Win a Night at Buffalo Creek

Here's your chance to visit one of Oklahoma's favorite destinations- and enjoy a free night at the Buffalo Creek Guest Ranch. Located 10 miles west of Talihina, Oklahoma, just off State Highway 1, the ranch is a bed & breakfast, dude ranch and lodge all rolled into one.

It's also the perfect spot to launch your next adventure on the Talimena Drive!

Here's how to win:

1. Click this link to Buffalo Creek Campground photo on Facebook.
2. Click the "Share" link to share the photo on your timeline.
3. Start packing.

That's all there is to it!

The lucky winner will be chosen Monday, August 21, 2012 using a highly scientific random algorithm that I can't even pronounce- let alone understand.

Good luck!

Toad Suck Tops List

It's now official- Arkansas has outdone us again.

Oklahoma has some pretty weird town names. But, according to a worldwide poll conducted by Findmypast.com, the weirdest of them all is:
Toad Suck, Arkansas.

Oklahoma was not ignored however. The town of Hooker managed a respectable fourth.

Riding in the Heat

Does it actually get too hot to ride?
I ride year round. That may not sound like a big deal to someone that lives in Southern California, but here in Oklahoma, it can be a challenge. I have ridden in temperatures ranging from 16 degrees to 114 degrees. And I'm here to tell you that it is completely possible to do. In fact, that is probably nothing compared to some of the more hard core riders that I know are out there (looking at you, Mr. Gonzales). In fact, if you have seen the episode of us traveling down Highway 20 through Claremore, it was filmed in the chilly temperature of 16 degrees. Trying to talk to the camera was a whole different problem, but that is another story.

Komodo Gear moving to the street market

Gloves now made with more Awesome-ness*!
Although Komodo's Pro Racer gloves are not the most inexpensive glove on the market (nor the most expensive), I think they should be filed in the Awesome category after trying them.

I am constantly amazed at how far the whole gear market has progressed since I have started riding a motorcycle. Not that many years ago, you wore a pair of plain leather gloves, with sometimes minimal padding on the back and hoped that they were at least black, to look a little cool. If not, you wore the same heavy leather gloves that are very similar to what you would see now in the garden department. These are not those gloves. Fast forward to 2012 and this is what a company can build to protect your hands when riding a motorcycle.

Komodo was started in 2004 and is still owned by those same two guys in Texas. They only sell direct from their warehouse and stand behind everything they make. They even discounted all of their pricing when the economy took a turn, because they knew that everybody else was struggling, racers included. As well known as they are around the racetrack, they are now ready to take on the street market.

Pro Racer model in white

These latest gloves from Komodo are their top of the line, track oriented glove. They are made with hides from a few different sources and designed to work both riding the motorcycle and in the case of a fall. No glove can prevent injury in every case, but these sure make a good effort.
The main body of the glove is built out of kangaroo hide. This allows it to be just as strong or stronger in abrasion resistance as cowhide, but using a thinner material to give you more feel at the bars. They go on to cover the scaphoids with padded sting ray hide, which truly laughs at things like a 100 mph slide on pavement, with Kevlar on both the palm and sleeves and carbon fiber on other impact areas. This model uses a full gauntlet with a Velcro closure underneath and another protected strap around the wrist to make sure the glove stays on your hand. All of this is stitched up with Kevlar thread.

Commute by Motorcycle on June 18

Work to Ride
Ride to Work

Motorcycle and scooter riders' 21st annual commuting day is this coming Monday, June 18th.

Participation in the yearly demonstration is estimated to triple the number of riders on the road. Motorcycle and scooter groups and organizations actively encourage riders to commute by cycle on this day. On Ride to Work Day, motorcycle and scooter commuters seek improved employer recognition and support for this form of transportation and increased public and government awareness of the positive value of riding.