RetroTours Newsletter; Spring 2023
It’s happening! Spring is just around the corner. Several weeks ago, there was an unusually warm day and motorcycles were out in droves. Shortly thereafter the crocuses pushed up and now there are yellow and purple flowers in the fields. Soon, the trees will begin to bud and the planet will turn green and lush.
How do the plants know when to break out of winter hibernation? It is a miracle of rebirth and most popular theories posit that longer days and warming temperatures are the cues that wake everything up. I have a different theory. What if it is the sound and vibration of the motorcycles that prompt the plants to sprout anew? I have noticed my own rhythm changing now that the sun is up earlier. But is it really the sunrise that causes this or is it the sound of passing motorcyclists in the wind that affects my circadian rhythms?
In any case, clearly, it is time to get the RetroTours fleet ready for the upcoming season. Last week my good friend Bob and his wife Sue visited for a few days. Bob truly is one who lives to ride. Unfortunately, he lives in New Hampshire, where low temperatures, snow, ice, and mud still prevail. He has not been able to get out on 2 wheels for weeks now. Here in southeastern Pennsylvania, the temperatures were in the mid to upper 50’s while he was in town, and the roads are clear. In fact, there has been zero measurable snowfall this winter. Planetary warming?
We woke up a few bikes, covering a bit over 50 miles on a two stroke tour on the Suzuki T500 and the RD400. We were supposed to switch bikes midway, but Bob is so enamored with the RD that I couldn’t get him off it. The following day we took out the Laverda and the GS550ES. Bob is the previous owner of the Laverda and has many fond memories of riding it around California. This day, however, he was ready to get off of it after 40 miles, claiming that his aging body no longer can bend that way, let alone contend with the crazy heavy clutch pull. Undoubtedly, he could sit and look at the gorgeous Italian for much longer than he could ever ride it. I offered consolation and suggested that after 3 or 4 300-mile days, he would feel much more comfortable. Saddle sores turn into saddle hardness. I don’t think he was convinced.
On RetroTours, we generally switch bikes every 50-75 miles. This is done so the participants can experience a wide variety of interesting antiques but there is also a more practical side. Changing seating positions, different vibration characteristics, and varying aural stimuli mean that discomfort is distributed more evenly and so becomes more bearable. It also means that we never quite get fluidly proficient on any one bike. As soon as we begin to acclimate, it is time to change. This means we must dial down the pace a bit, to allow for different brake feel, handling, and control locations, which is fine; who wants to rush through the scenery anyway? Believe me, we still get a thrill or two, but these are antique motorcycle tours, not macho road races. Most RetroTour-ers are not youngsters, and as they say, “The older we get the faster we were”.
Reservations and inquiries have begun to come in for the 2023 season. Please consider joining a tour or two. I am not getting any younger myself, and I promise to keep the pace and the daily mileage totals at a level that is appropriate. There are also more one day tours this year. If, on the other hand, you are an iron butt mile muncher, check the schedule for 2,3, and 4 day events with interesting destinations.
The bikes are decent, the food is great, and the camaraderie magnificent.
DON’T WAIT UNTIL ITS TOO LATE!
RETRO-ADVENTURE-TOURS.
Sometimes we find ourselves in the middle of nowhere.
Sometimes, in the middle of nowhere, we find ourselves.
