As a biker, there’s nothing quite as thrilling as traveling to Daytona Beach for Bike Week each year. Tens of thousands of motorcyclists from across the world convene here for this Florida celebration of motorcycle culture and their passion.
How it started
The history of Bike Week in Daytona Beach is steeped in tradition. It all began in 1936 when a group of bikers descended on the town to show their support for President Franklin Roosevelt’s reelection campaign. The bikers were welcomed with open arms and quickly made the city their own. The tradition has continued for over 80 years, with Bike Week now being one of the most popular events on the American motorcycling calendar.
Bike Week provides me with an escape from everyday life and gives me an excuse to surround myself with others who share my passion for biking. An average year in Daytona Beach sees as many as 400,000 motorcyclists travel through its streets on two wheels. The atmosphere at this year’s Bike Week was electric with engines revving hard and bikes of every description lined up in neat rows along the streets.
Only Motorcycles Allowed
At this 10 days long event, there are numerous activities designed to keep us amused: bike shows and live music performances to races, and bike tours are always happening – while vendors line the streets selling everything from biker gear and apparel to food and refreshments.
My favorite activity during Bike Week is riding down Main Street on my bicycle. The street is closed off to cars, leaving hundreds of bikes free-roaming the streets – their engines echoing against buildings as I ride by! It is a truly unforgettable experience!
Bike Week features the iconic Daytona 200 motorcycle race – an event-long tradition with riders coming from around the globe to compete.
Bike Week isn’t all about events and activities alone – it’s also about building camaraderie among participants from diverse backgrounds through the shared enjoyment of biking. I have met so many wonderful individuals during Bike Week who share this common interest! We all quickly become close over bike riding!
Bike Week gives riders an incredible opportunity to unwind, have a blast, and spend quality time with those they care most about – making the trek out to Daytona Beach for this memorable celebration an absolute must! So make the commitment this May, for an unforgettable celebration of bike culture!
