April 2011 e-Newsletter

ON THE COVER

On the Cover -- 2010 Custom Rigid Chopper & Cover Model Kelly

FROM THE EDITOR

It's been a particularly harsh winter here in the Midwest, so the warmer weather is a welcome relief. The March snow has finally given way to the April showers; however, I'm really looking forward to the May flowers…or shall I say May bike nights, which are ready to bloom. 2011 is looking to be one of the best years for bike nights in the KC area, and one of the reasons for that is because of all the biker-friendly bar and restaurant owners who are going out of their way to cater to their biker clientele. Another reason is because we're already working with the area's most popular bike night locations to schedule this year's Cycle Connections Cover Bike & Cover Model Search events, which have been a huge hit in the Kansas City and surrounding area the past couple of years. One reason our cover bike & cover model search events have been so popular is because it gives the owners and builders of the area's coolest bikes to display their works of art in an attempt to be photographed for one of our upcoming covers. Our events also attract the area's hottest girls, who compete to be photographed for this year's covers.

To kick things off, Harleys & Horses Grill, Stage & Saloon in Kansas City is the location of our first Cover Bike & Cover Model Search this year, which will take place on Thursday, May 5. Open Road Bar & Grill in Grandview, Missouri has also signed up for a Cover Bike & Cover Model Search to tie in with their Grand Opening on Saturday, June 25. Other bike night locations, including the Brass Rail Restaurant & Sports Bar in Kansas City, Missouri & Sports Bar, Russo's Pizza in Blue Springs, Missouri have also signed up to host cover bike & cover model events at their locations, and we're working with several other locations who have also expressed interest. We're still working out the details on these events, so keep checking our Local Rallies & Events page for the dates and additional information which will be added soon.

If you haven't yet had the chance to read this month's issue, I'm sure you'll love our cover bike & model. For this month's cover, we decided to shoot Don Toomay's 2010 Custom Rigid Chopper and cover model Kelly. This month's issue also contains several great articles from across the country and around the world, so kick back, relax, and enjoy this month's issue of Cycle Connections Online Motorcycle Magazine.

WHAT'S NEW

Benefit Bike Run & Motorcycle Raffle Kick-Off - Come ride with us on Saturday, April 23 for our poker run for Ocular/Chorodial Melanoma Cancer Awareness to benefit the David Stewart Cancer Fund

14th Annual ERA Cabin Fever Bash - Come join the Harley-Davidson Employee Rider Association (ERA) on Saturday, April 30 for the 14th Annual Cabin Fever Bash

22nd Annual BWAM Run for the Homeless - Join us on Sunday, May 1 for a 100-mile ride to raise funds for City Union Mission.

Cycle Connections Cover Bike & Cover Model Search at Harleys & Horses - Thursday, May 5 is the date, and Harleys & Horses Grill, Stage & Saloon is the location for this year’s first Cycle Connections Cover Bike & Cover Model Search!

B.A.C.A. Bike Show - Mark your calendars now for Saturday, May 7, which is the date for the 2011 B.A.C.A. Bike Show!

Mushroom Festival Bike Show & Poker Run - Please come join us on Saturday, May 7 for the annual Richmond, Missouri Mushroom Festival Bike Show & Poker Run.

2nd Annual Jim Trafton Memorial Dice Run - Please ride with us on Saturday, May 14 for a benefit dice run in memory of Jim Trafton.

AMA Pro Flat Track Racing - Saturday, May 14 is the date, and LaMonte , Missouri is the location for the AMA Pro Flat Track Racing.

Bikers for Taylor Poker Run - Please join us on Saturday, May 14 for a 100-150 mile scenic ride to help raise money to cover unexpected medical expenses for Taylor Hartwig, who was paralized from the waist down in a sledding accident in January 2011

9th Annual All Patriots Poker Run – Kearney, Missouri - This poker run is on Sunday, May 15 and has starting locations in both Kearney and St. Joseph and ends at the Cameron Veterans Home in Cameron, Missouri.

9th Annual All Patriots Poker Run - St. Joseph, Missouri - This poker run is on Sunday, May 15 and has starting locations in both Kearney and St. Joseph and ends at the Cameron Veterans Home in Cameron, Missouri.

1st Annual Warrior Appreciation Rally (W.A.R.) - This is a one day non-profit event on Saturday, 5/21/11 to honor, show support and raise awareness for our Military's Wounded Warriors.

Ride for NorthCare Hospice House Dice Run - Join us on Saturday, May 21 for a scenic dice run to raise money for the NorthCare Hospice House.

8th Annual Kansas City Sportster Rally - A gathering of Sportster enthusiasts from around the world will take place 6/10/11-6/12/11 at Basswood Resorts in Platte City, Missouri.

5th Annual NAWS Ruff Ride Dice Run - Come join us on Saturday June 18 for a scenic dice run to raise money for the Northland Animal Welfare Society (NAWS).

