SCRC Loudoun VA Featured Member - August, 2008

Also Featured:
January, 2016


Name:   Stephen Radloff

Nickname:   Soarer

Marital Status:  Married

Location:  Ashburn, VA

Hometown:  Well that’s a long story, being a military brat then in then in the military where ever your bed was, was well that was home, born in England, moved to Illinois, back to England, then to Texas, followed by England again, then North Dakota, then Florida, then to Ohio, back to Florida, then to left coast in CA and finally to Virginia. Since I’ve lived in this house in Ashburn the longest, guess I’ll call that Home!

Children:  3

Age:  {Editor's Note} Soarer Elected to change this around a bit, indicating his Children's ages, not his. Rumor has it he's 29.

Occupation:  Director of Security for a Defense Contractor

Current motorcycle(s):  2008, Suzuki C50C

How did you hear about the SCRC and when did you join?
When I started riding I was looking for riding groups in Loudoun County, so I googled motorcycle group Loudoun (or something like that) and SCRC popped up, I checked out the website, liked what I saw and contacted Robin. I started riding in April and attended the May 06 meeting *grins*

How long have you been riding?
Just over two years.

Have you ever taken a motorcycle safety course?
Yes.

What was your first bike?
2006 Suzuki C50

How many bikes have you owned?
2

Why do you ride?
Cause I want to and I can! Seriously, I ride because my first love is flying but $$’s and time have prevented me from doing it. One day after talking to a friend who rides I decided what the heck, not tried this and sounds like fun, so I did, and wouldn’t trade it for most anything, It’s about the closest thing to flying I’ve found besides roller coasters.

Have you ridden with an organized group before?
Before I joined Southern Cruisers, no.

What modifications have you done to your bike?
Lets see, 3 ride bells (very important anti-gremlin devices), windshield (to keep bugs out of my teeth), saddle bags (for Christmas shopping), headlight modulator (to drive Tweaker bonkers), Cobra bars (for when I drop the bike in parking lots and to look cool), highway pegs (so I can stretch out), back rest (for the recliner effect), passenger back rest (so the b, err lovely lady on the back don’t fall off), Frogskin (if you have to ask.. well what can I say), windshield bag (for my snacks), and I think that’s it.

What accessories do you want to add to your bike?
Larger windshield (to keep birds out of my lap), spacers (so the handle bars don’t hit my knees), forward controls (to give my legs a bit more room), Jacuzzi (for those moonlit night rides - wadda ya mean it won’t fit?), GPS (so I never have to stop and ask for directions), lowers (to get rid of the wind tunnel over the tank), lights up front and back (cause loud pipes don’t always work) and, well can’t think of anything else right now but I’m sure I’ll get some ideas from everyone elses bike.

What is your dream bike?
Not a Harley (just kidding and just had to say this). Don’t really have a dream bike, Dreams of riding my bike everywhere, yes,

What kind of riding do you like to do — straight-aways or twisties?
Depends on my mood, but basically any kind of riding cause that’s what it’s all about, get out and ride, but like the flower sniffing rides too, and the rides to the ice cream store (offers to share the Ashburn Ice Cream Ride map), actually, to any place that has food and good friends (like all of you reading this)!!

If you have a nickname, how did you get it? Tell the truth!
Well it’s Soarer, goes back to my High School days when I used to fly sailplanes - or commonly referred to as soaring. Yes that means flying without an engine and being able to go up *grins*. I’ve pretty much used it as an alias ever since.. cb handle, login id, email accounts, biker nickname, the list goes on and on,

What is your favorite riding route?
Hmmm this is a hard one, but I think it’s the roads I took through NY, MA, NH, and VT awesome scenery and roads. Locally, anything without a lot of traffic, and all the roads we take as a group, love everyone of them,

Do you ride your bike to work?
Yes. I smile going to (22 miles) work and often get lost (hint hint wife, GPS, hint hint) on the way home (at least a 50 mile trip).

What is the fastest you’ve ridden?
About 85, life is to short to be in a hurry,

What is your favorite time of year to ride?
Anytime when it’s between about 50 and 80 degrees, so I guess that’s spring and fall.

Have you ever been down? If so, how were you hurt and what did you learn from the incident?
Down, hmmm yes, dropped bike twice (old one). First time, in a parking lot it wouldn’t start so I was pushing it out of the way and over it went, learned, don’t be impatient and Cobra ‘crash bars’ would help. Second time, in a parking lot on Iron Butt ride, learned, put the kickstand down silly and Cobra ‘crash bars’ work. Third time, well you all know about that one, but what I learned is the Loudoun SCRC people are the most awesome people in the world and prayers really do work - so to all off you I say THANKS!!!

Have you ever done an "Iron Butt" ride?
Yes 1025 miles in about 17hrs, Leesburg to about 40 miles past Knoxville TN, take a picture and gas up and grab a bite to eat and turn around and come on home, was an awesome ride and did it with Rodney Farrar.

If not, what is the furthest you’ve ridden?
Shortest ride has been to the end of the street (less than a 1/2 mile) and back with no helmet, no shoes and in shorts/t-shirt.

What was the worst weather in which you’ve ridden?
Heavy rain, does DC beltway traffic count as weather??

Do you know how to work on your bike?
A bit to add the accessories and can check tire pressure and bolts and the like. But I’m for riding not fixing.

What is your favorite road song?
"Champions" by ERA, check out the video http://glumbert.com/media/flylow now you see and hear why *grins*

What was your most adventurous ride?
Every ride is an adventure. New sights, sounds and experiences every single time - life is good!

What rallies or events do you like to attend?
Rolling Thunder and any ones were we are going to eat (is there a theme here??),

Is there someone who rides "two-up" with you?
On and off, Not that she bounces off, I mean once in a while Sue rides on the back.

Off the cuff from...Soarer
Don’t sweat the small stuff, and when you think you have it bad, look around, I guarantee somebody else has it worse than you, so count your blessings and charge ahead!