Spring 2019! May 1^st without a cloud in the sky! A glorious day to ride and here I am acting like I can actually type when I should be terrorizing the country side. I’ll make up for it starting tomorrow. We ride all year but, the REALLY good stuff starts now!

Last weekend was the Coastal Classic to Morro Bay. We had an excellent turnout and I believe I can speak for all who attended that it was a great weekend. Great food, fantastic roads, good friends and NO damn rain! Thanks to Terry for his job at cat herding a group ride down and providing a number of different ride options, and to Capt. Ken for posting those routes on the forum. The coastal area is absolutely stunning this time of year. If you haven’t participated in this ride, you should. It is a minimum  700 mile weekend if you just chill Sat. Check out new pics in the gallery.

April the 13^th was A&S’s Spring 0pen house and it sounded as tho’ it was a success as it usually is. Thanks to all RCB chefs who prepared flawless Burgers and Frankfurters Flambe’ (sic?) to feed the the starving masses attending this event.

Sat, following the meeting is our annual Memorial Poker run for all of our beloved members who have left us. This year, as their loss has been so recent, we will ride in memory of Tom Reid, Kim Rydalch, and Mike Paetzold. RIP and Ride on wherever you may be friends! We will register at A&S and get route sheets and official Poker Run instructions. I believe the Capt. may be downloading Garmin files for us but don’t hold me to that! We end up in Lincoln where Bob and Joanie Highfill will host the post ride lunch of Tacos with the fixin’s. 50/50 raffle and bonus raffle prizes in store after lunch. Come one, come all!

Tho’ not a club event, Sat. May 18^th is the Sacramento Mile Flat Track races at Cal. Expo. We try to go every year and we always have a ball there. Keep in mind, this event once through the gate is a cash only event and they are very proud of their beverages and charge accordingly. And….., if you didn’t know,  there is Fast Fridays at the Auburn fairgrounds. Another cash deal but very reasonable and fun for Speedway racing.

Norcal will be hosting their 49er rally at the Mariposa Fairgrounds May 23^rd to the 27^th. There will be a number of us representing RCB down there. Great riding down there and a lot to do at the rally.

Trinity Classic signups are open for our Lewiston campout June 7^th, 8^th, 9^th and we’ve got a good crew signed up already. Please signup if you haven’t so our hosts, The Kiltons will know how much grub to procure for the Sat. night Chile feed. Another knock it outta the park riding area so come and join in.           

And for GS riders, sign up for Scott’s Nevada Outback ride June 21^st, 22^nd, 23^rd . Details are on the forum so sign up early so Scott knows the amount of provisions he will need for that event.

So, there ya go! Should be a great start to a busy riding season. Do your Maintenance, check your tires, inventory your on the road repair essentials and get OUT AND RIDE!!

See ya on the road!

Mike

 Here it is April 1, 2019 and this is no joke! It’s raining. Again. I know we need the rain and snow pack but dang, enough already. That being said I’m guessing we’re all ready for some nice riding weather. I’m ready to shelve my heated gear till next winter. Also, it’ll be nice riding cleaner roads. They’ve been nasty this winter with all the water and the potholes seem to be growing. Capt. Ken has posted the club ride for the month and it looks like there’s a possibility it’ll get rained out. Again! Got 4 more days so, maybe the weather folks will be wrong. Weather permitting and if we have enough riders interested we can form a relaxed riding group with Marv Lewis to lead the charge. We will form a relaxed group every month from now forward if needed. We want the club to be rider friendly to all.

 April 13^thA&S is hosting Their “Season Opener”. Demo rides as usual with a number of vendors to include Klim with all of the latest gear. RCB will assist with their culinary expertise providing chefs to masterfully prepare BURGERS AND DOGS!. There will be a donation jar for Camp Okizu-Kids with Cancer. I am a cancer survivor so this is important to me. I have a few chefs lined up but we could use a few more. Come on down and eat a burger, flip a BUNCH  of burgers and have a good day around motorcycles! Perfect.

