360Bikers Foundation

Great ride to La Belle to Flora and Ellas for breakfast and pie.

Share on Facebook

Well, it isn’t an adventure movie but it’s always an adventure. This time our Wauchula trip broke down literally. Ian’s Harley became I’ll and we stopped for repairs. We ended up riding back almost to Teri’s house before it totally died. Then we had an adventure with the trailer as we finally to the bike home. It all ended with a great meal at our new hangout.

Share on Facebook

Occasionally, the stars align, your luck is great and you wind up with a great ride.  Once again the most popular riding club in South Florida came up with a dandy ride for Saturday, October the 3rd.  See photos on our Meet Up site under 360 Bikers.

Under a 40% chance of rain threat we started our journey at the Gun Club Cafe.  It’s a great breakfast joint in West Palm Beach.  It’s cozy, the food is great and there’s plenty of parking.  We headed North on Beeline highway (710) from Haverhill Rd.  It was pretty much a straight shot to (70) in Okeechobee from Beeline Hwy.  We met the rest of our crew at the Racetrac gas station here.  About 14 riders joined here to make a large crew of about 28.  Our route followed 70 North to 98 North.  From there it was about an hour to Sebring and SR 27.  Just a few miles North on 27 took us to downtown Sebring, FL. 

I have been to many bikefests in FL but had never even heard of the Heartland ride unitl now.  The fest was much more than I imagined.  There was food, fun and deals to be had for all.  One of the highlights of the day for me was the Central Florida Drill Team.  Most drill teams I have seen, have made use of the compact Harley Electra Glides, which make all the maneuvering considerably easier.  However, at least 2 of the Central Florida riders sported the Flagship of tourers, the Goldwing.  It was especially impressive as the Goldwings did everything the Glides did and just as smooth.  We picked up a pair of MP3 equipped sun glasses for my better half for a great price and the obligatory event patch and pins.  The whole fest had a strong resemblance to Leesburg, in scope and content.  Although Leesburg is better known.

The ride back was just a pleasurable as the ride to the fest and followed the same route.  Normally not a 360 staple but it was great all the same.  We have some great ride leaders and organziers.  We also have plenty of safety conscious and experienced members, mixed in with some newer riders.  The blend is smooth and effortless and it shows when we ride. 

 That our beautiful state is hot is understatement, but at 55 mph plus, little traffic, no stop and go, underneath the blue skies and an Eagle flying overhead, I couldn’t think of a better way for 28 brothers and sisters to spend a Saturday.  

Once again a great ride, after all, that’s what 360Bikers are known for.  Until next time, RIDE SAFE!

GR

Share on Facebook

Well here we are 2 weeks since the start and end of Bike Week 09 and I already miss it.  I’m actually late with this, as we got back home on the last day of Bike Week.  Some of us had to get back to the job we last saw 9 days ago.

What can I tell you about Bike Week?  If you haven’t been you need to go and if you have been, then you already know.  Bike Week has something for everyone.  Old bikers and new bikers, you are guaranteed to find something that fits you.  It really is like your local bike night, times 100,000. The amount of bikers and bikes is really overwhelming and I never get tired of seeing it.  You will definitely see your model and make, in many different styles and colors here and steal ideas to make your ride fit you and your personality.  I can always find something to add to the bike. Which is just as it should be.  If you go to a venue like this, you should expect to find the best possible prices.  If you search around long enough you will find a great deal at bike week. 

It may have been just me, but I thought I noticed a few less of everything this year at Bike Week.  A few less bikers and a few less vendors.  This shouldn’t come as any big surprise, given the economy.  I’m sure the final numbers on attendance will show a difference.  I did see an interesting report on Destination Daytona while I was there.  The evening local news reported they were selling 45 Harleys a day through bike week.  I was surprised but if you did the math, 45 X 9 days is 405 bikes  for the week.  If you have several hundred thousand extra people in town to ride motorcycles I don’t think it’s out of the question.  So good for them and great for bikers everywhere. 

There were some great shows at bike week as well.  If you’re inclined, you can pay to watch the AMA races at the track.  There were a number of custom bike shows.  Endless bikini, T Shirt and shorts, shows. We missed the Cole Slaw wrestling but we did catch the Monster Energy “Dome of Death”.  They weren’t to be confused with the “Wall of Death” at the Iron Horse.  These kids were free and much more dangerous.  We missed “Little Kiss”, midgets who dress up, make up and all, like the original Kiss and have concerts, but we did see the house band on Main Street,  rock some of Ozzy’s “Crazy Train”.  I heard ”Little Kiss” sounds just like the original. We miss the Brawl in the Cage at Destination Daytona but we did see some Evangelists crusaders versus Strip Club Choppers.  This was interesting for several reasons.  The crusaders were pretty much protesting everybody and everything.  The guy hanging out at the Strip Club Choppers tent, looked amazingly like “Kid Rock” just taller.  The crusaders had a guy with a bullhorn, one guy with a pole that had signs listing those being denounced, and 2 security guys standing behind him.  Kid Rock was drinking beer after beer and blaring death rock at the crusaders.  I thought Kid Rock and Strip Club Choppers got a raw deal because about 1/2 a block away, there were 2 beautiful young ladies having a “bikini bike shine”!?!?!? They definitely deserved some protesting.

