Revved up to Rally

Starting today, the bikers descend on downtown for a little R&R - ride and relaxation

By Joey Seiler
Thursday, May 31, 2007

You might have already heard them rumbling into town or felt the vibrations from farther off. And you might have noticed a few more leather jackets blowing up and down Interstate 35.

The bikers are here.

For the next four days, Austin will host the Republic of Texas Motorcycle Rally, one of the largest motorcycle rallies in the country. Grand Funk Railroad will play, the Budweiser Clydesdales will trot through, celebrity builders will unveil new rides and, most importantly, thousands of motorcycles will parade up and down Congress Avenue.

It’s a sight to see.

But if you’ve seen it and want to get away from the roar of downtown while staying in the spirit of things, there are plenty of options. We’re fortunate enough to live smack in the middle of some of the most beautiful biking country around. We spoke to three local riders about their favorite routes in Central Texas (and check out our “Hill Country Super Ride” on the next page) and their take on the rally.

ANGELO DIMARIA

Bike: 1998 Harley-Davidson Softail with a wide-tire kit, 18-inch ape-hanger handlebars and an up-sized 1450cc engine.

Number of years at the rally: Four years.

Favorite ride: We like to take (FM) 1340 out to Marble Falls and then head up to Llano and go to Cooper’s BBQ, which is awesome barbecue, and then we head up to Enchanted Rock and then down to Fredericksburg. Another one that’s really good is to take RM 12 south out of Dripping Springs or Hamilton Pool Road to Wimberley, and then from there you can go around to Canyon Lake and back.

How long have you been riding?

Since I was 12 years old. I started off riding mini-bikes, just homemade dirt bikes. I graduated to something with gears when I was 14, and I had a motorcycle before I had a car. My parents weren’t too happy about it.

How did you first get to the rally?

I’ve been in Austin for two years, but I was in Louisiana before, and I came from Lafayette in 2004. I lived across the street from a club, and they’d been talking about it for three or four months before, and I decided I wanted to go out with them. It took about six hours. We had a blast. It was probably one of the best rallies I’ve ever been. I’ve been to Daytona and Laconia and a few other small ones.

Now I have friends that come to town, and it gives me the chance to take them out to the Hill Country and show them around. I take those same trips many times of the year, but it’s always fun to take new folks out and show them around.

Do you ride in the parade?

To tell you the truth, I just get down there early to watch it come through, but after 15 minutes it gets a little boring. But since we’re early, we get to park in front of our favorite establishment and just walk up and down the street and socialize. It’s really cool to meet people that come in from all over Texas. They’ve ridden for 10 hours to get down here.

What’s the best place to watch the parade?

There’s a couple places, but we like to hang out at Shakespeare’s. It has a wide, open front. You can watch sports, see what’s going on the street, and drink a beer. You’re not cut off inside. There’s also the Chuggin’ Monkey and Blind Pig, they’ve got big decks on the roof where you can watch what’s going on down on the street. It feels like New Orleans.

It’s nice that there’s a central area to go. At other rallies, everyone is stuck out at a fairground. It’s rare for a city to close down a main route like Congress to have the main parade go through. I’ve never seen that.

What should the first-time participants know?

If you’re from Austin, it’s just a typical night out. Some people tend to be intimidated by all the bikes, but I haven’t seen a single problem. Local cops say it’s their easiest festival. … It’s just a bunch of people having a good time. Don’t be intimidated by the bikes and the biker look. We’re just normal guys out having a good time.

What’s kept you riding?

It’s a huge stress relief. Out in the country with no cars around, I can get in my head, and it’s like you’re alone. It’s just you and the bike, and it’s like an extension of your body. And when you get off, it’s like you’ve had a two-hour massage. If I do 200 miles on a Saturday, I’m good for a week.

ART CHAVEZ

Bike: 2007 Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail Classic with custom chrome and lights: “I put ground effect lights on it that glow. Because a lot of boaters (biker term for car drivers) just don’t see bikers, but I pop. My bike just glows.”

Number of years at the rally: First year.

