I realize this may come across picky, but I'll say it anyway. Apologies if offended.

Delmarva is three word put together: DELaware, MARyland, and VirginiA. It is the Eastern shore, b/c that are includes pieces of all 3 states. Beleow Delmarva would be below Virginia Beach.

 

Was it just me or was OCbikefest/Delmarva freakin packed this year ? The weather was the best I can remember it being for this event in a long time.
We had another great time and will be back for sure. Cant wait to see band line up for next year, just keeps getting better.

 

Yeah it did seem packed and the weather helped that a lot! We were going to Hoopers Saturday evening and the traffic was backed up going in on 50. We waited and moved with the traffic but it was just too slow(maybe the draw bridge was up??) so we turned around and tried to come back in on 90 but the bike accident just happened in front of us & again we got stuck in the backup. We then just went back to 113 & up to Delaware and back down Coastal Hwy to OC. Bikes every where...

 

50 was packed all day Sat going in. Saw 2 bad accidents one cager took out lady on a back rd coming out of Winterspark (by the Stadium) and then just came up to FishTails 21st st when they were cleaning up a Bike on Bike crash there . This is my 1st time down for this, and only had Sat and headed back Sun Morning early but can't wait for the next one as it was good times and Cops seemed to leave you be as long as you weren't causing anything real offkilter.

 

Have been going to this event for a bunch of years now (5 or 6 anyway). Missed last year, and couldn't wait for this year. Here are some thoughts...

Seemed like less vendors, but that is going on at all the rallys. In talking with several vendors the cost of fuel, rising vendor spot costs, and less spending (due to the economy) they (vendors) are feeling the hit and not going to as many events. Looked like many of the areas could have been set up a little better. I am not any kind of expert, but it seemed that Purdue Stadium, Winterplace park and the inlet could have been better organized to make it easier to to get through the vendors. But overall it was still fun to see all the goodies and get soem new stuff for the bikes.

Delmarva Bike Week seemed to have there act together like you would expect with the many years they have run this event. Not sure the local type of bands playing during the day are needed. When we were walking at Winterplace park, the band was playing to the sound guy. As we walk past, they sounded very good, but just didn't have much of an audience. Overall, Winterplace park was ok, layout was a little confusing, but all in all ok. The parking at the park leaves a lot to be desired. We knew of the nasty trap rock lot so we took the shuttle from the Purdue stadium to Winterplace park. That is one of the best ideas they have had over the past couple of years.

Purdue Stadium was nice, but with the vendors wrapped around the edge of the parking it meant that you had to walk across the driving/parking area to get to the vendors. Just not a great idea with folks trying to find the parking spot crossing the people more interested in new stuff for the bike etc.

Did not get up to the Harley dealer in DE so I cannot talk about that.

OC Bike fest had some growing pains. I understand that this was the second year so I figure they will only get better. Got our 4 day pass on Thursday and had a 10 am appointment at the pin-stripper on Friday morning. Got to the inlet at 945 and the folks at the gate were very confused over what to do for wristbands etc. They still had not let anyone in at 1010 and we were told that we had to wait in the same line as those who had not paid for the entry yet. That just didn't make sense to me. I don't need to be get in early, but there should be an entry for those who already have wristbands. Later in the day and the rest of the weekend it seemed that is what they did. The vendors at the inlet seemed pretty diverse and while I did not attend any of the concerts, they had some great bands. They just didn't work out with my schedule. The other area that needs to be better organized is the parking at the inlet. I understand that it is tough to do parking for an event where people are coming and going all day long. They needed a better flow to how the bikes moved through the lot. They also need to use the exit near the entry gates rather than making riders go to same area where everyone is coming in and causing some confusion. I applaud the free bike parking at the inlet, it is a very nice perk of paying for the entry.
The Convention center really needed a much better parking setup, the staff was doing a great job of trying to get folks in and out, but the flow was not easy. I would suggest that they use the parking lot for parking and move the vendors into the Convention center. I know that this may cost more, but I think it will work out much much better. I saw one of the tour busses pulling in on Saturday and trying to get to the loading dock. If the driver was not phenomenal at his driving it would have gotten very expensive very fast. I am not sure i would have wanted to put my truck into the spot he got the tour bus and equipment trailer into.
Jolly Rodger was a waste of space. They should have just moved those vendors to the inlet and filled the tents up more.

Local PD etc seemed to stay in the shadows as far as I saw. Saw a few stops, even one arrest going on, but never saw the PD going out of the way to stop folks. Saw a bunch of bikes that could have been pulled over/stopped and were not.

Overall we had a great time. Had a lot of stuff done on the bike, got to see lots of great bikes and meet some nice folks. Will be coming back again next year and the year after that etc. Ocean City is a great host as are all the other towns in the area.

Good job to all the folks who put these two events together, and to all the vendors who came out.

 

Was down for the day on Thursday. Hit the vendors at Perdue as well as Hoopers, Seacrets and the Convention center. Headed home and came back with the wife Friday morning. Hit Winter Park Place and then met up with friends that we were staying with. Didn't notice crowds were larger than normal except for last year which was due to the weather. Traffic was miserable on 50 coming in to OC as usual. Grabbing 90 is always a better alternative. Cops were out in force but the people who were getting pulled over all seemed to deserve it. Looked like an equal mix of cars and bikes getting pulled over. Vendors seemed in no short supply. In fact WPP seems to have more than usual.

All in all had a good time except for the fact that I got about 45 minutes of sleep due to a few friends that didn't know when to leave the Party Block. Had to carry one back two blocks and then get him off the floor after he fell out of bed. I gave up on sleep and went and sat by the beach for 4 hours until everyone else got up. Ended up coming home early Saturday afternoon.

One thing I don't like is the whole OC Bikefest thing and the fact that you have to pay just to get to the vendors. I was wanting to get some pinstriping done by Dan Kite but he was in there. Was not gonna pay to get in there just for that. Hopefully next year he will be back at Perdue.

 

Agreed, I am not going to pay for the "privilege" of buying something.

 

+1...This does bother me a lot. I want something for my money. I don't normally pay admission to get into a bar, but if a band is playing I understand it.
So if admission to bike week paid for the band I get it. If it's just for the right to shop? That should have been paid by the vendor that wants me to buy stuff.

 

There were bands playing and stunt shows going on the whole weekend in the OC Bikefest area. But not everyone is interested in those things. I wonder if the vendors who were inside the paid admission area noticed a decline in sales due to not having full exposure to the crowds. I honestly didn't even know Dan Kite was gonna be there again this year because previous years he was set up in Salisbury. I only saw he was there when we took a ride to the inlet to walk on the boardwalk.

 

I purchased my pass online during the early registration. For my $15, I saw Grand Funk Railroad, Charlie Daniels Band, 38 Special, Jackyl, plus the other stuff going on. Seems like a bargain to me.