Things have changed Bruce, in fact I'm a little surprised by your comments. Let me take this opportunity to give you and others here on WetLeather(tm) the latest thinking about weekend rides.

I believe for most of us the revelation about how weekend rides should be conducted, and just how far behind WetLeather(tm) had fallen in it's collective thinking in this area, became crystal clear last Sunday in Fife. I don't mind saying that I and the other WetLeather(tm) attendees stood rooted in our riding boots, our mouths open in abject frozen amazement as the realization of our shortcomings exploded on our consciousness like small arms fire in a Tacoma neighborhood.

And then to actually have the opportunity to participate in an event organized and executed in this enlightened manner was something I'm not sure I'm capable of describing in the medium of mere words.

But I am going to try, because the well-being and safety of all of you is just too important to leave to chance. I love you guys, each and every one.

There are two key ingredients of group weekend motorcycle riding that need to be considered:

SAFETY and ORGANIZATION

I'll say that again to make sure you understand just how important these issues are to all of us.

SAFETY and ORGANIZATION

These elements are as inseparable as (the reader is encouraged to supply whatever metaphor is most appropriate based on their own riding, sexual, racial, or religious preferences).

We will start with safety.

Much like Da Judge's decisions, safety is the FINAL word. No activity should be planned or undertaken without safety considerations being paramount. We have a responsibility to our fellow riders, our community, to ourselves, and yes even to the brain dead cagers to make our activities on the public highways and byways as safe as possible. None of us wants the job of having to tell a fellow rider's family or loved one the awful news of an injury or death. I know that if Marc or Ron ever had to tell Debb the news that I fell off my dirt bike at Belfair, none of us would ever be the same.

The key to safety is preparation. The bikes, the roads, the weather, and current political events all play a role in safety.

Obviously, the motorcycle is a central focus of our safety program. Gone are the days of just checking the gas, the oil, tire pressures, the lights, and then heading out to ride with our friends. I shudder just thinking about how many times we as a group have done this and how lucky we have been. Have you checked with your dealer about Safety Recalls on your model lately? I thought not. And let's read carefully those MCN reviews. Many of you are riding machines with dramatically inferior braking capabilities. Bikes with second generation ABS and Linked Braking Systems need to be the norm on WetLeather(tm) rides.

As the prospective leader of a WetLeather(tm) group ride, one of the first things you need to decide is what roads to ride on. There is so much to take into consideration here it is difficult to know where to start. As a prospective ride leader, ask yourself these questions: Are these roads in good repair? Have you ridden them recently to check for storm damage? Any repairs underway or planned? (The WSDOT web site has loads of valuable information about road construction; schedules, locations, chief project officers, contact information. Make this are a regular stop in your planning process!), have you ridden this road and noted any special hazards, such as long straight sections where speeds can easily become excessive or tricky off-camber blind turns that can fool the inexperienced newcomer to our sport? One suggestion to make this kind of evaluation easier; first travel these roads in a large older car such as a '68 Eldorado or '74 Chrysler Station Wagon. These vehicles have the kind of suspension systems that can give you an accurate feel for just what hazards await on the roads you are considering.

But wait! As we discovered to our amazement last Sunday, there's plenty more for you to consider. Make sure that there is a safe and well lit parking area available every 15 minutes or so along the route. This gives everyone a chance to catch their breath, get off their machines and stretch, take some fluids and most importantly jot down any notes about road and weather conditions that might be valuable on future rides. It can not be over emphasized just how fast fatigue can set in. I'm sorry to report that on some motorcycles, riders have reported discomfort in as few as 10 minutes. When a rider is focused on the pain in their ass^H^Hrms they won't have safety as Priority One. Think about that!

In this day of instant communications it should be obvious to everyone by now that the weather is happening all the time. And it is happening to everyone. I don't mind admitting that before I was fortunate enough to get The Weather Channel, I had no idea that weather was such a global phenomena. Who would have thought? No safety conscious planner of a WetLeather(tm) ride can ignore for one minute the weather and the consequences it has for us all. I think an example will make this abundantly clear. Say, for instance, you are planning a ride from the Eastside to Vancouver, B.C. In the 15 years I have lived in the Puget Sound region, rarely has there been a continuos period of unchanging weather for three days. Just because you leave Kirkland in bright sunshine Saturday morning doesn't mean there won't be rain and snow mixed on Sunday as you pass through Bellingham on your way north. Hey, anything can happen, and as a WetLeather(tm) ride leader you need to be prepared. Keep handy the 1-800 numbers for as many weather reporting agencies as possible along your planned route as well as the locations and phone numbers of all State Patrol offices and city and county emergency shelters. This is an area where technology can help. I would suggest that a WetLeather(tm) Palm Pilot Professional with cellular modem be acquired and programmed with as much of this information as possible. One Meg models should just be sufficient for states like Washington and Oregon, and 2 Megs should cover the larger ones like California. I hope fund raising for this important cause can be gotten underway soon.

