Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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The Spirits of Motorcycling by JAMES JONES Are you looking for a little Christmas something-something for your motorcycle friends or family members? If so, check out the "spirit bell" that is hanging on my Christmas tree. Legend has it that motorcycles attract evil road spirits. The good news is that these bells will protect you from this evil spirit. Spirit bells are also called "Guardian Bells." My friend, Rick, has one on the back of his BMW R1200GS motorcycle. I often see it as he is leaving me in the dust, but I have never thought to ask him about it. A few weeks ago, my friend Deb picked up a nice Harley, and as we talked about Spirit bells are said to protect riders from evil spiritS it, the subject of spirit while they are on the road. bells came up. She gave me a little history on the subject. When I told her that I would have to pick one up, she informed me that the magic only happens if someone gives you the bell. Which makes me wonder why my riding buddy Rick hasn't bought me one? I have crashed dozens of times as we have gone riding off road, and he has had to help pick my bike up more than I wish to remember. This would be the part where I would call Rick a name about being cheap, but I won't. Sorry, back to the story. About a week later, Deb brought me my first spirit bell (I feel loved)! Wondering more about this mystical legend, I started my in-depth research effort (which means I googled it). According to the legend, evil spirits are responsible for mechanical problems, accidents and just bad luck. I did not read anything about how the bell protects me from being pulled over, but that would be nice if it did. The legend claims that the bell should be mounted on the lowest part of the frame to be close to the road. When evil arises, the spirit bell channels the evil spirit into the bell and the constant ringing of the bell drives the evil spirit away from the operator and the motorcycle. Much like Jesus casting evil spirits into the swine (Matthew Chapter 8), the spirit bell will cast the evil motorcycle spirits on to the road where they make potholes. If you have read any of my past adventures, maybe this bell should really protect me from myself! As a motorcyclist, I have the solid belief that I, and I alone, am responsible for any and all of my motorcycle affairs. If I happen to get hit by someone while I am on my bike, then I have let someone get too close. My protective gear is supposed to protect me from any hard object that my body may encounter. My skills and mental aptitude are responsible for my ability to negotiate any situation that I encounter. However, now that I have learned of the spirit bell, I blame one incident that happened to me on the New Jersey Turnpike (a poorly maintained turnpike at that). I hit a pothole so hard that it broke my mirror off of my bike. Now I will have to go back into my record book and blame this event on the evil-spirited pothole. Spirit bells are inexpensive, and you can find them at most motorcycle shops. If you are looking for a nice gift for your motorcycle friends, a spirit bell would be an option. By the way, after Christmas this bell will be moved to the bottom of my motorcycle. If there is a topic that you would like to discuss, please send your comments and sugJAMES JONES, Contributing gestions to motorcycle4fun@aol. Writer. COMMENTS? Editor@ com. RIDE SAFE! upandcomingweekly.com. 26 UCW DECEMBER 19-25, 2012 DECEMBER 31 • NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY at Legend's Pub. Call 867-2364 for more information. JANUARY 13 •POLAR BEAR RIDE Starting 10 a.m. Reg $35 per person including free admission to the Richard Petty Museum, a T-shirt and lunch. Pre-register by phone or the day of the event at 9 a.m. at Cape Fear Harley-Davidson Contact Jerry Aaron at 910-850-3298 or info@rpmuseum.com for more information about the event. PATRIOT GUARD RIDERS The Patriot Guard Riders is a diverse group of patriots from every state that come together to honor fallen soldiers at funeral services across the country. Visit www.patriotguard.org for more information about the group. WISHING EVERYONE A MERRY CHRISTMAS! Opening at 3 p.m. Christmas Day Call for more information 4624 BRAGG BLVD. )$<(77(9,//( 1& ³EHVW EULVNHW ,·YH HYHU KDG´ Wouldn't you love to see one of these? 5LFN %URZQH %DUEHFXH $PHULFD 1$7,21$/ $:$5':,11,1* %$5%(&8( %,.( 1,*+76 /,9( 086,& &5$)7 %((56 0,&52%5(:6 $/(6 287'225 &$7(5,1* :,7+ +2*=,//$ )25 %$1' /,67,1*6 )22' '5,1. 63(&,$/6 $1' &$7(5,1* 0(186 9,6,7 0DF6SHHG6KRSFRP Your free community paper lets you race around in many ways. You read our printed publication at your own home at your own speed, you can zip around our website with no limits, and you can even zoom through our content on your smartphone. That's speed without limits. Another sign we're working for you. Free Papers Working For You WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM