First Bike Rally vs. Riding

[schoeney]

Kris,

Now you need to make up your mind....are you a stupid Norwegian or an old + wise one? You can't be both!

[bearbait]

In my experience there are rallies, and then there are rallies.

I have gone to Americade a couple of times. That, for those who don't know, Americade an all-makes mostly touring type week-long rally held every year in June in Lake George, NY. Tens of thousands of bikes come during the week of the rally. There are vendors galore, high quality and otherwise. There are vendors who will install purchased items on the spot. There are vendor-sponsored boat rides on the lake. There are conferences, demonstrations, parades. There are group rides and tours all over the area. There are - this is key - demo rides offered by major manufacturers (Victory, Yamaha, Harley, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Honda,...), and this is about the only chance many of us will get to "ride before you buy" in this neck of the woods. There is an actual rodeo (animals, not bikes). There are fashion shows, lectures, entertainment. There is.........damn near anything.

It isn't Sturgis or Daytona type debauchery. It is a family event. Motels are jammed up for miles around. Call this Rally Type A. (Sturgis and Daytona could be Rally Type B.)

The crowds and the traffic make it a pain in the butt in many, many ways, but the opportunity to see SO many things makes it worthwhile to attend every so often.

But then, I have also gone to events like the Volusia Forum (www.volusiariders.com) Yankee Rally in Hancock, MA. Not thirty thousand bikes: more like thirty. Not vendors galore: no vendors. Just a few dozen enthusiasts (who quickly become friends) gathering for a couple of days to ride together (daytimes), drink beer (nighttimes) and shoot the sh*t ('round the clock). Call this Rally Type C.

I go to Rally Type A maybe every third year. I never go to Rally Type B. I go to Rally Type C as often as I can spare the time.

My advice: look for Type C's. You'll love 'em.

[landman]

our rally in custer next year will be better and i promise some of the best riding in the country.if we keep our focus on the riding
and not so much on the party,we will have a great time.who all
is allready registered at the bavarian???

[waterman]

The biggest rally I have been to is around 100 bikes (Custer VROC 2006). Had a good time. I have wanted to go to Sturgis but have been reluctant to with the mass of people. Just meeting and talking with people is more than half the fun. This year I went to the VROC rally at Lead, SD and there was only 30 people there. However, it was more fun than most other events.

Landman, I am really looking forward to Custer next year. I already have a couple of routes lined up for rides.

[rickyboy]

Hey to those of you that did the "Chuckanut",
{ schoeney, netnorske }
do you ever continue into the Mt. Baker area? Maybe stop at The Holy Smoke Tavern? When and if you ever plan to do so, PM me ahead of time and if it's a weekend you might want to stop in at my "cabin" for a pit stop. It's just down the road from "the smoke". If I know ahead of time perhaps I could join you for the ride and then hit my place.
Glad you had a good day. I also did a small ride with a bunch of people {20-25 bikes} to, and out through the Fraser Valley stopping for lunch and then a few "pops" before a short ride home to Langley. My first ride with more than a couple of bikes. I'm looking fwd to the ride to Custer next summer and the group rides there. Are you guys going?

[bigjohn]

Originally Posted by schoeney

Hi Kris and BigJohn,

Glad you had a great ride. This rookie learned a lesson about himself and rally's.

Next year, join us for the "Anti-Oyster Run" And acutally ride.

[bigjohn]

Originally Posted by rickyboy ... #00722

Hey to those of you that did the "Chuckanut",
{ schoeney, netnorske }
do you ever continue into the Mt. Baker area? Maybe stop at The Holy Smoke Tavern? When and if you ever plan to do so, PM me ahead of time and if it's a weekend you might want to stop in at my "cabin" for a pit stop. It's just down the road from "the smoke". If I know ahead of time perhaps I could join you for the ride and then hit my place.
Glad you had a good day. I also did a small ride with a bunch of people {20-25 bikes} to, and out through the Fraser Valley stopping for lunch and then a few "pops" before a short ride home to Langley. My first ride with more than a couple of bikes. I'm looking fwd to the ride to Custer next summer and the group rides there. Are you guys going?

