help! ride 55 on 95 nklr

[JSherlockHolmes@aol.com]

To My Beloved Fellow KLR Pilots, The time has come for me to say adieu, for a while. I am relocating the Sherlock tribe from Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Austin, Texas. Finances being what they are these days, I do not know how long it will take for me to get e-connected once again. I have thoroughly enjoyed the comedy, information, political debates, and camaraderie that is so prevalent on this list. I have learned so many things from my fellow KLR pilots, I can't even begin to voice my appreciation and gratitude. In addition to this, the list has allowed me to actually meet, and ride, with fellow riders. Riders, that I may never have met, if it weren't for this list. These experiences, and life lessons, I will carry with me always. I don't know if I will be able to reconnect to this list for many moons, because the Good Lord has seen fit to present my life with a medical challenge that I must face head on. Because of this challenge, and the subsequent unemployment, personal finances are going to be of the hard to find nature. So, naturally, Internet connection is going to be way down there on the list of priorities. (But the KLR will always be in the garage) I want to say THANK YOU to all of those that have shared information, knowledge, and experience to those of us that were lacking in some of these areas. I sincerely hope that someday I will have the opportunity to meet each and every one of you. I know this is probably unlikely, but a guy can dream can't he? Take care everyone. Enjoy your rides no matter what they are, or where they are. Perhaps we may meet on the road someday. I hope to rejoin the list someday, but I'm not sure when it will happen. So for now I will say adios my friends. Keep the knobby side down and the body free from asphalt. Catch ya on the flip side. A fellow KLR Pilot. Jim Sherlock 97' KLR650 (A11)

[Zachariah Mully]

Damn! When did was this announced? I would have loved to ride to work today, but when I ran out of my apartment (20 min late) the metro was easier to hop on than my bike. I'll ride tomorrow for the post Ride-To-Work ride to work... It always seems like I am the last to know! Regardless, for all you MD, DC and NoVA riders, if you have nothing better to do, I would recommend the "ride 55 on 95" ride this weekend. As many of you may or may not know, Maryland announced "operation Road Rocket" several weeks ago to crack down on all the crazy crotch rocketeers on the roads. They cited two fatal motorcycle incidents from the previous year as reasons for the program (apparantly one of them was caused by an out of control dump-truck) and have enlisted two motorcycle cops on K1200RS's and a helicopter with Infrared imaging to hunt the offending motorcyclists. I have no problem with them trying to make the roads safer in the DC Metro area, but I don't appreciate the anti-motorcycle tactic they are adopting. The planned ride will be from the Beltway up 95 to Baltimore I believe at 55mph in the 3 right most lanes to demonstrate that motorcyclists are not dangerous speed freaks but law abiding motorists. All riders are encouraged to were tee-shirts with "55" scrawled on the back. If you can't ride, they're looking for people in cars to run rear blocker with camcorders... Apparantly last weekend when they did this several cars executed a high speed pass on the right hand shoulder to get ahead, then slammed on their brakes once in front of the motorcyclists. They would like to document this behavior and would appreciate any and all help. The specifics: (graciously taken from the DC-Cycles list)

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Reno on the burgandy 12 organized this event. (every saturday this month) specifics: meet at 12 p.m. at the rivertown mall checkers st barnabas rd right? route: from that beltway exit 4 north to the college park exit 25, turn around on 95-south, and back to 295 then to NY ave checkers. purpose: to show sportbike riders riding in a peaceful law abiding manner as a community and show who the real aggressive drivers are, and that motorcycles shouldnt' be singled out. Ride on the 3 right lanes and leave the passing lane open. 15 bikes were at the last event, and the # is expected to grow as word gets out. We will be doing this for the next 3 saturdays. Further protest will be decided later. Those without bikes are welcomed to come along in a car. Especially if you have a camcorder, to record the cars/trucks that come around on the shoulder and intentionally cut off, and wrecklessly endanger the law abiding riders of this protest. (as they have done last week). Below is the flyer as written by Reno: Promoting a peaceful ride at 55 on 95 Well people in helping Maryland State Police making our highways safer, we are promoting (A Peaceful Ride At 55 On 95) starting on Sat 7/15/00 for a month (every Sat). We are meeting at the Checekrs in River town shopping center in oxon hill at 12 noon and leaving at 1 p.m. The ride will go from exit 4 North on 95 to exit 25, then we will turn around and head back down 95 South taking up all 3 lanes except for the left passing lane, driving only at 55 mph. Then we will take 295 into dc to the checkers on New York Avenue. The news and radio stations ahve been called in advance so it will be televised. Please wear a white T shirt with 55 on the back (over your gear). This is to show that it's not all sport bike riders that drive at high speeds, it's people in cars and trucks driving reckless and at high speeds as well as creating fatal accidents. Not all sport bike riders drive 150 MPH. I hope one day that all motorists in cars and trucks will give motorcycles a little bit more respect. We are only on two wheels you know, without the protection of doors. I would like to say THANKS to the Maryland State Troopers for getting the jet helicopter and BMW motorcycles to help catch speeders (operation road round up). The majority of us sport bike riders are behind you ONE hundered percent. I would like to say thanks to the news and radio stations for listening to us and getting our side of the story out to the public. We are asking all bike riders with VALID drivers lisceneses to participate. Please send this to all the riders you know. If not by email, then please give them a call. RENO!!! Ps: kawasaki rules =========== I also would like to make note that off duty police officers are riding along with thier bikes. The reckless automobiles that come on the shoulder tend to back off when that badge comes out. I Still would like cars with camcorders to come along. Would make for some great news footage showing that CARS are the true reckless & agreessive vehicles killing other motorists. how often do we see sportbikes cutting off cars "to get back at them"? never. That's like playing russian roulette in someone elses house to make them "pay". Many of you didn't know about the event this past saturday, nor did I. I did meet up with them afterwards. I will be out there with our friends & fellow riders next saturday. Will you? BTW, I repeat, cars supporting the ride, are especially welcome to follow behind us, acting as a barrier to protect the riders from tail gaters. (note signs in the rear window are illegal). Bring your camcorders if you have them, and help record activities that show who the real dangerous DRIVERS are, that willfully endanger other peoples lives.