Motorcycling

I rode a motorcycle for the first time in 1998 at the age of 40 with a strict purpose — commuting.  I was moving back to Washington DC and commuting daily to the Pentagon near the heart of the city. I learned that motorcycles are allowed in the HOV lanes so I decided before I moved there I would learn how to ride and not be stuck in traffic daily. I signed up for the beginners Motorcycle Safety Course, prerequisite training for any rider and bought my first motorcycle within a week of arriving in Washington.  For the next two years, I commuted daily learning how to ride in the sun, wind, rain, hail, snow and ice…this was my training ground.

Now some ten years and three motorcycles later, I have had lots of varied experiences from riding and completing multiple long distance competitive rallies, including the 2003 Iron Butt Rally to riding to have lunch with my wife.

Long Distance Riding (LDR) on a motorcycle is not for everyone.  In 1997 I visited the LDR Internet List and quickly got hooked on the challenges, stories, and information contained therein.  I became a member of the Iron Butt Association (IBA) after completing my first SaddleSore 1000. This simply entails riding 1000 miles within 24 hours on my motorcycle adhering to rules sets forth by the IBA. I would go on to ride in competitive rallies, including the 2003 Ironbutt Rally, the superbowl of the sport.

The following pages will give you an idea of my experiences as I have written many essays on these travels. Please enjoy your time here at this site.  Riders of Honda motorcycles such as Pacific Coasts, ST1100s, and Goldwings may enjoy my specific pages devoted to my bikes.

Oh by the way, in the past 12 years I have visited the following states on my motorcycles.