By Lulu

Can’t recall exactly how many years we have taken friends and visitors to Florida for “our” Ride to the Country Bike Week and Biketoberfest. But this was by far one of our best. LOTS of new faces and some friends from states far away that join us every year now! The weather couldn’t have been better, one of the few we haven’t been rained on. We start at Sandrine’s bar The Hideout Lounge on Derbyshire in Daytona. after one of their famous Bloody Mary’s we saddled up for a bit of a hike to The Oasis in San Mateo where owners Tina and Larry got on their scoot and joined us for a few stops. Next a quick little jaunt to everyone’s favorite, the Gnarly Gar, with an amazing deck right on the river. We have to make the next stop Long’s Log Cabin in Welaka to visit with our friends Waylon and Tonya! Hungry riders walked next door for a bite to eat at Shrimp-R-Us, and some waited to sit on the back porch of 3 Bananas in Crescent City for their quesadillas. But before they could chow down at 3 Bananas we stopped at The Hideaway in Satsuma where Lisa goes all out for those who come to visit with a sex swing for photos in the oak tree, balloon arch for couples photos inside…you really never know what she will be up to next. Then after our dinner stop at 3 Bananas, the final stop was The Other Place for their Shovelhead night. Gina owns it and Chris’ Lounge and was there hosting a PACKED house! We always have room for more so next time you come to town for Bike Week or Biketoberfest and want to get out of dodge and enjoy some of our favorite spots, join us!

By Lulu

This is an awesome event that gets bigger every year! This year it was perfect as it was held in the new, huge Tiki Hut that we have all been waiting for. Boats arrived and pirates walked the plank to unload and invade the crowd. Sword fighting women put on a bit of a show. Prizes for best female, male and couple pirates were awarded. Even a Twisted Tea bass boat invaded the party with my friend Gary Coleman and his wife.

If you haven’t been to Drifters on the St. John’s River in Astor, the food is fantastic with generous portions for hungry bikers. A wonderful view of the river makes it a great stop. Coming on July 4th is their next Tiki event which is a celebration of 250 years of the USA! Dress patriotic and come out and join us!

By TJ

The Wheel In is back in Brooksville! Two years ago, Alan, Paul, Kirk, and Mark all decided to chip in and take over the property that housed The Wheel for many years while they were growing up but then became Rebar for a bit. These lifelong friends have breathed new life into the popular local spot known for its lively atmosphere, live music, karaoke, and poker nights. To me, the biggest improvement made is the construction of a huge, covered pole barn with a stage and a fire pit that provides a friendly, casual atmosphere to have a few drinks with your peeps.

I was fortunate to spend a recent Saturday afternoon at a fundraiser for a beloved friend in the community, Bobby Boatwright, who is fighting an illness. It was obvious by the turnout that everybody loves Bobby. The outpouring of support was nice to see, and Bobby really enjoyed himself. Paul played auctioneer for countless donated items and DJ/Karaoke Bubba kept everyone rockin’ all day with his tunes. I really enjoyed the day and getting to know everyone better was a bonus They are a good group of folks!

“The Wheel” is always available and excited to host poker runs, private parties, special events, reunions, birthdays etc. There is also a food truck to fill up your belly. Oh, and if you feel inclined, feel free to drop off all of your beer/soda can tabs. They collect them, and the proceeds go to The Shriners. One gallon jug of tabs is worth $200, and they are working on a 5-gal jug now, so help fill it up!
The bar is located at 10123 Broad St (Rt 41) in Brooksville. The best part of a visit to The Wheel for us bikers is the ride out there. The area is surrounded in all directions by miles of beautiful country roads that will lead you right to it. Go check out the Wheel In and tell em Thunder Roads Florida sent ya.

