I am a biker

[mojophone]

WOW, I am surprised but very happy that this post has had the response it has. I only wish now that the whole world would/could see this and really think about it and then apply these things to their daily lives out on the road be they truckers, cagers(car drivers) bicyclist, motorcyclist or even walkers. Thanks for the support ya'll and may the road in front of you always be smooth and long.

 

[dnoyes]

I was on the board for a Toys for Tots type charity in our old town. Our #1 supporter financially and through toy donations was the local biker club. They had a toy run for us every summer and we collected almost half of the toys we needed and about half of the money we needed through this group. I am going to send this to my friend who is the president of the group and have her put it on our website!

Oh, and in Minnesota at least, the local biker groups have taken it upon themselves to show up at the funerals of fallen servicemen and form a barrier between the mourners and the protesters so the mourners don't have to put up with that crap at the funeral.

This is also very cool

 

[alabamaalan]

While there is nothing funny in that, I did have to laugh about the sterotypes.

My SIL was having car problems and was helped by a biker. As he was finishing, he said something along the lines of "A lot of ladies would be scared to death to have me helping them"

She said "Oh you aren't anything; you should see my husband"

He is the stereotyped long haired, bearded, insert description here.

Of course now he does have some tattoos, a pierced ear, and a Harley, but at that time he didn't.

 

[Mrs.Toad]

Have to add my nice biker story:

When I was in college and living at home, my parents left town for a week, so naturally I threw a huge party. Now, I had some... interesting friends at that time, so I normally didn't judge a book by it's cover, but these bikers showed up at the party (friends of friends, who had told them about it). Three of them, older, HUGE, muscular, leather covered in studs... they looked very intimidating, but my friend said they were nice, they seemed nice, so I let them stay.

Fast forward to the end of the night. Everyone is leaving, the house is a mess. Four people stayed and helped me clean the place up a bit. My best friend, and guess who else?

Yup, the bikers. Some of the sweetest guys I ever met.


I always try to keep an eye out for motorcycles on the road, and leave extra space if one is ahead of me, since they can come to a stop so much faster than a car can.

 

[Serena]

That brought tears to my eyes.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

A little over a year ago my brother rode his bike across the country from California to here (and traveled around the east coast) before heading back to CA). I was more than a little worried about him.

He had a little fun with the stereotype the time that he was driving somewhere on his bike and we were were going in our van. He pulled up to our van and loudly asked us for money and we handed him a bill before we all started laughing. Of course the other drivers all thought he was a beggar and looked worried. I was ready to clobber him on the head for that, but that's his stupid sense of humor. At least he did let on that we knew each other before the light turned green so it could have been worse.

Thankfully the next time he's visiting he's flying. Not that practical jokes won't be in our future.

He's the most kind hearted guy, also. He's a middle school social studies teacher in inner city Los Angeles--a tough guy, but a good heart.

 

[minnie56]

Rides a Harley for pure pleasure..riding most Sundays with a group and in many Charity rides. He is a pussycat and often comes home with stories of Veterans and other poor souls that break his heart. A few weeks back he was on a ride for the Vets and he recalled the year earlier that one of them 'wished' for a Cuban cigar ..so he managed to get 100 of them to dispense that day.

If anything...riding his Harley has brought out the 'heart' in him!

 

[Cantw8]

Yeah, it's a PITA to be judged for how you look. I'm sorry for any discomfort you have felt. My best friends are bikers and are frequently looked at this way. Despite his long hair and tatoos, he is a respectable DA.....go figure

 

[golfgal]

You should see all the doctors, lawyers, business executives duded up for the Sturgis Bike Rally in South Dakota every year.

 

[snowwhitesmom]

Originally Posted by golfgal
Oh, and in Minnesota at least, the local biker groups have taken it upon themselves to show up at the funerals of fallen servicemen and form a barrier between the mourners and the protesters so the mourners don't have to put up with that crap at the funeral.

God love you all.

One of my all time favorite things to see is a guy in a suit riding a Harley!

 

[hrbib21]

I would tend to agree with that. However, most "bikers" are really weekend warriors, such as doctors and lawyers, who ride very little and do not really contribute in the way that was mentioned by the OP. There's nothing wrong with that but since I live just south of Myrtle Beach and bounce bars part time (during Bike Week especially), I'm fairly experienced with such things. The weekend warrior types are usually the ones getting themselves in trouble, both on the roadways and off. They're usually the ones whose butts I have to save at the bar.

I do not ride a bike now (I sold it to help buy our house) but I did for years and I have many friends who ride and they're all good people. Honestly, I'll even go so far as to say that I've never even met a bike gang member that hasn't been friendly, and I've met a few. So, yeah, generally bikers are good people. No question there.

