It’s no secret that motorcycle people like to be around other motorcycle people.
And why not? Gatherings of bikes and bikers often lead to some form of good times for those involved, whether of the riding or hanging out variety.
A sizable group of local bikers did some corporate hanging out last Thursday night, as they gathered for a Houston Downtown Motorcycle Cruise-In.
For a few hours, the event transformed a portion of Grand Avenue into a virtual motorcycles-only zone, as close to 40 parked bikes lined both sides of the street while riders from several area communities and surrounding counties mingled near several tables placed curbside in front of Twist & Shake and the Downtown Eatery.
The event included several games with participants mounted aboard moving bikes, as well as drawings for prizes, and a 50-50 raffle designed to raise money for Roy King – a Raymondville biker who was badly hurt in a recent crash – and his wife Tammy. Event organizer Kerry York said donations to the raffle totaled about $350, all of which went to the Kings after the winner gave back their half.
Some of the local attendees said bikers don’t have to go far to find top-notch riding routes. Houston resident Todd Dorman (who rode his “back up bike” to the event – a 2005 Yamaha V-Star – because his main ride is being serviced) has dozens of years of riding experience and said some of his favorite places to enjoy two-wheel cruising are here in the Missouri Ozarks.
“There are so many,” Dorman said. “There’s the Branson area, the area around Theodosia, and Highway 160. But I’d say within about an hour and a half of right here where I live is where my favorites are.”
Dorman appreciates all the two-lane highways in the region.
“When we ride, we always take the back highways because you don’t have to worry about traffic, and you can go a lot slower and enjoy the ride,” he said. “I’m not an interstate person and never have been.”
MoDOT employee and Ann Wink said becoming a biker about a year and a half ago has given she and her spouse another option for how to use time they spend together.
“Me and my husband wanted something extra-curricular to do, so we decided to have motorcycles,” Wink said.
Oggie Murillo said his 19 years of riding experience began when he married his wife, Amy.
“Right after we were married,” Murillo said, “Amy said ‘have you ridden a motorcycle?’ I said, ‘I haven’t, but I could start riding one.’ So we got one.”
Three more cruise-ins are scheduled this year in Houston, each set for the third Thursday of the coming months (July 19, Aug. 23 and Sept. 20). For more information, log onto the event’s Facebook page at Houston’s Downtown Motorcycle Cruise In.