Lochlain Lewis

End of a Cold Winter

Friday 27th Feb 2026

Hello visitors, the inquisitive and bored electron surfers! And welcome back fellow DGR riders!

It's the end of February of '26. A long cold winter is coming to a close and it's time to start thinking about two-wheeled travel again. Well, not really. I never stop thinking about riding. Nor do I stop checking the temperature or the road conditions. I live in south eastern PA. Which means when it snows there is always a judicious use of salt solution on the roads. More hindering than the presence of snow, or rain, or frigid temperature, the steel eating mixture is detrimental to any motor-cycle. Dispite the chilling temps and slurry coated roads I managed a half dozen short rides since December. Fewer than the number of rides accomplished during the last winter. 

Now, as the temperatures rise and the snow melts, me and my two-wheeled brethren will begin thinking about the DGR this year, what we'll wear, what we'll ride and what fun we'll have, and all for such a great cause! 

I'm Back!

Friday 6th Feb 2026

Last year was a flop. For me anyway. A beautiful day. Polished shoes, pressed slacks, starched shirt and sporting a real bow tie (not a fakey). I think ZZ Top was looping in my head as I made my way on the backroads from eastern PA to Lancaster. Things started to go wrong as I entered the rolling hills of the Leigh Valley. The trusty bobber that carried me to Nova Scotia and back suddenly decided it wanted some attention. And why not, it did spend nearly a decade locked in the garage, with only a few rides to the Poconos in that period. These machines always take on a personality - or we give them their demeanors by shedding our humanity upon them with every interaction. Either way I shamefully ignored this machine. And it decided to let me know how it felt about all that neglect.

The throttle was suddenly mushy, like the carb was floading, or a spark was suddenly weak. A stoplight turned green only about 4 miles from the rally point for the 2025 ride. I accelerated across the intersection and then suddenly, no response from the throttle and then the engine died. I pulled over next to a gas station. Got the engine restarted with some effort. I played with the throttle as it sputtered and coughed and finally died again. Covering the headlight with my hand I verified there was power in the battery. How much though? Shifted to neutral, held the clutch in and pushed the starter. Nothing, just spinning the engine over. I dismounted. And about that time a guy pulled up in a Ford square body. "Nice truck." I said, as he approached. A young kid in worn jeans and a dirty tshirt. "Engine troubles." More statement than question. I looked down at the machine. Shook my head. "Just died. So I'm not really sure yet what the issue is." that's when I looked at the rear fender and notice the taillight swinging in the gentle spring breeze. An expletive escaped. I reached past the sissy bar and cupped the repop 30s style tailight, lifting it to take the weight from the wire. The sharp edge of the torn bracket cut my finger as I drew it across the shiny metal. "Probably metal fatigue from the sissy bar shaking." I answered his unspoked questioned.

"Yah my dad had a chopper just like this. I remember he worked on it all the time." He shoved his hands in his pockets, noding his head. "What can I do?"

Square-body and I reattached the ground for the tailight and taped up the bracket to the sissy bar with some electrical tape I found in my toolbag. Surprisingly, the engine started as if nothing was wrong. The machine was coaxing me, temping me, daring me to continue on. Square body and I shook hands. I decided to do a one-eighty and use whatever luck I had in this day to get home.

The machine carried me about 10 miles toward the homestead when the engine lost power. I did this for another 10 miles. Stopped at another gas station, I  remembered the day in VA Beach when the VW Beetle I had started to act the same way on my home from work. The guy at the local VW shop said it was probably the coil going bad, heating up and loosing its ability to transfer the power to the plugs.

I discovered later that this was not the coil in this case. It was the electronic ignition module that was failing. The module was heating up and failing. During the rest periods, like a winded runner it would cool down. After it start with all the confidence as if nothing were wrong, I would attempt to push another stretch before it got winded again. I gave in at about half-way point to summons a flat to carry me and my machine home.

Sometimes the Universe says,

Monday 19th May 2025

Sunday, May 18, 2025. I was 30 minutes out from Lancaster at 8:20 this morning when - nothing. No engine noise, no throttle response, no acceleration. Pulled the clutch in and coasted to the side. Several minutes later - it started with no apparent issues. Good fuel, carburetor operating correctly. Good throttle response, acceleration. Several miles later. Nothing. 

I don't know if there's a way to predict when a coil is about to go bad. They just do.

Maybe next year.

Until then, keep the rubber on the road and your knees in the breeze.

first time

Monday 28th Apr 2025

I've been addicted to motorcycles and motorcycling since childhood. I didn't buy my first motorcycle until I was in my early 20s. 

Nevertheless, like my social life my motorcycle riding has been more solo than with large groups of riders. I prefer to take in the world around me than to have the distractions of a large group of motorcyclists. It's just my thing.

The Lancaster ride is perfect. Only 12 other riders so far. 

I'm Riding for Men's Health in The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride

Sunday 27th Apr 2025 On Sunday the 18th of May 2025, I'm riding in The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride with fellow men and women across the globe to raise funds and awareness for prostate cancer and men's mental health on behalf of Movember. Men die on average 6 years earlier than women and for largely preventable reasons. The number of men that are suffering is growing, and we need to do something about that. So, before I press my tweed and polish my boots, I'm asking you to join me in raising funds and awareness for these causes by donating what you can for this meaningful cause and to help the men we love, live happier and healthier lives.