The Backroads Report June 24th 2023 #272

Published: Sat, 06/24/23

The Backroads Report

Motorcycle, Travel & Adventure News

From Around The World

Shira Kamil

Whatchathinkin'

Passing Judgement

It happens to everyone. You look forward to a great day of relaxing riding, enjoying your favorite local roads, just getting out to clear the head and make life better. You exit your driveway and, within the very first mile, come upon the first of what will turn out to be many tortoise-like vehicles ahead of you, each one nicking away at the joy you anticipated in the day’s ride. Yes, patience is a virtue and prudence is most likely the better thing to have, but after half a dozen tortoises, the hare needs to break out.

Whatchathinkin

Anna Grechishkina

World Record Motorcyclist, Ukrainian Patriot

By Neale Bayly

Somewhere deep in the cold, black night, the unlit train passed from one world to another – from a place of beauty and light to one of darkness and pain, where postcard sunsets, breathtaking vistas, and meaningful connections would be replaced with shattered limbs, broken lives, destruction, and death.
Anna Grechishkina felt nothing. Traveling back to a country at war eight years, eight months, and eight days after leaving on her motorcycle to ride around the world, it wasn’t possible to know if it was home anymore. And as the kaleidoscope of thoughts and emotions raged into the night, a singular sense of purpose evolved: to serve! To do whatever needed to be done.

RIDER

Two Motorcycle Deaths

And ways we can avoid the same fate

By Lance Oliver

Benjamin Cowherd was 35 and lived in Nashville. Treat Williams was 71 and lived in Vermont. They had two things in common: Both their deaths this past week got media attention, and both died when a car driver turned left into their paths while they were riding their motorcycles.

Anyone who has been riding a motorcycle any amount of time is familiar with the phenomenon. A car driver makes a turn and pulls right into your path. It's the most common form of car-motorcycle collision, so much so that it has its own name in some parts of the world: SMIDSY, for "sorry, mate, I didn't see you."

Common Tread

Progressive

Martin Moto

The Technology Behind

DENALI Electronics

Denali 2.0 Light Kits are brighter, more robust, and a lot more versatile.The are the best on the market. Period.
All of their lights are also CANbus compatible and integrate with our CANsmart™ Controller for select motorcycles in a plug-n-play fashion. Amber lens kits are also available for all of their lights, making each pod uniquely versatile.
Let’s dig a bit further into the technology behind DENALI...

Denali Light

Bluebird of bitterness

Bluebird of Bitterness

What Did the World Look Like in the Last Ice Age?

Was it all endless glaciers and frozen ice? The answer is a partial yes—with some interesting caveats.

The Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), colloquially called the last ice age, was a period in Earth’s history that occurred roughly 26,000 to 19,000 years ago.

This map by cartographer Perrin Remonté offers a snapshot of the Earth from that time, using data of past sea levels and glaciers from research published in 2009, 2014, and 2021, alongside modern-day topographical data.

Let’s dive into the differences between the two Earths.

Ice Age

Italy Releases Ducati Postage Stamp

https://www.rideapart.com/news/671426/ducati-motogp-italian-postage-stamp/

Italy is a country with a special place in many a motorcyclist’s heart—and that goes double for Ducati’s ardent international fanbase. If you’re a proud Ducatista, you’ll definitely want to know about the latest release from the Italian national postal service, Poste Italiane.

Wait, what? On June 9, 2023, Poste Italiane officially released its special Ducati stamp collection, crafted in honor of the 2022 Ducati MotoGP World Championship won by the team as constructors, and by Ducati Factory rider Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia.

Ducati

Song of the Week

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zEuaYnavwk

SLUT

Todd Rundgren

Todd is God!

We are huge Rundgren fans and Todd turned 75 this week!

He has been such a big part of the American Rock scene for decades.

In addition to all his many hits, he was never afraid of trying something different. Sometimes it worked, sometimes not.

Meatloaf? Todd produced that and player guitar on all those hard rockin' tracks.

Picking one Todd song was tough, but I will steal a lyric from another Rundgren song to make my point about this particular track:

This is for the girls who just couldn't see
That my only sin was being me
And this one's for the girls and they know who they are...

SLUT

Arriving This Week - Into The Storm

Ride into the Storm

Follow along as nature beats us up while heading to Vegas.

What are the odds, right?

We discover the "Other Side of Jersey", we'll test the Suzuki GSX 1000GT+, and step into the arena with Battlebots!

Ride far, Ride smart...Ride the Backroads!

Backroads

Wytheville, VA Presents...

Escape of the Week

Belhurst Castle

Geneva, New York

As local travel experts, we know what travelers are looking for when it comes to finding the perfect accommodations for their next trip. To compile our lists, we scour the internet to find properties with excellent ratings and reviews, desirable amenities, nearby attractions, and that something special that makes a destination worthy of traveling for.
Belhurst Castle, built nearly 150 years ago, is a stunning relic of a time gone by, right in the heart of the Finger Lakes region. If you’re looking for a romantic getaway that brings together exquisite architecture, high-class dining, and one-of-a-kind lakeside views, this landmark is worth the visit. The Finger Lakes Region is well-known throughout the northeast as a hotspot for outdoor fun, but sometimes you’ve just got to kick your feet up, relax and enjoy the perks of a luxurious estate.

Belhurst Castle