 April 26, 27 and 28 is the Coastal Classic to Morrow Bay. Looks like a good turn out already. This year should be great as the Coastal Highway is open for the first time in a coupla years. Information on lodging is on the forum as well as GPS' files for routes. If you want to go you best secure your lodging now. There may also be camping options if rooms are booked. Should be a great ride and a great weekend.

 Next up on May 4^thfollowing our meeting we will have our Memorial Poker Run.  Since this is a Memorial run I would like to dedicate this years run to both Kim Rydalch and Mike Paetzold who both recently passed. Both of these gentlemen contributed much to RCB through the years and they will be missed around our campfires but not forgotten. Ride on and RIP to our brother riders. All info for the run will be at the May club meeting. The run will end at Bob and Joanie Highfill's house in Lincoln where we will eat a bunch of tacos! After the feast we’ll start tossin cards around and see who wins what. Bob tells me there were 38 bikes at his house last year. I’d like to see us jam up his whole block. Let’s do it!

 This meeting (Apr. 6) we will have Sonja Conklin with AirMed Services give us a presentation on their Air Evac services. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. If you ride away from home, in the mountains, to other states, this is a no brainer. You pay more for a tire then you do for this insurance, which is reasonable. Everyone in your home is covered whether they be on a bike or in a car. Doesn’t matter. I would rather pay the yearly premium then have to finance a very expensive helicopter ride. Just my 2cents.

 So, here’s to a great riding season in 2019. Everyone ride safe, often and keep your eyes on the event calendar. Come ride with us, camp with us, and get to know us. I’ve had more fun and good times, and made more friends with RCB then any other organization I’ve belonged to. We are not bike snobs. We don’t care what you ride. (As long as it isn’t loud. In which case you can ride in back) Come join in!

Gonna go out on a limb and use my friend and ex-Prez Jack’s tag line on his columns,

Thoughts/Suggestions/Insults Welcomed!

See ya Sat.

Mike

Wow,  Seems as though it was Jan 1 yesterday and I woke up this morning and it is almost March! Where the heck does the time go? Anyway, here we are anticipating an approaching NEW riding season. NICE! What’s not to love! 

In spite of all the wetness we’ve experienced so far this year the nutjobs I ride with have managed to accrue some pretty major mileage this winter while dodging major snow fall, massive floods and pouring rain. We are so lucking to live here as we really don’t need battery tenders unless we have multiple bikes. I’m lucky to have two so I do own a tender. Poor folks back east and in colder parts actually put their bikes into hibernation mode. This is a great place to be a motorcyclist in. My GS is nasty dirty right now and would not be allowed in a Starbucks! That’s perfect cause the coffee costs too much and puts me in a foul mood! 

Thanks to Greg and Cyndee Peart for hosting the annual Whale tour in Mendocino taking place this weekend.The first real RCB event of the year. This is their 15^th year hosting this event! Thanks again to the Pearts. Go too, and check out the Events calendar to keep up on future events. 

We are currently working through the fine tuning of the new website and I feel as though the site is much more user friendly then when it was rolled out. If there is something you see within the site that could be improved,by all means please bring it up. Bring it up at the meeting or approach a club officer or director.Your opinion matters, it’s your club too. Really. This also applies to events. Got a good idea for a new event? Let’s hear it! Got an idea to improve an old event? Let’s hear it! We encourage member participation! 

Things have changed a bit within the club officer and director positions. Thanks to all our returning directors. Nice to have and welcome new directors Bob Highfill and Rick Kilton to the fold. I’m honored to have Gordy as my right hand man and RCB VP. His past experience as Prez is invaluable. The website management will now be in Karl’s hands and Scott will manage the club’s fortunes as Treasurer. As always Capt. Ken will be our ride leader. Many thanks to all who volunteer for the clubs greater good. Thanks  again to Jack K. for serving as our Prez. It took many MOA Internationals but remember, Jack was the Prez when RCB won the plaque for most represented in a charter club at the Salt Lake City MOA Int’l. That was cool. As always, the entire board of directors and officers will continue working to keep OUR club fun and fulfilling to all members. 

