The Riding Obsession

05/10/2026

Podcast: "Mission Rides"
Listen: https://tro.bike/?p=36644

Robin turns fresh MCN bits into sport touring math: smoother UK roads, pump-price pain and smart helmets that might still start a comms compatibility bar fight. A friend's Ducati Hypermotard arrives with tires worn on the sides, not the center, because New Mexico apparently invented trailer-to-twisties tire geometry. He folds family memory, Iron Butt attempts, Kentucky roots and Trip 7's Super Clover fallback into one clean idea: a ride gets better when it has a mission.

Brian steers the mission talk from bourbon-adjacent scouting to practical route reality, where pretty map lines can become lake traffic and slow trucks with boat trailers. He brings tire rebate gospel, Road Rubber Watch nudges and the hard truth that Michelin pricing can make wallets file a formal complaint. His best version of the ride plan is simple enough to survive real life (central lodging, cloverleaf routes, seven states and enough wiggle room to dodge chaos).

Joanne takes the chest-protection question and refuses the easy armor-catalog shrug. For true street and dual sport use, she points toward modern electronic airbag systems like Alpinestars Tech Air and Revit options, then separates rib anxiety from the bigger risks of spine, chest and head trauma. Her verdict lands where Gear Chic usually lives ... protection only works if the mode, fit and body type agree before the wallet gets brave.

Jordan returns to Joey Dunlop's early grind, correcting County Down geography before diving into shoestring Northern Ireland racing. Joey wrings podiums from yesterday's AJS, Suzuki, Aermacchi and Yamaha machinery while richer riders bring sharper knives to the fight. The Black Girk nickname, family dynasty and Road Racers film all point to the same oily truth: Joey came from farm roads, borrowed speed and midnight wrenching, not polished paddock theater.

Team TRO plots mission-led riding, chest protection, route scouting and Joey Dunlop's grime-soaked rise.

04/26/2026

Podcast: "Compression"
Listen: https://tro.bike/?p=36635

Robin keeps it loose with playlist shoutouts, Insta gadget jabs and side eye. He gives patient compression tips: a dash of oil in the plug, steady hand on the gauge. He handles the "harsh howdy" rider, coins the vertical Irish goodbye, steering back love to plot a next trip.

Brian plays practical grease monkey, dropping a clear, hands on primer on compression tests. He preaches solid gear, pull the intake as needed, check battery, oil tells and sort fork seals. He says two hour decomp spins helped him care for aging parents and closes with upbeat tips for happy group miles.

Jordan rides with Joey Dunlop's early arc, making us want to polish a TZ350 like a shrine. From van life and fixing flimsy rides, to Armoy Armada scraps and sweeter sponsors, then John Ray's TZ350 goes from toy gun to machine gun. He even cues The Road Racers V4, with Dunlop turning saddle time into legend.

Listen in as Team TRO discusses compression checks, harsh howdies and Dunlop's early arc.

04/21/2026

Podcast: "Head Case"
Listen: https://tro.bike/?p=36631

Brian tees up the GSX-8R as a first bike, tire plug truths and goblins in our helmets. Kit gospel lands fast: use Nealey sticky-string plugs, carry a pump, cut them flush and babysit your pressure. Ride boss mode says control the scene, use the hot-pit and avoid road confetti.

Robin brings cringey pass tales, calls out riders who check out and reminds us that risk is always along for the ride. He turns tech guide, plugs RevZilla reverse-bleed vids, wrestles fork seals and ABS line woes and judges the GSX-8R's forgiving but twitchy 6 to 7k. He caps it with leader tips on headcounts and routes, a RideWithGPS nod and caoching calm with a grin.

Joanne rolls in with empathy and crisp tips, owning the get-comfy-again arc with more saddle time and focused classes. She nerds on gloves, crowns kangaroo and says wear them 15 to 20 minutes daily. Find chill ride pals, try a clinic, love your gear and your confidence sneaks back drama free.

Jordan closes with a Joey Dunlop entry, from peat-warmed cottages and cobbled Triumphs to full road racing stardom. He spotlights Joey's tinkerer brain, bargain bike podiums, mentoring by Mervyn Robinson and a self-funded grind that turned modesty into myth. It's the history fix we need, proving grit and greasy cheap machines still mint heroes, even when Wikipedia clutches pearls.

Listen in as team TRO talks tire plugs, sleeper bikes, kangaroo leather and William Dunlop.

04/10/2026

Podcast: "0pen 1nvite"
Listen: https://tro.bike/?p=36624

This round, we're 100% raw, unedited, live without a net!

Joanne goes from scooter to sportbike after a year of seat time, proving practice beats impulse buys. She builds muscle memory and confidence, so Ninja-to-Seca II feels natural, the journey leading her to coach others. She points couples toward focus, puts partner comfort first, keeps it honest, fits gear, finds friendly groups and never forces bikes they didn't choose.

