Cyclerides.com
Weekly Update
11/11/09
Greetings Riders,
Well, the 2009 Rocky Point Rally has now come
and gone. As expected, due to a list of reasons, the
attendance was down considerably this year. But those who did make the trek
South of the border seemed to be having their usual good time. The key this year
was to keep it alive, which they did. I met with the organizers on Sunday and
they are already planning for the event next year. The dates will
be passed along as soon as I get them.
It doesn't take much to get me excited about a
motorcycle ride to just about anywhere. I mean, I get excited when Mrs. C.
sends me to the store to pick up some milk. But the ride
to the Rocky Point Rally tends to turn the anticipation level up a notch
for some reason. I don't know whether it is the trip across the border to
experience a different country and culture, the allure of the sea side
resort destination, the viewing of the organized chaos downtown or
just getting away from the real world for a few days. It is hard
to put my finger on the exact reason, maybe all of the above. But
this rally is different than any other for the simple reason that it allows
the bikers to have some good fun without 200 police standing around like in
Laughlin waiting for someone to jaywalk. At the Rocky Point Rally, the attitude
of the city seems to be, "Have fun, just don't hurt anyone". With that in mind,
the riders police themselves, the participants enjoy themselves and
everything seems to work out just fine. For me, and I think I am speaking for
many others, it is a refreshing experience in an increasingly overregulated
world.
We left early Friday morning with temps around
70 degrees and partly cloudy skies. Just perfect for a 215
mile ride South Puerto Penasco and the Sea of Cortez. After stopping
to get registered for the rally we arrived at the Las Palmas condo on Sandy
Beach at around 1pm. We got settled in and then made our way down to the
Malecon, aka, the fish market or
downtown, for lunch and some second story viewing of the
bikes cruising down below. Things started a little slow but you could tell
that bikes were starting to make their way in from States.
We then went to Playa Bonita to listen to High n' Tight playing on the beach and
then on to one of our favorite new places called Portofino. This place has
excellent food with a patio facing Sandy Beach and overlooking the inlet to the
Marina. On weekends they have live music. Portofino is located at the top of the
hill on the right side just before you drop down to the Malecon. Give it a try
next time you are there.
On Saturday we awoke to a major
fog over Sandy Beach. I have never seen anything like this down
there, you couldn't even see the ocean from 100 yards away. But, by about 9am,
the Sun won the battle and the fog was gone, leaving us all with a nice mess of
dew mixed with the sand and dirt that was on our bikes. After a quick wipe down
we were on our way to another favorite stop for breakfast across from the Marina
called Coffee's Haus. On Saturday of the Rally the downtown is closed to car
traffic so bikers can freely roam the streets and not have to worry about the
locals running over you.
We got to downtown around noon to
see the street was already lined with bikes
and people. And the bars and restaurants with their second
story railings bulging with onlookers trying to get a
glimpse of the steady flow of bikes rolling past. The
unique thing about the Rocky Point Rally is that there is little organized
activities during the day. There is usually a small bike show and a couple
of vendors. At this Rally the participants become the entertainment. Some people
dress up with outfits, fake hair or costumes. And some even
shed some clothing which tends to get the crowd amped up a notch and get the
flash bulbs popping and beads flying. I'm starting to
figure out where Joe Nichols wrote the song "Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall
Off". It must have been at the Rocky Point Rally. I'd like to see the look on
some of these girls faces when they wake up from an afternoon with Don Julio to
find out that everyone has a digital camera and that the internet goes all the
way to Mexico, and then back to the United States. The gift that
keeps on giving!
Another popular past time on Saturday afternoon
in downtown, and a huge crowd pleaser, is the burnout.
Aside from the other things I mentioned above, it appears to be
part of the mystery as to who will endeavor to give the crowd what they want. It
is hard to ride through the sea of people on the street without
being prompted several times to "Light it up!". Since this is such a
popular sport at this event, we decided to have the Cyclerides.com Burnout Pit
this year in front of Debbie's Beach Bar. And yes, being one of those that likes
to see a good smokie every once in a while, I did participate a couple of
times with the Road Glide. Seems kind of crazy
to burn rubber off a tire and not be moving, but it has become a spectator sport
at the rally, and once a year I do my part to supply some entertainment.
