Free Wheelin'

 From the rugged peaks of Colorado to the lush heights of the Appalachians, America is a land of vast and varied elevations. Yet, not all adventures require hiking boots or mountain climbing gear. Some of the nation's most breathtaking vistas are accessible through the winding stretches of tarmac that ascend its mountain ranges. Buckle up as we take you on a coast-to-coast journey, state by state, unveiling the USA's highest paved roads. Whether you're a motor enthusiast, a road trip lover, or someone in search of unparalleled scenic drives, this guide promises to elevate your travel experiences—literally.
 

Highest roads

We have been using Sargent Motorcycle Seats on our own personal rides for years, and with excellent reason. We rarely have to think of them.
Sure, sometimes we look and say, 'Wow, that is a great looking seat." But, seats are like shoes - they should be so comfortable you never have to think about them.
 

Sargent Seats

North Haverhill, NH • August 14-18

Be Part of the Adventure...

Registration is open for the Touratech Dirt Daze Rally, August 14-18, 2024 in North Haverhill, NH. The fastest growing adventure motorcycle event in the USA is an experience like no other, and we can’t wait to ride with you this summer! Reserve your spot today!

DirtDaze

As part of its plans for growing MotoGP, Liberty Media expressed plans to “amplify marketing support and storytelling capabilities” (with emphasis added by Liberty Media). Naturally, “storytelling capabilities” leads us to wonder if Liberty Media is planning on producing a MotoGP version of the successful Formula 1: Drive to Survive series on Netflix.

The series, which just streamed its sixth season, has helped F1 racing grow its popularity, particularly in the U.S. market. Liberty Media also expressed plans to expand in the U.S., so putting two-and-two together, it seems like we might see a similar series revolving around MotoGP (Ride to Survive?) at some point.

So, for our  question of the day we ask: should they make a docuseries about MotoGP similar to Formula 1: Drive to Survive, and if they do, would you watch it?

Motorcycle.com

Eagle Cam

Backroads Magazine Current Edition

From massive craters to secret cities, these places are relics of the Atomic Age.
by Jonathan Carey

On July 16, 1945, the first nuclear explosion occurred a few hundred miles south of Los Alamos, New Mexico. Named the Trinity test by J. Robert Oppenheimer, the director of the Los Alamos Laboratory, the test was part of the Manhattan Project and ushered the world into the age of nuclear weapons. From that day until 1992, the United States alone conducted more than 1,000 nuclear tests. Many of the sites where these earth-shattering explosions took place can still be visited today and offer a glimpse into the power of the atomic bomb.

 

Atlas Obscura

124 Years of Campaigns, Colors and Cars

Over 120 years ago, a small group of New York motorcar retailers joined forces to bring their automobiles together under one roof. They called it the New York Auto Show and created a poster to promote their new event.

Since then, the New York Auto Show poster has grown in importance and has celebrated speed, sophistication, and sometimes even mythical gods. In the post-war era, the Show poster often looked to the future and always championed the artistic styles of the day.

Auto Show posters

What? Did You Rally Think We Were Done...

A friend asked for a carrot to get her through the winter...

Well here it is, the Backroads' Spring Break 2024!

This long weekend will start on a Thursday, along the upper Delaware River in Hancock, New York and then meander west to Williamsport, Pennsylvania. This region of the Endless Mountains is a pure joy to ride and explore.

This SB will be a bit different, and we want to see how good you are at navigating and route planning. Any Road Whisperers out there?

The # 1 rule is Nulla Praecepta - have at it!

So, you got the basics... now it's up to you. Create your best route for any given day, and send your GPX files to [email protected].

These routes will be judged by Mr. Notso Happy, Pepe & Spenser T. Cat, and the top journeys will be posted for all.

Have fun and good luck!
 

Spring Break 2024

Thoughts on Counter-Steering...

Why are motorcycles stable?  What's actually going on when we turn? Is it countersteering? Gyroscopic Precession? Rake and Trail? Mass Distribution?  The answer may surprise you.  It surprised us! 

Canyon Chasers

On this day 500 years ago, the Nao Victoria completed the world’s first circumnavigation. Half a millennium later, we’re still finding new ways to traverse the globe.
On September 6, 1522, a Spanish carrack named Nao Victoria arrived in the coastal waters of Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Spain. Although carracks were a common sight on the Atlantic, the Victoria was one-of-kind because it had done something no ship had ever achieved—it had traveled the entire globe.

500 Years Around the Worlds

Progressive

Bluebird of Bitterness

Rutgers Geology Museum

New Brunswick, New Jersey

One fantastic hidden museum in New Brunswick, NJ is located only feet away from the train station, in a stately old building that many people pass by countless times without going in. That’s where you’ll find the Rutgers Geology Museum, a compact two-story museum filled with fascinating exhibits spotlighting geology, paleontology, and anthropology. The museum had very limited hours for a long time following 2020, but it’s back up to normal operations during the school year now – and the best part is, this fascinating museum is completely free to the public!
 

Only in Your State

Laszlo Buring

What if Dire Straits and Mark Knopfler did Riders on the Storm?

This was sent by my buddy Dan Morrow - this is an amazing look at this style of Knopfler guitar playing.

Buring said, "Can't believe it took this long before I did a Doors song in the Dire Straits style, but here we are."
Went with a Lady Writer/Sultans of Swing kind of approach for this one, raising the original tempo quite a bit. I tried to work a few of Ray Manzarek's piano riffs in there, with the walking down the Dorian scale type of stuff.

 

Laszlo Buring