MAFB members show off bikes, learn valuable riding lessons

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Joshua Smoot
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  More than 50 Malmstrom Air Force Base Airmen and civilians came out to the 11th annual Rolling Thunder motorcycle safety event held at the old Base Exchange parking lot Aug. 14.

The event, focused on promoting the do's and don'ts of motorcycle safety, included several activities to raise motorcycle safety awareness for riders and the drivers of four-wheeled vehicles they share the roads with.

"This event is really designed for safety," said Col. Tom Wilcox, 341st Missile Wing commander. "It's where we can get all of the motorcycle riders who want to participate across the base together for a day of fellowship and safety awareness."

This year, Montana has had 10 motorcycle fatalities. Rolling Thunder is an event to teach riders proper safety so they won't become another statistic.

Rolling Thunder started with a safety fair. Safety office representatives inspected motorcycles and offered critiques and advice.

During the day-long event, a contest was also held for riders wanting to show off their bikes. As part of the competition, the judges checked riders' throttles, brakes, chains and belts.

"It's not only a pretty-bike contest," said Kelly Nathe, 341st MW traffic safety manager. "We want to ensure not only are they the safest ones trained to ride a bike out there, but also their equipment and their bikes are up to par."

Riders were also given the opportunity to ride through an obstacle course while wearing goggles that simulated being under the influence of alcohol.

Later, bikers left Malmstrom for a 139-mile ride, departing around 11:30 a.m. and leaving in small groups of about six to eight bikes. The route took riders through a loop up to Wolf Creek and back through Vaughn, Montana.

Seasoned riders were positioned in the rear of the packs to ensure safety and view riders' habits.

"A lot of our riders are new so we match them up with senior riders that have a lot of experience," Nathe said. "As we go out, usually the team captains will put somebody out in the front and the team captain will usually hang in the rear so he could observe more from there such as if people are looking into turns and if they are using their turn signals."

The appropriate dress for riding is a Department of Transportation certified helmet, over-the-ankle boots, long pants, long-sleeve shirt, full-fingered gloves and eye protection.

Military members interested in learning to ride a motorcycle must first go through their unit motorcycle representatives and then to Nathe.

Civilians must go online or go through Montana State University-Northern and sign up at motorcycle.msun.edu.

"Training is held about every single weekend, you just have to dress accordingly," Nathe said.

During the two-day course, MSU-Northern provides the motorcycle and a helmet for the riders in training.

"The only prerequisite is to have a valid state driver's license," Nathe said. "And it would be nice to know you could at least ride a bicycle."