HU Travellers Meeting Ontario 2017

Michael Irvine Six Weeks in South America Chile, Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina

Michael presents his experience getting his KLR650 to Santiago (and back) and six amazing weeks that included the Atacama Desert, the Altiplano of Bolivia, the Gran Chaco of Paraguay, Patagonia, and much more. He'll focus on the things that helped him with this adventure and how at least one critical door has probably slammed shut behind me.

Michael enjoys all aspects of motorcycles - modern or vintage, big or small - he rides them all, takes them apart, and tries to put them together again. He's travelled to more than 20 countries by motorcycle, mostly with four-stroke singles.

Diana Londono Dempster Highway

Despite the odds, Diana Londono and Miguel Arango conquer the Dempster Highway. With full-time jobs, parents, and only two weeks available, they accomplish their dream of riding the top of the world, the Dempster Highway, crossing the Arctic Circle and spending the night in Inuvik.

Diana is a certified Hatha yoga teacher. As an engineer and former nationally-ranked athlete, she combines the qualities of commitment, organization and responsibility with creativity and compassion. Central to her teaching is her awareness of proper posture and alignment. The teachings of yoga have been a tool to prepare her better in enjoying her rides, a reminder that it is about the Journey, not the destination. (So, yes, Diana is also offering yoga for motorcyclists during the event!)

Lorraine Philip A Backseat Point of View Pros and cons of two people on one bike

Do you have what it takes to be a passenger? Most people think that you just get on behind and everything will be fine – and for some people that's true. But for many, the skills that are needed to become 'invisible' to the driver have to be developed. What are those skills? Lorraine takes a look at those attributes that make a 'good' passenger and what drivers can do to help their passengers develop them. She also explores the advantages and disadvantages of riding 'two up', exhibits some farkles to facilitate communication and navigation, and ends with a slide show of her South American adventure - all from a backseat point of view.

Lorraine has been the undaunted passenger on her husband's bike for more than 40 years. Between 2015 and 2017, they've ridden their Yamaha Super Tenere more than 80,000 kms - from Ushuaia at the tip of Argentina to Deadhorse at the end of the most northerly road in Alaska.

Jean and Ross Copas Riding Across Russia Incredible India

1. Riding Across Russia

Riding the Trans Siberian Highway from east to west and dispelling the myths. After forming a group of six to ride across Russia, we spent two years planning the trip but the information we were able to find was sparse and often contradictory. In the Fall of 2014, we completed the 12,000 km ride from Seoul, South Korea to Heidelberg, Germany and now have the real story first hand. Come and be prepared to be amazed by this mysterious land! Spasibo!

2. Incredible India

That's how it's described in the tourism brochures and it certainly is! Incredibly crowded, incredibly primitive, incredibly beautiful, and incredibly fascinating. So when the opportunity arose to ride there, we thought "what a great adventure!" However, an adventure is something that sounds fun when you are sitting home by the fire....and makes you wish you were sitting home by the fire when you are actually doing it!

Our presentation will give you some insight into riding Royal Enfields through northern India and Nepal along some of the most frightening roads and traffic we have ever experienced. Along the way, we explored Maharajah's palaces, ancient forts, sacred temples, and cremation ceremonies; ate wonderful varieties of local food; and developed a love/hate relationship that has resulted in a number of return visits. Come hear why.

Jean says: "Starting riding at age 40 meant a lot of catching up to do! After mastering the basics, I started going farther afield-first with my local club then with motorcycle tour companies and now with my husband, Ross. We have now ridden in almost 40 countries and completed going around the world in 2014."

Ross says: "I have always enjoyed riding and travelling which led to endurance riding with the Iron Butt Association. After travelling through all of North America, my horizons gradually expanded to include international travel-first to Europe then eventually around the world."

Janosch Rohdewald Northern Circle: Started as Father and Son Fresh stories from Europe, the "Stans", Russia, Mongolia, and North America

Janosch is currently on a motorcycle trip around the northern part of the world and will just make it for the HU Ontario! :-) Having started in Switzerland (his home), he rode through Europe, the "Stans", Russia, and Mongolia to continue his journey through North America. For the first two months, he was on the road with his father, who then returned home from Mongolia to start his new job. Experience how it is to be riding together as father and son, and what it is like to continue alone after two months. Moreover, get to know why exactly they chose this route and the pitfalls dealing with visas and such. You will hear fresh stories about what happened on the road, including some tips and tricks that were learned during the journey.

