The Biker Blog

Belts, belts 'n more belts

First time vendor Mario Flores made it down to Atlantic Beach's Bikefest from Fayetteville, N.C. to sell belts that feature skulls,pistols and more family friendly-fare like Dora the Explorer.

"It's been going pretty well,'' said Flores, about traffic to his booth. "What can you say about [the bikefest]? It's plenty of pretty women, the beach is good, the crowds are good. I wish it would go longer."

Worship service

Atlantic Beach Christian Methodist Episcopal Church held church service today outdoors during the town's annual Bikefest, drawing onlookers and visitors.

Couple makes Bikefest their annual vacation

You could call Chester and Angela Pridgen old pros when it comes to Atlantic Beach Bikefest.

"I've been coming since 2001,'' said Chester Pridgen, 37.

The couple rides their 2006 Yamaha R1 down from Washington, D.C., for the festivities each year.

"I plan my vacation around this every year,'' he said. "I like the atmosphere.''
The Pridgens say they usually look forward to just hanging out with friends when they're on the Grand Strand.

"We just like to mingle, just like to meet people,'' said Chester Pridgen.

Parking lots look empty on 501

Jonathon Formo, owner of Redline Power Sports on U. S. 501 in the county portion of Myrtle Beach, had a parking lot with lots of full spaces Saturday afternoon, but nothing compared to last year, he said.

The seller of sport bikes, equipment and gear, normally has a handful of vendors at his shop during The Atlantic Beach Memorial Day Bikefest. This year the parking lot seems quiet and empty, compared to the view of bobbing heads and meticulously lined up bikes that have been gaining in numbers over the last five years.

``Right at the tail end of everything the county decided to make this an overlay district, the 501 overlay district and say that no vendors would be allowed because they hold up traffic,'' Formo said. ``But they haven't enforced that for everyone.''

Formo said the county issued permits to vendors during a recent car show near Freestyle Music Park, in the old Waccamaw Mall. He said he counted about 75 vendors and was told by the county that the event was allowed permits because it was not-for profit.

``It didn't look like that to me, and we want to make sure that everyone has to abide by the law, if it stays a law,'' he said. ``It's discriminatory to only enforce it for motorcycle events, and it's discriminatory not to allow tourists who are on motorcycles into this city.''

As Atlantic Beach Bikefest begins, bikers have mixed feelings

Rocky Marsh, the president and founder of the All Throttle Motorcycle Club, based in Alabama, takes a picture of his group at the at 2001 Nightclub, which is hosting vendors and entertainment during the Atlantic Beach Bikefest.

Last year, 17 members of the II Tru bike club rode from Orlando for the Atlantic Beach Bikefest. This year, there are only six.

"We like it, but we ain't coming back," said Robert Jackson, 39, the president of the club, chafing under new restrictions passed by the city of Myrtle Beach to curtail the area's spring motorcycle rallies. "The treatment is too bad. The treatment is terrible. I've never seen a city that don't want no money."

As the Bikefest begins, bikers reported seeing fewer riders hitting the road. Rocky Marsh, the founder and national president of the All Throttle Motorcycle Club, based in Alabama, has been coming to the rally for five years. Despite some anti-biker sentiment in the area, he said he was not deterred.

"If they change the rules, we're just going to adapt to the rules," he said. "We're not going to go away."

Cycle Shoe International, a company based in Philadelphia, is putting together entertainment and vendors for the weekend at 2001 Nightclub on Lake Arrowhead Road. Last year, the company hosted 147 vendors at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center. This year, there are only 30 at 2001 Nightclub.

But that didn't bother Howard Clifton Jr., the owner of DD's Custom Seats and Accessories, which has been coming to the Bikefest since 1992. Clifton said sales were actually up because there were less vendors -- and thus less competition.

He said he did not mind relocating from Myrtle Beach to the North Myrtle Beach area.

"That's where the rally started from the beginning," he said. "To me, it was a no brainer... it was just like moving back to basics."

 From left, Martis Mack, 37, Robert Jackson, 39, and Bruce Archie, 40, of the II Tru bike club, hang out outside the 2001 Nightclub during the Atlantic Beach Bikefest.