Reminder that the 2009 Apocalypse Scooter Club is hosting it's 4th annual scooter rally July31-Aug3 in Calgary Alberta, Canada kicking off with an evening of Ska bands at the Ironwood Bar and Grill so polish your dance shoes and practice snapping your braces.
For detailed info see our website. There are events, prizes, a raffle, and of course group rides.
We have rally packs available for $20, which includes rally shirt, patch, cassette audio tape of scooter music and various assorted goodies.
Billeting for out of town guests is still available.
For the 2009 ApocalypseSC Garage Sale Rally we will be keeping all of our rides in Calgary. The nature of a Garage Sale theme is for us to hit up a few garage sales during our rides. We cannot plan our routes exactly as the sale addresses won't be published until that weekend. Our itinerary posts our firm destinations but some mid-ride garage sale stops will be on done the fly.
As always our arrival/departure times are merely approximate. Do not be upset if the group rides are running a little behind in getting there or leaving..
If you get lost or separated from the group, or if you want to meet up mid-ride, or if you break-down, or need an escort to find and deliver you, CALL. There are a few phone contacts in your rally pack numbers of local ASC members who should know what is going on and how to find the assistance you require. If there is no answer, please be patient. We won't answer the phone when in mid-ride or if otherwise engaged with a beautiful girl. Your phone call will be returned asap.
We will not be following the group with an emergency vehicle. Should you need a tow, the ASC has access to a few different trailers/trucks and can come rescue you eventually. There are members carrying a minimum of tools,zip ties, coathangers, and we can get you gas, air or a jumpstart if needed. Please don't abuse this service.
I've seen all sorts of group riding styles. Some focus on safety, some on craziness. You don't have to be either extreme. For what it's worth, these are ten rules that make my group-ride-time enjoyable...
#1 follow the leader. Leaders can change/rotate but everyone follows the leader. Usually the slowest bike leads, or a bigger bike rides slow.
#2 Everyone should ride in staggered formation, especially around curves. Otherwise if somebody drifts from their line, it is a dangerous situation.
#3 stay as a group. Give space to who you are following but don't lag behind giving too much room. Leader will and must listen for the horns of those caught behind at a light or whatever. The group ahead pulls over and waits for those left behind to catch up.
#4 plan the route. At the very least tell everyone the destination. When this is not done you might loose riders and piss folks off.
#5 Stop-go-stop-go isn't fun. It might seem like great promotion to ride down Main Street, waving at everyone, but it's not a fun ride stopping at all the lights. Curves and hills with fewest stops and changing scenery make it fun. Sometimes it leads through residential or countrysides.
#6 Keep left turns to an absolute minimum. Lead the group straight when you can, turn right when you can't go straight. This aids the group to stay as one and should make for longer periods between stopping.
#7 use blockers. Most rides in the west use blockers when it is safe to do so. When entering or crossing an intersection, one blocks traffic from the left, one blocks traffic from the right, so that the group can proceed as a whole. There is no reason to come to a complete stop if the blockers are doing their job. The idea is to not put the ride in a dangerous situation. Don't block major intersections, emergency service vehicles, and especially cops.
#8 On occasion an impatient car will butt themselves into the middle of a group. No matter what, never react in anger. The scooter directly in front of the car slows to a snail pace, so either the car changes lanes and the group is back together, or the group behind can scoot around the offender to rejoin the group.
#9 No stunting. When you're in a group, everyone's safety depends on nobody loosing control. No jumps, no wheelies, keep hands on the handlebars and watch what you're doing. Beware of foxy short skirts and the huge potholes they distract you from.
#10 Understand scooters as opposed to other bikes. Scooters are primarily urban vehicles with limited power. Air-cooled vintage bikes are best with varied speeds. They require air flow to keep running, yet don't enjoy long periods of full throttle either. 4stroke 50cc's physically can't keep the race pace. The inner city is naturally the best scootering environment.
As always, you are responsible for your behaviour. You are legally obligated to have valid license, insurance, registration and to follow the Hwy Traffic Act. The ApocalypseScooterClub is not going to be your bitch.
Please patron our generous sponsors.
Questions? Please reply to korhag@yahoo.ca and I'll get back at you.
sincerely, Kory Haggert
