bs0408-4

Boxer Shorts August, 2004 - 4 of 4

Catching up with...
Tarmac Tornado Steve Terrien Massachusetts Mileage Contest Winner
with 27,852 season miles and MOA honors with 300,000 miles!

by Victor Cruz

Steve Terrien S teve Terrien is always on the road. He drives a truck during the week and rides one of his many motorcycles during his off-hours. Steve is a personality with a capital P. If you don't know Steve Terrien, chances are you've probably heard him talking, or you've heard a story where Steve's the main character.

One story has Steve sitting around a campfire at one of the many YB camp-outs. The guys were ham-ming it up, testosterone flowing in buckets as one recounted one brave or stupid stunt after another; chests puffed out proudly and silly, guys being guys.

"You think you guys are tough, eh?" piped in the Terrien, who is never at a loss for words. "Well get a load of this." Whereupon our tarmac tornado produced a hunting knife, raised it up high for all to see the fire's gleam on the silver blade... then he drove the knife into his leg, where it stuck, bouncing there ever so slightly.

Ask around to meet Steve. And you must meet Steve. Dare to speak to Steve. You will know him by his voice, a voice that travels fast like the man himself, shooting words at you in loud, rapid fire staccato.

Steve thinks nothing of doing 620 miles on a Sunday, and 1500-mile weekends. As is the norm, he graduated to higher displacements over time. His first new bike purchase was a 1971 Honda CB350 that he paid a whooping $750 for brand new. He's owned dozens of bikes over the years.

Steve's Message Board used to be "Flexfoot" and is now "4-toes." Why? Steve was born without a tibia, the shin bone between the knee and the foot. As a result, he has a foot made of lightweight carbon fiber. Over time, Steve's foot tends to crack and break apart. He's had them made of wood. He has one for running. Steve ran a Boston Marathon. Excuse me, Steve has run five marathons.

Steve prefers to either ride solo or with one other. Many riders may not cotton to Steve's style of "just wing it" touring, a style that favors flexibility over planning. Weather not looking good? Change the route in mid-day.

"My friend Tom Waterman and I, we'll get home in the dark on Sunday. We don't want to be limited by hotel check-in times. We'll maybe do Adirondack Park around Long Lake, Lake George and northwest of there."

Steve accumulated his miles by riding as many as five motorcycles. He rides a 2004 1150 GS (18,750 miles); a 1998 R110R Roadster (95,000 miles) and a 2002 F650 GS (15,000). Steve also is the sole owner of a 1974 R90/6 sidecar rig with 134,000 miles on its 3-wheels. For good measure, he also has a Honda Hawk.
His greatest mile buster? He once rode 14,700 miles in one month (Sept. 1999). Steve went to a Southern California Motorcycle Association rally, which starts in Nogales, Mexico, and ends in Alberta, Canada.

"I'm like shit, I'm everywhere. Shit is everywhere. I'm not shit, but I'm everywhere." Steve once crashed because he was dehydrated. He fainted and crashed. "Fluids are very important."

What are your tips for long-distance touring?

Move around a lot on the seat. Stop every 150 miles, stretch and drink water. And I eat a good breakfast; dried fruit, nuts and grains; keeps you energized, not tired. Stay hydrated. Drink Gatorade; eat lots of nuts, seeds, shredded wheat; trail mix from Bread and Circus. Keep it in your tankbag. I nibble all day. Dinner? I go for family style, non greasy. I stay away from red meat and eat lots of fish. I avoid fast food places; head for the mom and pop's. I like to ask people where to eat. I stay away from the chains. I'll have coffee in the morning but stay away from coffee otherwise. Coffee is a diuretic.

Where's the most beautiful place to ride?

Too many to mention. Vermont is my favorite state to ride in. It's close to Mass., it has excellent roads, nice people, and not a lot of traffic. California was nice, but it has too many cars.

Dumb question: Why do you ride?

I enjoy it. It's a passion of mine. Love the feeling of the engine, the wind, the corners. It's exhilarating. I'm aware of the dangers. Riding is dangerous. No doubt about it. I try to minimize the risk; never cross the road without my helmet. I've been riding since I was 16. I'm 50 years old now. First bike was a 1964 Honda 50 step-thru.

What's your philosophy for obeying speed limits?

I ride according to the conditions. There's no such thing as doing 40 in a 30 or doing 40 in a 50. I notice the posted signs but the time of day, the traffic, the road conditions, all play a bigger role.

What's the FREAKIEST thing that's ever happened to you on a bike?

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