Vt Bike Night, Tuesdays at Donny's Pizza

[NobodySpecific]

Wow, you guys are awesome. I can't thank you enough, that was quite a nice surprise. This group of riders is made up of some of the nicest people I've met.

It's been a pleasure to ride with all of you that I've ridden with, and I just hope that bike night is still going strong when I get back from Boise (whenever that may be). I'll see some of you next Tuesday, and I'll be sure to post up some Idaho ride reports (or at least some pictures to make you all jealous ).

I'll try to get some pictures of the bike from the cake tearing up the roads out west

Ride safe

-- Keith

[catamount]

Haha I couldn't make bike night tonight but I think I just saw you squids do your "parade lap" by my house on Malletts Bay Ave. I recognized some of you and saw a lot of shorts and t-shirts.

Doc would have soiled himself.

[Vix]

Have a few photos from the gathering...







For more, you can check out:

SVRiderVT - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

And some video:

YouTube - Bike Night - Sport Bikes Around the Rotary

YouTube - Bike Night Parking - Honda CBR

[Doc]

Umm yep, I made it down for a few minutes when I finally got the Hawk all buttoned up (well not all but enough to get it down the road)

I am NOT happy with the abundance of Shorts and t-shirts tonight.

Spread the word fellas. Squids ARE NOT welcome. (wear the gear!)

[F4Iguy]

I am NOT happy with the abundance of Shorts and t-shirts tonight.
Spread the word fellas. Squids ARE NOT welcome. (wear the gear!)

hey doc, easy big guy, don't go upsetting everybody, our numbers will drop... howz this: if you wanna ride shorts and T, no gloves, fine, but please, PLEEAASE!!!! show up at bike night not "R" rated... our objective here is to have fun, enjoy the company of others, and promote safe riding... ESPECIALLY IN GROUPS!!! (you guys know who you are, please, on your own time, not in crowds, 'nuff said!)

parking: to those who didn't hear, we had a lady complain about "almost being hit" and then procede to measure distance from front tires to edge of curb... im not clear on distance allowable, 40"? 46"? motofreak and doc should know? (sorry) so anyway, to prevent this from causing any POSSIBLE harm to bike night, another friendly reminder: park 'em tight, and at a steep angle... this responsibilty rests mainly on those who get there first, as others "follow the leader". thanks to all for cooperation, and im sure we'll only continue to grow!

also, to those interested in the thursday night ride, motofreak has more info on that than i do... (my aplogies). im gonna try to make it, coming from work in s.burlington around 6 or so to richmond if anybody wants to hook up... probably a quick (but safe) blast up 89 to richmond exit.

thanks to all who came tonight, glad we had a good turnout for keith's (almost) last bikenight! thank you kristin for the cake, you guys are awesome! we'll see you all next tuesday! -ty

[Doc]

Sorry I missed Keiths "party".

Sorry fellas but the bike night I envisioned was having RESPONSIABLE motorcyclists show up... I realize we will have squids but PLEASE...please try to mentor and stress the importance of gear. AT LEAST some PANTS, Helmet, Gloves, and over the ankle shoes. I mean SHORTS?

[MotoFreak]

A big THANKS to Kristin for baking a delicious cake for the little send-off party. And thanks to Keith for being an awesome guy!
Great night tonight (I agree, too many shirts and shorts for my liking) and a nice parade lap. Like F4IGuy said, we had a little issue with a women and her husband, but I really don't know what came out of it...I'll look into it more tomorrow.
Vix, thanks for the media support...def. a + having you record the shorts and t's!!!!
Always a pleasure hanging out with ya'll...see ya Thursday for the Churn 'n Burn!

Sorry I missed Keiths "party".

Sorry fellas but the bike night I envisioned was having RESPONSIABLE motorcyclists show up... I realize we will have squids but PLEASE...please try to mentor and stress the importance of gear. AT LEAST some PANTS, Helmet, Gloves, and over the ankle shoes. I mean SHORTS?

Next week Ill swing down for 30 min or so, long enough to give a little talk...no jackets, I can deal with. But shorts and no gloves is a huge thing for me, so Ill gather people around and use my big boy voice.
The thing is my friends, is this:
It's a public event, its the only sport bike oriented group that gathers weekly in Chit. County, and the bottom line is, people are going to wear what they want. I'm not going to tell a kid not to come to Bike Night cause he's wearing a jacket with shorts...I'll tell him he's an idiot...but not that he can't come.
Stunts and burn-outs warrant a "one strike you're out" policy, but we have not run into that yet...got some guys tossin wheelies in the back of the Parage Lap...and that will end next week as well.
We need to police ourselves, and make sure that we are promoting responsible riding...but I for one will not ban people for making the wrong choice when it comes to gear.

