Colorado Rider News

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07/19

Getting Ready for Sturgis

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Laurie Montoya, Publisher

I am not sure if summer has really come yet, last week there was 2 feet of snow in the mountains, and it appeared that our April showers were just hitting us in June.  This has been a crazy spring and filled with its share of weather interruptions.

As many of us begin to plan our road trips and vacations, it hit me that Sturgis was just around the corner.  It will be the 79th Sturgis Rally and many Colorado riders will go this year, just to stay away from the organized chaos that is Rally on an anniversary year.  According to the data I found, on the 75th Rally, there was over 750,000 riders that rode into Sturgis, and with that kind of crowd, comes many more opportunities for things to go wrong.

Most Colorado HD riders have done Sturgis and know what to expect, but the diversity that is now Sturgis every year brings more and more different manufacturers and a new diverse crowd of riders to our once predominately Harley based event.  Women riders are growing in record numbers and venturing out on road trips on their own and Sturgis is always on their bucket list.  Colorado riders that may have never been to South Dakota will want to check out our Pre-Sturgis checklist and hopefully will be prepared and ready for a great week of Rally.

Dirty Dogs Roadhouse – Sturgis South Dakota

Colorado riders who head out to Sturgis are one of the lucky ones to have their own biker bar in downtown Sturgis.  Mark and Rob from Dirty Dogs Roadhouse are ready for their 2nd year at Rally.  What I love about having our own biker bar up there, is seeing all my Colorado friends in one spot.  Dirty Dogs is home to many of us here in Denver, and if you need to meet up with anyone, Dirty Dogs in Sturgis is where to go.  It is centrally located but a block away from most of the traffic of main street and what does that mean for you?  It is easier to get in/out of town and parking is more accessible to meet friends for a day of riding.  Plus, who doesn’t want to walk into a Sturgis bar and have the owners greet you and say how happy they are to see you.

BikerDown as always will be there to help any of our Colorado riders, and I ask everyone headed up this year, to consider joining our BikerDown Roadside $35.00 per year membership with motorcycle towing.  If you need a tow, make sure that a motorcycle towing company comes to pick up your baby.  Most riders will be shocked with what your regular insurance company considers roadside towing.  BikerDown has partnered with MTS and all riders with our membership will have NATIONWIDE towing and up to 2 motorcycle tows up to $150.00 each.  In the event of a breakdown that 35. per year can really be worth the investment and is an extra piece of mind to have when you are far away from home.

What does it mean to be a part of American Legion?

Last month I devoted a good portion of the magazine to military groups and clubs to honor them for their service to our country and community.  I ran out of space for this American Legion feature, so I hope you will take a moment to read about the progressive growth and direction American Legion and the American Legion Riders are taking.  They do a tremendous amount of charity work for our veterans and community and I wanted to honor them for the sacrifice and humanitarian efforts for our veterans.

Please ride safe out there!

Freedom Fest Delivers it all: Food, Fun, Rock & Roll!

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Scott O’Sullivan, founder of Rider Justice & The O’Sullivan Law Firm

This year’s 5th annual Colorado Freedom Festival was an extravaganza like never before! The event’s goal is to gather people to honor military veterans and to thank them for their service. Every year, proceeds go to benefit veteran’s charities. This year, in addition to benefiting The American Soldier Network, this year Freedom Fest also included Colorado Fallen Heroes Foundation, a charity that serves the families of fallen police officers.

Without question, the venue change to Jefferson County Fairgrounds was a great move by Dean Gary, event organizer. JeffCo offered space enough for the crowd and vendors alike to spread out and get comfortable. Thousands of attendees brought lawn chairs or blankets and kicked back across wide swaths of green grass to enjoy the show.

The bands that performed this year were just over the top:

  • Queensryche
  • Extreme
  • Great White
  • Steel Heart
  • Vixen

With local bands:

  • Straight Six
  • Lotus Gait
  • Rhoar

Time between sets was just long enough to make runs to one of the dozens of beer and food vendors. We heard over and over again how great the craft brews tasted!

