Cycle Connections

If you’re looking for a great scenic ride, some of the best catfish around, and all within a couple hour ride of Kansas City, you’re in luck! Situated on the banks of the Missouri River, in Rulo, Nebraska, the Camp Rulo River Club, better know as Camp Rulo, offers some great down home cooking. Owners Jim and Lois Lunsford also serve chicken, steak and other excellent menu items, but my favorite is still the catfish. Just give me a plate for the salad bar, a cold beer and some tarter sauce, and I’m ready to do some serious eating while…

At first thought, November is a month that seems to be just so-so to many Americans across the United States. But once you start thinking about all the things that occur in this month, it is quite an eventful time. It delivers the ever changing weather, shifting rapidly between fall and winter. It brings down the last of the falling colorful leaves that many enjoy, and brings on the scorn of those who must rake them up. Thanksgiving is celebrated with the gathering of family, friends and food, and there is one other important event that is often overlooked or…

The forecast for Saturday, October 11th was cloudy and cool with a chance of rain. But that didn’t stop about 120 riders from participating in the 23rd annual Freedom Ride for MDA. The ride raises money to help MDA conquer neuromuscular diseases that affect more than a million Americans.Riders could begin the ride at either Worth Harley-Davidson North or Blue Springs Harley-Davidson. We left from the Blue Springs store which led us up 7 Highway to 24 Highway and over to 224 past Wellington and into Richmond off 13 Highway. This was the first stop for a dice roll and…

On Sunday, August 31, 2003, Harley-Davidson threw the ultimate birthday bash to celebrate their 100 year anniversary, and we were there to join in the celebration! The Party, as it was called, took place in Milwaukee’s Veterans Park on the shores of Lake Michigan, and was the grand finale of everything that lead up to this event – The Open Road Tour, the Ride Home, and the four-day celebration. On Wednesday morning, August 27th, our road trip to Milwaukee began at the intersection of Hwy. 291 and Hwy. 24 in Independence, Missouri, where my girlfriend, Margaret, and I met up…

This has definitely been an exciting year for Harley riders in Kansas City. Thunder in the Heartland ended just a couple weeks ago and now it was time for the 11th Annual Missouri State H.O.G. Rally. This year’s rally took place at the Embassy Suites KCI, in Kansas City, Platte County, Missouri, from Friday, September 5 through Sunday, September 7, and included an Early Bird Party on Thursday evening, September 4, compliments of Worth Harley-Davidson North. By Thursday, the 100+ degree heat wave had finally ended, leaving us with a great fall-type evening to ride up to the Early Bird…

What a wonderful day for the 9th Annual March of Dimes Bikers for Babies® Motorcycle Ride. There was plenty of sunshine on Sunday morning, September 14th to kick off the day’s events at the Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas. According to the organization’s National President, Jennifer Howse, this event now ranks as the March of Dimes largest motorcycle fundraising event nationwide! More than $360,000 was raised by 5,178 bikers lending a helping hand in the fight against birth defects and to prevent premature births; the #1 reason for newborn deaths.Bikers roared through the tunnel into the Speedway infield, where…

Thunder in the Heartland is what they called it, and that’s exactly what was heard in downtown Kansas City as thousands of bikers converged on Union Station and the Liberty Memorial. Kansas City was chosen as one of the rendezvous points for riders on the southwest leg of the “Ride Home” tour. Riders had left Oklahoma City on Sunday morning, August 24th, and arrived throughout the day to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of Harley-Davidson, Kansas City style.Main Street was blocked off from 20th to 27th and was turned into one giant lot for motorcycle parking. As we walked up…

My Beginning.Ever since I was a young boy, I have always been drawn to motorcycles and their modification. My parents were mystified by my ability to receive a new present, whether a scooter, skateboard or bicycle, and in a matter of a few days, turn it into something else. This character trait followed me throughout my life with cars, boats and motorcycles.When I was 12 years old, my first motorized project was a used mini-bike with a 3 HP Tecumseh engine. Within a week, I had pulled off the engine and traded it, along with my 3 speed Sting Ray…

Every day we have choices on how and where we spend our time and money. I was fortunate enough to discover this fundraising ride to be spiritual, rewarding and bonding for many riders, supporting a very caring organization. Angel Flight Central, which serves a ten-state region, has volunteer pilots flying nationwide. Their mission is to arrange transportation on behalf of people in need for the purpose of medical care or for reasons of compassion or community service. When the call went out to help organize this event, Nicole Dailey, an employee of the Kansas City Aviation Center, stepped up to…

The evening of Thursday, September 11, wasn’t your typical bike night at The Other Place in Olathe. Owner, Troy Stedman and Gail Worth-Wilson, owner of Gail’s Harley-Davidson had teamed up for a special 9-11 Remembrance Ride and Bike Night.Roger “Fatboy” Fleener, Director of the American Heartland KC Chapter Harley Owners Group (H.O.G.) helped promote the ride by sending out flyers and e-mails to Gail’s customers and to fellow H.O.G. members. Roger also contacted the Belton, Overland Park and Olathe police departments to arrange a police escort for the ride. The ride originated at Gail’s Harley-Davidson in Belton. After the rain…

Since Wednesday, September 17 was a gorgeous evening for a ride, I packed my camera and notepad in my roll bag, fired up the Fat Boy and headed to Russo’s Pizza & Pub in Lee’s Summit, Missouri for bike night. I’d been to Russo’s before, however tonight they were having a wet T-shirt contest, which gave me a little added incentive to check things out.

Veteran vs. Biker? Maybe not.How does this story tie in to this veteran’s page? My childhood story reflects my early development and display of individualism and imagination; two character traits that would take me down a life-long path of bikes and a military career.Over time, I’ve observed that many individuals with a military background share numerous traits as those who ride motorcycles. Traits such as individualism, imagination, a strong sense of adventure, risk takers, the need for speed, like being different, not afraid of being alone, seek out tight friendships, and will back a buddy in a tight situation; did…

Tying it all together.As I look back at my self-determining childhood challenges and dreams, I now realize how they helped me prepare for the seriousness of riding and a military career. Both paths led me to develop the vision and skills capable of modifying just about anything to make it work; which at times varied between the desire for comfort, necessity or just plain survival. These skills did not come naturally. Some were taught, many were developed by hands on experience, and much more came through in-depth reading. I have been taught plenty by my father, friends and a few…

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