“Do you want to ride with us on the Why We Ride to the Quail Motorcycle Gathering?” That was one of the easiest questions I have ever had to answer in my life. “Who doesn’t want to do that?, Hell yes I’m in”. This simple question was how it all started for me to join friends on this amazing ride. We rode up along the CA-1 and were delighted to some amazing views and vistas. My first time on these roads and I can say hands down some of the prettiest roads I have ridden to date. Beautiful colorful flowers lined the roads and the smell of salt air was intoxicating, how would I ever pull myself away from this place?We were part of an amazing group of riders, some members of the AMA, and all proud to be here supporting Bryan Carroll and James Walker and the Why We Ride movement to support the pediatric brain tumor foundation. (PBTF). This was the second year for the ride and attendance had doubled, and it is expected to triple for next years ride. We took 2 days to ride up the coast and this allowed plenty of time to meet most of the riders and spend some time listening to their amazing stories. I got to share times with old friends and welcome new friends into my moto-family. Dave from the Veterans Charity Ride was in attendance and he had Tommy Montgomery with him. Tommy took part in last years Veterans Charity Ride, which takes wounded veterans on a ride form California to Sturgis, motorcycle therapy at it’s best. 2016 will be the second year for this ride. Brian Klock was cruising along on his brand new limited edition Jack Daniels Indian Springfield model motorcycle. Some of the riders thought I was crazy for jumping around in a side hack taking photo’s, but this was nothing new for Brian as we have been through this routine numerous times over the years. Actress Kristy Swanson and Her husband Former Olympic skater and World Champion Lloyd Eisler were fun to share laughs with and both are avid motorcycle riders. On Friday we stopped and admired the elephant seals bathing on the beach, this gave us more time to get to know other riders with.  We met Steve Moore, he was riding in the chase truck because he just had surgery on BOTH of his achilles tendons. He was so disappointed he was not riding.  Robert Pandya and Matt Swedlund of Indian Motorcycle were so inspired by Steve’s dedication to this event that they awarded him with the “Spirit of the Ride Award.” He also got to take my spot in the side hack Saturday morning and get a ride to the event. His first time ever in a sidecar and he loved it. Of course Pilot Robert Pandya was sure to get him up on two wheels to get the full side car experience! Smiles all the way around. 

On Saturday we rolled into the Quail event via even more amazing roads and were all smiles as we stepped onto the immaculate green sea of pristine motorcycles, some rare unrestored, and some flawless restored to mint condition. It was a joy to speak with anyone you bumped into, as you both drooled over the machines on display. Strangers became instant friends as everyone gathered around a certain bike and shared memories of having a model “just like this when I was young”. Don Emde was on hand selling copies of his book “Finding Canonballs Trail”, and fellow “Moto-Star’s Celebrities and Motorcycles” exhibiter Perry King was at the AMA booth, sure was great to run into him and recall the weekend of the grand opening of that exhibit at the AMA museum in Ohio. I was excited to see Craig Vetter take to the stage, his first appearance since a pretty serious motorcycle accident. It was great to see Craig smiling and the crowd was just as happy to see him on the stage. The day was filled with amazing motorcycles,food, music, and even better people. After the awards were handed out, the crowds made their way back to their motorcycles for more moto-adventures. We later dined at “Turn 12” in Monterey and further enjoyed vintage motorcycles and delicious food. Such an amazing weekend of riding, and friends. Life is good!

Indian Motorcycle, America’s first motorcycle company, is proud to announce its partnership with the Sisters’ Centennial Motorcycle Ride, a cross-country group ride that celebrates the 100th anniversary of Augusta and Adeline Van Buren’s courageous and unprecedented motorcycle journey across the United States.

In 1916 the Van Buren Sisters were the first women to traverse the continental U.S., each on her own motorcycle. Their mission was to show the U.S. Army that women could serve as motorcycle messengers, and to throw light on the women’s suffrage movement of the time. Their ride was heavily reported and included riding to the summit of Pikes Peak, quite a feat on the unpaved road with their 1915 Indian “Motocycles” (as they were known at the time). The Sisters were inducted into the American Motorcyclists Association Hall of Fame in 2002 and the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame in 2003

The ride, beginning July 3 in New York and ending July 23 in San Francisco, honors and celebrates female motorcycling heroines of the past, and promotes the continued growth of women motorcyclists and the motorcycling community. The journey will loosely follow the Van Buren sisters’ 1916 path, with the primary route being the historical Lincoln Highway.

