Who did not attend because of the heat?

[osbornk]

Global warming - it's not just for whiners:

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012...tudy-says?lite

Global warming is here. We'll have to adapt to it, and that includes the MOA.

Harry

I don't take predictions seriously at all.

Do you remember a few decades when the "experts" were predicting we were entering another ice age? The mountains I live in were formed by glaciers and the rocks in them contain fossils of ancient fish. We think in terms of years or decades but nature thinks in thousands or hundreds of thousands of years.

[KKeyes]

I was in route but turned around due to the heat about 100 miles from the rally. Looking forward to next year.

[JDOCKERY132445]

I was in route but turned around due to the heat about 100 miles from the rally. Looking forward to next year.

Don and I were worn out from the heat when we got to St. Louis. Don was ready for a motel room and a shower. He had already done 800 miles and I had done over 1,000 that day. We took the first ramp into town and found the casino. An hour later, feeling refreshed from the gallons of tea and water and freshening up in the mens room and we decided to do the last 200 miles.

When we hit Sedalia at 10 PM, Don got a room and I found a welcoming group of guys at the RV parking area. I am glad we continued. You missed a great time.

[racer7]

This comment is aimed specifically at Sue's statement that the rally needs to be in June or July due to possible snow in a few odd mountain passes.

Its offensive and illogical.

A few riders possibly blocked by snow (who could trailer, choose an alternate route or ship it) compared to many exposed to potentially dangerous and health threatening heat levels? Has anyone made any attempts at all to accumulate the info on the number of heat injuries and riding injuries possibly heat related caused by doing these events in such hot weather? Or is it just "riding is dangerous so take your chances".

This is an old membership. I used to take my small boat 50 miles out in the ocean to fish but I''ve quit captaining that stuff now, too and just charter one when I want to go. And the school dates argument is equally silly- schools are either on or heading to all year in most of the country for the huge economic advantages to taxpayers re avoiding building extra facilities- I think that's unfortuneate for the kids but its reality. That stacked questionairre re June/July didn't address the issue and was a foolish waste of effort IMO. I agree with the statement that the entire membership should get a voice in this one...

What's left at present to justify the hot weather choice is "we've always done it this way".

I don't generally plan to do anyone's rallies in July/Aug no matter where they are- still have to get there and there is no avoiding the simple fact that those are the worst two riding months of the year around where I live. We get the lowest attendance at our local club meets in July and August, too and always comments about the heat at that time and a few coming in 4 wheels with A/C- I'm not the only one who doesn't want to do long distances in it. I am glad only person I know from our local club who attended Sedalia got there and back in one piece- have to admit I was concerned when he indicated he was going to do the equivalent of an SS1000 to get there even though he is a very experienced rider.

[98288]

I have not read all the posts but we rode two up 2,300 miles - each way - and it was hot and progressively so all the way to Sedalia. Registered for the SS1000 out of Wilkes-Barre and ended it after 15 hours due to the heat, frequent stops, and those fn trucks on 70; all of which tampered with our bodily tolerances. That was personally disappointing to both of us. Rally was hot indeed but we both returned with memories of a GREAT rally and the reconnects with many friends while there. Can't make next year (dang!, there goes our long distance-two up award ) so I suppose we had a stronger incentive to make it this year. Like most, we too would have greatly enjoyed the total experience with a cooler temp. Weather and death seem way beyond our control.

Glad to here right now though with a 77 F temp, sitting by the river, sipping on a beer in a mild southerly breeze and looking out to the ocean on a sunny day. - Bob

[i-scream-stop]

I have to throw in a few cents. Since we are only basing our rally timing on the last year or so weather, Why don't we just have it in December, Most people are off work for holidays, and if we look at weather last couple years it should be a nice mid 70s here in Midwest. There are a lot of pretty lights around to look at. If it is a little cooler than you can simply dress for it, don't we all have heated gear, although you shouldn't need it I haven't last few years. Now some of you will probably say that time isn't good either, but I love riding in the cooler months and since everyone is throwing out opinions based on weather they want rally in, I have to put mine in too. I have the gear for it just as I do for riding in the heat, it is all in preparation. I love to just go riding, and I live in a world where weather changes, so unless I want to ride two weeks a year when weather is perfect I have to be prepared.

[HRbiker]

I had not planned on attending the rally as I too got sucked into all the negativity. So glad my original plans went bust and I ended up in Sedalia! My Alaska trip was off and I ended up traveling from upstate NY out West, Yellowstone NP(cool), Badlands(cool),Moab(cool),Top o the Rockies Rally Paonia(HOT),Flaming gorge(HOT), 18 States, all scorching hot. When I arrived Thursday morning I was HOT, Tired, and had a ear so swollen I couldn't hear out of it or get my helmet back on. A Wasp flew into my helmet, stung me and I had a severe allergic reaction. Let's just say I was not a happy camper when I arrived. I had already made up my mind that it was going to be too hot and I was planning not to have fun!
Despite my best efforts I failed and had a great time! I don't know where to start. AIR CONDITIONING everywhere that kept up with demand! Trams taking you where you wanted to go dispensing free water, great live bands(BRAVO!), low priced and delicious food from vendors, CLEAN & AIR CONDITIONED SHOWER TRUCKS- WOW!, plenty of shaded or covered(in my case) camping, just to mention a few.

