By Lulu

I have known Elaina owner of On the Fringe Leather for over twelve years. She is creative and a perfectionist which makes her excellent at the business she loves.

Elaina Pring is a passionate leather work, clothing designer and accomplished business person who runs her own shop, On the Fringe Leather. She has been in business for over 25 years creating one of a kind halter tops, chaps, vest and accessories. On the Fringe Leather was located at Destination Daytona Harley Davidson for 12 years and has recently moved to its new location. The shop is open for business and is located at the Ormond Centre at 1095 N US 1 Unit 4 (right next to the Beaver Bar).

The new location will allow Elaina to move forward with more work space to create a new line for wholesale. She also wanted to be in the hub of the biker action, next to the Beaver Bar and Boot Hill Saloon, as well as, across the street from the World-Famous Iron Horse.

On the Fringe is a full-service shop sewing patches, repairs, embroidery, custom made patches, and all kinds of custom leather work. Products are made right on the premises and they take pride in the fact their line is “Made in the USA”. Custom embroidered club patches are their specialty and can be created in-house from a picture with fast turn-around time.

The women’s leathers tops and bags are sought after for their one of a kind soft deerskin and edgy biker chic designs! The shop has a full line of men’s and ladies’ vests, chaps and jackets, top hats, belts, conceal carry ladies’ handbags and more.

Upon entering the showroom, you will notice two things, the unique products that Elaina has either created or purchased and the smell of high-quality leather. Drop by and visit and support your local Leather shop!

By Lulu

I happened to be at an event at Troy’s Pub where the directors of Family Renew were receiving bicycles collected for them and had a chance to hear a bit about what they do for families in crisis. Family Renew is not an emergency shelter. It is a housing program for homeless families to reside for as long as six months while making lasting solutions to end their homelessness. I was shocked to hear that over 1600 school age children in Volusia County are homeless!

The poker run sponsored by ATT started at Beaver Bar and made scheduled stops at Circus Bar II, BFFAR, Hidden Treasure in Port Orange, Main Street Station and ended for free BBQ and live music at Dirty Harry’s. Lots of auction items helped feed the kitty! This run was a bit different in that there were several wild-card stops and we hit a few making it to Chris’ Lounge, Rudy’s Bar & Grill and Troy’s Pub…then we simply ran out of time!

A special thank you to the people at ATT & Jeff Berry for making this a yearly project, and to every person who spent their day riding for this great cause.

By Lulu

Anyone who knows Kim and Irv Elmore love them. In 2018 she made a dream of hers a reality by opening a bar in Bunnell, naming it Ike’s Saloon. “I” for Irv and “K” for Kim and “E” for Elmore! Kim has been an excellent bartender at many local watering holes for years. But now their saloon is all theirs! Located in Flagler County at 801 State St in Bunnell, it is a perfect stop to cool your pipes in the summer and warm your buns in the winter. They are as motorcycle friendly as a bar can be. Irv and Kim’s first date was a poker run which ended in an eventual marriage! On that note, she welcomes all poker runs, so put Ike’s on your list for a run stop. And if you are looking to buy a new or used motorcycle, Irv is a sales associate at Bruce Rossmeyer’s Daytona Harley-Davidson, so you know he loves motorcycle riders…and would love to sell you a bike to ride to Ike’s (bet he would buy you a beer or two). Ike’s has happy hour Monday-Friday from 3-7pm, Wednesday Blind Draw Darts and follow them on Facebook for their live band schedule. What they are most proud of at Ike’s is their ice-cold beer and they love their regulars. So, hop on your bike and spend some time on a barstool at Ike’s Saloon in Bunnell.