This guy even did it with a 12 pack on the tank.
Now for those who might want to try to please
the crowd with a burnout take this advice. Try it
somewhere else first. I can't think of anything much more embarrassing than
trying to do a burnout in front of hundreds of people, to find out
your bike won't do it. Makes that short roll through the crowd a lot longer
when they are booing.
After a couple of hours of strolling the streets
and watching the action, we rode over to the Black Dog for the
start of the Parade through Rocky Point to deliver our candy to the hundreds of
kids with bags standing on the
side of the road. Apparently, this was one of the plans that fell through the
cracks. The parade was supposed to start at 3 pm. But at 3:15pm there was still
no one there to start the ride, so we took off and followed what the route was
last year. And sure enough, the kids were waiting for us and we delivered all
of our candy. For us, this is always one of the highlights of the trip.
These kids, and parents for that matter, are always happy to see us rolling down
the streets flinging candy to their children. The locals tell me that this is
looked forward to all year long.
Saturday night we walked just down the street to
Lapa Lapa restaurant to watch a beautiful sunset
and have dinner on the upstairs patio overlooking the street. This
is a great place to still have a good view of the street, a view of the water
and some excellent food. I would highly recommend it any time you go to Rocky
Point. We then took a cruise down Calle 13 and a stop at the Camel Toe Cantina
before making our way back to the condo for a soak in the hot tub.
Sunday was a total leisurely day. In fact,
I was the only one that rode a bike on Sunday. We got up and
strolled down Sandy Beach to the Sonoran Sun for their
excellent breakfast buffet on the patio. After a
causal walk back down the beach it was to the pool side lounge chairs for
some R&R. This is what it looked like from my angle.
I took a quick ride downtown in mid afternoon to see how a Sunday looked
after the rally. In my opinion, it was surprisingly busy. I guess a
lot of people had the same idea to not be a part of the run for the
border on Sunday.
We left Rocky Point at about 9:30am on
Monday in perfect 70 degree weather for an excellent 215 mile ride
home. The wait at the border was only about 20 minutes which was
much better than the several hours in years past.
So to sum it all up, with all of
the roadblocks in front of the Rocky Point Rally this year that included the economy, swine flu, passport issues and bad press,
attendance was down this year, but there were still 2900 bikes that attended the
event. This number is arrived at by U.S. Customs counting the bikes coming back
across the border through Monday. Even though this is down significantly from
last year, it still appeared that everyone had a good time and are looking
forward to next year. I will be back to you as soon as I get the dates for the
10th Anniversary of the Rocky Point Rally in 2010. It sounds like they are
going to make it special.
I have included 297 photos from the Rally
this year. Thanks to George Childress from Main Event Photos and Rich
Sporski for contributing photos this year. I am using a new photo
site called Smug Mug. I think you will really like it. If you move your mouse to
the right side of the picture, you can click on a different size to make the
photo bigger. Or, a good way to view them is to click the "Slideshow" button and
let them go automatically, you can even adjust the speed or click through
them yourself. This allows you to see them full size. There are some excellent
photos in this collection.
One thing I find interesting when going to
Mexico is what gets lost in translation. Check out this flyer and see
what I mean.
Thanks to all who stopped to say Hi while in
Rocky Point. I truly enjoy meeting those who read this newsletter and use
Cyclerides.com. Thanks for all of your support.
Veteran's
Day
I would like to take this time to
thank and honor our Veteran's who have served in the past for
their service to our
country, and to our Men and Women who are currently serving today
with this song that was
performed at the 2007 Hearts To Heroes Ride. It is called "I Thank The
Soldier".
A very moving tribute that
shows how grateful we should all be for our military Men and Women.
Highlights This
Week
Friday, November 13th
I have found something fun and unique for
you to do, The Big Pour event featuring samples of 200 beers from
around the world. And even better yet, as a Cyclerides.com newsletter
reader, you can get in for FREE on Friday night that includes a concert
by recording artist Raquel
Aurilia. Stop by for some Food, Fun and
Samples of Beer from around the world! Free Motorcycle parking will be
provided. But if you want to drive, hop in the car and check it out.
