Two Wheel Tales

Two Wheel Tales

Riding Clubs

Fuzzy Riders

Since many people like to have friends to ride with, RideOn Magazine will now have a monthly web column featuring the various riding clubs in Ontario. If you belong to a club or riding organization and would like to inform our visitors please drop me a note and I'll try to feature your club in this space. Our preference is for actual riding clubs although we may also feature 'Virtual Clubs' since they too have their benefits.

When I started riding in the spring of 2001 I didn't think I would be interested in joining a riding club. That changed in a hurry however as I soon realized there were benefits to joining a club. What benefits you ask? If you consider a weekly ride a benefit then yes. Many clubs have weekly rides that are planned in advance and lead by responsible riders. This can be beneficial if you are new to riding and would like to improve your riding skills. There is a social aspect to many clubs who continue to get together during the off season to 'bench race' and plan the next seasons' rides. Would you like to have a riding buddy to head to Americade, Daytona, and Friday the 13th? How about a trip to run Deal's Gap with a few like minded riders? If the answer is yes, then a riding club just might make planning easier and the trip a more enjoyable journey.

As with motorcycles there are many different types of riding clubs. Some clubs cater to cruisers, sport bikes, brand/model specific, mixed and ladies only. We won't be reviewing the 1% clubs as they have their own rules and regulations that probably don't fit the majority of riders.

The first club selected is the Fuzzy Riders. Now like me many will wonder how a riding club picked its name. Well in this instance the name wasn't picked as much as it was earned. Ken Barber is Fuzzy1 and founded the club during the summer of 2000. It's due to his photographic skills or lack thereof that the name was born. Apparently Ken would take pictures during their weekly rides and the pictures lacked a certain focus, so a buddy of his mentioned it as a joke and the name has stuck.

The Fuzzy Riders are an open club that welcomes all bikes and riders, although the ranks seem to be predominately filled with sport bike riders. Newer riders are welcome although they are encouraged to ride within their limits with others in the club of similar ability. Larger groups are split into manageable sizes with a lead and sweep rider. There isn't currently an active fee schedule for membership dues. If you choose to pay nothing you can still partake in most events open to Fuzzy Rider Members, however the princely sum of $30.00 will get you access to full club privileges as well as a member's card, t-shirt and discounts at various motorcycle shops.

As with many groups the Fuzzy Riders try to promote rider safety & education. Education can come in the form of participation in one of the many track days they organize every season. Group rides can also be a good place to learn some of the finer points that are difficult to learn on your own.

The Fuzzy Riders are based in the Greater Toronto Area with chapters in Mississauga, Kitchener & Hamilton and currently draw riders from a rather large area. Chapters can also be found in the State of Tennessee, with more expected in North and South Carolina this summer.

They meet every Tuesday night in Mississauga at Steeles & Mississauga Rd in the Sunoco Station parking lot @ 6:30. The meeting times and locations have been known to change occasionally, so you may want to check their website and message board to keep up on any pertinent details.

As well as the previously mentioned group rides & track days, the Fuzzy Riders plan movie nights, pub nights (drink responsibly) and their own charity run. This coming spring they have booked the Full Cross Roads of Time, a motorcycle resort in the vicinity of Deals Gap for a 10 day stay.

Their annual Christmas Party is not to be missed and is open to everyone in the motorcycle community at large. Check out the website @ www.fuzzy-riders.com for more information.

Type @ Ya'll Later
Night_Wolf

This article originally appeared @ The RideOn Magazine website in spite of the fact I was told it needed more info before being published. I've since stopped contributing articles due to editorial differences. There's no link to RideOn as I was never paid for the article

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