[yesterdayze]

Next week Ill swing down for 30 min or so, long enough to give a little talk...no jackets, I can deal with. But shorts and no gloves is a huge thing for me, so Ill gather people around and use my big boy voice.
The thing is my friends, is this:
It's a public event, its the only sport bike oriented group that gathers weekly in Chit. County, and the bottom line is, people are going to wear what they want. I'm not going to tell a kid not to come to Bike Night cause he's wearing a jacket with shorts...I'll tell him he's an idiot...but not that he can't come.
Stunts and burn-outs warrant a "one strike you're out" policy, but we have not run into that yet...got some guys tossin wheelies in the back of the Parage Lap...and that will end next week as well.
We need to police ourselves, and make sure that we are promoting responsible riding...but I for one will not ban people for making the wrong choice when it comes to gear.

My two cents...for what it's worth:

There are Bike Nights all over. Maybe not locally, but in other areas. What will make us different is a cause. As far as causes go, encouraging and teaching safe and responsible biking with proper gear is about the best cause we can have. It is at worst socially responsible, at best it is being a friend and possibly helping save someone's life or at least skin...literally.

That being said, if we are going to change the community it only makes sense that the community be there. If we drive them away by banning people that are not dressed responsibly we will lose the opportunity to teach them responsibility. As Billy pointed out, we can't ban them anyways, it is a public place.

We lead by example and by a kind (not degrading or harsh) word here and there as needed. I for one would like to see those people keep coming. One, because the more the merrier, but secondly, and more importantly, I would like to see them look at those of us properly outfitted and realize "hey, that is smart" or "hey, maybe I can be cool and wear the gear". Rather then kicking them out, let's befriend them and help them to find a safer way of riding. There is nothing wrong with these people, just their choice in "riding gear" and they may very well have a different viewpoint then we do. We certainly won't change their mind by kicking them out.

The core group wears the gear, and by continuing to do so around the others we will influence them as well. Stupid things like popping wheelies etc in the parade lap, by all means, kick them out OF THE PARADE LAP, not the event. It is dangerous to themselves and others.

None of us want to see anyone get hurt, none of us want to have the group seen as a bunch or irresponsible teenagers on fast bikes, wearing no gear pulling wheelies and stoppies....but on the other hand, if we just kick people out we will be seen as exclusive and narrow minded, we will never have an impact on the community like we want, and we will sink.

Big guy on the Valkyrie...up till this year he didn't think pants and shoes were needed etc. He got into a minor fender bender and it got the message through. People change. We don't want to see them get into an accident to change. So let's not push them away and right into traffic.

Why don't we sponsor a debate on safe gear vs tshirts and flip-flops. Maybe get someone on our side who can articulate in a straightforward manner, but without being condescending or rude so we don't look like a**holes making our point.

Lets welcome everyone, lead by example, be kind but direct and have an impact that is positive.

[Smiley]

I agree people who dont wear the gear are stupid I think not bannable but maybe out of the parade lap due to endangerment to others (might also make the point a bit harsher for gear?)

but on a happy note, CAKE....can i get a pic of that?

-Kristen

[Vix]

If people would like to send me a message letting me know their bike make and model, exactly how it should appear, I will put that on the photos. I'm not that great with identifying bikes (unless they are an SV ) Feel free to let me know your name too and if you want that listed.

I have more photos and videos, will put them up when time allows. Great to see people and meet some more riders!

Kristen, thanks for the cake! I will definitely put up a good photo of it, there were so many photos to work with I didn't have time to put up everything that I wanted to last night!

Sorry to miss the parade lap, maybe another time...

BTW I liked taking the photos of people next to their bikes but what I really want to do is get some action shots. Hopefully I can get out there on a ride at some corner sometime and get people going by, leaning, etc.

[tsanterre]

Thanks to Kristen for the cake!

Thanks to Vix for the media!

See some of you for the ride on Thurs.

[Doc]

I think some good disussion is coming from a few people on the gear issue.

What I meant to say when I said "Squids are not welcome (wear the gear)" was not that we should ban them but I am asking people to approach them and mention their lack of gear.

It takes some BIG Cajones to stand up for what you believe in and approach someone and say "Hey, cool bike, were is your gear?"

