Thunder Roads Magazine of Oklahoma/Arkansas January 2016 | Page 5

Letter from The Editor What on earth are we doing? It’s cold. It’s blustery and our monkey butts have turned into iced buns. But this doesn’t stop us! I loved seeing the stories everywhere of the cold rides everyone took through December to toy runs, wreath laying and just good ole afternoon rides on sunny days. We didn’t have too bad of luck for the beginning of winter which allowed us to ride many days in December. I know. I know. Some of you rode every day! I commend you. Can’t say I’ll always join you, but we have all been known to get out in the cold and ride due to the cabin fever and necessity of escape from the holidays and family visits. I want for all of us to remember the following things about riding in cold weather: WINDCHILL….bundle up and keep the cold wind off of bare skin. TIRE PRESSURE…..Check the air every time you ride. BATTERY TENDER….use it! HYDRATION……Drink water or warm liquids. (Alcohol and riding is highly discouraged!) STAY AWARE OF WEATHER CHANGES…..a few hours can make a world of difference in temperature. MUSCLE MEMORY …….. If you’re not riding every day, your muscles and reaction time is slower. SAND AND GRAVEL ……It’s all over the road and especially on exit and on ramps. CAGERS …….. the last thing they look for through their barely scraped iced window is a motorcycle. Remember these things as you go out on the frozen tundra! I want to ride with everyone in the new year. Take care of one another and get your “M” endorsement. I have given a couple of stories this month on how and where you can do so, learn to ride or increase your riding abilities. None of us should ever think we don’t need a refresher ride course. The more recent the training, the more aware we are of the hazards out there. Have a very successful and happy New Year! PO BOX 1864, Stillwater, OK 74076 Phone: [phone] www.thunderroadsoklahoma.com facebook.com/thunderroadsmagazineokar www.twitter.com/thunderroadsok Include us in your tweets #thunderroadsok. Editor/ Owner/Publisher Terri T Collier Email Articles and Pictures to: [email protected] 405-612-3844 Layout and Design Sarah Little, Art Director [email protected] Advertising Representatives Central Oklahoma “Thumper” - 405-326-2106 [email protected] Eastern Oklahoma Darla Boydstun - 918-527-8279 Sales/Journalist [email protected] NW Arkansas Melanie Farmer - 479-806-5100 [email protected] National Founders Toni McCoy Shearon & Brian Shearon Office: 615-792-0040 Fax: [phone] [email protected] Your Riding Writer, “T” Collier THUNDER ROADS MAGAZINE. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NO PART OF ITS CONTENT MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION. PUBLISHER ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY AND IS NOT TO BE HELD LIABLE FOR ERRORS BEYOND THE COST OF THE SPACE OCCUPIED BY THE ERROR, SLANDER OF ANY GROUP OR INDIVIDUAL, FAILURE TO PRODUCE ANY ISSUE AS SCHEDULED DUE TO REASONS BEYOND OUR CONTROL, ANY AND ALL SUITS FOR LIABLE, PLAGIARISM, COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT AND UNAUTHORIZED USE OF A PERSONS NAME OR PHOTOGRAPH. OPINIONS AND CLAIMS MADE BY ADVERTISERS AND AUTHORS ARE THEIR OWN, AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THE POLICY OF THUNDER ROADS MAGAZINE OR THUNDER PUBLISHING. PUBLISHER DOES NOT PROMOTE THE ABUSE OF ALCOHOL OR OTHER DRUGS.