While not exactly two topics that commonly mix and mingle, the latest edition to the White House has many around the Clutch and Chrome offices bringing politics and motorcycles together and asking a question seemingly from the Barbara Walters interview handbook.

If Barack Obama was a biker, what kind of biker would he be?

Publishers pick a variety of would-be writers to author books about motorcycles. From how-to-ride to the experiences found on a motorcycle, authors come in the form of magazine editors to professionals who manage different safety programs as well as nearly every walk of life in between.

But regardless of who writes it, with pretty full book shelves already many riders and readers may wonder if there is need for yet another book about motorcycles. The answer comes from the author of the latest title, ‘Let's Ride: Sonny Barger's Guide to Motorcycling

The perfectly planned road trip can be brought down by nature’s unforgiving sun and its endless supply of bugs. But with a little planning, some forthought and of course handy tips from Clutch and Chrome, with the help of Consumer Reports both can be kept at bay.

As exciting as any road trip may be, nature toughest challenges need to be packed for. And while this may not be the first time for many riders heading out into the elements, new studies and a better understanding of the sun as well as suncreens may change what most have been told our whole lives.

Older single bikers are putting down more miles than their married counterparts, if you know what we mean.

Although the study wasn’t specifically aimed at motorcycle enthusiasts, with a large part of riding demographics firmly in the age bracket surveyed, the study can make riders look at each other in a slightly different light.

Aside from older riders having more sex than may be generally considered, the study also found that they are electing ride the intimate road without any safety gear.

As actor Charlie Hunnam continues to ride into the hearts of more and more fans playing Jax in FX’s motorcycle drama Sons of Anarchy, Clutch and Chrome decided to take a closer look at the newest biker on the TV block.
 
Coincidences not only add interesting footnotes to history but also seem to weave their way in and out of life in a curious fashion.

Mention the word motorcycle and images leap to mind ranging from leather-clad gang members with nothing but criminal intent to the rebellious, but honest soul who is simply misunderstood and trying to find his way through life. Generally speaking, these stereotypes aren’t born from personal experiences, but more from what the public has seen on both the big and small screen.

The writers and producers in the entertainment industry grew up with the same images and stereotypes as the rest of us, so essentially what we see on TV comes from how they feel about motorcycles and the people who ride them. So how has the motorcycle faired at the hands of the entertainment industry?

All riders of every age have encountered it. Whether coming from friends and family as you tell them you’re getting a motorcycle or when a non-rider find out you carry the label of biker.

The look of ‘Are you crazy?’ mingled with the fear you’ll start eating babies and pillaging small towns.

How exactly did a form of transport get such a universally strong association to everything bad in our society and more importantly, are we turning the corner of that stereotype?

Complaining is easy, second nature to some while giving a compliment or quick thank you appears to be downright torturous. It could have been the perfect weather making for an amazing ride or maybe the road fumes made it further into our brains than we realized, but a simple comment led to a discussion by the gang of Clutch and Chrome during a stop and we all came up with a list of things to be proud of in the world of motorcycles.

Here is our list, in no particular order of things bikers the country over should give a nod and thanks to as the good stuff that's done right.

The first few hundred miles any new rider puts down are laced with trepidation and anticipation as they discover another world of experiences and adventure. As with any pastime, there's a learning curve, so the staff of Clutch and Chrome have brought together more common mistakes made by our newest members of the biker brotherhood.

Out of all the articles thrown around during the Clutch and Chrome bull sessions, few subjects carried the concern of readers reaction than generally outlining what new riders do wrong in the first few miles and initial dozen months on the very first motorcycle.

A new television show rode onto the small screen in September 2009 which was full of violence and controversy setting its storyline firmly in the world of motorcycle gangs. Producers and writers could only hope talented acting and clever writing would attract and keep bikers afraid of a stereotype backlash from the non-riding public. Clutch and Chrome goes behind the scenes and rides through the series critics have come to love and viewers have flocked too.

The latest television drama to enter the world of two-wheels isn’t so much about the motorcycle but the characters who ride them, and in this case the gang members who wreak havoc from the saddle of their steel steeds.