july, 2018 volume13, number 7texaschapteru.org/newsletters/2018newsletter/jul 18... ·...
TRANSCRIPT
July, 2018 Volume13, Number 7
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER DIRECTORS ______________________________________________________ 3
ASST. CHAPTER DIRECTORS ________________________________________________ 4
MEC ______________________________________________________________________ 5-10
TUX, CHAPTER U MASCOT ___________________________________________________ 11
TEXAS DISTRICT EDUCATORS ________________________________________________ 12-13
CHAPTER U OFFICERS AND TEAM
GWRRA OFFICERS AND STAFF
TEXAS DISTRICT OFFICERS AND STAFF
RIDES, EVENTS AND RALLY SCHEDULE
BIRTHDAYS, ANNIVERSARIES, AND OTHER FUN STUFF
CLASSIFIED ADS
SPONSORS
GWRRA VISION, MISSION AND VALUES
ATGATT
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Chapter Ride Meeting Locations
Unless otherwise indicated all Chapter “U" rides start at the parking lot at Kent Powersports, 15664 IH-35 North, Selma,
TX, between Olympia Pkwy and Evans Rd. Ride destinations are subject to change. Time permitting changes will be
communicated via the website, Newsletter, and/or e-mail. If there is a discrepancy between the newsletter and what is
published on the web site, the web site will take precedence. Occasionally, depending on which direction we are riding,
our rides may depart from other locations. These locations will be announced via email, and/or posted on the website
and our calendar, as time permits. Check www.texaschapteru.org for ride information
Chapter "U" Gatherings/Meetings
Normal monthly Gatherings/Meetings are held the 3rd Wednesday of each month. Gatherings are held at
Chuy’s Restaurant, 14855 IH35N, San Antonio, Texas, 78145. We "Meet-to-Eat" at 6:00 p.m. with
"Information Sharing" beginning at 7:00 p.m. Hope to see "U" there!
Next Chapter Gathering/Meeting is:
July 18th, 2018
JULY MEC CONTEST
The MEC contest for the July Gathering is to see who can bring the most “Ring Tabs” from
aluminum cans to help Pete & Dinah Ryson support their favorite Charity. Please collect as
many tabs as you can and bring them to the gathering. Win or not, its for a good cause.
Thank You!
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Sal & Phylis Pesta
Asst. Chapter Directors
From Your ACD - July 2018
“Are Your Emotions in Check? To Paraphrase rapper Ice Cube “Checkity-check yo self.” Emotions are as powerful as any drug, so take inventory every time you saddle up. If you’re mad, sad, exhausted or anxious, stay put !! And if you find yourself in an emotional state while driving, Checkity-check !! Words of wisdom from Tux this month. Ever been cruising along and have someone cut in front of you in traffic where there really wasn’t room for them? We all have ! What’s your first instinct? Yell, holler, wave, honk your horn? Checkity-check !! There’s no fUn in “getting even” Did you know that of ALL vehicles that get honked at on a daily basis in any city, only 16% actually hear the sound? And of that 16%, only 4% think it is directed towards them - and do something to correct their error. If you’ve had a bad day at work, your co-workers have been frustrating, whatever the situation…take an extra 5-10 minutes to de-stress and unwind before you hop on the bike for that ride home. The traffic will still be there waiting for you. The dog can wait for his walk, the evening chores aren’t going to disappear because you’re a few minutes later getting home. It’s better to have a cold drink, unwind, chat with the guy from the next cubicle - just calm yourself - before tackling the drive home. Checkity-check !! If you’re a parent with a crowd of kids in the back seat, there seems to be 10 different conversations going on back there. You’re trying to drive them home from school activities. The kids are chattering about school, teachers, coaches, life. You’re attempting to concentrate on driving, traffic, where do each of the kids live, etc. when all of a sudden the vehicle in front of you slams on its brakes !! Have your emotions in check…do your best to keep yourself and the kids safe. Getting angry, yelling, screaming isn’t going to do you or the kids any good. Take a deep breath and deal with the situation. If you’re out with 10 Chapter bikes on an early morning breakfast ride and some Yahoo in a pickup truck with the windows rolled down and the music blasting pulls into the middle of the pack so he can turn at the next corner (30 ft ahead)… Checkity-check!! Remember, your Chapter is out to have fUn. Besides, the Yahoo can’t help it. He’s never attended Motorcycle Safety Awareness class, never been on a motorcycle and certainly never had anyone correct his driving skills (or lack thereof !). Heck, he most likely - if asked - would say he never saw more than 1 motorcycle in that group headed for breakfast !! Just take a deep breath and continue to practice your safe driving habits. The saying “Don’t let your emotions get the best of you” can save your life - that of your passenger - and that of the Yahoo !! We look forward to seeing each of you on the net ride, at the next Gathering and/or at the next Chapter function. Let’s all “Keep our Emotions in Check. Checkity-check!!” As Always, Safety, Fun, Adventure!! Sal & Phylis Pesta, Chapter U 2018 ACD, Texas District Couple of the Year.
