2010 Des Moines, Iowa and National bike events
Here’s a list of some 2010 bike-related events that you can use to plan your riding year. The list is focused on central Iowa since that’s where I’m based, but includes some national events as well. If you have something you’d like to add, just leave the info in the comments section – if your additions are outside the central Iowa area, be sure to mention the city and state.
Struthers Brothers bus trip to Minneapolis for International Motorcycle Show (call 282-3634) – February 5-7
Capital City Custom Cycle Show and Swap Meet (call 712-262-8910) – February 13-14, Iowa State Fairgrounds
Daytona Bike Week, Daytona FL – February 26-March 7 www.officialbikeweek.com
ABATE/Big Barn HD Blessing of the Bikes – April 17
Indianola Bike Night, third Friday April – September www.bikedowntoitown.com
Conesville Hog Wild Rodeo – May 13-15
Ride for the Cure – May 29 www.rideforthecureiowa.com
ABATE Iowa State Freedom Rally, Algona – July 1-3
Sturgis on the River, Davenport – June 16-19 www.sturgisontheriver.com
J&P Cycles Open House, Anamosa (call 319-462-4819) – June 26-27 www.jpcycles.com
Honda Wing Ding, Des Moines – June 30-July 3 www.wing-ding.org
Iowa State HOG Rally, Waterloo – July 16-17 www.iastatehogrally.com
Sturgis Rally (70th Annual) – August 9-15 www.sturgis.com
Hawgstock, Winterset – August 19-21 www.hawgstock.com
Iowa State Fair Motorcycle Day – August 22 www.iowastatefair.org
Bikes, Blues & BBQ, Fayetteville AR – Sept. 29-Oct. 2 www.bikesbluesandbbq.org
Bikers Against Diabetes (BAD Ride) – October 2 www.ripsbadride.com
Biketoberfest, Daytona FL – October 14-17 www.biketoberfest.org
Legion Riders Post 232 hosts steak fry & benefit
Heard from the Legion Riders Post 232 via email this week, they are holding a benefit auction on January 30 for a young girl stricken with cancer. They are in need of monetary donations, auction items, and of course BIDDERS. Also, if you have a stash of returnable cans you’re holding on to, the Riders would love to receive them as a donation as well so they can cash them in for the upcoming benefit.
The Legion post is just off the square in Polk City – yes, you’ve ridden right by it on your way to Big Creek! You can check them out on Facebook!
And – just in case you’re looking for something to do TONIGHT, Friday January 15, they’re hosting bingo and a steak fry!
Coming up: Estrogen Ride report!
Each year, my good friend and riding buddy Holly N. organizes (or helps others organize) an all-women’s ride here in central Iowa. It’s very informal, usually just a bunch of friends getting together for a weekend trek around Iowa and surrounding states. (Although, there are ALWAYS coordinated shirts, which makes it at least semi-official!) I had a blast on the Estrogen Ride in 2007 but have managed to miss out on it for the past two years and have had to settle for living vicariously through stories told by the participants.
Holly was kind enough to take time to write up a thorough report for me on the 2009 ride, which took place in September, and Vicki D. took some great photos along the way. So starting tomorrow and running through Monday you’ll be able to read all about the adventures these biker chicks had without me! If you were on the ride, I hope you’ll add your comments to Holly’s reporting! And, if you have any photos that you dare share, feel free to send ‘em to me for future use!
I’m really, really hoping to make it on this ride next year!
Ride for the Cure open thread – did you participate?
If you were able to participate in the 2009 Ride for the Cure event in central Iowa, please share a little in the comments section about your experiences – would love to hear from you!
ABATE Toy Run confirmed: pre-party 10/3, Toy Run 10/11
My thanks to Laura and Jan with ABATE District 4 – they have confirmed for me that the District 4 Toy Run is Sunday, October 11, leaving the east parking lot of the State Capitol in Des Moines, rain or shine, at 1 p.m. They ask that you bring an educational toy – all cash donations and toys go to underprivileged children in Dallas, Polk and Warren Counties.
Also, ABATE is hosting a pre-Toy Run party THIS weekend, Saturday, October 3, beginning at 7 p.m. at Smokey’s Saloon, 4397 NW 6th Dr. in Des Moines. There will be a silent auction, live auction, Toy Run Merchandise for sale and lots of fun! All donations again go to the children.
Riders travel to Freedom Rock to honor veterans
Weather’s been beautiful here during the work week but crappy on the weekends, so I haven’t been out on the bike for awhile. But, Cassie took the opportunity to ride to Freedom Rock near Greenfield on Monday, May 18. The group traveled over to meet the riders who are heading from the west coast to The Wall in Washington, DC in honor of Viet Nam veterans. (I think I’m going to have to make Cassie an official “stringer” for Biker Chick News – she takes a lot of great pictures and she manages to make the rides I usually miss!)
Freedom Rock is a large boulder situated on Highway 29 just north of Greenfield, Iowa. Each year, artist Ray Sorensen paints a veteran-themed collage on the rock to recognize US veterans.
That’s Ray in the white sweatshirt.
Here’s a great-looking “rat bike” full of memorabilia – the riders also stopped at the veterans’ cemetery in Marshalltown, Iowa.
Ride to eat with Struthers Bros. Dinner Rides
I post a lot of information here about events and rides hosted by my local HOG chapter and/or Big Barn Harley Davidson, because those are the ones I get notices for and because that’s my bike brand and home dealership.