Cycle Connections Cover Bike & Cover Model Search at Open Road Bar & Grill - On Saturday, June 25 is the date, Open Road Bar & Grill will be the location for one of our ever popular Cycle Connections Cover Bike & Cover Model Search!

8th Annual Kansas City Ride for Kids® - On Sunday, July 10, come ride with us through southern Johnson County Kansas on a police escorted 40 mile route to benefit the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation.

Colorado & Sunshine's 4th Annual Midwest Benefit Poker Run for Autism - Please join us on Saturday, August 20 for our Midwest poker run to raise money for autism

Make sure to visit our new Facebook page and sign up as a fan to see images of our previous cover pages and check out our Girls of Cycle Connections photo album!

2 WHEEL DEALS ONLINE MOTORCYCLE CLASSIFIEDS - Buy and sell your new or pre-owned motorcycles, trailers, parts, accessories and apparel for as low as $9.95 per ad!

Local Rallies & Events - Kansas City - Check out all the rides, rallies & events in the Kansas City and surrounding area!

Bike Nights – Kansas City - Help kickstart this year's biggest and best bike nights!

NEW ARTICLES IN THIS ISSUE

2010 Custom Rigid Chopper & Cover Model Kelly -
Our April 2011 cover bike belongs to Don Toomay from Shawnee, Kansas. Don’s bike took 1st place in the Big Twin Radical Rigid class at this year’s 2011 All American Motorcycle Show at Bartle Hall in Kansas City...
By Mike Schweder

2010 Custom Rigid Chopper -
Owner: Don Toomay
City: Shawnee, Kansas

Don Toomay & His 2010 Custom Rigid Chopper -
Our April 2011 cover bike belongs to Don Toomay from Shawnee, Kansas. Don’s bike took 1st place in the Big Twin Radical Rigid class at this year’s 2011 All American Motorcycle Show at Bartle Hall in Kansas City...
By Mike Schweder

Behind the Scenes with Kelly -
Our March 2011 cover model is Kelly from Kansas City, Kansas. Believe it or not…she’s a construction worker, and her ambitionis “To get into heaven.” After the first couple interview question I knew Kelly’s...
By Mike Schweder

Daytona Bike Week 2011 - Daytona Beach, Florida -
After two years of cold weather for Daytona Bike Week, the sun god helped out this year and made the people happy. Lingering effects from the recent recession and soaring gas prices, however, still managed...
By Ken Bingenheimer

Dixie Bike Fest Spring Rally 2011 - Elko, Georgia -
The weekend of March 18-20 there were rallies taking place all over the southeast. All the bikers that I knew had been counting down the days for the Dixie Bike Fest...
By Tommy Pittard

Ducati Diavel Launch Party at Reno’s Powersports – Kansas City, Missouri -
South Kansas City had a devil of a time on Friday, March 25, 2011. Reno’s Powersports held a launch party for the new bully on the block, The Diavel, Ducati’s new superbike…
By Wally LaFond

2011 Ducati Diavel Carbon -
This eye-catching new addition to the Ducati superbike family is a true work of art. With its naked design, powerful 185 bhp engine, massive 50mm Marzocchi forks and protruding air intakes, this is a bike..
By Mike Schweder

Two Wheels to Africa - Part 3 of 3 -
Day 24 finds us continuing our westward trek to the Atlantic coast. We are in what is known as the Caprivi Strip, a narrow passage in Namibia sandwiched between Angola on the north and Botswana on the south...
By Jeff Hower

1923 Iron Horsemen's Scrambles - Sedalia, Missouri -
This photo was scanned from a black and white copy of the September 21, 1962 edition of Missouri Motorcycliing, which shows the Sedalia Scrambles Race trophy winners from the September 16, 1962 races...
By Wally Lafond

News Flashes -
If it’s good enough for Kansas, it’s good enough for Georgia. The Kansas House was the latest to pass a law allowing motorcyclists
to safely pass through red lights that only change by use of a weight detection...
By Louise Reeves

JOIN OUR TEAM

Now Expanding – Do you love motorcycles, photography, and making a few extra bucks while working your own hours on a full-time or part-time basis? Are you active in your motorcycle community and enjoy participating in local rides, rallies and events? If so, we have the perfect opportunity for you! Cycle Connections Online Motorcycle Magazine is expanding quickly, and we are seeking motivated self-starters to assemble a team of account representatives and photojournalists to sell advertising and cover events in your area. If you would like to help expand Cycle Connections into your area, please e-mail your resume to mikes@cycleconnections.com.

• • •

We strive to make Cycle Connections Online Motorcycle Magazine your number one source for motorcycle-related information, so please drop us a line and let us know how we're doing. We are here to serve you and the local motorcycle community, so please let us know what you like, what you don't like, and what you'd like to see added. Plus, if you know of any motorcycle-related businesses, rallies, events, or organizations in your area that we don't currently have listed, let us know so we can add them! All comments and suggestions are appreciated and will be answered.

Mike Schweder
Editor-in-Chief
Cycle Connections Online Motorcycle Magazine

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