Lifestyle: ‘Grizz,’ rider for life

GRANTS - There are weekend bikers that cruise up and down main street a hundred times of an evening. There are Sunday bikers that tend to take a leisure ride to places like the La Ventana arch after church. There are bar bikers. They rev their engines loud as they park their bike just outside of a saloon so everyone can notice they've arrived. There are also bikers that attend bike rallies everywhere, including the Fire and Ice Route 66 Bike Rally held this weekend in downtown Grants. These bikers drive into town with their RVs pulling two big high dollar bikes. They will stay at a local motel and will ride the county from Friday to Sunday. They'll spend big bucks on some new leathers, head back home and park their bikes until the next bike rally.

And finally, there's 'Grizz,' a “lifestyle” biker. Art Aldrich is his real name and he is from Bluewater, on the Prewitt side, to be exact.

He's driven a bike for 39 years and refers to a four-wheel vehicle as exactly that, “a means of transportation on four wheels,” he said.

Aldrich and his wife moved to New Mexico four years ago. “We rode in on our bike from Cally (California),” he said. He never owned a four-wheel vehicle until recently because living in California there was no need because of the great weather. “I could ride all year long over there but when I came to New Mexico by the first fall season my wife and I each had a four-wheel vehicle,” Aldrich said.

“It's my lifestyle,” he told the Beacon. “For anxiety, stress or just to ride…riding a bike just relaxes me.” He said he'll ride 400-500 miles in a day, no problem.

If Aldrich needs to go anywhere and the weather is fine, he simply gets on his bike and gets to and fro. “I'd rather ride my bike unless my wife is going with me and she prefers otherwise,” he said.

Grizz is a machinist by trade. He is in various organizations such as the American Legion and a Vietnam Veteran Club. He owns a Harley Davidson Bagger Ultra Classic.

“There are some Harley guys who don't respect others riders that don't have a Harley,” Griizz said. “Me, if you drive on two wheels you have my respect.”

If you ride, Grizz does suggest:

• “A safety orientation - don't just get on a bike and go,” he said.

• “Change your fluids regularly”

• “Check the wear on your tires”

• “Know your bike - read the manual,” he suggests.

• And finally, “Know your bike.”

Aldrich loves New Mexico riding. “New Mexico is wonderful, it is a picturesque state,” he added. “Twisties in the mountains, that is what we (bikers) call them, are great here.”

When asked if there was one ride to choose in Cibola County where would he suggest - “I'd do the State Road 117 to Pie Town, or Highway 53 all the way to Arizona,” he said, “or how 'bout the ride to Bibo, nice ride and a great restaurant over there that Mr. [Eddie] Michael has. It is a nice relaxing ride.”

As far as the bike rally in Grants this weekend, Grizz said he will be there. “It is a great place to socialize with everyone (bikers). The rally has a lot of potential but there is room for improvement,” he said. “I get friends saying it is the same things as far as vendors. We need some more bike accessories and such. Aftermarket stuff. But that will probably come in time, it is only nearly 10-years old. The event is great for the community.”