Rick - Thanks for the invite. Just might have to take you up on it.

As for custer next year, I'm still on the fence about when and where to ride. I've done the BTK Red Lodge run for the past three years and Custer is starting to sound more interesting with each passing day. Just might have to fly Miss Nancy into Soux Falls and ride to pick her up. She mght go for that kind of a trip.

But, in the mean time, I've got to figure out a way to get her to warmth and sunshine in January/February. We'll both need a break from here by then.

Custer, eh? Haven't been through there since I did my MSF Instructor course 30 years ago.

[paul]

Originally Posted by bearbait

In my experience there are rallies, and then there are rallies.
Now, when you put it this way, a type A rally would be something I could get my head around. I do love quality venders and good times w/o the debauchery . Still would have to have an escape planned. ;)
I have gone to Americade a couple of times. That, for those who don't know, Americade an all-makes mostly touring type week-long rally held every year in June in Lake George, NY. Tens of thousands of bikes come during the week of the rally. There are vendors galore, high quality and otherwise. There are vendors who will install purchased items on the spot. There are vendor-sponsored boat rides on the lake. There are conferences, demonstrations, parades. There are group rides and tours all over the area. There are - this is key - demo rides offered by major manufacturers (Victory, Yamaha, Harley, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Honda,...), and this is about the only chance many of us will get to "ride before you buy" in this neck of the woods. There is an actual rodeo (animals, not bikes). There are fashion shows, lectures, entertainment. There is.........damn near anything.

It isn't Sturgis or Daytona type debauchery. It is a family event. Motels are jammed up for miles around. Call this Rally Type A. (Sturgis and Daytona could be Rally Type B.)

The crowds and the traffic make it a pain in the butt in many, many ways, but the opportunity to see SO many things makes it worthwhile to attend every so often.

But then, I have also gone to events like the Volusia Forum (www.volusiariders.com) Yankee Rally in Hancock, MA. Not thirty thousand bikes: more like thirty. Not vendors galore: no vendors. Just a few dozen enthusiasts (who quickly become friends) gathering for a couple of days to ride together (daytimes), drink beer (nighttimes) and shoot the sh*t ('round the clock). Call this Rally Type C.

I go to Rally Type A maybe every third year. I never go to Rally Type B. I go to Rally Type C as often as I can spare the time.

My advice: look for Type C's. You'll love 'em.

[Netnorske]

Originally Posted by schoeney

Kris,

Now you need to make up your mind....are you a stupid Norwegian or an old + wise one? You can't be both!

Greg,
Here's how it breaks down:

I'm old enough to hurt in the mornings...even after the nights I don't drink.

I'm wise enough to not make the same mistake more than three times...(okay, maybe only two) ;), but I'm stupid enough to still make them the first time... .

So....that makes me a Wise, Old, Stupid Norwegian... ...!!!!

Cheers....Kris

[Netnorske]

Originally Posted by rickyboy ... #00722

Hey to those of you that did the "Chuckanut",
{ schoeney, netnorske }
do you ever continue into the Mt. Baker area? Maybe stop at The Holy Smoke Tavern? When and if you ever plan to do so, PM me ahead of time and if it's a weekend you might want to stop in at my "cabin" for a pit stop. It's just down the road from "the smoke". If I know ahead of time perhaps I could join you for the ride and then hit my place.
Glad you had a good day. I also did a small ride with a bunch of people {20-25 bikes} to, and out through the Fraser Valley stopping for lunch and then a few "pops" before a short ride home to Langley. My first ride with more than a couple of bikes. I'm looking fwd to the ride to Custer next summer and the group rides there. Are you guys going?

Rick,
Sounds like a great offer. That Mt. Baker area is a beautiful area to ride! I would love to make the run to Custer next summer and if by chance I do, maybe we and BigJohn, if he goes, could ride out together, but...

That would be a three day ride out...three days there....then three days ride home. Not sure I can swing a 9 day bike-riding orgy... !

[taranis]

Originally Posted by Netnorske

Taranis,
We stopped there (Big Lake Bar and Grill) for a great buffet lunch on our way home and there were probably 30 other bikes there!