We saw the shows.  We bought some shirts. We took some photos. We acquired some ideas and new parts for the bikes.  The real essence of Bike Week though, is the riding.  I saw many country ride tours and saw some obvious tourists/vacation motorcycle groups along the roads.  I know they had a great time.  We are lucky enough to stay about 58 miles west of Daytona when we arrive for our vacation.  I say lucky because by now we know every different way to get back and forth into town.  Here are a couple of country roads you must find and ride, while at bike week (CR309, CR308, CR308B, US17).  I call CR308B, the “little dragon”, those of you who have visited Tennessee and US129, you know what I am referring too.  I often wonder how the locals feel about their backroads? I mean, I travel here at least once or twice a year just to ride.  I wonder if I would be more apathetic if I lived here year round? Every morning and every night we had a great ride.  After 9 days and about 2,000 miles it was hard going home.  

Finally, I did catch up with Mike & Debbie and Mikey from the 360 Bikers, so we did officially call this a 360 run.  As the most Popular M/C riding group in South Florida, we had a responsibility to show up at Bike Week.  Of course I will continue to provide myself as a guide whenever anyone want to find some country roads during bike week.  I’m so selfless, it’s the least I can do.  Until next time, Ride Safe!!!

GR

Share on Facebook

Welcome to another after ride Blog, from the most Popular Motorcycle Club in South Florida. This was a quick lunch ride but it epitomizes the creed of club. We have rides and events for any and all bikers, no matter what you ride or how many CC’s you have. On today’s ride we had a mix of models ranging from 250cc to 1900cc. Everyone had a great time.

Our ride started at 10:15am this morning. The riders gathered at the Shell gas station on 441 & Boynton Beach Blvd. This location has plenty of room to host a meetup 5 times our group size and gas/coffee to boot. Our leader Connie, proceeded with the pre ride meeting and we were off. Connie leading and Richard being the Tail Gunner on his Triumph for the ride. Unfortunately, I was not able to ride and was driving behind the Tail Gunner in my car.

The group rode South on 441, in the beautiful 70 degree weather, toward Boca Raton. Traffic was light and we made an Eastbound turn on to Clintmoore Road. As we traveled Eastbound toward Military Trail, Clintmoore adds a few curves to make the ride interesting. We head Southbound again on Military Trail passing under Glades Road to reach Palmetto Park Road.

On Palmetto Park Road we head Eastbound again towards the ocean. We reach Ocean blvd with a nice flow and no traffic issues. The area we pass through is usually crowded and heavy with traffic but it was nice and clear today.

We head Northbound on Ocean Blvd toward Linton Blvd. The Ocean view is beautiful and A1A is made for Motorcycle riding.

We turn Westbound on Linton Blvd. as we near our destination. The group was like a well oiled machine and there are no lags or spaces in the Staggered formation all ride long.

We arrive at Duffys right on time and are quickly shown to our seats. The waitresses took orders for drinks and quickly followed with food orders. Refills and requests were taken care of expeditiously and there was plenty of time for conversation.  The Wings are great and the price is moderate.  Everyone loved their meals.

After a great lunch it was time for us to ride once again. The group headed Westbound on Linton Blvd. to Jog Road. Northbound on Jog to Atlantic Blvd. Westbound on Atlantic Blvd to 441. Northbound on 441 back to our original starting point.  Riders peeled off as we traveled Northbound and headed for home.

Finally, great weather, great people, motorcycles and a great idea (360’s), equals one more great 360 Bikers event. Until next time, Ride Safe!!

GR

Share on Facebook

After some refueling, (gas, Ice cream, yoo-hoo) we’re almost home and it’s about 4:40 pm or thereabouts. We leave about 3 riders short, as some of our crew split off here. There are plenty left for the relatively short jaunt home.

We continue east working our way toward SR 80. We have a couple more riders split off just outside Belle Glade. Though this area is relatively wide open we actually ran into some road construction to slow us down. It may be just me but they don’t spend nearly enough money in Clewiston and Belle Glade on roads. This particular road has been under construction for awhile now. We keep up a pretty good pace through here just like most of the day.

