Cycle Connections

Have a safe and happy Labor Day…You deserve it!

And Hoping That We All Get Back To Having Fun, Safe Adventures Soon, And Invite You To Share Them with Us!

Remember, Wash Your Hands and Practice Social Distancing, Stay Safe & Well

Cover Design By: Lisa Bonta

In This Issue:

  Well what a year 2020 was...right?

  So many of the events we normally would go cover were canceled due to the pandemic, just as everything around ALL of us around the world were. We were all affected in one-way or another. And TOO many have lost loved ones as well; our hearts go out to them all. Our deepest gratitude goes out to all the frontline workers who put their life on the lines.

  I think there were many lessons to be learned along the way.

The lesson of UNDERSTANDING. Understanding that we are all in the same boat...of life.

The lesson of COMPASSION for others, whether we know them or not.

The lesson of UNITY, that we are better off when we work together regardless of color or status.

The lesson of PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY, that also includes each of us being mindful of surfaces we touch that are also touched by many others and that germs are laid down and picked up that same way, so we should not only think of protecting ourselves but others as well, even after the pandemic is over, because even Colds, Flu & other viruses will be with us even after the pandemic is over.

The lesson of LOVE, to love one another as our brother and sisters.

The lesson of FAITH, that through our faith in God, he will see us through ALL of this.

  We are so very grateful to all of our readers and advertisers, grateful to all of you who shared your stories with us and hope that we all enjoy more adventures to share in this coming New Year.

We also pray that ALL of you have a Happy, Safe, Healthy & Prosperous New Year!!

Ride On!

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  My girls, Cindy Lou & Kelly Kimari , loaded up the truck and trailer and hit the road early Thursday morning, August the 5th, headed for the 81st Annual Sturgis Rally. We asked them to be our roving photojournalist for this trip so that we all could experience Sturgis, at least through their eyes....since not all of us are fortunate enough to get to do that experience in person. Cindy Lou is a Sturgis virgin and has been looking forward to making this journey with her good friend, veteran Sturgis goer, Kelly      

  On Saturday, August the 14^th, the Veterans Brotherhood hosted one of their famous Chow Call's...with a twist, a Bike Wash courtesy of the girls from Gin Town Lowlife Society.

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PHOENIX, ARIZONA – January 2, 2019 – HawgWilde Cosmetics, LLC’s (HWC)

online late 2018, was a very exciting milestone for Andrea Bates,

CEO/Co-Founder and Shari Weisman, COO/Co-Founder of HawgWilde

Cosmetics,

   What better way to splash into the heat of summer, than to splash into the river to shoot the rapids (sorta kinda :-) and float on your raft for a leisurely cruise down the river. And some of these rafts are quiet literally making a statement! It was like a river float parade.

                It’s 6:00 a.m. and we’re on our way to Georgia with some of our fellow Charity Riders club members and closest friends. There are six of us headed for a weekend getaway and we couldn’t be happier! Who wouldn’t be happy to get away for some much needed wind therapy, not sure where all it will take you? There is so much beauty to be found in our great state of Alabama, and trust me, we have seen a lot, but we’re ready to see some new sights and venture upon some new long and winding roads we’ve never been before. The mountains are calling to us, and we have answered the call, so off we go!

  I'm glad we at least KNOW folks that get to go have some awesome adventures, also glad that they come back and share that experience with us all. Our friend Christopher Litteral with the Alabama Law Tigers group was there with his team, giving away a “glamping” experience” and brought us back some cool pictures from their time there, he also got to meet Loretta Lynn’s grand daughter…how cool is that!!

  On Sunday, June the 13th, hundred's of people rolled into the Moody Civic Center to honor and pay respects to a couple of their fallen hero's.

It was a beautiful, all be it a little hot, (so hot, that a few of the people had issues by the end of the ride) Sunday afternoon as motorcycle after motorcycle rolled into the parking area with many jeeps and cars mixed in. The Moody police chief was on hand to speak before the ride left and afterwards when the ride returned.

According to a 2012 study, most motorcycle riders regularly practice lane sharing on freeways and multi-lane roadways. Very few riders report being cited by law enforcement for this practice. Still, there is much confusion over its legality and safety. While many discourage lane sharing, there is evidence that it actually improves rider safety, and there is a growing push to legalize it in more states.

Lane Sharing vs. Lane Splitting and Filtering

  On June the 12th, 2021, The Saints and Friends of The Miracle League, hit the road leaving from the Cullman Elks Lodge #1609 (a big supporter of the Miracle League) with some of the superstars along for the ride, one of which is Brandi Story Evans son, superstar athlete Jacob. Brandi spent many months gathering all kind of special goodies for this event and she along with Lynn Gordon Jones and Tiffany Day Wilson provided the awesome pictures of the ride to share with all of you.

