Hell on wheels?

Off the Wire
MCs in the News

by Stephanie DeBalko
Weekender Correspondent.
The signs of summer are quickly unfolding all around Northeastern Pennsylvania (erratic weather conditions and all). There’s no denying that when the flurries get few and far between and the sun starts setting past 4 p.m., it’s about that time again.

But it’s not really summer until you’ve seen your first few motorcycles flying down the highway. Fittingly enough, May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, and with that distinction comes the opportunity to get to know the people who would probably describe their bike as their first love — whether they openly admit it or not.

It’s no secret that motorcyclists tend to get a bad rap, depending on how you look at it, calling to mind images of tough guys decked out in leather jackets and chaps, standing next to souped-up bikes straddled by scantily clad women. And while that image could sometimes be accurate, the persona behind that image is often not what one would expect. Riding a bike is quintessentially badass, but bikers are also members of a unique community dedicated to sharing respect for one another and, very often, helping out local charities at every opportunity.

For many bikers, part of being a motorcycle enthusiast means belonging to a motorcycle club. This sounds simple enough, but the reality is that there are a variety of different kinds of motorcycle clubs prevalent in the area. From local clubs to chapters of national and international groups, it would probably take some time to find the right fit for a budding motorcycle fiend. There are groups simply in it for the love of riding, some dedicated to the cause of honoring our soldiers and yet others whose admission requires involvement in a specific fraternal organization. Some follow semi-strict rules and guidelines, with set meeting dates and dues to pay, while others are loosely organized.

One such club is the Wyoming Valley Motorcycle Club, which has been active since 1999 when it was formed by a group of motorcycle enthusiasts looking to socialize with others of the same mindset. According to Guy Izzo, the club’s public relations officer, to belong to the WVMC you don’t even need to own a bike, you just have to love them. The club’s 300 members or so pay dues (the amount depends on a few different factors, like whether you’re single or part of a couple) and attend meetings, participating in the planning and execution of not only social excursions and rides but also charitable events for institutions like the SPCA and Bikes for Tykes.

On the other side of the spectrum, there is the organization known as the Warriors’ Watch Riders. Formed about two years ago, WWR is an organization whose dedication begins and ends with treating our nation’s heroes like rock stars. Pennsylvania State Coordinator for the Northeast Region Al Philo described the group as a loose affiliation whose members come together on missions to welcome home the troops and honor fallen soldiers. They don’t accept donations, and there are no meetings, no dues and no officers in the group — it’s simply a bunch of people who want to get together and volunteer for a cause, using their bikes as a means for accomplishing that. An example of its work is a recent trip to Walter Reed Memorial Hospital, where members helped show amputee soldiers how bikes can be customized to their particular needs.

ROAD WARRIORS
Yet another example of the wide variety of motorcycle clubs in our area is the Blue Knights, PA 6, a chapter of the international motorcycle club by the same name. Encompassing Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wayne, Monroe, Pike and Susquehanna counties, the Blue Knights were organized in 1974 as a law-enforcement club.

Club President Tony Gieda said, “(The club) is a nonprofit fraternal organization consisting of active and retired law-enforcement men and women who enjoy riding.”

This particular local chapter has been around for about 16 years, with its home office in Bangor, Maine. Like the WVMC, The Blue Knights hold monthly meetings and require payment of dues from its members and participate in charity events. The only two requirements? You have to be a cop, and you have to love bikes.

The one thing most of these clubs have in common is that new members are recruited through word of mouth, which doesn’t seem to be a problem considering how easy it is to network at local bike nights and other events.

Regardless of the club or affiliation, though, one resounding fact that everyone in the biker community seems to agree on is this: Most motorcyclists have some pretty big hearts. Of course, not every club holds charitable runs and events, but many do. And many of our area’s clubs and groups try to make it to each other’s events and mingle as much as possible to show support and solidarity for one another.

“Camaraderie is always there. You’ll never see another biker pass a stranded motorcyclist, or anyone for that matter. (Most bikers) would stop to help anybody,” Izzo said.

That said, make no mistake about it, bikers are as tough and cool as they look. Walk into Pocono Mountain Leather in Ashley and, in addition to being greeted by a suspiciously adorable dog deemed “The Protector of the Leather,” you’ll also find yourself face-to-face with walls and walls of seriously tough riding gear. The store carries everything riders might need, whether they’re a seasoned rider or a green newbie, and Carmen Cesari and Christine Sauers, along with the rest of the shop’s crew, are more than eager to offer assistance.

Area bikers can rely on the store’s leathersmith to not only create new custom leather pieces like saddlebags, wallets and knife cases, but also to repair old standbys. And they are more than willing to accommodate the customer’s request, whether it’s a personalized belt or something a little less PG.

One thing most people probably don’t realize is that leather is more about safety than fashion. For those who are looking for a more animal cruelty-free option, though, Cesari and Sauers noted that the new trend in motorcycle gear is cordura, a lighter-weight, waterproof material that is just as useful and practical as its counterpart.

Cesari’s admiration for the world of motorcycles and riding is not only apparent in the way he runs his shop but also in the way he speaks about all the individuals he has met along the way. The walls of Pocono Mountain Leather are lined with photos of everything from raucous bike nights to motorcycle-themed weddings, and this is simply a testament to the tight-knit world of bikers.

If you need more proof that you can’t always judge a book by its cover when it comes to bikers, Cesari also relayed a story about a woman who passed away from cancer and was unable to provide for her own funeral. The biker community came together at a charity event for her and raised exactly enough money to honor her after her passing.

Passion is a good word to describe motorcycle enthusiasts, as Cesari even knows people who keep their bikes in their homes during the winter to avoid any unfavorable conditions affecting the bike’s beauty. It’s that dedication that has helped most businesses involved in the bike world stay afloat.

“I don’t want to say we’re recession-proof, but bikers are passionate (about what they love),” Cesari said.

This theme seems to hold true not only with accessories but with the bikes themselves. Both Mark Scappatura of Rider’s World in Wilkes-Barre and Joe Fringuellotti of Electric Harley Davidson in Scranton agree that, although the economy has certainly affected business to some degree, the interest is still there amongst those most passionate about motorcycles.

“When a person buys a bike, they’re not just buying a motorcycle. They find a way to (buy it) because they know it’s going to make their life better — it’s enjoyment,” Fringuellotti said.

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