About Backroad Bob

BACKROAD BOB TM

EXPERIENCE: Fifty-two 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-two 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 (2011-2024), Twenty-four "Motorcycle Road Trips", "Motorcycle Dual Sporting", and "Motorcycle Safety" Kindle ebooks (2009-2024). Nineteen books on CD (2006-2024). 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 (2006-2024), 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.