Motorcycle 101

Everyone knows what a motorcycle is but not everyone knows the types of motorcycles out there. That will end now. Motorcycles types are usually named for there purpose such as cruiser, touring, and sport bikes.

Cruisers - You got it, are used to cruise. These bikes are very popular with middle aged guys (35 - 50). Cruisers come in many makes and models but have certain characteristics, such as a comfortable riding position and a v-twin motor. There are many accessories available for these bikes; saddlebags, windshields, and a passenger backrest. These bikes are used for everything from commuting to work or traveling cross country.

Touring - These bikes are very large and very heavy. Which is ironic when you look at the demographic that rides these bikes; older guys age 50+. Touring motorcycles come standard with "luggage." This so called "luggage" is two hard case saddlebags and a trunk located behind the passenger seat. The options that are available on touring bikes rival that of a car. You can get anti lock brakes, cruise control, CB radio, AM/FM/CD, passenger-rider intercom, reverse, and the list goes on. When it comes to bikes, touring bikes own the highway.

Sport - These bikes are the smallest and lightest, which makes sense when you want to go fast. I mean really really fast. Sport bikes can rip a 0-60 mph under 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 180-200 mph!! Sport bikes are often referred to as "crotch rockets" because of these insane speeds. These bikes are the least comfortable of the three and come with virtually no options. Who needs options when you can go 180 mph!!

These are just the main types of motorcycles on the road today. There are others out there but they are all just variants of these three types.

RAMS NEWS BRIEF: St. Louis, MO

The St. Louis Rams football practice was delayed nearly 2 hours today, after a player reported finding an unknown white powdery substance on the practice field.The head coach immediately suspended practice while St. Louis City police and federal investigators were called to investigate.

After a complete analysis,FBI forensic experts determined that the white substance unknown to the players was the goal line.Practice was resumed after special agents decided the team was unlikely to encounter the substance again.

Top 10 Observations

10. What's another word for thesaurus?

9. Do Mexicans sit around and play a card game called "One?"

8. Do they have reserved parking for non-handicap people at the Special Olympics?

7. If nothing sticks to Teflon, how do they get Teflon on the pan?

6. If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done?

5. Why is there a permanent press setting on an iron if it doesnot work?

4. If the #2 pencil is the most popular, why is it still #2?

3. This shirt is dryclean only, which means it's dirty.

2. Escalators can never break, just temporarily become stairs.

1. I haven't slept for 10 days, because that would be too long.

Wooden Coasters are still alive!

I thought that wooden roller coasters had there time and that time had passed. Evidently I was wrong. Six Flags, St. Louis will be adding a wooden roller coaster in `08 to expand its coaster count to eight.

The first American roller coaster (wooden of course), built in 1872, was not built to thrill people but to transport coal down a mountain. A year later the coal mines were abandoned and the train started transporting people. Thus, the birth of the first American roller coaster. The railway offered spectacular views for visitors to see. The railway became a large Nineteenth Century tourist attraction and people came from all over to be thrilled. Sadly, all runs were cancelled in 1929.

Far from the first American roller coaster, this new ride will start out with a stomach-churning 80-foot drop as the ride takes a 90-degree left turn and another 55-foot drop. The 2,700-foot ride hits speeds of 50 mph. It has 16 hills and multiple high-banked turns at up to 67-degree angles.

Not being a big fan of wooden roller coasters, I think I may have to take a trip out to Six Flags, St. Louis and take a ride on a 21st century wooden roller coaster.

Incredible Birds

I love being one with nature. Unfortunately, I live in the city and rarely get to venture out into the wilderness, so I tend to watch a lot of Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, and TLC. Not to long ago, I was watching Discovery Channel and they were talking about "Birds of Paradise." These birds were the most incredibly beautiful and bizarre creatures I have ever seen.

The episode was titled Planet Earth: Jungles: Birds of Paradise. These "birds of paradise" had vibriant colors, intrinsic feathers, and outlandish mating dances. The dances are what actually intrigued me, specifically the Western Parotia. This bird would wrap it's wings around it's body in a manner that resembled a dress and dance like a ballerina. Very interesting and worth watching!!