Ducati is on a roll. The 1098 won the International Bike of the Year trophy. Even more impressive, the 1098S tied for third place, the Desmosedici was in sixth place, and the Hypermotard won seventh place. In an online poll that accompanied the IBOTY, the public voted the 1098, 1098S, and Desmosedici first, second and third, respectively. Let’s hope that the recent acquisition offer for Ducati does not pull them off this track.

[Source: Autoblog]

Ducati Motor Holding SpA’s three major share holders made a takeover offer. The bid is contingent upon the investors gaining control over at least two thirds of the company’s capital.

Although I work in the investment field as a retirement planner, the purpose of this blog is not to analyze stocks, investments or buyouts, so please don’t consider this to be investment advice. But from a selfish perspective, I worry that this offer will be a distraction for Ducati at a time when the company seems to be on a hot streak. They won the MotoGP. Their sales are up. They are making money in a tough market, and they have a wealth of good products. In other words, they seem to be doing everything right. It just seems that when an acquisition takes place, everyone loses focus. I know that there are a lot of other factors that enter into situations like this. But from my worm’s-eye view, I just hope that Ducati can continue on the same path to success that they have been following for the last couple of years.

[Sources: Clutch & Chrome; Bloomberg.com]

Will Georgia lose its mandatory helmet law? Four senators introduced a bill in Georgia to repeal its helmet law. The proposed legislation would be similar to Florida’s in that it would allow bikers over the age of 21 to ride without a DOT approved helmet if they carry appropriate health insurance. As I posted earlier, I have mixed feelings about helmet laws. On one hand, I personally wear a helmet, and truly believe that they save lives. On the other hand, I don’t like to be told what to do by anyone - ever. So is the repeal of the Georgia helmet laws likely to happen? Would the repeal constitute a form of Darwinism? This will be something very interesting to follow, and you can expect to hear a lot more about this in the future.

[Source: Clutch & Chrome]

Broward County is starting a unit of motorcycle-riding paramedics, modeling a successful program run by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue. Miami-Dade has been running their program since 2002, and claim to have cut response time by 58%. This seems like a really good idea. I am always a little tense when I see the rescue units try to wind through gridlocked traffic in Atlanta. Admittedly, I know nothing at all about paramedic rescue, but if anyone has any thoughts about this, I would be interested to hear what you think.

[Source: Clutch & Chrome]

If you are in the Atlanta area and don’t have a full day for a motorcycle tour in the mountains, here is a quick Georgia destination that you might enjoy. The Etowah Indian Mounds are near Cartersville, Georgia and they are a really interesting destination.

The mounds were built in about 900 A.D. and were used until about 1550 A.D. by Indians who were part of the Mississipian culture. The mounds were surrounded by a 54 acre village that, at its peak, may have had several thousand inhabitants. The village was surrounded by a wooden palisade and a ditch. The ditch can still be seen today. The village was the cultural and economic center for the Etowah River valley. They were mainly an agricultural society, and the artifacts show that they had trading connections with Native Americans as far away as Florida.

The flat-topped mounds were used as temple platforms and homes for the chief and village leaders. One was used for burial. They range in height from 63 feet to 19 feet, but you cannot get a sense of the size unless you see them up close. The largest is three acres at its base and a a half acre on top.

The museum is small, but full of interesting artifacts. There is a film that explains the history of the mounds and of the people who inhabited the village. Like most films about Native Americans, the ending is sad. Hernando DeSoto and about 1000 of his men visited the village in 1540. The diseases that they brought, such as measles and smallpox virtually wiped out the village. Indeed, an estimated 80 percent of the Mississipian population died as a result of European diseases. The survivors in the Etowah village headed for the hills, and eventually reorganized as part of the Creeks. All in all, it is a moving experience to go there.

Before you go, you might want to read some more information about the Etowah Indian Mounds. The Georgia State Parks website has some good information about the site, and Wikipedia has a good article about Mississipian culture.

If you are riding, I would suggest that you take your time and approach by back roads. I75 is under construction between Cartersville and Kennesaw, and it is a little scary. The surface is in bad shape and the construction narrows and shifts the lanes, so it is not a pleasant ride.

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This is the defensive ditch that surrounded the village.

The “V” in the river is a fish trap. The rocks were placed in a “V” and then a basket was placed in the center to catch fish.

This is one of the smaller mounds viewed from the top of the big mound.

The museum is small, but full of interesting artifacts.

[Source: Bikes in the Fast Lane]

Here’s something that is not really motorcycle-related, but I just had to post it. It is the weather report today from The Moscow Times. I love the use of the words “chilly” and “cold snap” to describe predicted -20 degrees Celsius weather. (And to think I was complaining about the cold when I walked to work yesterday!)

Weekend Weather Will Turn Chilly

The Moscow Times

Temperatures are expected to drop sharply in the coming days as warmer temperatures give way to a cold snap, weather forecasters said.

Friday and Saturday will feel bitterly cold, as snowfall backed by stiff northerly winds will make a daytime low of minus 15 degrees Celsius feel even chillier, said Mark Naishuller, a meteorologist with the federal weather bureau. “For a few days it will really feel like winter,” he said.

Temperatures could hit minus 20 degrees C on Saturday night, when the snowfall is expected to ease up, Naishuller said. Atlantic cyclones will then usher in warmer and wetter weather from the west, with temperatures rising to minus 8 degrees C on Sunday and minus 5 degrees C on Monday.

The unusually warm weather in the first 10 days of February has seen temperatures hovering around zero degrees C, Naishuller said. Similar temperatures for the same period have been recorded six times in the past 55 years.

A good friend of mine is selling her Harley-Davidson Custom Lowrider. It has PM Villian wheels with 180 rear tire, HHI brakes, custom drive side brake setup by HHI and HHI triple trees, all leather Le Pera seat, custom Fat Katz fenders and more. You really have to see this bike to appreciate it. She is selling it for $12,000. Call 770-294-2715 and ask for Delta or Allen.

I am very proud to announce that I have my Master Map page up and running. If you look at the upper right-hand corner of the blog, you will notice a “Master Map” tab. That will take you to a map with all of the destinations. If you click on the pushpin, then there will be a link to the blog post.

Obviously, the map is a little spare right now, but it will get better week by week. Although I’m sure that most Eighth Graders could have created the Master Map in about five minutes, for me this was the technological equivalent of landing a man on the moon. I hope that you enjoy this, and please check back to see the destinations I will be adding in the future. By the way, if anyone has any suggestions on some Google features that I can add to the maps, I would be interested in hearing from you.