In this day of radical activism, we cannot ignore the possibility that some political activity, however bizarre, may have an adverse effect on a WetLeather(tm) ride. Thankfully, most of this activity takes place in urban areas and since these areas are by their very nature unsafe for motorcyclists, we tend to avoid the worst of this activity. But as activism spreads ideologically so does it spread geographically. Who can know that the Vegetarians for Bovine Justice will be holding a rally at the Nestle Carnation Farm just when you planned to ride to Duvall for breakfast (a plan I submit is flawed in it's nature; a breakfast ride will inevitably mean people are up and about early, before they are fully awake and therefore not at their best)? Treehuggers, salmon lovers, even Bicyclist with Bibles are apt to be out in the countryside with God knows what on their minds. Keep alert for these people at all times! One positive development here again is the Web. Many of these groups have Web sites, mailing lists, and news groups dedicated to their cause. The well prepared WetLeather(tm) ride coordinator will have a clear and current understanding of these group's schedules and plan their ride accordingly.

These are but a few of the areas of safety that need to be considered. I'm sure many of you will be able to think of other areas of safety I haven't mentioned. I encourage each of you to keep a notebook and pen handy at all times and make note of any safety related issues as you become aware of them. A continuing dialogue on this subject is the only way to keep our safety awareness at a peak. I propose a new page on the WetLeather(tm) Web Site where this information can be collected and a new list called WetSafety(tm). I call upon Saint Carl to make this available at the earliest convenience.

I will close this section with the words of that famous public safety officer, Sergeant Phil Esterhaus, "Hey...Let's be careful out there!"

Let's turn now to the issue of organization. Anarchists, hear me now: Your days are numbered! Willy-Nilly is out, Org Charts are in. Words to live by.

A WetLeather(tm) ride deserves the attention to detail any worthwhile endeavor deserves. Clearly established goals, a well defined chain of command, organized and focused activities all come together to make any activity safe, worthwhile, and rewarding.

There are any number of structures that WetLeather(tm) ride leaders can use as the model for their own organizations. The corporate one with Chairmen, Presidents, Vice-Presidents, Program Managers, Finance Officers, Engineering Offices and clerical staff is one. Another is the military: Generals, Lieutenants, Sergeants, Tanks Commanders and spies all know there place and their mission.

WetLeather(tm) rides need a Supreme Commander (SC). The SC can make the decisions and therefore relieve the rest of us of the stress associated with this activity. It will free our minds to think about safety.

WetLeather(tm) rides need Squadron Leaders (SL). By taking control of small groups, not exceeding five riders, SLs have direct responsibility for their group. Like small class size, the SL can get to know each rider and provide the kind of one-on-one leadership that will bring out the best in each of us. The SL will insure that each rider in his squadron has the appropriate safety equipment, a detailed route map with emergency information, that the motorcycle is prepared and ready for the mission, and have a current next of kin form from each squadron member.

WetLeather(tm) rides need a Safety Officer (SO). Reporting directly to the SC, the SO can brief the SC in matters of safety and general operational readiness. This person should be intimately familiar with the programming and operation of the WetLeather(tm) Palm Pilot Professional Portable Safety Information System (WPPPPSIS (pronounced WHOOP-sys)). A notebook containing the latest safety bulletins for the most common motorcycles should be available and kept current.

WetLeather(tm) rides need an Emergency Officer (EO). The primary responsibility of the EO is to ride behind the individual squadrons to insure everyone reaches the checkpoints safely and then relay this information to the SL who in turn can relay it to the SC. The EO should have current First Aid training as well as a well equipped First Aid kit. Each EO should be equipped with a cell phone and pager.

And finally, WetLeather(tm) needs an Information Officer (IO). The IO should have his finger on the pulse of the community. Road repairs, animal migrations and crackpot political agendas are the kinds of essential information the IO can provide the SC. Given the broad range of data the IO needs to have at his disposal, a large Suburban type vehicle equiped with laptop and wireless modem is probably the most appropriate vehicle. This vehicle can double as a field command center or hospital as the need arises.

Bruce, I hope you and the rest of WetLeather(tm) understand now what so many of us learned last Sunday. A WetLeather(tm) ride is no longer a haphazard get together of friends and acquaintances with a common interest in motorcycles and a love of adventure and good food. It is a structured, focused organization with clearly established goals, a deep appreciation of safety, and an organizational structure that gives us all a sense of belonging and security.

Since our experience last Sunday, many of us aren't ready to go back to the old ways. We aren't willing to risk our lives and the lives of the people we love just for a few fleeting minutes joy and freedom. We know that the key to true happiness and fulfillment is SAFETY and ORGANIZATION. I hope, Bruce, that now you can see how much better our way is and join us. Please, for your sake and for the sake of the people who love you, join us.

Citizen Phil