Favorite ride: We live in such a great area. I live in Round Rock, so we’ll go up to Taylor and then take (FM) 112 and then out to Elgin and Lake Somerville and back in to town. It’s a different ride from going out west to Fredericksburg.

A lot of time we’ll go out on (RM) 1431 to Marble Falls and get breakfast at the Bluebonnet, and then we take Park Road 4 out to Llano for BBQ at Cooper’s. From there we’ll go back down to Enchanted Rock and Fredericksburg. If you’re in that area, you have to stop in Luckenbach and hang out for a little bit. I urge anyone who’s riding and hasn’t gone down there yet to hang out and enjoy the nostalgia, and there’s always music and songwriters out there. From there there’s a little road that takes you out to Blanco. And then you can make your way back.

So are you excited about your first rally?

Last year I was moving … and I just saw all these bikes coming through, but I had no idea what was going on. I’m excited to see the energy, and I’m excited just talking about it. There’ll be thousands of bikes and no two will be the same. That’s what’s so wild about it.

What are your plans to celebrate?

We’re staying at the Radisson downtown since we live up in Round Rock and want to have a good time. If we drink, I don’t want to be riding. So we’ll go up to Sixth and park our bikes there and do the parade thing and then go out to the fairgrounds and check it out. I’d like to see Grand Funk. These rallies get pretty crazy and fun, and you’ll see guys trying to tide on 2-by-6 boards for as long as they can (a balancing act), guys are doing burnouts, and there are boxer short contests and bikini contests.

Do you see any difference between the attitude toward bikers here from where you’ve lived before?

I lived in Santa Fe before, and it’s pretty laid-back too. A lot of people have the wrong impression about bikers. When I first started riding, I’d wear my leather jacket to the mall and just get weird looks. But one time I was riding up to California and we were in Monterey and there was a stretch of highway that no motorcyclists were allowed at all. That’s a leftover from the Hell’s Angels and the ’60s. And in Austin you see there are guys who have their colors on and they’re in their group, but you can approach them and they don’t put up any defenses or anything. Everyone is pretty friendly. There’s already just a buzz about the rally. I parked my bike at the “Road to Austin” concert, and people would come out and talk about it.

You put a lot of work into your bike. Do you think people get the same reception if they don’t show up on a Harley?

I don’t think anyone has a problem, but people have that idea in the back of their head. As long as you’ve got some wind on your face and the sun on your back, it’s OK. As long as people are having fun and they’re safe, it’s fine.

Why do you keep going out to ride after all this time?

Freedom. It gives you a sense of freedom. When I lived in New Mexico, you’d drive through the mountains, and it might have just rained, and you’d smell the rain, and the pine needles and people’s campfires. You get all these scents on different roads. Also you smell the cows in the truck next to you. But there’s a sense of freedom on the open road with the wind in your face and the sun on your back. You can take the same trip in a car or a truck, but you’d never experience the same things that you do on a motorcycle. … It’s a mystical experience. I can explain it to someone and talk and talk, and they’ll say “cool” or “wow” … but until they experience it, they’ll never know. I’ve been riding since ‘75, and I’ve never trailered my bike, and that’s a lot of miles under my belt. There’s just a spirit about it.

LUIS ARGUETA

Bike: 2002 Harley-Davidson Road King Classic with customized handlebars and chrome.

Number of years at the rally: Four.

Favorite ride: I go with friends from Houston when they come up. We like to go to Fredericksburg. It’s beautiful. We usually go (U.S.) 290, but it’s always different, and you should try different back roads.

What keeps you coming back to the rally?

It’s the people. The hotel that I work for (Radisson), it makes it very interesting. We were the first hotel to put a bike in the lobby, my personal bike. And we give bikers water when they come in the door, there’s the bar to welcome them, and music by the pool. The whole thing is to welcome them and make them feel at home. It’s what people look for.

What about the rally makes it that way?

The rally here in Austin is just different. The way the city closes Congress and Sixth down makes it special. It’s very much a place that people can park and walk back and forth to different bars and restaurants.

