2010 Rallies & Events
European Bike Week 2010, Part 3
Story by Sedrick “Mitch” Mitchell
Photos by Harley Davidson Press: Köln, David Hayes, & Fritz Van Duinen
There are very few sights and experiences more beautiful than a motorcade of motorcycles rolling and rumbling down the road, particularly when the majority of them are Harley-Davidson heavy weight motorcycles. There is just something about the roaring sounds of so many machines. The noise levels are somewhat a bit louder than normal traffic, but the sounds from the mostly illegal exhaust systems on these machines are so soothing, so calming, so comforting, and so exciting.
There are many major features of a good motorcycle event, from custom bike shows to famous musical entertainers to motorcycle stunt riders, and much more. A motorcade or motorcycle parade is also a main part of many well-known motorcycle events. At some events a huge biker motorcade is part of the opening ceremonies, while at other events the big motorcade is part of the closing ceremonies.
European Bike Week is the event of the largest Harley-Davidson motorcycle parade in Europe. This huge motorcycle motorcade is always held on Saturday during European Bike Week, the day before the end of the event, and the day of many main events.
On Friday evening bikers start their preparations for this big motorcycle parade. They try hard not to consume too many of those beverages that impair their abilities to operate their motorcycles during the parade the next morning. The night before the parade they layout their masks, face paints, and unique clothing outfits. Weather conditions are usually warm, so clothing outfits range from an array of wild and fully-clothed costumes to bikini clad and barefoot appearances. You never know who or what you might see in this parade.
Early Saturday morning, bikers hop on their machines and begin making their way to the start point of the parade. They line up their bikes and impatiently wait for the parade to kick off at high noon.
This year, more than 25,000 motorcycles participated in Europe’s largest motorcade of Harley-Davidson motorcycles, and from start to finish the entire ride took more than three hours. The Parade route ran alongside Faak am See to Finkenstein, through the center of Villach to Ossiach, and around Ossiacher See to Rosseg and through many smaller villages, before heading back to Faak am See. “I’ve been on every one of these motorcycle parades since the start of this event, and every year the excitement just gets better and better,” said Roger from London. “The people who stand alongside the streets as we ride by are just as excited as we are.”
For more information on European Bike Week and the big parade, log on to www.europeanbikeweek.com