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 Nobodies will be held liable.

Dear Kickstand,

I have a problem that is getting out of control quickly. I have become a very avid motorcyclists in the past three years. I absolute love riding and take every opportunity to ride whenever possible. Since I am a friendly sort of guy, I got into waving to other bikers and enjoy doing that also. To me it is a way of communicating to other riders the bond we have and also to express the sheer joy of riding.

About two months ago, I realized that I was looking forward to waving to others as much as the actual riding. At first that seemed odd to me, but I decided it was not that unusual. Then just last week, while driving my car, my wife asked me why I was waving to all the motorcyclists! I didn't know what she was talking about. She explained that she had noticed that the last few times we have driven together, I would wave to all the motorcyclist we passed. It is true. Since she pointed the behavior out to me, I have noticed that I wave all the time to bikers. What has really scared me is the fact that I cannot control the waving behavior. I have tried to not wave while biking and cannot stop. I have also tried to stop waving while driving in my car and I can't control myself in those situations either! It is like a compulsion. What can I do?

Sincerely,

The Happy Waver


Dear Waver,

You have a very serious condition that requires medical attention. Compulsive Waving Disease (CWD) is a degenerative neurological illness that can debilitate a person. It was first diagnosed in 1987 by Dr. Les Ness while he was working with Minnesota's Princess Kay of the Milky Way. She had participated in hundreds of parades and started waving compulsively every time she rode in a car. There is a very effective treatment for this disease and the recovery rate is nearly 100 percent. You need to go to your primary physician and tell them that you need to be tested for CWD. This is not to be confused with Chronic Wasting Disease which affects hoofed ruminant mammals such as white tail deer. So make certain your doctor knows what you are talking about.

I hope the best for you and please let us know how you are doing.

Sincerely,

Kickstand

MOTORCYCLES AND PETS

I have been an admirer of motorcyclists who have their pets ride with them. A while back I requested people to send me pictures of their motorcycle riding pets. Thanks for the response and please continue to send me pictures, as I would love to do a more extensive story.
Kickstand and Socks take a ride

I personally have just starting training my son's cat Socks to ride with me. It has been a slow, arduous and sometimes painful experience for me. Socks does a fair amount of clawing when scared. Just recently, I discovered a great book about training pets to ride. BIKER BUDDIES by Latrell Latour gives very specific and graduated steps to help train ones pet to become a great riding partner. The training method involves 120 steps. I am on step 12 with Socks. I think in about three years Socks will be riding around the neighborhood with me. The book is incredible and covers information regarding a wide range of pets from mice, snakes, cats, dogs all the way up to cows and horses!

Thanks for these great photos and the interesting stories. Montana Jack, your ability to haul sheep on a dirt bike is incredible. The photo above shows Jack with Luther a sheep that has traveled to 14 states with Jack. The saddlebag twins were naturals. As puppies they loved climbing all over Libby's motorcycle and loved laying in shopping bags. It was an easy transition to get them riding. It seems like many dogs love sidecars. Clarence has been riding since he was 10 weeks old and has logged over 60,000 miles.

Tess is a Sunday afternoon rider. She loves sunny country road rides.

Please keep the photos and stories coming. Thanks Kickstand

RIDE TO LEAVE, LEAVE TO RIDE

Motorcycling is practical! Yes it is practical even in Northern Minnesota. In our climate, riding does require some specialized clothing to allow one to have a fairly long riding season. It is possible to ride from early April all the way into late November. Granted if your commute to work is more that 10 - 15 miles there will be times one will suffer a little. But really, isn't living near Lake Superior an exercise in suffering and disappointment?

If I used my cycle strictly for recreational purposes, I would only ride occasionally. My bike would gather dust and my riding skills would be minimal and rusty. I ride every day. I ride to work. I ride to meetings. I ride on errands. I ride whenever a car is not required. It helps that my wife and I only own one car. This has forced me into being an every day rider, but I think I was genetically predisposed to be one in the first place.

When I get up in the morning, I need my motorcycle to get places. I ride to get some where important. My riding is necessary, so I ride to leave.

I also am excited about riding. If it is nice weather, I look forward to the warm sun and pleasant conditions. If is windy, rainy or stormy, I look forward to the adventure and the challenge, so
I leave to ride.

I like being one of the few bikers out and about, when the weather is lousy. Those are the days I show I am a real Nobody. "I'm from Duluth and I'm stupid!"

NOBODIES TAKE MOTORCYCLE CLUB OUT OF THEIR NAME

Three years ago two rather ordinary people, who had an affinity for the silly and weird, created a motorcycle club that stormed the world. They never intended or anticipated that their seeds of silliness would grow into an organization that eventually would cross the Atlantic Ocean with a chapter in Britain.

Kickstand (Tom) and Pretzel (Brock) the founders of the Nobodies

It was dumb luck that got the Nobodies going and now because of ignorance and stupidity a drastic name change must occur. Neither Kickstand or Pretzel realized that motorcycle clubs are formed by following a specific protocol. The process is called sanctioning and requires a formal request to a governing body. Since becoming sanctioned would require planning, organization and purpose, the Nobodies have opted to take the easy route and simply drop motorcycle club from their name. Henceforth we shall be known only as the Nobodies.

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!