Columns

HARWINTON, Conn. – It was hard to tell if the kit-wearing Crystal Palace fan inside the Tir Na Nog pub in downtown Philadelphia was inebriated, merely enthused or both in offering his earnest assessment that what makes the Eagles so appealing is that it’s

BRATTLEBORO, VT – In Vermont, it is less and less of a rarity to run into a celebrity. The first time I ever recall actually recognizing a celebrity in the flesh was a chance face-to-face encounter with filmmaker Ken Burns. I was trying to squeeze into the door of a

WEST HARTFORD, CT – It was happenstance that the white and teal Harley-Davidson motorcycle ridden by actor Michiel Huisman ended up parked next to a flat black Indian outside of Westfarms mall. Commenting about their adjacency to the “Games of Thrones” star was only natural, though, because

You know the feeling. Your bike needs repair or routine maintenance. You call your local dealer for an appointment and the voice on the other end of the line says something like, “Man, we’re really busy right now. We can’t look at your bike for two, maybe three, weeks.” How’s …

It’s always satisfying to see an old friend or colleague do well. Yesterday’s announcement that Keith Gretzky is becoming assistant general general manager of the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers after spending five seasons as director of amateur scouting for the Boston Bruins put a smile on my face. Keith and I worked …

STONY BROOK, NY – Fans of vintage motorcycles will find a visit to the “Motorcycles and the Open Road” exhibition at the Ward Melville Heritage Organization here to be a worthwhile way to spend an hour or two. And you can’t beat the $5 admission for providing a fun glimpse …

CHESTER, VT – Where do you keep your stuff? Where do you keep those toys when you are not using them? Right now I have four motorcycles, three are relatively new. They’re gleaming and happy sitting in my non-climate controlled garage. The fourth is a project that is sitting in a …

By Bud Wilkinson “The American cinema’s most unsung singer” is what “The New York Times” calls Marni Nixon in an obituary posted today.  Like other obits, the newspaper’s story notes that it was Nixon who did the singing in some celebrated movie musicals from

Each year, many entry level riders hit New England roadways having passed rider education courses and obtained an “M” on their licenses, and that’s the proper way to do it. Learning from friends, spouses or “Uncle Bob” is probably not the best choice to

NEW HARTFORD, CT – A sign stating “TWO DRINK MAXIMUM” is not often seen in a bar. In fact, I’ve never seen one like it before in nearly 45 years of legally imbibing in probably 26 states from coast to coast and in some 14 other countries. But there it was, …

As I have recently learned, proper preparation and training for a distance endurance motorcycle ride is essential. It’s quite comparable to a runner’s routines in advance of a full 26.2 mile marathon. While the Iron Butt Saddle Sore 1000 is the “introductory” ride of the Iron Butt Association’s array of …

CHESTER, VT – If you’ve ever had the pleasure of driving a good go-cart on a curvy track, you know the feeling. You’d swear you were traveling at close to 180 miles per hour when in reality you might be pegging the speedo at 30. This is what a friend …

LITTLE NECK, NY – So, you want to sell me a bike today? Surveys have concluded that visiting the dentist is something people would rather do than car shop. If it weren’t for the fact that we actually like motorcycles, I suspect folks would feel the same way about

  HARWINTON, CT – Giving a Harley-Davidson devotee the key to a Zero electric motorcycle is somewhat akin to asking a person who loves greasy bacon cheeseburgers to become a vegan. The response is apt to be a sneer. No way would a Harley-Davidson owner who adores the rumble and …

CHESTER, VT – As the 2016 motorcycling season truly gets going, my thoughts have turned to gear. I’m talking about jackets, boots, helmets, gloves, and those comfort and safety items for the ride. If you are a pack rat like me, you’ve got tons of stuff lying about. This is …