Matthew won tickets to Freedom Fest from Rider Justice.

In fact, so much was better this year because of the additional space that it makes it hard to even compare to past years. Access to food and beverage seemed much more steam-lined and lines so much shorter! The whiskey tasting at the entrance was a treat for all connoisseurs and a sign that the event is growing in sophistication.

At our Rider Justice tent, we collected registrations to give away another customized Yeti cooler. With the heat of summer kicking in the cooler was a hit! We had lots of activity and had a wonderful time meeting new people and spreading the word about our services to the biker community. We handed out buckets of sunscreen to protect the crowd from the blazing sun and even more koozies to help keep their drinks cold!

Next to our booth was BikerDown! Always our favorite non-profit, we were proud to share our space. Wide Open Saloon ran the show by sharing the good work BikerDown does for the community as well as selling raffle tickets for a pristine 2017 Harley-Davidson Road Glide. Wide Open Saloon is giving 100% of the raffle sales to BikerDown. If you missed grabbing raffle tickets at Freedom Fest, don’t worry! Raffle tickets can be purchased online here.

A big “thank you” to Dennis Tye, Lauren Preston, and Russ Young for their generous help at our booth. They have such big hearts and already do so much philanthropic work in our rider community, that we know how lucky we are to receive a bit of their time.

And a big, warm “thank-you” to Dean Gary. It takes heart to put in so much time and energy, year after year, to create an event of this magnitude.

“The biggest impact – the real reason I do this—is to let soldiers know they’re loved,” he says. “When soldiers can stand in a crowd of thousands, where people are hugging them and telling them they are loved… that can save lives. Love can save lives. That’s why we don’t quit after the years I lose money. When someone tells you that they didn’t take their life, nothing can replace that.”

Dirty Dogs Roadhouse is getting ready for 79th Sturgis Rally

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Mark and Rob are gearing up for the 79th Sturgis Rally and will sure to not disappoint. If you are a Colorado rider, make sure you stop by Dirty Dogs Roadhouse every day for their great morning breakfast buffet, great food specials and ice-cold beverages. Rider Justice will also be giving away great prizes every day that will make your Sturgis Rally more fun.

Rob & Mark

Comfort & Entertainment

Sturgis will be overwhelmed with riders for the 79th Rally and Dirty Dogs has a 7,000 sq. foot restaurant and bar and the Rider Justice tent will be up to keep you cool in the hot weather or dry in the Sturgis rain. Mark and Rob will have great local entertainment that is also heading up to entertain our Colorado riders. There is word that Bag Lady Sue will be entertaining and what a better way to end the day, than listening to what Bags has to say.

Convenience

The new bar/restaurant is located at 1025 Junction Avenue and is right across from the Sturgis Harley Davidson store. The décor will have the same Dirty Dogs Roadhouse flare and as one owner said, we want to combine the concept of where the old Broken Spoke meets One Eyed Jacks! As we all have witnessed here in Colorado, when the owners put their mind to improving a biker bar, they pull out all the stops, with authentic vintage bikes, memorabilia that reflects a true biker bar.

Bike Service?

Need service done to your bike? Mad Dog Custom Cycle is a staple in Sturgis but is Colorado based. They are located right next door, so if you need service or your bike breaks down, send it to a shop that has been there for 14 years and worked on by someone you know.

What’s New

Colorado Rider News sat down with owners last month and here is the recap of the new improvements to the Sturgis location.

  • 7,000 sq. feet bar/restaurant with indoor and outdoor bars. They will have a massive outside tent to host all their regulars
  • DD will be bringing a limited menu of your Colorado favorites such as Cheesesteaks, and their infamous wings along with 5-6 items from their current Golden menu;
  • Breakfast Bar from 6-ish every day and a great meeting place to meet up with other riders!
  • Entertainment nightly with some of your Colorado favorites such as Dave Frisk and Tony Roserio playing during the day. Mark has some great additions in store as well.

