Ephrata, PA "First Sunday" Ride-In cranking up again?

[Doug Just Doug]

I believe tomorrow is the season opener for the Ephrata gathering and RTE event.  At least I think it is -- I'm heading up that way in any case.  The worst that could happen is I find an empty parking lot, and then spend more time riding.    I did a short write-up on the Ephrata thing on my blog recently for anyone interested:  http://tiltedhorizons.blogspot.com/2007/02/first-sunday-ride-in-ephrata-pa.html.

[SuperHans]

I drove to work early this morning and there was a lot of ice patches on the ground. Be careful tomorrow.

[airborneXX]

Looks like I'll miss today's ride, but I'll be there for April. I made it 2 or 3 times last year and it was an awesome event. It's about a 2 hour ride for me, which makes it even better

[Cablebandit]

Well Doug was anyone there?  I'd have tried to get over there but all the melting snow here in central PA has left lot's of black ice in the mornings, and more importantly, my back yard (where the bike resides) is a swamp.  I don't think I could even get the bike to the driveway without mounting some knobbies.  

[Doug Just Doug]

Well, it hit the 60s on Saturday, so of course it was about 34F when I left Newark, DE at about 0700 Sunday morning headed for Ephrata.   The temp went down the further north I went and there was progressively more ice on the road (I also noticed the farm ponds were getting more frozen as well).  I had a bit of a "moment" on a tight downhill left on a hilly, twisty stretch of PA 10 when I rode thru a patch of ice completely covering the width of the road and maybe 20 feet long.  When I got to Ephrata at 0830 I found 5 or 6 bikes in the parking lot but no riders in sight, no vendors, and the Am. Legion hall was shut.  Worse, under the conditions, was that the coffee ladies who are always in the parking lot were a no show.  

I wasn't keen to hit Rte. 10 again so I headed west out of town on 322 and took 501 to 772 to Lititz to US30 to Gap, where after 2.5 hrs. in the saddle at mostly sub-freezing temps I was due a warm-up so I stopped at the Gap Diner.  As I was leaving the diner, a couple rode in on a dresser Harley, the only other bike I saw on the road during my 125 mile jaunt.  Saw plenty of deer, though, and maybe a dozen Amish buggies...they're about the only folks besides motorcyclists loony enough to be out on the road in sub-freezing temps without heat.  

[Doug Just Doug]

You've got balls, Doug - that, or you're a little crazy in the head.    

No doubt -- crazy in the head.  

[airborneXX]

Well the real first Sunday is coming up

Who's going?

I'm planning on rolling out of here around 7:30 and be there about 10. If it's warm and sunny I'll be on the CB900C, cold and wet and I'll be on the XX with the heat on  

[DosEquis00]

As of now weather.com is calling for showers so it should be clear and sunny.

[airborneXX]

As of now weather.com is calling for showers so it should be clear and sunny.

 

Exactly! Unless it's raining cats and dogs I'll be there. I've been trying to search for more info, such as is this really happening this year, but no luck so far.

[Doug Just Doug]

I may venture up...unless the weather's too nice.  

[SuperHans]

I'd like to go but it's up in the air if I have to work or not.

[Scratch33]

Keeping an eye on the weather; I think I'd like to attend this.

[kendenton]

Weather permitting (no major rain) I'm heading out that way.  Meeting up along the way with another Multi owner I met on multistrada.net.

[airborneXX]

Weather permitting (no major rain) I'm heading out that way.  Meeting up along the way with another Multi owner I met on multistrada.net.

What time are you heading out?

[kendenton]

7-ish?  Meeting him near 896 and 1 at around 8.  Wanna ride?

[DosEquis00]

Weather permitting (no major rain) I'm heading out that way.  Meeting up along the way with another Multi owner I met on multistrada.net.

If you both show up at Ephrata there is no one left to post up on multistrada.net.

As of right now the weather on Sunday in Ephrata is a high of 47 with showers. Hopefully that will change as the weekend draws near.

[airborneXX]

7-ish?  Meeting him near 896 and 1 at around 8.  Wanna ride?

We're leaving here around 7:30, So you go on ahead and we'll see you up there. Saturday night is drink night

[airborneXX]

If you both show up at Ephrata there is no one left to post up on multistrada.net.

As of right now the weather on Sunday in Ephrata is a high of 47 with showers. Hopefully that will change as the weekend draws near.

Looks like I'll be on the XX.

[sloth911]

Anyone in the Bucks/Mont County area going to this?

