Welcome back to the All Riders monthly newsletter brought to you straight from the Matt Cave!
This is "4M: The Matt Cave Moto Monthly Mailer".
“August” means venerable, noble, and majestic.
Did you know that August was first called “Sextillia”? Nope, it did not share its name with a skin flick from the 1980s. Sextillia was the Roman word for “sixth,” as it was the sixth month of the Roman year. Some say it was later changed to “August” by Emperor Augustus, as he named it after himself.
However, others would argue that it was, in fact, the Roman Senate that donned the sixth month of the year “August” to honor Augustus after he defeated Marc Antony and Cleopatra and became emperor of Rome. Why the sixth month of the year, you ask? Well, don’t quote me, but the Senate seemed to have a few good reasons to chose that month.
This is what they had to say about it:
"Whereas the Emperor Augustus Caesar, in the month of Sextillis (the sixth month of the year) . . . thrice entered the city in triumph (one good reason) . . . and in the same month Egypt was brought under the authority of the Roman people (another good reason... if you are a Roman), and in the same month an end was put to the civil wars (hard to argue with this reason); and whereas for these reasons the said month is, and has been, most fortunate to this empire (good point here), it is hereby decreed by the Senate that the said month shall be called Augustus."
The Senate must really have dug this Augustus character (or they were really, really afraid of him) because they didn’t stop there. They decided that since his Grand Uncle Julius’s month (July, duh) had 31 days, then gosh darn it, the month of August should also have 31 days. Under the Julian calendar, the months alternated evenly between 30 and 31 days (February was the exception). That made August a 30 day month. Maybe out of love and admiration, or perhaps to avoid the mass rolling of heads, the Senate decided to slap an extra day upon that puppy, thus preventing anyone from claiming that Augustus had lent his name to an inferior month. Manhood intact, Augustus could save face.
This change came not without its complications. In order to accommodate said change two other calendrical adjustments were required.
The extra day needed to prop up the Emporer was taken from poor old February (who was already struggling with a mere 29 days... except for 30 in the leap year). So, now February was saddled with a tiny 28 days.
Since before this intrepid adjustment was undertaken, the months evenly alternated between 30 and 31 days, now there would be three long months in a row. July, August, and September would all have 31 days. The Dude could not abide, so they switched the last four months around. This left us with 30 days in September, 30 Days in April, June, and November.
Julius and Augustus were not the only emperors that saught to live eternally in their infamy by having months named after themselves. Claudius had May changed to “Claudius,” and Nero went with “Neronius” for April. However, these changes proved fleeting for whatever reason, and May and April were somehow able to depose their replacements and regain their monthly status. As we all know, July and august did not suffer such a fate, so Julius and Augustus win the O.G. award for their calendrical supplantations. That’s two millennia’s worth of staying powa. Pfizer should be taking notes.
Boy, I have digressed. So, enough about that. Shall we recap July? As it so happens, not a whole lot goes down with organized events via the All Riders in these toasty summer months. You see, here in Central Florida (All Riders base of operations), we have what I like to call the summer “Double Whammy.” I’ve never actually called it that before, but I’m calling it that now. That is the two-pronged assault, the double-edged weaponized, bifurcated, pissed-off, evil, dualist nastiness of heat and rain.
You see, in Florida, in the summer, it is either hotter than a hooker’s doorknob on payday, or it is raining enough to build an Ark. Often, it is both. So, to get any good riding in, you have to get up early and end the riding day early. Such is not very conducive to planning riding events. So, I tend to save my riding event ideas for the Fall, Winter, and Spring. Since we are knee-deep in suck-the-life-out-of-you swampy Summer, there is not a whole lot to talk about.
Sweaty Swamp-Ass enough for ya?
Thinking about the blisteringly balmy beach weather we have down here got me thinking. I wonder what kind of affordable, useful cooling equipment exists that we might be able to appropriate for motorcycle use? A quick search for "Air-conditioned jacket" turned this up on "Bezos Box:"
Compcoller Univest Ice Water Cooling System for $249.00
There were a ton of cheap results, so I set the filter to $100-$400 in hopes of finding something worth a damn. This thing looks interesting. It has a pump and rechargeable battery to circulate ice water around the wearer. It says it has a 2-4 hour cooling time from a 2L bladder. Sounds pretty neat. I wonder how well it works.
So, then I looked a little more and found this bad boy: The Makita Fan Jacket. This thing actually has a fan in it! Supposedly this thing gets 15 hours of fan time with a rechargeable 18V battery (sold separately). I don't know about you, but I don't think I'd like weighing down my jacket with that 18V battery. However, 15 hours makes for a loooong motorcycle ride.
If you buy one of these, try it, and review it, I'll give you a free All Riders T-shirt! Whoo-hoo! Doit! Doit!
Well, since I don't own a fancy fan jacket or ice cooler coat, I do like to get up early in the morning to ride. So, keep an eye out for the occasional early morning “Last Minute Ride.” What is a “Last Minute Ride,” you ask? Well, click the link and find out. With the Last Minute Ride, you can alert anyone on the subscription list to go ride with a minute’s notice. This form allows you to set up a time and place to ride with others in short order. You’ll have to log in to see the page and use the form.
Follow the link above for t-shirts, patches, membership cards, and work shirts.
R.I.P. The Wicked Wall
I want to take a second here to honor a buddy who passed 7/24 in his sleep. If you did not know him, Henry Dennis, A.K.A. “The Wicked Wall” was a special kind of man. He was a literal powerhouse... a rock-solid bodybuilder as intimidating as you could imagine, but he was a kind, gentle motorcycle-loving quintessential biker. I did not know Henry particularly well, but we became friends fast.
