Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Motomarathon Motorcycle Long-Distance Rally Schedule for 2010

Motomarathon may be the long-distance motorcycling event for we mere mortals.  "Aluminum Butt Rally" maybe?  According to the Motomarathon Association's website, motomarathon is about riding as many twisties as possible during an event. Routes are kept secret until the night before each event. Instead of a traditional LD points system based on grabbing bonus locations, the goal is to complete as many checkpoints as possible.   Accumulated yearly and lifetime checkpoint data is maintained by the association. Similar to traditional LD events, riders document checkpoints by photographing their assigned badges with the checkpoint location in the background. The association claims that the routes will allow plenty of time to complete all checkpoints at posted speed limits, and even time for leisurely lunches and sightseeing.  Barring major mechanical or navigational woes, it appears riders will be able to stop each night and get a decent amount of sleep without having to check into the fabled Iron Butt Hotel (i.e. sleeping on your parked motorcycle).  The association also invites its members to create their own motomarathons using the same basic format.  This year's schedule follows.  I usually attend the Retreads Mid-Atlantic Rally that same week in May, but that New England event looks mighty tempting....

2010 Motomarathon Schedule:
Southern California Motomarathon -- March 26-29
New England Motomarathon -- May 13-16
Centopassi Motomarathon -- June 25-28
Colorado Motomarathon-- September 17-20

Image courtesy of Motomarathon Association

posted by Doug Just Doug at 8:16 AM 0 comments

Monday, December 19, 2011

Motomarathon 2012 Events

Motomarathon may be the long-distance motorcycling event for we mere mortals.  "Aluminum Butt Rally" maybe?  According to the Motomarathon Association's website, motomarathon is about riding as many twisties as possible over four day. Routes are kept secret until the night before each event. Instead of a traditional Long Distance event points system based on grabbing bonus locations, the goal is to complete as many checkpoints as possible.   Accumulated yearly and lifetime checkpoint data is maintained by the association. Similar to traditional LD events, riders document checkpoints by photographing their assigned badges with the checkpoint location in the background. The association claims that the routes will allow plenty of time to complete all checkpoints at posted speed limits, and even time for leisurely lunches and sightseeing.  Barring major mechanical or navigational woes, it appears riders will be able to stop each night and get a decent amount of sleep without having to check into the fabled Iron Butt Hotel (i.e. sleeping on your parked motorcycle).  The association also invites its members to create their own motomarathons using the same basic format.  2012's four events, up from 2011's three:

·      New England Motomarathon – Danbury, CT – June 7-10
·      Empire State Motomarathon – Fishkill, NY – Sept. 13-16
·      Wisconsin Motomarathon – Madison, WI – Oct. 4-7
·      Great Smoky Motomarathon – Fontana Dam, NC – Oct. 27-30

Events may be added, and dates and locations are subject to change at this early stage of planning. Please refer to www.motomarathon.com for updates and further information as it becomes available.






(Images courtesy of Motomarathon)

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posted by Doug Just Doug at 2:03 PM 0 comments

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Motomarathon Rally 2011 Schedule

Motomarathon may be the long-distance motorcycling event for we mere mortals.  "Aluminum Butt Rally" maybe?  According to the Motomarathon Association's website, motomarathon is about riding as many twisties as possible during an event. Routes are kept secret until the night before each event. Instead of a traditional LD points system based on grabbing bonus locations, the goal is to complete as many checkpoints as possible.   Accumulated yearly and lifetime checkpoint data is maintained by the association. Similar to traditional LD events, riders document checkpoints by photographing their assigned badges with the checkpoint location in the background. The association claims that the routes will allow plenty of time to complete all checkpoints at posted speed limits, and even time for leisurely lunches and sightseeing.  Barring major mechanical or navigational woes, it appears riders will be able to stop each night and get a decent amount of sleep without having to check into the fabled Iron Butt Hotel (i.e. sleeping on your parked motorcycle).  The association also invites its members to create their own motomarathons using the same basic format.  2011's three events, down from 2010's four:

