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 Just another hard day... | Pizza and a Dirt Rider...
when you can't really be there! |
| So I was checking our our website, admiring how good all my people do at keeping it current...all except ME! Man, how time flies. I can't believe it is 2010. Guess I'm getting to be the old guy, always underestimating dates and stuff by 10 years or more. Gives my wife something to make fun of me about...like she needs it. So it's spring 2010! I have seen alot of changes in this industry since I started (1978), but there is more new stuff to be excited about now than ever. Honda is rolling out some incredible new street bikes! Have you seen the new CBR10RR? We just got one on the showroom. That thing is as small and light as a 600! More like a hyper-powered dirt bike for the street. I know you may have seen the new FURY custom by now, but if you haven't actually straddled one and felt the bike, you really have no idea what it is. It's the industry's first true custom that doesn't handle like.... an anvil balanced on a brick! It is incredible. The BIGGEST news this spring is - again - the new CanAm Spyder, now in a TOURING version. Man! That's what we have all been waiting for! We have one on the showroom, ready for demmo rides. I've been able to spend a couple afternoons on it, you just have to come ride it to believe. It isn't a trike, but all you trike owners especially will be amazed by this thing. The snow is finally gone, and we have just been thru our first weeks of spring rush. I've got to say, the year looks bright. We started picking up about last October, and it's been a pretty steady climb since then. It also helps that we have inherited substantial territory to our North, now being the official (and only) Honda dealer between us and Davenport. We have increased some staffing and are all excited about the new prospects. Enough about business- let's talk riding! I've been out in the garage, pettin' my CRF250...sitting on the seat making motor noises... had it outside in the snow, running and sniffin' the exhaust. 50 years old and I still love race fuel! Despite my best laid plans, I only got to race one time last year, did a hare scramble up by Iowa City. Got back to the truck, couldn't hardly get off the bike. AAArrrgggh! I'm pretty sure it was 'cause I was going so fast. I've been riding my AirStryder regiously every morning now though, so now I can do some realy damage in the Senior (that's- older that Vet A) class! I keep gettin' AARP offers in the mail now too. Hurts my feelings. Last summer Shawnna and I discovered a property in Colorado while riding there. One thing lead to another and we have purchased 101 acres just outside Woodland Park Colorado. Sold our riding park here in Iowa, reinvested there. In all my years going to Colorado, I'm always looking for the right spot to buy, and it seemed it always came back to THAT valley outside THAT town. I never really thought it possible. The area is known as Rainbow Falls...you should check it out at our website www.rainbowfallsmt.com. We are opening a private fishing club there. Odd for me, as I'm not at all a fisherman. Our goal with the property is to create a good financial base for RTR Ministries, our ministry organization, with which we can increase our involvement with orphanages, etc. God knows the desires of our hearts, and the benefit is- it is a beautiful valley, 9 lakes, 2 miles from a trailhead leading to thousands of acres of OHV trails. I won't take alot of time here for details, but check out the website, you'll be glad you did. So now for the BEST part...the opening of the 2009 RIDING season! I've already had my 250X out of the garage and in the woods....can't wait for more time to go! Gonna be harder without the riding park...AAARRrrghhh! Can't wait to get out on the Can Am Spyders, got the new '09 Demmo (Red and Black....SHARP!) ready to GO! I've got the Gold Wing all charged-up and ready for those long rides. Been out on it already too, just cruisin' around. Had lots of customers riding in lately- really giving me the itch! Gonna do more racing this year, went to three Hair Scrambles last year...not enough, gotta do more! Last year I did get some serious time in on my 250X. Had to do some motor mods etc to get the power up, but it has turned into the ultimate woods weapon! That bike is incredible! Got to spend 3 weeks in Colorado, one with Shawnna on a Can Am 650MAX (2-seater) and then with the guys on my 250X. We took the Can AM to Silverton / Uray area, found alot of new trails and old mines we had not discovered as of yet. Then on to Crested Bute area, all new trail. We got onto an old trail clearly marked "Narrow Vehecles Only-Skilled Operators- No Maintenance". They meant it! It was beautiful, part of it with sheer drop-offs into the raging creek hundreds of feet below, off-camber rock, and Shawnna rode with me thru it all, taking pictures all the way. She has been a big "chicken" in the past when it comes to edges and big drops, but at one point she stopped me, jumped off the ATV on the EDGE side, layed down and leaned over the edge to take my picture with the canyon wall in the background. I told her she just earned her "chicken" badge...no fear there! We also ran accross a big rock slide that basically closed the trail. I had her climb off here, and rode the Can Am over it. That was literally a make it or "flip and role" all the way to the bottom. Pretty cool. On our "Guy Trip" we went first to Green's Creek, (Monarch Pass), then to Taylor Lake, and last to Rampart Range, just west of Castle Rock. We had 7 guys this year, 4 of whom had never ridden Colorado at all. It was the perfect recipe for FUN! The first day we went up the infamous Green's Creek trail, one of the hardest trails out there. I think I failed to mention that part to them. Took us over 4 hours to go about 7 miles. Let's just say a good time was had by...most of us. HA! But we got 'em all thru it, and as usual everybody gets better as they go. Only one guy puked on the trail, so I guess that's a success. Dry heaves at 12,000 feet. Sometimes you just gotta be there! Green's Creek has both high, barren overviews, and great plush valleys in between. Lots of elevation change in any day's ride. We then went to Taylor Lake, where I assured my now doubtful followers that this was much easier trail. Well, the first hour was. We ventured into some new trail (gotta have SOME adventure) that turned into some of the biggest rock faces I've ever climbed. Not to mention the creek crossing where we nearly lost a Honda 250X...got cool pictures though. Water running back out of the pipe, airbox, rider's britches...life is good. Overall had a great ride at Taylor as usual. They are all sure I'm a liar now. Next we were off to Rampart Range where I again assured them this trail was easy. Don't think they bought it this time. But, SURPRISE....Rampart really is easy, and beautiful. A great way to end a week's ride. Everybody had fun and came home with a bad case of "Colorado-itis." All ready to go back! Been increasingly busy with ministry work, seems like every year we get more involved in missions work and other ministry. Our men's group at church "Band of Brothers" has been busy doing outreaches, did a big community back-to-school outreach where we gave out over 100 backpacks with school supplies and groceries to area families. Had a large group of men go to Promise Keepers, and lots of other ministries. I love playing bass guitar with the church praise team and rattle the windows at home as much as I can. There is a general rule that sez you can NEVER have too much bass! Last year Shawnna and I started a ministry corp. "RTR Ministries" (aka Rubber to the Road) and are getting more involved in foreign missons as well. Honestly...this is where our heart is, the things that really matter. So.....LOTS of irons in the fire...but I wouldn't have it any other way. Our many thanks to you, our loyal customers! See you on the trail!
Richard
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| Yeah, they wish they could keep up with me!! NO respect.
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| Rider's view, Hahn's Peak Park, Colorado. Next is a view from the top of "Hippie Mountain"...ask me sometime! |
 Look what I found in the woods... |
 Just 4 happy guys... |
| It's why we go...Bob Johnson, east end of Hahn's Peak |
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| Just had to stop and take it all in! This was one of many old mining towns. Next is a view down a beautiful valley, we rode all the way down and out of sight. |
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| All good things must come to an end. Until next year... |
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