T. J.

I was happy to be able to attend Let’s Rides 10th anniversary party to help my friend Lisa celebrate her milestone. We were at their first anniversary party 10 years ago and the store has come a long way since moving from the old store on19 in Port Richey to the current location at 7422 SR 52 in Hudson in 2017. This store has a welcoming feeling when you enter and is very neat, clean, and organized. She has all kinds of new and second-hand motorcycling gear. Helmets, leather jackets, jeans, gloves, hats, glasses, etc. …you get the picture. If you need anything biker, check Let’s Ride first before you go and pay dealership prices. Let’s Ride also features a consignment section. I think Lisa’s specialty is custom made patches for your jacket, hat, or vest. Those embroidery machines are running like crazy all day long.

This day was to thank Lisa’s loyal customers and friends. Her mom, kids and grandkids were also there helping with the duties of the party, but also to enjoy the festivities. The band Wallace Blvd was very talented and rocked the house on a beautiful sunny afternoon. Their set list was a great mix of Rock and Roll, Blues, and a bit of Country. Cold beer was available for a donation, and the outside grill was busy cooking up burgers and hot dogs for the crowd.

A bike show presented trophies to the best entries picked by the judges, and they had tables full of raffle baskets with some beautiful prizes. I got lucky and took home a half gallon of Fireball, just what I need. Tony and Melissa manned the Fran Hasch tent and had birthday cake for Melissa’s big day. A few vendors scattered around the property displayed their wares for sale. All in all, it was a perfect afternoon even though I had to make the three-hour ride home afterward. It was worth it! I raise my glass to another 10 years for Lisa and Let’s Ride!

By Lulu

Main Street in Daytona is historic for Bike Week. Boot Hill Saloon is the bar behind that history. GREAT MUSIC & WORLD-FAMOUS T-SHIRTS have made this bar a must do stop on the bi-yearly trek to the motorcycling mecca of Bike Week and Biketoberfest. I have attended both now for 20 years! Hate to admit it at 72 years old but several of my bras have ended up hanging in this bar!! Thank goodness mine aren’t as infamous as the serial killers Aileen Wuornos’! This year bands were on the inside and outside stages. Too many bands to list all of them, but Gunshine, a national touring act, had their Album Release Party there. Leaving Eden, a crowd favorite, rocked the stage the day of the oldest Boot Hill Bike Week T-shirt contest. The oldest T-shirt contest and the Twisted Tea Giveaway Bike Reveal were must do events. The 3 top oldest T winners received $100 each. You don’t have to wait for Bike Week to visit Boot Hill, Wednesdays are rocking Bike Nights, and they feature their music line up for the month in Thunder Roads Florida!

Being a bit exhausted from trotting from one bike rally to the next, I decided to use my very first Pony Tales from March 2007…just a bit of nostalgia and a stark reality of how much time has passed, and how life has evolved. Forgive me for boring any who read this 19 years ago…The photo is me 19 years ago at my first Harley Rendezvous.

“I best confess up front I am a “newby” to the world of biking. This year I rode on the back of my first Harley, bought my first chaps, got my MC license, and owned my first bike. This has been a world of new experiences for a 52-year-old in her midlife crisis. At my first weekend bike event, the Harley Rendezvous in New York someone called me a Rally Virgin…little did I know how right they were. There I learned about outhouses, tent camping, “Pervert Alley” and how really great bikers are. Bull, my introduction into this fun and crazy world (also the original owner of Thunder Roads Florida), calls me “Miss Snooty Pants” and there probably is some truth to that. My friends and I from BM (Before Motorcycles) certainly had no idea how much charity bikers do or how close knit the biker family can be. I have so become a MC addict that I have already left my Honda Rebel for an 883 Sportster and have my eye on a Dyna. I was told recently 300,000 women bought bikes this year which gives me a sense of peace knowing I am not alone in this insanity. The excitement and freedom of the ride is part of the allure, but I must admit there is just something to the bad boy image. Motorcycles are just sexy and even though I enjoy being on my own bike I still like climbing on behind Bull for a night on the town. There is nothing hotter than seeing him on his Harley in his leathers. I really wish we had more chilly weather in the Sunshine State, so he’d put on his chaps more often.

