Pictured are the designs for the front and back of our new shirts. These are kind of based on the events of the past weekend and I hope if you were there you will stop by and pick up one of these commemorative t-shirts or they can be picked up online as well. I have heard some grumbling about parts and already have commitments from more parts vendors for our next event. I thank all of you who came out and supported us.
I have heard rumors and am trying to get them confirmed that perhaps an individual with his own agenda dropped the dime on the swap meet, so as to try and get us shut down. They were not successful I guess it is like Dan Patrick used to say "You ca't stop them you can only hope to contain them." I have never been anywhere with that level of police visibility.
Is this Sunday, April 5th at Jack's Iron Horse Bar and Grill on the St Charles Rock Road in Bridgeton. This is always a good time and the monies raised go to support motorcyclists rights. Also this will be your first opportunity to buy your I survived the Midwest Motorcycle Swap Meet t-shirts. I think the design is pretty cool and will make a nice conversation piece. Also if you can't make it to Jack's Iron Horse, I believe there is a bike show in Pevely, MO also on Sunday.
For those of you in Illinois there is another Bike Blessing and this one is at the Big Cross in Effingham. There are refreshments afterwards at Legacy Harley Davidson. We will be at Jack's but hope you have a good day no matter what you do and thanks for making us part of your biking life.
Thanks for putting on the swap meet Saturday. I thought it was successful. We, the Narrow Road Riders had a great time and met a lot of good people. We were a little surprised that the Iron Order singled our table out and each one of the presidents and officers made introductions to each of us I knew a lot of people were coming through but I had no idea it was over 2000! There were a lot of policemen there but I did not know about the sniper unit until I was leaving! That much police presence must have cost Collinsville some coin. Well anyway I just wanted you to know we were glad to be a part of it. I am also a part of ABATE St. Clair County chapter and I think they felt the same way! Doug White
SB 1351 Action Alert (note: this bill Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code to require every operator and passenger on a motorcycle, motor driven cycle, or motorized pedal cycle to wear a helmet that meets federal safety standards.) Tell your legislators to vote NO on this bill!
Amp up the calls and e-mails tomorrow is the helmet vote if you can make it to the Capitol Building in Springfield try to be there by 9:00 and look for Bob Meyers remember to be polite and respectful.
I am always proud to be a motorcyclist but today that is taken to a whole new level. People want to control our behavior and where and how we can get together and what we can wear but you guys demonstrated on Saturday that we can all just get along for a fun motorcycle event. I totally appreciate the cooperation everyone gave me and our hosts for the day the Madison County Firemen's Hall. We even got a ringing endorsement from one of our vendors the Mohawk Man. He spoke in glowing terms of not only our event but also The Biking Life. Of course law enforcement might say there was no trouble because of this footage.
Yes ladies and gentlemen we did make the 10:00 PM news on Channel 4. For those of you who missed it, here is a link to the video that was posted on youtube. I think this was a great venue and if you do to please contact the mayor of Collinsville, IL and let him know what you think but be nice. We'd like to go back there.
The crowd turned out for the first Midwest Motorcycle Swap Meet. Vendors came to Collinsville from all across the Midwest with a wide assortment of part, accessories and apparel. It might have been cool outside, but hundreds of motorcyclists took advantage of the hot specials inside.
Probable Last Post for Midwest Motorcycle Swap Meet
Just a reminder that tomorrow's Midwest Motorcycle Swap Meet at the Firemen's Hall, 9510 Collinsville Rd, Collinsville, IL is a rain or shine event. This is an indoor swap meet. If there is rain it will affect our ability to have the garage sale area but there will be a large selection of parts indoors. I hope to see many of you my friends here, bring your friends with you as well. They will thank you later. Thanks for making us part of your biking life. Here is a copy of the commercial we've been running on Charter this week on the SPEED channel.
Here is another great reason to attend the swap meet!!! You will be the among the first to pick up the April issue of the magazine.
Some are claiming their event is the biggest and the oldest. It is definitely older and maybe be some bigger,we have a tremendous facility though with plenty of room. But we are more interested in being the best. We are interested in being the best magazine and we are interested in putting on the best events. We have a superior mix of vendors all interested in making this an excellent event. Like momma told me we prefer quality to quantity. And I hope you guys will to. Thanks for making us a part of your biking life.
Does anyone out there have Charter cable and watched the Speed Channel last night? Did you see our spot for the swap meet? No one has called or emailed giving me crap so I'm wondering if it was on. If not it will also be on tonight and the rest of the week however last night it was on every half hour the rest of the week it is only once an hour.
I got the last ad yesterday and then spent the night finishing the April issue. I think it turned out well. We added more pages and were able to feature some cool stuff. We will be working on getting the web site updated so that those of you read it here will be able to do so when the new month begins if not earlier.
Also if you like I have started a Facebook account and am looking to increase my circle of friends. To become my friend visit Facebook and I am Jim Furey there. Thanks for reading.
