Month: July 2015

Type of Bike: 2003 Harley Davidson VRSCA V-Rod

Occupation: United States Navy, currently stationed in Iraq

Favorite Ride: My favorite ride is the trip I took a little over 3 years ago to the Tail of the Dragon. The Smokies had some of the best scenery I have ever seen. All in all it was 4 days of the most enjoyable ride time I have ever spent and to do it with good friends put the icing on the cake.

Future Rides: Then number 1 ride on my bucket list is definitely Sturgis. With being in the Military I can never make it work with an unpredictable schedule that is always part of the job.

I have been in the Navy for 10 years and am currently a Fire Controlman First Class Petty Officer. I have been riding for about 6 years and still own and ride my first bike, a Harley Davidson V-Rod. I am stationed in Iraq right now, which through a giant wrench into my riding plans for this summer. I may have to be a war fighter right now but deep down in my heart I will always be a BIKER.

Type of Bike: 2001 Harley-Davidson Dyna Wide Glide

Occupation: Information Technology Engineer

Favorite Ride: America’s 9-11 Ride with a memorial at each of the crash sites

Future Rides: Las Vegas in September, 2011

I started riding around the age of 14. I rode on the back of my Dad’s Honda until he bought me my own Yamaha 125 Enduro which I rode on and off the road and through high school and college. Then I got married, sold the bike, had kids, and got divorced in 1989. In 2000, I was diagnosed with malignant melanoma and was given a 75% chance of survival over 5 years. When those 5 years were up and I knew my 2 boys would be OK on their own, I decided that it was time to get back in the saddle again and continue my passion of riding. The cancer experience also gave me a deeper appreciation of living life to the fullest! I bought a Harley-Davidson Sportster, but only had it a few months when I found my 2001 Dyna Wide Glide in April, 2005, with only 8,000 miles on it!

As a cancer survivor, I immediately joined the Chrome Divas, a ladies only motorcycle group which supports many charitable causes. I was Director of the Chrome Divas of Tallahassee from 2006-2008. I am also a proud member of the Patriot Guard Riders and Motor Maids and joined our local Harley Owners Group (HOG) in early 2006. I served for two years as Lead Road Captain for the HOG and am currently in my second year as Activities Director. I met Jack Powis and learned of his Long Distance Riders group in 2007 when I had the honor of riding my first Easy Rider 500 Mile Ride with Jack and other HOG members. I have completed many more Easy Rider 500 Mile Rides, but hope to complete some of the longer, more difficult long distance rides in the future.

I have ridden in 26 of the lower 48 U.S. states and Mexico and my odometer recently rolled over 90,000 miles … 82,000 of my own miles in 6 years! I truly love riding and enjoy “sharing my spark” for riding with others as well as participating in as many charity poker runs and riding events as I can!

Type of Bike: 2007 Harley Davidson Ultra

Occupation: Manager / Owner Demolition Contracting Company

Favorite Ride:

I remember the night in October 2007 before I embarked on my Coast-to-Coast – Born to be Wild ride. I was sitting in a little tavern in Neptune Beach, Florida with Jack Powis and Mike Scott and we talked about our ride, our excitement over what Long Distance Riders could become, and our Coast-to-Coast ride that we would be taking early the next morning. We toasted to the official launching of the Long Distance Riders web site and to our 2400-mile journey that lay ahead that we would talk about for years to come.

As we departed at 6 AM, we could not have anticipated the fun, excitement, encouragement and challenges we would face over the next 47 hours. Rain in Florida, heat in Louisiana, wildlife in Arizona and sub-freezing temperatures on the Kumeyaay Freeway as we descended into San Diego. This was the best by far of 4 cross-country rides that I have made. I rode my 2007 Harley Davidson Ultra on this ride and I still ride it today. I have ridden in 45 of the lower 48 U.S. states and Mexico and Canada. I ride every year to western North Carolina with the North Florida Peckerheads – 5 days 40 guys, riding the mountains all day.