By Lulu

Although the weather Gods didn’t smile on their event, sending rain to dampen the day, there were smiles on the faces of the riders, the HOG members and the children, as Santa and Mrs. Claus rolled into Ocala’s War Horse Harley-Davidson on a bright and shiny Harley. The huge tent was full of toys and gifts for some less fortunate children of Marion County. Lunch was served and was delicious. The band played as if the skies were sunny. Santa and Mrs. Claus even had a photo session with the fabulous police officers which I think made the children in attendance see the police in a much friendlier light. A special thank you to the Marion County Sheriff Department, Ocala Police, Marion County Fire Department, Ocala Fire & Rescue, Christian Motorcycle Association for their assistance, and Forest High School Jr. ROTC for presenting the flag. And a great big THANK YOU to the sponsors.. War Horse H-D, Crystal Automotive Group, Fran Haasch Law Group, Born to Ride Magazine and WIND-FM Classic Rock…and to every volunteer and rider who made Santa’s joy reach children that may not have had Christmas without you!!

By Horny Dave

What’s better than riding under a full moon? Doing it with Jimmy Smith on his 9th annual Full Moon Ride! It started at the Cheyenne Saloon around five and we headed to the Cow Catcher for the next card. After a drink, we made our way to Parker House as the full moon began to rise over Crescent Lake. A backwoods ride under a full moon took us to Porky’s on Lake George for food and a round. We rode along the moonlit St John’s River to Long’s Log Cabin where a live band was rocking out. We finished up back at the Cheyenne for winning hands and Jimmy’s famous Goulash Dinner. Keep your eyes open for his 10th anniversary ride next year between Halloween and Thanksgiving.

By Lulu

Janice knows how to throw a Christmas party. Ugly sweaters everywhere, some with sayings such as “Well Hung” and “Feel the Joy” made us feel the season! DJ was rocking the room…and the food was scrumptious! Janice is the proud owner of Crossroads Tavern in Bunnell, right at the crossroad of US 1 and 100. She is a full liquor bar with a room that can be rented for private parties upstairs. They have live entertainment at times, pool and darts. She is even bringing things to the area such as the Comedy Night on March 2nd featuring Skippy from Family Ties at $15 per ticket (advance) or $20 at the door. She would love to be a poker run stop and everyone who knows her loves Janice so ride in and have check her new digs out!

By Phoenix and Metric-HD

As we know all too well, riding a motorcycle is the freest feeling you can have with your clothes on, however it comes with some risks. Feeling the wind in your face, the power beneath you and freedom of the open road are hard to beat. However, riding in Florida in the winter time presents unique challenges. As 2018 ended I had the unfortunate honor to be a small part of a celebration of life for an amazing young man that lost his life way too soon. Cody “Coffetable” Balster’s favorite color was florescent lime green. Cody served his country with pride doing a couple of tours overseas. Cody loved to ride his motorcycles with his brothers. Cody loved his friends and family. Cody’s life was cut way too short while doing what he loved, riding his motorcycle.

Thanks to his friend and family Cody will not be “FORGOTTEN”. Recently they hosted a Memorial/Benefit ride to honor the life and memory of Cody. The ride hit some of the most iconic biker friendly places in Polk County, with stops at the Ya’ll Come Back Saloon, Frank E’s Lakeside, the Grove and the final stop at Just 1 More Bar in Lake Wales. Wanda and her staff put out a wonderful spread while DJ Stoney spun the tunes.

As we start the New Year and a wonderful riding season let us “NEVER FORGET” all those brothers and sisters who we have lost too soon. MAY GOD BLESS AMERICA AND ALL OUR BROTHER AND SISTER RIDERS!!!

By Lulu

Trying to avoid the sweltering temps of August the organizers of Starke Bikefest moved their yearly event to November and combined the bike and music rally with a Veterans’ tribute. The weather was great! Though the crowds were not what they had hoped for with the move of the date, those who did ride in for the event stayed to enjoy the music, shopped with the vendors and enjoyed the great car show on the streets of downtown Starke. I have to say the music was better than ever. I really enjoyed each band. The Veteran’s Day tribute was awesome with the presentation of colors, guest speakers and the display of white crosses to remind us of the cost of freedom. Then an old-fashioned Veteran’s parade including motorcycles filled the streets. TJ and I really enjoy the weekend in Starke and the hometown feel of Starke. There are plenty of nice country roads to explore and local honky-tonks. This year we were impressed with the updates at The Red Dog Saloon and Mug Shots! I would love to see this event stay in the cooler month of November and grow with the support of the local businesses. Next year the event will remain in November so plan to ride to the country and join us in Starke the second week of November for a great weekend of music and patriotism.