Motorcycle Depot 11th Annual Ride

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Join us at Motorcycle Depot for our 11th Annual Ride and Rally, Saturday July 20th at Motorcycle Depot, 600 Telluride St, Aurora CO. There will be 2 POLICE ESCORTED RIDES; the event can hold 300 people for the ride. Pre-register at Motorcycle Depot before June 29th to be entered into a drawing to win $50 and to reserve your preferred spot in wave 1 or wave 2 but registration is available the day of the event. You can call 720-277-3583 or stop the shop to pre-register. There will be a car show, motorcycle show, food trucks, a jumping castle, vendors, and prizes!

The owner, Adam spent some time in law enforcement and started the annual Ride and Rally charity event at Motorcycle Depot to support the local Police. The event has evolved to help specific individuals going through a difficult time, rather than a large agency.  Past events have gone to support funeral services for Officer’s families, Officer’s paralyzed in the line of duty, and Officers and Officer’s families fighting cancer.

This year Motorcycle Depot is supporting Aurora Police Detective Randy Carroll and his fight against an aggressive form of cancer, Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML).  With the support of his family and friends, Detective Carroll has begun an intensive course of chemotherapy that will require hospitalizations and time of work for recovery.

Have a product or service to sell? Additional vendors welcome and wanted! Everything you need to have an amazing ride for an amazing cause. Visit Motorcycle Depot’s Facebook page for more information. Let’s show Detective Carroll, and his family the how much the motorcycling community is here to support him!

Motorcycle Depot is a family owned dealership in Aurora, CO that has been in business for over 11 years. Adam Levy (owner) started working in a motorcycle shop at 16 and has been working on motorcycles ever since. He says his mission is ‘for everyone to have a good experience’ and his favorite part about owning the business is the people. Motorcycle Depot has a large selection of motorcycles for sale as well as apparel, accessories, helmets, tires, parts, and motorcycle repair and servicing.

More information is available on their website at www.motorcycledepot.com.

Getting Ready for Sturgis

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Photo: Rex_Wholster / iStock/Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

Every year many of us begin the preparation to heading to Sturgis and quickly learn that Sturgis is more than a ride it is an adventure and one that requires preparation and planning. Sturgis Rally is more than just getting on your bike and riding. If you are a new rider or this is your first year going to Sturgis, we have compiled a few tips to get your ready for a great Rally.

Filled with every type of bike imagined, giant parties and too many live concerts to count, it’s quite the experience. Also, it’s one of the few times you’ll see an entire town overrun with motorcycles. Like, the whole dang town. Unreal. When I first attended Sturgis in 2009 it was the fulfillment of a lifelong dream to experience it, and nothing like I expected.

In 2015, a record 739,000 motorcycles rumbled in from across the nation to attend the 75th-annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota. Many riders will attend this 79th annual this year and stay away from next year’s 80th, so 2019 will be a monster of an event.

Reserve Your Accommodations Early

Considering that hundreds of thousands of bikes descend upon the Sturgis area each August, it’s not surprising that the most popular accommodations book up quickly. So, it’s important to book your lodging of choice early to guarantee that you’ll have a place to stay in or near Sturgis.

Hotels: They book up fast and are expensive. Need help finding a room? The Sturgis motorcycle rally’s website is one of the best resources for finding campgrounds, hotels and other accommodations in the Sturgis area.

Camp: Don’t Stay in a Hotel

Grabbing a night in a run-of-the-mill hotel, like a Best Western or Holiday Inn could cost you more than your motorcycle is worth. The week can range around in excess of $3,000 depending on the location. It’s not worth it. Places like the Buffalo Chip, Glencoe campground and many others have great campsites and limited cabins. A lot of the real riders don’t stay in the town of Sturgis but surrounding towns like Rapid City or Deadwood, but even then, the rates are normally considerably marked up for Rally.

Do the Maintenance on your Bike

When you prepare your motorcycle, keep in mind the number of miles you will be accumulating on your trip. If you have been putting off getting your maintenance done, make your appointment NOW, as your local dealerships and other shops begin to book up in July and if you need a lot of work done, they might not be able to fit you in. Remember, you may be adding thousands of miles to these fluids in the course of a week. The same applies to your tires, cables, spark plugs, air filter, etc.

