: Those who donated prizes and/or money: I don't have the final number yet, but Checkswrecks said we were over $3,000. My understanding is the money was coming in fast and furiously on Saturday. I'm aware some substantial checks were given. Thanks to everyone who participated to give us such a strong showing. Our rider population increased by 60%, but our rider contributions increased by more than 300%.

Brain storming has already started for 2016...the 5th annual event. If you have any suggestions on how to improve the experience please don't hesitate to make a suggestion.

Thanks for a fantastic 2015 event.

Now back to the photos.

 

[eemsreno]

OK…. Now I gotta call some serious bullshit! For the record…

Trikepilot, Will you still let me ride with you next year? You are a great guy and guide. besides I don't have one of them compassmabobbes [as Spklbuk would say]

 

[patrickg450]

Actually, we were hurt BECAUSE you weren't there.

just so ya know, me and Mark talk like 2 a month at best...........................he has called me twice since he got home. I think he had a good time.



























miss you buddy

 

[snakebitten]

Trikepilot, Will you still let me ride with you next year? You are a great guy and guide. besides I don't have one of them compassmabobbes [as Spklbuk would say]

You don't even have a cell phone. (much less a compassmabobbes)
You HAVE to ride with somebody. LOL

You do take awesome pictures though! And your riding instruction has kept me rubber-side-down every time, for years now. Can't thank you enough.

 

[jbjke]

Snake and Trikepilot - thanks for the great ride and letting me join y'all. It was nice for a change to sit down to lunch on Friday. As you all know Steve had us on a weight loss program on Thursday. The more you didn't eat the faster we could get there I guess.

Thanks Steve for inviting me. Loved every minute of it.

Good meeting you Truegrip and Nathan.

I actually gained weight on this trip - not sure how all that mud came back with me on this trip. I'm still finding it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[bigbob]

You don't even have a cell phone. (much less a compassmabobbes)
You HAVE to ride with somebody. LOL

Snake at least make Steve fix his brakes. I think it was Indianapolis and I am leading in traffic. My compassmabobby (GPS) said we had to be in the right 2 of 5 lanes. With the traffic and Steve not having good brakes I slow down and merge into a slightly small gap. Steve hits on the throttle and takes off in the leftmost lane. I kick it and finally catch up with him at the split of the lanes. We make it without any problems.

But make him fix his brakes so as the leader I can kick it and not have to change drawers.

And Trike a minor correction. We left at 5:30 since Steve slept in. With no cell phone there was nothing to wake him up and yall must have wore him out the previous day with all his one handed picture taking! When I got there from the KoolWink he was still snoring! At about 850 miles his wife gave me a glass of lemonade. Was enough sugar to get me the last 130 miles home.

 

[bigbob]

And your riding instruction has kept me rubber-side-down every time, for years now. Can't thank you enough.

Snake, thank you for letting me take one of your chairs, sit at your place, and listen. While I do not have, and probably will never at my age and size, the skill to ride with your group, I did learn a lot.

Twice on Saturday on really steep WV gravel I tested the comment that the Ténéré will pull at 11 MPH on almost anything. Jeff passed me twice as I was amazed testing this at my weight.

 

[eemsreno]

Ok
For an update on the brakes.
Some of you know that on the first day of off roading at Romney I lost my rear brake pressure. On the way back to camp I bought some brake fluid and at camp bled them back out so they were like new again, but as soon as I ride the bike I lose the rear brake. So before I left for home I bled them out again and they worked perfect and I did not touch the foot brake petal only the hand brake. Within a half hour of riding there was no foot brake when I tried it.
I know what you are thinking, I was camped right next to Limey in Colorado when he had to replace his ABS pump for the exact same problem. Monday I gave Yamaha RTAs a call and talked to them about it. They wanted to do some research and called me back. They were convinced it can not be the pump, they have never warranteed a pump in the USA. They are convinced if I order the master cylinder rebuild kits that will fix the problem. So they are on order. I'll just keep my fingers crossed and hope for the best, and I'll know more in about a week and let you all know.

PS
Even if it needs an ABS pump I still think and know this bike is totally awesome and it's the only bike I have ever enjoyed riding so much.
Truly there were lots of riders at Romney with way more off road talent than I, I just happen to take a chance to get some action pictures and didn't crash and it worked out.
With my old MX buddies we always had a saying "It doesn't matter if you crash, Think of the picture"

Steve

 

[snakebitten]

BigBob,

You will FOREVER have a chair at my\our camp!
And thank you for getting my riding instructor home safely.

 

[Checkswrecks]

btw -

A friend showed me how to never mis-pronounce the last syllable of Tenere again.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

I don't think I've ever taken so few pictures for a 4 day ride. Had to grab some from the video.