I am in TOTAL agreement that we cannot influence if they are not there. I just would ask that I am not the only "asshole" trying to influence people in there gear choice.

Vix, Maybe you could get a pic of all the people IN their gear in a group or on their bikes with gear on. The more we try and stress that the gear is important, even in subtle ways will go a long way in influencing the community.

The point was made that we don't want the non motorcycling community seeing us as a bunch of punk kids. I agree. We will continue to show responsiablity. Maybe if we took up a collection or started some kinda fund raiser for a beneficiary in Winooski?

What do you think? Does anyone have access to a PA system?

[yesterdayze]

I think some good disussion is coming from a few people on the gear issue.

What I meant to say when I said "Squids are not welcome (wear the gear)" was not that we should ban them but I am asking people to approach them and mention their lack of gear.

*Sigh of relief* LOL, dude Doc, blame it on the military It's the blunt side. Tracking now, was concerned for a bit there that a war was about to start

I would still recommend it be done SUBTLY. Not as soon as they get off the bike be like "Hey guys, look at the dipsh*t on the bike without good gear"...okay, being facetious, but yeah, you know what I mean. Direct but tactful, gracious but blunt, wise as serpents gentle as doves etc...

Do it out of concern not condescension.

It takes some BIG Cajones to stand up for what you believe in and approach someone and say "Hey, cool bike, were is your gear?"

*Insert AC/DC 'Big Balls'*

I am in TOTAL agreement that we cannot influence if they are not there. I just would ask that I am not the only "asshole" trying to influence people in there gear choice.

Vix, Maybe you could get a pic of all the people IN their gear in a group or on their bikes with gear on. The more we try and stress that the gear is important, even in subtle ways will go a long way in influencing the community.

The point was made that we don't want the non motorcycling community seeing us as a bunch of punk kids. I agree. We will continue to show responsiablity. Maybe if we took up a collection or started some kinda fund raiser for a beneficiary in Winooski?

What do you think? Does anyone have access to a PA system?

I have access to a PA system, may be a small pain to get but not too bad. If no one else can I could.

What about getting some safety gear vendors to stop by for bike night and show off products?

I like the idea of a fund raiser. That would be very cool, let's find a cause that is more often overlooked though. Something local and community based.

[Doc]

What does everyone think of Al's french Frys?

[yesterdayze]

What does everyone think of Al's french Frys?

I for one love that place (Helps that it is right near where I work ) Bigger parking lot too BUT, Way busier street, and can often be busy making it hard to park bikes.

[Doc]

Monday and Teusday nights they are not as busy and they are willing to block off spots for bikes.

Ice Cream, soda, NO beer... larger lot... I think we may have a winner. I am in talks with them now.

I might do this Monday night as to not take away from Donny's... what do you guys think?

[Smiley]

Way busier street but better publicity, just harder to get in and out
I like it!

-Kristen

[Smiley]

I cant do Mondays so sad

[Doc]

Way busier street but better publicity, just harder to get in and out
I like it!

-Kristen

Ok so if you are coming from Burlington there is a turn off into the parking lot before the light.

If you are coming from Williston there is a light or even the side street to enter from. Not all that difficult.

There are some bushes that kinda hide the lot so we can't be seen from the street as well but MAYBE we could park a few bikes on the grass out front with a banner... just a thought.

As for a Parade lap we could take the back road out to winooski and then the bay then up main out out willidton road back to Al's or even go out towards hinesburgh...

[Doc]

Agreed that is a better way.

We are open to suggestions as to an alternate event site as new developments have recently surfaced that might make Donny's unusable.


How about Moe's/ Starbucks?


Where the hell did Vix posts go?

[MotoFreak]

Agreed that is a better way.

We are open to suggestions as to an alternate event site as new developments have recently surfaced that might make Donny's unusable.


How about Moe's/ Starbucks?


Where the hell did Vix posts go?

where did they go..mmmmmm?

Anyway, there is a developing issue that we are working on with the parking situation at Donny's.
But things might go South fast, so we def. need to look into a new venue as a secondary place to have our little gathering...Colchester, S. Burlington, Winooski, even Williston.

[catamount]

Where the hell did Vix posts go?

Huh?

I still see 'em.

[Doc]

Huh?

I still see 'em.

She had posted 2 right above my post #520 and now they are gone.

[Vix]

I removed them, after posting they seemed irrelevant.

[Doc]

I removed them, after posting they seemed irrelevant.

You had some valid points and we welcome your enthusiasim... now show up more often.



(Look who's talking)