Janosch is a 26-year-old motorcycle rider from Switzerland who is journeying around the northern world. He loves being outdoors and prefers motocamping away from touristy camping grounds.

Liz Jansen Change of Plans When the unexpected takes you in a different direction

In August 2014, Liz started what she thought would be 12-18 months on the road, exploring her ancestry and the role of culture in shaping us. A few days after being at Nakusp, she experienced a trip and life-changing crash. Last year she returned to Alberta from Ontario to continue what she started. Although not how she planned it, the past few years have been intrinsically rich and rewarding. This is a story about embracing change and seeing life's detours as part of the journey.

Healer, Writer, Speaker, and Traveller. Liz's mostly-solo motorcycle travels have taken her across Canada and the United States numerous times. In 2016, she spent six weeks following the migration trails of her grandparents who came to Canada in the 1920s as refugees.

Claire Girard and Richard Moore Riding in New Zealand Riding in Australia Both from a Canadian perspective

1. Riding in New Zealand: a Canadian Perspective

Richard and Claire are from Gatineau, Quebec, and have been riding in New Zealand over a two-month period from February to March 2017. They started their trip not far from Christchurch after buying two used motorcycles and rode over 10,000 km visiting many national parks on both islands. They will speak about their Canadian perspective, and why New Zealand is so attractive, special and unique for motorcyclists. Plus, useful tips on how to extend your dollar and make a trip in New Zealand more affordable.

2. Riding Australia: a Canadian Perspective

Richard and Claire had been riding in Australia for 3.5 months from April to mid-July 2017. They started in Melbourne (Victoria) and rode over 20,000 km visiting six states or territories, including the Northern Territory, crossing Australia from the Top End (Darwin) to the southern part and along the Great Ocean Road. They visited the major national parks and experienced the outback as well. From their Canadian perspective, Australia is very attractive, special and unique for motorcyclists. How does this compare with their previous experiences of riding, camping and visiting national parks throughout Canada and the U.S. during the previous ten years?

Richard and Claire have ridden all over Canada and the United States, from Newfoundland to Yukon, and from Alaska to California and to Louisiana. They started riding oversees in New Zealand as well as in Australia in 2017, now that they are both retired.

André Richard, BMW Motorrad Canada BMW Motorrad Updates New motorcycles on display. Current and upcoming technology.

André Richard will give a talk on the current and future picture of BMW in Canada, talk about new models and innovations coming down the pipe followed by an always informative informal Q&A session. He'll have the K1600B and perhaps another new product on display.

Licensed for 33 years, André has been with BMW Motorrad for 13 years and has travelled with them all over North America. His primary focus is Aftersales (technical, parts and accessories).

Joe Enberg, ADV Joe D2D - Riding the Dust 2 Dawson My biggest solo-adventure yet, I left Ottawa Ontario in late May to attend the 25th anniversary of the D2D. This is that story.

I have been reading ride reports of riding into the great white north for a couple of years; I rode 2 of Canada's most iconic, remote adventure roads in the last 2 years. I followed Brokentooth's adventures and knew right away that he is a better man than I. Or a little crazier, maybe, lol. This past winter I came across some posts on the ADVRIDER website about the D2D, and after very little reading knew that I was going to attend. I booked a room at the Bunk House in November, starting doing some research, prepared as best I could, and in late May took off from my home in Ottawa Ontario astride Big Ethel, my V-Strom 1000. 15,000 kilometers and some of the most incredible sights later, this is a little piece of my experience.

Warren Milner Choosing the Right Adventure Bike Design considerations that help you determine the right bike for your intended use.

Engineering is a series of compromises. All design elements have pros and cons. This presentation will discuss some of these pros and cons and give insights into which design features may be most suitable for different types of use. Depending on time and the number of questions, this presentation will cover topics such as chain drive vs. shaft, manual vs. DCT transmission, upside down forks vs. conventional, radial mount calipers vs. traditional, abs and traction control systems, and more.

Warren worked at Honda Canada for almost 30 years. His strong technical background allowed him to work closely with product planning and Honda R&D on development of new models. He has extensive adventure riding experience in every U.S. state, all Canadian provinces and territories as well as Europe, Japan, South America, and the Caribbean.

