The ROHO Group, Inc., is the parent company to AIRHAWK and manufacturer of support surface products for medical and consumer applications, is pleased to announce Pat Chelf as the new Senior Vice President of Sales and Business Development. In his new role, Chelf will assume leadership responsibility for ROHO’s global sales organization, marketing, education and business development.

BELLEVILLE, Ill., (August 30, 2010) — The ROHO Group, manufacturer of support surface products for medical and consumer applications, is pleased to announce Pat Chelf as the new Senior Vice President of Sales and Business Development. In his new role, Chelf will assume leadership responsibility for ROHO’s global sales and distribution, marketing, education and business development.

Chelf brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in business development, sales leadership and strategic marketing. Pat is also familiar with the rehabilitation industry, having served as an executive at Otto Bock Healthcare Americas, a prosthetic, orthotic and mobility device manufacturer, until 2009. Prior to Otto Bock, Chelf enjoyed a 21-year career in sales and marketing management within the health care businesses of 3M, a Fortune 100 company.

Chelf was most recently the Vice President of Marketing and Business Development for Agro Medical Technologies, Ltd, a high-tech start-up company based in Israel. He was responsible for preparing the US launch of their initial device — a powered exoskeletal walking system designed to allow individuals with paralysis of the lower extremities to regain the ability to walk, sit, stand and climb stairs.

Born in Fort Worth, Texas, Chelf spent most of his teenage years in Illinois where he earned his Bachelors of Science in Communications from the University of Illinois. He earned his Master of Arts in Speech Communications from the University of Minnesota.

Chelf is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Amputee Coalition of America and was recently elected Vice-Chair.

The ROHO Group looks forward to Chelf helping the Company achieve new heights of success.

“Pat is a dynamic leader, who brings to The ROHO Group a fresh perspective and abundance of experience and success,” President Tom Borcherding said. “We have our sights set on growth, and Pat’s intellect, vision and experience will help The ROHO Group achieve our ambitious goals.”

The ROHO Group specializes in shape-fitting technology, manufacturing cushioning and mattress products for medical applications as well as for recreational and commercial vehicle use.  For more information, visit The ROHO Group’s website at www.therohogroup.com or contact customer service at (800) 851-3449.

Let’s welcome Mr. Chelf to the AIRHAWK team!

You can find the press release online at PRWeb.

Check out photos from Sturgis 2010 at the AIRHAWK Facebook page. The AIRHAWK crew was at J&P Cycles and next to Paul Teutel, Jr. at the Biker’s Choice tent.

Steve, the Ass Pad Tycoon, won J&P Cycles’ Salesperson of the Year award. Congrats Steve, APT and the supporting cast members!

The Ass Pad Tycoon has earned his moniker by traveling hundreds of thousands of miles on various motorcycles all over the Earth chasing down Ass Pad sales. Over the years he has learned what’s important, and what’s not so important to carry along with you on extended motorcycle trips. Here’s a list of essentials you should have for your next journey:

• Ass Pad — I won’t use this space as a commercial for my product, but if you’re going to be spending 10 hours in the saddle for multiple days; I’m betting that your stock seat will have you squirming and grimacing. Besides distributing the pressure underneath your sit bones, a pad that will minimize moisture build up is key.

• Rain Suit — This is something that you shouldn’t skimp on! A high quality, breathable rain suit will make your rainy days in the saddle much more tolerable. When I travel, I’m usually on a tight schedule and there is no waiting for the rain to clear out – I just put on the suit and go all day in the rain.

A rain suit over a fleece type shirt works great on those chilly nights — sparing you the bulk of packing a heavy jacket.

• Gore-Tex type boots — I love the Danner TFX military boots. They keep your feet dry even in monsoon conditions, yet allow your feet to breathe. These are the most comfortable walking boots that I’ve ever owned, so forget about the expensive motorcycle-specific boots and check out the Danners.

• Lightweight Jacket — A well-vented jacket will actually keep you cooler on those hot and sunny days while keeping your skin from getting fried, plus it offers protection in the event of an unexpected get-off. Wear moisture-absorbing t-shirts on the really hot days to keep you from getting all clammy.

