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| Jul 29, 2010 - 06:38 PM |
Queen City News - Helena's FREE Weekly Newspaper |
Helena, Montana |
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For many motorcycle riders, the annual ABATE of Helena Polar Bear Poker Run is a traditional rite of spring to launch the riding season.
The popular event on April 3 attracted dozens of rumbling Harley-Davidsons, three Beemers, a couple of Hondas, a custom chopper and a Kawasaki dirt bike. The backgrounds of the riders were just as diverse as the machines they were using. The 65 motorcyclists came from Missoula, Great Falls, Townsend and East Helena, as well as from the Queen City.
The overt objective was to corral a winning poker hand, but the participants rolling along on their favorite two-wheel bikes were really out on their machines to visit with friends while enjoying a warm spring day in the Northern Rockies.
At each location, conversations centered on various brands of motorcycles, along with the add-ons and modifications that are part of today’s motorcycle world. The talk also turned to adventure trips that are planned for the riding season.
The riders registered at the Mother Lode to draw their first card before heading to Jackson Creek Saloon at Montana City, then to the Cribbage Board at Jefferson City, the Clancy Bar, Smith’s Bar in East Helena and Hap’s Bar in Helena, before ending up Fat Boy and Charlie’s for the final poker hand. John Berry and a number of other members coordinated the ride.
Gary Schiller of East Helena is the coordinator the Helena ABATE chapter, with a current roster of 77 members. Mike Smith is the deputy coordinator, and Jean Zimmerman is the treasurer. Jean Schiller, Gary’s wife, is the secretary.
ABATE stands for American Bikers Aiming Towards Education. “We try to promote motorcycle education and awareness of motorcycles on the highway,” Gary Schiller said. ”One of our main events is to hold a motorcycle awareness parade in May with a cruise around town before ending up at the Capitol.”
The group also holds a number of other activities including a Biker Bash on June 11-13 at the Broadwater County Fairgrounds in Townsend with a poker ride, bike rodeo, music and camping.
The Memorial Run on June 26 and 27 is another major event. It goes from Silver City to Whitehall, Butte, Anaconda, Garrison, Ovando and Lincoln and ends up at Marysville for a pig roast and camping. “We put the run on for our fallen brothers and sisters and all of our biker brethren out there,” Schiller said.
Starting Thursday, he said the chapter will stage weekly dinner rides to various restaurants and cafés. The rides begin at the VFW in East Helena at 6 p.m. “It helps the local economy, and it is sure fun for the riders,” he said. Schiller said ABATE is open to any biker with any model of motorcycle.
Schiller and his wife have been riding for years. When they were first married 25 years ago, they rode a Kawasaki touring motorcycle. When the children came along, they sold the bike.
Since the children are now out of high school, they decided to buy another bike, so they got a Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Classic. “My wife and I forget just how much fun we used to have riding,” he said. “Now we spend our vacation time on trips with the Harley. We have had some great rides, and we have met some wonderful people on the road.”
Schiller said that whenever they pull into a gas station, other motorcyclists stop and talk with them. It’s a familiar story that has happened to many people riding today after being away from motorcycles since they were a lot younger.
“I love the wind in your face and the free spirit of riding,” he noted. “You are out in the open and enjoying Mother Nature. You sure don’t get that feeling when you are in a car.”
The chapter also works with the legislature to look out for the motorcycle industry’s interests and also for charity programs. For example, the group conducted a Christmas In August last year for Shodair Hospital.
The chapter meets on the last Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Eagles on Fee Street. Anyone interested in joining is welcome to attend. Annual membership dues are $15.
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The Queen City News is published every Wednesday in Helena, MT, by Mossback Media, LLC.
Contents are copyrighted and cannot be used in any form without prior permission from the QCN.
Copyright © Queen City News, 2002
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