The Van Buren Sisters: Paving the Way for Women and Motorcycles

Women in the Wind

Women didn't even have the right to vote yet when the Van Buren sisters set out on their transcontinental journey in 1916. But Gussie and Addie Van Buren had more courage and guts than most men of the day when they began their trip from New York to California. A trip that started on July 4th with them arriving in Los Angeles on September 8th after traveling 5,500 miles over hazardous roads. These were the days before the interstate superhighways and much of the journey on their pair of Indian motorcycles had to endure riding through mud and washed out roadways.

The Van Buren sisters on their transcontinental motorcycle journey in 1916

Celebrating Women & Motorcycling

This year marks the 100 year anniversary of the Van Buren sisters' epic solo journey on their motorcycles. In honor of these courageous young ladies and to celebrate the female motorcycling heroines of the past, the Sisters' Centennial Motorcycle Ride will be following the Van Buren sisters' 1916 route. Primarily following the Lincoln highway across the United States from New York to San Francisco, it will combine scenic routes and major metropolitan areas allowing for great riding as well as promoting female motorcycling role models. All makes and models of bikes (as well as men) are invited. 

To learn more about the amazing Van Buren sisters as well as the Sisters' Centennial Motorcycle Ride happening this summer, check out their website by clicking the logo below:

Sisters' Centennial Motorcycle Ride

 

Get Out and Ride!

We're getting pretty excited about the weather forecast here in Wisconsin!

Upper 40's with possible 50 degrees over the next week with no snow. That's almost unheard of here in December.

Looks like it's time to sneak in one more ride this year!! Enjoy!

The Most Beautiful Motorcycle Ride in the Country

Drive the Great River Road Month

After being voted one of the country's most beautiful roadways, September is now "Drive the Great River Road Month". We are lucky enough to have this gorgeous road run through our back yard and motorcycles from across the country make the trek to enjoy its beauty. Check out everything the Great River Road has to offer and make plans to ride it soon!

Bridge Over the Mississippi River at Sunset

Mississippi River on One Side & Majestic Bluffs on the Other

Click here to find out more!

The Top 10 Reasons Some Bikers Don't Wave

I'm unashamedly stealing this from the Cyril Huze Blog. It was just too funny not to share.

If at least some of these don't make you laugh:
1.  You don't ride and have no idea what any of this means.
2.  You have no sense of humor and need to get a life.
3.  You're dead.

Enjoy!
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Top Ten Reasons Why Harley Riders Don’t Wave Back
10. Afraid it will invalidate warranty.
9. Leather and studs make it too heavy to raise arm.
8. Refuse to wave to anyone whose bike is already paid for.
7. Afraid to let go of handlebars because they might vibrate off.
6. Rushing wind would blow scabs off the new tattoos.
5. Angry because just took out second mortgage to pay luxury tax on new Harley.
4. Just discovered the fine print in owner’s manual and realized H-D is partially owned by Honda.
3. Can’t tell if other riders are waving or just reaching to cover their ears like everyone else.
2. Remembers the last time a Harley rider waved back - he impaled his hand on spiked helmet.
1. They’re too tired from spending hours polishing all that chrome to lift their arms.

Top Ten Reasons Why Gold Wing Riders Don’t Wave Back
10. Wasn’t sure whether other rider was waving or making an obscene gesture.
9. Afraid might get frostbite if hand is removed from heated grip.
8. Has arthritis and the past 400 miles have made it difficult to raise arm.
7. Reflection from etched windshield momentarily blinded him.
6. The espresso machine just finished.
5. Was actually asleep when other rider waved.
4. Was in a three-way conference call with stockbroker and accessories dealer.
3. Was distracted by odd shaped blip on radar screen.
2. Was simultaneously adjusting the air suspension, seat height, programmable CD player, seat temperature and satellite navigation system.
1. Couldn’t find the “auto wave back” button on dashboard.

Top 10 Reasons Sport bikers Don’t Wave At All
10. They have not been riding long enough to know they’re supposed to.
9. They’re going too fast to have time enough to register the movement and respond.
8. You weren’t wearing bright enough gear.
7. If they stick their arm out going that fast, they’ll rip it out of the socket.
6. They’re too occupied with trying to get rid of their chicken strips.
5. They look way too cool with both hands on the bars or they don’t want to unbalance themselves while standing on the tank.
4. Their skin tight-Kevlar-ballistic-nylon-kangaroo-leather suits prevent any position other than fetal.
3. Raising an arm allows bugs into the armholes of their tank tops.
2. It’s too hard to do one-handed stoppies.
1. They were too busy slipping their flip-flop back on.