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Tom Hendricks Membership Enhancement [email protected]
Chapter U Individual for 2017
It’s that hot time of the year throughout the USA. Read and digest the following article. It might save your life! –
Tom & Tux
Riding In Hot Weather
Keeping Cool On Your Bike by Domingo Chang
https://www.fix.com/blog/motorcycle-riding-in-hot-weather/
2 Being a year-round rider, I’ve encountered my fair share of both hot and cold weather conditions. Since
riding with full protective gear, or ATGATT (all the gear all the time), is always the best option for safety,
I have learned how to keep cool properly while riding in hot weather.
The Science of Sweat
Your body regulates heat by sweating. As sweat is released from the body onto the surface of your skin,
evaporation occurs. Evaporation is the primary method by which sweat cools the body, and it works by
the principle of “latent heat of vaporization.” Latent heat is the amount of heat absorbed or released
when a substance, like water, changes state, such as from liquid to vapor. One gram or milliliter of water
requires approximately 580 calories of energy to vaporize. This energy is drawn from the body in the
form of heat. Thus, as sweat vaporizes, it pulls heat out of the body, cooling you down.
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My riding jacket and pants are made of air mesh Kevlar, which vents well while still protecting me from
the sun. But no matter how “vented” your riding gear is, you‘ll start to sweat when stopped for traffic
lights and other obstacles. Once you get moving again, you‘ll be grateful for that sweat.
This can be explained through a process called convection. Convection is the transfer of energy by
means of moving air that surrounds the body. When the air and the skin are at different temperatures,
heat transfer occurs from the place of higher temperature toward the place of lower temperature. As
heat is pulled from the body through evaporation via sweat, it warms the air directly around the skin.
Wind pulls this air away from the skin, constantly replacing it with cooler air, thus constantly pulling heat
from the surface of the skin. This is commonly known as wind chill. Unfortunately, when the air
temperature is above 93°F, wind will actually heat up the body.
In a sort of reverse wind chill, when the air temperature is higher than the skin temperature, you will see
the opposite effect. As you travel at high speeds in high heat, the amount of heat entering the body
through convection drastically increases. One might think that wearing more clothes in such heat would
be a bad idea, but the opposite is true. The amount of heat that has to be lost through evaporation, or
sweat, also must increase.
Wearing wind-breaking material dramatically reduces the amount of heat inflicted on the body through
convection, thus reducing the amount of heat that your body must lose through evaporation (sweating).
The illustration below depicts three scenarios of sweating at high temperatures (103°F).
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Tips for Riding Cool
In these high-heat conditions, I wear a long-sleeved, tight-fitting exercise shirt made of moisture-wicking
material. I know that it seems counter-intuitive to wear long sleeves, but as long as you have air moving
over the fabric, it will work great. Just think of the evaporation process described above. As sweat
evaporates, it takes your body heat with it. Moisture-wicking material draws sweat away from the body to
be evaporated through the shirt, aiding the cooling process. Conventional materials can simply trap
sweat next to the skin, limiting evaporation. The key to these materials is air flow. If there is no air
movement over the material, then the shirt will become oversaturated, and sweat will not evaporate.
When air temperatures are high and the reverse wind chill is in effect, wetting down clothing will
increase the amount of moisture near the skin. This moisture is now available to be evaporated, drawing
heat from your body. Although much of the evaporation will be caused by the high air temperature itself,
there will be enough water on the skin to reduce the amount you need to sweat.
Some techniques for wetting down include neck bandanas (particularly those with water-absorbing
crystals), wetting down a regular cotton t-shirt, or even pouring water directly into your helmet.
Keeping Hydrated
Now that we know how much water the body needs while riding in high temperatures, we can deduce
that staying hydrated is one of the most important things to do while on the road. As covered in the
above graphic, the difference between covering up or not is about 20 oz./hour and 40 oz./hour,
respectively. Here are some tips to help ensure hydration.