[kendenton]

Well, the weather gods were kind today, glad I made my first trip to 1st Sunday.  I would guess there were  a couple hundred bikes there, the main lot was maybe 1/3 full.  I hear the warmer months get TONS more bikes, but there was still plenty of cool iron to check out.  A couple of booths (Buell, Arai), and for $20 you could do wheelies on a tethered Buell.  Fun to watch.

The Multistrada.net crew made a decent showing, 3 bikes.




That's probably 50% of the Multis in the tri-state area!

I'm definitely putting 1st Sundays on my calender.

[Rincewind]

I swung by this morning.  I think I saw Ken there, and I chatted with airborneXX and stef for a moment (nice seeing you guys again).  The tethered Buell thing was funny.  There was a Krazy White Boys (?) Buell stunt troup that I hadn't seen there before (good thing they weren't stunting).  As well as the evangelists (typical).  This was a very small gathering vs. the summer months when there are bikes packed heavy in the upper, middle, and lower parking lots - it's a real circus come June/July.  I kind of like it when it's smaller like today.  

In terms of bikes, and really that's the main reason I go - to drool - I saw a vintage V7 Moto Guzzi, a nice Honda GB500, a couple trick CB750(?) cafe racers, white BMW R65(?) cafe bike, a nice new MG Breva 1100, and then a bunch of everything elses including choppers, stunters, trikes, ST's, and so on.  I usually only make a single walk of the lot before it's time to ride, and I had a nice couple hours backroading and got home before the rain.

Ken - if you got some more pics, please post 'em up - I'd like to see them.  

[sloth911]

This was a very small gathering vs. the summer months when there are bikes packed heavy in the upper, middle, and lower parking lots - it's a real circus come June/July.  I kind of like it when it's smaller like today.  

The hippie/mountain guy with the flat rear tire on his KLR was pretty entertaining, i thought. Or the helmetless father on a trike w/ a 3-5 year old daughter on the back w/ what looked like a novlety helmet followed by the helmetless mother on a chopper... what about the chick driving the new gsxr 1000 with pack of 4 rockets following her?

I saw 2 other Concours there... I will take a bunch of pictures at the next one.

[kendenton]

Ken - if you got some more pics, please post 'em up - I'd like to see them.  

You know me - of course I have pics!  As a matter of fact, I have pics of most of the bikes you mentioned, as well as the father/daughter trike, etc.  Probably get them up tonight.

I didn't see you, you should have stopped me and said hi!  

[airborneXX]

Good to see Ken and Alex again! Sloth where were you, next time hang around the XX's and the Multi's a bit you'll find us

It was funny cruising up 322 and spotting two Multi's a couple of cars ahead, one with a joisey plate. I thought to myself do I straif them or just pop in behind them

We had a fun ride up and back. It took us about 2 hours to get up there, and the hot coffee was a welcome sight. We took 82 From 141 in Del.  to rt 372. then took 10 N to 340, 340 to 897, 897 to 322. 897 is a blast. For the return ride we backtracked and took 10 down to 1 and had lunch at the Chadds Ford Tavern. Then a quick blast down 100 and slabbed it back home. Got in around 3 p.m.

Another great day of riding

[DosEquis00]

Glad to hear you all had a good time and the weather held up until later in the day. I had a little eye accident so hopefully I will make the May outing as the event is close buy and I have never made the trip over to check out in the bikes.

[Doug Just Doug]

Glad y'all had a good ride.  My ride today was to the office.  

[kendenton]

OK, here's some pictures from today's Ephrata event.  For even more, go to my website at http://www.kendenton.org/ducati/

[Doug Just Doug]

Cool shots.  My dad had a new CB500T back in the day; that's a bike you don't see much anymore.  His had the handlebars the correct way up, tho.  

[chiltech500]

great shots thanks

what the summer offers: heat, humidity and a lot of harleys these days  

[scootac]

I'm thinking of coming to this on Sunday, but have a couple questions for those that have been there. I understand the Legion serves a breakfast, what time do they serve till, and is it a breakfast worth riding 3 hours for, or better to eat on the way down? Also, when are the majority of bikes there or how long does this go on? I imagine there are bikes coming/going the whole time, but what are the peak times? Don't want to get there with only a few bikes left. Any info would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Scootac

[Rincewind]

I'm thinking of coming to this on Sunday, but have a couple questions for those that have been there. I understand the Legion serves a breakfast, what time do they serve till, and is it a breakfast worth riding 3 hours for, or better to eat on the way down? Also, when are the majority of bikes there or how long does this go on? I imagine there are bikes coming/going the whole time, but what are the peak times? Don't want to get there with only a few bikes left. Any info would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Scootac

See http://ephratamotorcycle.com/

If you roll in around 9:30 or 10am, you will see the most people.  I have never had the breakfast, but I have heard the food is not the best, so you may want to eat along your way there.  At 11am there will still be bikes there, but the place is mostly cleared out by noon.

