Mods vs. Rockers Chicago, 2011

The Mods vs. Rockers event, hosted by Ton Up Club Chicago on Friday and Saturday, June 17 – 18, 2011 was a rip roarin' success. Attendance was at its highest this year, with countless rows of bikes lining Lincoln Avenue near Delilah's Bar. Over 1,500 people attended, riding into the city of Chicago from over 30 different states. Country flags were placed on the street indicating to bikers where they should part their bikes. Triumphs squeezed into the UK spaces, BMWs filled in the German spaces, Kawasaki, Hondas, and Suzukis filled the Asian section and of course the Harley's parked by the US flags. The “Mods” (scooter riders) also represented by filling in all possible parking spaces reserved for them. Friday night's activities included rally registration and bag pick up, following by a rumble cruise to the Bottom Lounge. Saturday's activities started around 1pm and included a vintage motorcycle and scooter show, followed by the Mods and Rockers riding to the Bottom Lounge on Lake St. Once at the Bottom Lounge, all riders feasted on fish and chips dinners while checking out the Triumph hosted fashion show.

 NEW Cafe' Racer Burnout Tee

 VaVaVroom participated at the Saturday event where owner, Denise Maple, show cased the company's newest product- the Cafe' Racer Burnout Tee. The positive feedback from the crowd for this product has further fueled VaVroom's excitement to launch this great new product. Look for the new Cafe' Racer Burnout Tee soon.... VaVaVroom also sold its full line of motorcycle and scooter casualwear, jackets and jewelry.

For more pictures- check out Tone Up Club's Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ton-Up-Chicago/75094371681

  Sportbike Track Girl is proud to announce the    "Ladies First" all-female track day, Friday, July 1,  2011 to be held at Grattan Raceway, Belding,  Michigan for the discounted price of only $105!*

 As usual, ST Girl is happy to provide free leather  rental and complimentary "Track Assistance  Program." TAP is designed to provide total  support for our women riders so that they can  attend track days independently. We're happy to  help unload your bike, prep it so that it passes  inspection, offer mechanical/technical  assistance throughout the day and help  load/strap down your bike for your trip home.

 The "Ladies First" day will follow a  traditional LED format, with 2 groups and  extended track sessions of 30 minutes!  Riders  will choose their group based on track  experience and comfort. Riders that are new to the track (novice level) or have somewhat limited intermediate track experience can particpate in the "Sport" group. Riders that have more track experience (fast intermediate or advanced riders) and are capable and comfortable with high-speed cornering, braking and passing can particpate in the "SuperSport" group. Classroom instruction will be provided for the "Sport" group, with "SuperSport" participation encouraged.

Sign up for "Ladies First" today: http://www.sportbiketracktime.com/July-Track-Time-Events/

Reservations for leathers rental must be made before June 24, 2011, via the Contact form on this website. All questions may also be submitted via this website. http://www.sportbiketrackgirl.com/index.php/contact/

*STT annual membership fee of $35 must be purchased to activate discount.

VaVavroom, Rebel Girls, and others are sponsors.

VaVaVroom announced its upcoming motorcycle and scooter riding jacket sweepstakes, which will be held on the company's Facebook page from May 17 - June 7, 2011. In keeping with the company's spirit of designing fashionable, functional riding apparel for women of all sizes, the contest will ask women motorcycle and scooter riders to answer the following question in 50 words or less:  

"What is your favorite feature of the new VaVaVroom 1.0 Motorcycle and Scooter Riding Jacket and why?"

VaVaVroom founder, Denise Maple, noted that VaVaVroom "wants to collect feedback from its loyal community of women riders and reward them for their valuable input."

