By Jay Allen
Get ready to roll your trusty stead out of the garage because it’s time to ride. Don’t forget, if you’re not running a synthetic oil, put some fresh blood in the ol’ girl’s crank case, check your chain or belt adjustment, lubricate the throttle and clutch cables and last but not least – check your tire pressure! You don’t want any breakdowns on this run because you and tens of thousands of other riders will be converging on the city that throws a party second to none – The Big Easy. The one and only New Orleans.
It gets better – The World’s Biggest Biker Bar, the Broken Spoke Saloon and our friends at BikeWeek.com have been working with the City of New Orleans and the State of Louisiana to prepare the event of a lifetime – BikeWeek New Orleans at the Broken Spoke. The “official” party is from Thursday, May 7th to Sunday, May 10th, but we’ll get you started early with a ride down to the bayou with BBQs and the perfect hotel to rest up for the party.
The Broken Spoke in New Orleans sits on one acre of party in an historic mill building across the street from the convention center and walking distance to the French Quarter. (But why walk when you can ride, I ask.) The saloon alone is 26,000 square feet and it will be chock full of the hottest of wild bartenders and rockin’ with headliners and local acts that you’ll never forget. The streets will be closed down to literally surround the Spoke with non-stop entertainment. Cycle Source Magazine will be hosting its first hard-core ride-in Chopper Show. Go to their website to check it out: www.cyclesource.com. Jay Lighting from the Wall of Death and his posse will be doing shows day and night. A motorcycle tradition that dates back to 1918, the Lucky Daredevil Thrillshow will blow you away! With huge snakes, swords and fire – they have perfected a circus event born in Coney Island. And all you have to do is walk around the corner to “Bud Alley” to check out the Budweiser Burnout Bike.
In the Broken Spoke Saloon’s 21 years, this event will be a first for the level of cuisine. Food and drink being a forte of New Orleans, you better be packing a belt with extra holes for expansion. World famous chefs will be struttin’ their stuff at the Chrome Kitchen, and the New Orleans Hospitality Foundation will present a “Taste of New Orleans”, giving you a sample of the best the city has to offer. After all that scrumptious chow, it’s time to ride, and have we got rides! Southern Comfort will sponsor a scenic Plantation ride with a rodeo and more great food once you’ve arrived.
The Broken Spoke has been on tour with Easyriders Bike shows this year, featuring our “Rolling Museum”. The riders’ response has been amazing. To give you all one better – Easyriders has agreed to bring their full production bike show to the first New Orleans rally! That’s huge! They will be directly across from the Spoke, display their centerfold tour bikes with many of the iconic builders appearing and signing autographs. With the bike show showcasing the top builders from the gulf region vying for the much sought after Easyriders trophy, you will see great industry product and witness the latest and greatest from the industry leaders like S&S Cycle and Baker Drivetrain, to name a couple. You’re going to be inspired by all the variety of custom bikes. Just don’t overreact and take a cutting torch to your stock bike until the excitement has worn off a little!
You may know that I’m the owner of the Broken Spoke, but what you may not know is that I’m no stranger to this ultimate party town. I was a Lucky Dog man on Bourbon Street & Tolouse while living in slave quarters on Esplanade Street for cheap money! It will be good to be back – just like the Broken Spoke, parties in New Orleans are so off the hook, it’s the only place to be!
The first Annual BikeWeek New Orleans at the Broken Spoke is an event bound to go down in the annals of motorcycle history. It’s my hope that we can all partake in the party, rides, events and share the birth of a tradition that will be around for many years to come. Let’s ride,
Jay Allen
P.S. Keep the shiny side up and the rubber side down!
