For the last ten years we’ve done an annual ride at a local nursing home, Valpo Care and Rehabilitation Center. The residents enjoy riding in the sidecars and hanging out with riders that volunteer their time. Normally, we keep things pretty tame on the rides. This year though, I saw my chance for a little fun with one of the staff’s kids. It was a major anniversary after all.

“Flying the chair” is a basic sidecar riding skill, one that new rig owners are encouraged to practice, preferably in a vacant parking lot. The reason is simple: sometimes the sidecar will get lite, generally on right-hand turns. The rider, or pilot as often referred to needs to know how to handle the machine under such circumstances.

This short clip shows me bringing the chair up on a right-hand turn. In truth, it’s not difficult to lift it on a straight run with a bit of body English and throttle application. Once in the air it’s possible to keep going until you run out of gas or road, which was what happened here.

Thanks to Eli for taking capturing the action with his phone.