About Backroad Bob

BACKROAD BOB TM

EXPERIENCE: Fifty years and over 250,000 accident-free road miles (except for one not-at-fault occurrence) as a licensed motorcycle operator. Thirteen years and 43,000 miles dual sporting from Vermont to Tennessee. Completion of Motorcycle Safety Foundation Beginner and Advanced Rider Courses and Keith Code's Superbike School. Fifty years as an off-road rider. Mechanical Engineering degree with over 25 years professional experience repairing and rebuilding internal combustion engines, first-aid, life-saving and CPR training. My extensive solo travels have honed my map and people reading, decision-making and situation-evaluation skills. My leadership roles have refined my arbitration and people-management skills and my lead-by-example style has evolved into an ability to lead others in a way that they think they are leading themselves. Most important is my desire to share the joys of motorcycling. I can lead anyone from beginners to experts at the appropriate pace. I have taken many people for their first motorcycle ride and have taught more than a few, including women, how to ride. At this stage, my goal is to share the joys of motorcycling with as many riders, and non-riders, as possible.

GEOGRAPHIC EXPERIENCE, ON-ROAD: Thirty-seven of 48 contiguous states with extensive knowledge of the Mid-Atlantic, New England, and Southeastern states. Five Canadian provinces, Isle of Man, Scotland, England, Wales, Ireland, Spain and Portugal.

GEOGRAPHIC EXPERIENCE, OFF-ROAD: Mid-Atlantic States, Massachusetts, Vermont, and Tennessee. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Monongehela, Wayne and Allegheny National Forests. Ten Pennsylvania State Forests.

AMATEUR COMPETITION: Enduro riding - 10 years. Dual Sport Riding – 23 years including 13 years organizing and participating in local and national dual sport events. Motocross and roadracing support.

LEADERSHIP ROLES: President (1995-2011) - Turbo Motorcycle International Owners Association (TMIOA), North Eastern Region Vice President (2000-2007), and Pennsylvania State Director (1994-2007) - Honda Sport Touring Association (HSTA). Rally Route Coordinator- HSTA Sport Touring Association Rendezvous `96 (Davis, WV). Rally Coordinator -Thumpers and Twins Rally `00 (Fernridge, PA), PA Adventure `04 (Central, PA), No Bull `03 (Oleana, PA), and Turbo Rally '00 (Port Jervis, NY). Organizer of the 2001 HSTA's Sport Touring Association Rendezvous - a 350+ participant 3-day international event held in State College, PA.

PUBLISHING CREDITS: Tumblr blog (2011-2023), Twenty-four "Motorcycle Road Trips", "Motorcycle Dual Sporting", and "Motorcycle Safety" Kindle ebooks (2009-2023). Nineteen books on CD (2006-2023). Bi-monthly on and off road riding column for Winding Road Motorcycle Times (1999-2011) and Motorcycle Times (2012-2020), and monthly for CC Motorcycle News (1999-2001), and Backroads (1997-1998). Monthly newsletter, Sport Touring News, for HSTA (1994-2007). Resurrection and reorganization of the TMIOA (1995-2007) and Turbo News (1995-2003) - the quarterly publication of the TMIOA. Motorcycle Grand Prix and MotoGP coverage for Winding Road Motorcycle Times (1997-2000), Isle of Man features for American Road Racing (1997-98), CC Motomag (January 1998), Rider (March 1998), and Twistgrip (Spring 1998). Event coverage for Thumper News (Fall '98). AMA National event coverage for CycleNews (May 1998) and TrailRider magazine (1996-2000). Seven-time Getaways and Street Savvy columnist Motorcyclist magazine (1996-2011). Turbo motorcycle retro-review for PowerTech Quarterly (Fall 1996) and contributor to Joe Haile's technical and reference coffee table book Turbocharging, Supercharging, and Nitrous Oxide (Whitehorse Press - 1997). Original concept for Turboville! feature article in Motorcyclist (November 1995). Series of on and off-road articles for Winding Road MotorcycleTimes (1994-1998). Over 500 motorcycle articles published.

PHOTO CREDITS: Tumblr blog (2011-2023), Motorcycle Road Trips, Dual Sporting, and Safety CDs (2006-2023), Backroads (1997-1998), CC Motomag (1998-2000), Motorcycle Times (2012-2020), Motorcyclist magazine (1997-1999), Rider (1998), Twistgrip (1998-2000), Winding Road Motorcycle Times (1994-2011). Cover photos for July 1997 Blue Ribbon Coalition, Motorcycle Times March/April 2014, March/April 2017, Winding Road Motorcycle Times January/February 1996, January/February 2006, July/August 2007, September/Octobet 2008, November/December 2009, and Motorcycle Times March/April 2014 and March/April 2017. Over 2000 photo credits.