AFFTC leads the way to 'the Rock'

  • Published
  • By Stephen K. Robinson
  • 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Seventy-two bike riders mounted up for the nearly 80-mile round trip ride from Building 1 on Edwards Main Base to the Air Force Research Laboratory, 'the Rock', that officially kicked off Motorcycle Safety Day June 1.

"The whole purpose for this ride, besides having a good time, is to emphasize and practice safe riding skills," said Maj. Gen. David Eichhorn, Air Force Flight Test Center commander, to the group before their departure from Building 1.  "Ride staggered and at a safe distance. Keep this foremost in your mind during today's ride."

Flying the Stars and Stripes on his bike cargo carry, General Eichhorn led the pack on his Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Ultra Limited, followed by motorcycles of many kinds and ages, both stock and modified.

"It is of paramount importance for a biker to remember that safety is always first," Dave Ekman, 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs art director said. "Riding a bike is not at all like driving a car. Unlike driving a car, where the activity is more passive, a motorcycle driver must be one with their bike or the worst imaginable could be much more worse than imaginable."

Joining the group of riders were California Highway Patrol motor cycle officers Chris Borne and Brian Orcutt on their BMW R 1150 RTs. Both officers said they really enjoyed being invited to the ride and positively commented on the spirit of the round-trip ride.

"The most important piece of gear a motorcyclist must wear is a helmet. A minor injury to any part of the body will heal, but to the head, well, that could be a whole different story," Mr. Ekman, a 40-year motorcycle rider said. "When you think of what you are on a motorcycle, an open object to the elements, then the relatively small cost of safety gear is worth the expenditure."

Mr. Ekman owns and rides a Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Softtail motorcycle.

"I find riding to be refreshing and tranquil but yet exhilarating," Mr. Ekman said. "When I ride, I often times find myself relaxed, but never complacent. That kind of attitude can get a rider into trouble. An experienced rider can tell you that you must not only look out for yourself, but for others. A brush with a guardrail in a car is cosmetically repaired. When you ride a bike, it is cosmetically lasting. Thus, you must always be aware of your environment."

Many of the bikers expressed their gratitude to General Eichhorn for giving them this opportunity. One Edwards' Harley rider said, "We (bikers) pass each other or ride individually and give a low wave, but I've never had this kind of opportunity to ride with base bikers. I've worked here for nearly 15 years. It's really kind of [General Eichhorn] to allow us to do this."

As the 101 Critical Days of Summer pass, not only is motorcycle safety important, but extra attention in all that is done at home and work will help to keep incidents to a minimum and fun to the maximum.