Ted Edwards

An Entertaining Misery

Posted by Ted Edwards | Sep 29, 2022 | Ride Life |

We never saw the storm coming, a Colorado squall that stalked us from behind, waiting to sucker punch us until we had our backs turned. A few hours before on this idyllic August day during the Colorado 500 we were enjoying perfect weather. Our fast group of five were Colorado 500 board member Hutch Collier, his wife Dawn, his son Currie, his riding companion Phil Weida and me, and we ripped through the narrow canyon lands leading to Gateway, smooth red rocks and polished boulders doing their best southern Utah impersonation. I couldn’t believe our luck to get these roads with such stunning scenery and perfect weather, one of those days on the motorcycle you wish you could bottle. We had no idea we were riding on borrowed time.

Motorcycle Gear: Sedici Chicane Gloves

Posted by Ted Edwards | Sep 21, 2022 | Bikes & Gear |

The Sedici Chicane glove is an under $80 sport offering from Cycle Gear’s in-house brand. Aimed at the sport rider, the Chicane has full gauntlet goat leather construction with ample accommodations for comfort.

Sedici Corsa One Piece Race/Track Suit Review

Posted by Ted Edwards | Sep 8, 2022 | Bikes & Gear |

Sedici’s Corsa is a one piece, track focused set of leathers with an attractive price tag. Costs for one piece race suits can easily reach four figures, scaring away customers looking to head to the track or who want the full protection a one piece suit offers for any aggressive riding situation. The Corsa addresses that problem with a $599.99 price tag and substantial protection and features, but that price comes with a disclaimer. More on that later.

Decisions, Decisions

Posted by Ted Edwards | Aug 30, 2022 | Ride Life |

The Wild Rose Squad’s annual motorcycle pilgrimage to Nelson, BC is sacred. Nothing keeps us from Nelson, except however, border guards. I found that one out the hard way last year, but that is a story for another time. If I do somehow manage this year to not be asked very politely to make an immediate u-turn and Leave Canada Right Now Sir, my next conundrum is which bike to take. I have three compelling choices with reasons for and against. Help me decide.

The Old Bike and the Sea

Posted by Ted Edwards | Aug 8, 2022 | Ride Life, Rides & Roads |

Give me the Pacific Ocean. You can have the rest of the country, just hand me her blue waters. Take Beartooth Pass, Tail Of The Dragon, Going To The Sun Road and Million Dollar Highway. I’ve done them all, just leave me the Pacific, a road that runs alongside her and an old motorcycle beneath me. Sailors know the Pacific’s pull, her captivating blue rollers have a way of getting under your skin like a seaman recruit’s poorly chosen tattoo. Ride her shore once and you understand.

Dunlop Roadsmart IV vs Pirelli Angel GT – Long Term Handling Observations

Posted by Ted Edwards | Aug 1, 2022 | Bikes & Gear |

As I pushed wide into the oncoming lane of the right hand turn, two thoughts ran through my head. First, I am a better rider than this. Second, I was amazed that I needed this much bar pressure to steer Dave’s bike. Thousands of miles and countless curves had trained my muscle memory for my 5th generation Honda VFR800 and its Dunlop tires, so when I jumped on Dave Wensveen’s identical VFR and his Pirelli tires, I almost immediately ran wide on the tight right hand corner. I tried correcting my line. It was too late.

Fighting the Giant

Posted by Ted Edwards | Jul 22, 2022 | Industry & Racing, Ride Life |

Don’t be surprised if you have never heard of Max Flinders. Some have, most have not. However that is part of the underdog script, unknown, under the radar and under-supported. Such is Max Flinders. Max has never won a MotoAmerica Superbike race and never finished on the podium. If you want to find his name on the race results you have to scan down toward the middle. He has few sponsors, no entourage, and his truck driver is also named Max Flinders because, well, it’s him.

Dunlop-Pirelli Tires Wet Handling Shootout

Posted by Ted Edwards | Jul 15, 2022 | Bikes & Gear, Ride Life |

Speeding up might have ended the misery sooner but that had its own perils. Adding high speeds to wet and cold conditions is a pure confidence move- confidence in your bike, your riding skills, but most of all, your tires. This fiasco was part of Road Dirt’s summer tire shootout.

Colorado 500: A Race To Give

Posted by Ted Edwards | Jul 5, 2022 | Ride Life, Rides & Roads |

In the 1970s, Indy car racer Wally Dallenbach took his winnings from the California 500 and bought a ranch near the Fryingpan River in Colorado. In 1975 he explored the mountains and mining ghost towns around his ranch on his motorcycle with his son Wally Jr. and friend Sherm Cooper. They loved the trails so much that the next year they invited friends Dick Singer, Art Lamey, Lon Bromley, Del Garnder, Ed Kretz, Al Unser and Bobby Unser. That first ride in 1976 needed a name and being Indy 500 veterans, the group named it the Colorado 500.