Cycle Connections

It’s April Fools Day, but for some reason, it's felt like that or Ground Hog Day, for over a year now!

Hope 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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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.

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,

  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.

  Well we managed to get the Breakfast with Santa done this year.....in the midst of Covid!

  It was the perfect morning, Saturday, October the 3rd, for a ride out to the Moody Ball Park for the 10th Annual Cruising for a Miracle Car/Bike Show/Auction, where the proceeds went to the Miracle League. Corona kept us from getting to play with them at the Miracle League Ride this year that ends up at the park with the kids; we really missed that, so anything we can do that supports the Miracle League, we're all for. We were glad, to say the least, that they were able to get this event off, but there was plenty of outdoor room for people to gather and still keep some distance.

  Saturday, October the 17th, the Veterans Brotherhood was the host venue for the Zoo Run Safari for Children's Raffle/Booze Raffle, with proceeds going to Children's of Alabama as the second half of the Zoo Run events.

Well the Spring Thunder Beach Rally in Panama City Beach, Florida was canceled due to the Covid-19, as was most everything, but people were holding out hope that the Fall Rally would indeed take place, being so many months down the road, but as the time grew nearer word came out that it too would not take place as the city was denying permits. People were very upset because the hotels were not doing refunds on the rooms that had already been booked, even though what they had been booked for was canceled, so those people were planning on going down anyway and who could blame them. Then just weeks out, that decision was reversed but by then there wasn't enough time to get all of the venues in place and several of the vendors had made other arrangements.

Well my fellow Legionnaires, it has been an active month for the Triple Nickel Riders. We received an invite from Carmona "Scrappy" Roque, ride coordinator of the US Military Vets MC, to join them on their annual charity ride on September 12th.

Let me tell you a story of a grand man who had a dream... His name was Phillip"Mayor"Jones and a grand man he was. I'm so blessed to have had him, first in my mother and dad’s life, and soon after mine and my son Ashton's lives.

  The Legion Post riders of Post #107 in Leeds, Alabama, played host to the Faith Riders Blessing of the Bikes.

  Well, with all the weirdness, cancellations etc going on everywhere right now, we shouldn't be surprised that it would also affect this years Zoo Run Safari for Children's event, Saturday, September the 26th, 2020.

The biggest blow right off the bat was the fact that the Zoo has had to cancel group events for now, so we weren't unable to have our Stars with us or take them to the Zoo; kinda took the wind out of my sails right off, but it is a fundraiser for Children's of Alabama as well so we decided to move forward with that part of the days events.

I arrived at the Westside clubhouse and the heat of the day was gradually kicking up in the 80s. As I entered the clubhouse I greeted my brothers and sat down to cool off because my truck has no AC and it was an hour-long drive to get there from Huntsville.

This poker run of course had 5 stops the first was Saints MC Westside clubhouse, 2nd was Stells Sports Grille, 3rd was the VFW of Florence, 4th was Stagger Lee's Lounge before returning to the clubhouse. Kickstands up was originally timed for 11:30, but later pushed to 12 because there were other charity runs going on as well. The clubhouse was packed in and outside as brothers talked of old stories from past events partying, some just as crazy and fun as others. 3 trophies lined the island countertop for the bike show scheduled after the run. Prospects were running in and out of the clubhouse to help with the event and doing a great job. Looking up at the ceiling you saw Road names throughout the clubhouse where brothers from other MCs or friends lined most of it.

This ride, or the thought of this ride, was brought to my attention in January 2020 when a fellow friend, rider and close friend of Stephanie, told me and some other friends about it and asked us to keep our calendar open to do this ride for her.

  I'm glad we at least KNOW someone who was able to make Sturgis this year. Our friend Christopher Litteral from the Alabama Law Tigers, set out for Sturgis around August the 7th, headed out to do some PR work for the Law Tigers, tough gig huh!

While organizing a PR event in the middle of the Sturgis Rally was a huge undertaking, Chris made it look easy.

From the American Legion Post #107 in Leeds, Alabama:

“They left Oregon and traveled across country staying at various places overnight. This is an excerpt from an email from them about their visit to us”….

“This is our annual ( 22 day - 4,000 mile ) cross country motorcycle ride in which we escort the Fallen Soldiers Memorial Flame from Eugene, Oregon to Arlington National Cemetery in Washington D.C to honor and pay tribute to America's fallen service members.

  Once again, everyone worked diligently for days, preparing to welcome visitors in from all around for good fellowship with friends and Good Eating!

       (Article Collaboration By: Lynn Lilly & Michael Thomas Hodge, Photos, courtesy of the Saints)

  Everyone has been anxious to get out and about and do some really fun stuff, and what better really fun stuff is there in this heat than a Raft Race, you're outside, plenty of space around you and WATER to float in to cool off!

  This event has been taking place on the river in memory of one of the fallen Saints brother, "LL" for 21 years now and it's definitely something that most of the bikers around northern Alabama look forward to every year. People come on Friday and just camp out and make a full weekend getaway out of it.