Hi my friends and I hope that many of you consider yourselves just that. Saturday, Mach 28th, at the Midwest Motorcycle Swap Meet many who can affect our lifestyle will be watching to see if riders from all realms can coexist. That gives us an opportunity to show them that the cliches and the stereotypes are not true. I know that these stereotypes are not true and want to demonstrate that fact.
Do I have a vested interest? You bet I do. I have put myself, my credibility and my finances on the line to make this thing happen. I have found a place that will allow all bikers in once for sure. If we respect this venue and respect the organizers we can probably do this again. If however groups bring their attitudes here then we all lose, the Christian Riders and Motorcycle Ministries lose, the HOG Chapter members lose, the riding club members lose, the social club members lose, the Veteran's groups and clubs who have sacrificed for their nation lose and all motorcycle clubs lose. But in a larger sense we all lose because then we give the authorities the right to control what we wear and how we behave, we all lose a bit of freedom.
I ask all of you to come out support me and support our freedom as Americans. I once again say EVERYONE IS WELCOME BUT LEAVE THE ATTITUDES AT HOME! We have an opportunity and I need you help.
Long time friend and supporter of the magazine DJ Weil mother has passed I ask that you please keep DJ, his brothers and the family in your prayers as we will.
We are trying something a little different to promote the swap meet in the last week. We still want you and all of your friends to come but we are going to try tv advertising next week in the evenings on the Speed Channel, for the Midwest Motorcycle Swap Meet. For a preview of our spot you can visit this link to YouTube.
I have added several things to my Facebook page lately. I invite you to come check it out and be one of my friends. Heck I consider most of you to be a friend already. Check it out and I am definitely open to suggestions on how I can make it better. At any rate it is FACEBOOK Jim Furey. Thanks for making me part of your biking life.
I have created a The Biking Life Riders Group on Facebook. I invite all of you to join me their. One Sunday a month we will meet and ride, either joining a ride or going off on our own. On Sundays we ride by ourselves I am open to suggestions as to a route. For more info and to join this group click on The Biking Life Riders Group.
The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA) has effectively outlawed the sale of youth off-highway vehicles (OHVs). According to section 101(a) of the enacted legislation, all youth products containing lead must have less than 600 parts per million (ppm) by weight. The CPSC has interpreted the law to apply to various components of youth OHVs including the engine, brakes, suspension, battery and other mechanical parts. Even though the lead levels in these parts are small, they are still above the minimum threshold.More information about the ban, as well as additional tools for fighting it, can be found at www.amadirectlink.com/news/story.asp?id=629&s=banner.
There is a benefit going on for Mark Korn, one of the proprietors of Korn's Cycles. The event is at Su Wallers and goes on all day. Mark had some recent health issues and could use some help from all of us. If you can stop by and help out I know it would be appreciated. Thanks
We just got home from another busy day. We hit Frieze Harley Davidson for their Keep the Date day for the upcoming Cancer Run. Put up some more flyers for the Midwest Motorcycle Swap Meet and then finished it off with a trip to Alton to party with our friends the Bush Pilots at their clubhouse for their annual St Paddy's Party. It was a very good time you need to check it out next year and finally a very short stop at PT's in Centreville to get our freak on. Okay not exactly to get our freak on but to finalize the beauties from the club appearing at the March 28th swap meet. Just another fun reason to come folks. Thanks for making us part of your biking life.
Hello for those of you who don't know already March 28th I am putting on a swap meet in Collinsville, IL at the Firemen's Association Hall, this is just down Collinsville Rd from Fairmont Park where the ponies run, just off I-255. I ask as many of you as can to please attend, oh and bring your friends. We have a great selection of vendors and all are welcome just leave the attitudes at home. This promises to be one of the best swaps in the region. If you are planning on being a vendor and haven't signed up for your booth yet, well we are filling up fast. If you are planning to sell parts in our garage sale area, that is truly on a first come first served basis. We are also planning on an after party at Ardie and Tiny's though I will have a lot of work to do after the meet and may not get their till late. I thank all of you for your support through the years and now once again I ask for your help. Thanks for letting us be part of your biking life.
Good afternoon bikers, I thought I'd take this opportunity to remind you of the upcoming FORR Bike Blessing. This is the 23rd Annual which has to make it one of the longest running bike blessings around. This year's will once agin be at Jack's Iron Horse Bar on the St Charles Rock Rd and make sure and save the date April 5th. This is a rain or shine event although getting your bike blessed in a pouring rain doesn't sound like fun. You know The Biking Life will be here and we hope to see you here too.
Though the weather forecast is not for overly warm temperatures this Thursday, you can still join us at Geo's this Thursday and we'll try to warm up the night with a viewing of the Ghost Rider on their big screen. That ought to light up the night. We'll probably start the movie around 7 PM and I hope to see you there.
That previous post was obviously tongue in cheek but this one is for real. it is still early but the support I am seeing for my swap meet is fantastic. We are getting a great response from vendors along with I think a very diverse mix of goods and groups supporting this event. I think you are going to dig it which brings me here I need your help and your support at this event please come out and bring your friends with you. This will be a good day to find that item you have been looking for for your bike. A newly added wrinkle is an after the swap meet party at Ardie and Tiny's which is just down the road, directly across from Fairmount Park racetrack. I hope to see you there and the first 200 that say "It is The Biking Life for me" will get one of our new stickers.