  On April, 28th 2021, as further signs of the country slowly getting back to some kind of normalcy, the Spring Thunder Beach rally kicked off in Panama City Beach Florida after being put on hold last year due to Covid. April 28th was the official start date however; many of the bikers were already rolling in to town early in the week to get things started.  For the most part, rally goers experienced beautiful weather, aside from a few brief showers early on, which didn't dampen anyone's spirits about being back at the beach.

On May the 8th, 2021, the new kids on the block, "The Charity Rider's R.C", hosted their Grand Opening-Open House and drew in around 85 Bikes and probably 20 to 25 caged rides. They also had in excess of 10 other clubs who participated as well as a lot of independents. The Veterans Brotherhood was one of those other clubs who hosted a stop over during the ride leading up to the open house.

  On Saturday, May the 30th, Bad Boy Toyz Garage and Hooters in Pelham, Alabama kicked off the first "Pipes And Pints" Sunday afternoon get together. This is an event that came together as a way for everyone to just meet and greet, have a few colds ones and some good food while enjoying each other’s company. Also, Stephen Krubinski, owner of Bad Boy Toyz wanted to include "Sound-Off" contests for pipes and audio, with the assist of "Bare Naked Body Worx"  the winner receiving $250.00; pretty cool, cause who doesn't like showing off their rides and hard work, it got a little loud around there for a brief period, people for sure knew we were there.

On Saturday, April the 17th, 2021, the Faith Rider's and Cedar Grove Baptist Church hosted the 9th Annual Lyla Ride.

The 2021 Season of racing for anything, has taken on a different look AGAIN this year, due to Covid, but at least there are some races taking place, which is a good thing because people are still yearning for some normalcy.

Indy racing rolled into Alabama on April the 16th, 2021, to start the race season off; what better place than the coolest world famous track at the Barber Motorsports Park.

-- We (our local CMA in Tennessee) held a Blessing of the Bikes, Saturday, April the 3rd. There were approximately 200 bikers to come out

We couldn't make Daytona Bike Week but had a couple of friends who did, (Will Peek & Frank Pate) so we asked them to share some of their awesome shots with us all. 

  On Saturday, March the 20th, 2021, the Veterans Brotherhood hosted a St. Patrick's Day themed Chow Call as a way to get folks back out and doing things together again.

  Finally!! Something to do around here, something that feels a little like normal. There have been NO events at the Birmingham Jefferson Civic Center since the start of this pandemic, actually, I think that last years show may have been the last event there, and since this year marks the 50thg anniversary of the Birmingham show, it was a good thing that it didn't get canceled like the Nashville show did back in January.

  Mardi Gras may have been canceled again this year but on Saturday, February the 13th, folks around here got a little taste (literally) of Mardi Gras at the Legion Post in Leeds.

And so it began... The start of our new chapter, at our new home, where it all began in Graysville AKA "Gintown"; Gintown Lowlife Society Family had our Reopening 1/22/21 and to say it was a huge success would be an understatement. It was that and so much more.

Photos Courtesy of: Bruce T. Johnson

  On January the 26th, 2021, several members of the Birmingham H.O.G Chapter joined up with their "ROMEO" group for a ride out to The Back Porch Grill at Lake Logan Martin. Lake Logan Martin is always a great place to ride to, fun roads and wonderful scenery along the way. These guys are always riding some place cool.

13 years ago the Bondslaves MC decided to reach out to the homeless in Birmingham and partnered with the Brother Bryan's Mission downtown by organizing a biker run and bring needed items for the residents. The first run was hampered by the untimely death of Ruby Newton the mother of BS members Mark Newton and wife to Fig Newton.

A new law that went into effect in Missouri in late August loosens restrictions on wearing motorcycle helmets, but many are wondering if it is a good idea. As part of the transportation bill HB1963, the new law will no longer require all motorcycle riders to wear helmets. Instead, it will allow riders over the age of 26 to ride without one if they choose. 

With hundred's of vehicles in attendance, and many who collect donations throughout the year, there was over raised $107,000.00 this year.

  Many groups (cars & motorcycles) gathered from all around the state of Alabama to ride to the Eldridge House. The Gintown Lowlife Society are one of those groups who gather money throughout the year and make a day of this ride, starting with breakfast at the clubhouse. The Misfits MC also started their day off with a run to the Eldridge House then proceeded on to the official opening of their NEW Clubhouse with a party proceeded on to the official opening of their NEW Clubhouse with a party!

Below is an article from one of the "Lowlifes" Christin Elders:

On September 5th, 2020 the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association TN 18-1 out of Nashville held our 8th Annual Fallen Brothers Memorial Ride. It was a gorgeous day for the event. We fought through a tornado ripping through our starting point and Covid but we still had a great turnout of more than 160 bikes.