Large Charity Rides - Indy - 2009

[dropstharockalot]

Anyone planning on participating in either the Miracle Ride or Loop for Life?   I've never done either, and I guess I'm kinda curious. A couple friends (Harley guys...) are trying to talk me into these.

If you've ridden in either or both of these, please share your experience.

If you're planning on riding in either of these this summer, let me know.

Thanks,

DTRAL

[agaduc996]

I have done both the Miracle Ride and the Loop For Life ride. I was talked into doing both of these by some friends as well (Harley guys). I have only done each one once and think every year that i will do it again and than I remember how much fun I did not have. Please do not get me wrong. It is a great cause and the people that show up are great for spending their time to help out and raise funds for Riley Hospital and other great charities. But on the start of the Loop ride I was some where in the middle of 2500 riders and did not get the bike above 25-30 MPH until I was about 3/4 of the way around. At the time I did that on my 996 and that ride suck mainly because I had the wrong bike for that type of event. I will say it was very cool at one point on the south side between 31 and 70 all you could see was bikes in front and bikes behind forever. I have never seen so many bikes riding in one direction in my life. Also at many of the overpasses there were people waving and cheering as you went under them. So  worth having done it at least once. For the Miracle Ride I learned from my mistakes and rode the 87 Super Magna. Much more cumfortable ride especially on the slow city streets. Got to watch some jack ass on a Busa drop his bike because he hit the gas trying to close the gap between him and some people in front of him just as the pack was stopping. Hit the breaks lost his balance and down it went. Again a great organization and a great cause. Just not my bag of tea. Also I was a little turned off when some dude waked by and called my bike a little baby wannabe Harley. No offense to Harley owners but if I had wanted a Harley that is what I would have gotten. I wanted a Super Magna and that is what I had and was not trying to make it anything else. Man do I hate elitist F#%KS. All that said it is a good cause and it worth doing at least once and who know you may have a better experience that I did. You may even be able to talk me into giving it a second try.

[SammySack]

I haven't done the Miracle Ride, but I've been considering it for this year, just to ride around the speedway.

I've done the Loop for Life a couple of times.  I enjoyed it, but I can understand why it wouldn't be for everybody.  Or even why some people would not enjoy it at all.

Both times I did not pre-register, I just showed up and paid day of.  I live a few miles from the fair grounds where they start from, so I can just ride down and jump in with little effort or preplanning. 

The "downside" to that was that I didn’t get the "bitchin" Harley guy looking commemorative T-shirt because they ran out.  The "upside" was that I got lined up toward the back of the pack, which I think helped me avoid getting stuck in the slower traffic mentioned in the previous post.  A few times we were travelling well above the posted speed limit.  But sometimes we were all bunched up too.

Again seeing that big of a group of bikes is very impressive, seeing the people on the overpasses waving at you is neat, riding on 465 with no cars is awesome.  Oh, and seeing people sitting in their cars on the on ramp glaring and pissed off because they have to wait for a few thousand motorcycles go past is just priceless.  But it is a 60 mile loop, so those warm fuzzy feelings can wear off pretty quickly.

It is a very pro-Harley / cruiser event, not that there is anything wrong with that, just be prepared for all that comes with it.

I'm glad that I did it and would be interested in doing it again, especially if there was a group of Ducati riders to tag along with.