| There are four major motorcycle rallies around the | | | | Laconia Bikeweek |
| country each year. These rallies draw in the hundreds | | | | The annual rally held in Laconia, New Hampshire has |
| of thousands of visitors to their respective areas. In | | | | the distinction of being the oldest rally on the circuit. |
| addition there are a large number of smaller events. | | | | The dates for this rally are toward the middle of June |
| There is probably one near you. | | | | and traditionally the rally ends on Fathers Day. The |
| The Four Major Rallies are: | | | | New England location in the hills around Lake |
| - Daytona Bikeweek | | | | Winnipesaukee in the heart of the lakes region of New |
| - Myrtle Beach Bikeweek | | | | Hampshire provides some great riding. Many of the |
| - Laconia Bikeweek | | | | roads are based on the old trails and follow the |
| - Sturgis Bikeweek | | | | contours of the land. The rally centers around Weirs |
| Daytona Bikeweek | | | | Beach and the surrounding area. There are many |
| The Daytona Rally, in and around Daytona Beach, | | | | places to go within an easy ride and the ride is half the |
| Florida, is the first major event of the year. It is held in | | | | fun in the Laconia area. |
| the first full week in March each year. The official | | | | Sturgis Bikeweek |
| dates for most rallies are Sunday to Sunday. The | | | | The Blackhills Rally may be the most famous of the |
| festivities for most rallies start on Friday evening, so | | | | rallies. It is centered around Sturgis, South Dakota and |
| sometimes these first week rallies actually begin in the | | | | takes place in the first full week of August. This is in |
| previous month. Daytona and Sturgis are probably the | | | | the foothills of the Rockies and about 35 miles from |
| best known of the major rallies. | | | | the national monument at Mt. Rushmore. Sturgis is a |
| Florida is flat land with primarily straight roads. While | | | | town of about 5000 people 50 weeks of the year and |
| other areas provide more challenging riding the timing | | | | a half million the other two. |
| of the Daytona event makes it a major attraction. | | | | The old west gambling town of Deadwood is only |
| Many riders have had limited opportunity to ride for | | | | about 10 miles down a scenic winding road. The |
| several months. They come to Daytona to be able to | | | | Badlands of South Dakota and Devil's Tower National |
| ride in relative comfort. Orlando and its attractions and | | | | Monument in Wyoming are available day trips from |
| the space coast are short rides away, so there is | | | | Sturgis. In fact, one of the traditions of the Sturgis Rally |
| plenty to do while visiting Florida. | | | | is the Wednesday ride to Hulett, Wyoming, the nearest |
| Myrtle Beach Bikeweek | | | | town to the tower. |
| The Myrtle Beach Rally, in Myrtle Beach, South | | | | In addition to the major rallies listed there are hundreds |
| Carolina, is held in the middle of May each year. The | | | | in not thousands of shorter events held around the |
| weather in Myrtle Beach is often beautiful at this time | | | | country. Through the season there are multiple events |
| of year, although it can cool off at night. There are | | | | on most weekends. Some of the smaller events are |
| many sights to see and many stops on the agenda. | | | | closer to the roots of the old rallies. Big or small the |
| As a purely subjective observation, I think that the | | | | rallies are all great parties. People gathered together to |
| percentage of bikes with decorative paint is highest at | | | | celebrate life and the ride. |
| the Myrtle Beach Rally. | | | | |