Pumped

Joy and I are truly pumped about our upcoming trip to Chi town for the Chicago Motorcycle Show and Parts Expo at the McCormick Place. This will feature some of the best vendors around and there will be the unveiling of the Mowhawk Man's Tribute Bike designed and built by Psychotic Air. I have seen snippets of it in pics but not the whole thing, but from what I have seen it should be off the charts. If you make it up there stop by our booth and say hello. Thanks for making us part of your biking life.

Going to the Swap Meet

Well we are getting ready to head off to the swap meet at Fairmount Park. This is just off !-255 at the Collinsville Rd exit. Promises to be a good event and we hope to see many of you here. Show special while they last DVDs one for $3 or two for $5.

Nobody Tells Us What To Do

I recently had someone offer to write a column for the magazine. He told me that others were already going to print it. Then he gave me a list of conditions to agree to. The column idea was a good one and one I have been pursuing with someone else. However we at The Biking Life do not allow anyone to dictate what our policies should be. We are independent I guess if you are a franchise business though you are probably used to having someone dictate what your policies should be.

Also as I have said before both here, in the magazine and to potential submitters, The Biking Life prints unique stories and features, with the exceptions of press releases and written advertisements. You will not find stories in The Biking Life, that you have read elsewhere. We have enough unique content to fill a couple of magazines every month.

An Original Idea

Once again it has been documented we at The Biking Life just have better ideas and can think outside the box. Then others come along afterward and duplicate our ideas and sometimes want to claim them as being original. Hey like the old slogan said "often imitated never duplicated." Well we'll just keep coming up with different ideas cause that is how we roll. We brought you well the first magazine in the area, the first bike nights in the area, we are who organizations come to, to put on their bike shows, we had the original friend's ride, we put on the first true bike art show. I am proud of the things we have done and we continue to try to come up with new ideas to enhance your biking life. As always I thank you for making us part of your biking life.

Midwest Motorcycle Swap Meet

Well the weather was a little frightful but that didn't stop folks from all over from attending the latest Midwest Motorcycle Swap Meet. We had people come from Cape Girardeau, MO, Peoria, IL and Iowa just to try and find the parts they needed at yesterday's event in Hannibal, MO. We had some really terrific vendors and everyone had a great time a big thanks to Joe Schuette of The Rocket Band for djing for us and the folks from the American Biker Charities served up some tasty food. We thanks everyone who came out for making this yet another successful event.

This Weekend's Events

It is winter and not a ton of stuff going on but here are a few events that are happening this weekend the Danielle Bement Benefit is truly worthwhile and of course we would love to see you on Sunday in Hannibal, MO.

Saturday
FORR Local 19 Auction and Party 5:00 - 8:00 PM at El Kadir Shrine South Highway 63. Kirksville, MO. 660.665.3312

The Danielle Bement & Cameron Fortner Benefit at J.B. Reys, 2924 Telegraph RD., Saint Louis, MO starts at 5:00 PM please support this event

Shake Your Snowflake Winter Dance!! Desoto Amvets, Highway 21 & Amvets Drive, DeSoto, MO starts at 6:30 PM

Sunday
Midwest Motorcycle Swap Meet at the Admiral Coontz Rec Center 301 Warrenn Barrett in Hannibal, Mo gates open for early bird at 9 and regular admission at 10

No Riding Today

But do you realize Daytona Bike Week is less than 6 weeks away and that means we will pretty much be riding again right around then. Hope you were safe today and somewhere warm. Joy and I did some tiling and I shoveled some snow. See you soon

Hannibal Needs A Bigger Building

Unlike some events we need more room we have maxed out on vendors yet they keep calling. Yes I guess the word has gotten out on how Midwest Motorcycle Swap Meets and The Biking Life put on an event and the vendors and the people who attend love it. Thanks for supporting us and only a few hours left before Hannibal begins. I hope you all stay safe and warm this evening also.

Swap Meets

Just five days left until our Hannibal Swap Meet. It is sold out we are now telling potential vendors that they can come and if someone else doesn't show up they can have their spot. This is truly going to be a parts a palooza. We have a bunch of new parts guys and there will be something here for other than Harley Riders also. I hope to see many of you there. Take care and thanks for making us part of your biking life.

Warm Spell

After the last few days today feels like a riding day. It was great seeing a bunch of you at Geo's last night and the talk about cannibalistic buffalo made for a fun evening. If you missed it then please join us next Thursday for the only bike night that goes all year long. Whether you ride or not Geo's is always great fun.

Interesting

You know what i find interesting is that a person who I heard was talking about me losing a major distribution point, which wasn't true. Is one of the one's whose business is obviously having difficulty while hey here we are going strong. Thanks for making us part of your biking life.

