Motorcycling is about more than the ride
A biker’s leather wallet fit for a Hell’s Angel! A chain wallet that he could attach to his belt loop. Not just any chain. One that would hold your pit bull in check. It had to go with a biker leather jacket, the kind with shiny studs all over it. That’s what he wanted. He only rides an old clunker around the mountain roads in the biker’s most favored drive, Highway 49 in California, but the kind of wallet he wanted looks mean enough to scare off any pickpocket! Where else would we find such an item but in the biker’s paradise that is the Harley store in Sacramento?
We arrived during a showing of the latest models in front of the big warehouse with dark windows and a huge BIKER HEADQUARTERS, on a banner splashed out front . Already a fleet of motorcycles was idling in the parking lot with the deafening roar and the typical rap that distinguishes the Harley. Expecting to find tough, hard-bitten men of the over 50 type I was a little nervous about walking into the store itself. Inside there were racks upon racks of clothing, arranged much like a department store, only darker. The gloomy light seemed to reflect fit the tough, dangerous image I had of the biker world! Biker jackets, special biker boots, tough enough to drag on the pavement if need be; tough, wind resistant biker leather gloves. The men’s motorcycle jackets came in many styles, almost all studded and decorated with death heads, bald eagles, flags, and other biker favorite designs.
The array of leather fashions and accessories seemed faintly reminiscent of earlier times. Decades ago, bikers treasured their fierce, outlaw image, in much the same ways as the cowboys of the old west. It wasn’t image they cared about – toughness meant survival. Their clothing just naturally reflected that. The bikers clubs of the post Vietnam era were often made up of Vietnam veterans, many of them misfits in the society they returned to after their tours of duty, much sadder and wiser about the world and society. In those days the clothing worn by the bikers fit their lifestyle, which intentionally projected toughness and survivorship. To live free in an oppressively conformist society and kick over the traces meant freedom for them. The leather clothing they wore was not always tailored or elegant, in fact it was often cobbled together from left over army gear or it was of leather hand stitched by another biker turned leather clothing maker. Bandanas, helmets and tattoos were de rigeur. Black was the color of choice.
We returned to our hangout in the mountains from this foray into the biker world one tough leather wallet to the good. Now we just spend our weekends cruising the gold rush road and watching the never ending parade of bikers that head up here for spring and summer weekends. Long lines of bikers, all with their girlfriends riding behind them. We know it’s just a lark, but sometimes they look very fierce as they ride along in their black gear, heads hidden in black helmets, eyes hidden behind black wraparound goggles and motorcycles roaring like huge black dragons..
