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7am, streets are dry, the sky is blue, a great day for the Mid-Cal Cycle Spring Open House! Early arrival at
Mid-Cal Cycle to help set up tables, chairs, shades, and, have coffee and doughnuts, and, when I arrived...
TAAA DAAAAA!...the "DUI" trike was already out and ready to serve up cold ones. Now let it be known, no
bikes were harmed in the creation of the DUI trike; with the exception of $60 worth of parts, it was
totally put together from spare parts lying around the shop... yes, that's a running motor, no, you can't
buy that motor for 500 bucks.
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... photograph by Russell Holder
Some members of the River City Harley Riders began trickling in to signup for their 2nd annual poker run which began at
Mid-Cal Cycle, then to Bud's in Dixon, and to DD's in Winters, and to Plainfield Station in Woodland and
returned to Mid-Cal Cycle for the last stop. By 930am set up done, the tri-tips were on, and the poker
run was on - led by Dani - Dani planned the ride and it was all back roads including some windy roads through
Pleasant Hills.
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... photograph by Russell Holder
... photograph by Russell Holder
The open house was hosted by Mid-Cal Cycle owners Bruce and Robert.
Bruce spent a lot of time at the event on KP duty; he has the BBQ tri-tip, beans, salad, hot dawgs etc dialed in!
And, Bruce says "there is noooooooooo such thing as too much beer."
Robert was working hard too... took in two bikes and fixed them during the event!
And Bruce's wife manned the cold drinks and Robert's Jess manned the DUI trike.
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... photograph by Russell Holder
... photograph by Russell Holder
... photograph by Russell Holder
Vendors... there were vendors:
- Drag Specialties - sales representative Sharon Murphy (dragspecialties.com) was there with Matt and talked about the latest in helmets, helmet cameras, gloves, and many other of the new products offered by Drag Specialties.
- The West Sacramento Police Department - represented by Motor Officers Hatton, Martinez and Lang.
- K & S Casting and Design - represented by Kevin and Shirley, contact them at (504) 710-3454.
- Screen Printers Ink Printed Apparel and Designs - represented by Anthony Loya; Anthony has a shop and show room at Mid-Cal Cycle,
check out his website: screenprintersink.net - great quality and great prices.
- The River City harley Riders - sold raffle tickets for a T-Shirt quilt.
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... photograph by Russell Holder
... photograph by Russell Holder
... photograph by Russell Holder
... photograph by Russell Holder
... photograph by Russell Holder
... photograph by Russell Holder
... photograph by Russell Holder
... photograph by Russell Holder
... photograph by Russell Holder
... photograph by Russell Holder
... photograph by Russell Holder
There were plenty of good looking bikes to check out, even some muscle cars too.
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... photograph by Russell Holder
... photograph by Russell Holder
A couple Motorcycle Rodeos were put on by the West Sacramento Police Department that demonstrated, with several games, some of the ways the motor officers practice to hone their riding
skills and to maintain familarity and confidence with their motorcycle... games such as...
- slow drag: a familiar race where the winner is the last to the finish line, put your
foot down or not the last to reach the finish and you loooooose...
- follow the leader: the leader goes slower and slower until someone puts their foot
down, put your foot down and you're "out"...
- riding side-saddle: hmmmmm... done a lot of stuff on a motorcycle... not sure I want to try this...
apparently this is good practice for a quick dismount should you end up using your motorcycle to ram
a another motorcycle or a fleeing perp... watch out for that first step! Seems to me it would be less
risky to just unholster your service revolver and put a KTW in the suspect's engine.
- dog fights: similar to jet fighter pilots manouvering in which each rider's strategy is to
position his motorcycle so as to leave the the other rider no alternative (escape) except
to put his foot down or hit a cone... not the kind of things I typically consider while playing "what if" in every day riding...
... this strategy can be accomplished in a variety of methods... with squeeze manouvers or blocking manouvers...
... note however, it's against the rules to intentionally ram another motorcycle with
your motorcycle... but... sometimes it happens... oops... hehehe...
but, it is not against the rules to kick the other rider or his motorcycle...
hmmmmm... shades of dirt track racing... and, don't forget about the other bike(s) in this game...
it's every man for himself.
If you are thinking about trying to out run or out maneuver a motorcycle officer... you might want to re-think that...
they are prepared for you to try it.
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... photograph by Russell Holder
A third Motorcycle Rodeo featuring Walt, a retired motor officer, MC instructor, trainer, and trainer of trainers...
well drat!!!... Walt arrived after this reporter had left, but, he participated in skills demonstrations
with his personal Ultra-Classic!
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The raffle was another good one with prizes like Drag Specialties wratchet tie downs from hell and $50.00 Mid-Cal Cycle gift cards. Here's some of the usual suspects...
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... photograph by Russell Holder
... photograph by Russell Holder
... photograph by Russell Holder
... photograph by Russell Holder
That's all for now folks, so, if you missed this event, all is not lost, stop by any weekday 8am-5pm
to meet good friends, have good times, and get your friggin bike fixed right!
KNUCKLEHEADS FOREVER!
Article and photographs by Russell "Raz" Holder
Would you like to see more?... go to www.russellRAZholder.com and click on the Mid-Cal Cycle Spring Open House link...
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