 

[TnTsParty]

What a touching poem. I hate sterotypes - my DH has tattoos, long hair, 13 earrings in his left ear and he likes to wear undershirt type shirts that show off ALL his tattoos. There are so many people that look at him and say things they think you can't hear. This lady in our neighborhood - she thinks she is the president of the association but we don't have an association - well she told my neighbor that she is intimidated by my DH - there is nothing to be intimidated by but like my sister said some people are wierd about people with tattoos. One good thing about tattoos becoming more popular - hopefully the next generation of kids will be more accepting and look at people for who they really are inside and not for what they look like on the outside. My 9 year old niece is like that - her dad also has tattoos (not as many as my DH but he still has quite a few) she's willing to start a conversation with just about anyone.

 

[snowwhitesmom]

But, it's still cool to see a guy in a suit on a Harley!
All three of my older brothers have had motorcycles since they were teens. The first bike I rode on as a child was a BSA - the second an Indian - so I do know what you mean about the difference.

 

[hrbib21]

What a touching poem. I hate sterotypes - my DH has tattoos, long hair, 13 earrings in his left ear and he likes to wear undershirt type shirts that show off ALL his tattoos. There are so many people that look at him and say things they think you can't hear. This lady in our neighborhood - she thinks she is the president of the association but we don't have an association - well she told my neighbor that she is intimidated by my DH - there is nothing to be intimidated by but like my sister said some people are wierd about people with tattoos. One good thing about tattoos becoming more popular - hopefully the next generation of kids will be more accepting and look at people for who they really are inside and not for what they look like on the outside. My 9 year old niece is like that - her dad also has tattoos (not as many as my DH but he still has quite a few) she's willing to start a conversation with just about anyone.

I get the exact same thing. I gave up the earrings a few years ago (I had 3 in my left ear and I work in an office setting now) but I have the tattoos and I love wearing tank tops. My wife's friends usually say I'm intimidating, as well, but I don't think I am so who knows. They usually change their minds when they actually speak to me for a minute or two.

 

[Honu]

Not that I want to defend those that judge people on their looks, but the Hell's Angels of the 60's, especially in California, planted the "bikers are bad" seed in people's heads and they were well worthy of that reputation.

There are good and bad people in every walk of life and I know many chapters do good work and are good people. I also know of chapters though that traffic meth and deal in illegal arms.

Until the criminal chapters cease to exist, people will continue to be wary of bikers.

For the record, DH has a Harley and has friends in the Hell's Angels.

 

[maddhatir]

DH and I ride. I have got to tell you anytime we go to any type of Bike Run-- Rally, whatever- I feel like I never want to go back to "the real, judgemental, stuck-up, holier than thou, world"

I just want to stay in my own "biker world" Its nice here and so are the people.

 

[TnTsParty]

I forgot to mention that my DH grew up around Harley's and bikers - his dad was a biker and he used to go with his dad on all kinds of bike runs. I have respect for bikers on the road. I understand that there is a bad element that ruin it for the "good" guys but that is the way it seems with anything.

 

[GoofieRuthie]

I thought about this thread this morning when we took DD14 to her first day of High School. DH was standing against the wall with his long hair, goatee, sunglasses, and backwards hat, and arms folded, not bothering a soul. He was waiting while DD looked for her homeroom teacher on a list. A security guard walked over to him and asked if he was there with a student. Now, I on the other hand was wandering around the halls trying to find them and not a word was said to me.

On a side note, I think I might have looked like a teacher (I'm a teller at a bank so I was dressed pretty conservatively) because I had numerous students ask for directions.

 

[maddhatir]

I forgot to mention that my DH grew up around Harley's and bikers - his dad was a biker and he used to go with his dad on all kinds of bike runs. I have respect for bikers on the road. I understand that there is a bad element that ruin it for the "good" guys but that is the way it seems with anything.

I have NEVER felt unsafe at ANY TIME that I was amongst bikers- even the so-called bad ones (I have been places with the Warlocks, Pagans, and a local cycle "gang" The Wheels of Soul) actually, I feel safer at a biker get-together than I do walking down the street with self-proclaimed, normal people! They are the ones you have to watch out for!


I was at a bike run last year just walking down the sidewalk minding my own business and I see some guys ahead having a, what I thought was a discussion, I saw a police officer telling me to walk "way around" them because he was not sure what was going to happen! It was all good though, nothing came of it. As I said, I feel at home with the "biker types"

I actually think the "hardcore bikers" are more friendly than some of the "weekend riders"

 

[snowwhitesmom]

I actually think the "hardcore bikers" are more friendly than some of the "weekend riders

ITA! I waitressed my way through high school and college and let me tell you, there isn't an easier, friendlier or more generous crowd to wait on!