I’ve been around motorcycles my whole life. My Dad bought my first bike, Kawasaki 90cc, when I was 13. I rode on the trails and school yard near my house. I moved up to a 125cc after tuning 14. My Dad had a Triumph Daytona 500 and after turning 16, I would take it out for a ride when I could.  I’ve owned several bikes over the years. I went about 15 years without a bike, then I ran across a 1982 Goldwing a guy wanted to sell. I made an offer and was back riding.

While on vacation I ran across a 2001 Sportster. I never had a desire for a Harley, but it was a good deal and I bought it. For my 50th birthday, I planned a trip to the Keys and bought an Electra Glide to make the trip. Sandy and I spent 12 days and covered 2500 miles on the glide.

I’m married to Sandy for 23 years and have 1 child that’s 25 now. I work for Lott Motor Co in Huntsville as shop manager. I’ve worked as a tow truck driver and manager, built driveshafts, managed auto salvage yards, IT manager for telephone answering service/call center. I work as track official at a local round track and have worked with touring series before.

Hobbies – classic cars, motorcycles, photography, computers and wood working.

Valerie Schroeder (AngelVal) – QM

As a youngster I bugged my parents to death over a motorcycle, only to be told by my father, “There will be NO two wheeled vehicles in this house.” Christmas came just after my 12^th birthday, not much under the tree and I tried not to be disappointed.

At breakfast, my dad said…”Hey what’s that over there?” and there sat a beautiful green mini-bike…yes with a Briggs and Stratton engine and centrifugal clutch. I rode that little thing until it would ride no more. I then acquired a Red Honda Dream 150. I rode that big ol’ clunker like a dirt bike all up in the woods, tractor paths around the cotton fields and around town. That thing lasted me a good 5 years…until I blew the engine up when I was 18. I went without a bike for a couple of years and bought a Honda Hawk 400, then a Yamaha 650 Virago. I wrecked the Hawk on Roswell Road in Atlanta, fixed it and sold it. After the wreck I went without a bike for a number of years and got a 1996 Harley 883 Sportster and kept it until I started school in 2000. Again, lean times no bike. Moving to Alabama in 2003, I started hankering for another bike. So I got a Suzuki Volusia, It was a nice bike but I just wanted something a little bigger so I traded for the Yamaha V Star 1100 Silverado. I really had wanted the Heritage Softail when I bought the Yamaha, so I was never satisfied. I went into HOD one day to buy a pair of heated gloves and came out with the Black Ice/Blue Ice Heritage Softail. Dang, I love that bike.

Then, I made the dread mistake of attending a track day and I thought…”I could do that.” The Yamaha is sitting in the garage…I try to sell it, dang economy…Next thing I know; I have traded it for a CBR600F4i. The little Honda will scream. Track day?

I have several loves in my life; the good Lord, my husband, my family, my friends and my motorcycles. I have one hot button left…and it is disrespect. The trait I value most in people is integrity. I am a full time graduate student at the University of Alabama due to graduate with a MSW, May 2010. ROLL TIDE!!!

Mike Freeman (“OOTS”) – Photographer

My dad had a moped from Sears and an old Allstate scooter, all my uncles had bikes. My great uncle had a Harley Electra Glide – a Blue monster with a white seat as big as a sofa. I remember one day it wouldn’t start and he had to kick start it, he kicked it, and it backfired and kicked him over the windshield! My whole family has been involved with bikes my entire life. My folks still own and ride a bike even though they are in their 70′s. Motorcycling is a way to unwind..and at the same time, a way get your blood pumpin’. Motorcycling is in my blood.   Watch Mike’s introduction video

Mark Wilson (Maverick) – Moderator

The first motorized anything I can remember riding was powered by a Briggs and Stratton 5hp and had an open clutch on the side. I remember this one so well because it was also my first motorized spill. I was riding on a dirt trail that we made behind the house in an abandoned neighborhood park. Some one had also brought a rail job out just to show off. The rail was behind me when I slid out in a curve. The motor hung wide open and the clutch was pressing on the back of my left calf muscle. Thank God for tough blue jeans. It looked worse than it was. Mainly surface damage without muscle injury. The bad thing was that it took me out of the Boy Scout camping weekend and my mom wouldn’t let me ride until it healed.
So here I am. Old enough to know better, but still too young to care. I ride almost everyday even if it is just to work and back. That gets me at least +50 miles a day. If there is such a thing as reincarnation I think I was a bird in a former life…soaring on the winds, or I could have just been a dog hanging my head out of the window. As long as I get to feel the breeze it really doesn’t matter….

Harvie Woolley (springer) – Staff Writer

Age: old enough but not young enough
Born: in a hospital
What age did you start riding?: 13
1st motorcycle: early 70′s Suzuki 80cc 2 stroke
color: black
model: not sure, not everyone remembers everything and I remember next to nothing
Current ride: 2000 HD softail springer, done up like a pimp on crack
What brought you to Bamarides ? Refered by my PO, he said it would keep me out of trouble, it ain’t working.
What kind of riding do you like to do? Any and all, street or dirt, its all good
Whats your favorite ride? OPB’s other people’s bikes, new bike test rides are the best, there is a lot of freedom in not caring if you total it out
What keeps you at Bamarides? Its a condition of my parole and they haven’t kicked me off…..yet.

Richard Hobbs (Buzz) – Moderator

Riding since the ’80′s if you count scooters, a few of the bikes owned/borrowed- 50cc Suzuki scooter, 400 Maxim, 750 Maxim, GS500f, YZF600R.

Riding style- Slow until the road gets curvy, then pretty aggressive

States I’ve ridden in- Al, Ga, Ms, Fl, Tn, Sc, Nc, Ar, Ky, Va,

William Mize (Willy T) – Moderator

Well I guess I am the newbie of the bunch. Growing up I had experience with bikes twice. First time was riding in front of my dad on my uncle’s Harley. I don’t remember much about the ride but I remember we rode to the St. Clair Co. Prison (about 5 miles). Second time was riding in front of my cousin on a little mini bike. We ended up missing a curve and went  front tire first into a ditch and over the handle bars. After that I never really had an interest in bikes. Not cause of the wreck we had but more of just not being around them all that much. After starting working for Diehl I got somewhat of an interest because my boss rides a Honda sport bike. I talked about getting a bike but never went through with it. Then finally I paid off my truck and thought it was either buy a new truck or get a bike. I thought long and hard about it and finally decided to get a bike. In June of 2008 I bought my first bike ever and was extremely happy. It took a little time to get to riding but after taking the msf class I was extremely comfortable and loving every minute of it. Now I feel right at home on the bike like it is where I belong and would rather take the bike over the truck any day (even through rain). I can’t imagine me not riding. I found bamarides through Johnny and found a cool place with cool people. I feel right at home now. It is usually the first and last thing I check during the day.