[Doug Just Doug]

I always eat there to support the American Legion (I'm a member), but haute cuisine it ain't.  It's not bad, but if you're looking for some primo chow, I'd look elsewhere.  BTW, they sell coffee in the parking lot for those who just need the buzz and not the food...and for the early birds (like me) who show up before the chow line opens.

[airborneXX]

I'm planning on heading up. Probably be riding the VTR 250.  

[chornbe]

I always eat there to support the American Legion (I'm a member), but haute cuisine it ain't.  It's not bad, but if you're looking for some primo chow, I'd look elsewhere.  BTW, they sell coffee in the parking lot for those who just need the buzz and not the food...and for the early birds (like me) who show up before the chow line opens.

I'm always good for a hot dog or two while there.

Who's going next Sunday?

[chornbe]

yeah, yeah... you know what I meant  

[SuperHans]

Good chance I'll make it.

[Chips]

Good chance I'll make it.

+1 to what he said.

[Doug Just Doug]

I'm planning on trekking on up.  

[Rincewind]

I'll be there.  If anyone's interested in a ride-out, we could say stands-up at 10:30, ride, then eat lunch somewhere.  I am itching to get my Tiger up on Rt 125 - we could eat in Pine Grove, about an hour North, then take 125 to Shamokin.  Or we could head another way, perhaps East to French Creek for those coming from that direction, depending on interest and available time.  

[kendenton]

I'll be there.  If anyone's interested in a ride-out, we could say stands-up at 10:30, ride, then eat lunch somewhere.  I am itching to get my Tiger up on Rt 125 - we could eat in Pine Grove, about an hour North, then take 125 to Shamokin.  Or we could head another way, perhaps East to French Creek for those coming from that direction, depending on interest and available time.  

Just FYI - last weekend 125 was gravel city near the switchbacks.  There were a couple places where it looked like the roadway had been stripped off in about 2' wide section across the width of the whole road, and filled in with gravel.  Kind of like a cattle crossing.  The turns themselves were OK.

[kendenton]

I first 'discovered' it as a car road in my WRX.  The hairpin up/down sections are a blast.  I had the pleasure of attacking it in a rented Porsche Boxster S for a day, and it was as close to automotive nirvana as I've come.

On the bike the crappy pavement prevents me from loving it.  I like it, but don't love it.

[kendenton]

I had a 2002 sedan, in WRC Blue.  I wish it had snowed more, the car was a blast in the white stuff.  Ultimately it was too small and noisy to end up as a keeper.  I've driven the newer ones, and the reduced lag is very welcome.

[andmoon]

Just traded my 03 wrx wagon in on an oddyssey.

Ken,

I am dual sporting it nowadays (dl650).  

When you coming up to ride w/ us again?

Don

[kendenton]

Just traded my 03 wrx wagon in on an oddyssey.

Ken,

I am dual sporting it nowadays (dl650).  

When you coming up to ride w/ us again?

Don

That had to hurt - at least I got to trade the WRX in on a 5-series  

Believe me, I'd love to get out with you guys on a Sunday again, but the schedule is getting tighter and tighter lately.  May 27th is the only Sunday that's sort of open until the middle of June, and that's during Memorial Day weekend.

[fjrSKI]

Good chance I'll make it.

+1  I'm heading over, solo or otherwise, it's my favorite Sunday ride.

[airborneXX]

Looks like I have alot of people to meet up with, but no one to ride in with...

My local peeps need to get their priorities straight

My usual route is 40 to the DMB, to 141, to Barley Mill rd, to 82, to Strasburg rd, to 10, to 340, to 897, then 322. Anybody who wants to meet along the way PM me by 7 a.m. tomorrow. I'll either be on the white, turquoise, magenta, blue VTR 250, blue cb900 custom or the Blackbird. As of now I'll be on the VTR.      

[squeezer]

I think I'll head there too, coming from State College.  

[bernieg]

 to airbornxx, I was planning on riding to ephrata tomorrow. I'll be heading out from millville. Let me know where and when we can meet along Rt.40.

[airborneXX]

 to airbornxx, I was planning on riding to ephrata tomorrow. I'll be heading out from millville. Let me know where and when we can meet along Rt.40.

You have a PM