Coffee, Breakfast & Polar Bears!

We used to speak freely of the "Coffee Run" and the "Breakfast Ride". Newer members are not always familiar with these traditional rides, where we went, how long we're out, etc., so here goes a quick explanation.

In September of 1999 our Chapter Newsletter first announced the Coffee Run. It used to be addressed as a particular member's coffee run since the particular member was the one who conceived the idea of getting together each Wednesday night at a particular time, ride and then stop for a little coffee. In August of 2000, the Newsletter first mentioned the Sunday Breakfast Ride.

It is of utmost importance to note that neither the Coffee or Breakfast ride have ever been a "Club Ride". In other words, it was nothing more than a group of people who got together on a regular basis but was not officially organized by the Bucks County Chapter of H.O.G. We need to clarify that because unfortunately in the world we live in, somewhere there is somebody who if injured, will look to retire off an incident in court. For this reason, it was not a club ride and for the same reason, we no longer associate a persons name with the ride. It's a shame we have to take such precautions. As of 2005, the legal machine further threatens our freedoms so we no longer plan these rides at all. Talk to your friends. Plan amongst yourselves independent of the club and if you decide on something, you can follow the general rules below which we used to base the former Coffee and Breakfast rides on.

Always bring your lid! While many states do not require helmets, you never know what state lines one of our rides may cross. Always have a helmet. cupojava

Coffee Run:

Wednesday's at 6:30pm a group would depart Brian's H-D for a leisure ride. We'd go for about an hour to an hour and half then stop someplace for coffee. Most of the places we went also served dinner. Frequent stops were Eorio's Milk House in Gardenville, the New Hope diner or Lambertville Trading Company. The ride back would be in smaller groups or solo. That's because the ride ends at the destination and you're on your own to find your way home. In the colder months, we wouldn't go nearly as far and frequently just ride to a nearby eatery for some soup. You'd usually be home before 9:30pm. eggies

Breakfast Ride:

Sunday's at 9:00am (between April and October) a group would depart Brian's H-D for a leisure ride. Since it's a breakfast ride, we tended not to ride as long as the coffee ride before stopping. Frequent stops would be the Suburban Diner in Feasterville, Buddie's Restaurant above Lambertville or others within 45 minutes of driving. After breakfast the real ride would begin and anything goes! We might have just wheeled around the county for an hour but we could even end up in New York for a spectacular view and lunch from "Hawk's Nest" or someplace similar.

Polar Bear Club:

About those "Polar Bears". Polar Bears are an organized New Jersey club open to all motorcyclist. A different destination is scheduled for each Sunday from the end of October to the end of March. Many members of the Bucks County HOG have been members of this open club for years. Several of the 'usual' Sunday Breakfast Riders join the Polar Bear club annually which is why the Breakfast Ride ceases during Polar Bear 'season'. Each ride you attend accumulates points. If you reach a particular plateau you may qualify to attend the annual dinner for free.

In 1977 a group of motorcyclist in New Jersey got together and decided they were not ready to put their bikes up for the winter and call it a season. They chose to ride through the winter. Like all good things, the word got out among their various club memberships and the next thing you know there was a unique club created that only exists for the twenty to twenty-three weeks of the winter season. The season is from the last Sunday in October to the last Sunday in March. The rides will take you as far north as New York and as far south as Delaware.

So if you find it difficult to put your ride up for the winter join your fellow Bucks members and ride all season. There is a small fee to join the club and you can join at any of the weekly destinations. The weekly destinations are published on the Bucks HOG On-Line Calendar pages. Note that we do not depart from Brian's for this event. Contact the Bucks HOG Activities Director for information concerning departure location and times.

The Breakfast Ride is preempted between November and April since several of the "Regular" Breakfast Riders participate in the Polar Bear Club.

As with the Breakfast and Coffee rides, the Polar Bears are not an affiliation of the BC HOG chapter.

As with any ride you join, you're under no obligation to stay with the group. If you have prior engagements, don't like the route, can't cross state lines, or just want to head off solo, you're welcome to ride as long as you want and leave when you choose. We do ask that you notify the Road Captain in advance when possible and/or another Rider near you so we won't have to wonder if you are having trouble or need help.

Although these are not Club sponsored Rides, you are obligated to abide by regular safety and group riding rules. Visit the New Members and Safety web pages for more information.
Although these are not Club Rides, non-members and new memberbers may be asked to sign a waiver. If you want to be real helpful, download the Release form (Adults) now, sign it and hand it to the Ride Captain when you show up.
Should you go if it rains? An unwritten policy many refer to is; If it's raining at departure time, we don't go but if it's not raining and those unreliable weathermen are only threatening precipitation, then we go! Just remember to bring appropriate gear for the time of year.
There's no reason to stop riding in the winter. Few of us are crazy enough to ride on snow or ice laced roads but with the right gear, once the roads have been cleared of snow and slush, there's nothing like tooling past the snow covered countryside while you're all toasty inside your electrically heated clothing.
Pssst, about the check ... when we dine as a group, we don't customarily ask for separate checks and we don't bring calculators. Please be prepared to share in the total check, and tip, equally.

Contributors: Tom B.

Related Links: Polar Bear WebSite.

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