Rider Magazine Insider

Ep. 62: Ed Conde, New England Riders

Our guest on Episode 62 of the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast is Ed Conde, and he was interviewed by contributing editor Scott “Bones” Williams. Both are members of New England Riders, a loosely knit but passionate group of motorcyclists who get together for rides, track days, and other activities. Over the past 20 years, Conde has done extensive research and developed an impressive catalog of excellent motorcycling routes throughout eastern North America, from Newfoundland to Alabama, which are available on NewEnglandRiders.org.
LINKS: NewEnglandRiders.org

Ep. 61: Steven Goode, Great American Scenic Byway Tour

Our guest on Episode 61 of the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast is Steven Goode. On May 9, 2023, Goode embarked on the Great American Scenic Byway Tour to benefit the Parkinson’s Foundation. He’ll ride his Honda Gold Wing Tour through all 48 lower contiguous states, covering more than 15,000 miles over 60 days and riding the best scenic byway in every state. As a Parkinson’s Champion, Goode will spread awareness of Parkinson’s disease and raise funds for the Parkinson’s Foundation. Click the links below to follow Goode’s progress and support his efforts. 
LINKS: Follow the GASBT on Facebook, Make a GASBT Donation

Ep. 60: On Lane Splitting with Eric Trow

Episode 60 of the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast focuses on the controversial topic of lane splitting, also known as lane sharing. Motorcyclists tend to be strongly in favor of it or adamantly against it. Last year Arizona became the fourth state to legalize lane sharing, joining California, Utah, and Montana. Contributing editor Eric Trow’s feature about lane sharing in the June 2023 issue of Rider provides a fair and balanced approach to the topic. Our host Greg Drevenstedt is much more biased in favor of lane sharing, and they have a lively discussion about the pros and cons.

Ep. 59: Nick Ienatsch, Yamaha Champions Riding School

Our guest on Episode 59 is Nick Ienatsch, CEO and Lead Instructor at the Yamaha Champions Riding School. Ienatsch was a founding editor of Sport Rider magazine, and he’s written extensively for Motorcyclist and Cycle World magazines. Ienatsch competed in various AMA, WERA, and other roadracing series in the late ‘80s and ‘90s, and he’s the author of the 2003 book Sport Riding Techniques. After serving as lead instructor at the Freddie Spencer Riding School for more than a decade, Ienatsch started the Yamaha Champions Riding School, which provides on-track and street-based training around the U.S. Rider’s associate editor Paul Dail recently completed a two-day YCRS ChampSchool course as Las Vegas Motor Speedway. His review of the school can be found on RiderMagazine.com and in the June 2023 issue of Rider. In this episode, Paul and Nick take a deep dive into ChampSchool. To learn more about Yamaha Champions Riding School, including the Champ U online program, visit RideLikeAChampion.com.
LINKS: RideLikeAChampion.com

Ep. 58: Backcountry Discovery Routes with Inna Thorn and Tim James

Our guests on Episode 58 of the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast are Inna Thorn, executive director of Backcountry Discovery Routes, and Tim James, BDR’s board president. Backcountry Discovery Routes is a nonprofit organization that creates off-highway routes for dual-sport and adventure motorcycle travel. BDR has introduced a new route with free GPS tracks nearly every year since 2010. When we last spoke to Inna and Tim last year on Episode 33, the Wyoming BDR had just been released. In 2023, the Oregon BDR was released, making it the 12th full route, and each one can be completed in about a week. Backcountry Discovery Routes has also released shorter BDR-X routes that are loops that can be done in 2-3 days. Through the tireless work of its staff and many volunteers, Backcountry Discovery Routes maintains existing routes and continues developing new ones. Future BDRs will include Southern California, Montana, and the Southeast. Visit the BDR website to learn more and support their efforts.
LINKS: RideBDR.com, BDR on Instagram, BDR on Facebook