We have passed through this section before on our way to SR 80 on other 360 runs but I still can’t tell you the name. It bypasses, what goes for downtown Belle Glade. If the whole idea is to avoid traffic lights then it works out great. The weather is great, not warm and not cold. We run into a slight delay approaching SR 80. Sherrif in the middle of the road, lights on and cars pulled over to side. Must have been some kind of dispute or repair, because we barely got held up in time to light a cigarette.  I have a feeling it was the “Horde” of bikers that got that ball rolling because 2 seconds later everyone was gone.

There were some dark clouds threatening but nothing developed over us, there is some thing to be said for timing (luck). As we got closer to Wellington, traffic visibly increased and we started to wave our compadres off. We lost the majority before SR 7. The Wellington group are a bunch of good guys. Plus, quite a few of those guys ride STAR’s, so they get extra credit. We wave to our fearless leader and leave the group to continue on SR 80. There are just 2 of us and a lone biker who happened to join the group in traffic. I lose the last of our compadres about SR 80 and the turnpike and the lone biker a short while later.

Finally riding alone after 10 hours, is kind of strange and almost lonely. I had gotten so use to checking for Hawk and Terri in my rear view or watching Mark, Trudy and Maverick in front of me, that riding alone was almost wrong. I always get the same feeling at the end of a ride, as my fellow riders are peeling off. I actually want to stop and talk to each one and tell them what a great time I had and how cool it was to ride in the group with them. Sometimes, there is not even time to wave to each individual fellow 360er. Our group, of course, has the Post Ride comments on the web and I hope I have expressed my appreiciation and gratitude for my compadres there. Finally, no rain, great weather, slow riding, fast riding, curves, pot holes, alligators, toll roads, fuel island jams, good food and great people equals another great 360 ride. Ride Safe!

GR

Share on Facebook

We had lunch at an Irish place called Erin’s Isle. Highly recommended as the food was good and the prices extremely low.  We also have to compliment the waiter for taking on 24 customers he wasn’t expecting, doing individual checks, serving us, and keeping everything straight.  He was impressive as the owner, who was very accommodating for our group.

After refueling at the gas station next door, we organized again and got underway.  I had gone over the route because with a group this size traffic lights make it tough to stay together.  We had a couple riders that did not keep the group tight and sure enough we got split.  After turning at Immokalee Road we waited for the rest of the group before getting underway.

Now, we were out of the traffic and headed towards Immokalee on a nice road that disappeared into old South Florida. I remembered this part of the ride from the previous year and the nice turns in the road as it twisted from running east to a northward path.  Once in Immokalee I took a route that avoided traffic lights so our gappers wouldn’t split the group.  In minutes we were on the road headed north.

— Video Coming Soon —

About 13 miles north of Immokalee I was looking for Keri Road.  This would lead us through our fourth or fifth park of the day and take us on two roads I had never seen before.  The park is Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest (yeah, you say it three times real fast) and the road was nice with little turns.  A couple road patches did make it rough, but overall I’d ride it again.  This road gave us a left turn at the end of it to get on a road that led us to SR80, a familiar road to most of the riders in our group.  From here, we road to Clewiston for our last fuel and rest stop before heading home.

LK

Share on Facebook

We prepared to leave the gas station as two other large groups that were there rode out ahead of us.  We actually ran into the BMW group later on the ride.  Our number of bikes was now 21 as we prepared to get onto US41, the 2-lane highway that preceded the Interstate as Alligagor Alley.  The beauty of this ride is the changes in geography.  We begin the ride with a lot of sawgrass in the Everglades.  We ride past long expanses of the grass with obvious paths cut through it by the airboats.  This ride is a peak at what Florida was like 100 years ago.

Riding west, we come to Big Cypress and begin to leave the sawgrass plains behind.  Along the right side of the road is a guardrail and then a ditch that is about 10 to 15 feet wide.  Along the shore away from the road you see alligators resting in the sun as it rises in the South Florida sky.  The temperature is rising and the cold-blooded reptiles come out to warm themselves.  What struck us all was the quantity of gators.  We say hundreds of them along the shores just a few feet away from us.  We saw more alligators in 50 yards of ride than most people see in their lives!  They were everywhere and occasionally you’d see a couple riding in a canoe.  It must have looked like dinner to some of them.  It looked dangerous to us.

We saw a lot of beautiful birds, too.  Everything from egrets to herons to eagles to hawks.  This is a ride with nature that is perhaps the best in South Florida.  Leaving Big Cypress we actually ride along the southern border of Collier-Seminole State Forest.

Riding further along the cypress give way to an open plain that isn’t as wet as the sawgrass swamps.  We came to CR92 in Collier county and went down the road that was new to most of us.  The short ride of about 5 miles took us to a small causeway and across to Marco Island.  We rode through the short island in about 10 minutes and came across another causeway leading us towards Naples and our lunch destination.

Lee

Share on Facebook