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“Myhusband and I have ridden to 40 states
and twoCanadianprovinces.Our goal is
to ride to all 48 contiguous states.”
Vickie Sericati’s Story inHerOwnWords
VictoryVegas, Riding for five years.
It all started as a means of saving gas money while commuting
51miles to and fromworkwhen gas prices jumped up to almost $5.
Iwanted to get a small scooter to goback and forthonHighwayLS.
My husband ‘strongly’ pointed out that a scooter would burn out
quickly making 60 miles/hour daily and that scooters were more
‘unsafe’ than actualmotorcycles.
That was five years ago when I decided to get my motorcycle
license even though I was deadly afraid of riding. Today not only
do I continue to ride my bike to work daily but my husband and
I have ridden to 40 states and twoCanadian provinces (Quebec and
Ontario).
Our goal is to ride to all 48 contiguous states.
Due to my short legs, I was challenged to find a bike with big
enoughpower, enginewise, to ride across the entireUnitedStatesbut
with a seat height that would allowme to touch the groundwithmy
feet when coming to a stop.
After searching all motorcycle brands for a very long time I found
the bike of my dreams: a Victory Vegas with 1700cc, more torque
than I needed, and a seat height of 25.7 inches. It has an excellent-
built enginewith an excellent overall design that basically rides itself.
Five years agomy stomach churned with fear before going for a
ride. Now all I think of is going for a ride anywhere, anytime, and
under any typeof weather. There isnoway todescribe the feelingof
riding. Youhave to experience it tobe able to understand it.
Forme, ridingmyownmotorcycle is a completelydifferent feeling
than riding as a passenger. It is a wonderful outdoor activity that I
share with my husband in more ways than one: Being able to
communicate with him through my helmet so we can share our
experiences as they happen enhances the entire ride tremendously.
As for how often do I ride? Well, I had to jump start my car this
morning!
PlencoBikersEnjoy
‘Poker Runs!’
What Is A Poker Run? A poker run is an
organized event where participants, usually
usingmotorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, boats,
snowmobiles, horses, or other means of
transportation must visit five-to-seven check
points, drawing a playing card at each stop.
The object is to have the best poker hand at
the end of the run. The event has a time limit;
however the participants are not timed.
Winning is purely amatter of chance.
The Guinness World Book of Records
reports that the record for the largest event
was set in 2009 with 2,136 motorcyclists
participating for the benefit of the Fallen
Firefighter Survivors Foundation (FFSF). The
record for the largest single venue event was
set in 2012, with 586 motorcyclists raising
money for Prostrate Cancer research in
Ottawa, Canada.
Poker runsusually requirea fee toenter and
for each additional hand; in some events a
small part of the fee may go to funding the
event, including theprizes,while the rest goes
to theevent'scharity recipient or club treasury.
Incharityeventsusuallymost, if not all of the
funds go to the selected charity. Prizes, such
as money, plaques, or merchandise donated
by commercial sponsors of the event, are
awarded for the best hand. Some runs will
awardsmaller awards for lower handsor even
the lowest hand.
Each checkpoint might offer food or
entertainment, either covered by the entry
fee or at additional cost. Each participant is
responsible formaintaining the integrityof their
handduring the run.Handsareusuallywritten
down or marked with punched holes on a
ticket, rather thanassembled fromactual cards
given to the riders.
The only requirement is that riders arrive at
the final checkpoint by the time prizes are
awarded, usually near the end of the day,
typicallyat apartywith foodand refreshments.
Itmight be required that participantscollect all
of the requisitenumber of cards, fiveor seven,
or theymight be allowed tomiss checkpoints
and use a hand with fewer cards, though the
odds of awinning hand aremuch lower.
Vickie discussed her VictoryVegasmotorcycle.
