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Biker Club Etiquette

Biker club etiquette varies from club to club, but there are some basic guidelines that should be followed no matter what. First, you should always be safe when riding and look out for your personal safety first, followed by that of your fellow riders. When riding, be careful not to cut off cars or your fellow riders, and maintain a safe following distance between yourself and the bike in front of you. You should also arrive at the club meeting spot early, so that you will have time to check your bike for any problems before everyone leaves. Finally, you should always stop and help your fellow bikers, even if it means that you get left behind by the pack. These guidelines are universal to all biker clubs, and following them can help increase the fun and enjoyment you will have while part of a biker club.

The Purpose of Biker Clubs

Biker clubs can have many different purposes, but the main reason that they come together is the same as any other club: people of like-minded interest wanting to spend time with each other. When bikers get together, they have an opportunity to talk with people who share their views on bikes. They can also band together to promote worthy causes, or ride together to promote charities. Biker clubs can also be formed so that individuals who do not normally ride bikes have a chance to regularly ride and be a part of such an organization. Many clubs are made of people who work normal jobs during the week, but become "weekend warriors" and ride with their clubmates on Saturdays and Sundays. Some biker clubs have also had nefarious purposes, such as the notorious Hell's Angels. Hell's Angels purports to be a club free of violence and drug use, but historically and anecdotally speaking, they were formed with those reasons being the main ones for the members to band together.

Location of Biker Club Meetings

Biker clubs, like any other organization, often have meetings at buildings that they own or rent. However, due to the nature of biking clubs, bikers often meet at a previously designated spot (gas stations and large parking lots are popular meeting places) and then ride together on a route that they have planned in advance. Most of the time, biker clubs meet to ride, so they do not need a building and can simply pick any public location to meet. On occasion, however, bikers will meet for other purposes, such as charity events, and they will usually pick a location that they either own or rent. Otherwise, they will meet at a large public area that has ample space for both their bikes and themselves. Although many gas stations and commercial parking lots have signs forbidding loitering, they will often make exceptions for bikers because of the business that is brought in.

Finding a Biker Club

The best way to find a biker club is to stop by your local bike shop and ask. Biker clubs will usually have flyers or information packets in bike shops or, if not, the owner or employees may know of local biker clubs in the area. You can also call bike shops in your area or your state to find out if they know of any biker clubs that meet close to you. The internet is also a great resource for locating biker clubs. Simply perform a search in your favorite search engine for something like "local biker club" along with the name of your city, and you will likely find several results. If a club has a website, they will usually either put a phone number or email address up, or they will list the places and times that they meet. If you find a club that looks fun, just go to it and ask around! Don't be scared to try new clubs; you might find one that you love to be a part of and ride in.