April 2009 Newsletter

April 2009 Newsletter

April 1, 2009

TOURING DEPOT NEWSLETTER FOR APRIL 2009

Spring is finally here! As the snow melts throughout the country, let the riding begin.

PLANNING:
Did you get some new gear for Christmas that you've been dying to try out? Make sure you do a few long day rides before you start out on your cross country tour, to break in the new stuff. You don't want to find yourself somewhere alongside a road thinking to yourself "I should have known better." Here are five things to think about before you take off on tour.

1. Bring a back-up map or ride atlas, don't rely exclusively on a GPS. If it stops working, you need to know where you are.

2. If you think you will need a tire change on your trip, DO coordinate that in advance, especially if you are choosy about your tires. Based on your tire's estimate remaining life (be conservative), figure out about where that will fall on your trip and contact a dealer in that area to reserve a set of tires. If your tires are within 1,000 miles of the end of their service life, replace them before your trip. Especially rear tires. There is usually added weight on the back tire with your t-bag or trunk full of gear. You don't want to spend a day or two waiting on replacements that might not have been your preferred tire.

3. Stay hydrated. Throughout your ride, that wind in your face is sucking moisture out of you. If you start feeling draggy, fatigued, or begin developing a headache, you are low on water. When you put gas in your bike, drink a bottle of water, or better yet, get a camelback pack and sip on water as you ride.

4. Have aspirin or ibuprofen along. Take the recommended dose in the morning before you start riding and this will help ease muscle fatigue during the day.

5. Last and most important of all, as I mentioned earlier do at least one shakedown run of any new gear before your "big" trip. I can't emphasize this enough. Whether its a GPS, new tires, a trailer or anything else new to you, you will enjoy your trip a lot more if you add those gadgets and become accustomed to their operation well before your trip. This is especially true with any new riding gear. If you are planning to buy a new helmet or boots, purchase these at least a couple months in advance and wear them as much as possible to ensure they're well broken in. It's no fun to discover that your new helmet doesn't fit well or your boots pinch when you're at the end of day one on a ten-day trip.
So get your new gear now, break it in on a few spring day trips and start planning that long summer journey.

Want to plan a tour around the world? Check out my newest discovery http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ride BlogTalkRadio's premier motorcycle blogcast. Join freelance motojournalist Adrian Blake as he talks with noted personalities and experts in the international motorcycling community. Ride! is an award-winning series that airs twice a month from Toronto. You can listen to past episodes on demand. There is a great broadcast by Grant Johnson of Horizons Unlimited. They have a new DVD series on world touring and you can gets lots of information from their website. If you're snowed it, start dreaming. There is lots of great stuff to listen to on this radio program!

PRODUCTS:

We are now selling Maxx Rider Sunglasses. We just love the padded Maxx Foam glasses with the high definition lenses. They are very comfortable, keep the wind out, and the HD lenses are great in all types of light. They really cut through haze and glare. They sell for $19.95 and for this month only, we are offering free shipping on any Maxx Rider Glasses. Just enter freeship in the discount code box at check out and it will give you a discount of $7.50 which is the flat rate shipping fee. This offer expires April 30th, 2009.

Another new product we are offering is the Koffee Kaddy. This is a big 12oz. Stainless Steel coffee mug, with sipping top, that attaches to the handlebars or switchplate of your bike. This is a great product if you like a hot beverage on your morning commute. Check it out http://www.touringdepot.com/catalog/item/5985023/6853691.htm

EVENTS:
Laughlin to Leesburg, There're Lots of Events Coming Up!

Arizona Bike Week's continuing on until April 5th and in Nevada, the Laughlin River Run starts on April 22nd and goes until the 26th, so thousands of bikes are headed to the Southwest. It's been a long cold winter and who wouldn't want to hear some great bands, take a tour over to the Grand Canyon and get a little sunburned to welcome in spring.

Moving on over to the midwest, you can catch Bikelahoma in Pryor, Oklahoma from April 17th - 19th. In Texas, head to New Braunfels (by San Antonio) for the Rally on the River April 30th-May 3rd.

If you happened to miss out on Daytona you can head over to central Florida for Leesburg's Bikefest April 24th - 26th. Its 13th year is expected to bring in six digit attendance, and with events like 40 free concerts on eight stages, it's going to be a great time. There's lots more going on in the south this April. Panama City, FL has Thunder on the Beach Spring Rally April 30th - May 3rd. Georgia has the Angel City Rally in Unadilla, April 16th-19th and the Spring Thunder Rally in Milledgeville, April 24th-26th. North Carolina welcomes Spring by starting off this Saturday, April 4th with the Thin Blue Line Benefit Ride to raise $ for the families of fallen police officers. No plans for Easter? Head to Robbinsville, NC for Slaying the Dragon. Stay at the Iron Horse Motorcycle Lodge and spend the weekend riding the Dragon at Deals Gap and the other great roads in the area. Maggie Valley, NC will be having Thunder in the Smokies Spring Rally, April 24th-26th.

On the East Coast you can head to New Jersey for the Motorcycle Expo in Somerset on April 25th and 26th or check out Roar To The Shore in Wildwood April 24th - 26th.

To find out more about these great events, check out our calendar at http://www.touringdepot.com/page/page/5410352.htm

We hope you all enjoy a safe and exciting Spring riding season!

Ron & Leah Lind