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Just A Biker? 

His dancing blue eyes, framed by long, lanky salt and pepper shot hair, and the perpetual grin beaming out over the equally long and grey beard ... as soon as you look at him, you think "Biker." He's been attending Island Rally for years. Known to most as, simply, Animal, this "typical" biker is very atypical: very few people guess that he designs women's clothing, with a biker theme. And, although he won't talk about where he works (talking about the day job is boring!), he does admit that he and a friend/partner collect, repair and refurbish unwanted computers, and give them to low-income Halifax and area families - completely free! So, he may look like "just a biker" - but he is ever so much more. And a perfect example of why we should never judge a book by its cover.

CHARLOTTETOWN’S COPPER CHOPPER A HEAD-TURNER

 If you chance to take a cruise out Mt. Edward Road in Charlottetown, you’ll likely see a rad-looking chopper sitting on a front lawn.  Slow down and look hard; you might be fooled. Rather than a working model, this chopper is a work of art, made entirely of copper! 

Graham Gillis, the creator, is an artist who has done both tin and copper work. With a mother and a number of aunts who are all artists, it was only natural that Gillis would inherit artistic talent.  “I can paint,” Gillis says, “However, I used to work in a machine shop.  One day, someone gave me a sheet of copper, and I pounded a lighthouse out of it on a phonebook.”

He has always been interested in motorcycles, and owns a couple of Harleys, one of which is a ‘99 Soft-tail in yellow with purple flames.  Gillis has driven bikes since he was a small kid, having held a m/c license since he was 16.

 The enthusiast has built bikes before.  “I could just see this bike,” Gillis says.  “I said to myself ‘I’m going build myself a bike – a full-size copper chopper.”

 “The first winter we moved into town, I drew it out on floor of basement – just sketched it out.  I pounded it out with a screwdriver and hammer.  Nothing’s done really technical. The only thing that’s not handmade is the two second hand valves.  But most people think it’s a real bike.” 

Is Gillis destined to make copies of this copper creation? Strangely enough, the design of the original bike, which he sketched on the basement floor, refuses to go away.  Even though the artist has painted the basement floor a couple of  times, the lines of the design keep coming through. “I’m using it now,” Gilis explains. “Only scaled down, for a  weather vane. 

If you have a spare minute or ten during your Island visit, cruise on by and see the Copper Chopper, one of the snazziest signposts in Charlottetown!

PEOPLE IN THE SPOTLIGHT

YOU'VE COME A LONG WAY, BABY

At the recent "Run for Kids" charity event, I met two friendly couples who DID come a long way ..... all the way from Nebraska, in fact!

Jim and Barb Eckhout, rode their brand new, two-tone green H-D Ultra Classic 2007 from Amherst, Nebraska.  "She was brand new when we left home," Jim said proudly, "and now she's got 6500 miles on her." The Eckhouts pointed out the somewhat quirky fact that their hometown is 1733 miles from the east coast, and 1733 miles from the west coast.  (Wonder if they measured it, themselves?)

Riding along with the Eckhouts were Doug and Karen Daake, of Riverdale, Nebraska on the H-D Ultra Classic 2001, burgundy-wine in colour.  Both couples say it's their first visit to PEI, but want to come back some day.  "It's just so beautiful!," said Karen, "And everyone is so friendly!"

BIKE BUILD-OFF AT GLENN'S CYCLE

Attendees at the Bike show held in the spring of '06 were treated to a wide variety of motorcycles to ogle and dream over - but they were wowed by a certain gleaming green custom machine built by Glenn's Cycle Works. Awhile back, the folks at Glenn's got the notion to build a custom cycle, and they've done a couple. The most recent custom was started in the fall of '05, and was unveiled at the Dealer Motorcycle Show in Charlottetown.

 This chopper sports a 100 ci polished RevTech engine, a 6-speed transmission. A belt drive pushes the power to the extra-wide (255) back tire. And the colour? A multi-toned green paint with a lot of pearl, white and silver in it. Yowsa! Mark Willoughy was the main mechanic on the project, and the painting was done locally, by Kent Stewart from Crapaud.

"Kent did an awesome job on the painting," says Glenn Yard, of Glenn's Cycle. It's not like a factory-built bike, where all the bolt holes line up and everything fits perfectly; it's a whole lot more complicated than that! "We bought the frame, built to our specs - rake, stretch, etc.," explains Yard. "Most parts are bought, but some are manufactured. There was a lot of fitting, and making things work together. "Difficult and exacting work it may have been, but the Glenn's Cycle folks pulled it off, as the photo attests. The creation, when finished, was sold to an enthusiast in New Brunswick. (For more photos of this beauty, go to: http://www.glennscycleworks.pe.ca/06%20Bike%20Build.htm.

Dogs on Wheels ... 

One of the bad things about leaving on a vacation is having to leave ol’ Fido behind (poor dear!).  No matter whether you leave your darling at a kennel, with family, or even with a loving, caring pet friend, he’s going to miss you, and of course, you’re going to miss him.  What’s a dedicated biker to do?

US Travellers Drop Into Summerside Show

Sterling Page of Sunset Beach, North Carolina and John Kendall of Grafton, Massachusets heard about the Atlantic Canada European Motorcycle Weekend held at the Silver Fox Yacht and Curling Club in Summerside and the Lobster Carnival.  John, sporting a gold "Bum Burner " achievement on his plate holder, and his travelling buddy are on the ride of a lifetime.  Heading to Newfoundland via Cape Breton's Sydney ferry, they planned a circular trip to Happy Valley Labrador, and then through the only recently opened road to Quebec.