And sadly, Bull died 5 months after this was written in July, I ended up owning the magazine and with the help of many have spent the past 19 years living in this world of motorcycles. Now I spend most of the year on a bike behind TJ who is the force behind Thunder Roads Florida and my business partner. This spring we hit Thunder by The Bay, Bike Week, Leesburg Bike Fest, Thunder Beach, and Myrtle Beach Bike Week. Add to that all the weekend events and bike nights we stay busy. Thank you to all our ad clients who help us bring this free magazine about the motorcycle lifestyle to our readers and to the readers for making the work worthwhile!!!!

By Lulu

As anyone who ventured out to the Cabbage Patch Bike Week 2026 knows, major construction is occurring right out front. So, a huge group shot was taken to commemorate the bar as we have all loved and known it. Really, I don’t think that much will change with the roundabout once the construction is done…hope that happens before Biketoberfest. Another tribute I snapped several shots of is the Cabbage Patch Bike created in memory of Ronnie Sr. and the 100th Anniversary of Cabbage Patch Bar. Randy’s Cycle Shack from Telford, PA did all the labor, XLXBhorsepower from Reading, PA did the heads and bored the cylinders. Mondello’s Auto Body from Willow Grove, PA did the paint. Irocks Detailing cleaned and polished it. All of these guys that helped create the bike are from Pennsylvania. Of course, Bike Week Cabbage Patch has bands, bike shows, vendors, food, and World-Famous Coleslaw Wrestling! But don’t wait for Biketoberfest. Ride out to The Patch for a cold one anytime of the year, the staff are always happy to pour you something wet!

By Lulu

Don’t know how many times I must say this, but this is my favorite Bike Show all year long! Love the band…Duval County Line. Love the shade trees and the throng of people out back! Love that no matter how many times I come which now has been 18 (adding together Bike Week and Biketoberfest) I ALWAYS see something newly created, something inspiring to those who create these masterpieces. PLUS, and MOST importantly to me, is that Willie and his entire crew do this with LOVE…love of motorcycles, love of bikers, love of the culture, love of veterans! In case you live under a rock and haven’t been to Chopper Time. The liquor sales, including tips go to help the Veteran’s Support Fund! Even A-OK Guns gets in on the action, auctioning off guns during the event to benefit the veterans. For that reason alone, show up during Biketoberfest have a cold one, listen to great music, enjoy the people, and view the impressive collection of rides, buy a gun raffle ticket to support Willie’s endeavor. Biketoberfest is a wonderful time to come if you haven’t been, the place isn’t as mobbed during the fall rally. Perfect time to be a Chopper Time virgin. See you there!!
WINNERS
BLINGS CHOICE-CHRIS STEPNOSKI
BOBBER-MIKE STAHL
BRITISH-JOHN BUNKLEY
CHOPPER-J RYAN
CROWD FAVORITE-JOHN COOPER
CUSTOM & BARBIE’S CHOICE-DREW JAMES
CYCLE SOURCE CHOICE-LEE LEWIS
DEPARTURE BIKE WORKS CHOICE-BROCK BRIDGES
EVO-DEAN TEMPLETON
FLATTY-DOUG YOUNG
KNUCKLE-NICK RESTY
LADIES BUILD-MISSY SHOEMAKER
METRIC-KEVIN NELSON
MOONSHINER CHUCKS CHOICE-DJ
PAINT-CORY G
PANHEAD & TROPICAL TATTOO CHOICE-TELLY “THE GREEK”
PEOPLE’S CHOICE-SCOTT PETLOCK
RAT BIKE-BRIAN DJEMIAN
REV AL’S CHOICE-STEPHANIE SCHILL
ROADSIDE’S CHOICE-JERRY MEROLA
SHOVEL-MARSHALL
SHOVELHEAD COALITION CHOICE-DUSTIN CRAMER
SPORTSTER-ERIE HULL
TWIN CAM-JESSE SRPAN
WHITE KNUCKLER CHOICE-GORDON OLLIFF
WILLIE’S HARDCORE-ZACH GOSTELI