Sonja Conklin from AirMedCare Network will make a presentation at next months club meeting that offers air evac services. As riders who are often in every imaginable or unimaginable situation this service is kinda a no brainer in my mind. The policy covers not just you as a rider but any relative under your roof. There is a club savings to join. Sonja will be there for any questions and any help we may need for program enrollment. I bring this up now because I think all members need the opportunity to procure this service before prime riding begins. 

Yep, this being my first monthly column as your new Prez I am confident that along with our Board of Directors and Club Officers the future of River City Beemers is in capable hands. As always. 

Every ride is an adventure. Ride often. Ride safe.  

See Ya! 

Mike 

After counting all ballots, resolving all hanging chads, and taking into account those whose votes may have been frustrated by the weather the results of the election are final and hereby certified. All hail the new Chief.

President: Mike Robles

Vice President: Gordy Olson

Treasurer: Scott Moseman

Secretary: Rand Olson

Newly Elected Board of Directors: Al Morrison; Karl Weiland; Bob Highfill; Bob Brown; Ray Nuguit; Rick Kilton; Marv Lewis; Ken Caruthers

Returning Directors: Mike Harvey; Ray Trujillo; Bob Rasters

This will be the last time you will have to indulge my musings in the President’s Corner. We now look forward to El Jefe Robles’ remarks.

You, however, can consider my current state of mind on motorbiking, riding and life in the RCB Newsletter. In that regard, I want to give a shout out to Larry Klein for taking over the Newsletter until health issues got in the way. Larry, we hope you are doing well.

A couple times while President prospective members approached me to ask whether the Club did anything other than the monthly meetings. Knowing all we do I was flummoxed. The lesson is we need to be better about letting others know we are an active riding Club. To that end I want to reiterate a pledge made at the member meeting Saturday morning. Please send me photos of your adventures, camp-outs, a great restaurant, a fabulous brew pub, etc. for the Newsletter. If you send me three or more photos for the Newsletter (hopefully with at least brief comments about where taken and circumstances) I will buy you breakfast. If you send me a ride report (however brief), a review of the latest farkle or equipment, tech tips, riding tips /lessons from the road, camping/camp site suggestions, recommended rides and restaurants, or anything else you may be pondering I will buy you breakfast. The Newsletter is a place where we can share what we are doing and thinking with one another and prospective riding buddies. My e-mail address is jacklau@comcast.net.

Also, keep an eye on the calendar and Forum for new events and details on currently scheduled events for 2019.

Many thanks for your support, and best to Mike and the other new Officers and Directors.

Jack

I hope your holidays were exceptional.

When I agreed to run for President I warned everyone work would interfere with Presidential duties, but I would do my best to avoid conflicts. Unfortunately, work commitments conflicted with RCB obligations more than I’d hoped for. Work commitments in 2019 look worse so it’s time to hand the Presidency to someone who can attend Board and member meetings consistently.

We are going to hold an election at the member meeting on February 2. If you are willing to serve as an officer or Board member please send me an e-mail so I can add your name to those who have expressed a willingness to serve. We really are interested in people with new ideas and a willingness to commit a few hours a month to RCB affairs. Currently, the slate looks like this:

President: Mike Robles; You?

Vice President: Gordy Olson; You?

Treasurer: Scott Moseman; You?

Secretary: Rand Olson; You?

Board of Directors (7 positions open): Al Morrison; Karl Weiland; Bob Highfill; Bob Brown; Ray Nuguit; Rick Kilton; Marv Lewis; Ken Caruthers; You?

Returning Directors: Mike Harvey; Ray Trujillo; Bob Rasters    

It has been my privilege to be your President. Thanks for all your support.

