2020 Year-in-Review
It’s been a long, oft heart-breaking, and strange year. But looking to a positive New Year, we did muddle our way through the past 365, and even managed to shine and be creative despite the pall of a pandemic, personal loss and a serious illness.
Our recap, usually a collection of photos highlighting the year’s past moto events, obviously will be the final adaptation of 2020 -- events were cancelled, our Motos and Photos NYC series was sidelined, our vibrant moto community was sequestered.
But in true NYC fashion nothing keeps us down for long. Together with NYC Moto contributor Kirsten Midura (@enginesforchange), we were inspired to document some of the heroes in our moto family who stepped up seriously this year offering some creative and resourceful ways to help out during the pandemic -- production and transportation of medical supplies – masks, hand sanitizer; rides for medical support staff; and even photojournalistic documentation of the city’s efforts. (NYC Hometown Heroes)
Their efforts also kickstarted our complete website redesign, to better serve the community, and kept us looking for new stories within the community: Our three-year journey to feature Meatloaf’s NYC story finally came together, we continued the Motos and Photos tradition of honoring the creative talents in our community with a long overdue feature on photographer Bryan Helm, and we highlighted growth and innovation in the city and surrounding areas with features on Gotham Depot Moto Storage, Clutch Moto and eck.
We had some great contributors who took us through their self-healing journeys (@crasserole) and turned hard times into great periods of creativity (@johnnypuetz, @thvndr_ny).
A final gift was the revised but still successful DGR: Solo Edition, which gave a little normalcy and a chance to shoot some dapper motorcyclists in action courtesy of ride leaders Michael Higgins and Allister Klingensmith. Spending a day on the 59th street bridge with @ryanhandt was an affirming experience, suggesting things just might be okay in the near future.
We are honored to be part of this community and look forward to a better 2021. Stay strong through the winter months, be safe, and we’ll keep doing what we do.
#yearendreview #newyork #motofamily #sticktogether
What's in the Box?
DGR 2020 Tank Badges
Christmas came early this week courtesy of our DGR mates down under: limited edition DGR 2020 tank badges ... ooh, shiney.
Thanks to the Distinguished Gentleman's Ride, and to all the people that contributed to funding prostate cancer research and men's mental health resources this year. Looking forward to year 10 in 2021 ... May 23 ... Mark your calendars!
More info: gentlemansride.com
#gentlemensride #ridesolo #dgr2020 #newyork
Seasons Greetings
Wishing the NYC Moto Community and beyond a safe and happy holiday season ... and praying that 2021 will be a better year for all!
Be there for the people that need you ... and cut everyone some slack ... it's been a tough and trying year. Just a smile can make someone's day.
#seasonsgreetings #merrychristmas🎄 #happyhannukah #motocommunity #nyc #motofriends #motofam #supportlocal #buildcommunity
Thanksgiving Musings
Thanksgiving 2020
With Thanksgiving 2020 descending upon us this week, in a year that has been tough by any standards, we take pause to think about what we are thankful for. It’s an exercise which can be both grounding and spirit boosting. Recognizing what you have and not focusing on what you’re missing.
So, in that vein, we are thankful for our two site sponsors -- @aandjcycles and @filipacchi_co – who continue to support our efforts to cover and celebrate the NYC moto community; we are thankful to our contributors, colleagues and friends (longstanding and newfound) in this community, many of who wear more than one of these hats. Our current board includes @miss1932, @higginsnyc, @motoveli, @marks_nyc_moto, @sorezthescribe, @johnnypuetz, @kirstenmidura, @ryanhandt and @anthonyphilipfesta. We are thankful for people that inspire us with their talents, innovations, and ingenuity: in this community we are blessed with many standouts … too many to mention in one post. And we are also thankful for and blessed by a large readership.
Since starting NYCMotorcyclist.com, almost four years ago now, we have compiled close to 250 pages of content and we are now closing in on 3,000 Instagram followers. I’ve been asked several times why we don’t expand, go nationwide with coverage, make this a bigger, more profitable venture.
I’ve always known in my heart why … but found the words in an interview with someone I admire quite recently.
“I need to look after what’s going on in my own backyard first,” he said.
NYC has always been vocal about looking after its own communities, from within. I believe that community spirit is the key to solving the current political, moral and spiritual conundrum we face in this country today.
We at NYC Motorcyclist wish all in the motorcycle community and beyond a safe and happy Thanksgiving and hope as time moves forward, it finds us all in a better place.
#motocommunity #thanksgiving #thankfulfor #lookingforward #celebrateyourhaves #motofamily #bekind #besupportive #bestrong #2020
Rock Boy Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving 2020
Adding to this year's Thanksgiving community spirit, Meatloaf Scalesa, aka Rock Boy, will be giving out free turkeys 🦃 this coming Sunday, Nov. 22 to families in need at his 💈 El Domoliek's Upscale Grooming Salon in Bed Stuy, Brooklyn starting at Noon. There is a limited supply of turkeys, so it will be first come, first served.