Two charities will be funded as a result of the Sisters’ Centennial Motorcycle Ride’s event efforts: Final Salute, Inc. and Women’s Coalition of Motorcyclists. Final Salute is a national women’s veterans’ organization which provides temporary and permanent housing for the over 500,000 homeless female veterans in the United States. The Women’s Coalition of Motorcyclists is an organization providing funding for motorcycle train-the-trainer scholarships that will help enlarge the number of female instructors and coaches for road, dirt and track.

“We are delighted that Indian Motorcycle has chosen to participate in the Sisters’ Centennial Motorcycle Ride,” says event organizer Alisa Clickenger. “Indian Motorcycle left an indelible mark not only on America’s transportation industry but also the defense of our country dating all the way back to World War I. Additionally, their importance to the Van Buren sisters’ history-making transcontinental journey makes them an ideal partner for us.”

“Indian Motorcycle is proud to celebrate the increase in female ridership as led by the Van Buren Sisters a century ago,” says Pam Kermisch, Director of Integrated Marketing & Customer Experience at Indian Motorcycle. “Looking back at the long history of our brand, it’s events like this that cement our commitment to brand enthusiasts, patriotism and inclusive ridership at every opportunity.”

In addition to the group ride program, Indian Motorcycle will sponsor select riders with the loan of new 2016 models for the trip, including Robert Van Buren, the great nephew of the Van Buren Sisters, and Sarah “SeCCret” Moreau, who will be riding from Los Angeles, inspired her heroine Bessie Stringfield’s journey. Bessie Stringfield, an AMA Hall of Fame member, became famous for long distance riding in the 1930s and 40s. SeCCret’s tribute will be reported through Black Girls Ride magazine.

The Sisters’ Centennial Motorcycle Ride begins July 3 in Brooklyn, N.Y. Other stops along the route include Latrobe, Penn. (July 7), Pickerington, Ohio (July 8-9), Anamosa, Iowa (July 11), McCook, Neb. (July 13), Colorado Springs, Colo. (July 15), Pikes Peak, Colo. (July 15) and San Francisco, Calif. (July 23)

Are you ready to join the fun? The Buffalo Chip is excited to invite you all to experience the freedom of the open road next to your heroes, mentors and friends old and new on the Biker Belles Ride Tuesday, Aug. 9 2016.

For the first time ever, the ride will depart from the CrossRoads at the Buffalo Chip in the morning with registration open at 8:30 and the ride departure at 9:30 a.m. We will travel a breathtaking route through Vanocker Canyon, to Nemo Road, to Hwy 385, before ending at The Lodge at Deadwood.

There’s No Place Like Home

J&P Cycles’ annual Open House Rally customer appreciation event will return to its original location, the J&P Cycles retail center in Anamosa, Iowa off US Highway 151, on June 25th and 26th where it was founded and held for more than 20 years.  J&P Cycles continues the commitment to Anamosa and moving the Open House Rally back to Anamosa is a way to say thank you to all the loyal customer-family who continue to love and support J&P Cycles.

With a crowd of over 35,000 last year, Zach Parham, General Manager of J&P Cycles is “excited to be hosting our Open House Rally at the J&P Retail Center again.  With us signing a long term lease on the existing store, we thought it would be a good to bring the event back to the facility where we have been for over 20 years. We are excited to be hosting another great weekend for motorcycle enthusiasts across the Midwest.”   Throughout the Open House Rally weekend, we have great attractions for the motorcycle rider and enthusiast as well as family-friendly fun and events:

–       Over 100 on-site vendors

–       Hands-on demonstrations

–       On-site Installations

–       Bike shows

–       Motorcycle stunt shows

–       Free food

–       Giveaways

–       Live music

About J&P Cycles: Founded by John Parham and his wife Jill in 1979 as a hobby, J&P Cycles has grown into one of the largest mail-order catalogs and e-commerce websites in the motorcycle parts industry.  In addition, J&P Cycles operates three retail locations in Anamosa, IA, Daytona Beach, Fl, including our call center, and Sturgis, SD.  J&P Cycles attends over 30 motorcycle rallies and events throughout the US every year.