Friday




Saturday




















Captured a little of my own roost on this one ::008::


So happy this one turned out to be a temporary injury.




Sunday sunrise on the Romney porch.

 

[arjayes]

Looks like you guys had a great time. It's fun to read the posts and see the photos. But a few complaints/suggestions, which apply almost universally to threads like this:

1. Make the photo resolution as large as possible.
2. Take more photos of people (with their helmets off) and less photos of motorcycles, roads, creeks, hotels, parking lots, sunsets, etc.
3. Put names to faces!!!

I've been hanging around here long enough that I recognize a few faces when I see them (snake, dirt_dad, Dallara, sail2xxs), but it's always fun to connect names to faces. Makes us voyeurs feel less left out!

This event really has become a big deal. Hope to make it over some time. Who set the record this year for furthest distance traveled?

 

[mbabc]

Great photos everyone! Sorry I missed it this year's and I know I'll make it next year for sure.

Great job DD and all those behind the scenes. Many thanks to Romney Cycles for hosting such a great event. Hummm...wonder if I could trade my '12 for a new ES?

 

[fredz43]

Great photos everyone! Sorry I missed it this year's and I know I'll make it next year for sure.

Great job DD and all those behind the scenes. Many thanks to Romney Cycles for hosting such a great event. Hummm...wonder if I could trade my '12 for a new ES?

Hi Mark,

Sorry that you missed the event this year. We had some good times with your fellow guys from Louisville. Of course, Brennen kept us laughing the whole time.

I'm sure they would trade your 12 plus $$ for a 15 ES as soon as they can get one. Larry said they hope to get another in June.

 

[True Grip]

Looks like you guys had a great time. It's fun to read the posts and see the photos. But a few complaints/suggestions, which apply almost universally to threads like this:

1. Make the photo resolution as large as possible.
2. Take more photos of people (with their helmets off) and less photos of motorcycles, roads, creeks, hotels, parking lots, sunsets, etc.
3. Put names to faces!!!

I've been hanging around here long enough that I recognize a few faces when I see them (snake, dirt_dad, Dallara, sail2xxs), but it's always fun to connect names to faces. Makes us voyeurs feel less left out!

This event really has become a big deal. Hope to make it over some time. Who set the record this year for furthest distance traveled?

I got one for you
Emmsreno,Snakebitten,Sailxxs,Trikepilot,Truegrip. A rare photo of Snake without a cowboy hat. Miles from nowhere ;D

 

[spklbuk]

Spklbuk can believe all he wants about reports on my behavior – but there was no shortage of burly characters on our WV backwoods adventures last weekend.

How did I get in on this!? I wasn't even in the neighborhood. But ol' spklbuk knows what he has seen with his own eyes...lead trikepilot one thing, trail trikepilot...turn other way at first fork! ::024:: Note to self...if in Romney...follow DD. ::008::

Looks like a great time had by all! So glad all went home mostly in one piece. One of my riding buds always says at the end of the day, no one got a stick in the eye; it was a good ride (though apparently it was dayum close).

Thanks for posting the photos everyone. Keep 'em coming.


Steve and Mark it was so good to meet the two of you. I really appreciate the zig zag you took on your way home. Hope to share a trail with you both someday. Given pending change, my ride calendar may soon be a lot more flexible.





So who is going to start the first aid kit update thread? I'm anxious to hear from the resident experts.

 

[Checkswrecks]

. . .
So who is going to start the first aid kit update thread? I'm anxious to hear from the resident experts.

Obviously, TrikePilot is the right man for the job!
We just need to let him clear his plate of his current goings-on.

 

[arjayes]

I got one for you
Emmsreno,Snakebitten,Sailxxs,Trikepilot,Truegrip. A rare photo of Snake without a cowboy hat. Miles from nowhere ;D

That's what I'm talkin' about! Great shot, thanks.

 

[eemsreno]

I have a few more.
I bought one just like this new 37 years ago, one of my best bikes ever.
Near the parts counter at Romney.

Snakebitten

Trikepilot

True Grip

 

[trikepilot]

Obviously, TrikePilot is the right man for the job! We just need to let him clear his plate of his current goings-on.

I am already brainstorming on the emergency medical field kit for the bike. I am reverse engineering it by determining where I want to put it and thus how much space that gives me. I am debating between a tool tube somewhere or getting an AltRider rear rack and using the cavity below in a Pelican box or similar. More as I figure it out.

[/URL]
Emmsreno,Snakebitten,Sailxxs,Trikepilot,Truegrip. A rare photo of Snake without a cowboy hat. Miles from nowhere ;D

A rogues gallery for sure... But, really, it is hard to imagine a more talented or more fun group to ride with for a day!