Next
Thursday!
Thursday, November 19th
Put this one on your list of "Things To Do" for
next Thursday night.
If anyone reading this likes to look at the best
custom cars and motorcycles all at one place, don't miss this night at Toby
Keith's Bar and Grill. Street will be blocked off to show the top
12 cars from the Goodguys Car Show as well as Custom Motorcycles from Paul Yaffe
Originals, Troy Westerman of Borne Customs and many other local builders.
Also many other custom cars.
Live bands performing: MetalHead and AC/DC tribute
band Hell’s Bells
Bike Nights This Week
Wednesday
Only 2 nights left.
LAST NIGHT is November 25th!
Presented by Cyclerides.com and the Downtown Chandler Community
Partnership. This is a first for the City of Chandler. They are
opening up 2 blocks of Historic Downtown for a Wednesday Bike Night, and what a
great venue it will be. This is the closest thing we will have to a Sturgis type
experience. Within this 2 blocks there are 6 restaurants and bars that are
participating with bike night specials. Parking will be on San Marcos
Pl., and the area just to the East.
Restaurant Participants will
include: Check for weekly specials.
The San Marcos Hotel with Live Entertainment in
beautiful AJ's Courtyard.
Murphy's Law with Live Music,
San Tan Brewing
El Zocalo Mexican
The Bistro at Kokopelli Winery
98 South and Piza Pizza.
There will be music on the
street and Vendors will be setting up this week.
Motorcycles will be on display by our Sponsors Chandler
Harley-Davidson and Ridenow Powersports. We
would also like to thank Chuck Franklin
Law as one of our first sponsors. We will be
adding activities and vendors as the event progresses over the next
couple of weeks. Downtown Chandler is located just 5.5 miles South of U.S. 60 on
Arizona Ave. adjacent to Dr. AJ Chandler Park. (MAP) Please ride out and join us
from 6pm - 10pm.
Chester's HD invites you to Toby Keith's I Love This Bar &
Grill Bike Night every Wednesday night. If you looking to get your
bike out of the garage and ride someplace where you know other riders will be,
head out to Toby Keith's located in the Mesa Riverview next to Bass Pro Shop,
Loop 202 and Dobson, Mesa. 6PM til Close. Live Band starts at 7PM. Free Raffle
and great prizes. Half price selected appetizers, $2 wells til 7pm. $3 longnecks
or $12/bucket of 5. Designated bike parking. Ride With Us and get a free
Chester's koozie! Leaves Chester's at 5:30PM sharp. This is really a fun
place for a bike night that includes a large outdoor patio. Great
Food, Great Music, Great Place, Great Time! For more information call
Chester's HD at 480-894-0404.
Thursday Night
McDuffy's is one of the finest West side locations for a bike night at a single restaurant. The 12,500 Sq. Ft. McDuffy's features 2 outdoor
patios, a huge dining room with booths for seating, a very large area with high
tops for you to easily hang out with your friends, an upper level for lounging
or to play pool, a very large bar and 100 TV's to watch your favorite sporting
event. Not only that the dinner menu is very broad and McDuffy's has excellent
food at a very good price. Bike Nights features a $6.99 Menu
that includes Classic Burgers, Charbroiled Chicken Breast Burger, Buffalo Wings,
Chicken Quesadilla, Nachos, Popcorn Chicken, Pizza and 1/2 Drink
Pricing. Stop by for the first night on Thursday, September 17th.
McDuffy's is located just South of 83rd Ave. and Bell Rd. at 15814 N. 83rd Ave.
623-334-5000. Plenty of Motorcycle Parking! RAFFLES! For
September Arrowhead Harley will be raffling off a set of "Games Riders Play".
Harley-Davidson Folding Domino's table, a Harley Gammon Board, a Poker Chip Set
and "Harleyopoly" Game set. Winner will be selected the last Bike Night in
September. Octobers raffle will be a complete "Harley Cooler" set. 2010 Models
will be on display.
The Bike Night At The Billet
Bar.
The Billet Bar is the place to be for the Summer nights and
weekends. Set on the patio and watch the action.
