Riding for a Cause
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Before I talk about the ride today, I thought I would list some of my thoughts on Motorcycle Rides for Charities. I look at it as a way to do good things while I am enjoying a hobby. However, I have found that their are some I like being a part of, and some I have decided to just not ride in anymore.
In Indiana, we have a riding season, usually dictated by the weather. However, the ride calendar is often dictated by hopefulness. Evidence of this is the fact that charity motorcycle rides start in late February and Early March. These are times of the year that inches of snow can blanket the landscape, and temperatures can be in the single digits, plus or minus! By the end of March, there are multiple rides every Saturday and Sunday to raise money for good causes. This lasts until past Thanksgiving often times. Heck, I know of at least two rides that take place on New Year's Day, now.
Some fund raisers have even created events that take place during the weekdays. I didn't hear about it last year, but the year before last, I was notified about a ride on a Wednesday to help out a fire fighter's family.
Something else that makes it hard to decide, all these are great causes, and need the money. I would never even think to try to get into figuring out which one needs me on The Pearl, more than others.
There are two large runs every year in Indianapolis. The first one is the Ride for Riley Children's Hospital. This is the local hospital for kids, named after the famous poet, James Whitcomb Riley. I have ridden in this ride, and did so for about five years in a row. I saw it grow past Ten Thousand Bikes! The route ends with a lap around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. During those trips, I was able to get on it at speeds from a dead stop to over 100 miles per hour. Quite a thrill, and all for a good cause.
As the event grew larger, my interest waned more. Not that I don't think this is a good cause, but just the general feel of the event. The first time I went with Shooter, he enjoyed walking around the bikes, checking the year, and checking the mileage. Most bikes have gone to Liquid Chrystal Displays for the Odometer, so they can't be read. I have to believe that thinks have not changed, and his theory held true. About eighty percent of the bikes at run like this run as many miles for a year, as I run mine in a month. Five, six, seven year old bikes with ten to fifteen thousand miles on them. Often, this lack mileage showed up in lack of experience in handling the bike, by the rider.
Needless to say, jam up ten thousand bikes, with eight thousand of them weaving, stalling and bopping from inexperience, and it is not a comfortable situation for me. As I have said, still a great cause, they can have my donation, but I think I will ride somewhere else that day.
Of course another issue with this ride, it is held the same weekend of the Soup Run. If you have read any other parts of this blog, you have seen this is a yearly run, that I look forward, and always enjoy. I guess I would just rather hop on the bike and go 400 miles for a bowl of soup. Hey I do donate to that event, to help Mr. Soup recoup his food costs. Any overages are donated to a local food bank.
The other big ride is the Loop for Life, a motorcycle run around the beltway of Indianapolis, Highway 465. I rode in this ride just once. Again, the same kind of crowd, lots of inexperienced riders who just use their bikes for only leisure, and not a second care, or a vacation vehicle like I do! This one seems to attract more sport bike riders, whose ambition is to finish first, by passing, anyway they see fit. It only took me once to decided, "Been there, done that".
So when I am going to head out for a charity ride, you can about bet it will be a small one. Several years ago, the Bloomington Chapter of Cruiser Club, USA, did a literacy run. It was a great ride of about 45 bikes. I figured the majority of the riders that participate in the rides in Indianapolis would not ride the 45 minutes down to this town that is the home to Indiana University. A little secret I have found out, the further out of town the rides are, the less the riders, especially, inexperienced ones.
Most of these kind of rides are held for one child, with health issues, and the parents are the end of their financial rope. Very grass roots, people pulling together to help the family out. So I get a more enjoyable ride, and I get to make more of an impact.
So here I am today, leaving Kasey's House in Danville, Indian, heading to the meeting point. I never know how many people will join me for a ride. When only a few show up, I have some sympathy for those who don't. There are missing miles they will never be able to get back.
Today's ride was one for hope. Ellie is the name of the poster child for this event. I don't know anything about her, or why she needs the money. Like I said, I don't want to try to prioritize, so the less I know, the better. I size them up for the amount of bikes that are likely to be there.
I started out cruising past Danville's Square, and the fair that was going on this weekend, and then continued on US 36 East, in to the edge of Avon, Indiana. Feeling the effect of a cold, and the accompanying soar throat, I arrived at the Shell at SR 267, filled the tank, and stopped inside to find something to soothe my throat.
It was not long after I walked out of the convenience store, that Kevin and Virginia showed up. I was feeling pretty confident that this would be the ride today, at least to the start of the charity run.