"Wally" on the 2nd Annual All Riders toy Run.
I met Henry at the first All Riders event ever. Tomasz Moroz (the famed All Riders photographer) was in Florida, so we decided to set up a motorcycle photoshoot at my shop in Deland. Tomasz was looking to add some unique imagery to his portfolio, and I was looking to spread the word about All Riders. So, I put in a call to my buddy Tyler because I knew that he hung around with a motorcycle club called the Mitchfitz. These guys from New Smyrna ride around on all kinds of custom/makeshift motorcycles that I thought would make for some cool and exceptional subject matter for the shoot. So, Tyler did not disappoint. In short order, there was a “murder” of Mitchfitz descending on my humble shop, Inspired Bronze, Inc.
As I said, these guys had all manner of very cool custom-built motorcycles and choppers. Many sported hand-made parts, custom paint, and various “farkles” from anywhere you could imagine. One of these bikes built by “Thin Man” even shot flames out of its fishtail exhaust pipes. My wife Jackie even got to sit on it and stoke the fire. Amongst these mean machines was Henry and his “White Trash Millionaire” black, stretched chopper. This thing was a kick-start monstrosity befitting a man of Henry’s stature. Only a guy called “The Wicked Wall” should be expected to ride a machine like that. One thing I learned fast was that although these guys looked all rough-and-tumble, they were all friendly, down-to-earth, fun-loving bikers. Henry was every bit as well.
I ordered some pizza and brought out some beer for everyone. While the shoot was happening and everyone was milling around, I got to spend a fair amount of time with Henry. I learned a bunch about his sordid past. There was a lot of debauchery and alcohol-fueled bar fights and battles. He told me more than once that I probably would not have liked the guy he used to be but that he had changed his ways and seen the light. He walked me through a terrible motorcycle accident that he was in when while heavily intoxicated, an accident that caused the loss of his eye, and the reason he now sported a glass replacement. He had stopped drinking, and by the time we were having this discussion, he had been many years sober.
After the shoot, I only saw Henry here and there. He came out to the first couple of All Riders Toy Runs and a few other events over the years. He also had me make flyers for his annual Birthday Party bashes that he liked to throw, and a few of us All Riders would always show up bearing gifts.
The guy was unforgettable, and I know that there are many people out there whose lives he had a positive impact on, and mine is no exception.
Henry's "White Trash Millionaire" bike and Chris Mack's ride.
Couldn't leave this one out. Here is Jackie on Thin Man's Flamer Bike, lol.
Thin Man shows off his custom hog.
Henry's sister is working on this GoFundMe campaign to raise some money for Henry's funeral expenses. If it suits you, please considering donating here: Fund Raiser
August will bring us the third and fourth installments of the famously unflappable “Sultan of Sundry Supplies”, motorcycle product review rapscallion: Barracuda Bill with his Matt Cave Moto-Made Barracuda Bill Breaks it Down. Keep an eye out for Barracuda Bill Breaks it Down Episode 3 and Barracuda Bill Breaks it Down Episode 4 coming at you via Youtube and your inbox (if you subscribe below).
EDITED: Check out Barracuda Bill Breaks it Down: Episode 3 Air Flow Seat Cover:
The usual suspects rear their heads in the month of August:
1) First Fridays Moto-Meetup: First Fridays returns on Friday, 8/6/21 with a visit to Sopotnik's (is that how you spell it?) Cabbage Patch. Getcher Biker Redneck Roundup on at everyone's favorite dive bar ala two-wheels. My sister will be in town, so I'm gonna bring her over there (against my better judgment). If you wanna see what I look like as a girl, come on down and have a few drinks ( I didn't mean that the way it sounded).
4) Third Thursday Moto-Meetup: Thursday, August 19th. As always, Third Thursdays Bike Night will be at Abbey Bar & Odd Elixir downtown Deland. Amazing staff, great beer, wine, mead, and some finger food to boot. We start at 7:00 pm.
You also get 10% off of your entire bill with your current ARMD membership card.
Check out Abbey Bar:
3) Dan's Full Moon Ride: The original All Riders night ride. August's ride is yet to be scheduled, but keep an eye out... we will be having one. Don't forget about our Calendar page to stay "in the know".
3) Chuck's Wednesday Ride to Nowhere: The famous weekday evening ride hosted by the 'Route Master" Chuck "Magnum" Boehm continues through August. It has been a crazy rainy summer, but the itinerate Route Master is forever on the job. Chuck tried a few 6:30om KSUs this year, but the remainder of these rides will sport the original 6:00 pm KSU in order to take advantage of all available daylight.
Other Information:
As always, if you would like to check out some fantastic reviews and interviews, check out our relevant pages:
If you are new to riding or want to bone up on some group riding info or learn about how we do things at All Riders, check out:
We also link to the AMA database of motorcycle laws in the USA at All Riders 101.
If you want to learn more about or membership card program: ARMD, go here:
Please take some time and check out the rest of the site, and if you have any criticisms, ideas, corrections, or worthwhile general observations, feel free to email me at:
matt@theallriders.com
ARMD SUPPORTING VENDOR HIGHLIGHT:
Madstad: Makers of premium motorcycle windshields. I hear they have one for the new Triumph Rocket three. Made in the USA... dang, actually made in Fl, if you believe that. Check them out via our Supporting Vendor page. 10% off with your ARMD card.
Thanks for stopping by. Rubber down!
-Matt
