Cold, Wet, Snowy and bad traffic...It must be Cleveland

Went to the Cleveland Bike show for the 4th year in a row. The traffic was a good hour and a half or more to get in. I took a short cut, and saved a great deal of time, taking about one hour waiting in traffic to get into the parking lot

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It was cold, wet/snowing as you can see by the picture of the Electronic Bulletin above and the picture of IX center to the right.

The show was good, but there seemed to be a lot fewer people there. I cannot explain the traffic backup except that their is simply not enough people taking the $8 to park at the center. That is where the traffic backup originated.

All the manufacturers were there, and I spent extra time at the Kawasaki booth checking out the new models, and the Honda site checking out the new Goldwings. Every year, I think about how nice it would be to have that 1800cc 6 cylinder engine, the big comfy seats, and all the gadgets. Then I go check them out, and they remind me more of a car then bike. I think I will pass again this year, and just enjoy the heck out of my Kermit (by the way, you did check out on the right hand side for the video of "It's not easy being green" by Leena Horne and Kermit, right?)

Checked out a lot of the accessories, but nothing really stood out. All pretty standard stuff, and mostly clothes Midway hawking. There were quite a few more three wheel vehicles on the floor this year. The lines between bikes and cars is blurring more each year! Here are some pics of a few that I thought were interesting. Remember, click on the pic to see a bigger version!

I guess, overall, it was still worth going. But next year, if I can make the Novi (Detroit) show, that's where I will head. A lot less traffic, less people, and almost the same number of vendors.

How Kermit got his name

When I first saw my Nomad, I was not thrilled with the paint options. The all black was cool, but looked just like everyone else's bike. The other option was Green/Silver. The silver was cool...But GREEN? I almost did not buy one because of that.

It was not going to be easy having a Green bike. When Green was the only color it could be, it made me wonder. But then, why wonder? Its Green, and it will do fine. And then, the more I looked at it, the more I thought "It's beautiful". Others wouldn't...it wasn't easy being Green! But I think it is the color I want it to be.

Watch the video to the right, and it will all make sense.

Michigan Cycle Show

Its that time of year; the snow is blowing, temperatures are hovering between 0 and 32, and spring seems so far away. It is the beginning of the dark countdown until I can once again start up Kermit and jump on the road in my leathers.

Thankfully, Cycle World holds its annual bike shows. I am off to the Detroit show tomorrow to look at some of the new bikes and accessories...and yes, to meet up with some VROC Friends for good food and drink.

Pictures when I return!