The popular, highly accepted standard for motorcycle pre-trip inspection; is the T-CLOCS check list.

Tires and Wheels: Check your tires for tread wear, it is recommended that the tire has at least 50% of its tread. Check for any deep cuts or embedded objects such as stones, etc. In addition, the rear tire will get a flat spot and the front tire will get cupped eventually, this affects the handling ability of your motorcycle. While traveling long distances you may encounter conditions that can become harsh and climates that perhaps you’re not typically exposed to. Heavy rain is highly likely at some point during your trip, it is important that you have good tread for traction in rain conditions.

Check your rims for any dents or cracks. If you have spoke wheels, make sure they are tight and straight. A loose spoke can cause a slight wobble in your wheel and/or damage to spoke, rim and hub.

Cables and Controls: Check your brake, clutch, throttle, and shifter. Your clutch should operate smoothly. Your brakes should be firm and hold the bike from movement. Visually check all cables for any wear or frays, if you detect any problems they should be replaced. Check your brake pads for enough pad thickness, use a flashlight if necessary, to see without removing calipers.

Lights: Check your headlight, tail light, brake light, and turn signals every time you ride. If you have an additional load from camping gear, clothing, etc. . . and/or are traveling with a passenger, check the clearance under the rear fender. It is possible that the wiring can rub the tire; this will cause a break in the wire.

Oils and Fluids: Change your fluids according to your maintenance schedule. Check the levels of your fluids prior to your road trip. Consult your owner’s manual for proper levels.

Check your battery: If you have a battery that uses water, check the water levels. If you have a HD battery it is sealed and there is not any maintenance to be performed, other than ensuring the terminals are clean. Unless you have a REALLY old HD battery. In that case, you might want to replace your battery anyway.

Chassis: Inspect the chassis for cracks at gussets and accessory mounts. Check the steering for smoothness by turning the handlebars through the full operating range. Test the suspension for smooth, damped movement, and be sure to adjust it according to the load you’re carrying and your riding style, consult your owner’s manual. Harley-Davidson recommends for high-mileage bikes, that you inspect the drive belt and sprockets. Check all the fasteners for tightness. DO NOT tighten above manufacturer recommend torque ratings. Be sure you consult your owner’s manual for correct torques.

Sidestand (Kickstand): Check your kickstand for tension to be sure it remains in the up position when not in use. It is useful to bring a metal plate or piece of wood for the kickstand to rest on; you may encounter mud or extremely hot asphalt which will allow your kickstand to sink.

Photo: jmoor17 / iStock Unreleased/Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

Give Your Bike a Pre-trip ride

If you do decide to take or ride your own bike to Sturgis, make sure to conduct the pre-ride checkup and you should also consider taking your iron horse out for a day ride to make sure that everything is running smoothly. I just had a rider who spent $1,500.00 to have a dealership get their bike tuned up, and 100 miles into another state the bike broke down. The costs he incurred including towing, hotel and the stress of trying to find another dealership to fix the repairs he had made cost him an additional couple thousand dollars.

Ride or Trailer?

The weather in the South Dakota area can be very fickle in August and, depending on where you live, it could be a very long ride to Sturgis. If you have never made that long of a ride, you might want to considering hauling or trailering it yourself.

While many will tell you, you didn’t do Sturgis if you didn’t ride there, when camping and wanting any level of comfort while camping, trailering allows you to pack with all the essentials that you will need. Forgetting things and buying them there, can really be costly, so if cost is an issue… make sure you bring it with you

Gas Stations and other services can be few and far between on the roads in and leading up to South Dakota. So, it’s important not to play chicken with your gas tank. To be safe, top off your gas tank whenever it gets to be about half empty.

Follow the Rules of the Road

The police force in town seem to make their bonuses during this week – often camped between the bars on the outskirts of town, like Full Throttle and Buffalo Chip, where it’s a 35-mph speed limit. They’re in heavy force looking for drunk riders and speeders.

