The Riding Calendar
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Bikers are reflected in water left behind on Main Street by rain showers during Bike Week in Daytona Beach, Fla.
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So, I missed it again this year. The "unofficial" kickoff to the 2010 motorcycle season, 10 days in the fun and sun with hundreds of thousands of motorcyclists living it up while I'm watching the snow melt here in Pennsylvania. My bike is sitting in the garage waiting for a good rain so I can get on the road without having to feel guilty about exposing it to salt.
The 69th Annual Bike Week celebration in Daytona Beach started at the end of February and it just wrapped up last weekend. Bike Week has been a tradition in Daytona Beach since 1937 -- and one of these years I'm going to make it there!
The celebration coincides with the running of the Daytona 200, an American Motorcycling Association sanctioned professional race at the Daytona International Speedway. Over the years, the center of attention has shifted from the race to the activities that surround the weeklong event.
Now Daytona and Bike Week are all about the people, and the fun. Live bands, great food and drink, parties, vendors and having a good time abound all around Volusia County. There's a great, classic Florida motorcycle ride called "The Loop" that traverses coastal drives, river shores, state parks and country lanes, giving a great, relaxed view of the natural beauty of the area.
So if you're like me and you missed Daytona this year, that's OK. There are plenty of other events going on now through October that are still going to offer up a fun time depending on what you're into.
April 14-18: Arizona Bike Week, Mesa, Ariz.
This has turned into a wonderful venue for music, with appearances from major bands planned.
First Published March 11, 2010 12:00 am