Location: 372 Marcus Garvey Blvd and Jefferson Ave., Bed Stuy
Date: Sunday, November 22 | Noon
#thanksgiving #communityspirit #motocommunity #givingback #2020
Lest We Forget ...
Remembrance Day / Veterans Day
In Flanders Fields
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
John McCrae -- Canadian poet, physician, author, artist and soldier during World War I
Today, remember and honor those who laid their lives on the line ... they allowed you to enjoy the freedoms you have today.
#remembranceday #veteransday #neverforget #democracy
NYC DGR : Ride Solo Kudos
NYC DRG 'Ride Solo' 2020: Vincent Nicolai
Congrats and a tip of the hat go out to our top NYC Distinguished Gentleman's Ride: Ride Solo performers ...
Vincent Nicolai was aqain the Big Apple's top rider, finishing fourth globally with just under $16K raised. And a small 16-rider New York Classic Riders contingent -- including Nicolai and NYC Motorcyclist -- finished top three in the team's category, behind only corporate sponsor groups from Triumph and Hedon Helmets. The NYCR raised $27,246 as of closing on October 11.
NYC raised just under $53K with 384 participating in the Ride Solo format. We are so proud to be part of a city that shows such generosity and enthusiasm at a time when global events have hit us so hard. Monies raised go toward prostate cancer research and men's mental health resources in the US and around the world.
#gentlemansride #dgr2020 #ridesolo #nycr #triumph #hedonhelmets
9/11 ... We Will Never Forget
9/11 Remembrance
We remember the bravery of first responders and New Yorkers on Sept 11, 2001. We promise never to forget, and more importantly acknowledge the eternal spirit and courage of a city that rose to become stronger. May that strength continue.
#neverforget #911 #amomentofsilence
Motoveli Issue 4 heads online
Motoveli 4 now available ... virtually
A special internet release of Motoveli magazine hits the world wide web today, following in the footsteps of three stellar print editions covering moto culture in the 'Big Apple'.
"Motoveli Issue 4 Missions may not be the zine you wanted, or even align with your views of the world, but it’s the zine you deserve," says the mag's rider-in-chief Ryan Snelson. "For starters, it’s $free.99 and comes in a few parts ... All you have to do is keep scrolling to start."
Expect to see gritty COVID-19 response coverage, as well as some regular features and contributors this time around, including a return to the A-Files.
Go to Motoveli Issue 4
NYC Motorcyclist HOLD OPEN TO REWIND Contest
Stay tuned for future giveaways.
WE HAVE A WINNER: after two weeks of steady entries, we have a winner: Brooklyn, NY's Seth Grossman With a decade's riding experience under his belt, Grossman can currently be found on a Honda VTX1800C. As to what makes a great motorcycle image for Grossman: "I like to see detail ... it’s a combination of people and cool bikes," he says. Congrats Seth ... we will be in touch to get a mailing address for you new book ... a limited edition copy of the Jesse Padilla (aka Otter LaRouche) photo book Hold Open to Rewind (no. 200), featuring images from a variety of East Coast moto events from 2019, including Cheap Thrills, the App MotoJam, The Race of Gentlemen, the Distinguished Gentleman's Ride and the Pat Perrone Poker Run ... to name but a few. Thank you to all who entered ... and stay tuned for new contests on the horizon.
How to help in NYC during the COVID-19 pandemic
Motoveli Magazine
Motoveli is working directly with Masks For Docs to deliver Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to hospitals and individuals around New York City.
There are 4 ways to volunteer:
Riders Use the sign-up form at the bottom of motoveli.com/blog/moto-volunteers to volunteer for upcoming motorcycle missions.
Doctor/nurse/hospital needing supplies?
masksfordocs.com/need
Have supplies?
masksfordocs.com/volunteer
Start a motorcycle squad in your city
Self-organize and connect with Masks for Docs chapter leaders.
masksfordocs.com/volunteer
If you sign-up to ride in NYC, the group will reach out to you directly as missions begin to form. Sorry we can not answer all DMs right now. Please see above links if you have supplies or know healthcare workers who need supplies.
Right now the group's main communication is on Twitter @ryansnelson and Instagram @motoveli.
Please practice social distancing and self-isolation when you’re off the bike. Be 6ft away from each other. ATGATT. | Sign up to Help
Happy New Year
2020 Salutations
Wishing our readers, followers, supporters, contributors and sponsors all the best in 2020. For those we've worked with over the past year, we look forward to continued partnerships and successes. We also hope to live up to our mandate of promoting and covering the NYC moto community, and inspiring those within to achieve great things in the coming year. Cheers to a new decade of moto adventures and camaraderie. As always we welcome comments, suggestions and submissions from you ... any ideas you think will make NYCMotorcyclist.com a valuable resource in your daily moto lives. Feel free to email us at rahoul@nycmotorcyclist.com
Other Recent Features:
Leave a Suggestion