Rolling Thunder 2012
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 79
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From: Northern Virginia
Rolling Thunder 2012
My wife and I plan on participating in this years Rolling Thunder event. She's in the AF and assigned to the Pentagon here in Northern VA and since we only have about 6 months left before she PCS's we're thinking we should take advantage of a fun opportunity. Does anybody have any advice on what to expect or maybe what to bring, watch out for, do's and don'ts, etc? Thanks.
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
From: New Brunswick, Canada
A few of us from the Atlantic region of Canada are getting together with some of the Freedom Riders's in CT and heading down for the event as well, this is my first time there as well and I would be interested in what advice or do's and dont's that mbr's from the forum can give, Take care and ride safe.
Moe
Moe
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,921
Likes: 33
From: Lewisberry PA
Its something everyone should do at least once. The number of people and bikes that attend are incredible. Biggest problem I had was the lines at the gas stations for gas and using the facilities.
Parking, I haven't had an issue with that. I was able to find parking somewhere. Will you be on 1 bike or 2?
Traffic...
Tell your wife thanks for her service!
Parking, I haven't had an issue with that. I was able to find parking somewhere. Will you be on 1 bike or 2?
Traffic...
Tell your wife thanks for her service!
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 420
Likes: 0
From: Peachtree City, GA
Congratulations - you guys will have a ball and a very memorable experience.
This will be my fourth year. On Sunday, have plenty of gas and get to the Pentagon parking lot from 8-9:30 if you want to be in the first half of the ride. Bring water and something to eat if you don't want to pay high prices for crappy food.
Be prepared to wait a few hours. First year I got there around 10:00. The ride started at noon and I cranked my bike at 2:30. If you want a t-shirt do, get to the vendors as soon as you stop. They won't run out completely but they will run out of specific colors, LS or SS, and sizes. Also take the time to look at some very cool bikes.
Once you get rolling, it will go fast, too fast, becasue it is exhilarating - the bikes, the people waving, and especially the lone marine saluting for aobut 3-4 hours. Watch your lane, because some of the riders are real clowns, weaving, passing, and creating massive accordion effects. Watch the route - it goes completely around the mall. Last year a group decided to turn off early and took about 100 newbies with them!
Once you get to the memorial if you get off to listen to the speeches make sure you have a kickstand puck because parking will be on grass. I do not choose to listen to the speeches, so I have my GPS set to a predetermined point to get out of town. Even then I will get fooled by the many road closings.
Getting out of town - keep your head on a swivel. Some of the cages are crazy. Every year a couple riders get clobbered.
Have a great time.
This will be my fourth year. On Sunday, have plenty of gas and get to the Pentagon parking lot from 8-9:30 if you want to be in the first half of the ride. Bring water and something to eat if you don't want to pay high prices for crappy food.
Be prepared to wait a few hours. First year I got there around 10:00. The ride started at noon and I cranked my bike at 2:30. If you want a t-shirt do, get to the vendors as soon as you stop. They won't run out completely but they will run out of specific colors, LS or SS, and sizes. Also take the time to look at some very cool bikes.
Once you get rolling, it will go fast, too fast, becasue it is exhilarating - the bikes, the people waving, and especially the lone marine saluting for aobut 3-4 hours. Watch your lane, because some of the riders are real clowns, weaving, passing, and creating massive accordion effects. Watch the route - it goes completely around the mall. Last year a group decided to turn off early and took about 100 newbies with them!
Once you get to the memorial if you get off to listen to the speeches make sure you have a kickstand puck because parking will be on grass. I do not choose to listen to the speeches, so I have my GPS set to a predetermined point to get out of town. Even then I will get fooled by the many road closings.
Getting out of town - keep your head on a swivel. Some of the cages are crazy. Every year a couple riders get clobbered.
Have a great time.
Rolling Thunder is an awesome event. We attend in 2010 , & plan to go again in 2013. In 2010 there was around 400,000 bikes there. Get the Pentagon north lot early we rolled in about 7:30am. At noon there was a fly over it was a B-1 bomber , we wasn't ready so we didn't get any pictures. Washington DC is an great place to visit. Remember to thank as many servicemen as possible for there service !!!! Have a great time !!!!
If anyone wants to look at my pictures . Just look me up on Facebook Troy Woodgeard.
If anyone wants to look at my pictures . Just look me up on Facebook Troy Woodgeard.
Last edited by Troystoys; May 4, 2012 at 12:22 PM.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 338
Likes: 42
I've been many times and the pentagon parking lot can get very hot by noon when the first bike rolls out so take a lot of water and some food and sun block. There is usually a lot of rubberbanding going on so the best thing to do is just try to keep a steady pace. There are always road racer wannabes screaming down Constitution Ave that I've always thought don't even have a clue about the reason for Rolling Thunder and that is that it's a PROTEST PARADE!! It's all about keeping our POWs and MIAs in the spotlight and NEVER FORGETTING them.
Do a lot of waving to the spectators and especially to the little kids with the little flags....they're all there in appreciation of veterans and their supporters.
Take lots of pictures and videos. If your wife is on the back of your bike, she might want to have a video camera going.
Tell your wife "Thank You for your service".... from me.
Ride safe.
Do a lot of waving to the spectators and especially to the little kids with the little flags....they're all there in appreciation of veterans and their supporters.
Take lots of pictures and videos. If your wife is on the back of your bike, she might want to have a video camera going.
Tell your wife "Thank You for your service".... from me.
Ride safe.
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Road Master
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 785
Likes: 63
From: TX
It has worked easier for me to ride in with a group that meets elsewhere, like @ Patriot HD in FFX, or PGR, ALR and ride to the Pentagon Parking lot with them. Make SURE you have water and trail mix/snack foods. Last time I went, I dropped a couple of water botles in the freezer the night before and pulled them out when they were about 1/2 ice. I spent three hours + at the Pentagon, it was over 100*, and there was nothing there but patch vendors and porta-potty's, not even shade.. It would have been pretty rough without any hydration..
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 3,780
Likes: 69
From: Al Bu Ker Key, New Mexico
I went in 2007. Rolling Thunder is unlike any other rally I have ever attended. I found it to be more about the memorial than about a rally. Not anything like Daytona or Laconia or any other major rally. More all about the memorial and that was fine with me. Its a "down town" rally smack in the middle of one of the most congested areas in the US. Got to tour Arlington as well as all the other DC sites, etc. This rally is about celebrating my comrades from Viet Nam and their sacrifice.....not beer drinking, ****** and burnouts. It was quite emotional at several times.