Don’t even roll through a stop sign or run 5 mph over the speed limit unless you want to take home a souvenir from the cops.  Make sure that you don’t ROLL thru stop signs and NOT put both feet down before going thru. Also, it is important to know that if you receive a ticket or fine during Sturgis, Law Enforcement will require you to pay the ticket/fine right there on the spot.

Last and most important, don’t drink and drive! Enjoy your ride and then pop a cold one when you get back to camp or your hotel. If you do have drinks while you are riding, call a cab, use the bus transportation, but please don’t try to ride your bike back to camp. Many of the biker bars in Sturgis understand wanting to have fun and will help you get home safe and sound. Also remember that the Sturgis police department will tow your bike on main street if it is left past 3am, but you will want to look for the signs to be sure.

Watch Your Money

Everything in Sturgis costs money. Everything. If you want to explore any of the numerous state and national parks you can expect to pay admission (these parks offer great scenery, so you may want to consider getting an annual pass – especially in the case of national parks). The Crazy Horse Memorial, which has grown in popularity over the years, also charges admission but is worth the admission and the Crazy Horse center provides a lot of information and an opportunity to cool off on a hot day.

Not a Harley-Davidson Only Event Anymore

Sturgis once had a reputation for being a Hogs-only event. And while most of the motorcycles at this rally are still Harleys, bikes from other manufacturers are showing up in larger numbers than before. If you own an Indian or a Kawasaki, you don’t have to leave your bike at home in order to enjoy the festivities

Side Trips

The roads leading up to Sturgis go past and through some of the West’s most iconic and beautiful sites. So, if you can, make sure to leave time for side trips to:

  • The Black Hills and The Badlands
  • Mount Rushmore
  • Yellowstone

Better Safe than Sorry

If you are planning on riding to Sturgis, you should:

  • Make sure to keep loved ones up to date on your planned itinerary and check in with them daily.
  • Consider getting trip insurance to cover you in case your vacation to Sturgis has to be interrupted or canceled.
  • Invest in motorcycle roadside assistance coverage. BikerDown has a 35.00 per year membership that includes motorcycle roadside from a motorcycle towing company.
  • Call your motorcycle insurance company and make sure you understand the coverages that you have and decide if you need to up your policy to include un-insured motorist and under-insured motorist. Accidents happen and you will be riding next to or around thousands of riders who aren’t local, and you will need to make sure that in the event of an accident that YOU have the coverages to keep you safe in the event of an accident

Be Road Wary

Certain roads around the Sturgis Rally have earned deadly reputations, including:

  • Highway 14A, between Sturgis and Deadwood.
  • Nemo Road, between Sturgis and Rapid City
  • Highway 85, between Spearfish and Deadwood

Be especially wary if you are planning on traveling through or near any national parks, such as Custer State Park or Yellowstone, as you could encounter many large animals, including bison and elk, on the roads.

Lastly, and most importantly, HAVE FUN and enjoy the Ride!

Make Roadside Membership Part of Your Sturgis Planning

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Heading to Sturgis or on a road trip?  Make BikerDown’s Roadside Membership part of your checklist for $35.00 per year!

As riders begin to get ready for their summer road trips or that annual trip to Sturgis.  Please take a moment to think about do you have the right coverages on your bike in the event of a breakdown or accident?

There is nothing more frustrating than the anticipation of the ride of a lifetime, only to have that trip shattered with un-expected expenses such as an expensive motorcycle tow. 

How many of you have had to have your bike towed and cringed when your insurances’ roadside assistance brought the wrong type of tow truck.  Being out-of-state, riders deserve to know that when they need a tow, the right type of tow truck will come out and pick them up.

BikerDown’s roadside membership for $35.00 per year includes motorcycle towing in our membership that is now NATIONWIDE.  BikerDown has contracted with MTS, LLC to provide its BikerDown members a true Motorcycle Towing service. 

We ask all riders to sign-up today before you head out on your next trip join BikerDown for $35.00 per year.  This membership level will ensure that if you need towing, you are covered.