By Lulu

WOW that is what needs to be said about the first Oyster & Chowder event at First Turn Steakhouse and Lounge in Port Orange. The huge parking lot was spilling over on the streets! Combining the seafood festival with a tribute to our veterans was genius! The events of the day included Big Engine rocking the stage. Patriotic events including the Pledge of Allegiance, Taps, Color Guard presentation of colors by Embry Riddle, recognition of veterans from our past conflicts, tattoo contest for most patriotic and best military, and the Missing Man table caused the huge crowd to shed tears and shout USA!! The entire event benefitted Combat Vets!!

The seafood festival part of the day included a chowder cook off with sampling, oyster shucking contest, raw oyster eating contest and oyster shell painting. A special thank you to all who took their Sunday to spend it with the great folks at First Turn showing Veterans we love and honor their courage and sacrifice defending and protecting the USA! And as always First Turn thanks their sponsors who help bring these charitable events to fruition Waste Pro, N Balance Holistic Wellness Spa, Hagstrom Group, Daytona Beverage, SR Perrott and Hold Fast Tattoo.

By Lulu

A serene city park in New Port Richey is invaded by the sound of bikes, bands and beautiful girls! The backdrop of the river and large oaks provides a perfect place for a bike rally. This event has been growing with each passing year! Two days of bike shows put on by Minh from Venom Cycles had the parking lot full of unique show pieces. The bikini contest was viewed by a huge crowd and each of the entries had their own cheering section! A poker run on Saturday hosted by Fire & Iron is a well-attended and great event raising money for their charity. The park is full of vendors and the local bars and restaurants are thrilled to serve those on two wheels. One of our favorite spots is Little Corona Cigar Bar on Grand Blvd. that now is part of the Thunder Roads family. The bands are what draws huge crowds and this year’s lineup included Completely Unchained, Van Halen Tribute, Rockit Fly, Carnival of Crue, Diary of an Ozzman and last, but not least, Skid Row. A special thank you to the major sponsors Fran Haasch law group, Team Farrell and New Port Richey Harley-Davidson for bringing this event to the west coast of Florida. If you haven’t ridden to the Cotee River Bike Fest it is a great weekend and is in October each year.

By Deborah Speicher

Whether you were riding all the way to Milwaukee or just joining the riders along the way, the roads here in Florida were packed full of motorcycles during the last weekend in August. Every five years, Harley-Davidson invites everyone to ride “home” – home to Milwaukee where it all started.

There were planned rides from the four corners of the United States. One started in Ft. Lauderdale, with stops at H-D dealerships in Ft. Myers, Brandon and Gainesville before heading to Georgia. For those of us not able to do the whole trip, it was still fun to ride through Florida with the group.

Brandon was the first overnight stop. The dealership had a party with a live band, fashion show, vendors, and more. The next morning, the group was treated to a free pancake breakfast before heading to Gainesville for lunch which also included a live band, poker walk, etc.

Those that did make it all the way to Milwaukee, were treated to concerts, parties, parades and more! For those of us who missed this event, we have another five years to get ready for the next ride home!

By T. J.

There is a cool new business in Port Charlotte that motorcyclists need to know about. William Oquendo has opened “Biker Life”, a store at 3265 Tamiami Trail that carries all things biker. From motorcycle gear, to apparel and accessories, William carries a wide selection of things that you need. It is also part consignment shop where you can sell stuff that you have accumulated but no longer need.

William is a native Floridian born and raised in Miami. He served in the military as an Airborne Ranger. His interest in motorcycles started at aged 12 riding dirt bikes and is an avid rider today. William started Biker Life as an exclusively online store in 2014 and earlier this year when his wife’s job transferred her to southwest Florida, he looked around the area and soon realized that there was a huge biker community, but no independent retail biker stores to serve them. The logical solution in his mind was a brick and mortar location to keep himself busy…and busy he is. The few times I have visited the shop there has been a steady flow of new friends stopping by to see what’s inside. William is an engaging guy who is very welcoming to every person that comes through the door. He is also very knowledgeable about his extensive product lines and can easily help you find what you’re looking for.