Motorcycle Business

The motorcycle business is obviously a tough one right now particularly in the metro east. One big bike dealer is reorganizing and another bike shop is moving to a much smaller location. It will be interesting to see how the new taxes affect others. In the truest sense all business is tough right now, the strong and the smart will survive.

Personal Note

On a personal note we recently had one of our dogs disappear. I will post a picture I know the chances of someone seeing and helping return the dog through this blog is remote but we would appreciate any help anyone can give. So take a look and if you see her or a dog that looks like her please contact us. Thanks

Riding

Well from the looks of things I guess I am not riding today. If you are out and about today please be cautious and make sure you get to where you need to go in one piece. That way we'll see you out riding in a few days when the weather gets better.

Hannibal Swap Meet Commercial

If you want to check out our commercial for our upcoming swap meet in Hannibal, Mo we invite you to click on this link. Thanks for making us part of your biking life..

Got A Call Today

From a potential advertiser they said they told a friend they wanted to reach the motorcycle community and were thinking about using someone else and this advertiser said I get great results using The Biking Life. Loyal advertisers like this help us to continue to deliver our magazine to you for free. Please continue to patronize our advertisers and let other businesses you visit know about us too. Thanks for making us part of your biking life.

Piasa Gateway ABATE Snowball Run

Stopped by the start today of their run though the weather was cold nice turnout wish I could have ridden but honey dos to do while the events are down some. Did give a pair of Rain Chaps as a donation though.

Patriot Guard

While I was out delivering magazines yesterday I timed things so I could be near Bethalto, IL at about the time of the services fro LCPL Kenny Corzine. The number of Patriot Guard riders that came out to support this mission was overwhelming. What was even more overwhelming was the huge number of people that came out to honor an celebrate the life of this young American hero who valiantly gave of himself to serve all of us and paid the ultimate price. Please keep his family and all of our nation's service members and their families in your prayers.

Assertions

There have been assertions made by others here that the clubs do not appreciate me taking a stance against events and places that do not allow colors or patch holders nothing could be further from the truth. I receive a lot of support from many clubs, it is a mutual respect thing. Do I trumpet these private conversations and kudos no because that is what they are. So for anyone to claim they know about my private conversations and meetings is folly.

Someone also attacked me here recently as being less than Christian I probably do not live up to every thing a Christian should be. But I also do not pass judgement on others people's spirituality or lack of it. As I said at that time my beliefs are my private business. I am more than happy to discuss these matters in an appropriate setting. This is not such a forum.

Finally I have changed the setting on this blog if you want to post comments you need to have a gmail account. Not a big deal but this will eliminate the anonymous postings. Thanks for making us part of your biking life.

Great Day Today

Today was a good day generated some new business for the magazine and met some good people on the road. It is always a good day though when you get to live the biking life.

Patriot Guard Mission

Many believe that protesters will be here so please come out and support this mission i plan to be there Thursday morning. Do not let this hero's final ride be marred by this hate group.

LCpl Kenneth A Corzine, 23, US Marines - Bethalto, IL - 03, 05, 06 Jan 11

The family of LCpl Kenneth "Kenny" A Corzine has invited the Patriot Guard to stand in honor of and lead all aspects of the loved one's final mission. Please join together to offer our support to his family and friends. LCpl Corzine, following a month long battle, succumbed to his injuries suffered in an IED attack while serving in Afghanistan. Help us honor this true American hero.


VISITATION

Date: 05 Jan 11
Time: 1500hrs - 2000hrs (3pm - 8pm)
Location: Cornerstone Church of God
196 S Moreland and Hwy 140
Bethalto, IL

Staging: 1330hrs (1:30pm)
Briefing: 1345hrs (1:45pm)
Flag line immediately after briefing, come and go as you can

SERVICE

Date:06 Jan 11
Time: 1100hrs (11am)
Staging: 0930hrs (9:30am)
Briefing: 0945am (9:45am)
Flag line in place for family arrival.
Escort (about 1 mile) following service to Rose Lawn Cemetery, Hwy 140, Bethalto, IL

Why

Why do MROs support events that do not support motorcyclists rights?

America

I have always heard America is about competition. I may not like competition a lot but it makes me better. There are those though who are afraid of competition. I think they are probably also afraid of bikers expressing their affiliation with like minded souls. Those who want biker business should welcome all bikers we do at our events. Why because we trust you and are not afraid.

Resolutions

I am going to make some resolutions for this year as regards the magazine and the web site. I am going to one try and keep it updated better. Right now I am looking for a web person but can do some myself but it also involves a learning and relearning curve when I do it so please bear with me a little. I am also going to try and be more active on the blog. My personal life kind of overtook me for a while but I think maybe I have a little better handle on finding some balance now. I wish all of you who visit here and support the magazine all the best in the New Year. I thank you for your support and your friendship. Thanks for making us part of your biking life.