But some of the other dealers certainly host rides and events too. My friend Cassie sent an email recently reminding me about the season’s schedule of dinner rides hosted by Struthers Brothers Suzuki-Kawasaki-Triumph here in Des Moines, so I thought I would share the info – hey, bikers are nothing if not hungry, right??
All rides leave Struthers promptly at 4:30 p.m.; Struthers is located at 5191 NW 2nd Ave. in Des Moines, just a half-mile north of Interstate 80.
May 23 – Ride to Georgio’s in Colfax.
June 6 – Ride to Drifter’s in New Virginia.
June 27 – Ride to Matt’s Smokehouse in Dallas Center.
July 11 – Ride to Boone for BBQ
July 25 – Ride to Just Ethal’s in Yale.
August 8 – Ride to State Center.
August 29 – Ride to Hickory Park in Ames.
Although I haven’t been on a Struthers ride yet, it sure seems to me that “dinner” is a great reason to ride! In fact, some of my favorite days on the bike have included stops at similar locally-owned eateries in Audubon, Kellogg, and even Pisgah!
2009 Des Moines, Iowa, and National bike events calendar
A word to Mother Nature: YOU CANNOT BURY THE DESIRE TO RIDE UNDER TWO FEET OF SNOW. (so please quit trying…)
Now that I have that off my chest, just thought I’d offer up a list of known dates for upcoming 2009 area and national bike events. Think of this as your “gardening catalog for Iowa bikers.”
(UPDATED March 25, 2009 – Read Carefully, some dates have changed!)
April 4 – Blessing of the Bikes, Big Barn Harley Davidson, 11 a.m. followed by Chili Feed benefitting CMA
Indianola Bike Nights – Third Fridays April thru September. First I-town bike night is February 17! (www.bikedowntoitown.com)
Memorial Day Ride to the Wall – “Iowa Thunder” annual ride to the State Capitol and Viet Nam Memorial. Info still to come!
July 2, 3, 4 – ABATE Iowa Freedom Rally at Algona (www.abateiowafreedomrally.com)
July 17, 18 – Iowa State HOG Rally, Sioux City. (www.iastatehogrally.com)
July 24-27 - DATE CHANGED. SEE SEPTEMBER. Estrogen Ride (women only).
July 31 - East Village Bike Night, Des Moines.
August 3-9 – Sturgis Motorcycle Rally – www.sturgisrally.com
August 15 – Bikers Against Diabetes Ride (BAD), www.ripsbadride.com.
August 20-23 – Hawgstock, in Winterset www.hawgstock.com
October 2, 3, 4 – Ride for the Cure supporting breast cancer research (www.rideforthecureiowa.com – site coming soon!)
ABATE Iowa District 4 Toy Run – date TBA.
October 15-18 – Biketoberfest in Daytona Beach, FL. (www.biketoberfest.org)
And of course, BIKE NIGHT every Thursday night at the new Porky’s Pub/Radical Cycle Shop, 5125 NE 14th St., Des Moines – let’s fill that parking lot!
If you know of a Des Moines-area bike night event not listed here (and there are MANY), please add the info by leaving a Comment. Specify night of the week and at least approximate times if you can. Thanks!
Ride for the Cure: A blast-and-a-half for a great cause
by Corn Dog on October 24, 2008
in Events, Uncategorized
Hey Biker Chicks, have you had your mammogram yet? October, as you know, is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and every woman over 40 should have this annual exam. Mine came back normal, but there are two women in my life who have either survived it, or are currently battling it. It’s a concern for every woman, regardless of age, family history or background.
One of the largest benefits this year (if not THE largest) was Ride for the Cure, benefitting breast cancer research. Ride for the Cure was held October 4 and in Iowa it consisted of several ride routes all converging on the Iowa Speedway in Newton, where thousands of riders gathered and got to blast around the track. The Des Moines group took off from Big Barn HD; Carole, aka Pinky, attended and shared TONS of photos. Here’s what she told me:
Hey, Janet, I just wanted to let you know that the first annual Ride for the Cure was a tremendous success! As soon as the final totals come in I will let you know what was raised but as for turnout there were 1200 registrants at the Newton Speedway alone! A group of 330 bikes left Big Barn Harley Davidson being escorted by the Sheriff’s department to Newton. Other riders left from other dealerships across the state to meet us there. When we arrived at the speedway everyone had the opportunity to ride around the lap which was invigorating to say the least! I wasn’t able to make the pitstop to the winery but heard it was really great too. Everyone converged at the Val Air ballroom for the big nightcap with a great dinner, silent auction, live auction, and a live band which rocked! I encourage everyone to plan on registering for next year’s event which will be bigger and better (if that is possible)!!
The photo above and this Flickr album tell the whole story – if you have pictures or stories to share from this ride, please hit the “Comments” link and tell us about it!
Final opp to support ABATE 2008 Toy Run, this Sunday 10/19!
by Corn Dog on October 17, 2008
in Events, Uncategorized
Well this was a good week, because I learned something! In my previous post about the 2008 ABATE District 4 Toy Run, I said that the event was a benefit for the Toys for Tots Program. That’s actually incorrect. Here’s the real scoop, and an opportunity in case you missed the run this year:
Laura from ABATE District 4 tells me that although the event in the past has donated the toys to Toys for Tots, these days the group sorts and distrubutes the toys themselves for needy families throughout Polk, Dallas and Warren Counties. And that’s the opportunity – ABATE District 4 will meet this Sunday, October 19, at the Waveland Fairgrounds Cafe, 304 E. 30th in Des Moines, at 2 p.m. and will be able to collect toys at that time if you would still like to donate. Thanks, Laura, for the corrected info!
