Mayor John Rhodes of Myrtle Beach effectively kicked the Myrtle Beach Bike week out of town this year. The two best known rallies, the Harley-Davidson Dealers Association Spring Rally and the Atlantic Beach Memorial Day Bikefest, were never sponsored by the city and as such the Mayor couldn’t “cancel” them. But the city of Myrtle Beach has passed a list of ordinances that effectively prevent the rallies from taking place in City of Myrtle Beach.
Click here for new rules and ordinances for Myrtle Beach
The Mayor is certainly bucking a trend. Cities and towns around the country are actively appealing to bikers. In fact, at least five cities close to Myrtle Beach and Horry County are taking pains to make it quite clear they don’t share Myrtle Beach’s aversion to motorcycles.
On the other coast, Bikernewsonline reports the city of Temecula California last year began seriously backpedaling to get back the bikers an overzealous police force had run away. The owner of an antique store complained about the noise from some bikes. A word from the police chief and things eventually escalated to the point of fishnet style busts where bikers were pulled over in groups and ticketed for non-DOT helmets and aftermarket pipes. One officer was reported to have told a biker that, “their kind,” wasn’t welcome there.
Several biker forums began calling for a boycott of the Old town area. The chamber of commerce began hearing from business and took action. Police chief Jerry Williams, himself a bike owner, acknowledges some problems and says there will be some changes. The city is now going out of it’s way to make bikers feel welcome.
It isn’t 1960, and bikers of the early 21st century are an economic force to be reckoned with. The cash weekend motorcyclists bring to town is not something to be lightly ignored.

Motorcycles line up along the street at the BOO rally in Jefferson Texas

— Guy Wheatley

I took the Motorcycle Safety Foundation Basic Rider Course (MSFBRC) course here in Texas about 3 years ago. It was only $180 in Texas at that time. As a new bike owner with a couple of hundred miles under the tires, it was a big help. Part of the positive experience for me was that my instructor belabored the fact the this was rudimentary instruction, and that we were not experienced bikers based on our attendance of an MSFBRC course. At the end of the course he said, “You are now qualified to ride a 125cc motorcycle around a closed parking lot!”
The single most important thing I took took away from this class was how much I still didn’t know. Looking back, I think I thought of the little 250 Nighthawk as a bicycle with a motor when I bought it. That instructor took pains to make me understand that the MSFBRC class was just a beginning of my motorcycle education. He insisted that we, his class, continue our education, ride with experienced riders, and ease ourselves into more complex riding. He also pointed out that the painted lines would still be on the parking lot after he left and encouraged us to came back and practice the skills he taught us. This is referred to as PLP (Parking Lot Practice) on some forums.
Knocking around several bike forums I see a lot of diverse opinions on the MSF program. One of the biggest complaints is that taking the MSFBRC allows riders in many states to forego the riding test for receiving a license. There is the feeling that the State is abdicating it’s responsibility of ensuring a license holder is truly skilled enough to operate the vehicle safely, and is not a danger to himself and others.
I must say that was the case with me. Fortunately I had an instructor who convinced me to look for more training. I haunted Internet sites dedicated to motorcycle safety, faithfully engaged in PLP, and sought out experienced riders for advice and instruction.
I was sitting next to a grizzled old biker in downtown Hot Springs a couple of years ago. We watched a guy drop a big shiny Harley trying to park it. That was the first time I head the famous, “$30,000 and 30 miles don’t make you a biker!”
There is nothing wrong with the MSFBRC course in itself. Taking it as a magic pill to alleviate inexperience and lack of skill can be deadly.

— Guy Wheatley

Historic downtown Jefferson

We took another “short” ride Saturday.  It was going to be short because Sharon and I were both worn out. We’ve been tearing up the roads for the last few weekends and we’re going to be in Dallas next weekend. This was supposed to be a relaxing and getting a few chores done at the house weekend.
Our son was home for a few days though and we haven’t taken a ride with him in a long time. So about 2 O-clock we decided to take a quick ride. This was to be a ride of about 40 miles round trip, and last no more than two hours. We jumped on the bikes and took off in no particular direction.
About 60 miles later we pulled into Jefferson. Brandon had never been there on a bike before, and somehow as we were aimlessly burning gas I just never got around to turning around.
We had to take Brandon to Annie Skinner’s. I mean, you can’t go to Jefferson without sticking you nose in Annie Skinner’s can you ? Turns out you can. There was something going on there that night and there was a $5.00 door charge. We were already committed to eating at another restaurant, and I wasn’t  dropping $15.00 just to say we’d been. We’ll catch them another time.
The reason we wanted to go to the other place is because Sharon and I had been there once and hadn’t put a dollar on the wall. That’s a tradition at this little place, but on my first trip it felt more like a scam. Funny how stuff like that can bug you. I couldn’t wait to get back down there and staple by buck to the woodwork.
By the time we finished eating, and roaming through a couple of antique shops, it was 7:30. We took hwy. 49 out of Jefferson, then hwy. 43 up to Atlanta. We like the smaller roads, but it was dark by the time we got to Atlanta, and I saw one deer grazing on the shoulder.
We managed to get home without hitting one and had an enjoyable weekend. One of these days I’ll try a short ride that’s less than 100 miles.

– Guy Wheatley

Brandon and Sharon wave enthusiastically at the camera

Stapling my dollar to the wall.