This has been bugging me for a long time now. All too often I hear about a biker get-together, or a biker rally. I get all excited, hoping to hear more details so maybe I might be able to join in, only to find out they were talking about people riding their bicycles.

 

 

Now, I have nothing personal against someone who likes riding a bicycle... all the more power to you if you do. The issue I have is with the label of biker for someone who doesn't ride a motorcycle. A biker is someone that rides a motorcycle and has a passion for motorcycles... plain and simple, cut and dry. The term biker has long been associated with motorcycles, along with other terms like outlaws and choppers. A biker lifestyle bears next to no similarities to a bicyclist lifestyle... it's like comparing apples and oranges. Bikers have long been associated with tattoos, long beards, and 'garage' talk.

 

 

I am a biker... I've got the tattoos and passion for motorcycles, and I ride when I can. I dress in my leathers, throw on my skully cap, and lace my boots tight when I ride. I am a biker, and I feel that if you want to be a bicyclist, that's great... just don't be an idiot and call yourself a biker. You're just a bicycling enthusiast... enjoy your new label.

 

 

This rant written by Joe Rosendorf Jr.  This is merely an opinion based on personal experiences, and is intended to inform based on those experiences.