Polar Bear Bikers Give Winter the Finger
Every year, a small group of Indiana bikers kill their cabin fever with one very cold ride.
For most of us, those who reside above the Mason-Dixon line at least, winter signals the end of riding season. Sure, you might bundle up and head out when temps creep above freezing here and there. After all, aside from the uncomfortable temps, riding on snow and ice isn’t very much fun. But that won’t stop a dedicated group of Indiana-based bikers from heading out on their annual Polar Bear Ride. No matter what Mother Nature throws their way.
So far, Wabash Valley Motorcycle Club has held 19 such rides, all taking place in a variety of conditions. One year, in fact, things got so nasty that only two bikers participated. One of the two, 68-year old retired magazine delivery man James Pitts, didn’t seem to mind. Well, too much, anyway. “I like to ride motorcycles,” Pitts told the Tribune-Star while warming up a stool at a local dive bar. “But it is cold today.”
True to form, Pitts hasn’t missed a single Polar Bear Ride yet. And for this, his 19th, the Terre Haute resident was joined by eight other hardcore winter bikers. The group, joined by 27 other car-driving participants, knocked the cold off along the way by stopping in at five different watering holes. Of course, it’s not like they were out there in shorts and t-shirts. While cruising around on his 2003 Harley Heritage Softail, Pitts looked pretty snug.
“I’ve got two pairs of long johns on, two pairs of socks, and coveralls” Pitts admitted. “I’ve got boots on, hand warmers and a nice Army jacket here to keep me warm.”
Many folks might think these bikers are crazy, of course. But WVMC President Steve Johnston makes a good case for these types of events.
“You get a patch if you a ride a motorcycle to this,” Johnston told the Tribune-Star. “You sit all winter. The bike gets dusty, so we like to get out and have kind of a ‘cabin fever’ party. It just gets everybody together and out of the house for a few hours.”
So if you’re around the Terre Haute area on the first Saturday of the year and you’re itching to ride, you aren’t alone. Of course, you can also participate from the warmth of your car, but what’s the fun in that?