• Ear Plugs — Long days in the saddle with no protection WILL damage your ears.  I use ER6 stereo ear plugs that seal off all the outside noise, while providing great sound from my iPod. I have a “Road” playlist that keeps me going all day long. If you don’t like riding with music, pay a little extra to get the custom molded type — it’s worth it! I use them in the hotels to drown out snoring and all other unwanted noises while I get a good night’s sleep for the next day on the road.

• Bungies/Straps — You never know when you’re going to need to strap something down.  ROK straps Rock!

• Moto Tool Kit — Nuff said.

• Sunscreen

• Chapstick with sunscreen — I learned the hard way after many years of riding without it. I’ve had precancerous cells burned off my lip twice in the last few years.

• Maps/GPS — Even though I use a Garmin Zumo; it’s always best to have backup maps. Paper maps never run out of batteries or suffer from jarred hard drives. I photocopy only the states that I’ll need for the trip to minimize the bulk.

• Extra Credit Card — Stash a spare under your seat or in your luggage just in case you leave your wallet on top of your saddlebag after gassing up on the NY Turnpike (like I did).  I do the same with a spare key.

• Polarized Shades — Looking into road glare all day is NOT good; pony up and spend the little extra for polarized sunglasses, it makes a huge difference.

• Seamless skivvies — You don’t want your undies digging into your ass all day. Look for riding pants with flat seams as well.

• Keychain Light — You never know when you’re going to need light; a cell phone light will work in a pinch.

• Point and shoot camera with video — they make great shooting cameras that easily fit into your pocket or tank bag; document your journeys!

• Tank Bag — If you don’t have a tour pack/ top case, get a tank bag to hold all of your small stuff that you frequently need while on the road like you phone, camera, sunscreen, earplugs and glasses. I like the ones with a clear plastic top that let’s you position your map for the day’s route. Magnetic is the way to go — just make sure to wipe off the dust and dirt before mounting onto your paint.

• Electric gadget chargers — Don’t forget the chargers for all of your important gadgets including your camera, phone, GPS, etc.

• Extra clothes — As far as clothes go, I normally pack 4 or 5 sets of lightweight clothes and wash them as needed after that. Everybody is different regarding their tolerance for wearing “stale” road clothes; I personally like to wear a fresh set each day. I grab the plastic dry cleaning bag from the hotel each night and stuff my dirties in there, that way there is no cross-pollination going on in my saddle bags…but that’s just me.

Anything else you’re thinking about bringing is just bulk, but some people don’t mind bringing the kitchen sink along for the ride…that’s your call. There are a few items I bring if the weather might turn cold; waterproof gloves if it looks like lots of cold rain — I’ve stopped at Wal-Mart and picked up big latex gloves and thin cotton work gloves and it worked in a pinch. Neck gaiters also go a long way in keeping the cold air off your neck and going down into your jacket — it’s better than packing a bulky jacket.

Don’t EVER underestimate the power of altitude and latitude! Even in the dead of summer, if you’re going far north or high in the mountains; you better make sure that you have more than flip-flops and t-shirts. The mountains above the desert and high plains can get really cold, causing dramatic temperature changes — again, the rain suit and sweatshirt combo works in a pinch.

There you have it — 33 years of road trip wisdom rolled into a few pages of text. I’m sure that I left something off – just like I do when I pack for my trips. Maybe I’ll follow my own advice and use the same packing list for every trip.

Steve Peyton
Ass Pad Tycoon

You don’t have to be a motorcycle enthusiast to know about the legendary Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. This year’s rally marks the 70th anniversary of the event held August 9-15, with pre-rally events beginning on the 6th. The events won’t fall short for the anniversary, whether it’s the Guitar Hero contest, the World Pickle Lickin’ Federations World Championships, the Miss Buffalo Chip Beauty Pageant or the extreme motorcycle stunts.

AIRHAWK will be next to Biker’s Choice where Paul Teutul Jr. will debut the first bike from the new TLC series American Chopper: Senior vs. Junior. Biker’s Choice and AIRHAWK will both be in front of J&P Cycles (1650 Lazelle Street). After you check out the new bike, stop by the AIRHAWK booth.