I hear someone has finally done a documentary on the regions bike scene, a first. Hmm try again folks The Biking Life released our third DVD at the Wide Open show. Although, we are bikers, so we don't call it a documentary. We call at a look back at the past year. If you want to roll with an original there is only one place to do it The Biking Life Visit our website to pick up your copy and as always I thank you for making us a part of your biking life.
Damn it was nice today and while I spent most of the day trapped in my truck delivering magazines tonight was a different story. Okay maybe not a whole lot different because I was still out delivering magazines but different because I filed the bags on my bike and hit several bars and all in all put about 100 miles on my bike on just an awesome night. I hope you all got to ride today and tomorrow looks sweet as well. Thanks for making us a part of your biking life.
Was awesome I probably did my most extensive riding of the year. I took some time off from delivering magazines to hang and it was well worth it. I started off at Geo's Wings in Belleville, IL they had a nice crowd to enjoy an evening of food, fun and friends, oh and beer. I give a special shout out to Hannibal and G-Man, Invaders MC who came over to party with us and show what mutual support is all about, Road Raptors were represented as well. It was also an opportunity to see other friends like Joe and Charlene, Dan and Jen and many others.
I was told that the Hardriders had a good turn out to. I intend to make some rides this year I promise. After Geo's John Skala and I rode over to Bikers Corner to visit with our peeps there. The Corner is on North Vandeventer in St Louis and a place that is always hopping on Thursday nights. We handed out magazines and flyers for the Midwest Motorcycle Swap Meet and the upcoming Ride for Wishes event.
Speaking of the swap meet if you are considering renting a booth space from us you better contact us soon. We are really filling up fast and the closer the event gets, the more calls we are receiving. Thanks for making us part of your biking life.
This was sent to me by Dennis Kinnikin about legislative action from today. Lets make our voices heard:
SB 1351 did not die today lets stop it before it goes any further we were done dirty at the Capitol today so get the word out let you Senator's know that you oppose SB1351! We don't need a helmet law in this state!!!
Putting out information like this, of interest to motorcyclists and in many cases powersport enthusiasts of all kinds is one of the most important things ABATE does. After they do that, educate us which is what the E in ABATE stands for, then it is time for the rest of us to take action. Please contact your Illinois State Senator and let them know how you feel.
Hello, The Biking Life fans. The magazine is hitting the streets and will be coming to a shop, bar or retail outlet near you in the next couple of days. As we are delivering the magazine we are also putting up some posters for our new 2008 DVD, which is receiving rave reviews. We are also hanging paper wherever possible for our event on March 28, the Midwest Motorcycle Swap Meet. I am hearing lots of people say they are going to come out and enjoy the day with us and the vendor spots are filling up nicely. This is not going to be your daddy's swap meet. This will be, as Monty Python would say, something completely different. I look forward to seeing many of you here and I encourage you to bring some of your friends with you. I thank you for your support and I hope you enjoy our latest issue.
I am saddened by the recent passing of one of my brothers mother. Wildman, one of the engines that moved the Hartbauer/McBride Foundation, Bikers Helping Bikers, to where it is today, lost his mother over the weekend past. I ask that each of you pause a minute and pray for her and her family.
Yes folks, Freedom of Road Riders MRO(Motorcyclists Rights Organization) has reformed in St. Louis, MO under the old Local 24 banner our meetings are the third Tuesday of every month at Gringos on S Broadway in St. Louis ( South of I-55 before Loughborough) If you are a biker , regardless of make of motor and you are a for real straight up person who is interested in riding brotherhood and protecting our rights as riders then you need to be involved in this if interested you can contact Killer through The Biking Life for info.
Welcome one and all and with the start of March that means one thing. The best damn bike night in the region will once again be hosted by our friends at Geo's Wings. I know many of you have continued to patronize this fine scarfing establishment during the winter months but I now invite all of you my motorcycle enthusiast friends to join The Biking Life each and every Thursday during the riding season for an evening of fun and camaraderie at Geo's Wings on West Main St in Belleville, IL. I may not make this week's I'm still working on clearing my schedule but I will try and coerce my lovely bride Joy to be there maybe with some of that fantastic new The Biking Life 2008 DVD. Remember for a limited time you can get the 2008 DVD for $8 or both the 2007 and 2008 DVDs for $10.
The March issue is done and is currently on its way back from the printer. for those of you who cannot wait to read it or those of you outside the area that can only read it online it is now available by clicking this link. Thanks for reading and we will start delivering them as soon as we get them off the truck on Tuesday. Thanks again.
Pictured are the designs for the front and back of our new shirts. These are kind of based on the events of the past weekend and I hope if you were there you will stop by and pick up one of these commemorative t-shirts or they can be picked up online as well. I have heard some grumbling about parts and already have commitments from more parts vendors for our next event. I thank all of you who came out and supported us. 
Jim, Publisher 