The three of us, on two bikes, headed out for Clayton, Indiana. We started south on SR 267, and veered on CR 100. This would lead us back west to Vestal Road. We would wind south to nearly US 40. Heading west once again on a serious of County Roads, we arrived at Cartersburg Road. We went north for a bit, then back to the west, and finally arrived on SR 39.
SR 39 would lead us south into the town of Clayton, Indiana. The starting spot was no in the town proper, but south of town along US 40. Sure, we could have taken the five mile quick route, but somehow, I made it a 16 mile trip instead. We arrived on US 40, and headed west to Elite Cheer and Dance, the starting point for the ride.
Registration was from 9am to 11am, and we were arriving about the dead center of that time. There were about ten other bikes, all parked in little groups, through out the parking lot. We parked the bikes, and began to get our bearing on where the most important things were located: Bathrooms and Registration Tables.
While waiting for the ride to begin, not many more bikes showed up. I would say the group was going to be about 20 strong. Of course, I didn't know that three motorcycle cops would show up to help the escort. After the riders meeting, and lining up, it appeared that the escort would number close to the escorted. I am sure Ellie needs a lot more support than this, but I am also sure that every little bit helps.
The group started heading west on US 40. They told us where we were heading, and I was familiar with it, as we had spent the Labor Day Weekend camping there. We strayed off on some county roads, and eventually found our way to SR 42. It was about the same way that Kasey and I cam back a couple weeks ago, while scouting camp sites.
As we got closer to the state park, you can imagine it got more and more scenic. We pulled into the park, passed the campground, and down to a shelter parking lot. After a brief stop, and warnings of the decline, we weaved our way down to the beach.
The photo op was taken, and it was a short time that we were out of the park, and back on the road. We took SR 234 north. It crossed I-70, and then winds it way north to US 40.
The National Road, US 40, would be the route for the way back to Elite Dance and Cheer. It was a nice respite. I might be annoyed that they didn't find a nice way back, but the cold was getting the better part of me.
We returned, parked in nearly the same spot, registered for prizes, that I am sure I have no chance of winning, and then grabbed our dinner for the day. We chatted across the table, perused some of the booths, and then decided to head out. Kevin and Virginia were going couch shopping, staying in town to go to the Indianapolis Colts Game the next day. I would be heading back to Kasey's in Danville.
I headed north on the county road that runs into SR 39. After winding the curves on SR 39, I arrived in Danville.
Before I talk about the ride today, I thought I would list some of my thoughts on Motorcycle Rides for Charities. I look at it as a way to do good things while I am enjoying a hobby. However, I have found that their are some I like being a part of, and some I have decided to just not ride in anymore.
In Indiana, we have a riding season, usually dictated by the weather. However, the ride calendar is often dictated by hopefulness. Evidence of this is the fact that charity motorcycle rides start in late February and Early March. These are times of the year that inches of snow can blanket the landscape, and temperatures can be in the single digits, plus or minus! By the end of March, there are multiple rides every Saturday and Sunday to raise money for good causes. This lasts until past Thanksgiving often times. Heck, I know of at least two rides that take place on New Year's Day, now.
Some fund raisers have even created events that take place during the weekdays. I didn't hear about it last year, but the year before last, I was notified about a ride on a Wednesday to help out a fire fighter's family.
Something else that makes it hard to decide, all these are great causes, and need the money. I would never even think to try to get into figuring out which one needs me on The Pearl, more than others.
There are two large runs every year in Indianapolis. The first one is the Ride for Riley Children's Hospital. This is the local hospital for kids, named after the famous poet, James Whitcomb Riley. I have ridden in this ride, and did so for about five years in a row. I saw it grow past Ten Thousand Bikes! The route ends with a lap around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. During those trips, I was able to get on it at speeds from a dead stop to over 100 miles per hour. Quite a thrill, and all for a good cause.
As the event grew larger, my interest waned more. Not that I don't think this is a good cause, but just the general feel of the event. The first time I went with Shooter, he enjoyed walking around the bikes, checking the year, and checking the mileage. Most bikes have gone to Liquid Chrystal Displays for the Odometer, so they can't be read. I have to believe that thinks have not changed, and his theory held true. About eighty percent of the bikes at run like this run as many miles for a year, as I run mine in a month. Five, six, seven year old bikes with ten to fifteen thousand miles on them. Often, this lack mileage showed up in lack of experience in handling the bike, by the rider.
Needless to say, jam up ten thousand bikes, with eight thousand of them weaving, stalling and bopping from inexperience, and it is not a comfortable situation for me. As I have said, still a great cause, they can have my donation, but I think I will ride somewhere else that day.
