Meeting Recap--August 24, 2013

Six members met at Timothy for the monthly meeting that was moved up a week to avoid conflicting with Labor Day weekend. Jim B. attended after a long absence due to illness. He came in style, on his new Honda Silverwing. Jim gave the group a run down of the riding differences going from his red Harley cruiser to the wing, not the least of which was the surprise that can come from having a brake lever where a clutch used to be. Welcome back Jim.

Since there are no new episodes of the Baloney Shop the group got to see what their favorite host, Ken Klaus, had to say in videos published before the club began gathering. Turns out the subject matter is fade proof and still hits the mark four years later.

Next the attention turned to enhancements that have been made to the TLCMC website, specifically how to use the Gallery feature and how the calendar function can be used to get details about upcoming events.

Discussion of the calendar led to reviewing the pending ride to Little River Canyon. It was decided that a few of the riders (3) will take the allegedly thrilling ride down to the canyon mouth on the almost abandoned county road, while the other will follow the planned route on state highways, with both groups meeting where the two routes converge, just outside Centre, Alabama. Start time for the ride will be 8 a.m. with the starting point the Wendy's on Riverstone Parkway just north of Waleska Street in Canton ( a detailed map showing the Wendy's location will be e-mailed the week of the ride).

The trip to the Antique Motorcycle Festival at Barber Motorsports (Leeds Al) is taking form with Steve, Dan and Robert L. having purchased tickets for the October event. While the three ticket holders are planning to camp there, others are considering a ride out/back one of the days of the three day festival.

The rain-riding encountered on the August ride to Maggie Valley was discussed with the conclusion that visibility was the major difficulty and perhaps unwarranted concern with traction, leading to a very slow pace, a second runner up. Some discussion about hydroplaning and wet road traction followed. Steve suggested some practice down in the lower parking lot, like we did a few years ago, might be a good way of honing some braking and turning skills that could be needed at some critical point. If this is something the group wants it wouldn't take much to get going again. Let your thoughts be known!

A few videos were shown, some educational (more or less), others instructional and a few for laughs.

After the meeting Dennis, Steve and Bob (the elder) rode over to Heavenly Hot Dogs in Woodstock for lunch on the patio, and music from the pavilion across the street. Great atmosphere (but avoid the too salty onion rings).