Jack

RCB 2019 Calendar of Events

January	5	Monthly Club Meeting/Ride
February	2	Monthly Club Meeting / Elections	8 AM Susie's Cafe
	2	Greg Peart Talk	A&S after member meeting
	14-17	Airheads Death Valley	Furnace Creek – Death Valley
March	2	Monthly Club Meeting/Ride
	1-3	Whale of a Tour / Mendocino	Sea Gull Inn - Mendocino
	30	Proposed Tech Day	Rancho Murieta
April	6	Monthly Club Meeting/Ride
April	26-28	Coast Ride / Hwy 1	Morro Bay
May	4	Monthly Club Meeting / Memorial Poker Run
	24-26	49’er Rally	Mariposa
June	1	Monthly Club Meeting/Ride
	7-9	Spring Fling	Lewiston
	13-16	MOA National Rally	Lebanon, Tennessee
	21-23	Nevada Outback GS Camping and Ride	TBD
	28-30	Chief Joseph Rally	John Day, Oregon
July	6	Monthly Club Meeting/Ride
	18-21	Top O’ The Rockies Rally	Paonia, Colorado
August	3	Monthly Club Meeting/Ride
	16-18	Tahoe Chill	Camp Richardson, South Lake Tahoe
	30 to Sept. 2	Range of Light Gypsy Tour	Must ride it to know.
September	7	Monthly Club Meeting/Ride
	6-8	Mt. Lassen Camping	Lost Creek Group Campground, Mt. Lassen National Park
October	4-6	Monthly Club Meeting Manchester Beach	Manchester Beach KOA
November	2	Monthly Club Meeting/Ride
	17	2020 Planning Meeting
December	7	Monthly Club Meeting/Ride
	TBD	Christmas Party	A & S

 

Proposed Rider Skills Improvement Day – Thunderhill Raceway Park

It’s appropriate I finally am getting round to writing Thanksgiving morning. I take a minute to get on the soapbox. The Club only is as good as members are willing to volunteer to organize and run events. Similarly, if the Club is not doing an event you would like to have happen, speak up. We are open to almost anything.

Many thanks to those who have volunteered this year.

Greg Peart for the Mendocino B&B Ride.

Marv (for storing our trailer and stuff) and Ken for the Memorial Poker Run, and Bob Highfill for hosting the feast after the Poker Run.

Rick and Mike for the Spring Classic.

Scott for the Nevada Outback GS Ride.

Gordy, Lynell, Steve and Jenny for the Tahoe Chill.

Ralph for cooking at Mt. Lassen.

Just Bob for cooking Saturday dinner at Manchester Beach (for about 80 people). Ray Trujillo for coffee and b’fast fixins’ over the weekend.

Capt. Ken for monthly rides.

Bob Brown for membership and Karl for keeping Club finances straight.

Ray T. and Steve for the raffles.

Officers and Directors for their time and help behind the scenes.

Personal thanks to Mike for filling in for me when work interferes with Presidential duties.

We had a great turn out for Manchester Beach. The weather was perfect.

A special thanks to Just Bob and Terri for smoked brisket, chicken and fixins for dinner Saturday for about 75 people.

A special thanks to Ray Trujillo and Nancy for coffee, fruit, bagels, etc. in the morning (early morning).

A personal thanks to Larry Campbell for his Shake n' Bake.

Cheers!

Jack 

The Annual Fall Colors Ride for 2018 is this Sunday, October 21 and will include Ebbetts, Monitor, and Sonora passes, with a lunch stop at the great Mountain View BBQ.

We'll meet at the Ihop at 2525 Iron Point Rd. in Folsom. Arrive by 7 or earlier for breakfast before departing at 8 AM.

It'll be a 350 mile day and take about 8 hours, with stops for breaks and lunch.

Ride Often, Ride Safe

Jack

We are closing in on the 2018 Fall Classic aka Manchester Beach - the club's biggest event of the year. Our member meeting for October will take place Saturday evening after Fred's Bloody Mary's and an awesome dinner planned by Just Bob, followed and upstaged by a raffle (over $700 spent on raffle prizes) and beers around the campfire. 

Please sign up so we can have an accurate count for food and beverages.

Cheers,

Jack