Rolling Thinder?

[towerworker]

Came out of southwestern Va this morning from a jobsite and was heading back home to Staunton Va. Came up on a huge group of motorcyclists being excorted by Va State Police. I then realized who they were. The procession must have stretched for at least 10 miles and I am being conservative. For the most part the group rode conservatively and safely. Although at several points I witnessed lane splitting and what I considered reckless behavior. The most disapointing part of the procession was the fact that they were seemingly so intent on keeping their group together and tight---so much so that they would not allow other vehicles to merge onto interstate or allow vehicles in the left lane to move over so as to exit interstate when an exit came up. Every exit we came up on had vehicles backed up beyond where I could see. (During all of this I was in the passing lane trying to get home. The group of bikers (and yes I call them bikers because alot of them were not Motorcyclists) ran for the most part around 60 mph. The posted limit here in Va is 65. That part was good as most who were traveling the interstate could stay in the passing lane and get where they had to go. (hopefully)

Here is the bad part---while going around Blacksburg (milepost 118) apparently someone got tired of waiting for a hole to open up in the right lane and just made one. As I went past the on-ramp I saw at least one big bike sliding on it's side down the middle of the interstate and both bikes and cars were going everywhere. I placed an immediate call to 911. It was sickening seeing that bike sliding on it's side. I could not see what happened to the rider (s). Because of all the congestion and traffic I did not stop but placed the call instead. Many were stopping behind me. I regret not stopping but feared I would add to the already incredible confusion.

Most of the time while riding beside this group I felt uncomfortable because of the actions of some of them. Some were weaving in and out and a few others were lane-splitting. I was listening to the Va State Police on a receiver in my truck and noted many calls made by motorists complaining of their inability to both enter and exit interstate because of the bikers.

I am in favor of the original reason for "Rolling Thunder". I rode my bike to DC last year with a group of friends and for the most part enjoyed it. I am not in favor of a group of men and women just "riding like Hell" just because they think they have the right to because they are in such a large group.

And no I am not riding to DC this year.

Wayne Bowyer
Staunton Va
03 r

[towerworker]

My apologies---did not intend to misspell Thunder.

Wayne

[MikeCam]

Herd Mentality.

NOTICE - HUMOROUS RANT FOLLOWS - DO NOT OVER REACT

Those bikers are dangerous, do drugs, carry guns, get after our women and generally disrupt honest law abiding citizens like us. If you ask me, they should pay extra for their licenses, need a permit for 2 or more to ride together, have to stop for safety checks at every exit, and be required off the road between 0530-0930 and 1530-1830 rush times. It's like the farmers when they rode their tractors to town in the 90's.

NOTICE - THIS CONCLUDES THE HUMOROUS RANT

Wayne, glad you made it safely.

[MikeCam]

PS

If the Harley gangs are doing Rolling Thunder, should the Beemer gangs do Blitzkrieg?

[towerworker]

MikeCam

Herd mentality is a good way to put it. I don't want nor do I mean to brand the entire group as a result of the actions of some. Most of these people are regular folks like me (guess I'm normal and regular). I think the entire affair was poorly planned---for instance if the entire group rode the left lane that would have left the right lane open for entry and exit.

It would have better if the group size was kept to a smaller number----i.e. many groups of say 100 instead of one group of 10,000!


btw---I only saw 3 BMW's of the many thousands I passed.

[R4R&R]

I've seen rollung thunder roll by, I've been on the highway (like you) with it, but never participated in it. I like the idea of what it's about, but it seems like sooooo many see it as another 'cruiser' rally. They should probably break up into smaller groups of say, 20 bikes?

I typically head away from this area for the weekend.

[ebiker]

I've been on a few motorcycle charity rides in Philadelphia. Police/Firemen Survivor, Dan Faulkner Ride, etc. Try to picture upwards of 12,000 motorcycles riding from Philadelphia into South Jersey for a good cause. We had Police escort full distance as we all rode in the left lane, I believe.

Local Media would inform the public on and before ride day as to our route, and ADVISE motorists to choose another direction.

I remember those rides as being noisy, smokey and chaotic.

Ed..

[Capt. Blackadder]

If the Harley gangs are doing Rolling Thunder, should the Beemer gangs do Blitzkrieg?

"Ja! Donnerwetter Franz, doch vollgas geben!"

[sjbmw]

I've been on a few motorcycle charity rides in Philadelphia. Police/Firemen Survivor, Dan Faulkner Ride, etc. Try to picture upwards of 12,000 motorcycles riding from Philadelphia into South Jersey for a good cause. We had Police escort full distance as we all rode in the left lane, I believe.

Local Media would inform the public on and before ride day as to our route, and ADVISE motorists to choose another direction.

I remember those rides as being noisy, smokey and chaotic.

Ed..

I did the Police ride from Philly to Wildwood NJ 2 years ago on a cool April day. Riders were still lined up to leave as the first riders were arriving at the shore. Most bikes I ever saw in one place, all makes and models so the Hogfest mentality was non-existent. They DID close the main route thankfully.

[yjleesvrr]

Here's something else I'm getting tired of with this group that converges on D.C. Baby boomers who aren't even veterans acting like and in some cases saying that they're war veterans. You start asking them questions about where they served and the details start getting real hazy as soon as you delve at all into the geography of Vietnam.

Couple this with the "biker attitude" and you just want to yack thinking about what a disservice these posers are doing to real veterans.