The 2008 Republic of Texas (ROT) Biker Rally is underway (gates opened at 8:00 a.m. this morning at the Travis County Expo Center).

I can hear the nearly continuous roar of loud pipes heading down the freeway from my office — and it’s killing me to be couped up here instead of out there riding.

In addition to the normal debauched biker activities, the bike parade, and the vendors, this year’s rally also has:

• Extreme Fighting Championship (XFC) cage fights
• Roller Derby Girls
• Big Texas Chop Off (custom bike build-off)
• Tattoo contest
• Military Bike Giveaway
• Stunt Shows

And of course, the biker ladies.

Those who ride their own:

Those just along for the ride:

And those who’ll help you clean up afterwards:

My wife and I will probably spend most of Friday out at the Expo center — she wants to do some shopping for a new jacket and some other riding gear (my wife rides her own cruiser) — and then ride in the Bike Parade into Downtown.

After that we’ll probably just stick to some Hill Country rides — maybe a BBQ run here and there.

Anyway — if you’re in Austin this weekend, head downtown on Friday night to check out the bikes.

And please pay attention and be careful of all the bikes in town this weekend. There are a lot of hobbiest and inexperienced riders on the road this weekend — the guys who put about 1000 miles per year (maybe) on their custom choppers and fully faired Harleys.

Posted by Robbie Cooper on Thursday, June 12th, 2008 | Trackback |