Voted "BEST BIKER BAR IN PHOENIX" by New
Times. There is no better place to watch all the Bikes ride down
Scottsdale road than from The Billet Bar Patio. The Billet is
ALWAYS packed with bikes Every Day. Stop by and take a look at the New Flamed
Booths on the Paradise
Patio. The new bars front and rear provide spacious seating, fresh air
atmosphere, perfect temperature and courteous staff. The food is amazing and
always the latest in cold libations await. You can sit at the back bar and watch
your favorite TV on any of the seven big inch televisions. Play pool, listen to
the latest music and socialize. The front patio seats over 75 people and is
perfect for people watching on Scottsdale Rd. The Billet Bar is located on 3752
N. Scottsdale Rd. Check it out this Thursday night and all weekend long. Info:
at 480-941-1876. Click Here for the New
Billet Bar Page with pictures.
Every Sunday
Sunday
Afternoon Bike Day/Night at Oggi's Pizza & Brewing. This is the
stop for West side riders on a Sunday Afternoon.
Mrs. C. and I ate here and found Excellent
Food! Just off the Loop 101 and 67th Ave. Stop at Oggi's Pizza
where they will be having Sunday
Afternoon Bike days starting at 4pm - 9pm. Enjoy three $5.99 Dinner
Specials including: 1. Build your own Burger: half-pound angus beef
burger cooked how you like it with your choice of toppings; 2. California Cobb
Salad: fresh greens with sliced grilled chicken, gorgonzola cheese, avocado,
tomato, green onions, mushrooms, eggs and bacon; and 3. Turkey Ranch Wrap:
oven-roasted turkey breast, provolone cheese, fresh lettuce, tomato and avocado,
with creamy ranch dressing and bacon in a sun-dried tomato wrap. Happy
Hour pricing on Drinks and Appetizers all night. 22 Televisions to view
Sunday Night Football, a nice bar and large dining room as well as an
Outdoor Patio to enjoy the great weather. Co-sponsored by Arrowhead
Harley Davidson. Motorcycle parking out front. This is a great place to end the
day with excellent food. Stop by this week and give it a try.
623-566-8080.
Facebook Comment about
Oggi's. To everyone that hasn't been to Oggi's the service was
good, the specials were almost more than we could finish and we met good people.
Come On Riders SHOW UP!
This Week
Friday, November 13th
Draft
Magazine's The Big Pour. Looking for something different to do on a
Friday night? I have found something fun and unique for you to do,
The Big Pour event featuring samples of 200 beers from around the
world. And even better yet, as a Cyclerides.com newsletter reader, you
can get in for FREE on Friday night that includes a concert
by recording artist Raquel
Aurilia. Stop by for some Food, Fun and
Samples of Beer from around the world! Free Motorcycle parking will be
provided. But if you want to drive, hop in the car and check it out.
DRAFT magazine announces the return of The Big
Pour international beer tasting experience to Arizona, Thurs.-Sat.,
Nov. 12-14, at the Scottsdale Waterfront and SouthBridge. (Scottsdale Rd. and
Camelback) In its second year in Arizona, The Big Pour is a beer connoisseur’s
adventure featuring hundreds of craft beers from throughout the world. The
Big Pour is the ultimate beer lover’s adventure with hundreds of craft beers
from breweries across the globe, seminars, food pairing tips and some of the
world’s most celebrated brewers and beer experts. After a rousing premier in
2008, The Big Pour also returns with live music headlined by Everclear on
Saturday night and a special appearance by George Wendt, more well known as
"Norm" from Cheers.
"We are thrilled to be in downtown Scottsdale
where we know thousands of beer fans and connoisseurs will enjoy
tasting distinctive beer brands and diverse flavors from literally throughout
the world," said Austin Colby Wilson, publisher, DRAFT. "The Big Pour prides
itself on delivering a high quality adventure in exploring the best and most
coveted brews the world over, some never before tasted in
Arizona."
The Big Pour Schedule:
Thursday Ticket -- $10 includes eight
pours, celebrating Green Street Scottsdale featuring sustainable
breweries, including Sierra Nevada and New Belgium brands, among many
others.