Of course another issue with this ride, it is held the same weekend of the Soup Run. If you have read any other parts of this blog, you have seen this is a yearly run, that I look forward, and always enjoy. I guess I would just rather hop on the bike and go 400 miles for a bowl of soup. Hey I do donate to that event, to help Mr. Soup recoup his food costs. Any overages are donated to a local food bank.
The other big ride is the Loop for Life, a motorcycle run around the beltway of Indianapolis, Highway 465. I rode in this ride just once. Again, the same kind of crowd, lots of inexperienced riders who just use their bikes for only leisure, and not a second care, or a vacation vehicle like I do! This one seems to attract more sport bike riders, whose ambition is to finish first, by passing, anyway they see fit. It only took me once to decided, "Been there, done that".
So when I am going to head out for a charity ride, you can about bet it will be a small one. Several years ago, the Bloomington Chapter of Cruiser Club, USA, did a literacy run. It was a great ride of about 45 bikes. I figured the majority of the riders that participate in the rides in Indianapolis would not ride the 45 minutes down to this town that is the home to Indiana University. A little secret I have found out, the further out of town the rides are, the less the riders, especially, inexperienced ones.
Most of these kind of rides are held for one child, with health issues, and the parents are the end of their financial rope. Very grass roots, people pulling together to help the family out. So I get a more enjoyable ride, and I get to make more of an impact.
So here I am today, leaving Kasey's House in Danville, Indian, heading to the meeting point. I never know how many people will join me for a ride. When only a few show up, I have some sympathy for those who don't. There are missing miles they will never be able to get back.
Today's ride was one for hope. Ellie is the name of the poster child for this event. I don't know anything about her, or why she needs the money. Like I said, I don't want to try to prioritize, so the less I know, the better. I size them up for the amount of bikes that are likely to be there.
I started out cruising past Danville's Square, and the fair that was going on this weekend, and then continued on US 36 East, in to the edge of Avon, Indiana. Feeling the effect of a cold, and the accompanying soar throat, I arrived at the Shell at SR 267, filled the tank, and stopped inside to find something to soothe my throat.
It was not long after I walked out of the convenience store, that Kevin and Virginia showed up. I was feeling pretty confident that this would be the ride today, at least to the start of the charity run.
The three of us, on two bikes, headed out for Clayton, Indiana. We started south on SR 267, and veered on CR 100. This would lead us back west to Vestal Road. We would wind south to nearly US 40. Heading west once again on a serious of County Roads, we arrived at Cartersburg Road. We went north for a bit, then back to the west, and finally arrived on SR 39.
SR 39 would lead us south into the town of Clayton, Indiana. The starting spot was no in the town proper, but south of town along US 40. Sure, we could have taken the five mile quick route, but somehow, I made it a 16 mile trip instead. We arrived on US 40, and headed west to Elite Cheer and Dance, the starting point for the ride.
Registration was from 9am to 11am, and we were arriving about the dead center of that time. There were about ten other bikes, all parked in little groups, through out the parking lot. We parked the bikes, and began to get our bearing on where the most important things were located: Bathrooms and Registration Tables.
While waiting for the ride to begin, not many more bikes showed up. I would say the group was going to be about 20 strong. Of course, I didn't know that three motorcycle cops would show up to help the escort. After the riders meeting, and lining up, it appeared that the escort would number close to the escorted. I am sure Ellie needs a lot more support than this, but I am also sure that every little bit helps.
The group started heading west on US 40. They told us where we were heading, and I was familiar with it, as we had spent the Labor Day Weekend camping there. We strayed off on some county roads, and eventually found our way to SR 42. It was about the same way that Kasey and I cam back a couple weeks ago, while scouting camp sites.
As we got closer to the state park, you can imagine it got more and more scenic. We pulled into the park, passed the campground, and down to a shelter parking lot. After a brief stop, and warnings of the decline, we weaved our way down to the beach.
The photo op was taken, and it was a short time that we were out of the park, and back on the road. We took SR 234 north. It crossed I-70, and then winds it way north to US 40.
The National Road, US 40, would be the route for the way back to Elite Dance and Cheer. It was a nice respite. I might be annoyed that they didn't find a nice way back, but the cold was getting the better part of me.
We returned, parked in nearly the same spot, registered for prizes, that I am sure I have no chance of winning, and then grabbed our dinner for the day. We chatted across the table, perused some of the booths, and then decided to head out. Kevin and Virginia were going couch shopping, staying in town to go to the Indianapolis Colts Game the next day. I would be heading back to Kasey's in Danville.
I headed north on the county road that runs into SR 39. After winding the curves on SR 39, I arrived in Danville.
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