After submitting answers on VaVaVroom’s Facebook page, contestants will automatically be entered into its weekly sweepstakes for two VaVaVroom 1.0 Riding Jackets, the company’s newest product. Since two jackets are better than one - contest winners will receive one jacket for themselves and one for a lucky friend.  In the event that a winner has already purchased the 1.0 Riding Jacket at VaVaVroomOnline.com during the sweepstakes period, they will be reimbursed for their purchase by VaVaVroom LLC. Submissions will be accepted from May 17 – June 7, 2011. In addition to the company’s Facebook page, contest entries will also be accepted by mail. Three weekly prizes will be awarded on May 25, June 1, and June 8, 2011. Winners will be chosen at random. Full contest rules can be found on VaVaVroom’s Facebook page by clicking on the Sweepstakes tab.

VaVaVroom 1.0 Riding Jacket Description

-  White vertical stripes on the left side of the black jacket offer style

-  Snap-down hood offers practicality

-  The jacket is adjustable with tightening straps at the hips and cuffs

-  Hidden elastic at the hips offers even greater versatility to fit all shapes and sizes 

-  CE - approved removable armor at shoulders and elbows and removable back pad

-  Reflective armbands and piping for safety and visibility 

-  Curved piping for a flattering look

-  Removable liner and venting for changing temperatures

-  Water-resistant Cordura shell for abrasion resistance

 -  Branded by the VaVaVroom logo

 -  Offered in sizes Small - 3XL, true American sizing

-  Jacket retails for $149.99

Women are encouraged to see and try on the new 1.0 Motorcycle and Scooter Riding Jacket at VaVaVroom dealers and upcoming events including Mods vs. Rockers on June 18, 2011 in Chicago and Rockerbox on August 6, 2011 in Milwaukee. 

VaVaVroom not only wants to give away its jacket, the company also wants to "give back". During the month of May, VaVaVroom is encouraging customers to "Shop to Save a Life". VaVaVroom will donate 10% of May, 2011 online motorcycle jacket sales to Riders for Health.  Riders for Health mobilizes health workers, providing millions of people in rural Africa with access to care. Without reliable transportation, this would not be possible.  Riders for Health is training local health workers in seven countries across Africa to operate their motorcycles safely and to carry out basic preventative maintenance. This ensures that the motorcycles will not break down and the health workers are able to efficiently and effectively do the job they were trained to do.  This jacket purchase brings Riders for Health steps closer to its vision of a world in which people do not suffer or die simply because the health care they need does not reach them.

Today, I woke up refreshed and well-rested and was on the road by 8:30. The landscape as I left Walla Walla was breathtaking. Amber waves of grain as far as the eye could see. And when the landscape was green, it was very green. The contrast between different crops was so vivid. I thought it couldn't get any better and then I reached the Idaho border and rode US Rte. 12 across Idaho... 200 miles of winding, curvy roads through national forest. I didn't encounter one stoplight or one stop sign for the entire 200 miles. The road winds along the Lochsa River. The beauty was truly awesome. My pictures do not do them justice, but here they are.

Walla Walla wheat fields with contrasting green fields.

The next town beyond Walla Walla - Yes, that's a camel!

The view along the Lochsa River in Lowell, ID.

Resting by the Lochsa River.

They really do sell cows! - Drummond, MT. Once into Montana, the speed limit increased and in Missoula, I found 90 E where I buzzed along to Butte, MT. My new motorcycle windscreen did wonders and I didn't mind the highway speed at all.

Total Miles = 258

I had planned to sleep in today, but nature called and I needed to use the facilities. I guess I'm up at 5:30 am again today. Turned out to be a good thing because Bob's BMW crew, saying goodbye to Nancy Foote and Walt Fulton of Streetmasters Motorcycle Workshop, saying goodbye to Scott and the Canadians, running to Walgreen's for Jonny, and lastly, getting gas. Whew! I finally got out of there around 11:30. I wasn't feeling all that well, so I took it easy through the windy roads of Oregon. My route was 97 N, 293 E, 218 E, 19 N, 84 E, 730 E, 12 E to Walla Walla, Washington.