David Eady Southern India on a Royal Enfield Bullet A tour of Kerala and Tamil Nadu

This presentation will give an overview of David's guided tour of Kerala and Tamil Nadu and will cover trip-planning, things to know when travelling in India, the experience of riding a motorcycle in India, and things to do and see while travelling. David presents a visual smorgasbord of slides and video snippets.

Wayne Doherty Mexico by Motorcycle A summary of my experiences in five trips through Mexico.

I've often heard how dangerous it is to ride in Mexico. Before my last trip people would ask me if I was not concerned. I would show them the front page of a recent Toronto newspaper: "8 People Shot this Week-end" and said, no , I live here. Mexico is magical and I'll tell you why. But first you have to get there, so I'll give you lots of information starting with preparation, crossing the border, road hazards, and riding behaviour. Then you'll see some of the places I've been, places I stayed including my 5-star hotel rating, and motorcycle security. Of course, no motorcycle presentation would be complete without exploring the local cuisine! I ride a GS, but, except for rare instances, my riding has been on paved roads. This is a summary of my trips, the great new experiences, and the wonderful people I've met, all just next door.

After retiring, I realized I had to find a new activity. I have ridden over 250,000 miles since 2000. Although most of this has been on BMW GS motorcycles, almost all has been on paved roads. Gravel was okay, but if dirt appeared, then it was a mistake!

Jillian Henderson New Zealand on a Modest Budget Colorado: Thin Air, Extreme Heat

1. New Zealand on a Modest Budget

Jillian took off to New Zealand and Fiji in December of 2016 for three weeks. She rented a Honda CB500X and explored the North Island solo. The upside of solo travel is you get to make every decision. The downside of solo travel is you MUST make every decision. Jillian explored the northern half of the North Island while maintaining a modest budget. Highlights include the northerm-most point of NZ Cape Reinga, the Coromandel Peninsula, geothermal mud baths in Rotorua and, of course, the many twists and turns of the famous New Zealand roads. Learn about stretching your budget through the WWOOF program (Willing Workers On Organic Farms).

2. Colorado: Thin Air, Extreme Heat

Jillian and Walter explored the Colorado Rockies and Utah. The US Rocky Mountains are beautiful, but altitude sickness can curtail your plans. Jillian experienced mild altitude sickness and had to adjust the itinerary until she could acclimate. They will discuss how to manage by giving your body time to adjust and by staying hydrated. A side trip to the Utah desert was fun but don't go out there alone in July! Temperatures of 43 degrees C are normal. Jillian and Walter will cover a few safety tips to make your trip an enjoyable one.

Jillian rides her bike whenever she can. When she's not riding she's thinking about riding!

Michel Levesque Half-Lost in Mongolia Story of our 18 days riding through Mongolia

Mongolia is one of the dream places to ride a motorcycle adventure. In June 2016, Michael and Michel travel to this mystical country for an 18-day motorcycle trip. Soon they discover that even with good preparation, it is a necessity to be able to adapt and improvise. Orientation being the main challenge, road conditions, language, food and mechanical problems have added some spices and made this trip a real adventure.

Michel is heading to South-Africa and Namibia in 2017!

Ross Copas Tires, Tires, and Tires! Ross channels Grant for the tire fixing demo!

Ross shows you how to deal with flat tires (tubes and tubeless), how to prevent flats in the first place, and fix them when you get one using any of the best tools available; hands-on practical for beginners to experts. Ross has won Ironbutt Rides, no doubt quickly dealing with his share of flats along the way.

Ron Smith, Accelerated Technologies Ride the Bike You Want, Not the One You Fit!

This is the motto of Accelerated Technologies, suspension specialists who specialize in suspension of all kinds including street bikes, road racing bikes, dirt bikes, ATVs, ice racers, and snowmobiles. Many 'adventure' bikes are extremely tall and often heavy with gear and accessories which make them hard to manage on some terrain. Accelerated Technologies can work with you to craft a motorcycle that fits both your body and spirit!

Ron works for Accelerated Technologies and is an expert in suspension technology. He's a "vertically-challenged" rider who knows firsthand how important it is to ride the bike you want and how to fit it personally to you. With his wealth of expertise in this area, he is always flexible with his presentations to allow for questions on any aspect of setting up bikes. Come and hear what he can do for you.

(Bottom photo, at right): John Sharrard wins 'Tuner of the Year' for his work as Crew Chief of Jodi Christie Racing.