Wear a Camelback: For longer rides, I wear a camelback-type water bag on my back. I usually fill mine
with half ice and half water before the ride, and those cooling sips do add up to make the difference. If
you‘re doing it right, you‘ll run out of water in the camelback before your next gas stop.
Carry Extra Water: I carry a gallon jug of water in my side case on longer days of riding. Be wary of
taking in ice-cold water too fast. In my case, it causes an upset stomach. Swish it about your mouth to
bring its temperature up a bit before swallowing.
Urine Test: Go for the clear. Dehydration is not something you can tough out – it will kill you if you don’t
remedy it. Deep-colored urine and headaches are early signs that you are in need of water. If you stop
sweating, heat stroke is not far behind. Drink water often!
Only Water is Water: Caffeine and alcohol are diuretics, which cause you to urinate and lose more
water. When it’s hot, steer clear of sugary drinks, caffeine, and alcohol. Also, never drink alcohol directly
before or during your ride.
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Tar Snakes
Tar snakes are a hazard for both motorized and pedaled two-wheeled vehicles and their riders. Many
states use a tar-like material to fill in cracks on the roads; these can become quite slippery when it’s hot.
Avoid them if possible. Treat them the same as railroad tracks by crossing them at 90 degrees and in an
upright position. Slow down if your rear tire starts sliding out from under you – stay calm – and the tire
will grip again. Don’t try to over-correct, keep your line, keep your head up, grip lightly, and keep your
body steady for when the gripping action returns.
If there’s a large patch of tar snakes and there is no way to avoid them all, I will sometimes pull in the
clutch and treat the obstacle as I would a large patch of ice, coast through it, and after ensuring that the
rear wheel is clear, re-engage the engine. This helps to keep from slipping.
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Riding in really hot weather is not bad when you’re prepared for it. Remember to hydrate, keep your skin
covered, and avoid hazards. Don’t let the heat weaken you to the point where you’re not fully attentive to
traffic conditions and the road. Basically, you must consider how your body will deal with the heat.
Reducing the effects of convection, through covering up and wetting down, will reduce the amount of
heat that your body must deal with through evaporation. Covering up in the heat will keep you cool.
Hot weather usually means lots of sun exposure, so get some good sunglasses or a darkened visor to
prevent headaches caused by sun glare. And don’t forget to put sunblock on the back of your neck
where your riding gear leaves the skin exposed.
Ride safe. Ride aware.
Tom Hendricks
Membership Enhancement Coordinator
Chapter U, Texas District
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Tux
Chapter U Mascot
WHILE VISITING FRIENDS AT THE SAN ANTONIO ZOO TUX HEARD THE FOLLOWING JOKE:
A frog goes into a bank and approaches the teller. He can see from her nameplate that her name is Patty Whack.
"Miss Whack, I'd like to get a $30,000 loan to take a holiday."
Patty looks at the frog in disbelief and asks his name. The frog says his name is Kermit Jagger, his dad is Mick
Jagger, and that it's okay, he knows the bank manager.
Patty explains that he will need to secure the loan with some collateral.
The frog says, "Sure. I have this," and produces a tiny porcelain elephant, about an inch tall, bright pink and
perfectly formed.
Very confused, Patty explains that she'll have to consult with the bank manager and disappears into a back office.
She finds the manager and says, "There's a frog called Kermit Jagger out there who claims to know you and
wants to borrow $30,000, and he wants to use this as collateral." She holds up the tiny pink elephant. "I mean,
what in the world is this?"
(You're gonna love this.)
The bank manager looks back at her and says, "It's a knickknack, Patty Whack. Give the frog a loan. His old
man's a Rolling Stone."
(You sang it, didn't you? Yeah, I know you did.)
Tux, Chapter U Mascot
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Planning for a Long-Distance Ride
How many of you are planning for a multi-day ride this summer (such as Wing Ding in Knoxville)? I am
already making my list and checking it twice for our ride up there via the west coast. Other than the
obvious TCLOC and maintenance items, I have a pretty extensive list that I have developed over the
years for what and how to pack. These are some of the highlights of things to consider before you head
out:
Lightweight synthetic clothing – such as T-shirts and underwear – can be washed in a hotel sink and dried overnight (cotton fabrics take too long to dry in this manner).