With the option to stay in an official hotel instead of camping, do you see any more weekend warriors coming to the rally?

It’s funny that you ask that. When we meet up at a bar and grill, there may be 300 or 400 people there. But no one will ask what you do for a living. Bikers just don’t care. They don’t ask what you do or whether you’re married or single. No one cares. It’s just about the ride. You could be talking to a lawyer or CEO. It’s all for the moment.

It seems like there’s still a perception that rallies are for Harley riders only.

I have a Harley, and I don’t see that at all. There’s no comments about your ride. A bike is a bike. Most of our friends don’t see any difference in it. It’s just two wheels and the air. That’s the way I look at.

Why do you keep riding?

Man, it’s just the freedom, you know. The freedom to be out there with the air and you and the bike, and maybe your wife or your girlfriend. Maybe.

The Republic of Texas rally

How to enjoy the rally on and off your bike:

When: Today through Sunday.

Cost: On-site registration at the Travis County Exposition Center, 7311 Decker Lane, is $50 for adults and $20 for children 12 to 17.

Music: More than 40 bands and five stages. Some true rock highlights: British rock quartet Foghat kicks off the rally tonight. The Guess Who opens at 7 p.m. Saturday, and Grand Funk Railroad closes the evening at 9:30. If country is more your style, Wade Bowen and Ray Wylie Hubbard will headline the Paradise Bar on Monday and Tuesday at the exposition center.

Sports: When you’re ready to sit back and watch some sports, the theme is extreme. Austin’s local Lonestar Rollergirls will have open practice at their own Texas Thunderdome (619 Tillery St.) today and Friday with a final competition on Saturday. When you get tired of women racing around on skates, the X Fest stunt show will host men jumping ramps on bikes throughout Friday.

Parade: The real point of the rally is the parade and downtown party. The bikes will leave the rally grounds at 7:30 p.m. Friday and ride an 11-mile route to Congress Avenue. Even if you don’t register for the rally, you can still come and watch the parade at 7:45 and stick around for the downtown party with music, food, and sights until the early hours of the morning.

More information: www.rotrally.com

More of a Triumph than a Hog?

The ROT rally doesn’t exclude non-Harley riders, but other groups in Austin cater to them throughout the year. No matter what type of bike you have, though, most groups will just tell you to get out there and ride. Some to check out:

The Roadrunners: This group, dedicated to classic European and Pacific Rim motorcycles, hosts its show and rally as a low-key alternative to the bigger rally. You can check out the classic bikes this Sunday at the Ski Shores Waterfront Café and meet there the first Sunday of every month for more classic action. austinroadrunners.com

Austin Bike Night: If you just want a general gathering, Austin Bike Night happens from 6 to 9 p.m. every Thursday at Antonio’s Mexican Restaurant, 16912 N. Interstate 35. All bikes and bikers are welcome to come and mingle with the hundreds of regular participants for enchiladas and drinks.

Off-road: If you don’t want to deal with the streets at all, the Austin Moto-Sports Association celebrates off-road biking of all kinds. You can find them at Fuddruckers, 4024 S. Lamar Blvd., at 7:30 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month. amsaclub.org

Hill Country Super Ride

The rides are the reason for many motorcycle owners and we’re lucky to live in an area surrounded by awe-inspiring scenery. We created this ’super ride’ out of suggestions from riders Angelo DiMaria and Luis Argueta.

• Beginning at RM 2222, take RM 620 South
• Texas 71 West
• West on Hamilton Pool Road
• RM 12 South through Dripping Springs and Wimberley
• West on RM 32
• U.S. 281 North to Blanco
• RM 1623 West
• RM 1888 West
• RM 1376 North through Luckenbach
• U.S. 290 west to Fredericksburg
• North on RM 965 past Enchanted Rock
• North on Texas 16 to Llano (stop at Cooper’s Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que)
• East on Texas 29 past Buchanan Dam
• Right on Park Road 4 by Inks Lak

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• South on U.S. 281 to Marble Falls (pie at Blue Bonnet Cafe)
• East on RM 1431 back to the Austin/Round Rock area