Jeff Ryan's Biker Blog Updates: April 2011

Hoka-Hey $1,000,000 MC Challenge Announces Changes!

Relax, the basic run for a million bucks is unchanged! Here's the new:

(1) San Diego has been ditched. The run now begins in Phoenix, Az.
(2) Big Sponsor: Harley-Davidson finally woke up and smelled the coffee.
(3) Sturgis Layover: Broken Spoke Campground gets the coup.

Our thanks to Beth Durham for the info. For more on this year's $1,000,000 Hoka Hey Challenge, go to www.hokaheychallenge.com

The Sheer Magnitude of Saturday's Leesburg BF Crowd Blew Us Away.

Police Blotter: Seven Saturday accidents, no deaths reported.

It's more than just the main drag, longer than Sturgis and Daytona combined, it's the combination of off street parking lots, plus a half mile of bikes parked roadside far beyond the 10 block area of the town's center. As a free ride in, it's hard to quantify the numbers of bikers who made the bikefest, but this year was obviously far and away, larger than 2010. Add to this, the sight of area bars with packed parking lots, and one begins to appreciate the enormity of this, the world's largest three day biker event. How does ABM know it's the world's largest? Because we've interviewed bikers from around the world. They are blown away by the size of our "Meetings". (yes, meetings). One to five thousand is a blowout crowd anywhere else. In America, it's a disappointment. The USA has the finest bikers anywhere, and runs like this one prove it.

Yes, we saw cops, like several FHP mc's on patrol, one pointing a laser device down #441, but no customers, as several pick up cars and bikes down the road idled under a Spanish moss-soaked oak tree. Since we've been here, we haven't seen one biker get a ticket, an arrangement which seems to work well for both sides.

ABM took a midday break from doing what we do to sip a cold draft under a big tent, crowded with bikers from all walks of life, including 1%'s from a famous American club. All were enjoying themselves as if it was a family reunion (without the usual family reunion drama).

We have no idea what's in the water down here (our only complaint, the h2o tastes like a--s), that seems to mellow everyone out. Probably has nothing to do with the water, and everything to do with being welcomed by townspeople who sincerely appreciate the biker. We're so used to being hosed for our bucks, then shoved aside for the next victim, that, at times, this one is nearly a surreal experience. Enough gushing, you get the idea.

Soon it will be time to blast back through rural central Florida for the 140 miles back to the ABM compound. Hopefully we'll find some ripe tomatoes and a big head of lettuce in the garden. I could eat a ton of it. This is a great year to start your first garden. You'll save a hundred bucks (or more) a month and the fresh veggies are so good, they give you a vitamin buzz. But I digress. One more swing through town, and we're on the road again, and like we say every single trip,

"We're always smilin' on the way home from Leesburg."

Kids! Please do not attempt to duplicate at home!

Taking a pair of Eric Buell's finest to the next level!

BIKES IN THE RAT'S HOLE: LBF-2011-

BIKER ART

Leesburg Bikefest 2011 People & Bike Pics, Great Times, Real People

SHOULDA BEEN HERE! LIVE, LOVE LIFE!

Leesburg Bikefest Saturday Happennings: Free Is Good!

Congrats for gettin' offa th' couch!

Let's do some biker stuff!

Bikers are attracted to Leesburg for the usual reason, to "do what we do". You can roll into town with ten bucks in your pocket, and roll out 12 hours later with ten bucks still in your pocket. This is a "gouge-less" event. Riding a wide trike, too "new" for heavy traffic, or (gasp!) you're a cager? Ride in to the party in the street. Take the Leesburg Bikefest Park n'ride Shuttle. One way for a buck. "Da Bus" in Sturgis costs ten times more..do we sense an evolving theme? www.ridelakexpress.com

Here are a few highlights from today's schedule. See one, or see 'em all, free of charge.

Biker Games: Noon-2pm, Rat's Hole area, 5th and Magnolia. Do we sense a "weenie bite" contest?

Rat's Hole Custom Bike Show: (1 block off the main drag, Magnolia Street) 10a-5pm today.

Ride Like A Pro HD Skill Show: (parking lot adjacent to the Rat's Hole lot) every half hour on the hour, 11:30am through 4:30pm. See how the experts ride a bagger like it's a Gixxer.

Team Extreem: (across the street from Rat's Hole) Sport bike stoppies, wheelies, stunting taken to the next level. Cool dudes on hot bikes. A real crowd pleaser. Five shows today, 10:30a, 3p, 6p, 9pm.

Beauty and the Beasts Grin 'n' Win?

Ms. Gator Harley Bikini Contest, Gator HD, 1pm on the dealership stage.

Miss Rat Mate Contest: Rat's hole 4pm, Rat's Hole lot.

Mr. LuckyMan hot body contest: Bud Main Stage, 5:30pm. (Do the ladies love shaved chests?)

Bands: All day, evening, all weekend: 44 bands, playing six stages throughout town.

Saturday Headliner: Georgia's Jackyl, stars of Sturgis BW. See 'em here free, 9:30 tonight, heart of town.

Ride safe, but ride! Life is short.
(Don't forget your sunblock and h2o)

Leesburg Builder's Cool Trike: Where's the gas tank..There it is!

Leesburg Rocketeer?

ABM has been alerted by a local eyewitness, (corroborated by a second eyewitness), who both say they saw a sport bike performing high speed wheelies past their work place, right on us# 441, (a local heavily travelled six line, between Leesburg, and Tavares). Their account had the runaway stunter hooking a hard left into a nearby shopping mall, then back out onto 441, in the opposite direction, all the while with an 8 cop posse in hot pursuit. We were told he dumped the stolen rocket and fled into the woods, and remains at large.