Don't fold your clothes – roll them. They take up less space that way.
On long trips, consider bringing your rattiest underwear (or other clothing), then just throw it away when you're done with it!
Flip Flops are easy to pack and feel so good after a long day in boots.
Zipper-lock plastic bags of various sizes can be extremely useful for organizing items in saddlebags and duffle bags. They can make it easier to find and retrieve particular items without unpacking your entire motorcycle. Use the one-gallon size to pack one day's worth of clothes – jeans, undergarments, and shirt. This makes it easier to unpack just what you need.
Take a couple of soap pods and a roll of quarters for washing clothes.
Pack items that have more than one use. A multi-tool is handier than a basic pocket knife.
When traveling with other riders, conserve space by comparing packing lists and eliminating duplicate items.
Don’t forget your battery chargers for cameras and cell phones. Bring spare batteries if applicable.
When traveling (two-up) with a spouse or "significant other", ask yourself questions such as: "Can we share a tube of toothpaste?" or "Can I get by using her shampoo for a week?"
Medical History….consider an Alert Bracelet. Also your Medical Health Insurance Card
If you take medication, be sure to bring an extra 3-5 days’ worth longer than you intend to be gone.
Cooling vests and extra bottles of water to combat heat exhaustion.
A small towel can be wrapped around your neck during a rainstorm to keep water from running down your back – and doubles as a shop rag.
Even if you don’t have a planned stop each day, plan a general route and leave it with someone. Don’t forget your Gold Book!
Check the cargo weight limits of your bike - as wells as the bags and racks - and adjust tire pressure and suspension accordingly.
Few things are as easy to pack as money or credit cards. If you're struggling with whether or not to bring a particular item, consider simply buying it on the road if you need it.
If you watch the ounces, the pounds will take care of themselves. When possible, lighter is better.
When loading your bike, keep as much weight as possible close to the bike's center of gravity. That means low and toward the tank, distributed evenly from side to side.
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A day or two before you leave, do a dry run. Pack the bike and go for a short ride, then adjust the load as needed.
If you're camping, set up your tent once or twice before you leave (and don't forget to waterproof it). Practice setting it up in the dark.
With your bike fully loaded for your road trip, check your headlamp to make sure it’s properly aimed.
Pack your cold weather and raingear no matter what time of year it is. Weather can be unpredictable even in the summer months.
Carefully program your GPS if you have one, but still take some maps for backup.
Enjoy this riding season and I hope to see you in Knoxville!
Ride Often, Ride Safely, and HEY! Be careful out there!
Randy and Kathy Reese
Texas District Educators
2017 International Couple of the Year
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Chapter “U” Officers and Team
http://www.texaschapteru.org/Staff.htm
GWRRA Officers and Staff
http://gwrra.org/nationalofficers.html
Texas District Officers and Staff
http://www.gwrra-tx.org/staff/staff.php
Rides, Events, and Rally Schedule
http://www.texaschapteru.org/Calendar_Rides_Events.htm
Recent Rides and Events
http://www.texaschapteru.org/photos.htm
Visit the Chapter U Fun page for Birthdays and Anniversaries
http://www.texaschapteru.org/Fun%20Stuff/Fun.htm
Check out our Classified Ads
http://www.texaschapteru.org/WantAds.htm
Please visit our Sponsors
http://www.texaschapteru.org/Sponsors.htm
GWRRA Vision, Mission, and Values
http://gwrra.org/about.html
ATGATT
All The Gear All The Time
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Writers Wanted - If you have a story about your recent motorcycle adventures we
would love to share it with the other GWRRA, Chapter U members by publishing
your story in our Newsletter. Please submit articles that you think will be of interest
or informative to the chapter. The articles may be about your favorite ride, bike
accessory, or just a funny story. All articles submitted may be edited at the
discretion of the newsletter editor depending on the space available. Controversial
subject matter may not be submitted. Please submit your article by e-mail to Scott
Hay at [email protected] by the 20th of each month for the next month’s
issue.
If you are riding a Honda Gold Wing or Valkyrie motorcycle, you should be
a member of the Gold Wing Road Riders Association (GWRRA)! With
membership in the GWRRA you receive the following: Wing World
magazine, the Gold Book Member Directory, Towbusters Emergency
road-side Assistance Program, Affinity Credit Card Program, USA hotel
discounts, and much more. Call any staff member listed in this
newsletter and ask how you can become a member of the GWRRA.