Binghamton, N.Y., Sept. 10—Stage 2 of the Cannonball was a less than comfortable ride as temperatures dipped into the low 50s with an impending storm, but that did nothing to daunt the determined time travelers. The motorcycles themselves, however, had a different idea. By day’s end, sweep vehicles were filled to capacity with broken machines. Rider # 24, however, topped the day by having his 1928 Indian burst into flames as he sat waiting for a traffic light. After fellow riders, including Cannonball owner, Jason Sims, extinguished the bike, everyone pitched in to get the bike functional and Kelly rode the old Chief to cover the total 251 miles for the day. Tomorrow riders will steel themselves for some nasty weather, including a predicted 100-percent chance of rain.
This morning, riders gathered for the news that the run is called for the day due to weather. “This isn’t about getting wet and it isn’t about being cold. This is about safety and road conditions are just not safe,” Sims told disappointed riders.
Calling the day’s ride meant cancelling a trip to visit Finger Lakes Harley Davidson in Cayuta, New York, and the lunch that was graciously sponsored by Arkport Cycles, Hornell, New York, where there was a beautiful homemade spread planned. Route crews were sent out ahead to run the course and determined road conditions to be unsafe due to washouts, gravel on the road and the prediction of flooding. Consequentially, riders are loading up their machines and heading to Harley-Davidson of Jamestown where bikes will be on display at 4:00 p.m.