By Lulu

The “Disney” of Bike Week is the huge oak covered property with the sparkling white lights. This is the prettiest biker bar in the world. And the huge crowds prove it is a favorite of those on motorcycles. Along with being beautiful, it features fire pits, free peanuts, almost daily bike shows, Jay Allen as the emcee, great bands including Hairball, vendors, lots of bars with beautiful staff both male and female! Add to that the guitar auctions that generous bidders benefit the local veterans’ association (Veteran’s Support Fund) and helped raise the $125,000 Iron Horse Saloon donated to St. Judes in April. I want to thank each and every one of the good-hearted people that make such a difference every weekend helping great causes, and in particular this bar and Iron Horse Saloon for taking these causes on. It takes work, community involvement, and lots of good humans who volunteer! During this year’s event there was Kory Souza’s No Class Bike Show, Warren Lane’s True Grit, Beats, Bags & Bass sound off, Cycle Source Custom Bike Show, Perewitz paint show, Dennis Kirk’s Amateur Bike Show, Clay Moto Vicla Show and Bad Ass Car Club Vintage Car Display. My favorite night of the week was Dave Perewitz birthday party and the sea of canary yellow shirts the Hamsters all wear. Of course, music is what keeps the crowds there late into the night, Hairball, Bobby Friss, Rachel Stacy, Cowboy, Hippies & Cowboys, Loose Lips, Buck Shot and Demun Jones were the main acts that rocked the stage.

By Lulu

PACKED! Some people claim Bike Week crowds were down, or people weren’t spending money this year, but you certainly wouldn’t know it by the crowds I saw at Teddy Morse Daytona Harley-Davidson. Of course it is the epicenter of Bike Week! This year the pavilion housed hundreds of bikes for sale!! The stage at Saints and Sinners had live music and the bikini contest. We didn’t make it to the 38 Special Concert, but I heard a huge stage had to be constructed for that band. Vendors filled the massive property even beyond JP Cycles. Bike Shows included a Full Throttle show, Proper Performance Show by H-D, Women’s Ride in Bike Show, Urban Rides Magazine All Cycle Show, Bike Show Mafia’s All Class Show, and the Flying Piston Benefit Breakfast. There was also a sound-off “Thunder at the Beach.” Live music is always a feature at Saints & Sinners, this year “Live from Nashville,” Preston Jones and Rob Leines were featured and on the final Friday a free 38 Special Concert. On the final Sunday, a Survivor Party and vendor shopping kept the parking lots full.

By Lulu

Out in Welaka is Waylon and Tonya Longs bar, Long’s Log Cabin. They are known for bringing great music and parties to their slice of heaven out in the country. The theme parties there are always over the top! Sherry, Gator Ken, Jeani, and I went to enjoy the live music by Love Monkey!! If you get a chance to hear them, this is a really entertaining band. The Cabin is a perfect place to wet your whistle on a ride out to the country, and they love having poker runs or charity events at their place.

By Lulu

Photo credit for 38 Special to Tom Bender
For 28 years, in February, Lucy Nicandri and her co-worker Lisa Baer – along with a dedicated team of volunteers – put on one great weekend of Music and Motorcycles! The purpose is what makes it such an amazing weekend at the Sarasota Fairgrounds. The event raises thousands of dollars for the Suncoast Charities for Children! Title Sponsor, the James M. Doss Charitable Foundation, matches every donation raised up to $35,000! Presenting sponsors for the event are Sarasota Ford, Precision Garage Door Service and Top Tier Towing.

Major Sponsors included United Rentals, Budweiser, and USA Fence. The small fee for live music all day is money well spent. This year’s event included vendors, car and bike shows, biker games, food vendors, a Charity Dice Run and live music. The headliners this year were Night Ranger, 38 Special, and Montgomery Gentry. Opening acts included Bobby Friss, Crossfire Creek, Maiden Cane, Downsyde Up Band, and Given to Fly, a Pearl Jam Tribute. This year Paul Teutul Jr. held two days of a meet & greet. People were lined up for photos. This year Suncoast Charities for Children raised $310,000 with a total raised to date of $3.3 million dollars. This charity helps support critical programs and services for local children, teens, and adults with special needs. Put next year’s date of February 19-21, 2027, on your calendar! Join in for a great weekend of music and grow your angel wings by doing something to help children!