As a part of AIRHAWK’s 14th year at Sturgis, KSQY radio station will also be broadcasting live from the AIRHAWK tent. There will also be a sneak peak of the AIRHAWK R™ made of neoprene rubber and features a new ergonomic design. The original AIRHAWK neoprene cushion comes in five different sizes that come with a 2-year warranty and are backed with a 60-day “You Bet Your Ass 60-day “You Bet Your Ass^SM” money-back guarantee. AIRHAWK2 comes in 3 sizes with a 1-year limited warranty and the same money-back guarantee.

How did this legendary event begin? The Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club began back in 1936. In 1938, the original line-up only included nine racers for a one-day event. In 1963 the event became a multi-day event. More than 400,000 people attended the rally in 2008 and 66 marriage licenses were issued and it had sales of 10.45 million.

Remember to use your AIRHAWK cushion to save your butt on the way to Sturgis. Stop by the AIRHAWK booth to test out the products. You can also visit the AIRHAWK Facebook page to see the latest updates. Follow our check-ins on Foursquare to know our latest location.

Because there’s an iPhone app for almost everything, I decided to search for a few must haves for motorcyclists. The list below isn’t complete and if you know of other ones to add, feel free to add them. We’d love to hear from you what you’re using.

1. Your Motorcycle Insurance Company (FREE)

Several insurance companies have their own apps available. It makes it easier to find an agent, find a repair shop, check rates, make payments, get answers to common questions and even file a dreaded claim. Several insurance companies have apps including State Farm, Nationwide (iPhone), Progressive, Allstate, Esurance (iPhone), Farmers Insurance Group (iPhone), American Family Insurance and GEICO (iPhone).

2. Motorcycle Companies (FREE)

Several motorcycle companies have applications including Harley Davidson (iPhone), BMW (iPhone),

3. Pass the written motorcycle test

• Motorcycle Test (iPhone $0.99, Andriod $2.99)
• Motorcycle Theory Test (iPhone $4.99)
• Motorcycle Test Prep (iPhone $2.99)
• Riding Test (iPhone $2.99, Android)
• Traffic Signs (iPhone $0.99)
• UK Driving Test Theory (iPhone $0.99)
• My License – UK Driving License Theory Test Trainer (iPhone $4.99)
• UK Traffic Signs (iPhone $0.99)

4. Motorcycle Performance

Dynolicious (iPhone $12.99) — It’s the first application available for the iPhone and iPod Touch that measures automotive performance. No external wires are needed.

Features include:

• 0-60 Acceleration
• 1/4 mile trap speed and time
• Estimated horsepower
• G-force in 360 degrees
• Post your results to Facebook and Twitter

5. Find the best biking roads

Best Biking Roads (iPhone $3.99)

Greatest Road (iPhone $4.99)

My Tracks (Android) —  The app allows you to record your GPS tracks including time, speed, distance and elevation.

6. Gas Logs

Motorcycle Minder (iPhone $2.99) — Track your motorcycle maintenance and repair needs.

AccuFuel (iPhone $0.99) — The app monitors your vehicle’s fuel efficiency. It works for any vehicle.

7. Games

2XL Supercross (iPhone $4.99) — An off-road racing game

Moto Chaser (iPhone $0.99) — Motocross game

Motorcycle Engine (iPhone $1.99) — Feel like you’re riding a motorcycle with an authentic motorbike sound, speed gauge, rpm gauge and a throttle feeling.

8. Other

Biker Beacon (iPhone $1.99) — Social network for motorcycle enthusiasts. You can add events, map locations of fellow riders, update your Facebook and Twitter and more.

Trapster — The app alerts you when you are approaching speed traps, red light and speed cameras, police check points and more. The application is available for iPhone, iPad, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile, Palm and Garmin & TomTom.

MotoGP live timing (iPhone $18.99) — The official app for MotoGP and has live timing race information. You can know the race lap, rider position, gap time and top speed.

WeatherBug (iPhone $0.99 – FREE LITE version available, Android) — Provides up-to-date weather in the US and several other places around the world.

iBike Rider (iPhone case £34.10) — It’s a wrist-mounted iPhone case designed with headset to use in helmet and make it easily accessible while cruising around town.