I recently attended a Motorcycle Safety Foundation Professional Development Workshop. The workshop was intended to improve and develop MSF instructors (Rider Coaches in MSF terms). The workshop included an introduction into the MSF Rider Skills Lab. This is a new training program developed to help established riders continue developing their rider skills. I will write a blog with details in the nearish future. Until then, let me say I highly encourage you to seek out and attend a Rider Skills Lab. You will learn a tremendous amount and have great fun while attending. You will thank me for encouraging you to attend. It is truly a great day of riding and learning.
While at the Professional Development Workshop, I met a lady that has been involved with the Lake Erie Loop. The Lake Erie Loop https://www.lakeerieloop.org/index.html is a charity run that donates to a children burn organization called aluminum cans for burned children foundation. https://acbcohio.org/.
The Lake Erie Loop is a ride that starts near Wellington, Ohio and makes a lap around Lake Erie, finishing at the start point near Wellington. The distance around is about 650 miles, a pretty good single day distance for most of us. There are many riders that have completed many more miles than this in a single day, of course.
Anyone can ride a bike of their choice, there is no official route, and no official direction of travel. Riders are required to collect certain proof of their completed lap such as border crossing receipts and other proofs. Prizes are awarded upon return to the start point near Wellington. Prizes are always generously donated back to the organization to better fund the charity. In essence the ride is about fun and meeting new friends and catching up with old friends.
While not a race (it is run on public roads for gosh sakes) prizes are awarded for shortest time around in three classes. Remember to can ride any bike you chose to ride, but to be eligible for an award you must compete in one of three defined classes of bikes. The classes:
Unlimited 50s -if it started as a 50cc bike it is eligible as are vintage bikes 30 years or older up to 110cc
125s-up to 125cc and vintage bikes up to 160cc
200s-up to 200cc, any Cushman style scooter with a stock engine, and vintage bikes up to 225cc
250s-up to 250cc scooter, and vintage bikes with one carburetor
If you don’t fit into a class you get to ride in the non-official tourist class
Oh Wow, when you look at the official classes you begin to realize 650 miles in a day is quite a long day of riding.
I plan to ride our Suzuki TU250 in the LEL 2026. Will need to ride in the tourist class as the TU is just too big and too modern to be in an official class.
In the mean time I will be on the lookout for a Yamaha SR250 or other eligible bike and sponsors to contribute to the charity.
I think this could become an annual event for me. I hope you will join me!
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| Yamaha SR250 |
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| This is a Montgomery Wards 108. I believe it was made by Gilera, but not sure. We had one my Dad built from a basket case when I was a kid. |
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| Honda CL160 “race legal” |
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| Honda 90. Another option for a hot lap around Lake Erie |
