Commuting - Commuting During the Harley 100th

I thought other two wheel riders would have more sense.

I had a great commute into work yesterday but the ride home was not so great. I passed and was passed by hundreds of Harley riders comming into Milwaukee for the 100th celebration. I also have a Harley but I'd much rather ride my Trek.

Why is it so funny to open up the throttle when passing a bicyclist with those wonderfully altered exhaust pipes? And why do Harley riders have to ride side by side. In pairs they take up more road than cars. Just like many car drivers they wouldn't give an inch.

I quess because I am a bicyclist first and Harley rider second, I treat other bicyclists with much more respect.

Sorry for whining.

I would love to be able to see hundreds of hot bikes on my commute, that would make my commute more exciting.

I'll commute this Friday for sure. The National Air Show is this weekend and I expect to see the planes practicing. Also going to checkout our local Critical Mass so I can see first hand what the hub-bub is about.

I'm sorry to hear that. I've usually had more positive experiences with Harley riders. Maybe there were just so many of them that they reached a critical mass and no one else mattered (like you on your bike, unfortunately).

I used to ride all the time in the canyons between Santa Monica and the Ventura County line, all through Malibu. I'd be up there at sunrise on the weekends for 50-90 milers, and really the only other traffic was motorcycles. The Harley riders were always courteous, friendly, and passed safely with a wave. I used to ride by some bar that a lot of them gathered at (I forget the name), and always get a friendly greeting as I passed by. I figured that they know what's it like being smaller and on only two wheels, so they respected my presence.

Of course, that whole "two-wheel kindred spirit" thing doesn't hold water as I remember the other traffic out there that early -- guys on those little rice-burner sport bikes, like Ninjas and Katanas. Those guys rode like real jerks.

Better luck next time. Glad you're okay.

We've entered a poker run at a local veteran's organization. Poker runs are attended predominately by Harley riders; we're attending on our tandem and have enlisted a couple of singles to play the game too. It should add up to 80 miles of good riding. We'll be rubbing elbows with the Harley riders pretty much all day.

We're curious to see how leather and lycra, colorful jerseys and bicycle helmets mix. :confused: Should be interesting.

We'll let you know if we had a "riot" or not (pun intended). :p

I rode my Harley to work today. It was a little less stressful. They're everywhere, they're everywhere! It's now Friday. This weekend should be amazing. We are expecting 250,000 extra Harleys in town for the event. I think I'll stay off my bike until Monday.

There have been hundreds of Harley's passing through here all week long, I can't imagine what it must be like down by Milwaukee. Not that the beer will ever run out in Milwaukee, but this weekend will be a real test. If it does run out, leave town immediately!!

My experience has also been that when they are alone, motorcycle riders are usually polite to bicyclist, but put them in a group and they are ususally just the opposite.

Blwyn, you are not kidding here in Oconomowoc they are closing down steets to accomidate the Harleys. It is amazing! I have seen more than a dozen each day this week on my 4 minute commute home. I wish I was in Milwaukee to see the action.

Originally posted by bjlaw
I thought other two wheel riders would have more sense.

...why do Harley riders have to ride side by side? In pairs they take up more road than cars. Just like many car drivers they wouldn't give an inch.

I quess because I am a bicyclist first and Harley rider second, I treat other bicyclists with much more respect.
I guess those Harley riders you dealt with are no better than car drivers on cell phones.

I always equated motorcycling with skill and precision. Was I wrong?

It was probably a group thing. Afraid to break formation, or something. Bah...

You got it right Pete. They hate to break formation.

I rode my Harley to work on Friday and took a 2 hour ride home through downtown Milwaukee. It usually takes me 25 minutes. The ride was spectacular. The Harleys and the people on them were fabulous. What a weekend in Milwaukee!

The best Harley I saw was a soft tail with a bicycle rack on it. The rider had his Cannondale with him. It was an interesting rack. The bicycle stood straight up on the rack with the front wheel on the high end. I wish I had had my camera with me.

Ha ha ha I would loved to have seen that picture.

Have you seen these bike carriers for motorcycles?

Motorcycle bike carrier (http://bikeaddict.com/products/motorcycle-bike-racks.html)

and

Another link (http://www.hometown.aol.com/mschue5938/mschuette.html)

Jay