BANGOR - Anybody who even looked outside Monday could tell they were better off staying inside. Fairmount Market offers meal options during blizzard BANGOR- People who found themselves digging through the pantry today for something to eat were in luck. "Gift" businesses fight through blizzard BANGOR- One day before Valentine's Day... A Ride to Remember (U.S. National Toboggan Championships) Pt. 1 CAMDEN - When winter hits Maine, folks don't run from the snow. Emera Maine warns of possible outages BANGOR - One of the big concerns today is keeping the lights on. Naples standoff ends in one arrest NAPLES (WGME) - A Naples man is facing multiple charges after an armed stand off with police comes to an end. Storm prompts several flight cancellations BANGOR - Many flights in and out of Bangor are canceled today. Falmouth fire destroys home FALMOUTH - Another fire this weekend, this one in Falmouth. Hirundo offers winter family fun

OLD TOWN - Folks in Old Town took advantage of the snow this weekend.Want your business to appear in all Motorcycles searches? Subscribers don't see these.Susan Robbins invited me. I didn’t really know her but we went to the same high school. I kind of know her husband, and it turns out I used to work for her sister. Plus, she grew up in the same neighborhood as an old girlfriend of mine. So, how could I say no? I said I’d love to come on a Treefort Cycleshop ride. The Treefort Cycleshop is a cooperatively owned, mostly vintage motorcycle garage in Portland near the intersection of Anderson and Fox Streets. Five guys, including Susan’s husband Matthew Robbins, pay the rent and help one another tinker on and restore two-wheeled beauties. There’s alway a large contingent of other cycle crazies hanging around who don’t exactly pay rent, but swap lore and knowledge just the same. Susan had gotten in touch with me because she saw my piece about Bonny Eagle High School teacher P. Michael Bourgoin in the BDN.

Through the interlinked wonder of blogs and Facebook she learned of my motorcycle enthusiasms and asked me if I’d like to go. The plan was to meet at the shop, gassed up and ready to go, at 11 a.m., then make our way to the Caswell House Restaurant in Harrison. When I got near the shop, I couldn’t quite remember where it was. I knew I’d seen it, but I pulled over to look at a map on my phone to be sure. While I was waiting for the map to load, a guy strolled by on the sidewalk, looking at my bike. I’m used to getting the once-over. My three-wheeled Russian tractor of a bike gets attention. I was just about to wave away his comments when I realized it was John Joslin, one of the Treefort guys. He didn’t know who I was, but he was inviting me on the ride. Who says cyclists aren’t friendly? I laughed and said he was just the man I was looking for. He said the shop was right behind me. I turned around, and yes, it was right behind me. I pulled into the parking lot amid smiles, handshakes and a gaggle of nifty-looking old bikes leaning leisurely on their kickstands: British Triumph and BSA specimens, an Italian Ducati, some German BMW’s and a few elderly Japanese cycles.

One of my favorites was an early 1970’s Moto Guzzi Ambassador. There was a fair amount of last minute tinkering going on and I availed myself of the air compressor, topping off my leaky Russian tubes. Matthew Robbins got a shot of me and my bike before I suited up. Before long, everybody was ready and nearly 20 bikes roared to life. We snaked, two abreast, out of the Baside neighborhood, parading down Forest Avenue into Westbrook and Windham. motorcycle boots sarasota flBy the time we hit North Windham, John Joslin’s 1964 BMW R60’s rear end was spouting smoke. motorcycle shops in lynnwoodHe pulled of into a bakery parking lot. motorcycle for sale craigslist albany gaA few of us followed.motorcycle tyre grip comparison

It wasn’t too serious. The shoes in the brake hub had seized up for some reason. When it cooled down a bit, and with help from fellow Treefort member Will Scherer, he loosened the adjuster and it all came free. We reunited with the rest of the group at a gas station just down the road. We turned southwest on Route 35 and enjoyed a long, straight shot towards Route 114. About halfway to the next turn, the tool kit on Rachel Flehinger’s 1971 Honda 350 ejected its load and scattered implements across the pavement, ringing like a wounded wind chime. I saw the whole thing. I was riding nearly last. I made a u-turn and went back for them. I scooped the wrenches and screwdrivers along with an odd-looking shock adjusting tool. I chucked the lot into my trunk and got back in the saddle. By the time I hit Route 114 in Sebago Lake Village, there was no sign of anybody But I motored on, guessing if they were still making for Harrison they’d have to turn right on Route 114 and make their way up the western side of the lake.

That’s a pretty twisty road once it gets into Sebago and Naples. I can’t hit the curves with my sidecar like a two-wheeled bike can. Instead of leaning and carving graceful turns, I have to keep shifting my center of gravity (a.k.a. my butt) back and forth over the seat to keep all my wheels on the ground. I knew I was falling even further behind, if I was even on the right track. But, it was a beautiful day. It didn’t really matter. The sun was shining and I was headed for Harrison on a motorcycle. After the twisties, I made Route 302 again and turned right over the new causeway for less than a mile and then left on Route 35. I followed it  north, up the east side of Long Lake. It’s a nearly perfect stretch of road: smooth, not too straight, not too curvy, bordered alternately by shady trees and open farm fields. Harrison’s little downtown sprouts where Routes 35 and 117 intersect Long Lake and Crystal Lake (otherwise called Anonymous Pond, for some reason). When I rolled through, I saw the restaurant and 15 bikes in a line bearing Treefort Cycleshop stickers.

I pulled in to more handshakes and a little bit of applause. I reunited the tools with their owner and the bike where they’ve resided for 40 years. She thanked me profusely. Matthew Robbins was there to capture the moment. Then we retired to the deck and had lunch. I had a Long Lake rueben, which is a fish sandwich with coleslaw on it, surrounded by chips and two pickles. It was tasty and a good deal at only $5.50. Following an appropriate post-lunch period of swapping lies and dodging balderdash we saddled up, gassed up, fired up and took off down the pavement. Route 35 along the lake was just as nice going the other way. The group briefly rendezvoused at the Northeast Chop Shop open house in Windham. They make custom choppers and such. It was their annual shindig day. There were more brand new Harley Davidson’s than you could shake a skull-emblazoned leather doo rag at. We didn’t stay long. There was meat to be grilled and beer to be swilled back at the Treefort. The bikes rolled in one by one, the formation having broken down somewhere amid the Chop Shop mayhem.