Author Archive

June 8, 2023

National Forest

From Lake to Lake

We had a full day riding from Duluth MN to Green Bay WI. Lake Superior to Lake Michigan. Along Highway 70, the old logging road that cuts across the top of Wisconsin. Lakes open up occasionally and the mixed woodland provides a verdant backdrop to the perfect roads.

June 6, 2023

Train

Yellowstone 2-8-8-4

Two Harbors – where the iron ore gets loaded onto the behemoth carriers. Also there, is this extraordinarily large locomotive. Used to haul the ore from the ranges inland to these ports. It could pull a mile of ore laden trucks with its 6,000 HP coal fed steam driven engines.

June 5, 2023

Gitche Gumee

Fresh water as far as the eye can see…

Got to the campsite right on the waters edge. Splendid sunset and campfire as the stars lit up. Super riding through the National Forests that speckle the area.

Of Pine & Aspen

There were signs warning road users of Elk crossing, beautiful trout streams cross-crossing the way and the occasional bald Eagle soaring overhead.

June 5, 2023

Via Wisconsin

The Road North

We’re on a multi-day trip through the Dairlyland of America. From the historic lead mining center of Galena IL we headed north along the Mississippi through wooded dales and along barn scattered ridges. Back roads, gravel trails, reedbed carpeted bottomlands, and sprouting cornfield amidst oak woodland. A splendid part of the State.

Tigers eyes: A couple of young mousers inspect the bikes.
May 29, 2023

Quiet Corner

Reclaimed Nature

An early morning sprint to the far South Side with a good friend. Destination was a loop of Lake Calumet, an older material port amidst a lost industrial area. Mostly marshes now attracting many birds and habitat for fish, amphibians and insects. Perfect weather too! David was riding his Aprilia Dorsoduro, the perfect urban tool.

May 24, 2023

We don’t need another hero

Tina

What a voice and charismatic presence the indefatigable Ms Turner had. Stretching from the 50’s into the 21st Century her impact in the music industry was colossal. She was also a motorcycle rider. A favorite bike being an Electra Glide HD. Though here is a younger gal with a sixties BSA.

Tina Turner RIP (1939-2023)

May 21, 2023

Blue Horizon

Summer Ridin’

Got the bike shifted to home for summer commuting and wider jaunts further afield. Lake looked splendid in the afternoon sun.

May 14, 2023

Tiger Stripes

Intersection interceptor

Zooming through the City here’s a white Triumph Tiger owner haring through South Rogers Park along Sheridan Road. I was heading home when I spied it.

May 13, 2023

Keg to go.

I drink beer me!

First Post May 12th 2023

Known for making some really unconventional inventions, a US man named Ky Michaelson is back with yet another invention that is a beer-powered motorcycle. In a Fox9 report, Ky spoke about his latest creation stating that the motorcycle is “definitely different, and I like to be really creative.” Notably, the motorcycle includes a 14-gallon ket that a heating coil instead of a gas-powered engine. The coil helps to heat up the beer which further powers the motorcycle to start. As stated by the innovator, the beer-powered motorcycle was created in his garage in Bloomington.

Speaking about his creation, Ky noted that the gas prices are going up in Bloomington as a result of which he thought that it was nothing better to use it for fuel. Nicknmaed as ‘Rocketman’ for being the first civilian ever to launch a rocket into space, Michaelson said that the motorcycle has the capacity to reach speeds up to 150 miles per hour (240 km per hour) and he hopes to take it out to a drag strip to test its capabilities in the coming days.

When he pours beer into the keg, the liquid heats up to 300 degrees, and when it goes out the nozzles in the back, the beer turns into superheated steam, which provides enough thrust to move the bike forward,” he said as cited by Fox9. Michaelson also said that it could be any kind of liquid including Red Bull and Caribou Coffee.

May 6, 2023

Fine Run

Lake Loop

A great day up to Lake Geneva through McHenry County on roads bordered by spring blooming trees and emerging leaves. We stopped in at Morries Place where we spied another workshop filled with project bikes. An interesting cove called Jim was working on a 1929 Henderson X. A splendid Triton parked outside near to where Ed Zender was working on a BSA.

April 25, 2023

LSD

Water to Starboard

Fella ridin’ his aped Hog along Lake Shore Drive. Patches covering his jacket and regulatory safety ponytail.

April 17, 2023

Breathe Easy

Fresh Air

Is one of the benefits of riding motorcycles. This TV commercial was for an asthma medication Fasenra, utilizing an old Triumph 750 being uncovered in a garage and ridden out along a sunny road.

April 12, 2023

Orbital First

“Poyekhali!!”

“Let’s go!” 1961 on this day (12th April) comrade Gagarin made a 90 minute lap of the globe. Historical hero!

April 9, 2023

Breakfast of Champions

Olympic fry-up

Gorgeous spring weather and a loop around Lake Geneva just across the state line into Wisconsin. I stopped in at Yerkes Observatory with its beautiful architecture. It’s open for tours now (though not today on the Easter weekend. Splendid day out.

April 7, 2023

Put the kettle on!

Legend

55 years ago today was when the works of Motorsport lost one of the greats. Jim Clark, Scottish farmer, and driver of fast cars crashed at Hockenheimring end what would surely have been the greatest racier of all time.