Cruisin' Companions

O’Hara

Hello, I’m O’Hara, and I’m a great example of just how hard everyone here at Animal Friends is working to help rehabilitate dogs like me. I came from a bad home environment where I was kept in a cage and when I first got here, I didn’t know what to do!  I wasn’t even sure that I wanted to go outside at all!
But lately I’ve been getting better. I still get very, very excited when someone comes to see me in my cage, and I’d probably grow to love a whole house too. I’m still a little nervous when we’re out walking around, but I’m getting used to it…especially when I discovered how fun it is to sniff around! I’m very loving and gentle and only get a little aggressive around other dogs, so I’d do best in a home by myself.
I think that with some training and a strong handler, I could become a fantastic dog to have around the house; I already have the wiggling happily and begging for affection down cold. Can you help take me the rest of the way? Come see me at Animal Friends!
The Body

Don’t forget to Stretch!

Stretching is so often something people neglect to do at the end of a training session because they are usually too tired to do anything else.
Also we have seen people RUSH through each stretch and this totally doesn’t allow you to get the full benefit of stretching.
Why do we need to stretch?  It is to improve our flexibility, the range of motion that is available to our joints. Flexibility is important because:
It improves muscle balance around a joint, thus improving posture, It also reduces the chance of injury when playing a sport or in performing our every day activities.  Flexibility also increases the blood and nutrient supply to muscles and cartilage, which helps in reducing muscle soreness after training.
Stretching should not be done as a warm-up before working out, you could risk injuring your muscles if stretching them when they are cold.
The best way to warm up before a work out is At least 3 to 5 minutes of cardiovascular training.
At the end of your workout is where you should be stretching.
Each major muscle group should be stretched slowly and with control, holding each stretch for 1 to 3 minutes. Remember, hold each stretch at the point of mild tension or tightness, not to the point of pain.  
The reason It’s so important to stretch after doing any physical activity is because during exercise when muscles perform, they tighten and shorten as a result of your workout. Stretching helps to restore and improve their length.
Make sure your stretching properly after your workouts!
The Machine

Street Legal Bumper Cars!

Tell us these are not the coolest little things you’ve ever seen??   Old bumper cars turned into street machines powered by Honda and Kawasaki 750 cc motorcycle engines.   Yes, you read that right, these little beasties are street legal. All were built by Tom Wright, a builder in the outskirts of San Diego who figured the leftovers of the Long Beach Pike amusement park needed a more dignified end than the trash heap. They were originally powered by Harley motors but they rattled like hell and Tom replaced them with Honda and Kawasaki 750’s.  How cool would it be to have one of these hanging out in your garage?

The Body

“LivER” to RIDE

No we didn’t misspell the moto-mantra so many riders use daily, we wanted to talk a little about how important it is to take care of your body in order  to enjoy those days out riding.  One of the most important organs in our body is our liver.
The liver is essential for carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism, and it stores glycogen, vitamins, iron and blood. Responsible for secreting bile that aids digestive enzymes, it also enhances the absorption of fatty acids and fat-soluble vitamins. The internal lining of the liver’s vascular channels contain specialized cells that remove toxins from the blood. Acting as a blood filter, it removes damaged red blood cells and foreign invaders.
When you experience toxic overload and the detoxification function of the liver is on overdrive, the other essential functions of the liver, such as metabolism, storage and bile secretion, are compromised. Toxic overload can subsequently impact every aspect of your life.

Take care of your liver and it will take care of you! For a healthy liver, The Tao of Wellness recommend taking these steps:
Eat well. Nourish your body with an organic, balanced, nutritious diet.
Incorporate herbs and acupuncture into your life to optimize the self-healing mechanism of  your mind and body.
Exercise regularly to keep chi and blood well circulated.
Detoxify regularly.
Keep a healthy mind by letting your breath align you to the current moment.
Avoid attachments to people and things that keep you stuck in stressful thought patterns.
Minimize toxic relationships.
Enjoy a sense of humor.
Beware of environmental toxins to avoid toxic overload.
Avoid substance abuse.

For more info on maintaining a healthy liver visit the Tao of Wellness.

The Body

For all our readers in Canada, you gotta check out the Women Riders Congress and Festival

Canada’s inaugural International Women Riders Congress and Festival (IWCF) will take place at Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville, Ontario, August 11 to 15, 2010, thanks to the efforts of the Women Riders’ Council of the Motorcyclists Confederation of Canada (MCC).

With a theme of One World, One Ride, the IWCF will celebrate the achievements of women riders from across Canada and around the world while offering opportunities to enhance rider safety and enjoyment through skills training and educational seminars.   There will be a focus on common ground, creating synergy and reinforcing women riders as leaders and role models. Our vision is to continue making a positive difference in our motorcycling community and beyond.

It will be both educational and festive – with networking opportunities, organized tours, a charity trail ride, skills challenges, demo rides and vendors – something for both novice and experienced riders from all disciplines of riding.

Cruisin' Companions

CASINO

If you’re looking for a friendly, mature gentleman to spend your time with, here I am! You can “bet” on me, Casino!

I’m here at Animal Friends because my owner had medical problems and could no longer take care of me. I’m used to being around people and love a good scratch behind the ears and long walks. And when I say long walks, that’s what I mean: as a beagle, I hope you don’t mind if I stop to sniff everything in sight!

I’d be a great companion for an older person or family, as I’m not that interested in playing. I just like to nose around and hang out with you! Please come see me at Animal Friends in Pittsburgh,PA!

The Machine

You can have your cake and eat it too, Mustang Wide Tripper seat

Ready for comfort but still want a low, sleek looking seat? Look no further than Mustang….. they just extended the popular Tripper line of seats to include their new one-piece Wide Tripper™ with a full 14” width for the driver and 11” for the passenger.   Here’s the comfort you crave WITH the look you want!

The optional driver backrest provides superb back support for those longer rides.  It adjusts forward or back, up and down, and pivots to your back angle.  The backrest can be quickly added or removed without tools and easily folds to store in your saddlebag.

Mustang’s new Wide Tripper™ seat with Driver Backrest fits FL 1997-up models and sells for $579.

Celebrating their 30th anniversary this year, Mustang continues to proudly handcraft all their seats in the USA.  For more info, visit MustangSeats.com or call 800-243-1392.  Don’t  forget Mustang is offering special shipping for Garage-Girls readers, just call and mention shipping discount for Garage-Girls!

The Body

YOU Decide, who deserves the Ultimate Biker Makeover


This is it, the winners of the Ultimate Biker Makeover are up to you.  2 winners will be selected, both getting hooked up with……new riding Jacket and Gloves from Z1R,  a Vega helmet, HD Footwear boots, a cleaning kit from Wizards Products, a years subscription to IronWorks Magazine, a case of Synthetic oil from  Spectro Oils, a pair of riding glasses from 7 Eye, T-shirt from VaVaVroom, and a technology case from Otterbox. The one winner with the most amount of votes will also be scoring parts for his or her motorcycle such as, accessories from Kuryakyn, A set of AVON Tires and lots of  other goodies.

They need your vote to win.  Who will you choose?  The contestants are;

David Bardwell
down on his luck after losing his job at a Chevrolet dealership and has been forced to sell his house and possessions to care for his family.

Kathy Redman
After losing her husband to cancer all she wants to do his one day get his 81 Shovelhead back in running condition in his memory.

Judy Reed
A 52 year old rider that desperately needs help fitting her bike to herself

Please take  minute to go vote here and choose who you feel most deserves the Ultimate Biker Makeover 2010!