Biker Life’s soft opening was only 2 months ago but William already has plans to start hosting/promoting on site motorcycle related events. He is a marketing minded, military veteran, biker with 3 Harleys in his garage, so be ready for some cool stuff coming soon.

By Lulu

Okay, so if you hate Trump and consider yourself left of center don’t bother reading this because it will only annoy you. BUT I wrote to the White House and CNN today just to get this off my chest! How can anyone think the behavior of some of these press corps’ reporters are okay? My exact request of the White House is to permanently revoke the press pass of Jim Acosta and anyone else that thinks they do not need to respect the President and the other reporters in the room. This Acosta jerk behaves like a spoiled child. He isn’t just rude…he doesn’t ask any questions that are even relevant to the day’s important topics. There are several who just want to beat the “Nationalist” drum, shout the “racist” card, and belittle the half of America that supports the White House. I don’t love Donald Trump’s behavior sometimes, but the truth of the matter is he is the one at the podium. He controls the room and he has been too tolerant of the rudeness of these punks! Throw them out. Free press doesn’t mean free to act like juveniles. Free means allowed to write whatever they want. AND I am free to turn the channel. I am aware my personal call of outrage to CNN won’t matter to them at all as they have already taken the “We stand behind our reporter” opinion publicly. My email will be disregarded, and my letter will end up shredded just like their ratings!!!!

But I urge all of us who are sick of this to write, call and start standing up for what we expect from the press…professionalism. I think Bikers for Trump and the Ride to the Wall should make a detour to CNN headquarters in Atlanta and park out front revving their engines. The “roaring” engine would be more effective than the squeaky wheel!!

On a positive note when I called the White House before 9am, the recorded message told me how important my call was and to please call back after 9. It continued on to say If this is a veteran with an immediate need, you are important to us and please call the Veteran’s Hotline. I love that about our current White House!!!

By T. J.

Right in the middle of quaint little downtown New Port Richey, just a block away from the beautiful Cotee River, is the coolest place called Little Corona’s Cigar Lounge. Proprietor Tim Fussell retired from the Fire Department and thought he would start a career of lighting his own fires of fine quality tobacco, and what a job he is doing. The walk-in humidor is packed full with all types of quality stogies to choose from, the beer is ice cold, and the staff seems like characters right out of an episode of “Cheers”.

Little Corona’s stocks 55 different bottled beers and 10 drafts, as well as a good selection of wine to go with your smoke. 7 TVs are playing the big game and the music is great. You can even enjoy the outdoors in the beer garden out back. They are also proud to be dog friendly so if you’re out riding with your pup you can both stop in. This establishment is biker owned and operated and they love visiting with fellow bikers over a drink and a smoke.

Corona’s has become party central for us during Cotee River Bike Fest and any other time we venture over to the west coast. Next time you’re out for a ride in the area, pull in and tell them Thunder Roads Florida sent you.

By T-Rex & Tony

It’s the beginning of August and I get a call from Larry the director of ALP 359 to mark my calendar for Sept. 22. They are going to have the official opening of the new Tiki deck and bar out back. We were there in June when it was still under construction, so time to fire up the “cement mixer” and check it out. We roll in after 2 and as usual the place is hopping, first thing I notice on my way in is the bigger dance floor and the band stage is set back making a lot more space now. The tiki was moved to the other side of the deck which is now the “riders roost”, the new bar they built is awesome, like an open barn bar it is long with lots of seating and cover from the elements.  The band Reload is blasting out great music. We hang out for 5 hours partying and watching bikes come in and out all day long. Even post member Johnny Mac got up and sang a few tunes with the band and nobody missed a beat. So, the grand opening was a success, good job to everybody that made it happen. When you are in the area remember first Saturday of the month is bike day, third Saturday is bike night. Tell them Thunder Roads Florida sent ya…