Ride Iowa event to benefit March of Dimes is July 31
The 2010 Ride Iowa event benefiting the March of Dimes will be held July 31 at the Boone County Fairgrounds. Registration begins at 9 a.m. The event includes a 70 mile ride beginning and ending at the Fairgrounds, with lunch, live music, vendors and a car show also part of the festivities. Registration is $20 in advance or $25 at the gate.
In addition, Miss Iowa 2010 and Miss Ride Iowa 2009 will be on hand to crown the new Miss Ride Iowa 2010.
Zylstra Harley Davidson of Ames has donated a 2010 Sportster to be given away in a raffle drawing.
Farmers Insurance Group and 95 KGGO radio are also sponsors of the event.
The RIDE IOWA Foundation is a local nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the health of babies by preventing birth defects and infant mortality in the local community and nationwide.
For complete information and a 2010 registration form, visit the Ride Iowa website at www.rideiowa.net.
Beautiful weekend for a blessing… or two!
Just a quick reminder about a couple of blessings coming up this weekend. First, on Saturday May 1 it’s the annual blessing at Route 65 Harley Davidson, 1300 S. Jefferson Way in Indianola beginning at 11 a.m. All riders welcome, and don’t miss Bad to the Bone BBQ too!
And, on Sunday May 2, The River’s Edge Church at 204 College Avenue in Iowa Falls will host its 4th annual blessing event. Lunch served at Noon, music by TRE’s house band, The Way, and blessings beginning at 1 p.m. The event is free, and it’s been growing each year – from 26 bikes the first year to 72 in 2009! No cost to participate, and no pre-registration required – just come on up to Iowa Falls and enjoy food and fellowship. For more information, email Pastor Carlton Anderson at pastorcarlton@msn.com, or call 641-640-0543.
Bike Blessing events mean it’s riding season!
I really dig all the “bike blessing” events I’m hearing about. I’m not what you’d call a regular church-goer, but I am a Christian person and I find that riding the Iowa by-ways on two wheels is a great way to enjoy and appreciate God’s creation. (Riding in areas that look so different from Iowa, like South Dakota, is a great way to be reminded that my immediate world is very tiny and that God’s creation takes many different forms!)
Of course, one of the things I like best about bike blessing events is that they signify the beginning of the riding season. But more than that, they are an opportunity to acknowledge that there is some risk in riding, and that you have to be able to pretty much put yourself in God’s hands when you ride because you simply can’t control every risk factor. It’s humbling. Sometimes, it’s even emotional, but maybe that’s just me.
We’re headed to the first of the area bike blessings this weekend, so it seemed like a good time to mention three of them that I know of. If you know of another and would like to list it here, feel free to add it in the comments. Also feel free to visit Biker Chick News on Facebook and post your Blessing event in the appropriate thread in the “Discussions” tab.
How about you – do you enjoy blessing events? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Saturday, April 17 – Big Barn Harley Davidson in Des Moines, blessing at 11 a.m. with chili feed to follow. Also includes blood drive and benefit for Disabled American Veterans (DAV). For info: bigbarn@bigbarnhd.com.
Saturday, May 1 – Route 65 Harley Davidson in Indianola. For info: rt65@route65.com.
Sunday, May 2 – River’s Edge Church, Iowa Falls, Iowa, 1 p.m. For info: pastorcarlton@msn.com.
Flickr photo by mobhistory.
Dinner ride with Route 65 HD, May 25
Route 65 Harley Davidson in Indianola, Iowa is celebrating Women Rider’s Month in May with a dinner ride on May 25. All riders – women and men – are welcome to ride along with the Route 65 Ladies of Harley (LOH) and local Motor Maids members. The ride will leave from the Route 65 Harley-Davidson Shop parking lot, 1300 S. Jefferson Way in Indianola, at 6 p.m., but get there early if you want to shop and socialize! The Dinner Ride destination will be announced soon. Call Route 65 HD at 515-962-2160 if you need additional information.
World of Wheels great fun, but where are Fonzie and Foos?
While last Sunday I was celebrating the arrival of Spring by taking the first ride of the season, this weekend we watched with amusement as Mother Nature tried to stick us with another 4 inches of snow. She succeeded on Friday night, but today is Sunday and it’s all gone already – so, “nice try, Old Girl, but better luck in December.”
The family and I did take advantage of an indoor activity on Friday night – the “World of Wheels” hot rod and custom car show.
Now car shows are nothing new to us – my husband has been a car nut forever, and for many years we were very active in the car show scene around Iowa and through the National Street Rod Association. (Talk about great road-trip stories – we were just reminiscing not too long ago with Garry and Shirley about the trip we took to a show in St. Paul, which was followed by a week of traveling to another show the following weekend in Pueblo, CO. What a blast!)
Anyway, we saw some ads on TV for this show – it promised special guest appearances by Chip Foose and Henry “The Fonz” Winkler – so we decided to go. (Hey, what gal who grew up watching “Happy Days” wouldn’t want to spend Friday night oggling The Fonz? Fortunately, our daughter also knows Winkler through HD re-runs and for his role in the movie Holes, so it wasn’t a tough sell.)
It was dumping a nice snow by the time we arrived, but that was okay because I think it kept the crowds at bay. We got lucky with a close parking spot, hustled in through the snow to the exhibition hall, stepped up to buy our $13-apiece tickets (yes, almost $40 to get three of us in!), got the tickets… and THEN looked up to see signage that said Chip and the Fonz would NOT be there until Saturday.
Well that was a downer, but by then we already had our tickets so in we went. It took the best part of about 3 hours to see the whole show, including a 20 minute dinner break. LOTS of really cool cars, some showpieces and some “rat rods,” and also several bikes. I took a TON of photos – you can see them all in the World of Wheels album over on Webshots – but here are a few of the highlights:
For Stephanie, there were many examples of the mid-50’s Bel Airs and pickup trucks – rest assured if there are photos in the album of a tri-five Chevy, Steph took them. She has very good taste!
A couple of really cool conversion vans – yes, that 70’s trend is hangin’ in there! – the neatest of these having a deep blue “Pirates fo the Carribean” theme.
Several nice motorcycles, including a custom vintage-looking red Harley with a sidecar, a restored ’45 Flathead, and a neat old-school looking custom Sporty with deep red metalflake peanut tank.
A pair of veterans who had built commemorative vehicles honoring fallen vets.
A 1911 Stanley Steamer.
A cool little Ford Festiva cut into a pickup truck, complete with matching trailer.
SO much more!
We had a nice few hours of family time walking around looking at the cars – neat to see our daughter taking an interest in some of the details her dad was explaining about the Bel Airs (of course, now she wants him to help her build one – nice!).
I just wish The Fonz had been there, because the weather was just nice enough the rest of the weekend that he might have been disappointed with the turn-out of his Iowa fans.
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.