Brian is equal parts grease monkey and community builder, dishing fork seal wisdom, OEM seals, bushings, damper rod bolts and parts sourcing tips. He pairs hard truths with people skills. After stripped bolts and broken legs, the lesson lands: do the work, know your tribe, invest in safety and communities that keep riders rolling.

Robin eyes timed wording, turning scooter dirt routes and an arcing passes into lessons in patience and neutrality. When you invite someone to ride, make it about them, set ego to mute, suggest good training and bikes that fit. He dares to craft fresh recruitment analogies, reminding us that nurture is far more effective than force.

Listen in as Team TRO petitions for neutral influence on those who might consider becoming a motorcyclist.

04/03/2026

Podcast: "Leading Loved Ones"
Listen: https://tro.bike/?p=36618

Robin rockets in, riffing on the Triumph 660, Trident talk, Tiger tweaks and sub-10k stunners that make wallets cackle. He hacks eBay space-Lego hunts, then talks oil, changing it pre and post storage because recycling is hip and useful, albeit neurotic in his case. In leader bias, he cops to mirror checks, comm quirks and LP1/2/3 to shield loved ones w/o running folks off road.

Brian, the spec-sheet whisperer, cheers Triumph near-100 hp value and drops a GS850 lunch tale with Jordan (who tees up a future Joey Dunlop deep dive). A crash-test convert, he yells wear the damn gear, dodging dark fates, then gives oil and filter wisdom plus Revvit, Dainese, Klim fit sanity. He admits intercoms can brain-melt, proving comm management is an art, not a checkbox.

Joanne, Gear Chic supreme, speaks of low profile armor, vented layers or a back protector under tweed to dodge crash-test dummy vibes. Glove nerd time: Held and Racer for tricky fits, kangaroo for second skin you hand wash unless you like holes, plus palm sliders or reinforced palms. She pitches spring prep and partner buy-in, we all put hands down in a spill and says riding is a compromise so sell to their tastes, not just yours.

Listen in as Team TRO discusses leading loved ones, sandwich clamp covers and DOT approved tuxedos.

03/28/2026

Podcast: "Snu With Yoo?"
Listen: https://tro.bike/?p=36615

Robin rolls from a Bayard cafe to a dirt-bike chase flick to a humbling dealer finance saga. He digs practical dash tech like tidy TPMS, one-box Android hubs and gives Garmin rear radar a careful nod but keep your own eyes working. He pitches modular, personalized training and tees up for his return to the midwest.

Brian, anchored with scalpel takes, cheers an 18-year-old Daytona podium and even blesses KLRs at track days. He tracks trends from PandoMoto street armor to Airoh on RevZilla, nerds on helmet fit tech, MIPS and rivals and grumps about chaotic comm standards. He cheers steady coaching gains, unboxes his Joe Rocket suit, lobs Joanne a meat grinder armor upgrade question and flexes full gear nerd ringmaster vibes.

Angelmarie summarizes obvious wins: take the freeway if told or street ride till you own the bike, drill figure eights, eyes up and quit abusive bump shifting. She mutes the sport vs biker feud, admits night rides spook her and champions boring reflective tape. Buy it and stop apologizing.

Joanne, Gear Chic deluxe, slices into armor: Revit C-Flex for knees and elbows, Nucleon for chest and back, plus a full back vest for track days. She drops fit and venting tips for Turn 3 sweat, decoding CE 1 vs 2 and calling out Brian's soggy kitchen sponge. She hits pocket size, torso length and zips jammed by external protectors, plugs custom suits and nixes ADV boots with race suits unless you like shoe triage.

Listen in as Team TRO talks new riding, products and protection.

03/20/2026

Podcast: "The Sherwood Inn"
Listen: https://tro.bike/?p=36611

Meet Dean Johnson, fifth gen guide, bourbon pusher and tiger oak bar wrangler at Sherwood Inn. He sprints from 1875 launch to the 1913 rebuild, rail side oddities, family remodels and its National Register cred. With bourbon and monk fudge trivia, he sells a warm, slightly haunted rider stop with real rooms, bar welcome and ridge twisties Robin keeps citing.

Brian rolls in like the garage nerd you phone at 2 a.m., with Airoh helmets finally landing in the U.S. He dishes Michelin and Bridgestone rebates, questions the holy DOT sticker and kills the earplug arrest myth. He adds gear tips like stay in first to scoot, routes from Richmond to the hills and future dives on airbags, brands, shiny toys and money.

Robin runs it like a frazzled trip boss and escape lane coach, booking 777 lodging and mapping exact curves. He runs a downshifting masterclass with a rear end liftoff tale that even drags Maggie's Jeep incident in. His takeaways hit trail braking limits, when engine braking helps and a stop mirror shoulder lane change drill.

Angelmarie asks the questions you wanted first, like how to downshift, key to staying upright. She gets coaching on approach gear choice, single gear cadence for stops and the stop mirror shoulder go escape drill born from advanced evasion techniques. Her quick uptake makes it feel like a polite garage lesson, a little nervous ... but hands on.