Friday Ticket --
FREE With Cyclerides.com Ticket that includes 1 Free Pour. Click
Here to Print. Normally a general admission ticket is $10 that
includes eight pours. Recording artist Raquel Aurilia concert on Sierra Nevada Stage; beer pairing demos on the Westar
Sub-Zero/Wolf Stage hosted by EaterAZ.com, pavilion, and more.
Saturday Ticket -- $35 admission, 15 pours, plus
continuous music with headliner Everclear on Sierra Nevada Stage;
beer pairings demos on Westar Sub-Zero/Wolf Stage hosted by EaterAZ.com;
pavilion, and more.
Saturday “Fan” Ticket. A special limited number
of $50 Fan tickets for ‘Norm’ fans includes his new book, a meet
& greet, 15 pours and the Everclear concert, beer pairing demos and
pavilion, activity on two stages, and more.
Saturday, November 14th
Toast To The
Troops. Toast to the Troops (www.toasttothetroops.com) will hold
its first thank you event for our military men and women in uniform. The purpose of the event is for people in the community to meet and
express thanks to members of the military that sacrifice so much on our be-half
and to raise money for Operation Homefront of Arizona. Toast to the Troops is
one veteran and a handful of volunteers that bring together local businesses and
their communities to honor the men and women serving in our armed forces. Toast
to the Troops raises money through sponsorships and event ticket sales and
donates 100% of its proceeds to non-profit organizations that help support
active duty service members and their families in a time of need. Operation
Homefront Arizona will receive all the proceeds from this event.
Join us at Toast to the Troops for
an unforgettable evening where you can dine, socialize with uniformed troops, be
entertained, view the hit documentary Brothers At War and express your genuine
thanks to these amazing people. Get you tickets today – space is limited. Troops
event will include: a dinner, entertainment, Military Honor Guard and Marine
Corp Drill Team, singing of the National Anthem, celebrities and active duty
service members in uniform. In addition, a viewing of the hit documentary
Brothers At War www.brothersatwarmovie.com will be shown at the
Harkins Theater. Event will be held at Mercedes Benz of Arrowhead located at
9620 W. Bell Rd. in Peoria. Start time is 5pm. Movie start time at Harkins
Arrowhead is at 8pm. See website for details.
Saturday, November 14th
Fill-A-Need
Poker Run to Prescott. The Fill-A-Need program is administered by the
employees of the City of Goodyear in partnership with local
businesses and involved citizens who together provide toys, clothing, and other
needed items for children of families in crisis each holiday season. Last
year the program served nearly 500 children. Starts at Chick-Fil-A on SW corner
of Dysart and McDowell in Goodyear. Check in 8-9am. Lunch provided and prizes.
$20 recommended donation. $30 for couples. Proceeds benefit the Fill-A-Need
providing toys and clothing for children of families in
crisis.
Saturday, November 14th
Sheriff's
Santa Poker Run. Leave from Pinal County Sheriff’s Office parking lot (971 Jason Lopez Circle, Florence, AZ) and end for lunch at San Tan Flats
Grill (6185 W. Hunt Highway, Queen Creek). Registration: www.pinalcountyaz.gov, $25.00 single rider,
$30.00 couple or $25.00 for couple with an unwrapped toy donation. ($10.00
minimum toy donation) $30.00/$35.00 after deadline or day of the ride. Entry Fee
entitles you to a T-Shirt and one raffle ticket for rider and one for passenger.
Route map handed out at time of check in. Rather than the traditional drawing of
playing cards at each stop, participants will receive a stamp in the appropriate
box at each stop. Upon arrival at San Tan Flats, participants will receive a
raffle ticket for each stamp they received along the route. **Participants will
be able to purchase additional raffle tickets prior to and following the
ride.
Next Week
Thursday, November 19th
If anyone reading this likes to look at the best
custom cars and motorcycles all at one place, don't miss this night at Toby
Keith's Bar and Grill. For those of you
that haven’t visited Toby Keith’s “I love this bar and Grill” you need to put it
on your to do list! It’s an awesome venue with a huge bar that
is watched over by some of the best looking bartenders in the valley! Well
here’s the perfect opportunity!
