DFW VRCC Moonlightless Night Ride Saturday , August 2nd.

[RainMaker]

DFW VRCC Moonlightless Night Ride Saturday night, August 2nd.

OK, gang.  I've laid out the trip on relatively straight roads, avoided interstates as much as possible.  This should be about 3 hours of riding with an hour of breakfast in Sherman at IHOP.  There are open gas stations and also  places to stop and stare at the stars, which should be very bright once we get out of the metromess.

9:30PM      Meet at the Shell Station at the southeast corner of the intersection of Hwy 75 and 380 in McKinney.  Tank up.
10:00PM    KSU heading on 380 to Greenville.

11:30PM    Should be getting to Sherman IHOP.

Here's the route

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=14768501392671621130,33.210026,-96.637442%3B11966436910283254252,33.145390,-96.135700%3B10656365947510169087,33.489132,-96.380529%3B5971150902303771809,33.589400,-96.557560%3B109896528598717191,33.652519,-96.892665%3B1150645903185364033,33.469730,-96.919090%3B13609275241325542424,33.446980,-96.743950%3B4507693063588518294,33.236070,-96.789770&saddr=N+Central+Expy+%4033.210026,+-96.637442&daddr=US-69+%4033.145390,+-96.135700+to:US-69+%4033.489132,+-96.380529+to:TX-11+%4033.589400,+-96.557560+to:2617+N+Sam+Rayburn+Fwy,+sherman,tx+to:Sherman+Dr%2FTX-56+%4033.652519,+-96.892665+to:N+Ray+Roberts+Pkwy%2FUS-377+%4033.469730,+-96.919090+to:FM-121%2FW+Main+St+%4033.446980,+-96.743950+to:N+Preston+Rd%2FTX-289+%4033.236070,+-96.789770+to:33.215999,-96.641579&mra=mi&mrcr=8&mrsp=9&sz=12&doflg=ptm&sll=33.267398,-96.720543&sspn=0.188311,0.296974&ie=UTF8&ll=33.402785,-96.558838&spn=0.75207,1.187897&z=10


RainMaker will lead the route (cell 214-394-2579).


I think this will be fun.  It sure as heck will be cooler!

RainMaker

[godfire]

Lookie, lookie....no mention of rain in the forecast and then Rainmaker schedules a ride....
http://radar.weather.gov/radar.php?rid=FWS&product=N1P&overlay=11101111&loop=yes

Looking forward to it!

[Daniel Meyer]

Ya'll have fun! That should be a great ride...there's nothing better than riding on a Texas summer night...any that haven't done this I suggest you get out and try it!

I'll just have to make due with riding in Tennessee this week!

[godfire]

there's nothing better than riding on a Texas summer night...

Oh yes, a nice ride in the Texas summer night. That reminds me of a time when I was riding and ....

http://lifeisaroad.com/stories/2004/10/29/valkyrieMagic.html

Or wait.....maybe I was on my Harley and there was a squirrel in the road.....

Be safe Daniel and bring back some good stories!

[LemonDrop]

at 9:30

[RainMaker]

Went on the pre-ride tonight (did you notice it rained?).  Speedo came along since he will be out of town Saturday.  Lots of gas stations open late.  The IHOP looks like a newer restaurant.  Temperature was good and not much traffic.  Turning off 377 to FM121 in Tioga was kinda tricky - not a great intersection, narrow street and water in the road made my turn suck, but I didn't crash.  We'll have to watch that turn.

See you on Saturday nite!

RainMaker

[Blade]

well I don't know if we will be able to make this ride ,sounds great thought !!!!
I can't wait to meet you all and ride a Valkyrie ,it is so smooth and quite it is hard to tell if it's running compared to the Harley

[LemonDrop]

would add about 10 miles (each way) to your ride (north), out to Lake Texoma.  It's a great place to watch the sun come up (on the west side), or go down.

[RainMaker]

Anyone wanting to stay at Lake Texoma to watch the sun come up, please get with LemonDrop.  I plan to be back in Arlington by the time the sun rises.

RainMaker

[SideCar]

Bowing out as I have been volunteered to help babysit neices and our kids.  That means I should get to bed about the same time you guys do.

[Houdini]

I told the HRC #38 guys about our moonlightless ride and a few on them may join us.  Hope you guys don't mind a couple of VTX's and/or GW's tagging along.

Chuck

[godfire]

A bike is a bike. We even let my wife bring her Yamaha from time to time.

[RainMaker]

All looks good for the ride tonight.  Even 12th Man (John, my son) has come up from Waco to ride with us tonight, so for me, it will be a rare treat as he normally is studying every waking moment.

Rules for riding at night are pretty similar to our normal day rides, but I suggest we do the following:

1) greater following distances - double what we'd do in the day in staggered riding.  We can still stagger, but at a greater following distance. This is to allow for reaction time plus to minimize the amount of headlight glare from the following rider.
2) single file on any road without a shoulder. 
3) road hazards - normally we point our hand or foot at a road hazard.  As we are in the dark, that will be difficult for anyone to see.  Any ideas on how to "pass it back" when we see a road hazard? 

We will be taking turns slower than normal and this will not be a fast ride.  Your grandmother would be comfortable at the speeds I am planning.

No rain forecast (sorry) - only 105-108 degree days with 112 degree heat indexes.  Definitely the time to do some night riding.

See you tonight in McKinney!

RainMaker

[Wanderer]

A bike is a bike. We even let my wife bring her Yamaha from time to time.

The family that rides together...

[godfire]

Hey Mark, just letting you know that we are not going to be able to make it tonight.
Still think that it is a great idea. You guys ride safe and have fun.

[Houdini]

MaryAnn and I will be going to Hooters around 9 for some world famous wings if anyone wants to join us.  The gas station we are meeting at is next door.



Chuck