Ricky J. Carrasco
August 22 marked the 5th anniversary of the Centauros Motorcycle Club, El Paso Chapter. They celebrated the event with a charity run for cancer patients here in El Paso. More than 350 persons attended the ride that started at Barnett Harley-Davidson and stopped at various other places like Mulligan’s north. The run had been their first in a few years, but, according to Socorro Chapter Vice President Rogelio Garcia, will continue the club’s charitable work in the area.
The Centauros MC started, as most clubs do, as a group of friends who, ten years ago, decided to ride together on the weekend. Since then, the 7 friends have evolved into a full-blown international organization with more than a hundred members riding their motorcycles in chapters from Chihuahua to El Paso to as far as Alamogordo and Pecos. They are proud to be a family oriented, professional organization. At this run, the members, their wives and children, were all equal participants helping sign up other bikers to participate in the run.
One of Garcia’s first experiences with the club happened two years ago on a charity toy run to Praxedis G. Guerrero, a rural town outside of Juarez. He remembers he was impressed with the various truckloads of toys the club had managed to acquire to bring to the town’s children. And when he arrived, he could not help but be even more impressed by almost 1000 children who came out to receive toys. Garcia, himself a mechanical engineer for a local company, then joined the group, comprised of dentists, architects, other professionals and normal working people, who also ride. As he says, he and the group are dedicated to “helping people out.”
Sergio Gonzalez, acting president of the El Paso chapter, says the founding members in Juarez first started their charity work when someone approached one of the members for help with their child who had been diagnosed with leukemia and had nowhere else to turn. The Centauros proceeded to adopt “Leslie” as their first recipient of their work. When the group grew into El Paso, they decided to maintain the mission of helping cancer patients. The group is registered with the IRS as a non-profit organization and their treasurers are required to report every cent of income and outflow.
Gonzalez says that they hope this transparency, along with their work, will help change the stigma of the “biker” culture from one of the rough outlaw to one of a social group on motorcycles that can be an integral part of the society at large. In fact, many other MCs in the area are working to shed the negative stigma of the “outlaw biker” that has been perpetuated by TV and movies. Interestingly enough, he says the negative idea of the biker is less so in Mexico, where motorcycles of all types are more necessary to travel and where motorcycle clubs have already established charitable work.
Manny Rodriguez, Secretary of the El Paso chapter, says they are working hard to bring future charitable events to the area, both in El Paso and in Juarez. “There is much need everywhere and we are trying to help where we can.”
The Centauros will be celebrating their 10 year anniversary in Juarez in September, expecting over 600 persons to attend.
Category Featured |
- Yeissen, Yassim and Yossem Rubalcava
By: Adrian Arvizu
Most kids today like to play video games, watch TV, stay inside or do common activities with other kids. A while ago while driving down a neighborhood I saw, what looked like dirt bike rider’s, in this deserted property near Montana Vista, Far East of El Paso, Tx. I came to realize these kids were picking up speed and turning in loose dirt at amazing speeds, lifting dirt up in the sky, carving dirt trails. Three kids coming from one family, Yeissen(16), Yassim(15), Yossem Rubalcava(12), tell me about experiences from what they been through, been in the sport since they were little kids.
Motocross is a form of motorcycle sport or all-terrain vehicle racing held on enclosed off road circuits, “many kids have been involved in this sports for years, many parents would not allow their kids to participate in such sports due to their jumps, speeds and of course danger on the track”, states Yeissen the oldest of his family, but not only boys are allowed to ride either, in this sport little girls up to grown up women ride as well. These three brother’s also have their youngest sister riding as well, Yiosselyne Rubalcava(6); youngest from this young family is also not afraid to go up those steep hills, through loop sections. To many kids this is a adrenaline pumping sport, it keeps them addicted to the speeds and turns, but they are also regular kids, they play video games, go to school, but in the end what they love the most is Motocross, they live it, dream it, and just like any Big Enthusiast who once was a kid.
- Adrian Rodriguez
Adrian Rodriguez (13) has been active in motorcross for the past few years and has raced in some big events as well as local races. During these local races up to 15-20 other kids race as well, when they compete in nationals up to 42 racers can be in the same category, many faster than others but as most kids state this sport is not to be feared, you give it your all and hope you don’t fall, but in the end whether you win or lose your still standing to go at it next weekend. Many of these young boys travel the country, even some go to other countries just to compete and try new challenges. Some learn new ways to from foreign countries or watch some of their competitors ride to see if they can adapt some new skill. Some do adapt keep themselves at a challenge others keep searching for harder opponents to try and become the best. Most kids don’t have a sponsor, just their hardworking parent who supports this sport. To many kids, teenagers, and adults, it’s never too late to try and get into this sport, there’s plenty categories all at a different ages. If interested in this active adrenaline sport visit your local motorcycle dealers.