John Sharrard, the owner of this operation, was himself a motorcycle racer before becoming Crew Chief for the likes of Pascal Picotte and Steve Crevier then moved on to become the Crew Chief for the Honda factory racing team. In 1997, he started his own business building forks, shocks and engines and today is well known in motorcycle circles for his ability to fit a motorcycle to the rider without compromising performance, comfort, or style.

Jennifer Page and Adam Tworkowski Invisible Baggage: Is There a Rack for That? What are your expectations and motivations for motorcycle travel? Overloaded by invisible baggage?

Have you considered a maintenance checklist for your own mental health? While the topic of mental health may not be as sexy as packing lists or motorcycle modifications, sustaining good mental health is vital for peak travel experience.

Drawing from the highs and lows of traveling for nine months on the Trans-Continental Mambo Latin America tour, we will be recounting personal challenges to mental health - including homesickness, anxiety, depression, burnout and self-confidence issues - from several perspectives, and presenting the idea that regular mental health maintenance is as important as your motorcycle maintenance checklist.

Jennifer Page (Art Therapist) and Adam Tworkowski (IT Professional) are self-professed late bloomers to the motorcycling world. Not content on being an 'arm chair traveler' via Skype, Jenn got her motorcycle license in 2010 while Adam was on a solo Latin American adventure. In 2013 Jenn and Adam embarked on the Trans-Continental Mambo Latin American tour.

Ross Copas and Rick Morrison, Ironbutt Association The World Is Our Playground

Sound familiar? This slogan is used by the Ironbutt Association whose members are dedicated to safe, long-distance, motorcycle riding. That sounds familiar, too. Having these two things in common, we have used many of the Ironbutt Association's "Archive of Wisdom" to ensure that we ride safely and efficiently. Through this organization, we have also increased our navigation skills and learned more than we ever wanted to know about "farkles"! Ross and Rick lead an open discussion about the Do's and Don'ts of doing an Ironbutt Rally. Rick is even riding all the way from Texas to be at HU Ontario this year!

Rick Morrison and Ross Copas, previous winners of the bi-annual Ironbutt Rally (11,000 miles in 11 days) will answer questions and lead a discussion following a movie made during an earlier Rally.

Miguel Arango Basic First Aid for Motorcyclists

As an amateur rider and with not much time to travel for long periods of time, Miguel is always looking for time on his motorcycle. Unfortunately, the risk of an accident is always present and almost for sure he will be the first on the scene. A good management of an accident can make a difference not only in immediate survival, but also in the positive medical prognosis. Miguel covers different first aid procedures that should and should not be done during an accident, including topics such as basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation, evaluation of consciousness, fracture stabilization, and proper removal of the helmet, and more. He also discusses how to prevent illness during your travels, signs and symptoms of dehydration, gastrointestinal infections, etc. Everything related to a good first aid kit will also be covered.

Diana Londono Yoga for Motorcyclists Learn the basic importance of keeping proper alignment on your bike and how to build balance

[60 min talk & demo]: Join Diana to learn the basic understanding of the importance of keeping proper alignment in your bike and how to build balance between strength and flexibility plus improving endurance. Learn techniques to improve awareness and how to recover faster through YOGA, supporting your ride even beyond your destination. From the bike to the mat.

[90 min yoga practice]: As bikers, we are enthusiasts. We ride matching the intensity of any perceived boundary, so let's use this intuitive desire for joy and freedom by working from our body to our rides, to our life. As you learn to connect deeper to your body your ride experience will be greater, softer in the body, clearer in the mind, attention sharpens, we respect our limits, we live in more connection within our self and with the beautiful environment that is given to us to enjoy and protect. Recovery between bike rides is important to rest your mind, recharge energy and balance your body with strength and flexibility towards a wonderful journey. Improve your recovery time, sleep and circulation through an all around YOGA practice.

Liz Jansen Ride, Write, and Publish Write your story so others - and editors - will want to read it.

Learn how to capture your stories in words and pictures so that others are intrigued and want to read them. Find out if you need a blog, best blogging practices, and what it takes to get your work published.

Walter Romanowski Fork Seal Clinic Learn how to change leaking fork seals and gain the confidence to take on this project yourself.

You will learn how to remove and re-install your forks. Walter demonstrates how to dismantle, clean, replace seals, and re-assemble with new fork oil. Forks and tools will be available for you to examine during this clinic. He believes motorcycle maintenance is a component of the riding experience. In doing the maintenance on the five motorcycles he owns, he has acquired the satisfaction of knowing the job was well done.