Please go to http://bikerdown.org/join-us/

What Does It Mean to be Part of the American Legion?

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I had the distinct pleasure to meet with the State Chair “Poncho” Serrano, Mike “Chaplain” Smith and Joe Calabro all American Legion members and American Legion Riders last month to talk about What does it mean to be a part of the American Legion in 2019.

As a daughter of a Vietnam veteran, I had only heard negative about the Legion and the VFW, my dad still carries today bad memories of what those organizations stood for when he returned from war and doesn’t want to entertain the idea of coming to the New 2019 American Legion.

I have to say that I was extremely impressed when I have visited Post 178 (Lakewood) and Post 22 in (Northglenn) each time the members were inviting and greeting and the stigma that I was expecting was no-where to found. In April of this year, I have also attended and event at ALR Post 35 in Chandler Arizona what I saw was a young, organized group of veterans ready to help any and all veterans in need, no matter what war you came from.

The ALRs is a program within The American Legion. We are Legionaries who ride motorcycles. Each ALR program is sponsored by an American Legion Post. A person can be a member of the ALR if they are a member of the American Legion, Sons of the American Legion or Auxiliary. We commonly refer to this as our Post family. So, if you’re not a veteran, don’t think you can’t join us. If you have a relative that served, such as a parent or grandparent, then there’s a chance you may still qualify to join our family. Check with your local post and learn more. We love signing up new members. The ALR is the fastest growing part of the American Legion and has had a great effect on Legion membership. We currently have about 35 ALR charters in the state of Colorado and growing.

What do we do? Well we ride for military veteran causes and do great things for our community and youth. We raise funds for all kinds of causes such as youth scholarship funds, veteran’s assistance funds, food pantry’s, homeless transition programs, veteran therapy programs. The list is huge, and we keep finding great things to support and promote. So many great things are happening in the Legion as well as outside the Legion. If it helps our veterans, we’re usually there to offer support.

We also take part in motorcycle escorts and honors for our fallen as well as participate in parades throughout the state. Most of us served in the military ourselves or have lived within the military family unit. We know the cost and it’s important that we remember the warriors and families that paid the ultimate price. We also support those that came home wounded with scars seen and unseen. We do our best to offer a network of support to those who are among us still fighting the battle in their minds.

Every year our riders raise money for the Legacy Scholarship Fund that helps pay for college for military families who lost a parent after 9/11 or who’s veteran parent has a 50% disabled rating or more. We do through what we call the Pony Express. Riders go across the state from post to post collecting funds with the Pony Express satchel. This all takes place in one fun weekend and we’ve had great success with it and have collected record amounts every year.

The new face of the Legion are veterans from more recent wars, and they aren’t in the shadows, they are involved, engaged and ready to be involved. They have a home now away from home, where they can hang with their own and get thru those moments that flashback to them and feel a part of something.

I ask any veteran who is looking for somewhere to call home, to give the American Legion a try and come to a few meetings. If you like to ride, the American Legion Riders are involved and regularly meet and go for rides to help other veterans and local charities.

To find out more information, please contact the

American Legion Department of Colorado, 7465 E 1st Ave D, Denver, CO 80230 — (303) 366-5201

Please take a moment to read about what these veterans have found being part of the American Legion.

Joe Calabro (Road Captain) – American Legion Post 178, Lakewood Colorado

I didn’t even know the American Legion Riders existed. As a veteran of the first Gulf War, I was interested in veteran’s issues. So, in 2004 when I got a letter from the American Legion, I thought that would be a good way to support veterans. At my very first Legion meeting someone noticed that I had ridden my motorcycle to the meeting and told me that American Legion Post 178 had a Riders Chapter. I went to their meeting the next Saturday and have been a member ever since. What drew me to the American Legion Riders was that it is a volunteer organization that does a lot in the community to support veterans and their families. Between raising money for charities, standing in flag lines at funerals to honor our departed brothers and sisters and their families, or bringing food to disabled veterans, the Am. Legion Riders gave me a feeling of purpose and a way to help other veterans and their families. There is no better feeling than when the family member of a fallen veteran gives you heartfelt “Thank You” for standing in a flag line, in boots that were not made for standing, to honor their family member. It is a small price to pay. As a long time, motorcycle rider, I also enjoy the charity poker runs, the parades, and the brotherhood that only riders understand. No matter if you served, or if it was your Father or Grandfather, the American Legion Riders is a great place to support our veterans and their families.