It really was beautiful throughout. 293 and 218 were especially fun with some twists and turns. 84 is scenic along the Hood River. On 730, I crossed in to Washington and began to follow the Columbia River. Walla Walla is a nice tourist town with many wineries. The best hotel rate was at La Quinta. A nice place with all of the necessary amenities.

Scott from Neenah, Wi and me - We met Scott last year at the MOA rally in Johnson City, TN.

Jerry putting on my Grab On grip covers. Grip covers extend the life of your expensive grips and reduce vibration. Jerry was proud of me for getting a bunch of free stuff - a new ZTechnik windscreen, ZTechnik headlight cover, ZTechnik GPS mount (I guess I better get a GPS now), microfiber cloth, the grip covers, a book by Mary Lou Dobbs (I will interview her on Side Stand Up); and a great deal on a new Airhawk seat cover and a PIAA headlamp. I also bought new cooling sleeves from LD Comfort. They are dual purpose - cover my wrists so I don't get sunburn due to my too short sleeves on my riding jackets and you can soak them in water and feel cool on your ride.  Everything else I need like women's motorcycle gloves, clothing, women's motorcycle boots, biker patches and even ladies hair charms comes directly from VaVaVroomonline.com.

Mike with his 3rd place ribbon from the GS contest. Go Mikey!

Jerry and Sharon with the medal and 1st place ribbon from the GS contest. They got two extra points because Sharon was wearing a VaVaVroom shirt that matched the yellow bike!

Total Miles = 0

No time to ride when you are working like a dog. Up by 6:00 a.m. to shower and ready to work the booth around 8:00. On my way to the showers, I snapped a pic of the mountain range.

 The rally site is in a beautiful place. In keeping with tradition, The Chicago Region BMW MOA Owner's Association rented a tent for club members to gather during the rally.

It is nice to have a place to catch up and get out of the sun. Our last day in the booth was busy and VaVaVroom sales were the best of any of the days.  Biker patches and women's motorcycle apparel were hot on the days list, but it was getting late and my appetite was growing.  In keeping with tradition, Fred cooked for all of the Bob's BMW booth staff. I swear they were the best tacos I've ever had!

Total Miles = 45

Now, the business part of my trip begins. Today, at the BMW MOA rally in Redmond, Oregon, I will be selling VaVaVroom women's motorcycle apparel through the Bob's BMW booth. We spent the better part of the day setting all of this up. The best part of the day was receiving a new, free windscreen for my motorcycle - a ZTechnik brand - much needed. Since my motorcycle was used as the demo bike at the vendor booth, I get to keep it! That is awesome because I was going to buy one anyway! In the evening, I joined Bob Henig of Bob's BMW and Sam Henig (his son) and Fred Oppido (my fellow booth workers) for the BMW MOA Ambassador's dinner. Here is a picture of Sam and Fred.

 I also ran into my old friends, Walt Fulton and Nancy Foote, of Streetmasters Motorcycle Workshops (pictured here in their Streetmasters red!).

 After the dinner, Bob, Fred, Sam and I took a really quick ride to Smith Rock. We stopped to see "the rock" over looking a beautiful stream with hikers below and rock climbers above
.

This trip has been full of beautiful and inspiring geography.

Total Miles = 320

Days like today make days like yesterday all worth it.

 The highlight of the day was riding Hwy 26 in Oregon through a mountainous, cavernous, gorgeous (gorges!) landscape. Roads just technical enough to engage us but not tiring. I highly recommend this route to any motorcycle riders or travelers. On our first gas stop, we encountered some fellow BMW travelers (see our motorcycle helmets all lined up together?) and the inside of the gas station had a bison head hanging as well as other local game.

It also had funny signs up all over - reminding customers not to pee on the seat in the washroom, etc. We arrived in Redmond around 5:00 pm at the BMW MOA International Rally site. We found a place next to some Canadians that quickly become friends. Mike from Trenton, Ontario and Jerry and Sharon from Niagara Falls. They are a ton of fun and we enjoyed dinner with them at Coyote Ranch. A good time was had by all, ay.