December 2022 - Eric Mintalar

Fast Facts About Eric:

• Rides with his wife, Marilou
• Dentist for 34 years
• Commutes by motorcycle

About Eric
I’m 62 years young. Married to my lovely wife for 33 years, she rides two-up with me on our long moto rides and I can’t say enough great things about a woman that rode with me 524 miles, ten hours straight on the Devils Highway Loop, Phoenix and back on (US-666) and didn’t complain for a moment…until she got off the bike, couldn’t walk and I had to carry her up the stairs. When I’m not on my bike or daydreaming about being on my bike, I’m a practicing dentist for 34 years and counting.

How long have you been riding?
I started riding in 1985 when I was in college but took a break for a number of years when our kids were younger. I started riding again in 2009 and I’ve been riding with a smile on my face ever since. Side note, my wife was totally against me riding. After I purchased a bike in ’09, I spent a week sleeping on my couch, getting the stink eye, and oh man, if looks could kill, there’d be yellow crime tape with a chalk outline of my body in the garage next to my bike. It was all worth it and that’s a true story.

First motorcycle?
It was a 1976 Schwinn Krate bike with ape handlebars and a dope banana bucket seat. Then I started adulting and rode my first motorcycle, it was a 1985 Honda VF 500 Interceptor.

Current motorcycle?
I have three motorcycles, a little excessive, my wife says, but I think it’s perfect for the variety of riding we enjoy. For touring with my wife two-up across the USA, I ride a 2016 BMW 1200rt. Riding solo for long stretches I ride an adventure bike, a 2022 BMW 1250 GSA. And for the daily commute to work; a 2018 BMW r9t Urban GS.

What makes you most excited about motorcycling?
Truth be told, it’s the adventures and amazing places you see when riding. I love riding with my wife and with friends that are passionate about motorcycles and enjoy the open road. The more miles, the bigger the smiles!

What is the best motorcycle advice or tip you’ve received?
Well, I wish I could say I thought of this, but it was something I read and truly enjoyed.

"The best life advice I could ever give you:
- buy a motorcycle
- find a bunch of friends with motorcycles to hang out with
- Die Happy"

Two out of three is good for me, I'll 'Die Happy' later.

Favorite Aerostich gear?
The Hi-Viz leather Transit jacket and black Transit leather pants. My wife loved my Hi-Viz Transit jacket so much, she wanted one for herself even though they were mens sizes, she got the smallest one Aerostich made, and it was perfect for her. She rides in the AD-1 pants and loves the versatility of Gortex in any weather. When I brought it home and wore the Transit jacket and pants, my 28-year-old son took an IG photo of me posted it on his IG and captioned it “My bad-ass dad.” That made me smile and laugh out loud.

Aerostich-related story?
I wore my Hi-Viz leather Transit jacket to work this summer in the morning, a friend was driving in the opposite direction on the freeway and passed by me. He texted me later that morning, "Hey, I saw this dude riding his bike with a yellow jacket and it looked dope, what do you think it was, a Klim or what?" I texted back, "Dude, that was an Aerostich jacket and that was me lol."

I’ve not seen a Hi-Viz Transit jacket like mine yet, and now I know no one can ever tell me "Hey, I didn’t see ya coming."

What is the best motorcycle trip you've taken?
This was an epic ride we took earlier this year, my wife and I riding two-up, with my best riding buddy. We started from Phoenix, rode to Joshua Tree, then Angeles National Forest. Stopped in Los Angeles to check out Bike Shed Moto, picked up Pacific Coast Highway, or the One in Santa Monica up the California coast, Pismo Beach, Morro Bay, Big Sur, Carmel by the Sea. Stayed a night in San Francisco, the next day rode across the Golden Gate Bridge, Sausalito and Mt. Tamalpais, Stinson Beach and up to Bodega Bay then through Napa Valley and on to Lake Tahoe. The ride on the America’s Loneliest Road (HWY 50) was the following day, it was a crazy decision and that's a one and done. The next couple of days we rode to Jackson Hole, Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, Needles Highway, the Black Hills, and home.

3,500 miles, eight days, eight national and state parks. We rode unbelievable twisties and passed through incredible scenery on roads that were only dreamed, but now experienced in all its breathtaking beauty.

What is the best part about traveling as a couple?
My wife, Marilou, and I have shared so many motorcycle adventures together, we’ve ridden over 12,000 miles in three summers. We‘ve toured through national parks, state parks, the awesome beauty of America that we’ve never seen before on two wheels. It’s a priceless journey we’ve accomplished together and to share the stories and memories of our trips is better when we both can tell the story.

What is the most difficult part about traveling as a couple?
There are a few challenges, but one that comes to mind is this; as a rider, I have to be aware my partner has to get off the bike no more than 100 miles and stretch, hydrate, and just get a break from the monotony of endless paved roads. I can ride solo further and much longer, but to make a long ride a safe and a positive experience for both of us, you gotta make sure your passenger is enjoying the ride and not miserable sitting behind you.

What is your favorite lunch food on a motorcycle trip?
Anything that’s quick and light to eat. Marilou likes a healthy salad; I’m looking for a BLT with potato chips. It truly sucks when you eat a heavy lunch and 60 miles later in the middle of nowhere, you’re looking for anything remotely looking like sage brush to run behind and drop a deuce. It’s brutal and yet we’ve ALL experienced it at some point in riding.

Anything else you would like to share with our audience?
Aerostich is a unique product. If you visited the Aerostich location in Duluth and toured the building, you will walk out with an Aerostich suit or Aerostich gear. Aerostich is simply that good and the individuals working there genuinely believe in their brand and product, it doesn’t get any better than that.

Yay or Nay?

Backroads? Absolutely yay. I'm always trying to find backroads to ride.

Freeways? Wishy washy yay. I'd rather ride two lane highways than full on five lane interstate freeways.

Gravel Roads? Absolutely yay on my GSA but a hard nay on my RT. Ya gotta know your bikes limitations. I rode the Moki Dugway on my RT, 2 up. I had white knuckles the entire way up.

Roadside Motel? Yay, but it’s gotta be clean, not sketchy. And has to be safe to leave a bike parked out front.

Camping? Yay, for me. For my wife, that’s a hard nay, she’s a glamping gal.

Helmet Audio System? Yay. I couldn’t ride without one, not so much the intercom or the mesh with a group of riders but definitely just to hear my playlists and podcasts!