Friends,
Today was a dress rehearsal of sorts. More in a moment. But first some context.
In 10 days hundreds of thousands of motorcycles and their owners will converge on Milwaukee from around North America and beyond. They’ll be participating in the biggest group ride in Harley-Davidson’s history, to celebrate its 105th Anniversary. Also to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Harley-Owner’s Group (HOG), the world’s largest motorcycle club, a million strong and growing.
The rides will leave from 105 sites around North America, and will become 25 routes, eventually merging into 5 large rides that will converge on Milwaukee. Yes, Mildred, lock up the children. There’s a pretty good chance some of the bikers will ride by where you are.
And whenever Harley-Davidson bikers hit the road, they raise money for a worthy cause. For the 105th, the cause is the Muscular Dystrophy Association, for which Harley riders, dealers, and employees have raised more than $60 million over the years.
Regrettably, I won’t be on the official ride to Milwaukee, since I need to get there two days ahead of the pack. But I will have the chance to ride in the big parade through Milwaukee on Saturday, August 31, along with 7,500 of my biker brethren.
But the chances are good that either on the way there or on the ride back I’ll be in a large group of bikers. That brings me to today’s dress rehearsal.
Bikers for Breath
Closer to home…
Today was the annual Bikers for Breath ride of my local dealer, New Roc Harley-Davidson in New Rochelle. It raised funds for Cystic Fibrosis research and treatment. Between 250 and 300 bikes took part. Joseph wasn’t able to be there, but I rode along with my 300 new biker buddies.
I did the same ride last year, about a month after getting my license and with only a few hundred miles in the saddle. It was my first time on a highway, in formation, and in rain. It’s safe to say that I was scared witless. What a difference a year, 3,000 miles, and Joseph’s tutelage make. This time it was a blast. The weather was perfect, and the ride went through some very pretty parts of Westchester.
Best of all, the ride was police-escorted, with motorcycle cops from New Rochelle, Yonkers, Harrison, and other towns in Westchester. They were great. They blocked every intersection, so we never had to stop. And we were alone on the road, without any cars.
The Hogs Go Riding Two-By-Two Hurrah, Hurrah…
Riding in formation was terrifying last year, but fun this year.
We rode on local streets, interstate highways, and state roads. (For those who know Westchester, here’s the route: From New Rochelle, US 1 south to the Hutch; north to the Cross County; east to the Sprain, north to the Taconic, north to Route 100; along a gorgeous two-lane road that crossed and followed the Croton reservoir; east on 202 in Somers, south on 684 to the Merritt, south to the Hutch, back on US 1 to New Rochelle.)
We stayed in formation the whole time, in rows of two in a single lane. At one point on the interstate as we were coming down a gradual hill, I could see the front of the line, about a quarter mile ahead. In my rearview mirrors two rows of bikes trailed back to the horizon. All the while motorcycle cops zoomed ahead in the empty left lane, like so many sheepdogs keeping their flock safe and on track.
For the full 80 miles of the ride I followed a biker in a red t-shirt (seen in the picture above, from when we were forming up to start). And on my left, as it happens, was a fellow Brazilian.
Brasil! Brasil!
I know he’s Brazilian because as we were waiting to start we chatted, in Portuguese. I have a Brazilian flag patch prominently displayed on my riding vest. (Yes, In the hierarchy of my identities, Brazilian is still way up there. You can take the boy out of Brazil, but you can’t take Brazil out of the boy — thank goodness!)
The flag patch serves as a magnet for Brazilians, who come across a room or parking lot to speak Portuguese with a fellow traveller. I met six at the ride today.
Party Hearty
When we got back to the dealership there was a barbeque, music, exhibits, and scantily-clad women washing bikes. I didn’t avail myself of this particular service, but did manage to snap a picture or two.
Joseph and I leave on our trip in about 36 hours. I’ll blog from the road.
In the meantime, here’s a slideshow of the ride today, set, appropriately enough, to the tune of Born to be Wild…
doneStay safe,
Vroom,
Fred
August 19, 2008 at 2:37 am
Go Fred!
August 19, 2008 at 1:18 pm
The Bradner Gates family is wishing you well (some of us more enviously than others!!). Have fun, Fred!
August 19, 2008 at 3:01 pm
Fred,
Best of luck man. Give a call when you hit Ohio. I would love to meet up with you guys in Oxford!!
Matt
August 19, 2008 at 3:10 pm
Good luck Fred.
Ride safe and we’ll see you in Milwaukee.