Michael Wilson – American Legion Post 22, Northglenn, Colorado

When I was 6 my uncle came over to the house in his dress blues, he was a full bird Colonial. The instant I saw him I told my dad that I would one day proudly wear that uniform. At age 19 I entered boot camp to become that proud Marine. My intent was to make it a 20-year career. After 6 years I decided against it, a decision that I have regretted to this day. That was back in the day that if you entered the military you were pretty much guaranteed a free trip to Vietnam.

While in Vietnam as a combat radio operator I saw more than my fair share of action. 13 months in country left me a broken man. I left many friends over there. The good lord above saw fit to let me come home and I swore that I would spend my life doing good for others and I would take care of my fellow veterans that were not given all that I was lucky enough to be granted. I knew that I needed to share my experiences in an attempt to self-heal. That is when I found the American Legion. The Legion is a place where we can go to re-bond as brothers and share stories without being judged. Of course, we tease each other about our different branches and that’s OK for us but God help any outsider who would do any one of us harm. I have made many lifelong friends due to my affiliation with the American Legion, if you’re a member of ANY post you are a member of every post around the world and welcome everywhere.

I am a lifelong motorcycle enthusiast but have never had any inclination to join an MC. I have always told anyone who would listen that “I am one of the good guys”, our Legion chapter started an ALR (American Legion Riders) some 4 years ago that I have become intimately involved with it and plan to remain a member for life. We ride for our brothers who cannot, we raise funds for veterans and their families, and we do many motorcycle dignified honors escort services for our departed brothers.

Even if you are not personally a veteran there are various ways you may be eligible. We encourage your interest. There are American Legion posts in just about every city in Colorado. Come on down.

Frank “Poncho” Serrano – Colorado ALR State Committee Chairman

In 2014 my riding buddy and I were looking into joining a riding group and we ran across the American Legion Riders. The more we learned, the more it seemed to be a good fit for us. We are both military veterans and liked the idea of riding for veteran causes. Our local Post didn’t have a Riders program, so we were asked to start one. It began with about 8 of our closest riding friends and in 3 years, it grew to around 70 members. Not only did our rider group grow but our post did as well. From around 60 members to over 260. It has had a positive impact on our Falcon Colorado community since 2014 and we’ve been able to do great things for our local veterans ever since.

Gringo’s MC

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By: Stormy

If you hang out at local biker bars or attend charity rides, you more than likely will notice a group of bikers wearing black and silver cuts that read Gringo’s. Every time I see them, I always wonder why there is an apostrophe in the word ‘Gringo’s’, I am curious if they meant it to be plural or a possession of something. I am a stickler when it comes to grammar, so I asked the president, Mark Sousa during a phone conversation. He tells me the history, “The word Gringo is a Spanish, French, and Portuguese word that existed far before there was ever a country called Mexico.” He thought it was quite interesting that I had asked that question about the apostrophe and continues, “The word itself was used to describe someone who was not from the same village, a foreigner, speaking a different and unknown language ‘gibberish’, someone who is different. Gringo has origins in the Greek language as ‘Griego’. We are Gringo’s because we look different, we speak different, we think different, and we are different. We are not in the mainstream of life, but we do live in its tributaries and tidal pools. The members belong to Gringo; therefore, they are Gringo’s.”

Gringo’s MC was established in 1988 in the town of Terhagen, Belgium. Friends who lived and grew up together, shared a love and idea of all things Americana, motorcycles, and Harley Davidson.

