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August 2016
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Beachwood Buzz
53
him, but not long distances, pre-
ferring to stay within the suburbs.
Places they've cruised to include
Conneaut, Geneva-on-the-Lake,
Ravenna, Kent and Mentor.
He says he's pleased with the
growth of the Shul Boys since he
joined with the original members.
"We started with about 25 people
and we've more than tripled our
membership." He says he finds the
new friendships rewarding, and
he especially enjoys the Tuesday
night rides.
Sam Hoenig, 67, president,
Negev Foundation, owner of
an Indian, Chieftan model, and
Moto Guzzi, an Italian model.
Hoenig began riding when
he was 16, and his first bike was
a Lambretta scooter, purchased
when he lived in Italy, until his
family moved to Israel later that
year. As the son of two Holocaust
survivors, he was born in Munich,
and moved to the U.S. when he
was one year old.
He was pleased to learn that
several other Shul Boys are children
of survivors. "We have a special af-
finity for each other, having shared
similar experiences," he comments,
adding that this commonality
provides another dimension to the
camaraderie.
Upon joining the Shul Boys
in 2011, he says he had no idea
there were so many local Jewish
men and women who liked to
ride. He has gone with members
to the Shenandoah Valley and
Gettsyburg, and hopes to head
west and south in the next year. On
his own rides, he has visited Civil
War battlegrounds in Virginia and
eastern Pennsylvania.
Jerry Cohen, 68, Carpet
Capitol owner and flooring
contractor, owner of a 2003 Tri-
umph Thunderbird (showroom
condition), Suzuki 650 Single,
1983 Hondo CX650 (collector's
item ­ only made for one year,
unusual engine) and a 1982
Honda MD5 (7 hp, goes 50 mph,
"a riot"), 1968 Honda moped
(that still runs).
Cohen's dining room (you read
that right) is home to four of his
motorcycles and fortunately, his
girlfriend Stacey Madow is not
daunted by his devotion to them.
But belonging to the Shul Boys
makes him feel that he's among
kindred spirits: "They are serious
riders," he says. "It's a real pleasure
to be with this group of guys."
His involvement comes after a
long hiatus from riding when he
raised his family and his head was
elsewhere, he adds.
What he loves about riding is its
"visceral nature," which contrasts
with being in "the capsule that is a
car." But he also likes telling people
that he's in "a Jewish motorcycle
gang." It always brings a smile, he
says. He looks forward to meeting
more members and particularly
likes getting to know people in
this context.
In nice weather, Cohen says he
enjoys running errands on one of
his bikes. "It gives me a reason to be
outside." But he tends to limit being
in traffic for fear that "things will
happen." For this reason, he prefers
"to head to the countryside that's
proximal to us."
Ian Abrams, 71, active family
member, non-profit volunteer
and almost retired, owner of
a 2013 Harley Davidson Ultra
(largest made), 1937 Harley Da-
vidson Knucklehead and Vespa
scooter.
Abrams told us he often takes
long rides alone, for the zen of it.
"When you're by yourself, you're
very approachable. People just
come up to you, and then you get
invited to dinner," he says. "Then
you share your route with the
hosts, and they tell you about this
thing over there that you shouldn't
miss, that I would never have
known otherwise."
When he tells non-bikers about
his riding habit, he receives a range
of reactions. "Some say it's way out
of their scope," and this leaves him
semi -baffled. "It's just part of what
I do." Another reaction is one of
extreme interest, he says. But some
feel threatened by it and don't have
the confidence to do it. "They want
to have an adventure, but they
can't pull the trigger."
The Shul Boys fully intend to
rev their engines and make future
adventures a high priority.
Pictured from left:
· Steven Wasserman, Stewart Hast-
ings, Ian Abrams, Helen Anspach,
Jeff Anspach and Joni Wasserman
· Sue and Mitch Frankel
· Jerry Cohen
· Sam and Dave Hoenig
· Ian Abrams
· Abrams's map of cycling rides