Just riding in the area of a good rally is all you need to do to be part of it. I hate getting older, but wiser is not such a bad thing... ;)!

Now I'm really homesick! Did you have the sauceless hot-wings? Man, I'd kill for a dozen or so of those and a tall draft Heffe. YUM!
From the front door of the place you can just see the roof of the house I still own out there and used to live in until May. Damn. Small world!

Glad to hear you all had a great time. There are many, many afternoon rides worth your time in that area. The Cascade Loop is one of my favorite weekend adventures. Highway 9 from Arlington, thru Sedro-Wooley to Belllingham is a nice twisty little road too. There's a loop "inside" the Cascade Loop too that is a perfect afternoon get-away also.

[bigjohn]

Originally Posted by Taranis

Now I'm really homesick! Did you have the sauceless hot-wings? Man, I'd kill for a dozen or so of those and a tall draft Heffe. YUM!
From the front door of the place you can just see the roof of the house I still own out there and used to live in until May. Damn. Small world!

Glad to hear you all had a great time. There are many, many afternoon rides worth your time in that area. The Cascade Loop is one of my favorite weekend adventures. Highway 9 from Arlington, thru Sedro-Wooley to Belllingham is a nice twisty little road too. There's a loop "inside" the Cascade Loop too that is a perfect afternoon get-away also.

\No hot wings this trip. They only had a buffett of salmon, pork and flayed chicken. Considering the mob that was coming through, it was good idea.

Yep, there are some nice rides up here. Love making the CederWillie, Darrington, Arlington loop. Very nice way to pass a pleasent morning.

North Cascades is, well, the North Cascade Highway. Great road, great scinery, and add in good friends and a good meal in Winthrop, what more can you ask for?

Which raises the question, why'd you leave? I've been trying to get up here for 30 years. Company finally landed a project I could handle. Sweet.

[schoeney]

Rick, BigJohn, + Kris,

I go up to Bellingham quite a bit to see my daughter but doubt I will be up there on the bike before next spring due to weather. I too want to ride this infamous highway 20. I heard about it from several people that rode it in this weekend.

I also agree that type "C" Rallys sound like fun.

Would love to do Custer but 7-9 days is a stretch for this self employed little business guy that is getting killed by this economy. I need to work to put gas in the Nad. If things are going much better by June I hope to be a late addition but right now it does not look good. But a loop up the coast through Forks, Port Townsend, Anacortes, and out east on Highway 20 to Twisp and Wenatchee sounds like a nice 3-4 day jaunt.

Cheers to all you Northwesterners! Lets get all our KawaNow brothers and sisters to come up here for the 2010 National Rally!.

[Netnorske]

Originally Posted by schoeney

Rick, BigJohn, + Kris,

I go up to Bellingham quite a bit to see my daughter but doubt I will be up there on the bike before next spring due to weather. I too want to ride this infamous highway 20. I heard about it from several people that rode it in this weekend.

I also agree that type "C" Rallys sound like fun.

Would love to do Custer but 7-9 days is a stretch for this self employed little business guy that is getting killed by this economy. I need to work to put gas in the Nad. If things are going much better by June I hope to be a late addition but right now it does not look good. But a loop up the coast through Forks, Port Townsend, Anacortes, and out east on Highway 20 to Twisp and Wenatchee sounds like a nice 3-4 day jaunt.

Cheers to all you Northwesterners! Lets get all our KawaNow brothers and sisters to come up here for the 2010 National Rally!.

Hwy 20 is an awesome ride across the North Cascades...one of the best up here. We will have to plan some rides for next summer for sure fellas...and I would second the vote for hosting the 2010 national rally somewhere in the NW region!

Let us know the next time you are riding up this way Greg!

[skyhookman]

I went to Sturgis in 2006 just to see the deal, went in town the first night and that wound it up, spent the rest of the week, riding the country side. I prefer the smaller rallies, or know ralley at all. I better like riding in a small group of several bikes or, alone more fun for me. I like to enjoy the company of the people I,m riding with, and you can,t always do that in a big crowd. I would go to a kawanow group gathering. Started to Mytrle Beach a couple of times, got very close and then rode around it. Just me.