By Lulu

This year the Deland Bike Rally was the last Saturday of February. The streets were packed with motorcycles. Vendors and live music gave visitors plenty to do! Two of our favorite stops for the day in downtown Deland are Issues and DaVinci’s. The Budweiser Clydesdales were available for photos. I was lucky enough to take photos of a fun young couple who got married by the fountain in downtown Deland during the rally, Scooter from Feed the Obsession BBQ performed the ceremony. Put this on your event planning schedule for March 6th, 2027!

By Lulu

Boy, I can’t believe another year has passed so quickly. Sorry Charlie’s Corner in Samsula turned 4 years old in February. The crowd enjoyed great music by talented Sam Lowe and Whey Jennings. I absolutely love Whey, not only for his talent but also for how enthusiastically he helps raffle guitars, hats or even a jacket for the Veteran’s Support Fund! He is a really good human! 2025 brought a major change to Sorry Charlie’s in that they went full liquor, which since I am a Crown girl I am happy, although I do love the Twisted Tea Lite. Charlie’s is one of the only smart bars around that offer it! If you haven’t tried Charlie’s burgers you MUST. I had to stop twice during Bike Week for them. But the best thing Charlie’s offers is a really GREAT staff! Amie has put together sweet, fast, and honest bartenders who I absolutely love…each and every one! Check out their ad in this issue for their May events!

By Lulu

A packed house again! Each year in February, Heavy from Midwest Motorcycle throws a great bike show, filling up the Beaver Bar like a weekend during Bike Week! Sponsors help to host this anniversary event and this year the sponsors included Politis & Matovina, Chrome Premium Cigars, Strip Club Choppers, Twisted Tea, Tropical Tattoo, Cochise Chops, Cycle Fever, Who’s Hot Online, Barney’s Leather, Biker Info USA, ABATE of Florida Daytona Beach Chapter, Riding & Flying Productions and HOG Radio. Lots of beautiful bikes entered and unique trophies for the winners. The band rocked the place all afternoon. Congratulations to Heavy for a long successful business enterprise. He told me recently he must be “getting old”. Now instead of raising hell in his free time, he spends it doing community projects like the Save the Cemetery (Pinewood across from Boot Hill Saloon). The next community clean-up day is May 17th from 9am-2pm!!! Join in for an enjoyable day of community service!
BIKE SHOW WINNERS

SHOVELHEAD TIE-MICHAEL POLITIS & SCOTT PETLOCK
BOBBER-MARSHALL GREEN
PRO STREET-STEVE (NO LAST NAME GIVEN)
KNUCKLEHEAD TIE-TINKER & MANDY ROSSMEYER
IRONHEAD-JR KIRLIN
FLATHEAD TIE-ELEANOR ARNOLD & RICHIE BURKEY
FXR-JIM MILLER
EVO-(1) WILLIAM TURI
(2) HIRAM MCCARTY
CHOPPER-(1) STEVE TATRO
(2) MARCUS ORABONA
RAT BIKE-SCRAPEY HAWKINS
PANHEAD-(1) RON TURCHI
(2) JAKE JACOBS
METRIC-IRVIN BUCEK
SPORTSTER-DALE LARRIMORE
SIDE CAR-ELEANOR ARNOLD
SOFTAILS- KATIE GINELLA
TRIUMPH-(1) LOREN MILLER
(2) FRANKIE MOLINARO
OLD SCHOOL-RICK WECKTSSER
BEST PAINT-SHANE TWIDDY
PEOPLES CHOICE-KATIE GINELLA
BEST OF SHOW-GARY PANKRANTS