The problem is not the location, time of year or venue it is YOU! If it's too hot or too far, etc. then please for your own good(as well as the attendees as you all sound like so much FUN to be around!) you should stay home or choose another rally more suitable to your physical condition. With only 70-80 disgruntled members out there so far maybe they could hold a rally of their own.

The MOAARP RALLY:
New Vendors! Depends, Ensure, Hoveround, Metamucile, Geritol.
Musical guest The Lawrence Welk jr. Band
Maybe it could be held in an unused wing of a Nursing Home?

My deciding factor is time off. I work for a School Dist. My only time off is when we are closed. I missed my first RA Rally in 10 yrs. because they changed the date to June. Some of us youngsters (53) still work vs.sitting around thinking of new things wrong with the MOA to complain about.

Gee.. can't imagine why all this whining/BS about heat and so many other insignificant or uncontrollable things doesn't attract a slew of new, younger riders to come into our fold! The're just neat'in down the door to join the MOA!

No, the problem isn't ME. It's your math skills. 70-80 people didn't attend because of the heat, it's thousands! The MOA was hoping for 10,000 in 2011 at Bloomsburg and got less than 6500.

It sounds to me that if posters disagree with your comments you pass them off as feeble geriatrics. I belong to the MOA, and I will post my opinion. You should too, but why not refrain from being so superior?

[JDOCKERY132445]

I am glad only person I know from our local club who attended Sedalia got there and back in one piece- have to admit I was concerned when he indicated he was going to do the equivalent of an SS1000 to get there even though he is a very experienced rider.

I love you too.

It would have been a much faster trip if I had been riding with you. As far as riding to rally sites, Paul and I attend the Low Country Boil in Tybee Island, GA every year in November; it is a great ride, but it also can have its weather related problems.

Each person must make a decision as to what his/her limits are and plan/travel accordingly. You can trust that I would NOT have taken Barbie and our dog on the trip to Sedalia.

Next year is going to be an easy decision for me; I am going to the RA in Asheville. Why? Because Barbie loves the Biltmore House and shopping in Asheville. of course the roads in the NC mountains are not too shabby either.

I hope the BMWMOA in Oregon is well attended and has terrific weather for all who need temperate climes to have fun.

[tommcgee]

Glad to here right now though with a 77 F temp, sitting by the river, sipping on a beer in a mild southerly breeze and looking out to the ocean on a sunny day. - Bob

Give that knife another twist, Bob.

See you in a few weeks!

[Polarbear]

111F here today in California. Its dry too, but HOT. There is an option to HOT riding, RIDE at night. Me too, rode 2300+ miles to Sedalia, no issues, daylight riding all the way. Hot, yep, but still had a nice ride every day. I see those picking heat as an out to go anywhere, were already not going. You sure are limited in life, staying in out of the heat all Summer. We're so spoiled, in our A/C lives, autos and homes and RVs! I think/KNOW you'll find the heat is livable once aclamated again to it. It takes time "out in it" and sitt'in inside behind an A/C all day ain't getting her done. Us bikers are PIONEERS/Last Cowboys still, those of us riding all Summer and Winter. Randy

[mosrrt]

Randy well said
Get off the net and get on the bike man

[osbornk]

111F here today in California. Its dry too, but HOT. There is an option to HOT riding, RIDE at night. Me too, rode 2300+ miles to Sedalia, no issues, daylight riding all the way. Randy

I rode at night until a friend's son was killed in the middle of the night when a deer ran out and hit him in the side and wrecked him. I am not fond of driving at night but I frequently do. I was driving from my daughter's house last Sunday morning at around 1:00 Am when a large raccoon ran across in front of me. You would be shocked at the damage a coon hit at 70MPH can do to the plastic on the front of a new car. I shutter to think what could have happened if I had been on one of my bikes.

[Paul_F]

I spent each rally day working inside a very well air conditioned building. About four times a day I had to escape outside for about 10 minutes to almost thaw out. It may have been warm in Sedalia, but all the buildings had well functioning air conditioning. Tent sleeping was fine for this individual. In Canada we have found the weather to be very difficult to predict or control.

[rodney203]

Let the board decide to have the rally wherever they want and I won't hold it against them. I just won't go to the rallys I think will be hot.

As far as I'm concerned they could have a rotating set of sites that are usually comfortable and choose only from that. I don't care how far the rallys are from me. The likely daytime (and night time) heat is a deal breaker for me.

Rodney Choate
Louisiana

[JDOCKERY132445]

I know that no matter where the rally is, I am going to be hot when I leave home and hot somewhere on the way. I don't understand why anyone from the South would whine about heat. Do you p[eople live in the A/C all Summer? Get off your butts and go mow the grass. Work outside for a week or so before the trip to acclimate yourself. But for pete's sake...stop with the incessant WHINING.