June for me is the month that we can really start to put some miles on.  The May weather is way better than April but can still have some very cool mornings and evenings in May that require a ton more planning, and gear to stay warm and safe. May can also bring some significant storms that just seem to pop up out of nowhere.  Not that any month cannot bring terrible weather, but by June we can at least see the weather patterns coming generally and plan accordingly.  With the ability to be able to take off and ride after work, and take off earlier in the mornings, the extra miles from June and on in the summer is pretty amazing.  The winter doldrums have long passed, and the vitamin D from being out in the sun is in full effect.  The world may even start to look like a new place with a renewed spark in our steps and seemingly more things to look forward to, even if that is simply more time to ride, more bike nights to check out, more runs to go on, and more events to get ready for.  Enjoy the season my friends because we are just getting rolling!  

So far this year, the political climate has been far less than stellar I would say.  There always seems to be someone bitching about something going on in the world that we live in.  It is sort of a buzzkill to say the least.  When we can readily see fuckery going on with local government, at the county level, state level, and all the way to the top on a regular basis, it makes one wonder how in the hell we can even exist.  Don’t get me wrong, it could be way worse had some elections gone differently, but the level of angst between members of our society is palpable at times.  With all of that going on, sometimes there are things that happen that renew my faith in humanity and give me the idea that society is just not generally screwed. 

My first decent length ride of the year was May 3^rd for the Sleeping Angels Fun Run. I was put at the front of the pack to run one of a handful of routes that ended in Boone that day.  Matt, Brad, and I led the group from The Exchange in Avoca on Hadley’s Run as it is called, through some advertisers’ spots in western and central Iowa and had a blast.  Rick and Roxanne usually plan this route and do so with the help of some littles and TRMI. Other routes left Boone, Fort Dodge, and Stumpy’s in Duncombe.  A couple routes were for Side by Sides, and the rest were on two and three wheels. Hundreds of different people with different starting locations, all ending up at the same spot.  Everyone working together and raising money for a great cause, all while having a great time.  At the end of the day, when the runs all converged, there was some fun had at the Boone County fairgrounds with some vittles, a live auction, and all sorts of friends laughing it up and having a great time.  Everyone coming together for a common goal and doing so without any extraneous bullshit that pulls people apart. All in all, the event that day raised over $80K for Iowa families that have suffered the loss of a little one. That is utterly amazing that people from far and wide can come together and support something and make a difference.  Maybe some of our leaders could learn a thing or two about getting shit done from the SAFR crew? Ride along with us May 2^nd of 2026 for the 15^th Annual Sleeping Angels Fun Run.  More info after the first of the year on that, but mark your calendars now!

I am also incredibly proud to have been a part of the growth of Sleeping Angels Fun Run over the years.  When Kirk came to me at the Capital City Swap Meet and told me what he wanted to do, I wanted to do everything I could to help out but back then I had no clue what this could turn into.  They have been huge sponsors of the magazine for the past 14 years, and we try our best to support them back.  It is nice to see how they have evolved and grown over the years, and we are glad to have been able to help them do so.  Much love and respect to the SAFR clan.  When you put your passion into something, it shows!

Get out and ride!

Vernon

Proud Editor/Owner Thunder Roads Magazine of Iowa

Owner Thunder Guns and Thunder Guns West

IMDA Board Member

MRF Iowa Assistant State Rep

COC Liaison

NCOIR State of Iowa Representative

Quote of the Month: “Run the race of life at your own pace.” Unknown