2011 Motomarathon Schedule

New England Motomarathon -- June 9-12
Colorado Motomarathon-- August 26-29
Southern California Motomarathon -- October 13-16

Image courtesy of Motomarathon Association

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posted by Doug Just Doug at 8:39 PM 0 comments

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

New Twist in Motorcycle Endurance Sport-Touring


The Motomarathon Association will debut its first satellite start in Macedon, NY at the 2012 Empire State Motomarathon, set for September 13-16th. The satellite start allows Western New York motorcyclists to join fellow endurance riders, who will begin the long-distance tour from the main starting point in downstate Fishkill, NY.

“Motomarathons often start in population centers, then reach to a distant location to loop out of a twisty-rich environment,” said Motomarathon Association Founder John Metzger. “Given the often extreme distance disparities from starting points, we’ve considered adding satellite start locations for this type of ride, and are going to try it out for the first time at the Empire State Motomarathon.”

With the addition of a satellite start in Macedon, the event will now accommodate riders not just from the Southeast Tri-State region, but from the reaches of Western New York as well. Riders completing the entire Empire State Motomarathon will have the opportunity to earn the same number of checkpoints regardless of their starting location.

Concurrently at 8:00 a.m. on September 13th, Routemaster Joe Majsak will direct the primary start from Fishkill (at the Quality Inn & Suites, 849 NYS Rt. 52), and Routemaster and veteran Motomarathoner Shawn Pearsall will manage the satellite start from Macedon (at event sponsor Filer’s PowerSports, about 20 miles east of Rochester on Rt. 31, at 1136 Pittsford-Palmyra Rd.).

Both groups of riders will "reach" from their respective start locations, converge along the way and end Day One at the loop base hotel, The Hungry Trout Resort, in Wilmington, NY. Days Two and Three find all riders bagging checkpoints on the same upstate routes.  On Day 4 riders will return to their respective finish points in Fishkill and Macedon for final check-in.

The Hungry Trout Resort is sold out. Overflow rooms are available 1.5 miles down the road at Steinhoff's Sportsman Inn, 5570 NYS Rt. 86, Wilmington, NY, 12997, (518) 946-2220. Ask for the Motomarathon rate.

Motomarathons are four-day, self-guided motorcycle events where riders are in the saddle an average of 8 hours/day. Routes and checkpoints are kept secret until the night before. Participants complete a series of self-recorded checkpoints using digital cameras to photograph their badge numbers at designated landmarks.

For more information or to register for the event go to www.motomarathon.com and select Register Now or contact Caty Metzger at motomarathon1@gmail.com or at 303.621.5356. Walk-ons are welcome.

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posted by Doug Just Doug at 8:17 AM 0 comments

Monday, October 14, 2013

Book Review: Motorcycling Through Midlife


Motorcycling Through Midlife, The Call of the Corner is best read the way one attacks a good motorcycling road: finding the rhythm, settling into a pace, feeling the flow from turn to turn, and reveling in sudden changes in direction and elevation.  Thorough reviews can be found here, and here.  “I wrote this book for my fellow baby boomers who are thinking about taking up motorcycling, or already have,” said Metzger, who is also the founder of Motomarathon, about which I've posted a few times before. “Though it’s a dangerous hobby fueled by subconscious adolescent cravings, motorcycling can be the finest expression of youthful joy and freedom if approached with the wisdom of midlife– and before we get too old.”  While I came into motorcycling from a totally different direction as the author, and while I don't agree with a number of his opinions, I found much to like, to chuckle over, and ponder. I was wishing for higher quality, color photographs as well.  Being a slim book, the ride was over all too soon, much as journeys down fun roads always seem to be.  I recommend this book for any rider's motorcycling library.
Published by the Motomarathon Association Press, first edition paperbacks of Motorcycling Through Midlife can be purchased for $15 in The Shop at www.motomarathon.com

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posted by Doug Just Doug at 2:47 PM 0 comments