Top Ten Reasons Why BMW Riders Don’t Wave Back
10. New Aerostich suit too stiff to raise arm.
9. Removing a hand from the bars is considered “bad form.”
8. Your bike isn’t weird enough looking to justify acknowledgment.
7. Too sore from an 800-mile day on a stock “comfort” seat.
6. Too busy programming the GPS, monitoring radar, listening to ipod, XM, or talking on the cell phone.
5. He’s an Iron Butt rider and you’re not!.
4. Wires from Gerbings is too short.
3. You’re not riding the “right kind” of BMW.
2. You haven’t been properly introduced.
1. Afraid it will be misinterpreted as a friendly gesture.

Reviews & Thank You's

Hey everyone!

I'm not trying to toot my own horn but I'd like to share a few reviews we've received recently - but for a very good reason that I'll reveal in a bit.

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Posted by Bub on Apr 10th 2014

I've been a biker for 31 plus years. NEVER found a good pair of chaps that fit me right, till I had a custom pair made for me. Unfortunately, EMT's had to cut them off a few yrs back. I heard good things about these on Facebook. I have large muscular legs and with the comfort fit spandex these fit me just right.. better than the custom fit. I am not one to write a review but with such a gr8 deal I had to pass this on.. Ride Free

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Posted by Tony on March 22nd 2014

The vest is a vest and a very nice vest at that. What I was overly impressed with was the service. I ordered the vest on a Friday and had it at my door Monday morning. I will be sending everyone I know to this website.

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Posted by Jon on Apr 9th 2014

Great looking and comfortable chaps and the best thing is the price. Shipping great. Dean took care of me with a question and what not. Very helpful. Told my friends I ride with to buy these chaps from Double D. Thanks Dean.

Photo courtesy of Jim Whistleman

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So what's my point?

I got into this business not only to provide good products for a great price but to serve my fellow riders. I wanted to give the service that I felt was really lacking at so many shops and dealerships. Your wonderful comments tell me that I'm on the right track. And that makes it all worth while.

Thank you to everyone for your business, your kind words and your trust.

We'll see you on the road.

Dean "D-Day" Bartosh

Owner - Double D Cycles
www.doubledcycles.com

info@doubledcycles.com

608-799-0988

Lube Your Motorcycle Cables the Cheap Way

Don't Forget the Cables!

One of the most overlooked maintenance items on a motorcycle is the cables. Cables can dry out, become brittle and break over time if not properly maintained. Sitting on the side of the road with a busted cable - not good! I recommend to folks that they lube their cables at least once a year in the spring. It's actually pretty simple and only takes a few minutes. Why would you pay the dealership $80.00 an hour to do it?

The video shows a simple way to do it yourself and with a few items that you probably have laying around your garage. (I've heard from a few riders that it's not good to oil the newer teflon cables though. Has anyone else heard this?)




Have you found any other simple ways to do this yourself?

Why is Your Stuff so Cheap?

Cheap Price Doesn't Always Mean Cheap Quality

"Why is your stuff so cheap?" We hear that question more times than I care to tell you. So often cheap price is equated with cheap quality. But it doesn't have to be.

More often than not, you're paying for the "privilege" of wearing somebody's name splashed across your back. At Double D Cycles, we forgo the logos and charge you what the item should really be priced at. This is the principle upon which Double D Cycles was built: To give you the same quality (or better) than you could find at the dealership at a price that doesn't break the bank.

Quality Materials, Quality Construction, Guaranteed

Our leather items are constructed with full grain leather - not the split hide stuff that feels like plastic and cracks at the first sign of cold weather. Heavy duty zippers and hardware for long-lasting performance. Our boots are constructed with the same heavy duty full grain leather and Goodyear welt construction as the big boys use.

And if you're not happy, you can send it back to us for a refund. With no hassles.

So, why is our stuff so cheap? It's not. It's priced reasonably because we're here to make a living and serve the motorcycle community - not make a fortune off the backs of fellow bikers.

Stop by the Double D Cycles online store. See what we have to offer at a price you can afford and feel free to contact us with any questions. Come ride with us!