ASK KICKSTAND

Ask Kickstand is an email advice column dedicated to motorcycle questions. These questions can be technical; regrading mechanical issues, safety related, philosophical, spiritual or relationship issues.

Disclaimer: Kickstand is not a psychiatrist, a professional mechanic, Motorcycle Safety Trainer, pastor or a social worker. If a reader chooses to follow Kickstand's advice it is with the understanding that neither Kickstand nor the Nobody Motorcycle Club will be held liable.

Dear Kickstand,

A couple of weeks ago I noticed a guy riding his motorcycle with a dog standing on their gas tank.
I have never seen such a sight before. Are there a lot of motorcyclist that have their pets ride with them?

Sincerely,

Curious George

Dear Curious,

That is a great question. I really don't know how many motorcyclist have pets ride on their cycles. I have seen one fellow with a long haired Chihuahua riding on the gas tank and I have also seen a couple of folks with their larger dogs riding in sidecars. Lets see if we can get our expansive audience to respond to this question!

Dear Readers,

Please send me photos and descriptions of pets you have witnessed riding on motorcycles. Just send your accounts to my email address found on my profile.

Thanks for your help!

Kickstand

THE POTATO RIDE

The Potato Ride is an annual event that very few of the Nobodies attend. One needs to have a garden with space for a few potatoes to be eligible. This year only one Nobody qualified. The ride was held on Friday May 22.
Some mighty fine seed potatoes were purchased by Kickstand at the Duquette Store

It is a 40 mile drive down Highway 23 from Duluth to the Duquette General Store. Highway 23 is a great single lane highway, that is scenic and has low traffic.

The general store has a very good deli with its speciality being the BBQ beef sandwich. This is a sandwich that has chunks of beef, none of that shredded wimpy stuff.

Make plans for your vegetable garden so you can join all the Nobodies on the Potato Ride next year.

NOBODY MOTORCYCLE MUSEUM OPENS

Down a secluded country road near Duluth is a very unusual museum. There are many motorcycle museums in the world, but none can compare to the Nobody Common Man Motorcycle Museum.

The above picture is part of an exhibit entitled "Garage of Dreams". It is a very powerful exhibit that evokes the sense of hope despite the disrepair of the motorcycle objects.

This exhibit is entitled " Coming and Going". It is riveting and full of energy.

The exhibit entitled " The Clash of Wheels" explores the evolution of motorcycle art.

The range of cycles is evident in this exhibit displaying a 1962 Bridgestone 175 and a 1997 Latrotta Speed Devil.

Every hour one of the museum staff do a demonstration ride.

This exhibit is entitled "Crotch Rocket Rash". It explores the reality and the results of crashing a motorcycle. This exhibit is not for the faint of heart.

One thing that makes this museum unique is the ride exhibits. Dirty Deeds takes the Norwegian Chopper OLE for a ride.

The fabulous glove collection is contained in a 2,000 square foot chrome room. I would advise any visitor to wear sunglasses, while in the glove room. The glove collection gives one an appreciation of the many practical changes that have occurred in motorcycle glove construction. At the end of this exhibit one has the option of buying a pair of custom gloves!

BLESSING OF THE BIKES

PERKINS WEST; A GOOD GATHERING OF BIKERS

The Nobodies recognize the Blessing Of The Bikes as the official start of the biking season. The schedule is as follows on Sunday May 24.
*9:00 Breakfast at Perkins West (40th Ave. West) followed by a ride up to the Vineyard Church.
*11:00 Service (very people friendly)
*12:30 BBQ (Famous Dave's) and Blues Band (Hambone, good band)
*1:30 Bikers and bikes are blessed (no weird stuff)
*2:30 Group ride.




A WIDE VARIETY OF BIKES, FUN TO STROLL AND LOOK

PRETZEL EXPERIENCED CYCLE ENVY

LOTS OF PEOPLE, BIKES, FOOD AND MUSIC

IS THAT A CX 650 IN THE FOREGROUND? SWEET BIKE!

Hope you can get your bike going and join the biker crowd for a great day. Any question just contact Kickstand.

NOBODY'S PERFECT RIDE

MOTORCYCLE SAFETY FOUNDATION BASIC RIDING COURSE AT LSC
If you have ever taken a Motorcycle Safety Foundation course, this event will jog your memory. We set up several skill stations, which will help you knock some of the rust off your cycle skills. We will meet at The Heritage Hockey Center parking lot on Saturday May 23 at 1pm. After doing the skill stations, if you are interested we will take a little ride. It is one of our interesting and unpredictable rides; The Who's Leading Anyway Ride.










JAWA THE PUTTZ AT THE DULUTH DMV MOTORCYCLE TEST LOT

Hope you can make it to this life saving event.

TWO BIT RIDE

KICKSTAND AND JAWA THE PUTTZ READY TO RIDE

It was 42 degrees with a light rain, when all the Nobodies got on their bikes and headed to the starting point of the Two Bit Ride. Jawa, Kickstand and Dirty Deed came in from the western part of Duluth, while other Nobodies headed in from other points. Jawa rode down from Ely Mn. the day before. " I missed this ride last year and I regretted it the entire cycle season", explained Jawa. " This year I was determined to participate."

JAWA AND DIRTY DEEDS WAITING FOR THE OTHER RIDERS

We were anticipating 6 - 8 riders, but for some reason only three showed up. I don't know if it was the cold or the rain. Maybe it was the combination of cold and rain. The good news was and is that numbers mean absolutely nothing to the Nobodies. In fact, some of my favorite group rides have been the ones I've done by myself!

LIKE DUCKS IN THE WATER

Dirty Deeds rode the first leg of the ride, then common sense kicked in and she headed to the warmth of her house. Jawa and I have never had much common sense. We ended up riding 100 miles together.

CARLTON MN. LUNCH AND WARM UP TIME

If you are not familiar with the Two Bit Ride. Each participant starts with $10.00. Throughout the ride there are various stops in which one is instructed to make a purchase, such as buy some thing to hang on your bike or buy some thing to drink. The object of the ride is to have exactly $.25 left at the end of the ride. The only information give to the participants was that they would be purchasing five items.

THESE PICTURES WERE TAKE NEAR THOMPSON MN. AT THE SAINT LOUIS RIVER

The final leg of our ride was through Jay Cooke State Park. It is a very scenic and cycle sensational road to ride. Jawa and I tied for last place, as we both spent $11.80. I have never been very good at math and since Jawa retired he has been throwing money around like there is no tomorrow.

BLESSING OF THE BIKES

2008 BLESSING OF THE BIKES RALLY

On Sunday May 24 the Nobodies will be attending the Vineyard Church's Blessing of the Bikes Rally. It is a great day. If you want to take in all the festivities meet at the Perkins at 40th Ave. West at around 9 am and have breakfast with you biker buddies. The service at 11am will be at the new Vineyard building on Arrowhead Road ( a few blocks west of Kenwood Ave.) after the service there is a BBQ thanks to Famous Dave's and a very good blues band. If you want to have you and your bike blessed there is a set time prior to the BBQ. I is a good way to start out the biking season inviting God to travel with you.