Category Motorcross |
Author: Phil West
It feels good to do activities with people who likes to do same things that you do right? If you like motorcycle riding then think how fun it would be if you join a motorcycle convoy. There is this kind of camaraderie and security as well as risks if you choose to ride in groups.
Motorcycle riding with a group feels great because you have people to share your experiences and expectations. The number of people you ride with makes you feel secure especially when unexpected things happen. Some motorcyclists like to do camping weekends, some like riding down scenic highways, others like speed,some like hair pin turns,others prefer great sweeping curves or prefer to ride in the dirt. So it is important to seek company of like-minded people. Other motorcyclists only wants to ride a bike of a particular brand like Harley Davidson motorcycles for example. Once you find a group, there should be a pre-ride discussion and establish the basics down like your destination,preferences and talk about signals,pace and details like gas stops and routes.
Make sure that everyone in the group understands these symbols before heading out to avoid surprises. Use those signals liberally on the road so that other riders are aware of your intentions. Set a meeting place in case someone gets cut off from the group. It is always good to ride in sub-groups like four bikes riding together is safer than larger numbers where it can get confusing and frustrating. So think in multiples of five. Have the group’s leader lead the pack and should signal early and slow gradually. He should know the way ,well ahead of time and should have a plan not to disrupt other traffic and get everyone safely to their destination. Ideally a seasoned rider should be at the back of the road to ride sweep and take care to those who have problems. Everyone should have a cellphone to call for help just in case. Side-cars or trikes should be best at the back of the group or in a group of their own.
There should be a gap of four or more car lengths between each sub-groups of motorcycles. This formation leaves room for each bike and sub-groups to swerve to the side and provides reaction time to brake. When threat arises riding side to side limits routes to escape when you are close to any other vehicles. It would present a potential risk. If you are in close proximity with other riders, there’s a tendency to wander into each other’s zones and can cause you to be rear-ended or if not, two or more bikes in a group would collide. When everyone is stopping for fuel have one rider mans the nozzle (provided you use the same kind of fuel) and the rest of the bikers can simply march through and later figure out who owes what.
This system saves time compared to each rider has to get off his bike, picks up the nozzle and pays independently. I mean, riders should avoid wasting time because no rider wants to spend more time than he has to in gas stations. But what about the rider who does not want to ride with a bunch of other motorcyclists? The rider who thinks that riding with a group slows him down,changes the rhythm of his riding and gets in the way of the freedom that is the heart of why he rides? The fact is, some riders want to go it alone or ride only with one other rider he knows and trusts.
Motorcylce riding with more additional people will slow you down. You can only go as fast on the road, at lunch or in a gas station as the slowest member of the group. Give yourself plenty of margin if you are not comfortable with riders you wind up riding with and to discover you companion’s habits as well. A common issue is speed differential. Faster folks often complain that slower riders are slowing them down. On the other hand slower riders feel uncomfortable trying to keep up the pace with faster riders. Well both kinds of riders shouldn’t try to. We don’t want accidents or the tickets.
Basically if you feel uncomfortable with what others in the group are doing, drop out by all means, before it causes trouble, or better yet tell them to go ahead or go ahead yourself or take a side trip. So before committing totally to spending hours and days riding with a convoy, it is a good idea to do some shorter day or weekend rides with a certain group.
There are riders who jive with others personality-wise but contrast in their riding styles just plan to meet each evening and have leisurely meals but get from one point to another at their own pace and on their own routes. In motorcycle group riding, each rider is responsible for the one behind him. If you don’t see the rider behind you for a few minutes, signal the rider ahead, then slow down, pull over and wait for the riders behind you. You can avoid the three digit miles of backtracking if everyone in the group look out for the one behind him. But it is still possible to get lost from the group, such as when the rider wandered off the intended path or missed turns than those ahead.
To help your group stay intact, give everyone an emergency phone number in writing to call, agree on the next stop every time you all pause for gas, meals or scenic viewing. Be specific. And let everyone knows the day’s destination. Riding with a group is worth the initial adjustments to your companions habits. Who knows you may find someone you enjoy riding with and form a special bond.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/motorcycles-articles/group-motorcycle-riding-pros-and-cons-3083993.html
About the Author: Phil West is a Harley aficionado. When he is not cruising down the scenic highways with his biker gang he writes about harley davidson leather jacket and harley davidson full face helmet at Harley Davidson Accessories Guide .
Category Lifestyles |