I own and manage a demolition contracting company in Tallahassee, Florida. I started riding bikes when I was 12, getting my first real cruiser at 20. I am planning a trip from Alaska to Key West, Florida in the summer of 2012.

I am a member of the North Florida Peckerheads, the Tallahassee HOG Group, and the Long Distance Riders.

Type of Bike: 2001 BMW R1150GS

Occupation: Deputy Headteacher (Special School)

Favorite Ride: The Next One!

I started riding 26 years ago and first covered 1000 miles in a day while working as a motorcycle courier in the late ‘80s, but only got into long distance riding after I discovered LDR in early 2008 and completed my first Full Throttle ride. Since then I have completed a km Full throttle in Europe and two King of the Road rides in the UK, as well as several IBA rides up to an SS2000. I also got into long distance rallies, competing in several 24 hr and 36 hr rallies in the UK, Ireland and Norway in the past three years with some success. I have ridden on holiday to most of the countries in Europe and to Morocco in North Africa.

Following a bad bike accident in November 2008 which left me with a broken femur I decided to organize a ride to raise money to support the work of the Air Ambulance, which is not publicly funded in the UK. This has led me to run a number of rides and rallies through my website at www.thegrimrider.com – it also contains a number of reports on some of my rides. All of these rides have been completed on the same bike, a blue and white R1150GS which is coming up to 85000 miles on the clock. I have never been to America but would like to ride across the States one day, although the birth of my twins two days before Christmas 2010 means that this may have just become something of a more distant dream!

Type of Bike: 2008 BMW K1200 LT

Occupation: Manager, Survey Company “Inspectorate Klaipeda”

Favorite Ride: Coast to Coast in 2010

I was born in Far East Russia in 1961. Together with my parents in 1973, I moved to Lithuania. During the period of time from 1978-1991 I had the opportunity to see the real life of lambs, camels, etc., while living in Soviet Middle Asia. Due to the fact that I had no motorbike, I compensated the fact by riding horses which I still enjoy today.

My journey to Long Distance Riders was not so short and easy. I got my first motorbike in 2004 that I dreamed of my whole life. But now I’m here and thanks to Jack, I feel fine! Please always pay attention to Jack’s phrase: “Ride Safe.”

Interesting Fact: I was born near the Pacific Ocean and the last time I saw it was in 1973. During my Coast to Coast ride I was able to see it again in 2010.

Future Rides: Planning on visiting USA during spring 2011 and I would like to cross the country starting in San Francisco, California on Route 66 with a little turn to the Grand Canyon, Oklahoma City, Kansas City, Chicago, Nashville, Memphis, Tallahassee, Tampa, and Key West. Also plan some trips in Europe through Germany – BMW Motorrad Meet, Byelorussia – Brest Motoshow, and Estonia – Narva Bike Fest.

“I rode the inaugural Coast to Coast ride for LDR with Jack Powis and Red Barnes – Jacksonville, Florida to San Diego, California in 47 hours. To say this was the ride of a lifetime does not do that trip justice. It was more fun than riders should be allowed to have on two wheels. Rode my 2007 Harley CVO Ultra on that ride. Have since traded that bike for a 2010 Harley CVO Ultra. I also have a 2002 Harley Road King Classic. On those 3 bikes combined I have ridden well over 100,000 miles. I started riding when I was 15 and had several other bikes, starting with dirt bikes and then trading those in finally for street bikes. Currently am a Regional Manager for a food ingredient company and have been in this business for 33 years.

Over the past few years have ridden from coast to coast, from the Mexican border to Canada, and lots of states in between. I ride with a group of guys – the Peckerheads – each year in the Smoky Mountains and we always have a blast. My wife Lisa and I travel by bike and have been all over – including the Florida Keys a few times. Currently we are planning a trip from Florida to Texas that will include the Big Bend National Park and the surrounding mountains. My dream rides… travel by bike from Alaska to Florida and also take an extended trip on the Pacific Coast Highway with plenty of side trips.”