Mark tells me more about the Gringo’s and said that in the mid 90’s, these friends made a pilgrimage to Sturgis Rally. There they met a few kindred spirits from Colorado, international visits soon followed to Belgium and the US, and friendships evolved. In 2005, an opportunity was presented to charter a Denver Chapter, from that point on it has been a rollercoaster of a ride.

Gringo’s MC Denver currently has multiple Denver metro chapters, and in two years, it will celebrate its 15-year anniversary right here in Denver. The Gringo’s MC in Terhagen, Belgium Chapter celebrated its 30-year anniversary in 2018.

Gringo’s MC members are all from different ethnicities, cultures, and race. They welcome those who are honest, trustworthy, of good character, a good friend and brother. No one is perfect, they are not perfect. As with any family, they are functional and at times dysfunctional. Who isn’t, right?

Gringo’s MC is a motorcycle club, and it is structured and organized to ensure it lives and thrives in our local and global MC community. It is also a family club in the sense that they look to become family and take the word “Brother” for what it means. Not just a casual expression as it has come to be. Brother means just what it is, for bad or for worse ‘I am my Brother’s Keeper’.

Mark claims, “Our little bit of difference is that we choose to be part of each other’s day-to-day life and commit to one another’s well-being. We begin this journey by becoming friends and evolve to being brothers, a family. We are family not by blood, but by life and by choice.”

He says proudly, “We follow three simple life priorities: 1. Family (Home), 2. Job, and 3. MC. The goal is to strike a balance between all, but one should never forsake home, nor work. Our life revolves around the motorcycle, it is the centerpiece, it is the primary means of conveyance for everyone. If one’s job permits it, it’s not below freezing, and there is no ice on the road, the motorcycle is choice year-round.”

It was interesting to hear that Gringo’s Denver is active in its community in both charity fundraisers and projects. Everything from helping those in financial need, health, illness, as well as supporting our military veterans. On occasion, Gringo’s MC Denver will partner and host charitable events for these very causes. They also support and advocate for motorcyclist’s rights, they are active in supporting legislative actions that benefit all riders and oppose those who would risk their freedom of choice and the road.

Gringo’s MC simply desire to ride, keep life simple, live vicariously through one another’s experiences, tell a joke, share a story, and help a Brother. There is no magic to this, no Hollywood story, just a friend and brothers’ company.

As an international MC, they get to experience this on global level with friends, families, brothers and sisters. “Riding your Harley in America is great! Riding one in Europe is spectacular as well”, Mark boasts.

When one wears the Gringo’s MC patch, they are an ambassador to all its members worldwide, and their MC community at large. It’s critically important that they have that awareness, responsibility, and accountability.

I had the privilege to be invited to their clubhouse and meet the president and some family members. When talking with Mark and learning about his life and his accomplishments, I realized what a humble, happy guy he is. He tells me, “We must be politically aware and astute of our MC environment and those things that would affect our community at large in addition to all motorcycle riders, however, an MC is about having a fun, riding, and closing out the day with a road story, a cold beer and a brother.” Mark ends our conversation saying, “We are to be the rebels of life’s daily norm and outlaws in spirit. We must never lose sight of our primary goal of coming together. If we are not having “FUN”, then why are we doing it?”

In closing, I found there were many misconceptions about motorcycle clubs in the riding community and was pleased to learn that the club members share the same love and passion for family and riding that independent riders have.  Thank you, Gringo’s MC for allowing us a glimpse inside your world.

Wanna Win a Bike?

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BikerDown with the help and donation of Wide Open Saloon are offering riders a chance to take home this 2017 Harley-Davidson Road Glide? You do not need to present to win, which is a great benefit to anyone purchasing a raffle ticket. Winner will be announced at Wide Open Saloon on October 26th at their Halloween event.

Tickets will be $20.00 for 1 ticket, $100.00 for 6 tickets and can be purchased online at www.wideopensaloon.com. Wide Open Saloon and BikerDown will be at the Freedom Fest on June 29th at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds as well as many other BikerDown events.

100% of the proceeds of this raffle go to help injured motorcycle riders in Colorado.