- April 23, 2024
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Not all bikers are aging
The term “heavy metal thunder” comes to mind as I sit at the red light amid a herd of motorcycles. I can feel the vibration through the car as the bikes sit idling at the light.
The roar of the engines is the call of the free-spirited, unencumbered life symbolized by the motorcycle. Checking out the vendor booths always found at motorcycle venues, I find there are many times to purchase before leading the simple, unencumbered life: boots, jackets, T-shirts, shatter-proof sunglasses, hats, helmets, scarves, gloves, patches, key chains, saddle bags and more.
But still, it’s the call of the wild. I recall my own biker past: burning my finger as a child on a shiny muffler; zipping down Daytona Beach as a 12-year-old on a rented Honda, falling off the back of a motorcycle as a teen when the driver hit a pothole on a hill.
There’s consternation among tourism and Chamber of Commerce types about the future of Bike events. They say the bikers are aging and the event is on the wane.
Judging by the sea of motorcycles at events the first weekend of Bike Week, and an informal, probably too-small survey, I believe there’s a good decade, and possibly more, left to go.
Greg Gause, 56, in town for Bike Week from Jacksonville, has been coming to Daytona Beach for years and plans to keep coming as long as “God lets him.”
“It’s great for people watching and it’s just a short distance to come down here,” he said.
Howell Couch, from Covington, Georgia, also in his 50s, said he will come to Bike Week until “he can’t kick anymore.”
“I’ve been coming to Daytona Beach all my life,” he said.
And there’s hope for the future. One third of the people surveyed, a total of one, is only 27 and said he comes for the experience.
“I like being around like-minded people,” said Chris Bray, of Palm Coast.” I like two wheels; they like two wheels.”
Gesturing toward the crowd, he said, “Where else can you see something like this?”