Thursday November 19th Paul Yaffe of Paul Yaffe
Originals fame and Troy Westerman of Borne Customs have gotten together with
Toby’s to throw a cruise night to end all cruise nights! They’ve
booked top notch Valley talent like Metal Head and AC/DC tribute band Hell’s
Bells as well as the clubs house band Marshall Reign to rock the house all night
long! Then they invited every bike and car builder from Maricopa county to come
and show off their latest customs! Since the Good Guys Car Event is in town
We’ve solicited the Top 12 Street Rods from that event which will be located
right in front of the bar in their own VIP parking section. Members of Good Guys
will even receive 20% off of food and drink for the evening courtesy of Toby
Keith's!
So, if you’re a fan of everything custom
from Outrageous Choppers to wild Street Rods you won’t want to miss Toby
Keith's American Ride! Expect hundreds of cars and motorcycles and
a night of great music and plenty of "Eye Candy". The evening’s events will
be hosted by none other than 93.3 KDKB’s Ruby Cheeks. Plenty of parking and all
are welcome. The street out front will be reserved for Classic Car and
motorcycle parking.
Saturday, November 21st
Dierks Bentley Celebrity
Motorcycle Ride & Jam Session. Multi-platinum country music star Dierks
Bentley announced today the lineup of artists joining his “Miles & Music for
Kids” celebrity motorcycle ride and concert in his hometown of
Phoenix, AZ on Sat, Nov. 21. Joining Bentley for a post-ride jam at Tempe
Marketplace will be Roger Clyne and The Peacemakers, Jessi Colter, Jimmy Wayne
and Stoney LaRue, while Mark Curtis of KPNX Channel 12 will host. All
proceeds will benefit Phoenix Children's, a Children's Miracle Network
Hospital.
Registration will begin at Buddy Stubbs Arizona
Harley-Davidson (13850 N. Cave Creek Rd.). Vendors, food and
live music by 74th Street Band will be a part of the registration and kickoff at
Buddy Stubbs Harley-Davidson! Fans who purchase VIP Ride tickets will be able to
ride in the first pack with Dierks Bentley. The ride will cruise along the
beautiful, mountain-lined Piestewa Peak Parkway to the Red Mountain Freeway,
passing through downtown and Phoenix Children's Hospital and ending with the
star-studded afternoon concert at Tempe Marketplace with dedicated and secure
parking for motorcyclists. Tickets for the family-friendly event start at $20
and are available HERE!
Sunday, November 22nd
Birds On
Bikes. Presented by the Modified Motorcycle Association of Arizona. Grab a frozen bird, strap it on and meet the rest of the flock at 5
different locations. Gathering time is 10am for the ride to St. Vincent de Paul
to deliver the turkey. Plan to arrive at the St. Vincent de Paul site at
11:30am, No Earlier. From the West: Charlie's Place, 4324 W. Thunderbird. From
the North: Steel Horse Saloon, 1818 W. Bell Rd. From the East: Smokey's, 1734 E.
Main in Mesa. From the SW: Moose Lodge-Goodyear, 1572 Cotton Lane. From the NW:
Curly's Customs, 12030 N. 111th Ave. For more information call Cindy Gates at
623-695-5659.
Extras
Some of you might have seen this clip before,
but it is worth viewing again. Someone slowed it way down. You can actually see
this rider duck his head in the last frame. Click
Here to View.
Video of the Week
Ok, this might be a
good example of how too much beer can damage brain cells. I
Might have had it in the letter before, but it makes me laugh every time I watch
it. Click Here to View. Click on the Video of the Week graphic on the
page.
Cyclerides.com is now on Facebook! Join 1300
other riders! I am inviting you to "Become A Fan"
on the Cyclerides.com Facebook page.
Go to http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cycleridescom/108447575697 to add your name and bookmark this page. If you are not on
Facebook, you can still go to the page, but you will not be able to communicate.
There will be a link there for you to sign up for Facebook if you are
inclined.
All
information in this newsletter is
Copyright © 2009 BDC Products,
LLC.
Information may be used only with permission.
All rights
reserved.