Listen in as Team TRO discusses shifting technique, tour lodging and Kentucky's Sherwood Inn.

03/13/2026

Podcast: "Two Wheeled Pilot"
Listen: https://tro.bike/podcast/2026e08/

Brian's runnin' the show like a safety-obsessed flight instructor for what is a "Two Wheeled Pilot" redux. He spams teamwork analogies, bad-habit warnings and checklists backed by IMSAFE and GUMPS (with a T-Clocks chaser). War tales from sneaky CA dual sport to NM leg cramps, cures for get-there-itis and ride your own ride, wild zingers and nerdy, useful tire psi guilt.

Angelmarie voices the rookie jitters, eyeing a 45-minute kickstands 'n' coffee gathering while wondering if group miles are smart. Vets say meet folks first, hold formation until basics click and bail if stunting or inside-passing shows up. She scopes the hang, skips the ride and leaves with wisdom points that supercede ego.

Robin grabs lead tech and ringmaster baton, fixes the feed and side-eyes YouTube's big podcast talk. He geeks on combo kits that turn chain wrench into shock tool, then drills staggered lanes, three-second gaps, leader mirrors and low GPS. With snark and music picks, his SOP buffet stays actionable before your espresso and attention span rock a low-fuel light.

Joanne drops city-gear truth, stanning stretchy chinos and light, vented armor for scooters and e-bikes. Town pace loves breathable pants, freeways want heavy Level 2 and she spells the tradeoffs like a label you can't peel. Armored hoodies and low-pro pads get love and her foggy PCH and rode-home-sick tales shout this: dress for your roads and your limits, not selfies.

Listen in as Team TRO discusses safety checklists, new riders vs. group rides, three second gaps and Chinos.

03/06/2026

Podcast: "Wave Anyway"
Listen: https://tro.bike/podcast/2026e07/

Robin opens like a ringmaster of a half-planned circus, revives old bits, drops an Alliteration Grab Baguette by way of goofy book experiments. He pushes inclusivity and track-day prep, says research your provider and learn the lingo. He flips biker stereotypes into lessons, admits a hardware store jerk moment, stays human and opinionated and asks curiosity over cheap digs.

Brian brings travel bravado and prep, rents a crusty 2009 V-Strom on Twisted Road for California, plans meetups and slips in deep-cut song recs. His Tiny Tasty Tooltips land: slime pump, plugs, tire gauge, compact sockets, zip ties, phone mount, charger and pick ship or check before you go. Don't show up stranded and for track days he is blunt, skip a 1000cc leader bike, ride yours or a modest 600 or 250.

Angelmarie, our new rider, asks about the mythical Harley vs sportbike beef and the hosts hand her a layup. Real riders are not feuding, it's brand loyalty theater with the odd grumpy cruiser wandering through. Wave anyway, be friendly, ignore nonsense, don't swallow scowls and let the riding build the relationships.

Joanne dreams like a rider, with a Ural for the dog, a 450 Ibex or Himalayan for light ADV and her Street Triple at arm's reach. She adds a KTM 690 SMR, an RT-class tourer, a 200cc off-roader, a 150 errand scooter and she favors real dealer nets over sketchy knockoffs. E-bikes get a curious nod, she stays price and ergo smart, loves RC390, CB500 or 250 for track fun, because joy needs no 1000cc mortgage.

02/28/2026

Video: New Mexico Motorcycle Ride (TRO.bike "Truth or Consequences" Tour)
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch/0btdukWwPyI

Group Riding Tours: https://tro.bike/?p=15238Music by http://www.OtisMacMusic.com/

02/28/2026

Podcast: "Junkfessions of a Clunky"
Listen: https://tro.bike/?p=36599

Robin cracks the whip, spins a random song, plugs it, boosts a friend's Insta and revisits Maptastic Mayhem. He riffs on a Silver City cruise, a Cuban sandwich fling and light/shadow vibes that make you slow when you want to rip. He hijacks RideWithGPS for a live Portland to Glacier sketch, plugs a Kurtis Minder book chat, okays a grab baguette bit and tries to keep the chaos ... charming.

Brian is the calm tech foil who rode to lunch and brought actual wisdom, not just crumbs. He nails tire balancing, says shops are mostly right and a quick static check helps, then schools Angelmarie on RPM marks and torque curves. He pushes Lolo Pass, Kalispell and sane fuel stops and maps a big year: pack light, dodge hard plans, sleep, reshuffle rides, skip bourbon rehab.

Angelmarie rolls in like a new rider should and fires one clean ask: shift by ear or by the tach? Brian and Robin say aim for the middle to upper third of usable revs, about half redline for most rides and learn the engine's voice. Respect the torque curve, hit shifts where power lives and practice with quick tach peeks until feel makes it second nature.

More ... https://tro.bike/?p=36599

Listen in as Team TRO discusses Glacier National, RPM shifting and Yamaha's that just won't quit.